A nifty feature for readers, both adults and kids, on the iPad is shown in World magazine, 9-25-10 issue, describing the iPad's multimedia capabilities for books which can incorporate both animation and sound. The New York Times tells about a book recently released which includes sign language, making it useful for deaf children, and also for students of sign language.
Photography and the iPad
"Here’s a neat article in Digital Photography School that talks about using an iPad to improve your photography skills," John Carter informs us. "I don’t have an iPad or an iPod Touch. I’m not sure if I’ll ever own an iPad, but I’m getting pretty darn close to dipping into my savings for a 4th Generation 32GB iPod Touch. My Classic 80GB iPod is proving too cumbersome to use."
Yes, More About the iPad
It was fun, finding this news site showing the long lines in Beijing as people waited in front of the glass-front Apple store to buy an iPad. There are 12 slides to view.
MobileMe Update
Art Gorski brings the following to our attention, "MobileMe has been updated with a completely new web-based Mail interface, a Find My iPhone app for iPhones, and some other new features.
"The most interesting to me is server-side Mail Rules. Now you can define rules on MobileMe instead of in Mail on your Mac and they will also work with your iPhone, iPad, and iPod Touch."
AT&T: Undelivered
Thanks to Jim Hamm for the following report: "We tried ordering the new iPhone 4 yesterday morning when the Apple store opened - we had an appointment for 10 am. Big mess all around, both with Apple and AT&T. We were not successful. The Apple store couldn't help us, so they said why don't you download and install this new store app that Apple just came out with. We did, we tried, we failed, we left, we frustrated.
"Both Apple and AT&T are not prepared to handle a new product introduction such as this. And, they don't seem to learn anything from past experience. It seems to me they should say, for example, if your last name starts with A to D, you can order on such a date; if it is E to J, then order on such a date, and so on. This would break up the ordering process and place less of a load on all their servers.
"Ah well, Apple fans that we are, we'll just wait till the crowd dies down and try again. We don't mind waiting - the frustration comes when Apple/AT&T states pre-orders are available, then it seems they should be available.
"Now, after all this ranting and raving, I feel better already. I think I'll go and have a cold beer...
Doing Well: iPads
Hasn't it been fun to see all the news about the iPad! One article in particular got Jim Hamm's attention. He passes it along to us. Kindle needs the iPad, and vice versa, the writer exclaims.
Traveling with iPad
A SlashGear columnist relates his experience in "Two Weeks of Travel, Ten iPad Lessons." De Prez Allen Laudenslager notes that the man has some interesting observations. Now, an email from Jim Hamm also suggests we look at this article.
AT&T - Verizon - iPad Reviews
Jim Hamm sends us the latest info. "Here is yet another review of the iPad. It is a good read and very thorough. It's interesting to note that most--all?--articles and blogs that I read give a 'thumbs down' to AT&T's cellular service. The article states 'Dumping AT&T altogether becomes more appealing by the day.' However, it seems that Apple and AT&T have a contract through 2011 or 2012 -- it's not clear to me which year it is."
Jim goes on to comment, "We have been reasonably satisfied with AT&T and its coverage with our iPhones, but we really haven't used the 3G coverage much since it isn't available in Prescott. When we're at the condo in Scottsdale we don't need 3G as we have wifi available. We have friends here in Prescott who tried the iPhone and AT&T and went back to Verizon. They liked the iPhone but not AT&T.
"I think AT&T's cellular network was not prepared for the data load placed on it by the iPhone. And, although Verizon has more 3G coverage than AT&T, I wonder how well their network would have performed if they had been the carrier? Maybe we'll never know.
"On the iPad itself, I think it is an interesting and well-built, quality device, but the more I read about it the less enthused I become in getting one, for a variety of reasons. For me, I think my MacBook Air is more of a practical and useful device."
An iPad and A Happy Family
With a grin Jim Hamm speaks up, "I think this family has got a mysterious symptom going around called "iPaditis." Take a read. Careful, it could be catching." And note, you can click to hear the article read.
More iPad Info
Yes, there's more about the iPad. Gizmondo reviews it, but scroll closer to the bottom for lots of links, suggests Jim Hamm. And De Prez Allen Laudeslager was impressed with Apple CEO Steve Jobs' quote, "One million iPads in 28 days — that’s less than half of the 74 days it took to achieve this milestone with iPhone.” Read further in Wired.
