Jun 29

Is iOS 4 not coming to iPad until November?

By Brian News, Rumors No Comments »

For those who’ve had a little taste of the honey of iOS 4 on their iPhone AND who happen to own an iPad, this rumor is a lot less honey and a lot more bitter. According to AppleInsider, a report indicates that Apple’s new iAd interactive ads won’t be available to iPad owners until iOS 4 comes to the iPad in November. Ouch!

Previously the expected arrival time of iOS 4 for iPad was “this Fall”, but now it’s uncertain. I was looking forward to having folders and multi-tasking for my iPad before November, but if this rumor is true, it’s going to be a bit of a wait.

Source: Just Another iPad Blog, Image: gdgt

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Jun 28

iPad and iPhone 4: How’s your battery life?

By Brian Editorial 1 Comment »

You’ve had your iPad for a while now and maybe you’ve picked up the new iPhone 4 with it’s better display, faster processor, and improved battery life. I’ve had my iPad 3G for just over a month now and I was able to unbox my iPhone 4 on Friday and I’ve had a weekend to put it through it’s paces. I’d like to share my impressions about battery life for both devices, and keep in mind that this is purely every-day use and completely non-scientific.

The iPad is rated to last about 10 hours and the iPhone 4′s battery life will vary depending on the activity — actually, both devices will exhibit varying battery behavior based on using Wi-Fi, 3G, watching movies, listening to audio, etc. Instead of dissecting different uses and reporting on specific usage and battery statistics over periods of time, I just thought I’d give a couple real-life examples in my own daily life.

Traveling with my iPad was a pleasant surprise — I watched a 2-hour movie on both an outbound flight and then on the return flight and experienced roughly 10-12% battery drain, which was better than I’d expected. I would charge my iPad overnight more out of habit than out of feeling like I’d run out of juice before the end of the next day.

Regarding my iPhone 4, there has been a marked improvement in battery life when comparing my “old” iPhone 3GS to my shiny new toy. To be fair, it’s not quite an apples-to-apples comparison. My iPhone 3GS has been running jailbroken and I know that battery life takes a hit when venturing into the jailbroken underworld. However, maybe the comparison is close because my jailbroken phone allowed for apps running in the background and now the iPhone 4 does as well with iOS4. With that said, by mid-day I would be down to about 50% juice on my 3GS and I’m currently down to 71% on my iPhone 4, both with moderate use (a few calls, email, some texting, and a chess move every now and then).

All in all, I’m very happy with my iPad battery life and, so far, I’m quite pleased with the battery performance of my new iPhone 4. What has your experience been with either iPad or iPhone 4 battery life?

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Jun 26

Just Zap it…

By rob Apps, Reviews 1 Comment »

There are a myriad of ways to transfer files and photos between my iPad and other devices, but until now, whenever I’ve taken a photo with my iPhone, I’ve simply resorted to emailing it to myself and downloading the photo on my iPad or PC.  But I’ve now found a quicker solution if my goal is just to transfer photos between my iPhone and iPad.  It’s called PhotoZap, by 3DTOPO Inc., and it’s only $0.99.  One version of PhotoZap is compatible with iPad, iPhone, and iPod touch, which means that buying it once allows you to install it on all three devices.  Once you’ve done that, you’ve created a simple peer-to-peer connection that can share photos back and forth.  You simply click Send on the device with the photo — usually my iPhone — and Receive on the destination device.

It’s a very simple app, and the transfers are quite fast, but there are a couple of limitations: It only works with photos, and the peer-to-peer connection cannot be made over the internet.  It would be nice if it allowed the transfer of any file type, such as docs, or even entire folders, but that might be a bit of a pipe dream.  It would also add convenience if the connection method were transparent, or at least irrelevant, but that would be much more complex to develop and would probably jack the price up some.  As it is, PhotoZap can pair two devices over either bluetooth or wifi, the latter being the preferred method, in theory, since bluetooth has a much shorter range and is not as fast.  (In practice, however, if you need to click something on both devices to make the transfer anyway, you’re probably going to have both devices nearby, so the range really isn’t a factor.)

I’m happy to have spent the $0.99 for this app, and while there’s nothing difficult about emailing myself photos, I like the simple interface and the ease with which I can toss a few iPhone photos over to my iPad.  Of course, as always, we welcome your input…have YOU found any file or photo-sharing apps that deserve mention?

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Jun 25

Will iPad have an iMac touchscreen brother?

By Brian News, Rumors 2 Comments »

There is a rumor afoot that Apple may be introducing a new iMac with iOS support, which would mean that this new iMac would likely have a Multi-Touch display. If this rumor pans out to be reality, it will be interesting to see how consumers and developers react to such a product. As pointed out by BGR, a Multi-Touch display iMac supporting iOS would be very helpful for iOS developers when creating new apps.

The idea of a desktop computer running iOS is intriguing when considering how the iPad impacts the future of mobile computing. If iOS evolves to become a more powerful OS on a desktop, this should surely translate into more powerful computing for the iPad’s tablet design. I believe that the iPad represents a fundamental shift in how we compute in a mobile world, and if Apple unveils a powerful desktop computer running iOS, then this could bode well for the future and continuing development of the iPad.

[BGR]

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Jun 24

iPad on the Long Island Railroad

By Brian Editorial, News 4 Comments »


I barely made it to my train to Central Islip on the Long Island Railroad (LIRR) this morning, but here I sit, tapping away on my iPad. I grabbed a ride on the ankle express to Penn Station, bought my ticket, and boarded the train with only moments to spare. I used Google Maps on my iPad to plan my route and now I’m rolling down the tracks. I can’t help but think about the masses of people descending upon Apple Stores and other iPhone retailers today, hoping to be one of the few to walk away victorious today with a shiny new iPhone G4. My gratification will be delayed until I return home from this trip. My pre-ordered iPhone G4 is waiting for me at home where I’ll unbox it Friday night. Although I enjoy the excitement surrounding a new iPhone launch, I can do without the insanity at the retail outlets. Twice was enough, thank you. Who among you will be braving the stores today? Let us know how it goes for you — we would love to hear about some iPhone G4 success stories.

