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Who Needs Flash On The iPad When There’s HTML5?

May 13, 2011 By Leave a Comment

Since the iPad’s introduction to the public in January 2010, it has suffered unwieldy criticism from Apple antagonists. These groups of Apple non-enthusiasts have called the iPad a regretful piece of appliance at the least.

However, from the point of view of neutral commentators, there emerged a set of logic to explain the seemingly exclusive structure of the iPad.

The most popular perceived deficiency of the iPad in terms of software is its lack of Flash support. Flash is used in most websites it is supported by all major Web browsers (Internet Explorer, Mozilla Firefox, Opera) except for the mobile version of Safari. YouTube is one of the most popular websites that utilize Flash for its videos.

Apple makes up for the lack of Flash support by creating and designing apps that are specific to the iPad. For instance, YouTube has a Flash-free app, using H.264, that will run smoothly on the iPad. Safari supports HMTL5, which can display embedded videos more efficiently than Flash-supported websites.

It has been noted several times that multitasking is impossible on the iPad because the user has to close one app before moving onto the other. Critics have panned this issue by taking into consideration the target market for this device.

As an appliance for the media consumer, the iPad is meant to play a single program at a time, most likely a video or a movie. It seems plausible since this device is marketed as an instrument to experience richer media thus, multitasking is not expected.

The same goes with its lack of wired connections, particularly USB and FireWire ports. iPad has a locked-down nature that seemed to offend non-Mac users because of its almost elitist appeal. Critics have also answered this concern and their opinion made great sense.

The iPad is designed by Apple so it’s only natural for the manufacturer to prefer full control over the software content of the product. It does not matter if the ownership has been transferred to the buyer. The point is that Apple prefers to protect their creation by ensuring that software entered into the device is properly filtered. Besides, they probably have more iPad apps to introduce and it would be unfortunate for them if a different software company would create a brand new application for the iPad before they even thought of it.

Its lack of commonly used hardware features can be easily resolved by purchasing separate accessories, such as the wireless keyboard dock, camera connection, Bluetooth headphones, composite and component AV cables, power adapter and dock connector to VGA adapter. Clearly, these deficiencies have already been considered by Apple engineers before criticism even materialized.

It is not obvious but there seems to be a continuous struggle of the Apple marketing division to insist that the iPad is in fact a media consumption appliance. It should be differentiated from a full desktop or laptop computer and an iPhone and simply be appreciated as a go-between of the two.

Its lack of full phone and computer features establishes that Apple has created a class of its own and might possibly be a successful forerunner in the field of tablet computers.

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Random Picking Of Over Thousands of iPad Apps

May 13, 2011 By Leave a Comment

The commercial craze surrounding iPad gave us the impression that this nifty machine is small enough to trot yet packed with superior apps that would put an ordinary smart phone to shame.

Apple has made it a point, in fact, a selling point, that thousands of apps were designed specifically to iPad consumption. These apps range from the leisurely and educational to the business centered. At present, additional apps are still in the process of been developed to ensure that all kinds of processes are possible to be accomplished in the iPad.

Interesting apps are present in the iPad, which may not appear to be immediately useful, but to some extent, is on a good-to-know basis. For instance, there exists a table of elements app called The Elements that has absolutely no use for corporate individuals and just about everyone else. Unless we are still attached to academic Chemistry or have great propensity to create our own potions, the Table of Elements seems like a whimsical addition to iPad’s list of apps. But it does not hurt to find this app, for one, it could come in handy in the face of an alien take-over.

One useful app would be the Epicurious, a comprehensive indexed cookbook. The user could randomly search for a recipe by simply using one of the ingredients names as the search keyword. It will return a list of recipes that includes the key ingredient and the user can further narrow down the search by adding more key recipes.

Other lifestyle apps are offered too that can supplement the Epicurious app such as the Grocery IQ and Mcormick Recipes apps among others.

Games and entertainment apps have a wide array of selection from scholarly to mundane to high speed racing. Even the game apps have been specially redesigned for iPad. Gaming is such a great experience on the iPad because of its rich display, ultra fast processor and multi-orientation screen. The user can flip the tablet from portrait to landscape to better enjoy the gaming activity.

