With the release of Apple's iPad, many professional audio and video people are asking - how can this change my world? Maybe you're already sold on the iPad, who wouldn't be? Apple has again done a masterful job of marketing and packaging this little guy. The success of the iPhone insures it's quick acceptance and high functionality. But how can the iPad help with remote camera work? Post production? Even content delivery and management?

Having been an Apple reseller since 1989, it seems natural that we'd be packaging the iPad with Apple's editing products from the start of the release date. We've been waiting for a tablet IT product that can travel, have extended battery life (and can be read by eyeballs over the age of 16) since Apple's first tablet the Newton in 1993. The iPad is a great candidate.

One issue to admit from the start - the iPad is a consumer product. Oh it's everything most of the professional world wants - just delivered and marketed for the consumer masses. It's unlikely we'll see any great apps for logging shots, saving camera settings or managing media - while Apple pokes fun at the PC guy.

We are a niche industry compared to the iPhone/iPad world. Yet we have the best and brightest creative people and the next few years promise some amazing and fun changes courtesy of the iPad. Let's take a quick look at some of the promised functionality for the iPad and some expected apps.

Basic tool set - The iPad has some basic functionality that will limit the i/o, memory, display and battery life. Most can be overcome through accessory kits:

• Dock Connector to VGA Adapter for external monitor or projector
• Expected battery usage 10hrs
• 140,000 apps from the iPhone
• Digital compass
• Assisted GPS on the WIFI/3G version
• USB type A connector and SD card reader with Accessory kit
• WiFi and (optional) 3G broadband
• Touch screen keyboard/high-resolution display

AJA's Ki Pro App (left) allow ProRes media management via an iPhone app.

Much has been discussed about Steve Job's vision of Apple as a mobile device company. The ongoing prospering of his company during these challenging economic times is proof enough that Apple has a longterm successful product model. Beneath these financial numbers is a more promising set of changes with this new class of mobile devices. The iPad is not the first tablet, but it is the first tablet with it's own software ecosystem. The software model alone for the iPhone/iPod Touch/iPad is the first fully working model for distribution of intellectual property for the masses.

As other major cell phone companies struggle to chase the iPhone, they fail to understand the relationship between a user and the user's investment in a communications platform. The Apple mobile platform (Apps store) provides a very cost effective and easy system to purchase, install and update countless applications. This fact alone provides a way to legally purchase and use software that makes digital rights management and legal policing almost unnecessary. Wow! Think about it. Itunes for (professional) applications.

Future and Present Applications:

• Remote/location work: preparing/capturing meta data for shots
• System remote controls: audio/video/lighting automation (aka: Crestron, AMX - killer?)
• Setup programming/data managing for cameras, recorders, storage
• Manage/update project documentation
• Technical support documents
• Review/approval monitors
• Off load business applications from editing workstations
• Cloud based draft edits

We'll bring you further updates on the iPad world for professional audio and video user in the coming weeks and months!

 More about the iPad

More about iPad Connectivity

Availability expected April/May 2010. Contact an EAR product specialist after relase date for complete details 800-473-6914.