Jul

16

Squeeze Pad

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As we wait for Apple’s press conference on the iPhone antenna issue today it’s good to remember their other major iOS device continues to explode with great success. The iPad is ideal for many purposes and music is definitely one of them. The band Squeeze, whom I love, appeared on Late Night with Jimmy Fallon a couple of nights ago. Watch out for the piano solo section.

Jun

28

Like Peanut Butter & Jelly

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This independent video combines two great inventions that go together well. Apple loved the concept so much they even posted it on their website. Enjoy!

May

28

The iPad Goes Global

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Let the Madness ensue – only an Apple Product can generate such ridiculous excitement! Enjoy!

Munich

Frankfurt

Tokyo

Paris

London – Honeymoon Purchase

Stephen Fry comparing the iPad to a Dog in London

More London

Zurich

Milan

Rome

May

21

“This River I Stand In…

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is not the river I step in…” – text part of “Time and a Clock” by Eldon Garnet. Completed in 1990 using stainless steel at Broadview and Queen, Toronto.

It’s been a while since my last post – just really busy doing what all good Macmedic team members do – supporting our clients. But it’s time for a post and boy oh boy there has been a lot going on:

iPad In Canada!

Yes folks, May 28th is the day Canucks can get their hands on their very own iPads without begging, borrowing or pleading with people to please, please bring them one from the US. In fact, Apple has finally opened the International iTunes stores to iPad applications – no need to set up a US iTunes account now! Prices are $50 above US listings.

Some of my clients have asked about capacities to purchase (16, 32 or 64GB) and if it’s worth getting the 3G model or just the WiFi version. My view is this: I think it terms of capacity the 32GB model is the sweet spot. iPad applications tend to be larger and people are going to also be buying books and magazines on this thing (and games if you have kids). The 3G option really depends on whether you want to spend money on another data plan – you would already have one on an iPhone or Blackberry if you use these – and if you want/need always-on access to the internet.

Now, I use a MiFi which is a wireless cellular router that Rogers is offering and Bell used to support. Up to 5 devices can surf off of this portable network including the iPad and iPod Touch or laptop so I opted for a non-3G. I also require access everywhere to support my clients. That said, the iPad is an internet device. Many of it’s apps depend on it. So, my feeling is if you can afford it then the 3G option is worthwhile. Check the data plans with your carrier of choice. Another positive aspect is that the iPad is unlocked which means a user can sign up with ANY local carrier when travelling abroad for temporary always-on access!

Television’s Future Today

What happened today? Well, Google took a shot across Apple’s bow is what happened and introduced GoogleTV incorporating a new Open Source codec called WebM.

What does this mean? Well, it seems pretty obvious that the convergence of the Web and Television is upon us. Apple has had their AppleTV out the marketplace for a while and they have publicly called it a hobby product. However, I don’t think Apple wants to yield the ‘living room’ to Google and it’s partners. I am very curious to see what it has in the works vis a vis a real product offering that addresses this area.

I have an AppleTV and it’s a pretty interesting device – more for it’s possibilities than it’s actual feature set. Music and pictures can be streamed and stored to it from iTunes and iPhoto. You Tube and Flickr can be viewed in addition to Podcasts in full High Definition if desired. Movie, Music and TV rentals and purchases can be made via the iTunes store online and it supports wireless and wired connections. It can even be used as a remote speaker source in iTunes. Other software developers have released useful offerings as enhancements to this hobby gadget such as atvFlash which adds the ability to transfer files to AppleTV as well as the ability to play non-iTunes file formats such as .AVI, .MKV and .MOV files without having to convert them. Users can also get access to services like Boxee (a media centre interface with a social network element), Joost, surf the Web with a built-in browser and much more.

Google’s set-top box (or embedded services in new TV’s supporting it) would have a lot these features built-in without a hack plus the power of Google’s search engine and other technologies. Big stuff.

In The News: Privacy and Security Issues

It’s interesting to note that during the keynote given this week to kick off Google’s I/O conference (Google’s Developers Conference) references were made to Apple in regard to Google’s Android phones and OS offering:

“If we did not act, we faced a draconian future. Where one man, one company, one carrier was the future…”

Who’s become Big Brother? Apple? Given Google’s recent privacy issues surrounding the discovery that their Street View vans roaming the World’s cities were unknowingly picking up and storing data being transmitted through unprotected wireless networks one has to wonder.

