If you’re a UK company operating in the mobile space and you don’t have an iPad to play and test with, then you’re off your rocker. Further, if you’re a UK firm already responsible for publishing iPhone applications and you don’t yet have an iPad, well that’s ridiculous.
Whatever you think of the device, positive or negative, I strongly recommend getting hold of one and then confirming your opinion, rather than just reading about it. Text and video does not do any justice whatsoever.
And if you were holding off buying a UK version, the news that the device won’t hit the marketplace until mid-May (pricing and pre-order starts 10th May), I recommend getting one from the States.
Yes you won’t be able to use the App Store icon on the device (for some stupid reason, Apple hardcoded that to the US Store), but you can easily install apps via iTunes and then sync perfectly fine.
Unless cash is a critical issue, it’s no longer a valid excuse to say you’re going to ‘wait a few weeks’. Because it’s now going to be delayed for at least 7-8 weeks now. Which represents a superb opportunity to get some decent development done with a live device before the UK launch.
If you’d like to get one from the States, MIR reader Giff will, I’m sure, be happy to oblige. Drop me a note if you’d like me to connect you.
Posted via email from MIR Live
I have managed to get the App Store working in the UK on an iPad – it is possible 🙂
Other than that Ewan, you are spot on… you need to get one, developing on simulator does not give the right impression of the device
Do tell!
It needs the touch of a small child…. well it did in my case. I registered a US iTunes account, downloaded multiple apps via my Mac and sync'd to the iPad. The following morning my 2 1/2 year old daughter pointed at the iPad and asked 'what's that?', I gave her the iPad to see her reaction, she hit the home button, unlocked, said 'it's an iPod', started to open various apps to see what they would do, she then opened the App Store and bingo it worked…. I've been downloading directly from the App Store since – still trying to figure out if she did anything special!
Not sure I like the look and feel of the Store, very different to the iPhone App store, will be interested in people's feedback when they finally get onto it.
So if you want the App Store to work in the UK, grab a small child (nicely please) and get him / her to play with your iPad until it works, otherwise send it to me and I will see what I can do for you 🙂
I was lucky enough to be in the us on launch day and picked up a 64g iPad… To get the Apps store to work you need to use a US account which is easy enough to set up… Only downside is that you need either a US registered credit card or an American Itunes card to make purchases… I'm sure the latter is available on ebay… I travel for work and use the app store all the time… I am currently in Moscow and have installed loads of apps whilst here… Hope that helps