Thoughts on the iPad

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About 20 minutes after I had my first iPhone in hand in 2007, I knew that I wanted a similar device with a larger screen, especially using the browser in those early days. As the applications (both programmatically, and literally) for the iPhone grew, it only made me want something larger I could use instead of my laptop as a reader whether lying in bed or as a travel companion instead of a stack of magazines and/or books. I did not intend to use the iPad for “content creation” or expect that it would be powerful enough to do photo editing. My use case was as a casual reader, browser, twitter reader and maybe the odd email. I’ve been pleasantly surprised on all those counts.

Frequent Use

Kindle for iPad. Better than the Kindle itself. Has night reading mode that turns the screen dark and the letters white. Really great for bed time reading, which was a top reason for me to buy the iPad. Better than the Kindle device due to touch interface. Amazon did a great job with this one.

Twitteriffic. The original Twitter reader got a re-write for the iPad and it shows. Fast, slick and well designed. Works great with Instapaper (See below). I do wish it told you when you have messages and mentions, but it puts those in your timeline. Usually works unless you haven’t checked your account for awhile. Paid version supports multiple accounts, free version has ads and supports a single account.

Instapaper. The perfect app for the iPad. If you want to save a link to read later, you install the bookmarklet in your browser toolbar and any URL you visit, you can click on the bookmarklet and a text only version is saved for reading later. Since Instapaper is a “cloud” app, you sync it from login on any device. I can catch up reading from a browser, through the app on the iPad or the app on the iPhone. Really slick and a great way to save links that you see in your Twitter stream or anywhere else.

News apps. I’ve subscribed to the Wall Street Journal (not bad, despite a strange typographic problem which results in a bad line leading (line-height for CSS nerds) that affects the last line of a paragraph. The NYT Editor’s Choice app has the same problem. I think it’s a bug. Doesn’t matter, just a weird quirk. Despite the whining, I love being able to read the news part of the WSJ (I avoid the opinion page as I like my blood pressure where it is) and not have to recycle a bunch of paper every day. I subscribed to the print version for a couple of semesters in college and damn the amount of paper is crazy after a few days. I wish I could subscribe to the New York Times. Why? Because I think reading the news like this restores some of the meditative qualities of doing something without a thousand blinky things distracting me. And I’m of a mind that quality content is worth paying for. Free doesn’t scale and doesn’t mean better content. It can mean better content, but most often it does not. I also like the free Reuters apps for quick, raw news headlines. They have a news app and a photo gallery app. Very nice. For research, the free Bloomberg app is pretty tasty as well.

Video. Movies, podcasts or streaming via Netflix (app needs work; it’s super slow and not really optimized for the iPad) or ABC’s streaming app. It’s fantastic to be able to let Leta watch something on the iPad and not worry about battery life or her destroying a hard drive. I want to test this in travel mode to see how well it holds up, but so far, despite the clunky speed issues, big thumbs up on streaming video.

Dinking around

Korg Electribe for iPad. Fantastic drum/rhtym machine/synth that replaces a $450 dedicated hardware box. I paid $9.99 for it. I think it’s $19.99 now, but if you are a musician, it’s almost a no brainer. Fun as hell even if you never create your own music and just mess about with beats. Blows away the notion that the iPad isn’t for serious content creation. Yes, it can be playful; yes it can also help write music.

Drawing Pad. I bought this one mostly for Leta. She loves to draw rainbows. You can save your work and pull it off to a computer and it has stickers, markers, crayons and different paper types. A lot of fun for not very much money.

Flight Control. Thanks to Firemint for the freebie code on this one! I bought Real Racing HD, their other iPad game and then we got a press pack with codes. They are not paying me to say any of this. Holy cow this game is addictive. I have to budget time to play this one. I’d be writing about this or Real Racing whether or not we got the press pack, so breathe easy.

Hot Sex

Gilt. Time based shopping. I haven’t been moved enough to buy something, but this is what early .com shopping sites wanted to be. Some nice interactive touches and plays to the strengths of the iPad.

Cool Hunting. Really beautifully designed app that serves as a way to experience their site. Love how clean the interface is and how they incorporate images across the top of the stories. First app I’ve seen that makes me think putting the mothership on the iPad would be dead sexy.

Wired. Yes, it’s “expensive”. So is a single issue. Being able to hear songs they mention and experience infographics through a touch interface is straight up game changing. They’ve done an amazing job. Absolutely amazing. If you are an interactive designer or just want to see what the future holds, the inaugural issue is it. Very inspirational. I can’t imagine how much work it took to launch.