Note: I’m a huge Google fan – I use them to host my company’s email systems and implement their solutions for many of my clients. Also, they do respond quickly to mistakes when discovered. The operative word is ‘discovered’. It is a little disconcerting that such huge blunders like the Street View incidents and more recently it’s initial Google Buzz problem were not foreseen. Reminds me of Toyota’s mistake of growing too quickly at the expense of quality (and in this case, Privacy). Google co-founder Sergey Brin addressed the issue at I/O conference on Wednesday saying:

“Let me just say that we screwed up. I’m not going to make any excuses about it. The answer is yes. We do have a lot of internal controls in place but obviously they didn’t prevent this error from occurring. We are putting more internal controls in place and bringing in third parties to work on this issue, as well. Trust is very important to us. We are doing everything we can to preserve that trust.”

Google’s bread and butter is based on reliability, security and trust and if this is breached or tainted it can bring this Goliath down. Privacy and security must be the default experience and choice of all these cloud and social networking services and the parameters for users should be easy to configure and understand (Facebook anyone?). The Agenda on TVO has been airing some pieces on internet security and the panel on Tuesday evening’s Web Conference touched on these important issues:

That’s all for now. Coming soon, a piece I’ve been thinking about a long time to be titled Data Rot!

Apr

22

I Play, You Play, We all Play An iPad

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This is just great – Lang Lang ends his concert by playing Flight Of The Bumblebee on an iPad:

And this Centenarian’s first computer is..

Apr

11

My First Week With The iPad

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So, it’s been a full week since I’ve had this coveted device. There are people selling them to those outside the U.S for thousands of dollars – I kid you not. The following are my early impressions of this new category of computing device and yes, I’m writing this post on the iPad.

First off, this is a beautiful piece of technology. The screen is gorgeous – although it is a finger print magnet (easily wiped away with a soft cloth – not included) – very clear and bright. The scrolling is extremely easy and responsive and text and images look marvelous. The virtual keyboard is simple to use and very precise especially in landscape mode. It’s not a full width keyboard, but it’s close and the auto-correct feature is very accurate.

Although I have a great laptop and an iMac as a server I’m finding myself turning to the iPad for my day to day Internet use – email, web browsing, news and research. I can even support my clients remotely using some very useful tools already upgraded and available for the new platform. This is what Apple was thinking – a device between a smart phone and a laptop. Some of my pet peeves will be addressed by the new iPhone 4.0 software just announced and presented by Steve himself – yes, this was indeed a huge week for Apple followers. Multi-tasking, app organization, a unified email inbox, multiple Exchange Accounts, business services and much more coming to the iPhone in the summer – although we won’t see these features coming to the iPad until the Fall!

The iBook app provides a very natural experience of reading. I found myself immersed in a book the other evening, turning the virtual pages and I almost forgot that I was using an electronic device. I honestly can’t see purchasing paper magazines and books unless it’s something very special. I have all my Apple technical manuals on my iPad in an easily accessible (and light!) device. I’m actually using Amazon’s iPad Kindle reader for those! Now, we’re not there yet. I downloaded the Time Magazine app an d although it was interesting to check out it’s navigation is a bit confusing and the price ($4.99) is really out of touch with what it should be. The only reason i bought it was because Steve Jobs was on the cover and for the novelty. Zinio is a magazine reader app, but its rendering engine is a bit slow.

That said, a great example of the possibilities for interactivity and creativity is the recently released Alice In Wonderland for iPad:

The battery life is remarkable. This is one of those rare times (I’m not sure it’s ever happened) where the claims have exceeded expectations. I’m noticing 12 plus hours of use without a problem.

Web browsing is a joy and the screen real estate really shines here. Video looks great and the built-in sound is very good.

I purchased Apple’s iWork suite for iPad (Pages, Keynote and Number) and the apps work as advertised. Very intuitive and written for the touch interface. And this is perhaps one of the important aspects of this new platform. This is above all a Touch Operating System. There is no traditional file system – files and folders- just apps, swipes, gestures etc… It’s refreshing and easy. I think this will be a real hit with young kids and older people who find using a mouse, saving files (finding them!) difficult to navigate.

