Could the iPad revolutionize composition software?
Today Steve Jobs presented to the world his newest creation: the iPad.
*screen cap from Apple.com *
While we have 60 days before the first retail units hit stores, the internet has already been torn asunder with the official announcement. Unfortunately at this point the only two opinions that seem to have boiled to the surface are pretty black and white. They are (in standard message board/comment section verbiage):
iPad=FAIL
or
iPad=WIN
Personally I don't intend on purchasing one, at least not a first generation model. I've found that being an early adopter of any new hardware technology can be a tumultuous experience, especially after observing the evolution of the iPod and iPhone over the last 9 years. History tells us that the second and (particularly) the third generation of Apple products tend to come with the full feature set you hoped for with the first. But instead of focusing on the iPad's (arguably numerous) faults I wanted to consider one MASSIVE opportunity.
MULTI-TOUCH ENABLED COMPOSITION SOFTWARE!
I've used both Finale and Sibelius over the last 5 years and something that has always frustrated me about both pieces of software is the hundreds of keyboard shortcuts that need to be memorized in order to compose/arrange as efficiently. The learning curve on both of these products is extremely high for new users and even arrangers that are familiar with one but need to transition to the other. I know many people who flat out refuse to use one or the other simply because it is such a pain to get used to the new interface.
Now imagine if you had access to a multi-touch enabled version of either software...
Want to write out a measure of sixteenth notes? Simply tap the "16th note" button and then tap the appropriate stave/measure to place the notes! Need to add an accent on every third note? Select those notes using one hand and tap the "Accent" button with the other! Need to copy a phrase across multiple staves? Hold one finger at the beginning of the phrase, tap at the end of the phrase to select it, then drag and drop where you wish!
Even the ability to "grab" the page and zoom in and using a "pinching" motion to flick from page to page in the score using iPhone-esque controls could literally save HOURS over the course of a project.
mind=blown
There are some obvious limitations that come with not only the iPad (no USB ports, Flash support or the ability to "write" in notations/annotations with a stylus to name a few) but the infrastructure of the App Store (i.e. the software needs to be developed from scratch using Apple's dev kit) but the possibilities for this type of interface excite me to no end (multi-touch Pyware anyone?!?!).
To the software engineers out there that have the ability to create this software, know this: you've already made your first sale... I just need to know that it exists.
Post Script: I do realize that this is not the first tablet "PC" to exist (though the iPad is more of an "iPod Touch XL" than a true PC) and that they have been utilized in the Health Care Industry for years. However, Apple is making the push to get this technology into the hands of consumers (at a reasonable price point no less) and by doing so they are also making it worthwhile for software companies to invest in producing multi-touch enabled programs that can/will be used by a MUCH larger market (outside of the 10 people that bought an HP TouchSmart PC).
Eric
And so it begins!
MSI's 10-inch Tegra/Android tablet coming this year for $500 (Ars Technica)
Composition, Technology | in Speculation
Reader Comments (4)
Good points man. I for one would definitely take the leap into writing a lot more and putting my thoughts musically down if it were a touch screen, easy to navigate interface.
The ideas for the show design and drill design is where I think the real "win" is.
Here's to hoping that one day Apple decides to support Adobe Flash!
~Brownie
I agree with you about not buying the first gen. With the technology field moving so quickly, you have to be able to settle for whatever you're buying. I got a 5th gen. video iPod and within a year the classic comes out.... :-(
But, on another note, recent advances in speed and portability make me look forward to the future. Easily within a couple of years we could see a completely portable better-than-anything-we-have-now computer. I wouldn't be surprised to see mind-connect synapses to translate thought directly into notation :-P
Regardless, I think Apple making a product like this makes me happy. I know that if Apple makes a product, it eventually revolutionizes it and it becomes the standard. I'm optimistic.
-Garrison
I like the product, the idea of a larger iPod touch is appealing to me. I too agree that the next generations of the iPad along with nearly all Apple products get better with feature. However in defense of the iPad, Apple made it to be exactly what it is, a new and innovative way of experiencing media and surfing the internet. If they wanted it to be like a netbook; essentially a very cheap laptop; they would have.
I love their products but never love this company, because tried to do dirt on the net