See iPad's Innards
Nice photos here. Jim Hamm alerts us to the website showing us the inside of the iPad 3G. "Here are pictures of what the inside of the iPad 3G looks like. I've looked at and handled the iPad wifi-only model, but haven't looked at the 3G version yet. I read one blog wherein the individual commented that watching a video using a 3G connection to the iPad wasn't so good: the download speed wasn't fast enough. He didn't mention how strong or weak the signal was. I'm sure there will be more commentary on this in the blogs. The same commentator mentioned that using wifi to watch a video was great with the iPad."
Here, Jim adds a side note about MiFi. That deserves a separate posting, so look for it momentarily.
The Oldest iPad User, So Far
Bobbie Pastor found this article about a 100-year-old woman, Virginia, in Oregon who is shown on a short YouTube feature, demonstrating her use of her iPad. It's the first computer the woman has bought, and she's already proficient and loving it. What fun!
Making an iPad "Town Hall" Video
"This is a hoot!" hollers Jim Hamm. First read the ingenious how-to describing David Pogue's making of an iPad "town hall" video. Then view the final results.
More on iPad
There's lots of news and commentary about the iPad. Jim Hamm found this, "Morgan Stanley Research surveyed 2500 people on their interest in purchasing an iPad. About two-thirds said no interest. Based on this survey, though, the sales number for iPads could translate into big bucks for Apple."
Apple & iPhone Updates
Keeping up with the latest? Jim Hamm forwards to us these links about features for iPhone 3G and iPhone 4. Here's the Apple sneak preview. MobileCrunch says there have been 50 million iPhones sold so far, and their article discusses multi-tasking, iAd, a huge Mail update, and a "bunch of other stuff." The third link takes you to a one hour video of a presentation of OS 4 done mostly by Steve Jobs.
Jim summarizes the video, "It is impressive, and really gives you a better understanding of what this new OS does. After you see this, stop and think a minute. All this comes from a phone. Remember, something we use to just make phone calls on. Love it or hate it, the iPhone is really one amazing device."
For today's article (dated 4-12-10) that covers the latest from Apple on iPad, iPhone, iPod Touch, iAds, and more see Barron's "Apple Throws a Potent iPunch."
iPademonium
With a newly-coined word like "iPademonium" these guys are talking about "you-know-what." Jim Hamm suggests we look at the Small Dog Electronics offerings. He's purchased items from them and thinks highly of them as an Apple retailer. They offer a newsletter you can subscribe to, (#665 is about iPad) and their home page is here with Apple products, refurbished Apple products, and accessories for the iPad.
iPad, First-Hand
Today was iPad Day, and here's a first-hand report from De Prez Allen Laudenslager: "I stopped at Best Buy to see about getting them to present at the July PMUG meeting, and while I was there I played with an iPad for about 10 minutes.
"The cool factor is through the roof. I started by touching the Safari icon which took me to the Apple iPad home page. By touching the bookmark tab, it brought up the preloaded bookmarks. When I touched the URL bar, a keyboard rolled up from off-screen at the bottom of the touch screen. I found that you really can't touch type standing up because the slightest touch on the screen puts that character where you are typing. I might get used to it sitting down, but I doubt it since touch typists always rest their fingers on the 'home' keys.
"I found that using my left and right index finger and hunt and peck worked well, and after entering your URL at least once, when you start to type it pulls up a list that matches what you have typed to that point. If you see the address you want on the list, just touch it and touch the 'go' key on the keyboard and zip -- you're there.
"I opened Pages and tried a new document. How do you get the keyboard to show up? Since the sales people were busy with real customers, I tried double touch and wowser!!! there is the keyboard. As a touch typist hunt and peck feels odd, but since this is not really meant to replace a full-up computer it would work just fine for me to make notes while reading the daily news.
"A neat gadget, and I recommend taking the time to drop by either Best Buy or the Apple Store to check one out. When I finally do break down and get an e-book reader it will for sure be the iPad since it does so much more than just let me read books."
Apple iPad FAQs
The David Pogue column in the New York Times caught Jim Hamm's eye, and it's a quick scan about the frequently asked questions on the iPad. Here's the link. He gets right to the point, and ends up with, "But I'm telling you, the multitouch screen/software makes it very, very different from a laptop, and the screen size makes it very, very different from an iPhone. It's something entirely new. So yes, if it appeals to you, you'd have to buy it in addition to your laptop or iPhone."
Ginger Carlson finds more: "Check out this link about the iPad."
Flash and iPad
Some interesting observations on the iPad and Flash come from author John Gruber at Daring Fireball. He points out that everyone was raving about the speed of the new CPU, Apple A4. Jim Hamm believes him to be very perceptive in his comments. iPad Big Picture - Various iPad Thoughts - Blue Boxes (If your eyes don't love that dark background try this remedy: hold down Control and Option and Command simultaneously with the number 8. Toggle back when you're ready.)