June 15th, 2010
The iPad Is Here, And It's A Game Changer
By: Robert Cotter, CEO

Ridiculously overpriced? Maybe. Terrifically awesome? Definitely. Apple’s foray into the tablet market was successful stateside months ago. Then it was released in Canada, Australia, France, Germany, Japan, the UK and several other territories in May. The next wave is going to hit in July with Ireland, New Zealand, and Mexico signing on alongside a handful of additional countries.

Despite Apple’s closed system and the lack of Flash or a camera, the iPad is spectacular for surfing the web, browsing global media, using applications, listening to music, and many other productivity-related tasks.

I’m new to the Apple universe. It seems too daunting to switch from PC to Mac. It also seemed like the iPhone was just a glorified toy for hipsters. Well now my Blackberry is getting a new sidekick and it is certainly going to be the iPad. It is heavier than I thought it would be, but it is slim and easy to carry in addition to being useful for business on the go. Given the iPad’s price point and limited functionality, you still may be better suited for a small travel laptop.

Above and beyond the debate about its merits, I think the iPad is a winner. Is there any other company producing a competitive tablet? Did Microsoft scrap its recent Courier and when will Amazon improve the Kindle? And where’s Sony on this? I once viewed tablets as book and newspaper readers. I couldn’t have been more wrong. In its first generation, the Apple iPad is basically a user-friendly laptop, perhaps without the full functionality that a standalone computer might afford you but still more useful than I originally thought and expected.

So why is the iPad a big deal? While mobile may be the “third screen”, it appears that we’re coming to the technological crossroad where technology meets full mobility. Bulky desktops are fantastic for gamers, but the average consumer will eventually split their time between laptops, tablets, gaming consoles and smartphones. And they might even be watching television at the same time using any of these devices. Using a combination of Wi-Fi and 3G, we’re getting close.

All roads lead down the digital path. The web sites of tomorrow will be available on the cloud on any platform at any time. This is good news for publishers as it means amazing distribution potential assuming that the internet remains neutral ground. This is also good for marketers who will be able to reach media consumers simultaneously across many platforms. And it is even better for the record labels and bands that make themselves available across these platforms. Your web site isn’t enough anymore nor is a Facebook, MySpace, or Twitter page alone.

The music industry is struggling now to find a business model. I don’t blame the industry though. It’s a confusing space where technology is evolving quickly and last week’s hit social networking site is tomorrow’s dud. Maybe all of this confusion and overabundance of choice will bring us to the ultimate realisation: we need quality career artists and musicians.

Technology alone can’t create culture or inspire a new generation of music fans. But damn it sure feels like things are changing when you’re sitting by the pool, sipping a beer, listening to some tunes, flipping some burgers, and surfing the web. Back in the day, you would be sitting behind a desk.