Five Important Features Missing on iPad

Submitted by lalit on May 14, 2010 - 1:32pm.

Since the launch on April 3rd, iPad has been selling like hot cakes but the new device from Apple isn’t perfect and is missing some very important features. There is a long list of features that Apple could have added to the iPad. However, we believe the five features that would have made iPad a great product from a good product are as follows:

  • Webcam: Yes we have heard those silly reasons given by many websites about nose hair showing up in video chat, if you hold the iPad at unflattering angle. But the truth is webcam would have been great on iPad offering video chat anywhere in the house or outdoors. Webcam could have also been used to bring additional functionality in future like automatic login for users via face recognition and virtual reality support in various applications.
  • SD Card Slot: A SD card slot would have not only allowed direct import of photos/data, but would have also offered the option of storage expansion. Hardware-wise adding a card slot is not a big issue, we think software (iPhone OS) is playing a limiting factor here. Currently, iPhone OS has no user manageable file system. And to add storage expansion via SD card Apple will have to offer file management system, increasing the complexity of the OS and decreasing the ease of use offered by iPhone OS to the end user.
  • HDMI Port: iPad could output 720p video, but for that you will need either a dock connector to VGA adapter or Apple’s Component AV cable. Apple could have simply added a HDMI port allowing users to view their multimedia content on bigger screen like HDTV. The worst part is Apple doesn’t even offer a HDMI adapter, which could have helped a little.
  • Wireless Syncing: iPad syncs with iTunes to transfer content and backup data using USB. Problem with the iPad is its five times bigger than iPhone and connecting it via USB port to a laptop for syncing is really painful. If Apple had offered wireless syncing via WiFi (not Bluetooth), iPad and iTunes syncing would have become hassle free. Here again technology is not the limiting factor, as WiFi (802.11n) offers both speed and pairing functionality, which could have easily been used for wireless syncing feature.
  • Multitasking: After using the iPad for few days, the first thing I realized was that I wanted to use more than one application at a time. I never felt lack of multitasking on iPhone was a hindrance in productivity, but on iPad the story is totally different. Specially, when you are using applications like Pages, Numbers or Keynote and want to verify data before typing it down. If you are creating any kind of content multitasking becomes very important. Apple will be adding multitasking to iPhone OS 4, but we will have to wait till fall of this year to get it on iPad.

iPad is an excellent first generation device and even though it’s missing some important features, it’s the first device that truly shows the potential of tablet computing. We know Apple will add some of the above mentioned features like webcam and wireless syncing in next generation iPad, which should further increase iPad’s appeal.