iPad revolution is in the hardware

As Apple's announcement comes to an end, it's clear that thegreatest thing about Apple's iPad is the hardware. The software isstill pretty cool looking - better functionality, more intuitive. Butthe efforts went into providing a platform for content.The iPad standsout because of what can be accomplished.

Consider itsfeatures: a nice big screen, a wicked-fast processor, a user-friendlyinterface. These things have been done before. And they, alone, willnot make the iPad a success.Apple has placed their bets on developersusing the iPad to do new and exciting things - a strategy that workedextremely well for their last game-changing product, the iPhone.

Andby doing so, they continue to lead in the game of corporationsharnessing the power of crowdsourcing game. It's an extremely smartmove on Apple's part (consider Chris Anderson's Wired piece on hardware being the future of technology).

Theycan't be expected to save the print industry - something many hope theiPad will do. But they can provide the hardware that magazines andnewspapers need to reach a broader audience in a digital format. Applecan't be expected to come up with the next game or software. But theycan make sure it's easy for users to access them. And until we learn tocrowdsource the hardware, that's a very profitable position to be in.