Comcast is coming out with an app to allow you to control your Comcast cable box.

The developer, Brian Roberts, says, “It looks particularly great on the iPad because it takes advantage of the rich, graphical user interface. We’ve got developers working now to finish and launch this application. We’re building in some pretty cool social features like chat and the ability to invite friends to watch what you are viewing. This is part of our strategy to give consumers lots of simple ways to navigate the tens of thousands of choices we now offer on television and online.”

I like this concept, but I’m curious to see if they got it right. While my iPad is usually sitting right next to me while I watch TV, so is the remote control.

While it’s been years since I played an instrument and read sheet music, I can see how the iPad would be a fantastic tool for musicians. The ForScore app allows you to take all of your sheet music with you on the iPad and then touch the screen to advance pages. It even has an optional built in metronome.I would say this is a must have app for musicians, especially those who travel or teach. No need to lug around sheet music anymore!

It seemed that anything that the iPad couldn’t do with it’s native functionality could be fixed with an app with just one exception; the lack of camera. Well enterprising developers have been able to solve even that problem.

Camera A ($0.99) and Camera B (Free) work together to turn your iPhone into a camera for your iPad either via Wi-Fi or via bluetooth.

I’m sure in the coming weeks we will see several more of these cropping up and the quality improving greatly, but for now the Camera A/Camera B apps deliver.

I guess I fall into the minority because I haven’t for one second been bothered by the fact that the iPad doesn’t have a camera. These days just about every cell phone on the market has a camera and if there is one device that is with us 24/7 it’s our cell phones. So if my iPhone is with me why do I need my iPad to take pictures? In fact, if my iPhone is with me why do I need to link my iPhone to my iPad to take a picture with my iPad? Maybe I’m missing something and there is a very important functionality to having a camera on the iPad that I’m not seeing that everyone else needs desperately.

Now, having a front facing video camera for VoIP video calls that I get and I’m sure we will see on future versions of the iPad.

Earlier this week we discussed the rumors of Hulu showing up on our iPads in the near future but with the possibility of it being a fee based subscription service. Our response was lukewarm. Well, here is some news that has us fired up!

Netflix has an app ready to go on the iPad app store that will offer access to the Netflix Instant Watch catalogue directly on your iPad!  . . . No, I’m fine  (sniff, sniff) . . . don’t worry about me, these are tears of joy.

Let’s take a look: . . . continue reading

“I pre-ordered a 32GB 3G after looking up e-textbooks.
Next semester I have a history course that has five books, weighing a total of about 15 pounds and costing about $500. The e-versions could fit on the 0.5 pound iPad and cost a total of $225. That pretty much sold me on it!” – Derek

“I have one on reserve for next Saturday. My main use for it will be for web, mail and note taking and such in meetings at the office. I’ll use it at home for casual web surfing and emails. Don’t need the 3G model, I have the iPhone for that. eBooks is where I will be spending money…” – Scott
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