I deserve a large serving of humble pie. When the first Apple iPad was released a year ago, I painted a bleak picture. The device was in my opinion doomed and going to be a disaster. Why on earth did I doubt Apple? Simple, I don’t drink their Koolaid. I failed as most gadget maniacs to recognise the impact that the iPad would have. Apple made an entire new class of devices. Being first in the market, they are in a strong position to dominate the tablet environment for a long time.
I am not going to be drawn into speculating what the new device will feature. The next 5 days will contain hype from all and sundry as to what the second generation iPad will have. The one thing that is clear is that the second generation iPad will be an improvement.
The features that would improve the second generation iPad are the following:
- A camera – A front facing camera would make sense as FaceTime and other webchat applications make the iPad even more valuable. The camera could also be used for photography.
- Speakers – As the iPad is used to consume media it would make sense to add an additional speaker. Movies and music require a stereo effect to enjoy the content properly.
- SD Card Slot – Importing media to the current Apple iPad is a tedious exercise. The memory card slot would make the device even more useful.
I hope that most of the manufacturers take note of the evolution of the iPad. They need to be more competitive in comparison to Apple or they might become irrelevant.