Scrabble and Soduko are two of the most popular educational game puzzles that were integrated into the iPad apps. Puzzle games such as Labyrinth, Monkey Flight, Traffic Rush, Superstar Chef, Bloons Light and more. For the puzzle addict, iPad sounds like a stairway to arcadepuzzle games heaven.

Racing games have so many incarnations in the list of iPad apps such as Real Racing HD, Asphalt 5, F1 2010, Fast Lane Street Racing Lite, Fast and Furious The Game Test Drive, Need for Speed: Undercover among others. There are about hundred of racing games to choose from.

The iPad owner can decide which apps to download on the iPad depending on his lifestyle or tastes. Everything is available on the App Store and almost all of it has been rehashed to adapt to the iPad’s specifications. With over a hundred thousand of apps to choose from, it would be impossible not to find one that will spark one’s interests.

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iPad’s Shortcomings

May 13, 2011 By Leave a Comment

Well, even the best computer in the world has its shortcomings. With a promise of harboring new things for personal computing, iPad took center stage and impressed many. But not everyone is happy about what iPad brings to the table. For one, no one is quite sure what role iPad has to fill.

What Really Is An iPad?

Is it a toy, or is it a personal computer? A replacement for notebooks, maybe? For laptops? No one can quite pin down what exactly iPad does. It is a hybrid of sorts, but no one can truly say what it can do that other devices can’t. Even when everyone is clamoring that this device could kill Amazon’s Kindle, many from the Kinderworld still swear by the almighty e-ink. Still, even the not so big fans of reading eBooks on iPad think that the thoughtfulness of the technology used to recreate reading on an electronic device makes iPad a decent eBook reader.

Issues With Portability

It looks very much like an iPod Touch, only it is about 4 times bigger. But it is not an iPod Touch and certainly has more functions than iPod Touch offers. Besides, it doesnt even have SMS so there simply is no way it can be an android phone, a hybrid phone even. Also, unlike the iPod Touch, it is not as portable. You can’t carry it around, not even in your pocket. It has the same portability issues as its heavier cousins laptops and netbooks. Even around the house, people have difficulty carrying it around. It is too expensive to carry without a case it’s quite heavy, its slippery and looks very fragile.

It is a very impressive feat of engineering, though. No one can doubt that. At .5 inch thick, iPad stores so much power in it that it is virtually a go-to device when some work have to be finished or when you need a hand for your procrastination. But its not just light enough. Surely, anyone who holds this device with one hand for a few hours while reading an eBook or watching a movie will get tired of the weight. Even when you place it on your lap, a few hours can kill your legs. Still, it would be so much to ask when you have a powerful device that can give you superb web browsing experience, brilliant applications, and whatnot and not be content with its .5 inch thickness and its a little more than a pound of weight.

The Problem With The Screen

Too much glare. Susceptibility to fingerprints. Vulnerability to cracking. Too slippery. The list could go on. The main thing that makes iPad a very handsome device is what many of Apple products’ detractors hate about it. And comparisons are always made about how Kindle can fare better under the sun.

But really, when you take all these things away from iPad, you are already asking for a perfect tablet PC. A perfect device that can do nearly all things other devices can do without giving you so much as a small problem. And to think that it is just the second tablet PC Apple has developed, it sure is a giant leap for personal computing devices. But we are humans. Although we are not perfect ourselves, we expect for companies like Apple to produce perfect devices that no one can complain about, ever.

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iPad Buying Guide

May 13, 2011 By Leave a Comment

You know you want an iPad. That’s probably the coolest thing you can have for the next few months. You’ve dreamed of going around with it since it was announced early this year. You have probably even considered waiting in line for the release of the first batch of iPad in stores. But you didnt. So what’s keeping you from getting one?

Your Choices

There are six iPad variations available. The Wi-Fi models with 16 gigs, 32 gigs and 64 gigs capacity and the Wi-Fi +3G models of the same capacities. Price varies from 499 to 829. Somewhere in that price range is the perfect iPad for you.

But how do you decide which is the perfect choice?

