Popular culture trends in 20th century art, music, film, and literature

Pop Culture Device in the Future

In this world of expanding technology, individuals are frantically trying to keep up with the latest technological trends. One of the latest technological trends is the iPad, a tablet that combines the capabilities of the majority of Mac devices into a single device approximately .37 inches in depth, 1.44 pounds in weight, and 9.5 inches in height (iPad, 2013). An iPad is designed to be similar to other touchscreen Mac products such as an iPod Touch or iPhone, features a single home/menu button at the bottom of the screen, an earphone jack, volume up and down buttons, and either a 30-pin traditional connector or a Lightning connector to charge the device (iPad, 2013). The iPad has the ability to surf the web, take pictures and capture video, watch movies via apps like Hulu and Netflix, and listen to music using iTunes or other music services. The device can do just about anything the iPod Touch or iPhone can do, with the exception of being able to place phone calls via a traditional method via a wireless carrier such as AT&T, Sprint, or Verizon, however, downloadable applications such as Skype can facilitate in face-to-face communications between users and other Skype account holders. One of the reasons the iPad is so fascinating is because it combines the functions and capabilities of a variety of individual devices for a premium.

An iPad is unique because it attempts to harness the capabilities of individual products such as laptops and computers, yet does not have a physical keyboard or usb ports; has the capability of storing and playing music; has the same capabilities as a digital camera; and also serves as an e-reader, which allows the user to store and transport thousands of books in a single device. The iPad signifies an individual's attempts to harness the power of all these devices, yet they are limited by the device's battery life and memory capabilities. While some may argue that the iPad is a redundant device, especially if they have access to the individual devices that make up the iPad, it does facilitate the transport of individual devices and minimizes the amount of space needed for them, especially when used as an e-reader.

The iPad is representative of pop culture due to the fact that owning one is considered to be a status symbol. Because of its price, only certain people can afford to purchase them. Mac products are some of the most expensive electronic devices on the market, yet due to their reliability and quality, people are willing to pay more for the product. Additionally, the device is continuously being developed and its size has been changed to be more portable and efficient. People are constantly looking to be first-adopters in the technological realm, which helps to drive both Mac to create innovative devices and the public to try them. Furthermore, it is highly celebrated by individuals who worship Mac products and are exclusively loyal to the brand. This in turn, fuels the debate between individuals as to which electronic devices are best, Macs or PCs/Windows-based devices.