Notes on the iPad
Posted on | June 14, 2010 | No Comments
I now have an iPad Wi-Fi 64GB. That means no 3G, which suits me fine.*1
This is not a review, per se. The below consists of three parts:
- a plus and minus breakdown
- list of apps you will probably want
- conclusion
So here we go.
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Part 1: Breakdown.
Note: I hope you won’t just count the balance here. The points are not of equal value.
Plus:
- it is very instinctive to use (if you only want to use the services it offers; I mean here that the interface is handy)
- just the right size, and light
- fast – no waiting around, apps open when you click them, and the device turns on when you ask it to
- simplicity could be a plus for some
- you can’t lose the most important apps (if your most important apps are the default ones) in the sea of apps, because they’re always on the front
- pre-included Gmail app
- sync with Google calendar available
- the Maps app works beautifully when connected online
- can be charged just by connecting it to a PC
- clear, beautiful screen that shows up surprisingly well in sunlight, too
- highly customizeable with apps, due to its meager default functions
- excellent battery lasting power – I only managed to get it down to 44% during 18 hours of travelling, though it should be noted I didn’t have it on all that time; did write five reviews and unlock two new frog skins on Dizzypad, though.
Minus:
- no possibility of keeping the Maps on the iPad while not connected online – Edit: I have done the iPad wrong here! It does save some maps – but only ones you viewed while connected.
- Maps app has no routing capability – Edit: Again, I was mistaken. It automatically plots a route from your location to whatever location you select from search.
- no USB port and no possibility of direct transfer of files; transfer is only possible clunkily through iTunes *2
- can’t select a default search engine other than Yahoo or Google
- cannot work and sync at the same time
- no support for some very common media file formats such as wmw and avi
- iBooks won’t recognize non-copy-protected pdf e-books and hence they can’t be synced (unless you get a third-party app like Bookman which, fair enough, is free)
- limited pdf support (only as attachments or online in Safari, unless you get a third party app)
- did not come with earbuds
- can’t organize photos with the included photo app – not even to put them in folders, forget about metadata or file conversion or editing
- can’t edit metadata in the iPod application; in general, I guess editing files or folders is not a thing the iPad does
- can’t organize the icons on the desktop – all your apps will be on it in alphabetical order, save pre-included apps, which will always be on the front Edit: My mistake again. Hold finger over icon until all icons begin to wiggle. You can then delete or reorganize apps. Drag icon to the edge of the screen to put it on a different home screen. Click button to return to normal state.
- email/calendar sync, at least as pre-installed, only for MS Exhange, MobileMe (and that’s just a 30 day trial), Gmail, Yahoo and AOL
- no stylus included
- no protective sleeve included
- no alarm clock
- needs a lot of apps just to fix basic requirements
- text editing takes some getting used to; took me ages to find how to control text selection of less than one paragraph, more than one word
- cannot have two apps on at the same time, unless one of them is iPod; on the other hand this makes it easy to close an app, and they all open up quickly if you have to reopen them
Hypothetical plus:
- if you get a stylus and an art app it can work like an electronic sketchpad you can carry around, which is potentially awesome
- Jobs has promised iBooks WILL support pdf later this month
Not a device issue but relevant to our interests:
- apps are really cheap, and a lot of useful ones are also free or available as a limited free version
- make sure to download iPAD apps, because iPhone apps work on it but they’re in iPhone resolution, which is no fun
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Part 2: App recs.
Here are some apps you’ll probably want on it, free unless otherwise mentioned.
If you like e-books:
Bookman – transfer your pdf format e-books (and other pdfs) on iPad for easy browsing. This is still done through iTunes, but is not a folder sync, thank heavens – you only transfer what you want, and from whichever folder you want. May become unnecessary when iBooks starts to support pdf, but what the hell, it’s free and it works right now.
iBooks – quite a few downloads of free classics, but only shows iStore downloads, even when you have other e-books saved on the iPad.
Amazon Kindle for iPad – because it IS a huge and easy e-book shop.
If you’re an artist:
Sketchbook Pro – though you might want to also get an iPad compatible stylus, unless you’re really good at fingerpainting. (€5,99) Also available as a free lite version.
Note: Here‘s how to make your own stylus with conductive foam, some wire and a used pen. Thanks Collin!
If you write a lot:
Notebooks (€6,99) – no real formatting functions, but that hardly matters as you can’t save and export the files anyway, but it allows you to save notes in a “Book” (essentially a folder), which is more than the default Notes app does. You can then send the text to yourself or others by email, as plain text, not an attachment. It’s good for when you’re away from your PC and still want to be writing – notes, reviews, poetry, fiction, whatever takes your fancy.
If you blog:
BlogPress – supports LJ, WordPress, Blogger, Youtube, Flickr etc – not Dreamwidth or Photobucket though, which is weird. (€2,39)
Photobucket for iPad app exists separately, though.
If you have a non-3G iPad but own a Nokia S60 phone, N900 tablet or Windows Mobile OS device:
JoikuSpot (this goes on your phone) – turns your 3G device into a WLAN hotspot, to which you can then hook your iPad. Operator costs, of course, apply.
For organizing your photos:
Photosort (€1,59) – allows you to organize image files into folders directly on the iPad – but on the other hand it takes double the space because the photos are copied from the default Photos app to Photosort, so you have to go delete them from Photos after copying them to Photosort, which can be a little annoying.
If you like brainless, addictive games:
Dizzypad
If you chat online:
IM+ Lite – has ICQ, AIM and MSN among others, and honestly I don’t see why you’d need the paid version.
Other:
Kayak for finding flights.
Wikipanion, one tap access to Wikipedia, with smooth simple presentation.
Skype, even if they’ve only got a low-res iPad compatible iPhone app out at the moment.
Epicurious for recipes.
Awaken for an alarm clock.
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Part 3: Conclusion.
You need a lot of apps to make the iPad a really useful device. Fortunately, apps are available in large numbers. You also need an Internet connection for some of the most useful apps – I’m thinking Maps and email, and Wikipanion and IM+ if you choose to install them - which would seem to recommend the 3G version, but see above re: Joikuspot and below re: operator contracts being evil. With Bookman it also makes a great e-reader alternative.
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Any questions? If you want to know something specific, I can see if I can find it out for you.
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*1 iPad 3G is only available with a specific operator contract – you have to get the contract if you want the iPad. No thanks. I like to be able to switch my SIM cards around and pay – or not pay – whatever I wish. In the long run, even with a device that would be free with a contract (and the iPad is not), getting an unlocked device and avoiding a contract can even save you money.
*2 Let me just say this iTunes transfer thing is really annoying. If you want to transfer pictures to the iPad, you have to select a folder to keep in sync – not, for example, just a given file to transfer. You have to set aside a separate folder of images you want to keep synced to the iPad. You can select autosync or not. Either way, everytime you connect your iPad to your PC, it’ll open the heavy iTunes program on the PC looking for something to sync, even if you kinda just wanted to charge your iPad on the run. There is such a thing as a Camera Connector Kit (not included) that will allow transfers from your camera.
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