Category Archives: Reviews

iPad — Updated Thoughts

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I’ve been using the wi-fi iPad for a couple weeks now — since it was officially released in Canada. As it happens, I have also changed employment and given back my work lapto. So, the iPad is now the only tool for on the road.

I continue to be impressed with the functionality of the iPad for reading documents, browsing, the web, etc. The touch screen and the typical interaces with the software make this a simpler task than the keyboard/mouse combination. There are some sites where one cannot scroll within pop-up windows and others where one can. So, there are some situations where I must revert to the desktop.

I find composing posts to this wordpress blog to be quite difficult. I think partially that may be due to the specific theme I am using but it really shouldn’t matter. So, using the wordpress app for the iPad and then accessing the actual site through the safari browser, I can just about do a complete post. In fact, I must create a draft post first on the desktop to get an image with an appropriate thumbnail for the post. Not a good solution — each post takes three ‘touches’ or just one from the desktop.

I am moderately annoyed that the iBooks application still doesn’t have books for sale in Canada. As I also have the Kindle and Kobo apps on the iPad, it isn’t a huge issue. This is really one of the strengths of this device — the flexibility.

Photo:

This crocus image was taken in our yard in the spring of 2010. I used a Lensbaby with a macro +10 ring on it to get the extreme closeup. The Lensbaby naturally is focussed only in a sweet spot and, with the macro ring, the depth of field is very small — less than 1/2 cm in this case.

iPad — what about archiving?

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I continue to use my iPad — trying to understand the good, the bad and the ugly.  So, far there has been no ugly and I am only starting to get some thoughts on what could be bad.

One of my primary interests in the iPad is as an e-reader.  My choice went to the iPad (over other options like the kindle or sony  or the many other choices)  because of it’s flexibility.  With the app framework, we see there is already a kindle app and a barnes/noble abb etc.  Plus, the app framework enables the reading of other kind of content — whether web content through an RSS feeder or specialized magazine or …  content.  My thought was this platform offers a bit more flexibility in what is and will be a very dynamic field.

One example of the unique kind of content is the recent edition of Wired.   This is one of the first examples of the potential for digital, serial content.  There is a good review of the current magazine version here.  As you can read in the review, this one issue of one magazine is around 500 mb. 

Clearly, even a 64 GB iPad will be filled before long.  My started up with over 1/3 of it taken up just with music from iTunes.  My planned usage is for this device to be a travelling back-up device for photos during vacations etc.  So, I am thinking I likely only have about 20 GB for all app, e-reader, etc. content.

What is an appropriate long-term strategy to keep content that one wants in the future?  I guess one can only choose to keep it in iTunes and then re-load it to the iPad if/when you want to look at some older content.  As the review above notes, the current Wired example is not searchable and nor can you share or save just portions of the full content.  Now, Wired is likely not something to be kept …  but there will be content that is worth keeping for future reference.  Anyone with great thoughts on the strategy or approach?

Photo:

Trees have been slow to bloom with the coolness of spring here through May. 

First Impressions of the iPad

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I received the iPad on Friday last week. With a rainy and snowy weekend, there were good opportunities to try it out.

My take away so far is likely not much different than many. It is a good device for reading especially off the internet – things like newsfeeds etc. I find I can skim through news feeds, Facebook status updates, Twitter etc. Much more quickly than with a mouse and keyboard combo.

I find the typing to be really tough. I am normally a touch typist but now must do 2 finger to avoid huge errors.

I am travelling to Oslo Norway later this week. It is a very short trip and I am debating taking just the iPad. We will see.

Photo:

This image is of a window in a hotel in Tromso Norway from a visit there a number of years ago.

Musical Memories

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I was taken back 30 years today by the program Inside the Music.  And taken back in a very pleasant way.  They had a program on Fraser and DeBolt — I hadn’t heard this vinyl since the 80′s when the record player was replaced with the first generation CD player.  Their first album (and there only were two) was released in 1971.  Watch this video at youtube to see just what they were!  They employed sounds and rhythyms much more common to 20th century classical music than to “folk” music.  Some dissonance; off-beat rhythyms.  A little Stravinsky mixed with ….

Thanks to CBC for reminding me of some outstanding art.  I may have to go buy a record player and get the vinyl out of the box.  Close to 1000 albums still resident in my basement waiting for the grand resurrection!