And the apps. These will be what defines the iPad. Just as they did with the iPhone the App store and the legion of developers out there will make or break this fledgling platform. I’ve downloaded some hits and misses and it will be interesting to see what develops over the next 6 months. Non-optimized apps work fine on the iPad, but they don’t take advantage of its features and the 2x zoom renders them awkwardly. iPad native apps look great and if you’re into games there is some fun to be had.

When I first saw the previews of some of the interactive apps being planned for the iPad i couldn’t help thinking this was the return of the CD ROM – those interactive multi-media offerings of yester-year – except much slicker. Interactivity is he key here. I feel when i use the iPad I’m interacting with the device – touching it, reading, searching, flicking, swiping – it’s cliche, but this is an uber intuitive device.

There are a plethora of reviews out there and some links are provided below. If you’re using the iPad in Canada you need to have or create a US iTunes account – the Canadian app store does not yet support it – no iBook store, no iPad apps. It is possible to create a US account and a link to doing so is also provided below.

So, am i happy to be an early adoptee? Does it live up to the hype? The answers are yes and maybe. The iPad is a joy to use and it’s potential is still to be determined. However, I believe this will be a very influential device on a number of levels. The consensus is that you have to use one to really get a sense of what this is about and I agree. I am surprised how easily I’ve taken to it although I shouldn’t be – this is what Apple does best. Some critics have said that the iPad is a pure consuming device i.e. it’s not for creating content, but for consuming it. Now, it is definitely a very savvy consumer-driven device. However, I think there is plenty of room to be creative whether that be drawing, writing, image and video editing etc..It’s not a MacBook Pro by any stretch, but we humans are quite resourceful:

There will always be room for improvement and of course version 2 of the iPad will sport new features (a camera?) and when the new 4.0 OS arrives it will all get that much better. The iPad will be in Canada soon so don’t succumb to those crazy Craig’s List and eBay Pirates. All in good time.

Pro: Andy Ihnatko in the Chicago Times

Con: Slate’s “You Don’t Need An iPad”

Potential: Liberal Arts And The iPad – you have to scroll down a bit to get at this interesting article

Gushing: Stephen Fry’s Time Magazine Interview with Steve Jobs

iPhone 4.0: The Keynote by Steve Jobs and more info on the consumer and business features

And for those of you who have been asking: Setting up a US iTunes Account in Canada

P.S. I got some fun feedback on the un-boxing video – I know it was silly, but it was fun to produce with my nephew. He wants to do one for other new Apple releases so it may not be the last.

Apr

5

My Very Own iPad

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Yes folks, the Apple gods have shone down upon me and bestowed a 64GB iPad unto my bosom. Okay, it’s Easter/Passover etc…And it’s true – I am now in possession (or should I say possessed) by a 9 x 7 glass/aluminium technical, magical marvel. I’ve spent the day prodding and playing with the new addition to the family – and there’s still 64% battery left! A full review is forthcoming. Until then I decided to really geek out and make one of those ridiculous un-boxing videos. My partner in crime has been my nephew Ben Barrett (it’s his fault really – okay, I made him help me). So, enjoy…

P.S. I want to thank my client and friend Sebastien Centner who stood in line with his two boys in tow in Miami and graciously included me in his wildly insane iPad purchases for his family.

Apr

3

A New Day

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Macmedics-Technophile
April 3, 2010: iPad Launch Day (not us, but in the US)

We are about to  - it’s already started – be inundated with a lot of iPad coverage. There are already 1700+ approved iPad optimized and specific applications in addition to the existing 140000 apps now available for the iPhone which the iPad can run. The reviews are in and the common theme seems to be that the magic of the device is the using of it. It’s difficult to know where to begin here. Steve Jobs is on the cover of Time and Time now has a version of it’s magazine ready for the iPad – and it’s for sale (my oh my, paying for content, what a concept!) – convergence is the word of the day. Stephen Fry interviewed Steve for the upcoming edition. Some highlights:

I have met five British Prime Ministers, two American Presidents, Nelson Mandela, Michael Jackson and the Queen. My hour with Steve Jobs certainly made me more nervous than any of those encounters.

