Friday Farewell - Gold Digger

Here at DotLoop, we don't think that the best technology should be limited only to those with the deepest pockets. Some, however, do and have made a point of encrusting iPods and USB drives with diamonds and gold. The latest gadget, of course, is the gold-plated iPad, with a price tag of $189,125.

While certainly not a new idea, it is surprising that someone would go through all the trouble of creating an iPad with 53 flawless diamonds wrapped in 22ct. gold. I mean, it's a a 3G iPad, which, everyone knows, is so first quarter of 2010.

It's practically obsolete. ;)

Have a great weekend everyone!

Innovation Begets Innovation

When the iPad came out a few months back, DotLoop CTO Matt Vorst was curious as to what I thought. I'm a Mac and Matt's a PC, but honestly, I was not too excited about the device.

What I was excited about was what it would do for the industry as a whole. Apple's designs have a tendency to resonate with the rest of the technology industry so, whether you have an iPod or an mp3 player of a different sort, their innovations will eventually become an industry standard.

In today's Wall Street Journal, it was announced that Google and Verizon are in the midst of creating their own tablet computer. This is great news, especially in light of Monday's announcement that the iPhone had its second-place mantel (behind RIM's BlackBerry) usurped by Google's Android within the smartphone market. After all, innovation begets innovation.

Real estate technology is no different and DotLoop is excited to be at the forefront. Thanks to our innovations, forms software is no longer just forms software; it's a negotiation tool.

As another technology company puts it, "you've got to admit, it's getting better."

iPadding You Wallet?

Saturday will be known as Holy Saturday for some of us, and I'm not referring to Easter Weekend.

This Saturday, the iPad will finally go on sale, and Apple fanatics the country over will be hammering for the holy grail of computing.

But as a real estate professional, should you be in line, too?

Many of us in the industry already use a computer at some level, but will the iPad change the way we use personal computers the way the iPod changed the way we listened to music or the way the iPhone changed what we thought of as a smart phone?

Personally, while I am a Mac user at home, I have my doubts about the iPad. But I won't be so quick to lament the gadget, as so many were want to do when the iPhone first came out. A sample quote from way back in 2007:

“Apple begins selling its revolutionary iPhone this summer and it will mark the end of the string of hits for the company.”

-Todd Sullivan; May 15, 2007

Even now, I can certainly imagine a tech-forward agent getting the most of the iPad, especially when coupled with great time and money-saving online services such as DotLoop. So, we'll see.

What do you think? Will you be buying an iPad this Saturday, or will you just spend the afternoon hiding Easter eggs? Do you think it will be ubiquitous in a year or two?