The Mobile Presenter

If you're reading the iPad forum on Apple Discussions, you'll notice that quite a few people are asking why the iPad doesn't have a camera. I have to confess that I've asked myself the same question when the iPad was introduced, but if you think about it for a moment, it's actually quite obvious (I think ...).

First of all: Which camera are we talking about? A camera at the front or at the back of the iPad? Or both?

Considering a camera on the back: Imagine yourself holding up the iPad to take an image. Does that feel natural? Not really. And having a camera on the back of device that, most of the time, is used with that back facing downwards (towards a table or your lap) doesn't make sense. It would only be a gadget with very limited actual use. Not very Apple-like.

What about a camera on the front then? This option has become much more interesting with the introduction of FaceTime in the iPhone 4 (note that FaceTime hadn't been announced back when the iPad was introduced). So why not have a front-facing camera in the iPad for FaceTime conversations?

Let's try a simple experiment: Switch off your iPad. Watch the reflection of your face in the screen. If you're holding it like most people would, i.e. in your lap or a similar low position, you'll prominently see your own chin. You can probably look up your nostrils, too. Not exactly the most flattering angle to view someone's face.

There are other issues with a camera on the front of the iPad, but I really think this is the big one: The most natural way to hold the iPad will not really provide the best view of its owner's face.

You're probably thinking about stands and prop-up cases now. But keep in mind that most people will use the iPad as-is, without such extras. A stand will also make it harder to use the iPad while it's propped up. Add a keyboard to that? Well, Apple is already selling a variety of devices that have a camera, a propped-up screen and a keyboard. They are called MacBook, MacBook Pro, and MacBook Air. In typical Apple fashion, if you want all of that, they expect you to buy one of those.

Other issues with a camera in the iPad: Where would you put it? According to Apple, there is no wrong way to hold it. So which of the four sides (well, three - one side is already taken by the Home button) should the camera go? And wouldn't that mean that you could no longer hold it the way you wanted?

A minor issue, that also exists with the iPhone 4, though, so it's probably not a show stopper: If you're using your iPad while having a FaceTime conversation (hey, multi tasking will come to the iPad in Fall), you're effectively sticking your fingers (almost) into the other person's face. I have no personal experience with FaceTime, so maybe I'm just imagining this. I just think it could be awkward.

So this is, more or less, what I think led Apple to leave out a camera. Now, I'm not saying the iPad will never get one. The problem of where to put it could be solved with the display from one of those Apple patents that put the camera right into the display itself (but I would imagine we see that one implemented on the iPhone first, if at all). I can't really think of a good way to avoid the up-your-nose view, though. So as far as that is concerned, I'd rather hope that Apple doesn't add a camera to the iPad until they solved this one ...

P.S. I don't plan to turn this blog into an iPad blog. This was just something that I've been thinking about while reading all those questions about a camera on the iPad. We'll get back to mobile presentations soon :)

"Opinion Piece: iPad Camera?" by Dirk Haun is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International Licence.