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When in 2007 Apple launched the iPhone not only reinvented the phone but it also introduced a revolutionary user experience that has changed definitively the way to browse the Web with a mobile device then before.
In that same period, I remember browsing the Web with a Nokia or Windows Mobile phone was an arduous undertaking: webpages was unreadable on small screens on portable devices, slow to render in mobile browsers and all available options that allowed users to fit pages to screen (for increasing readability) was ridiculously worse than the problem they was trying to fix.
With the iPhone, Apple has changed the rules of use and enjoyment of online contents with smartphones by creating an user experience that allows users to see everything at a size that’s readable and has forced its competitors to a rapid run-up to copy that model. The big success of the iPhone has also imposed, for the first time, to internet companies, online newspapers and bloggers to pay a big attention to mobile version of their websites: according to AdMob December 2009 Mobile Metrics report, iPhone OS dominates the market of smartphones generated traffic with a share of 51%.
This scenario led to a change of perspective in designing websites for mobile phones: it is not the devices that needs to adapt to the page layout, but is the page structure that needs to be designed for the specific device. The large diffusion of websites optimized for iPhone is the most concrete example of this trend characterized by one-column layout, simpler navigation bars with biggest tabs and links that perfectly fit with the iPhone’s touch interface (read also this post: Best Practices To Develop Perfect Websites for iPhone and Mobile Devices).
What could happen in the next months with the launch of iPad? Without doubt, the large screen lets users browse standard web pages in a easier way than on iPhone, so there will not be particular problems to see every website. That will change is probably the way to interact with web pages by exploiting the potential of multi-touch interface as has already happened for iPhone and iPod Touch games (take a look at Gameloft N.O.V.A. presentation on iPad during the Apple Keynote) and this will significantly influence and innovate the structure of web pages and their features.
And what about the lack of Flash on the iPad (link on iPhone and iPod Touch)? I think the Apple’s choice drastically limits the access to many websites but it could be, hopefully, a big opportunity to accelerate the slow process to switch to the HTML 5.
Antonio Lupetti is an italian engineer, pro blogger, Mac user, founder of woorkup.com. He lives in Rome, Italy. Follow Antonio on 
January 31, 2010 at 10:10 am
Hope this doesn’t break down into a big Flash argument. Personally I’m really interested in seeing what developers create for this thing. I think we are going to see some really cool apps for musicians, designers, and photographers. It’s going to be great.
January 31, 2010 at 10:13 am
The lack of Flash support does not seem to be a serious problem to me: avoids the waste of resources, and as you say; it will help the emergence of new standards first and foremost HTML5.
I’ ve been using Macs for over 15 years and I can call myself a Mac evangelist. But this time I think Apple has done an half slip. I ‘ll wont be suprized if within a few months the product will be heavily upgraded.
We are now accustomed to the wonderful graphical interface introduced with the iPhone and I am sure many people will want the iPad to show-up in their living rooms; its gonna sell, that’s for sure. Even just for curiosity.
I bought an iPod Touch five minutes after Steve Jobs introduced it on stage in Cupertino, a couple of years ago, and since then, I ‘ve always used, repeatedly. I study Japanese with it, I write notes, emails, a diary, I browse the web, social networks.. well.. I guess you all know.
In short, it follows me everywhere. It’ s that great.
I was expecting an iPod touch with a larger screen. With a device of this size I would have definitively preferred OSX. Multitasking. A USB port. A Webcam. What the heck I can not even run Photoshop on it!
They certainly did a great job with iWork, there ’s no doubt. But the home screen with four icons spread.. looks like a cheap job! They stuck too much to the iPhone’s GUI.
Also the 4×3 format, is really too nineties.
Surely this device has still a long way to go. And it will.
January 31, 2010 at 2:21 pm
The iPad definitely has some potential, but it is certainly (according to the announced specs) not a personal computer in its own right. Right now, it seems to be a super-powered (mobile) peripheral for your personal computer, since the iPad can only physically connect to a computer like an iPod/iPhone for syncing purposes. I imagine some people will sync their iPad by connecting it to their less-expensive netbook (slightly ironic)!
Maybe one day, there could be a pricier version that’s a true Mac, with USB slots (or maybe even FireWire!) instead of the iPod-style connection and full OS X – a MacPad. If not, Apple will still likely refine the iPad to have more features. By then, maybe there will be a new kind of (cloud) computing platform war: Are you an iPad or a Chrome? :-)
Cheers,
Ryan
January 31, 2010 at 11:25 pm
Hey have a look at this video
Hitler’s reaction on iPad
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9_EcybyLJS8
February 1, 2010 at 11:24 am
Having flash support would certainly take this platform to next level as tons and tons of existing websites would come alive again. Also based on all this user community feedback , it IPad can be made more open, just like a personal computer, it would really take off. Any Idea of how would readers like Kindle be impacted?
February 2, 2010 at 10:00 am
iPad is not an e-reader. E-ink technology is not supported. I don’t understand how some claims de iPad to be an e-reader or to be a competitor of Kindle.
I think iPad is just a big iTouch. No phone, no Java, no Flash, no multitask… If some MacFans would get their bandage out of their eyes, would actually see how poor the iPad is.
February 2, 2010 at 2:07 pm
This could really be the beginning of designers and developers starting to take web standards seriously, because if you want your site to work on the iPad, iPhone, and other future devices, you can’t go implementing the menu navigation in Flash.
February 3, 2010 at 10:51 am
I believe the IPad was a huge let down. You can’t actually run software on it, and it’s “intimate” browsing is not all that great. It’s like using an IPod Touch or an IPhone to browse the web, and it gets old after about 20-40 minutes. The ONLY good thing about the IPad is that it WILL be upgraded. Apple will lose a ton of potential sales otherwise. I hope they keep Flash out of the upgrades. They have a LONG LONG way to go before it catches anyone who is not a MACFan.
February 4, 2010 at 3:40 am
interesting conversations, but i also agree with the majority of lack of flash support kind of leaves this product for a smaller audience. but its a great concept and thats all it is at the moment until the do heavily update the thing!
February 17, 2010 at 1:03 pm
Unless you live in jupiter and use netscape the lack of flash support is a really bad thing… most of the important sites use it… play movies, play music, games .. etc.. now if we are there why not lack of quicktime since its worst than flash playing movies on the net.
Apple support flash please…