iPad TV
You see, despite Apple clearly signalling, by orienting its logo in portrait mode, that the iPad is for holding like a book or a piece of paper, it’s meant the most to me turned to landscape mode, where its dimensions replicate the video screen I’ve known my whole life. Turned to landscape, the iPad offers me the most comfort, the most passive participation, the feeling of Home.
Excellent essay on the iPad, where it fits in, and where we may see video going across Apple platforms. The whole thing is very much worth a read.
The point raised above is one I have thought of many times myself. I use the iPad in landscape mode 95% of the time, yet the logo (which can only face one direction¹), is in portrait mode. I’ve been trying out some of the magazine apps (Vanity Fair, Wired), and while using them in portrait mode does sometimes feel closer to the experience of holding a print magazine in your hand (because of the size and orientation), I don’t think that matters. These are new experiences with media, and the goal isn’t—and shouldn’t be—to simply recreate the print experience.
And while we’re at it, can iPad apps stop with only running in one orientation? I’m looking at you Words With Friends HD, and to a lesser extent you MLB At Bat (sorry pal).
¹ One of my all-time favorite little UI features on Apple products is the way that the camera on the iPhone’s shutter release button rotates when you turn the phone from portrait to landscape mode. It’s absolutely perfect. It’s one of the things that struck me the first time I ever picked up an iPhone. It still brings a smile to my face every time I see it. Sure, it’s probably not possible technically (or should I say very hard), but imagine how kick-ass it would be if the logo on the back of the iPad could somehow rotate like that. I can dream.
Also, one of these days I’ll figure out how to make proper, clickable footnotes that can return to where you left off. Sorry about that.
