Bibliography

1.    Bradley, T. (2010, Mar 30). Managing iPad security weaknesses. Retrieved from

http://www.pcworld.com/businesscenter/article/192848/managing_ipad_security_weakness.html.

2.    Computers, Networks & Communications. Atlanta: Mar 8, 2012. p. 221

3.     Davila, D. (2010, Mar 30). Response to 3 problems with apple’s iPad. Retrieved from

            http://idaconcpts.com/2010/03/30/response-to-3-problems-with-apples-ipad/

4.      Investor's Business Daily. Los Angeles: Feb 28, 2012. pg. A02

5.      Peckham, M. (2012, February 24). Apple iPad now under fire in U.S. Time, 178, 21.

Conclusion

In conclusion, the iPad may have minor social and security concerns, but it is a recent technological development that is going to see great success in the future. The iPad’s capability and display quality alone puts it above all other tablets, iPods, and smart phones. It is great for both business, if it is properly secured, and for pleasure, thanks to the app store with thousands upon thousands of applications. The iPad is convenient, easily accessible, and can be taken anywhere. It also receives great 3G and wi-fi services wherever available, and thanks to its’ Dual-Core A5 chip it browses the internet as fast, if not faster than, a desktop computer. The iPad’s greatest feature is that it is owned by Apple, a financial and technological powerhouse that no matter how many times they are sued, they will never miss a beat. The iPad is a technological development that is changing the future of technology right before our eyes.

Legal Troubles

Arguably the biggest problem that Apple has had with the iPad is the legal troubles that have ensued. The biggest current lawsuit is for roughly $3.6 billion. (Peckham, 2012) A company in China called Proview is claiming that Apple stole their idea for the iPad. This is probably a bit farfetched seeing as an iPad is a form of computer tablet which are becoming exceedingly popular. While each tablet is very different, they are all also extremely similar. Nevertheless, Proview is putting up a fight against a company that has more money than the United States. Proview’s new angle: It’s alleging Apple’s use of a shell company to snatch up the iPad trademark in China for a trifling $55,000 in December 2009 was fraudulent, and Proview’s asking for $2 billion to make amends. (Peckham, 2012) That’s on top of the 10 billion yuan (about US$1.6 billion) Proview’s already sued Cupertino for in China property. (Peckham, 2012) Also very recently Apple had to fight a legal battle against Motorola Mobility, in a German court, in order to continue selling iPads in their country. (Investor’s, 2012) Motorola had a temporary injunction back in December, but now that Google is buying Motorola, Apple is appealing the injunction. (Investor’s, 2012) The latest decision is a preliminary ruling in Apple’s appeal. (Investor’s, 2012) Motorola, Apple, and Samsung are waging a legal battle over mobile technology patent rights. (Investor’s, 2012) The one good thing for the iPad is such a legal mess, they are actually winning in both cases. 

Security Concerns

Along with social concerns, there are many security concerns with the iPad. First, as with any wi-fi or 3G device, there is the concern that an iPad could use a wi-fi network that it should not be using for free, such a private household or a business’ that is being paid for. This can be easily solved with a password to protect the wi-fi network, yet it is a public security concern nonetheless. Other than that the majority of the iPad’s security concerns have come from Apple’s Mac OS X operating system. This operating system is relatively notorious for being insecure, so insecure businesses tend to stray away from using it. Mac OS X does not offer a target that is valuable enough for malware developers to invest time and effort into attacking it. (Bradley, http://www.pcworld.com/businesscenter/article/192848/managing_ipad_security_weaknesses.html, 2/29/12) The Mac OS X platform is not widely used in business—Mac OS X only makes up about five percent of the total operating system market. (Bradley, http://www.pcworld.com/businesscenter/article/192848/managing_ipad_security_weaknesses.html, 2/29/12) If businesses do use iPad’s they must be very aware of how they are securing sensitive information. It is important for businesses to establish ground rules for the use of devices like the iPad, and to develop policies and procedures that take the security limitation of the device into consideration and adequately protect sensitive business data. (Bradley, http://www.pcworld.com/businesscenter/article/192848/managing_ipad_security_weaknesses.html, 2/29/12) Security concerns could be a major flaw in the success of the iPad, but then again it was not created for business but rather for pleasure.