Consider how much capacity you actually need. If you love resource-hungry apps, you should probably get yourself the one that boasts the largest capacity. If you typically download small apps, you should probably stick with the one with basic specs. Single purpose utilities and solutions shouldnt be your problem. These typically are not voracious memory eaters. What you need to worry about are video and audio files. If you love loading your devices with lots of music and videos, consider a model that has a bigger storage room.

At the end of the day though, you still have to consider how much you are willing to dole out for a multifunctioning device. You will spend at least 699 on a 64 GB Wi-Fi iPad and at least 829 for a 64 GB Wi-Fi + 3G model. Another consideration is the fact that it takes A LOT of apps to use up all your iPad’s memory so unless there really is a need to buy the one with the largest capacity, and for that matter, the highest tag price, you should probably consider the models hovering between the basic and high end variants.

Is 3G that important?

For 3G support, you should be ready to spend 130 dollars extra on your iPad. This is on top of the price of the model you choose. This comes in very handy when you are frequently out of range of hotspots.

The good thing with iPad’s 3G support is that it does not bind you to any long-term contracts. You can choose from AT&T’s offer of 14.99 for a maximum of 250MB data transfer per month which you can repurchase whenever you choose or 29.00 for unlimited data transfer. Not a bad deal. Not at all. On top of this, you also get to access AT&T’s hotspots whenever you want.

But still, is 3G that necessary? Depending on how much weight you put on wide-area network coverage. Among the top considerations for getting 3G service for your device is the preparation for the possibility of needing to connect online when you’re nowhere near a range of access point. This is especially crucial if you live your life online, 247.

Still uncertain about which model you should choose? Follow the rule of thumb in buying devices buy the highest model that your wallet can afford.

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iPad The Quest for a Perfect Device

May 13, 2011 By Leave a Comment

Now that the excitement towards Apple’s iPad has now calmed down, people can think more clearly about the device that has received more hype than all other new devices in recent history combined. Naturally, there are some disappointed techies and ordinary end users out there who rant about anything from the lack of built-in camera to the fact that the device heats up in direct sunlight. And of course, there are always those who are eager to say everything that is good about Apple’s newest creation. So what really is the score with this ‘magical’ and ‘revolutionary’ device? Here’s our take.

iPad’s Shortcomings

It does not multitask. Well, this isnt entirely true. iPad can multitask when its running its own applications. Multitasking stops when you begin running third-party applications such as IM apps.

For the most parts, this is bearable. Not many users complain about the fact that they cant update their tweets on Twitter, while commenting on a post thread in a forum or Facebook and at the same time watching live TV and writing emails. This doesnt seem to bother the majority of users. But if you are a techie, this is a huge disappointment. 499 doesnt justify the device at all. Na ah.

It doesnt support Flash. Apple has some issues with Flash. It’s unstable, vulnerable to bugs among other things. So the company is not supporting it, and will probably not, ever. Not that the company does not offer an alternative. It does. It is, in fact, pushing its own HTML5, which is recently making waves online. But with less than one percent of all websites have converted to HTML5. This poses some major risks of not being able to surf the web without a glitch. Well, not supporting Flash is definitely a bummer.

It doesnt support a built-in camera. Prior to iPad’s launching, rumors have spread that it comes with a camera. Apparently, it doesnt. At least not yet. And that definitely has caused uproar among disconcerted enthusiasts of anything that bears Apple’s logo.

It doesnt allow users to do real work with it. Well, it does, only to a certain degree. Apple seems to have a penchant for eliminating documents and files within its power so it’s apps, apps and apps all the way. But it does offer Keynote, Numbers and Pages, which by the way are superb tools you can work with.

And the list goes on

iPad’s Offers

From an ordinary user’s point of view, there is nothing that you can’t love about iPad. We won’t enumerate all the things that make iPad a very beautiful, all-around device here. There’s just so many, you may fall in love with it and want to marry it.

But maybe, just maybe, iPad’s detractors are looking for a perfect device that can do everything everyone could ever wish for. Or perhaps, they are looking at the device the wrong way. Many are taking the wrong approach to the device, comparing it with netbooks and laptops and other devices in between. Apple is perhaps trying to create a new device that is a hybrid yet performs at par or better than existing devices.

