Why I’m Holding Off on an iPad – How Tablets Fit Into The Future of Personal Media

10 May, 2010

I’m not planning on buying an iPad… yet. I’ve played with one, and it truly isn’t much more than an XL iPod Touch. It’s a worthy first step. A very nice personal email, web browsing, casual gaming and photo/video viewing device. Emphasis on personal—the iPad is not built for sharing.

Apple iPad

What’s missing at this point is how the iPad fits into the big picture in terms of the family media center. What’s lacking is the capability to access a network where data can be stored, streamed and shared among an authorized group of users. Apple’s iPad is piece of the puzzle (a puzzle that Apple’s engineers are undoubtedly working toward completing); I’d like to examine how the pieces will come together through ongoing developments in delivering high-bandwidth streaming media via wifi networks and data storage in the cloud.

The Home Network of The Not-So-Distant Future

Home Networking

My initial response to using the iPad was, “other than email, how do I access or share files on this thing?” In order for the iPad (or comparable tablet) to truly become an integral part of any family, the machine must be able to access a central storage drive where members of the family (or small business) can upload, download and share data. Presently, this can be accomplished via an app like Dropbox, but that’s short sighted and not a very scalable solution. What I have in mind lives in the cloud.

In less than a decade most homes will be equipped with their very own streaming media server. This server doesn’t necessarily have to be hardware located within the home; it can be space that is leased and allocated to the home within the cloud. This way, your mobile devices can be truly mobile—accessing your data and media files from any location that is able to deliver the content at a high bitrate (high speed cellular & broadband wifi networks). There will be no reason to have several gigabytes of internal storage on your mobile device (or even your workstation) when that data can be stored and accessed via the cloud.

Imagine an iTunes library full of music, movies, television programs, photographs, games and books. This library belongs to your entire family, and the content is accessible on any authorized device (mobile phone, tablet, HDTV, gaming platform, workstation, etc.) from anywhere. Your devices will be able to access streaming content and data that you produce and own as well as content that you pay to view on-demand.

Networking capabilities will extend to include still and video cameras which will be able to stream images instantly to your networked devices and over the Internet. Tablets, mobile phones and most likely televisions will come equipped with built in front-facing web cams in order to enable real-time video conferencing via VoIP networks.

All of this bandwidth and data storage will come at a cost, but that cost will likely replace what families are currently paying for landlines and to cable television providers as entertainment transitions into a fully on demand model. We will no longer have to pay the cable companies for the privilege of 300 channels (a dozen of which we may actually regularly view). Consumers will be able to subscribe to individual networks and even programs that they will have the power to watch virtually whenever they choose from a myriad of devices.

I predict that the next generation of iPad and its ilk will come equipped with the networking components and software required to meet the needs of the 21st Century connected family. At that point, not only will I be prepared to buy one for myself, the entire family will likely have their own personal mobile communication, information and entertainment device. I can’t wait.

Posted in Life, Technology | 6 Comments »

JenNorris

@adjustafresh Loving the new look of your blog.
http://twitoaster.com/country-us/adjustafresh/ adjustafresh

@JenNorris Gracias. HTML5/CSS3 (got to stay sharp)
http://kennethlawson.blogspot.com/ Kenneth Lawson

Interesting ideas, However this idea is being kicked around by many folks, including MS, Google, and others. However, as a old schooler, ie pushing 50, I have several comments.
I don’t completely trust the cloud to keep all my media safe and REMEMBER I own it and which device I can use to play it. I have this thing about Local Storage. Ie, I prefer a couple of redundant drives on my local network to back up my media. . I also like having my own disc in y hands. Much like we had LPs, Cassettes, and even 8-Tracks years ago, When you bought them, you owned them. No DRM, and no issue about what would play on what, If the tape wasn’t broke or stretched, it played, No Problem. I know there was a lot of downsides to the old media, But the BIG upside was we owned it once we bought it.
As it stands today, consumer rights are slowly being eating away, and they don’t know it. The concept of Fair Use is becoming a joke.

I have no problem with backing up my data in the could, But I want it in my control, and not having someone watching to see what I played and where, which is exactly the senerio you forecast, But I don’t think you meant to.
As for the IPad, I want one, I won’t get it soon because There are more important things to spend 500.00 on like food and other of lives essentials..

I do see the IPad as a shift in the way people use and consume media, The biggest problem with it is Appl’s wall garden, known as ITunes.
As the summer and year move along we will see tablets bsed on Android, and Hp’s Palm WebOS, possibility even a linux version. If theses are supported and have the applications to do what folks want easily, play music, tv, movies, surf the net, email etc, without walls getting in the way we’ll see a whole new generation of personal devices

To read more of my ideas on tech and media see my blog;

http://kennethlawson.blogspot.com/
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http://adjustafresh.com Scott

Ken – thanks for the thoughtful comment. I hear your concerns on owning content and privacy & security issues within the cloud – all good points. That being said, this is still the direction technology is moving. Perhaps a follow up post with more opinions around content ownership and privacy is in order.
http://www.fleece-bettwaesche.eu/ Rosegret Sauer

I hope the Android Tablet will be a good alternative to the iPad because it is so expensive for a small entertainment device. The competition can push the price down.