Posts Tagged: ipad

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19
Aug 10

iPad + iPhone 4

A friend asked my opinions on the iPad and iPhone 4. Somehow, I thought I had posted something about this, and while I posted plenty of other opinions about the iPad, I had only officially put out my initial reaction, and haven’t said boo about the iPhone 4.

Let me rectify this.

iPad:

  • The iPad will not replace a laptop. But it will replace more of your laptop than you think. Pick up the keyboard that goes with it, and it’ll be closer still.
  • Not having a traditional desktop with files and folders is an asset to the iPad. It makes it easier to use, and easier to understand. If you don’t believe me, walk around your office and see how many people “file” things into their desktop.
  • Reading books with iBooks works fine, and is a pleasure. The highlighting and notes abilities are very nice. I’ve read a few books on it now.
  • The screen is not useable outside. I tried it on a cloudy day, and the reflection was too much.
  • It is far better for consumption than creation. However there are some creative bits that work well on it (drawing, short emails, etc). As such, I haven’t quite found a good fit for using it at work.
  • The iWork apps (I have Pages and Keynote) are great, but are not compatible with last-years desktop version of iWork. This is really disappointing, and worse: the iPad Keynote app reads my ancient PowerPoint files just fine.
  • There are some really fun, addictive, and innovative games available for only a dollar or 2 each.
  • I didn’t get the 3G version, but will next time The ability to pay for 3G access a month here or there would be perfect for vacations.
  • Overall: if you have room in your budget for another device, you’ll love the iPad for surfing, social networking, sharing photos, and playing games.

iPhone 4:

I still have a 3GS, and will likely get the new phone (iPhone 5?) next summer.

First, lets talk about the antenna: From what I understand, the antenna thing might be an issue in certain situations, for some people, but for other people, they get reception where they never previously were able to. If you are concerned, get one of the bumpers – it fixes the death-grip problem. If you are really concerned, wait till January. The rumors are stronger than usual, and suggest that January is when there will be an iPhone on the Verizon network.

Other than that, I hear the screen is amazing and the camera is as good as many dedicated cameras. FaceTime is great, and I’m waiting to hear if this latest incarnation of video conferencing will be one that the public actually adopts.

If you’re concerned about an “open” platform and are thinking of picking up an Android phone, I’d highly suggest reading this, this, this, this, or this.

Overall: Apple is still making the best smart phone, at a competitive price. Other phones are at least a year behind in technical capabilities, and if you look at their usability, I have yet to see a report of a new phone that is better than (or as good as) the original iPhone that was released 3 years ago.

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16
Aug 10

Innovation Forum RSS: Surf smarter and faster

The Innovation Forum is a monthly discussion I lead talking about “new stuff that is made useful”.  This forum was on RSS and how to managing the deluge of information that we get today, and how to surf smarter and faster.

Links:

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20
Jul 10

You got an Apple in your Corporate

Apple doesn’t belong in a Corporate environment, right? Well someone forgot to tell Wells Fargo, SAP, and Mercedes-Benz:

“[They] are using the tablet-style computer for tasks as varied as accessing work e-mail, approving shipping orders, and calling up on-the-spot auto-finance options.”

It takes time to change things, but now that Apple is bigger than Microsoft, one has to wonder how long corporate will continue to cling to the underdog.

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17
May 10

Creative Space and iPad

Matt Legend Gemmell on how the iPad helps him get his work done:

“Focus and perspective are our bread and butter. We have to think carefully about problems in multiple fields in the course of a standard workday, and poor quality of thought invariably leads to disproportionately significant repercussions later. There’s almost no limit to what I’ll pay to increase my focus and productivity without a corresponding increase in pain; iPad would be cheap at three times the price.”

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5
May 10

iPad Blank Slate

Why the iPad Is a Blank Slate, and Why That’s Important:

“So what’s the difference between a Mac and an iPad? It’s that blank slate thing. No matter what you do on a Mac, the keyboard and mouse and window-based operating system make it impossible to ignore the fact that you’re using a Mac, and it’s often equally impossible to ignore the fact that you’re using a particular program.

In contrast, the iPad becomes the app you’re using. That’s part of the magic. The hardware is so understated – it’s just a screen, really – and because you manipulate objects and interface elements so smoothly and directly on the screen, the fact that you’re using an iPad falls away. You’re using the app, whatever it may be, and while you’re doing so, the iPad is that app. Switch to another app and the iPad becomes that app. If that’s not magic, I don’t know what is.”

Intriguing idea. I’ve never really noticed that the computer didn’t fade away, but now that I think about it, I think he’s right.

Think of it from your spouse’s perspective: they probably lump it all together and says you are “always on the computer”, but in reality, you’re doing a variety of things (tagging photos, researching on wikipedia, reading the news, and writing to your Aunt in Darkest Peru). To anyone but you, it looks like computer time. The iPad may yet be different.

Favorite bit about how saying the iPad is just a big iPod Touch misses the point: “Ken Case of The Omni Group has said, size matters, which is why a swimming pool is not just a big bathtub.”

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