iPad Game Changer

iPad Game Changer: Books

In the past I have been tempted by the Kindle and Nook, but never enough to pull the trigger and buy one.  They seemed to be only a minor step up from reading a PDF version of a book.  Don’t get me wrong, the e-ink is very easy on the eyes, but still needing a book light to read at night without bothering the wife isn’t a big improvement to me.  But the more I read on the iPad’s iBook features, the more I get to thinking about the possibilities…

Read more about books on the iPad

iPad Game Changer: Portable Video Viewer

While I like the idea of watching videos on ye ‘ol iPhone, actually watching anything but a short YouTube video is an eye bleeding experience.  This has kept me from purchasing much in the way of TV or movie content from the iTunes store.  I have attempted to watch Hulu and Netflix streams using my HP tx2000 tablet, but with its hardware it eventually burns a hole through my chest before the end of a single episode of the Family Guy.

I know Apple has it out to take all of my measly disposable income, enter the iPad and it’s 9.7 inch screen for video watching.  I would be much more likely to spend money for content in the iTunes store or pay for a premium Hulu / Netflix app with a device like the iPad.  So you CEO types out there wanting to create a profit stream from your content; support the iPad and you will get a shot at my hard earned money.

iPad Game Changer: Board Games

I can picture it now, no more digging out the Monopoly box, sorting out all the child choking hazard (not to mention vacuum cleaner killer) pieces.  Trying to find where the hat or car piece went missing too.  Instead the family will sit down for game night in front of an iPad.  You could press and slide your finger back and for to roll the dice, or maybe instead you would shake the iPad to roll.  Press and drag your houses and hotels onto Boardwalk.  Not sure what the OCD family member who is always straightening the chance card stack would do with themselves.

Several developers have already announced their ports of popular board games, and the upcoming app GameTable is a good example of a different approach to a ’game’ app.  Quoted from their site:

Game Table is not a video game. There is no “logic” built into these games. Game Table simply provides brilliantly designed game tables and game pieces along with an extremely intuitive and fun way for you and your friends to interactive with them. It’s so intuitive, you might even forget you’re not playing on a real table

What do you think?  Will board game apps be a big hit on the iPad?

iPad Game Changer: Magazines

This is the first in a series of posts called iPad Game Changer.  This series will focus on where the iPad can shake up the status quo of an existing medium, process, or product. 

I am an avid automotive magazine reader.  After gadgets and tech in general, cars are my true love. (edit After my Wife…then gadgets and cars).  I have at least 4 car magazine subscriptions and I am that guy in the book store flipping through the latest Hot Rod or Mopar Muscle.  Add to that my wife’s magazines; our house gets 8+ magazine subscriptions.  I’ve been reading about what the magazine publishing industry thinks of the iPad, and the thought of being able to read my favorite magazine on the iPad is exciting. But I have one condition before I will pay for a digital magazine subscription: I must be able to access and read my magazines while offline.  If the magazine apps for the iPad will require me to have 3G or Wi-Fi to say, read my MotorTrend, then I will not pay for it.   The publisher really hasn’t provided me anything different than their website reformatted.  Maybe the iBookStore will facilitate offine magazine purchases?

Would you pay for a magazine subscription that required you to be online to use?