Why the iPad Isn’t a True Creation Device (Yet)

Apple’s iPad and the touch interface is set to be the next great creation device for music, graphics, and video – but there’s a reason it’s not that yet.

There’s no denying that the iPad, along with the iPhone, popularized the next great user interface for computing – touch. It’s easier than ever to get around the web, media, apps, documents, whatever. That list should also include creation applications. And while that’s true for basic drawing, video, and audio creation tasks, there are two reasons why the iPad isn’t a true creation device – yet. Two reasons, actually.

The iPad lacks a precision tool. Ask any professional film editor, music producer, or graphic designer, and there’s a reason a mouse or digital pen exists – to do ultra-precise edits. It’s the equivalent of reaching for the low-tech hammer when you need to precisely hit a nail in, despite fancier technology letting you slam that sucker into the wall faster and easier. Now granted, not every single artist needs that level of precision. But most professional creative types do at some point or another. And a finger is not that precision tool. I can’t imagine making nano-edits during my electronic music creation without a mouse, digital pen, or some not-yet-created precision tool.

The iPad needs to sync files in most cases. This reason isn’t as critical, but it still limits the iPad to a secondary device rather than a sole creation device. In order for the iPad to really be a true creation device, it needs independent computer-like functionality without needing to sync. This is so you can always create, edit, copy, render, and upload all of your work without needing to sync to a computer somewhere.

One specific iPad creation example shows promise. One creation example does show the iPad as a true creation device: writing. Writing is true creation on the iPad. You have the precision tool (a keyboard, both soft and hard) and independent functionality (iWork and notes apps, saving and uploading of text and pdfs).

Let’s hope that the iPad becomes a true creation device for film, audio, and graphics professionals sooner than later. Because I really want to switch my portable music studio onto that glorious device.