iPad Media Analysis

On April 3rd 2010, Apple unleashed a Tablet PC on the US. The iPad appeared to be a hybrid between a netbook screen and an iPhone, but this is not just any old piece of equipment; it changed the way we communicate, the way we received and digested information - it was a revolution for the undesirable Tablet market.

Weighing in at 680 grams the original iPad was portable, and with a glossy black finish, it was also sleek and sexy. It came pre-loaded with Apple’s already successful ‘App Store’, a digital service where you can purchase applications to use on the software, which can also be used to show off to your friends and family. It’s touchscreen display was easy to use and very user friendly due to the many ‘pinch’ and ‘swipe’ commands that allowed you to effortlessly zoom in and out on a webpage, and also switch between applications. With the 1GHZ A4 processor it easily outpaced it’s opponents but it also allowed other technologies to be built in such as the ‘Accelerometer’ which incorparated tilting and shifting into the basic functions of the device. A camera on the back of the device allowed consumers to film and photograph special moments. The jump between ‘generations’ from iPad1 to iPad2 further improves these specifications, with the ipad 2 including a front-facing camera and a faster A5 processor, all bunged into a thinner overall package.

The specifications for the iPad tell the story of it’s creation.

Technological determinists will argue that it’s the advancement in technology that drives society to become more portable. The creation of the iPad has driven us to act how we do. They will say that the fact that we can fit the iPad into our bags and easily carry it is the reason that we do it, not because it’s essential equipment. Another argument that they would use is that the reason we want something instantly is due to the fact that technology has driven us to be that way, it’s brought impulse purchases and digital media into the limelight, giving birth to a new, instantaneous form, of human nature. The iPad fits this model perfectly as music, films and applications are nothing more than just a tap away, especially with the 3G model which allows you to use cellular networks to download applications and view the internet.

Liberals will argue that the creation of the iPad has lead to a more free and democratic society. The fact that we can access any information, at any given time, on applications such as the Safari browser gives people more freedom than large desktop PCs gave them. They will laud the 3G model as a huge success as, when used with social applications such as Facebook and Twitter, it allows people to report news on the move, news that may be surpressed by the Government if they were to give it to media agencies. A recent example of this is the leaking of information via WikiLeaks, an organisation set up by Julian Assange, which spread through social network mediums. Liberals would argue that this is a victory for New Media as they are hard to censor.

Another theory is the Free Market Theory, the idea that technology is driven by the financial market and corporate organisations. This looks like it applies to the iPad. Since it’s release, companies such as HP and Blackberry have released tablet PCs with a different operating system, one that also incorporates an application store with similar products. This competition also makes Apple release newer, upgraded versions of the iPad. Rumours persist that the iPad3 offers a higher resolution display. The current technology market race is similar to the Cold War era Space Race, with companies trying to better each other to reach technological supremacy.

The final theory is the Conflict Theory of History which suggests that social and economic conflicts make people buy into technology. They would argue that in order to be accepted into society people need the latest, best and sexiest technology. The iPad2 fits the billing here; with it’s soulful and sleek design it’s certainly a piece of technology to take down the red carpet. It costs a lot of money, making it a symbol of perceived social status. The iPad also looks better than it’s competitors and the streamlined, curved, cornerless design makes it look like the future has appeared in your hands. Social Conflict theorists will argue that, due to these features, the iPad epitomises their beliefs.

To conclude, it’s clearly not one thing that has driven the history of the iPad, but a mixture of at least four separate entities. One thing’s for sure: they will continue to improve the device’s future.