Let’s do something exciting with it!

It’s been 24 hours since Steve Jobs first announced the new iPad as:

Our most advanced technology in a magical and revolutionary device at an unbelievable price.

I’ve been reading and following the reactions from the technology, new media and the publishing industry, and have been exchanging brief impressions with close friends from different cities like Toronto, San Francisco, New York, Madrid, Barcelona and my current home in Palma de Mallorca, Spain.

And after these 24 hours, I must say I’m very excited about the opportunities the introduction of this new device brings.

That’s not to say that I don’t agree with most of the points being made around the world about what the iPad is missing. Excellent and valid points like the ones being made by the editorial team at Engadget or the guys at MacLife on some of the key features that would have made this a killer product right off the bat.  I can’t help but agree with some of Stan Schroeder’s comments in Mashable, on what Apple announced hidden between the lines. But perhaps we need to dig a little deeper, right through the false expectations and hype we created over the last few months, to truly appreciate the potential and the significance of the new iPad.

As much as I too would have loved to see some key features that reputable and knowledgeable people in our industry are mentioning the iPad is missing, none of these features, of lack thereof, can lessen the excitement I feel for the new opportunities it just opened for all of us.

For one many writers and the whole publishing industry are without a doubt very excited to count on a new device that is sure to inspire and bring a great deal of creativity and attention to it, and it is certain that most of the innovation it inspires will trickle down to other devices, both current and new.

There are also people in the sales and marketing industries thinking up of ways to take advantage of such a device.

And that’s just the thing, I firmly believe that it is up to us to make something great out of this device.  Apple has just done half the work by bringing this new device out, at an affordable price point.  It is up to us to build exciting content that pops out of its screen and takes full advantage of the features that ARE there, so much that we forget what’s missing.

Take for example my passion for cycling.  I am re-reading Lance Armstrong‘s book “It’s not about the bike.” It’s a great read on the subject of cancer, and what the sport of cycling is all about, and as I flip through the pages and read about the cancer treatments, the creation of the Livestrong Foundation, the sacrifices in training for the Tour de France, and highs and lows of his career, I can’t help but wonder how amazing it would be to watch interviews and videos from the racing, see photos illustrating his feelings and amplifying every detail of his story.  The potential is there and it is up to us to enrich the user experience with this device.

Let’s build something truly exciting with it!

-Franklin