Social Concerns

The iPad may seem too good to be true, and some arguments agree with that statement. Despite all the benefits, there are many social concerns with the iPad. A lot of people say that the iPad is just a much bigger iPod Touch. This is mostly true seeing as the iPad’s screen is roughly three times as large as the iPod Touch’s screen. The iPad and iPod also share the same app store, both can connect to the internet, and both save movies and music. The major difference between the two is the quality and capability that the iPad has. The iPad has a 1024x768 pixels resolution LED screen compared to the iPod’s 480x320 pixel screen. Other concerns have become more popular, like the fact that the iPad does not have Adobe Flash. (Davila, http://idaconcpts.com/2010/03/30/response-to-3-problems-with-apples-ipad/, 2/29/12) In a study done by Damien Davila, he found that more people were complaining about the lack of Adobe Flash than any intrinsic value of the iPad. (p. 1, http://idaconcpts.com/2010/03/30/response-to-3-problems-with-apples-ipad/, 2/29/12) This is a serious problem for Apple as they lose customers to other companies that make tablets because they do not have Adobe Flash. This is also the greatest concern, which is a relatively minor concern, so that may be a positive for the iPad. The iPad is essentially a small, keyboardless laptop, so some people are concerned that if you add a keyboard it just becomes a laptop. (Davila, http://idaconcpts.com/2010/03/30/response-to-3-problems-with-apples-ipad/, 2/29/12) This could be socially concerning, but it really is just personal preference if you like the iPad enough to get a keyboard and make it even more manageable. (Davila, 2010) The iPad may have its flaws in the eyes of the public, yet it is still very popular.

Potential Benefits

The potential benefits of the iPad are endless. It was originally created as the newest iPod, doing all the same functions just with a larger screen and a sleeker look. It is economically efficient because it works as a laptop for a quarter of the price. It is very easy to carry around and it is accessible very quickly. It also is great for any business as it can perform Microsoft Excel and Powerpoint, and it can save projects, music, and videos better than an iPod or iPhone. The iPad can access the internet wherever there is 3G service, and it can do so quickly with its’ Dual-Core A5 chip. The most beneficial part of the iPad is all the apps that have come out for it. The App Store is loaded with thousands of applications, everything from mobile banking to doctor’s being able to monitor patients. GE Healthcare and AirStrip Technologies have recently announced an app called AirStrip Patient Monitoring, which securely delivers patient monitoring information to critical-care physicians’ iPads. (Computers, 2012) It is apps like AirStrip Patient Monitoring, among others, that make the iPad unbelievably beneficial.

Background

The iPad was originally released on April 3, 2010 and it sold nearly 300,000 copies that day, mostly thanks to the ability to pre-order it. On April 30,2010 Apple released an iPad with 3G technology. Each iPad has a 9.7 inch 1024x768 pixel screen that can rotate all four ways, unlike the iPod or iPhone. It runs on a 1GHz Apple A4 system-on-a-chip with the older ones having 256 MB RAM memory and the newer ones having 512 MB RAM memory. It also operates on the same operating system of most Apple products, iOS 5.0.1. The iPad is growing in popularity because it essentially is a portable computer with a touch screen rather than a keyboard. It also is larger than a smart phone with more memory and better capability. It is capable of playing movies and videos, displaying books, and using the internet. The iPad is a more advanced iPod and a portable, keyboardless computer all in one device.

Introduction

There are many technological devices that are very popular in the United States, but the majority of them are made by Apple. Apple’s most popular device right now is the iPad, Apple’s tablet. The iPad is a great leap for technology and can benefit people in almost all professions. While the iPad is very popular, there are some issues with it that people do not like and Apple has been sued because of the device on more than one occasion. The purpose of this paper is to analyze the pros and cons of this new technological development.