If you have questions I haven’t touched on, let me know.

  • drewpoo

    Totally off topic, and a little late, But I miss your listening section at the bottom of the page as well as your flickr link. sorry to hijack this, but i love your stuff and i miss some key features.…

    • http://blurbomat.com blurb

      Thanks for the feedback.

      I may pull those back onto the site.

  • http://wombatcentral.blogspot.com/ Wombat Central

    You had me at Netflix streaming. I’m barely over the thrill of streaming via the Wii and now this. Oy.

    My iPhone envy is quickly turning to iPad envy. Was thinking of just getting the iTouch (hubs has one), because it seems most of what I’d want to use doesn’t necessarily involve the phone. So, is it well worth getting the iPad over an iTouch in your opinion? Also, how about all those hidden costs?

    • http://blurbomat.com blurb

      Definitely worth the cost. Especially if you want to surf/email/read.

      But you should play with one before you buy, just to make sure. Take the time to compare both and I guarantee you’ll feel better about your decision.

  • brebolivar

    Do you think it’s worth waiting for an upgrade, maybe around the end of the year?
    And could you share which size/type you have? I’m wondering how “easy” it actually is to upgrade the plan if you need to or if unlimited is really the only way to go.
    One more thing…is the battery life true to what they claim?

    • http://blurbomat.com blurb

      I don’t know that they’ll have an update by then.

      I bought the 64 gb wifi model (no 3G). I’m holding out for iPhone tethering. I may be holding out for a loooooong time, but I am hopeful.

      • brebolivar

        thank you! i’m very jealous, and hopefully won’t have to wait until the end of the year :D

  • MonicaC

    I second the question of what size/type you have? Did you spring for the data plan or do you rely only on WiFi. How much data / GB are you using with all your apps?

    And I have a buyer for my kindle, but my need to know is can you get the free samples from Amazon on the iPad kindle app? Cuz sometime you don’t know until you can read the snippet.

    And how is iBooks compared to Kindle in general? Selection, price?

    I’ve played with them several times at the local store any my desire grows and grows.

    Thanks.

    • http://blurbomat.com blurb

      See above for my iPad specs.

      It’s not like you have to use iBooks OR the Kindle app. Anything you’ve bought on your kindle, you can move to your iPad. It’s pretty slick. You download the Kindle app, register your iPad with Amazon and from Amazon’s website, you can move whatever titles you want to your iPad. I think Amazon has a better/more broad selection, but using both reading apps isn’t a big deal for me. iBooks will let you load in ePub books as well, which is awesome for public domain works.

  • Happydog

    Thanks for the very helpful information exactly the kind of revew I’ve been searching for–real person using the technology in a real family. I’ve been lusting after an iPad ever since I heard about them but being in Canada I’ve had to wait until this month to even see one in person! Since I don’t have an iPhone–don’t have a need for a fancy smancy cell phone (no kids, retired, luddite husband) I think the iPad will do everything I need. I’m especially looking forward to iBooks. So do you think you’d pony up for the G3 if you weren’t waiting for the iPhone tether?

    • http://blurbomat.com blurb

      I would definitely get the 3G. That’s the one to get, for sure. As we already spend $$$ for a broadband internet solution, the cost/benefit seemed to even out.

  • makfan

    Any way to move a bunch of PDFs from my MacBook to the iPad for airplane/train reading? If so, I would be sold. Most of the time, I carry around the MacBook as an expensive ereader.

  • graceinCA

    Appreciate your thoughts on the iPAD and various apps since I’d just been gifted the 3G myself. I do not miss lugging a laptop up & down a 3-story house anymore, but sadly my Kindle’s now collecting dust. I do wish for a faster streaming on Netflix too and will give it another whirl here on an upcoming road trip to Yellowstone, in an RV, nevertheless.

    Ok, am off to install the Korg Electribe for my music-puter nerd hubby & the
    Instapaper for me. Thanks for the heads up and if you’ve gone app-crazy like moi, what’s a few more… check these out: Photogene (it’s my Photoshop), Alice in Wonderland (animated & interactive book), Artpuzzle HD (gorgeous works of art), and Jumbline (word puzzle) for the kiddies & grown-ups alike.

    Anticipating more of your thoughts and future enabling on the iPAD, please keep them coming! Thank you :)

  • anniemom

    I ALWAYS play Flight Control at the Apple Store and found a flash version online. 80% of the reason I got an iPod Touch was because of that game! Harbor 3D is the boat version…haven’t really played but seems just as rad.