With the recent unveiling of Apple’s iPad, there are many questions and many opportunities.
I wonder with its success how iPad will change web design? As a web designer in the Shuswap area, the change may not come as soon here as for bigger centres, but nontheless there may be some changes. The real interesting thing, is that the iPad can be rotated to landscape or portrait viewing to suit the customer. This is where the web design will come into play and changes may be made to accomodate this feature. Although iPad is not a true widescreen it still poses some interesting possibilities for web designers to incorporate features that wouldn’t have worked before.
At this point in time, whether you see it as good or bad, it seems that Safari is the only available operating system for the iPad. It seems natural for Apple to offer Safari, but I wonder how this may effect the masses. I don’t mind Safari, but I happen to use Firefox. As a web developer it would certainly narrow your cross browser usability for creating sites, but still need to think of those on other browsers on traditional laptops and desktops.
At this point, I would have to use the iPad a little to get used to the rotating usage to see more possibilities for creative design elements that would enhance the users experience. I am curious to know how many other web developers are taking a serious look at this opportunity or simply brush it off as an after thought.
This all relates of course the new industry of app creators that is more focused for the iPhone, but is now overlapping into the iPad. There may more and more of this sub-industry popping up as more and more opportunities come up. I wonder if the creation of apps will soon merge with web design as the devices become closer and closer. Apps generally are much simpler than websites and used for a different purpose.
I guess time will tell about the potential for web design concepts for iPad. One thing is for certain. The devices will continue to morph and get more powerful. Change will continue and jumping on this early to develop content for these new users could be lucrative.
Apple users will soon let us know.
{ 2 comments… read them below or add one }
there is no question the ipad will change web design its touch sensitive mouse has already done that on the desktop. there is a great potential to the web no longer does a web site have to jump and you but you can jump at it good content and enjoy no fluff
How accurate/sensitive, for example, is the touch screen? Should the font size for text links be increased, and/or a separate icon set be created?