Differences in iPad and iPhone?

Aside from the obvious you might look at the technical and other information on each product as provided at the Apple website.

The iPad is not a phone and is not likely to ever become one. You should be able to figure out why that is.

There is no camera. Whether a latter generation iPad will have one is anyone's guess, and such guessing is forbidden on the forums.

Some iPhone apps work on the iPad but at the same size as on the iPhone. They can be enlarged with a subsequent reduction in resolution.

There's no GPS unless you get the 3G model.

Naturally Apple is purposely disappointing customers by leaving out components so they can sell you a newer model in one or two years. If you think that's the intelligent way to run a business, then you are sorely misled.

if you want an iPad then buy one. If you want features it doesn't have, then get something else. It isn't rocket science.

I think you have got most of it... more than most people. When I sync'ed my ipad for the first time on Saturday, it actually brought in everything that was on my iphone including contact list, music, movies, audiobooks, applications, etc.

I also don't care about the camera... I already have the iphone plus many more cameras... don't need the ipad to have a camera.. also don't need the ipad to be a phone.

Regarding the differences between the 3g and gps.. don't know, but I think you are right about your guesses.

When the iphone apps are installed on the ipad, the size is the size of an iphone and then you click 2X and they double but the pixels break up... I have read that there will be many ipad apps that will take advantage of the larger screen... so you don't lose the function of the iphone app.. it just isn't the size of the screen. Also, I didn't have to pay twice.. everything I owned came over during the sync.. if I buy an "ipad verson" later.. will probably have to pay again.

I love my ipad, but would have a tough time telling anyone that I have to have one or that my life will greatly benefit from it. I am a heavy ipod user mostly listening to podcasts and books.. several hours per day... so to me this is just a bigger ipod.

ED

ED

Debating why you should or should not buy an iPad is really kind of a waste of time. But to answer your specific issues:

1. It can be a phone. Skype and several other apps can run on it. It can use an iPhone headset (I've tried, and it seems to work). In fact, if I had the 3G version, I'd seriously consider not having an iPhone, but I guess that might be silly.

2. I don't get the camera need, and please, I'm not going to debate you. There is no way you can hold a flat thing like this to take a photo. And the rotten quality of photos from the $25 camera put in most cell phones is making Ansel Adams roll over in his grave.

3. There are iPad apps that work perfectly. Some of the weather apps make me cry they're so beautiful. Almost every iPhone app works. You can use it scaled to what an iPhone does, or push a 2x button to get a bigger version. Save for a couple of apps, I'm using almost all iPad specific apps.

4. Like the phone and camera, why does GPS matter. Are you going to install this in your car? Are you going to hike with the iPad and require maps? My iPhone GPS is all that I need.

5. Apple's business strategy is not to mess with customers. That's why we're loyal. If they upgrade it, it'll be a year down the road. I'll eBay this version and buy the new one (if I don't buy the 3G, which I'm considering). People who speculate usually don't know anything, and some are trying belittle the iPad. If you want to listen to these people eating potato chips and drinking sugared coke in their mother's basement, that's your issue.

If you have a serious question, ask it. If you're going to rant, take it to your own personal blog written in your mother's basement.

Apps optimized for iPad will work on iPhone...however, the pixels will be different since screen res on current iPhone is 480x320...that said... the new iPhone 4th Gen is rumored to carry a 960x640 screen and will very nicely display the optimized iPad version of a game on that new iPhone... but yes these are in a way considered separate purchases in that if you buy the normal version it will be upwards compatible with iPad just with a not so great display resolution and if you buy the iPas version it will not look the best when downwards converted to the current 3GS screen... But over time this will work itself out with the new iPhone and developers creating dual optimized versions...

I disagree with the " it's ok to be an oversized iPhone" stance... partially due to my wants/needs and partially since the whole idea of iPad is to fit between iPhone and a MB Pro... So I for one do not want a "big iPhone" The missing camera to me is a big deal, I'd like to be able to have Skype calls with video on the go and though I already have a WIFI model (for my wife) I will also be buying the 3G model and will certainly want the camera there...but yes I could live without it...

Yes, when you sync to iTunes it will transfer all current library content to iPad unless you choose to exclude any or all of it...

WIFI model has NO GPS...so yes the 3G model will have the same as the 3GS iPhone's GPS...

Knowing the cycle of Apple (so far) they don't come out with a product and then shortly after some out with something newer that has more features...usually they update product lines yearly...so a new iPad version would more than likely be next year...not soon enough to upset most buyers...

tsteele93 wrote:
I asked specific questions that I didn't feel had been clearly answered by Apple marketing (for me) so far.

They are the only source of accurate information - all else is speculation and rumour and you should not believe anything anyone tells you especially if its me 😉

It syncs everything you have unless you tell it not to.

The WiFi "location" on maps is accurate within a few yards everywhere I've tried it.

I unchecked all the VR apps after my first sync as I cleaned up and reorganized.

Many developers have upgraded to universal apps and are continuing to do so. Of the un-upgraded apps, some look good 2X, some look like crap.

There are some great free iPad apps already. Reuters, Bloomberg, Netflix, Epicurious, and Tap Tap Radiation to name a few.

I've only re-bought 1 thing so far. NetNewsWire. Worth it.