But for all its worth, iPad is definitely ushering in a possible future for personal computing technology and user interface.

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What iPad Is And Is Not

May 13, 2011 By Leave a Comment

Apple iPad is many things to many people. It is a consolidated device that can be anything from a gaming console to an alternative to a ‘real’ computer and a replacement for popular e-reading devices. It is also a media player, a web browser, an e-mailing deviceto highlight a few things it can do. The fact that it does so many things while offering a better experience than the original devices built for iPads’ specific applications is enough to confuse people what role iPad really fits in their lives. We’ll try to break the device down a bit for you.

It is a superb media player. Playing video is, perhaps, the forte of iPad, but Apple doesnt really claim that so it can’t be confirmed. Nevertheless, like its older distant cousins laptops, DVD players and even plasma TVs it can display videos very well. With its crisp, glossy screen, you can expect high from this device and you won’t be disappointed. Maybe you’ll find the fingerprints on the screen gross when you turn of the device, but that’s an entirely different issue.

You can watch live stream TV on iPad, and even watch YouTube and other video sites without a glitch, given of course that you have the right application to ‘convert’ Flash to iPad-hosted file. If you are looking for a device that can help you catch your favorite video online, you can watch nearly whatever you want with iPad without a hiccup.

It’s a major gaming platform, almost. Everyone thought that gaming apps are just value-added features that can enhance the use of iPad. Well, everyone was wrong, dead wrong. iPad may not be built as a dedicated game console, but definitely has the qualities of a great gaming console. In some respects, it even beats existing gaming consoles with its features and capacity to enhance gaming experience. Gaming console developers could be cursing that extra horsepower and that extra huge multitouch screen that Apple threw into their tablet PC.

It could be a computer replacement. In the future, we could see iPad-like devices replacing real computers. As ‘raw’ as iPad is now raw, meaning having the superb and diverse apps and functions it has now it already shows great promise for end users. It somewhat gives us a glimpse of personal computers 5, 6 10 years ahead. Maybe even less.

Despite all its glory, iPad is nowhere near to replacing ‘real’ computers just yet. It can’t do as much as laptops and desktops can but it can definitely run as a winner against netbooks and other smaller devices. It can even beat e-reading devices, portable DVD players, and even plasma TV. Knowing Apple, we know that some great things are in store for iPad 2.0.

So what is iPad? Let’s just say it’s the first device ever to deliver on its promise while taking existing technologies to much greater heights. It may take a while before Apple unveils its predecessors, but

iPad is definitely the future of personal computing.

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iPad, Why Ordinary People Love It

May 13, 2011 By Leave a Comment

iPad is perhaps not only the most hyped device in recent history, but is also a device that has caused great polarization among users. People can only either love it or hate it. What is so remarkable with this love-hate relationship with Apple’s ‘magical’ and ‘revolutionary’ tablet PC is that you can tell who love and who hate iPad.

On one side, the techies hate it. They hate the fact that it can’t multitask, that it does not have Flash, and that it’s just a gigantic version of the iPod Touch. They can tell you everything that is so undesirable with iPad from its glossy screen that shows all the gross signs of fingerprints when turned off and the aluminum back that won’t make you feel comfortable when you place it on your lap early in the morning. They would even go so far as rant about the black bezel that is too wide to be attractive. There is absolutely nothing that iPad does that other devices doesnt already do better. And to top all these off, iPad is nothing more than a product of systematic publicity.

While the techies complain about iPad, the online congregation of Apple product enthusiasts continue to clamor for the success that Apple has achieved through the tablet PC that promises to permanently change the way personal computing will roll in the future.

Multitouch screen This is surely among the top reasons why non-techie users of iPad love to have it around. Although iPod Touch can be used with nothing but bare thumbs, iPad takes multitouch screens to a level no other product has reached before.

