Saturday, April 17, 2010

iPhone OS 4.0 and Multitasking

Daniel Eran Dilger has written a great article for AppleInsider covering the multitasking features for the iPhone/iPod touch/iPad.

My last concern regarding multitasking on my phone and iPad is the ability of my remote systems management tools to survive being placed in the background. I suspect/hope that the Task Completion API will allow RDC or SSH tools to continue to maintain their network connections while I switch to other applications (hello, MyKeePass, if I could only get it to download my password database).

On the other hand, I'm finding that having an iPad and an iPhone at the same time addresses some of my multitasking needs so it won't be a total loss if Task Completion doesn't do the trick.

Friday, April 16, 2010

Apple's Monopolies

I don't agree with everything contained therein, but there is much truth in this commentary on why Apple has monopolized tasteful computing.

Thursday, April 15, 2010

iPad News & Notes

One quick update: the ergonomics concerns I had have effectively been handled by the iPad case offered by Apple. I imagine there are cases out there which do a better job of propping it up in portrait mode, but other than that, I'm quite pleased by it.

Having said that, I make a point of removing the iPad from its case when introducing the device to someone who hasn't had a chance to play with it, because I think the iPad should always be experienced first naked (the computer, not the person).

A couple of reasons why I love Apple and the iPad?
Many years ago, I helped teach a class for people who were new to computers. I tried (and failed) to help one man who was intensely frustrated that I couldn't just tell him exactly what to do in any situation. I tried to explain that computers were too complex to anticipate every combination of uses, and that much of the learning process was simply experimenting, learning what happened when you press button X or select menu Y; he shortly stormed out of the class, never to return.

If I could find him again, I'd give him my iPad as an apology. Here, finally, is the computer he needs, but the best thing of all is that you don't have to be terrified of, or simply confused by, computers in order to enjoy using an iPad.

(Having said that: c'mon, Apple, what about that iHub appliance to let him perform backups and upgrades when he buys one?)

Saturday, April 10, 2010

Polish tragedy

My heart goes out to Poland today. That country has borne far too much misfortune over the centuries.

Monday, April 5, 2010

iPad, Day 3

Curiously, today I was able to experience a (nearly) full day of work on my iPad. My laptop froze, and when I power cycled it, the filesystem was corrupted. Hello, re-install.

It was also my first day at work with the iPad, so a good portion of the day was spent giving demos to my curious co-workers.

What have I learned?
  • Star Walk for iPad is the killer marketing app Apple should consider preloading on every iPad. Hand that to someone, and they suddenly get it. THIS is why "just a larger iPhone" is the whole point of the device.
  • (Or as I read today in an excellent article on TidBITS, "As our friend Ken Case of The Omni Group has said, size matters, which is why a swimming pool is not just a big bathtub".)
  • Magic Piano is a close second in inspirational qualities, while Netflix can generate more "traditional" enthusiasm.
  • An iPad will never replace a true general-purpose computer for IT support technicians. The best apps that I've found for logging into remote systems, iSSH and iTap RDP client, are a far, far cry from iTerm and CoRD.
  • The lack of multitasking is not a show-stopper for many purposes. Most iPhone/iPad applications are well-behaved and will load quickly to the same place where you were when you left.
  • I really can touch-type on the iPad, so long as I don't need hyphens, semi-colons, or numbers.
  • The case and keyboard dock can't come quickly enough.

Sunday, April 4, 2010

iPad, Day 2

Yesterday was too busy with initial setup and seeing friends and family to post anything, so here are my thoughts on the iPad after the first day. 

First, wow. Such an utterly silent yet fast computer. I find myself waiting on my iPhone all the time; no such problem with the iPad. And the immersive quality of the experience of working with this thing is indescribable.  

Before I ladle the praise on too heavily, however, I must point out one possibly killer flaw: ergonomics.

I'm trying to find someplace in my house where I can comfortably type out this post, for example, and not having much luck. 

My glasses are too small. When I'm reclining, the iPad naturally falls below their coverage range. 

If I hold it with my palms against my bent legs as I recline and type, I can see and type well enough, even touch typing to a remarkable degree, but there must be a better way. 

Perhaps a case or the keyboard dock will make the difference. Both should arrive this week. 

Other general comments:
  • iPhone apps aren't satisfying at all. Functional, but I spend as little time as possible using them.

  • Did I mention how fast this thing is?

  • Web browsing is a much more fulfilling experience than on an iPhone. I'm no longer looking through a tiny peephole at the splendor of the Internet.

Thursday, April 1, 2010

iPad and Apps

I've been perusing iTunes for free and cheap iPad apps to load up Saturday. A few thoughts:
  • Paid apps are definitely trending more expensive. I actually consider this a good thing: I want developers to have the necessary incentive to, y'know, develop. $2/app is awfully cheap.
  • Having said that, $50 for OmniGraffle, an application I love on the Mac, is mighty steep. I'd like to try it, and hopefully Omni comes out with a "lite" version for free to explore. If it's good enough, it's worth $50, but effectively sight unseen...
  • The App Store is awkward to browse. I think many are going to find it confusing to browse specifically for iPad apps.
  • Where's iBooks? Doesn't appear to be out yet. Nor is Kindle for iPad, or an updated Barnes & Noble reader. Presumably iBooks at least will be available on Saturday.
  • I had planned on picking up the iWork applications right away, but pulling the trigger on a $30 purchase (or 3x$10 purchases, whatever) is painful. I'll probably wait to play with other apps for a while first.
Update: Found a nifty application for a household: My Frame. I currently keep my birthdays in a calendar instead of address book, but perhaps I should reconsider.

Not that I have anyone else in the house to leave sticky note reminders for.

Anyway, for a house of more than one sentient being, My Frame looks like it has potential.