By Robert Hanashiro, USA TODAY
But there is still plenty of confusion surrounding the much-hyped, keyboard-free PC. Here are answers to questions submitted by USA TODAY readers, edited for length and clarity:
Question: The iPad doesn't run Flash, popular software from Adobe that powers many Internet videos. Isn't that a huge oversight? (Thanks, reader Guskoll.)
Answer: Consumers are likely to find the iPad's lack of flash incredibly frustrating. Flash runs most Web video and animation, and powers thousands of websites.
Apple thinks Flash is buggy and prone to crashing computers. It wants media presented in the alternative HTML5 format. That's fine, but if you bring home the iPad this weekend, you'll find many sites you visit urge you to "Download the latest Adobe Flash player." But if you try, it won't work.
However, many websites are quickly implementing HTML5 to accomodate iPad users.
Q: I want to hook the iPad to a mobile internet connection. Can I do it? (kailuagirl94)
When will the 3G iPad be available? (DuluthMN)
A: The iPad models that go on sale this weekend connect to the Internet using Wi-Fi.
Apple says models that feature Wi-Fi and 3G cellphone network connectivity will arrive in late April, but the company hasn't announced a definite date. To use 3G, you have to buy a data plan from AT&T, which starts at $14.99 a month. But no contract is required. Using your credit card, you can prepay for a month of 3G coverage directly from the iPad. So you can use the 3G service on a month-to-month basis with no penalty.
Q: Does the iPad have built-in GPS? (Erik Z)
A: The Wi-Fi-only version going on sale this weekend does not. The more expensive 3G version, which can connect to AT&T's cellphone network and will be available in late April, does.
Q: Can you run Adobe's Photoshop image editing software on the iPad? (jdlane)
A: No. The same goes for any software that is available as a download or on a CD -- including popular programs such as Quicken and Rhapsody. Only software sold or given away in the approved Apple App Store will work with the iPad, Apple says.
Q: Why are the apps more expensive for the iPad than for the iPhone or iPod touch? (jamesandtina)
A: The bigger screen -- 9.7 inches -- makes for bigger apps. They're larger, more colorful, graphic-rich and amazing to look at. Not all apps are more expensive, but a quick peek at the ones we've found in the App Store so far are in the $10-and-up range. (Many iPhone and iPod Touch apps cost as little as 99 cents.)
Q: Can I print from the iPad? (RobF228)
A: You can't connect a printer to the iPad. In our briefings with Apple, executives suggested e-mailing the document to a computer with a printer, and printing from there.
Q: I want to use the camera connector accessory and import high-definition 1080p video footage. Is that possible? (dghodapp)
A: Apple says it only supports the lower-resolution 720p video. That said, the Apps and graphics we've seen on the iPad look incredible, so you may not be disappointed.
Q: Will e-books on my existing Stanza and Kindle apps work on the iPad, like they do on the iPad Touch? (rosswolfe)
A: Yes. Apple says that all apps in the App Store will work on all three platforms: the iPod Touch, iPhone and iPad.
Q: I want to use the get the iPad for my 90-year-old father so he can do videoconferences with his grandkids. Can I? (SheldonD)
A: Only audio conferences work on the iPad so far, using its built-in microphone. (We recommend the free Skype conferencing app.) Our prediction: some enterprising third-party developer will come up with a workaround App to use the still camera accessory connector kit, and turn it into a webcam for video calls. We also suspect that the next-generation iPad will have a built-in camera.
Q: What about storage? Won't the entry-level 16 GB model fill up awfully quick? (bhilfarmpaul)
A: Yes. The average app on the iPhone was 10 MB, but for the iPad it's substantially larger, in the 100 MB realm. So if you download 10 apps, it will fill about 1 GB of space. Music files tend to be around 3 MB, and pictures can range from 3 MB to 20 MB, depending upon the resolution of your camera. A movie is even bigger -- around 750 MB for a high-resolution copy.
Our advice -- make a new folder, call it "Best of 2010," and get selective before synching anything to the iPad. Store everything else on another PC.
Q: Can the iPad be used with a projector for presentations and slideshows? (truebluewally)
A: There aren't many accessory slots on the iPad, but there is one for a mini-VGA 30 pin out, which can connect the iPad to a projector.
Q: How do you synch your media and get it onto the iPad? (th1121)
A: First you must download the new version of iTunes, coming out Saturday, onto your primary computer. Then connect the iPad to that computer, and use iTunes to move music, photos, video and other files from your PC to the iPad. For photos, you can also save them from the Web directly into your iPad photo collection.
Q: Can the iPad access Microsoft Office documents? (Ghostly Mun)
A: Apple sells versions of its iWork productivity suite that include the Keynote presentation program, the Pages word processor and the Numbers spreadsheet that are compatible with Microsoft Office documents. Each costs $10.
Q: Can you read PDF files on the iPad? (Blackadder)
A: Yes!
0 komentar:
Posting Komentar