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Jun 23

Apple’s iPad passes 3 million in 80 days

By Brian News 1 Comment »

It should come as no surprise that I saw three other iPads around me on my flight to New York given that Apple has just announced that 3 million iPads have been sold in just 80 days since launching the Wi-Fi-only model on April 3rd. Apple has also announced that there are over 11,000 iPad apps in the iTunes App Store, so app development and conversion for the iPad is going strong. According to Apple’s news release:

Apple today announced that it sold its three millionth iPad yesterday, just 80 days after its introduction in the US. iPad is a revolutionary and magical product that allows users to connect with their apps, content and the Internet in a more intimate, intuitive and fun way than ever before.

“People are loving iPad as it becomes a part of their daily lives,” said Steve Jobs, Apple’s CEO. “We’re working hard to get this magical product into the hands of even more people around the world, including those in nine more countries next month.”

I’m not at all surprised that sales for the iPad are going so well. The iPad truly brings tablet computing into the mainstream and there is no going back. Apple will certainly release future iPad generations that are more powerful and offer more features than the current first generation, further cementing Apple’s dominance in the tablet computing realm.

Are you one of the 3 million iPad owners and are you enjoying your iPad? If not an owner already, are you planning on getting an iPad?

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Jun 22

Pretty sweet iPad game for less than a Big Mac Meal

By rob Games, Reviews No Comments »

Imagine combining shuffleboard, bowling, and………….poker?

Enter “10 Pin Shuffle,” by Digital Smoke. I tried the Lite version for free, and after one round, I knew I had to pay the $3.99 for the full version. I was hooked.

The HD graphics are smooth and sharp, and my cat was absolutely mesmerized by the 3D motion and crisp sound effects, making it extremely difficult to play the game with her in the same room.

Strikes earn you two cards and spares earn you one. If you manage to bowl well enough in 10 frames to earn a five card hand, any remaining strikes beyond the five cards will allow you to discard two cards of your choice and redraw them (spares allow one discard/redraw). After 10 frames, the best poker hand wins!

You can play against the iPad, and unlock more difficult opponents, or you can play against other iPad users via bluetooth or wifi by choosing Peer-to-Peer play.

The game also includes slight variations of gameplay, such as more traditional bowling, as well as the traditional game of shuffleboard.

I’m constantly looking for different games and time-wasters for those dull moments in the waiting room or during commercials, and 10 Pin Shuffle will nicely fit the bill for awhile. I would recommend giving the free version a try to see if you like it, but you might want to put the cat out first.

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Jun 22

Finding my way using iPad and Google Maps

By Brian Apps, How To 1 Comment »

My first morning in Manhattan and need to make my way to the office. It’s a short stroll and, just in case I’m directions-challenged (which I am), my iPad comes to the rescue. Using Google Maps, I just use my Current Location as my starting point, input the address to my destination, and tap “Start” to get my directions illustrated graphically on the map. I also have the option to tap on the “car” icon for driving directions, the “bus” for mass transit directions, and the “person” icon for walking directions.

There’s been a lot of controversy about Google and privacy lately, but putting that aside, I’m quite impressed with the visual help Google Maps provides. Just tap on the info icon on your destination pin (the red pin) and you will often get a street-view photo of where you are going. It’s a nice touch to help you identify your destination with precision.

I’m off to find some quick breakfast (another benefit of Google Maps on my iPad) and then over to the office. How do you use your iPad and Google Maps?

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Jun 21

Flying with my iPad

By Brian News No Comments »


It’s a lengthy flight for me to JFK today, so what better way to pass the time than writing a blog post on my iPad? I’m in “airplane mode” so I don’t bring the plane down, so by the time you read this I’ll be safely enjoying the ambiance of my hotel room in the Big Apple.

Along the way, though, I’m definitely benefitting from the small, slim form-factor of the iPad while cramped in my coach seat. Using my diminutive tray table (Table? Seriously?) and the tilt setup of my Apple iPad Case, I’m able to tap away on the iPad keyboard with an acceptable amount of mistakes. Very soon I’ll kick back, stretch my legs (note heavy sarcasm), and watch a movie. In the past, my iPhone would handle the movie chore, but with my iPad, that experience is now far more enjoyable on the big screen.

Given my very limited space, the iPad is earning it’s keep on this flight. It would be a cumbersome task to break out my laptop right now and I’m very happy I can leave it in my bag under the seat. Also worthy of note is vie counted three other iPads in my immediate vicinity — one in the row in front of me, one in the row across from me, and another in my same row. I guess the iPad is achieving ubiquity.

That’s all for now from 37,000 feet on my way to JFK. It’s time for my in-flight movie on my iPad.

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Jun 20

iOS 4 for iPhone hits tomorrow, for iPad later this Fall

By Brian News No Comments »

For those of you who have been waiting for the iOS 4 update for your iPhone 3G or 3GS (and iPod touch), tomorrow is the big day where you can finally update. The iOS 4 update brings many new features, including multitasking and folders for your many apps. It’s highly recommended that you back up your iPhone data and, if jailbroken, restore to OS 3.1.x before you update. If you’re waiting for iOS 4 for your iPad, well — you’ll be waiting a while longer. The iOS 4 update is due to be released for the iPad in the Fall.

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