Coming across Apple parodies on YouTube is nothing new, but when you find one that truly makes you laugh out loud like the one from Cinesaurus.com, it warrants some recognition. The current TV advertisement for the iPad Mini is cute and catchy and really makes you feel like Apple’s new tablet is ready for you to scoop up. What makes this parody so special is not only does it make you laugh, but it is also thought-provoking.
This iPad Mini parody sparked a few thoughts about some of the rumors that have been spinning in between laughs. There have been many rumors over the past year about Apple giving birth to an iMac computer with a touch screen, or an Apple-branded TV that would include some kind of touch screen display. A few months ago, some reports showed that Apple was researching technology to add touch screen capabilities to its Macbooks in the future.
I admit Apple’s actual strategy, mixed with some of the rumors, presents me with some confusion. It seems that each year the flagship iPad becomes more and more powerful and capable. The tablet market is a huge competition on the 7-inch side, but in the 9.7-inch category, the iPad is by far the leader in sales. With the iPad 4, we now have an A6X chip, and to be honest, every six months the iPad becomes closer and closer to being able to handle any and all iMac or Macbook duties. If we just slap a Bluetooth keyboard and mouse on the iPad, will we need an iMac or Macbook?
It seems as we move forward in society mobile technologies are the future, enabling you to take your work on the go. One could say that Apple has always had this vision and pioneered the movement. The more power and innovation that is brought to the iPad, the more I wonder if a tablet will be the only tool that we will need in the future. Imagine writing an email or designing a client’s logo on your iPad, then standing up and walking to work and catching up on an episode of Game of Thrones. The future of technology is one single tablet that we will be able to use for everything.
The point I am trying to make is instead of designing other products to emulate the iPad, I think we need to plan on tablets and the iPad being the future. Period. Each year Apple moves the iPad closer and closer to this reality. Will the next Macbook Air be the “iPad Air”?