You can still play your favorite game applications, but this time, the experience is enhanced. Instead of constantly zooming in and out of the board when you’re playing scrabble, you already have the entire board glaring back at you. If you are driving on simulators, your screen resembles a car windshield more than it does with iPod Touch. If you love reading eBooks on your IPod Touch, you will find that the iBooks e-reader application of its much younger cousin offers you an experience almost similar with reading an actual book. Turn a page and you’ll find how much thought was thrown in to create an e-reader app that will give an almost the same feel as with reading a book. With a few modifications, of course. A single tap on an unfamiliar word can give you a dictionary definition online, for one.

When visiting a website, so long as it does not contain rich media contents made with Adobe Flash, you’ll have no problem. Other than that, the general experience of web browsing with iPad is simply, incredible. It’s fast, hassle-free, and liquid. It is, as Steve Jobs claimed, the best browsing experience you’ve ever had.

But not everything that is good with iPad is about its superb screen. People love the fact that iPad exceeds battery life expectations as well. Where typical laptops and portable DVD players can shell out up to 4 hours battery life, iPad promises you up to 10 hours of continuous use. No need for charging in between. But don’t take the manufacturer’s word for it. One independent review claimed that his iPad played 12 hours’ worth of movies.

And despite all these great things, iPad gives more. What more can you ask from a 499 Apple device?

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The iPad: First Impressions

May 13, 2011 By Leave a Comment

The first time I heard about the iPad, I thought it was a joke. I eventually discovered it was a real product so I snickered at the name I thought to myself that it is a funny way for Apple to pun its own line of digital products. But then I realized that it is actually a very nifty idea for a product.

First, iPad is undeniably stickyit sounds like Apple’s eponymous digital genius, the iPod, which has spawned a line of its own, starting from the classic edition to its more advanced babies such as the iPod Touch.

The most common reaction to those who have encountered the iPad for the first time is a mixture of surprise and pleasant confusion: ‘Huh? Did I hear you right? Did you say it with an eh or an ah?’ That is why it sticks to one’s mind because the moment you hear it, you start to think about it.

Next, the iPad lives up to its nameand I just do not mean the Apple brand. It is very literal that it is almost funny. I remember when I first heard about it, after I got over its pronunciation issue, I thought about its appearance. My friend told me that the iPad resembles a clipboard or a tablet, and I just could not believe that it was going to look like that. Somehow, we all got used to the fancy and metaphorical model names of gadgets that when we find something so bluntly named, it is just incredible.

The iPad looks like a homogeny of a slate, a thick pad of paper, a clipboard, a tablet, and a binder cardboard. One of its greatest features is that you can use it as if it really is a clipboard cradled on the crook of your arm. It works on a touchscreen interface, which eliminates the need for a keyboard or a pen, thus freeing the hands. However, unlike most touchscreen gadgets, the iPad is a multi-touch device: that means you can pinch, drag, and tap two visual objects on the screen with your fingers at the same time. It is a lightweight gadget at 68 grams and 13.4 millimeters thick.

Think of it as a giant iPod Touch with the ability to create documents via iWork, which is Apple’s office program that enables its users to create slide presentations, word documents, spreadsheets, and the like. The iPad can store and play music and videos through iTunes. It also has Wi-Fi capabilities therefore, you can experience seamless Internet surfing, chat, and email.

An iPod will have you squinting at the screen to have a good look while the iPad provides a large enough screen to properly enjoy videos and movies.

Apple considers the iPad as its revolutionary project that will bring all other competitors to shame. We have yet to experience the lasting power of this magical product and its 150,000+ applications. It just made me think: how in the world am I going to use all 150,000 of them?

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Looking At Features The iPad Does Not Have

May 13, 2011 By Leave a Comment

Technology that’s revolutionary, unique, and breakthroughsuch are the adjectives that were attached to the iPad as it was launched by Apple early this year.

Its launch was arguably graced with one the most massive marketing concepts since the iPhone. Apple has a way of making grandiose statements about their products that result to great commercial interest. Sure, there exists a considerable gap between the positive and negative feedback, but these only fuels up the interest that is surrounding the latest Apple ingenue.

A lot has been said about the iPad’s features and performance. iPad detractors have belittled its purported presence in the industry. Most of the comments belie on the gadget’s lack of special qualities to actually take over one of the more popular devices today.

