iPad date announced for Australia

News this morning from Apple that the delivery date for iPad (both WiFi & 3G) - in Australia - is 29th May.

I'm so looking forward to seeing how an iPad might fit into a portable QRP operation. Or even a remote one. I'm also hoping that Apple will retain enough of open protocols so that the device does not simply become an expensive personal front end to whatever shops they wish to set up, like the sadly not ready for primetime Kindle.

Lack of a camera on the iPad is odd - given the next iPhone will actually have two - one in the front as well as the existing one on the back. Bluetooth keyboard sounds like it could be fun. I also imagine that ham radio apps to track satellites (ProSat) and monitor solar activity (Space Wx, 3D Sun etc) should look amazing. A work colleague showed me his new Android phone with a graphically brilliant astronomy application that you could use to locate, stars, planets and constellations easily. It felt like visual velvet and the images were much richer than I've seen so far on the iPhone.

Even a straighforward app to display bandplans should be able to be made to look clear and brilliant and enable you to get different views depending on mode, QTH or licence class.

waiting for the iPad

How long will it be before an app is developed and released for the new iPad which will enable you to remotely operate an SDR? The opportunity to use more screen real estate more effectively must be well-suited to such a task. How brilliant would it be to be able link back to your home station with a rich graphical interface via wifi or G3!