There's a .99 iPad app called "Camera A" and a free iPhone app called "Camera B" that let you network via WiFi or Bluetooth and send iPhone camera pix directly to the iPad.

Go try one at the store. It is the same OS but using them is very different.

There is no way to compare the screens. The iPad looks as good as a 21.5 inch iMac. The touch interface on the iPhone is convenient. On the iPad it's immersive.

DBAG65 wrote:
It syncs everything you have unless you tell it not to.

Nope it does not.

If you have a MobileMe account, it will not sync your iDisk content.

No iPhone OS device syncs iDisk content. They sync iTunes content.

If you are a MobileMe subscriber (I am), you can easily sync mail, contacts, bookmarks, etc.

There is a free iDisk app that will let you access your iDisk. There is also a gallery app to access your MobileMe galleries.

Dear TS,

You ask some very good questions. Here's my addition to the discussion. First, now that I've been actually using it since Saturday, it is and it isn't a giant iPhone (or more accurately, a giant Touch). It is, in that it behaves exactly as the iPhone and it's OS does, especially the multi-touch screen. The thing that makes all the difference is the size of the thing (it's speed is also noticeably different). It's that size that changes everything. Finally, at last, the multi-touch screen becomes the missing link in computing. No more need for that clumsy mouse or worse, touch pad. Your finger working the iPad screen is so much more effective than when on the iPhone's. It's downright elegant and seamless. And the virtual keyboard really, really works. I find I prefer it to a regular keyboard. That you can make it go away means there's no need for an actual keyboard and thus no more clamshell. You don't open the iPad, it's all there all the time. The awesome difference between this and the iPhone is that it now totally works like an actual computer but minus the bulk, the clam shell, the mouse, the power cord (it really lasts all day on a single charge- amazing) and the startup time (instant on is intoxicating in a computer). Once you try it you'll know exactly what I mean, I think. It is so utterly compelling, so completely different from any other computer experience I have ever known and I've known a lot. Even the first Mac didn't blow me away like this does. It is nothing less than the perfection of portable computing. One giant step closer to the eventually inevitable computer integrated to ourselves (a part of us).

By all means wait for the 3G. It will certainly make it a complete (albeit expensive) experience. And yes, you will get the true GPS with that. The wifi version only approximately triangulates and only when you've got a signal.

When I first synced my iPad it didn't add my iPhone apps or contacts, but I must have done something wrong because everyone says it should have. However, if you re-download any apps you bought on iTunes for the iPhone, iTunes knows and gives them to you free on the iPad. Already there are a lot of iPhone apps retooling to better fit the iPad. The old iPhone apps certainly work on the iPad (except 3rd party browsers, I think) but you'll want them full screen and they do lose sharpness. But, as I said, developers are rapidly answering this issue with updates that work better on the iPad.

The camera issue isn't that important to me but I can certainly understand a desire for one. The way I look at it is that I always have my iPhone with me and I can rather easily take a photo with that (easier than I could with the iPad if it had a camera) and then just e-mail it to myself after which I have it on the iPad too. I think Apple may have been thinking along those lines when it left the camera out, since I'm sure it would have added to the weight of the thing.

But I can almost guarantee that you would never regret purchasing the iPad. It really is so much more than an overgrown Touch even if, technically it works the same way. Hope that's helpful.

Clock is not there. Personally I don't care about that as I don't see a scenario where I'd travel with my iPad and not have my iPhone with me as well.

A large part of my initial set up was deciding what apps I wanted on both devices and which of my existing apps would be silly to sync to my iPad (ie anything that uses a camera). There will always be things that one of the devices does better than the other. The alarm function of the clock app falls into that for me.

I've always though Apple's weather app lacking and used a third party solution for that. TWC for iPad is quite nice.

Power while syncing is a non issue. I'm not even sure it's true, mine shows the charging icon up during sync. iPads battery exceeds the 10 hours Apple promised. Don't sync with 5% charge and you should be fine. I had 98% charge new out of the box. My initial sync of 20 some odd GB of data took less than 45 minutes. There was no threat of running out of charge before that happened.

iPad has an enhanced calendar app, Apple did not leave calendar off.

Unfortunately, item 1 is incorrect. No BT headset will pair to the iPad. Just like the iPod touch, it does not support the BT protocol that will allow a cell phone-type headset. It does support stereo headsets for listening to music. I found this out the hard way after I purchased a very nice BT headset so I could make calls with Skype. It is frustrating that I can actually make a call with Skype on my iPad using the built in microphone and speaker, but not with a headset. This article will explain: http://support.apple.com/kb/HT3647 . I refuse to use AT&T, so I purchased a mobile hot spot device from Sprint: the 4G model. Using this at Starbucks this past Saturday, I was getting over 2Mbps download speed via 4G. I was very pleased. If they only allow the pairing of the headsets so I can make a phone call in private.... PLEASE!!

The iPad is going to follow the same lines as the iPhone so Apple can milk as much money from it as possible.

The first version will be wow but not a lot of extras, prices will drop within 6 months and then a second version will have a camera and a couple other things. By the 3rd or 4th version it will be what it should have been in the first place.

Same as happened with the iPhone. After all these years, it "almost" has the same features as the other phones have had for 5 years.