It cannot take over the iPod Touch primarily because of the difference in size. The main selling point of the iPod Touch is its handiness. For a relatively miniature piece, the iPod Touch can store so much files and deliver outstanding performance. It can play movies, videos, music, and games. In addition to that, an iPod Touch can connect to the Internet through wireless technology. It is practically the best amongst the slew of music players that came our way.

It cannot take over the iPhone or any smartphone in existence. The iPad does not support SMS, which is an inherent characteristic of a mobile phone. Moreover, it cannot perform the most important mobile feature: voice calls and its advanced sister, video calls. It cannot make video calls mainly because it does not have an integrated camera. It has a detachable camera that is sold separately as an accessory. It sounds fussy, definitely not the kind of device you would like to tote every day.

The iPad cannot take over the ominous laptops, whatever brand is in question. A laptop is heavy duty its clamshell design protects the screen. It has a keyboard and a mouse and provides various input and output channels such as USB ports, flash drives, memory card slot, CD-ROM and HDMI socket. A laptop is a one-stop device that will enable you to accomplish your tasks in one sitting. Most importantly, a laptop is designed to support multitasking by allowing the user to open and run more than two programs at once.

Although it does have a case, which again, is sold separately. The iPad case is dual purpose aside from protecting the display screen, it also serves as an iPad stand. A keyboard dock accessory is also available for those who prefer the convenience of typing away in an actual, physical keyboard.

For sure, a lot of iPad supplements will be introduced in the future, like an external hard drive or a mouse. In a practical sense, would anyone really want a gadget that offers the same features as the existing gadget already does? Not to mention the existing gadgets that have all the features tucked in without the need to purchase one accessory after the other.

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iPad In A Glance

May 13, 2011 By Leave a Comment

Design-wise, there really isnt much to comment on iPad. There’s just the 9.7 inch, 1024 x 768 multi-touch LED backlit display that takes much of the bulk of the iPad’s surface. But quite frankly, that is what most people love about Apple’s products. Minimalist, sleek, yet very functional. But we’ll go to that later. Let’s first take a look at the iPad, from its exterior.

Unboxing the iPad

It is a beauty to behold, undoubtedly. Although un-boxing the device is the least marvelous thing about the beast, few people can say that much thought was not given to how the device is packaged. Since it’s an Apple product, you can’t doubt the fact that countless hours were spent over how the device would look when packed. And people are not disappointed for Apple’s thoughtfulness.

The packaging is superb. It matches the general appeal of the device. For starters, the box of the iPad has a touch of MacBook Air in it. If you loved MacBook Air or other MacBook products, you will surely fall for the box of the iPad. It’s so nice, you can hang it on a frame and display it in your living room.

Moving on, inside the box is the iPad itself, a thin information packet, which you would probably not use at all because even 2-year-old kids can understand the simplicity of the device, a wall power charger, and the famous USB 30-pin dock connector. If you have opened any Apple devices before, you are at home with these things.

How iPad’s Size and Weight Measure Up

The closest comparison you can get is Amazon’s Kindle DX. Not identical, but nearly there. iPad measures 9.56 inches in height, 7.47 inches in width and .05 inch in thickness. It weighs 1.5 pounds for the WiFi model, 1.6 for the WiFi plus 3G model. In comparison, Kindle DX stands at 10.4 inches, is 7.2 inches wide, .38 inch thick, and weighs at 1.2 pounds.

For a device that does more than the Kindle DX does if it alone is the point of comparison, the thickness of the iPad is forgivable, acceptable in fact. If the size and function of the iPad were to be used as parameters for judging whether or not iPad is better than Kindle DX, it is not a stretch to say that it is a killer. With its thoughtful eBook reading applications and the diverse selection of eBooks available for use with iPad, many say Kindle will soon be replaced with iPad.

Despite its revolutionary thickness, many people still seem to complain about the .5 inch thickness of iPad. Sure, it may feel awkward and may prove more difficult to handle in one hand for a few hours than Kindle DX, but considering how and what the device does, this is nothing more than nitpicking.

The Verdict

Well, it’s obvious. There is no other device in the market that has what iPad has. That does what iPad does. The glossy glass face alone is a winner. And we havent even talked about the functions of the device.

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