3 tips related to iOS device usage
When Apple decided to release the original iPad without an
optical drive, an SD card slot, and only up to 64GB of SSD storage, a lot of
the tech media was outraged. How could Apple call such a product anything, but
a large iPod Touch? What distinguishes such a product from any other iDevice?
Why can’t Apple get with the times and include some storage options for loyal
customers who want a real ‘Tablet PC?’
iOS tips
However, that same skeptical PC user base, and much of the
tech media, soon came to realize the public was ready for such a product. iPads
sold in droves and continue to sell tens of millions while running far ahead of
the competition. The latest iPad launched with the same manager 16GB-64GB of
SSD space. Yet, it isn’t stopping the obvious love the general public has for
the device and it is sold out in virtually every retailer.
Is Apple a game changer and a company that is influencing
the entire tech world in the direction technology will take? The answer today
should be obvious: yes. Apple is slowly leading the tech world in doing away
with mechanical hard drives, optical drives and physical media: like CDs, DVDs,
and Blue-ray discs. Apple sees the future in the cloud (although Chromebooks
arguably beat Apple’s iDevices in this regard since they are entirely cloud
based). Apple has also influenced the formerly physical media-based music
industry with its iPod Touch and continues to bite away at physical media of
any type – be it movies, desktop software, or anything else.
Proof of industry shift
Apple TV is proof of the direction Apple is heading while
the industry follows. The set-top box lacks any sort of a way to play physical
discs – all based on streaming content and iCloud. The iDevices also lack a
physical Blue-ray or DVD drive. They rely on iTunes or Netflix streaming. Even
upcoming MacBook Pros, according to rumors, will not come packaged with an
optical drive. This is huge. MacBooks are full-blown computers and they will
lack any method of inserting physical media into them. MacBook Airs also lack
such a drive and are as popular as ever with consumers.
Apple TV is proof
of the direction Apple is heading while the industry follows
However, Apple isn’t the only company trying to do away with
optical drives lack physical media. Intel Ultrabooks also lack optical drives –
as do Google optical drive, and it doesn’t matter what vendor they come from.
However, Apple arguably led the direction these other companies followed with
the iPad’s and MacBook Air’s successes. Microsoft’s manufacturing partners
arguably influenced Apple with the lack of optical drives in net books since
the late 2000s.
According to a PCMag report from last November, optical
drives only add extra bulk, and space that could be reserved for things like
extra batteries.
Apple isn’t the
only company trying to do away with optical drives lack physical media. Intel
Ultrabooks also lack optical drives
Natalie Shoemaker from the PCMag report expressed: ‘I
honestly can’t remember the last time I used the optical drive on my MacBook. I
ripped all my CDs to my computer ages ago, and I presently make a habit of
downloading everything iTunes. I purchase all my game through the Steam market,
and I buy all the expansions for World of Warcraft through my Battle.net
account.’
Despite other products dropping optical drives and the usage
of physical media, there shouldn’t be any doubt that Apple is leading the
charge is making this form of media consumption obsolete. Just take a look at
the Ultrabook. It is basically a replica of the MacBook Air mixed with tablet
touchscreen features, except that it runs on windows instead of OS X. Apple
arguably influenced Intel in this regard. Chromebooks are more unique is that
Google made them entirely cloud based, so Google can stay a step ahead of
Apple, but the Chromebooks have not caught the market by storm yet – unlike the
iPad. Apple realizes the public isn’t ready to go completely in the direction
of cloud storage and some SSD storage is necessary for those without access to
Wi-Fi.
