The New iPad

Ok, so you know Steve Jobs. Skinny, tall, white guy who just happens to be co-founder and chief executive of Apple? Yea, that guy. No, he's not becoming a musician (though how crazy would that be?), nor is he creating a record label to sign every talented unsigned artist (again, crazy, but untrue). Actually, Steve Jobs is doing something cool that indirectly affects the music business.

On March 2, 2011, Jobs gave a speech regarding Apple and its products. You may remember being in middle/high school in 2001 and getting your first iPod. Then fast forward to high school/college and you're buying your own iPhone with your first salary. Now in 2011, Apple has the iPad, a desktop-like tablet that puts a computer in your hands. The iPad is one of the most "magical" creations from Apple; in fact, it's one of the most magical creations ever. Consider this: it has allowed for children to gain interest in school, and according to a Chicago school, it's pushed a 50-60% increase in grades; it allows for doctors to give better visuals to patients. And it does so much more.

Remember those kids in school who always had their Mac with them so that they could mess around with Garage Band and pretend like they were legitimate musicians? Yea, they looked douche-y and frustrated over their Macs, but it was understandable; technology hadn't advanced enough for them. But on March 2, Jobs announced the release of the iPad 2. And those Mac-lugging kids would die to hear the stats on this product: it's 2 times faster and the graphics are 9 times faster than the original iPad, which is pretty fast, compared to a regular computer; it has a dual-core processors, which is neat for a handheld tablet; and it has two cameras (forward- and backward-facing). Oh, and it's much lighter and thinner ( 1.3 pounds and 8.8 mm.)

So what does this have to do with music? Well, more and more artists are self-producing their music. They have to write the music, record it, mix it, promote it, etc. Now with the iPad 2, musicians don't have to carry around their giant computer; instead they can work with this 1 pound tablet that is compatible with 60,000 apps that include music-related apps that help artists record and mix their music. In addition, the speed of the Internet and the camera abilities allows for artists to connect with their fans on a more personal level. All this for only $499 (less than a guitar). So for all budding artists, I suggest you pick one of these up.