So as you surely are all aware the Masters occurred last weekend, as one of the premier sporting events in the world they pull out all the technological stops with their partner IBM. Now as I talked about months ago I do not pay for cable which was no issue for this great event as IBM puts together a stellar online viewing experience when they work with the PGA. As I pulled up the streaming site on my TV via my HTPC (its a late 2010 mac mini) I couldn’t help but think that this was the real future of TV. Not only was I presented with HD footage but I had access to live leader boards, picture in picture functionality and 4-5 available cameras at my disposal. Now if you were watching the Masters via traditional means you were left with one view and commercials. (yes they are rare during events like this but they exist none the less) Have I mentioned yet that this was all free? No sign ups, no fees, just go to masters.com and enjoy! I can only hope that this is the way things will trend and that more sporting events expore these avenues, I want to see the big four leagues offer things like this for at least a single game a week. Imagine being able to watch Monday Night Football for free streaming online in high quality while being able to chat and interact, does anyone really think the NFL couldn’t afford this or even profit off the advertising revenue with its partners?
I for one look forward to watching the remaining golf majors and whatever other sporting events embrace the free streaming world. Here is to you IBM, the PGA and The Augusta National Golf Club.
So I had this thought the other day and thought I would finally toss it out there in blog form: Is the smart phone helping kill the home printer? I mean think about it, what do most people want to print? Confirmations and things of the sort, well why would you need to print those if you have your email on your phone at all times that you can pull up to show someone, same goes with photos. Who needs to print photos when you can just sync them to a smart phone and show everyone hundreds of photos at anytime right on the big screen of your smart phone. What do you all think?
So the iPad, I have mixed feelings on this device.
First off, the fact that it didn’t run iPhone OS 4.0 puzzles me, we know 4.0 is coming in a few months with a new phone so why wasn’t it shown off now? What other secrets is 4.0 hiding that the iPad might get?
The lack of flash could REALLY hurt this product. Look on my phone I want nothing to do with flash but on a web browsing device, you need flash, it has plenty of power so lets see flash on this puppy.
Wheres the front facing camera and built in video chat? is this the sorta app that is coming in 4.0?
If this thing didn’t get a Verizon option I highly doubt the next iPhone will either.
Now lets talk potential.
Magazine/Newspaper/Comic apps could really make this a must have device. The New York Times app shows the potential is there for rich content in this realm so now lets see it from the developers. I really hope the iPhone event in a few months shows off some more mature apps for the iPad.
Love the no-contract data part, not so much on the 250mb option, dont people use that in a day on the modern web?
All of this being said, I stand mixed on if I want this device, well I want it, but do I need it, to me this device says wait for the 2nd gen version all the way. I cant wait to get my hands on one though to see just what the experience is really like. Touch computing is clearly where we are headed after all.
So what do you out there think of this device?