In the design department, Jobs saw the work of a young Briton called Jonathan Ive and asked for a meeting. Ive, underused and ignored for a year, turned up with a resignation letter tucked into the back pocket of his jeans. He left with instructions to unleash his talent. The result was the iMac

[On leaving Apple:] Is this then the curtain dropping on your third act?” I ask. “Will you perhaps leave Apple on this high, a fitting end to your career here?” “I don’t think of my life as a career,” he says. “I do stuff. I respond to stuff. That’s not a career — it’s a life!”

David Pogue of the NY Times wrote not just one, but two reviews – one for Techies and one for everyone else:

The iPad is so fast and light, the multitouch screen so bright and responsive, the software so easy to navigate, that it really does qualify as a new category of gadget. Some have suggested that it might make a good goof-proof computer for technophobes, the aged and the young; they’re absolutely right.

And the techies are right about another thing: the iPad is not a laptop. It’s not nearly as good for creating stuff. On the other hand, it’s infinitely more convenient for consuming it — books, music, video, photos, Web, e-mail and so on. For most people, manipulating these digital materials directly by touching them is a completely new experience — and a deeply satisfying one.

The bottom line is that the iPad has been designed and built by a bunch of perfectionists. If you like the concept, you’ll love the machine.

And he posted a great FAQ as well. Engadget has a great roundup of some of the new app stand-outs which I highly recommend perusing through. TUAW (The Unofficial Apple Weblog) goes over the different user base of this device and it just goes on and on.Unfortunately we here in Canada won’t get ours until the end of the month – unless you’re planning on making a trip to Buffalo to pick one up if any are available. I can’t speak with any first-hand authority about this new device. However, my initial impressions of it’s potential seem to be confirmed by the myriad reviews I’ve read. The iPad is going to have a huge influence on the nature of print magazines (including comic books), content in general by way of how it gets presented, interaction between human and machine with it’s expanded touch interface, the beginning of the end for the traditional file system hierarchy (folders, file listings, filing in general, mice – or lack thereof). We’re in a touch world now and I think it’s going to be fun:

The killer app is whatever the developers dream up for it. As John Gruber said this afternoon, Apple is essentially handing developers a blank slate and saying, “Go ahead. Make something awesome.” In their hands it will be made to do nearly limitless amazing things. Come back six months from now and you and I might have different answers to, “What’s the killer app on the iPad?” but we will have an answer. That one app that makes our life easier/simpler/more fun.

Mar

19

Certifiable…

Filed Under Apple News, Fun, Views, iPad | 1 Comment

Macmedics-Technophile
I’ve spent the last week having my brain filled by some very deep and very smart Apple people at Apple Connect 2010. It’s basically an Apple technical retreat where consultants, those working in education and other related areas get access to some of the best and brightest on topics related to networking, servers, applications, scripting, content creation – so much it’s hard to believe. 6+ hours per day plus connecting with colleagues in-between breaks, during delicious meals and in the relaxing bar at night. I admit there were times I just didn’t know what some presenters were talking about and I decided to let it just wash over me. I was also able to upgrade my certifications from last year to the latest Snow Leopard 10.6 level – yes folks, these entries are being delivered by a certified Apple Technical Coordinator 10.6!

How did this come to be? How did I become such a geek?! Sometimes I’m amazed I am doing what I do. From a background of music and social work somehow I’ve ended up with an amazing and interesting career in Mac IT! I’ve gone from helping a couple purchase and set up a Power Mac 6100 with dialup internet 13 years ago to supporting clients with multiple servers, 50+ user implementations, collaboration solutions – I can even make custom network cables (thanks Ernie) – oy! What I’ve found is that many of my colleagues come from similar diverse starting points and although Apple Computer is now Apple Inc. and it’s not so much the underdog anymore (it’s even seen in the opposite light at times) the people supporting this platform really care about it and have fun doing so. Being around such talent is humbling and reminds me that learning is endless – especially in a field that is constantly changing.

The event is almost over – one more day left with a session being given by the father of Applescript no less! I’m looking forward to a long sleep and feeling the sun on my face over the weekend. It was great to connect with colleagues and friends I’ve made over the years from attending MacWorld and other training sessions like this and to share our ideas and war stories.

P.S. Don’t forget you can read any of my blog entries on the main Blog site:

http://tech-no-phile.com/blog/

P.P.S. What piece would be complete without a cool new iPad link – so for your enjoyment, the Future:

VIV Mag Interactive Feature Spread – iPad Demo from Alexx Henry on Vimeo.

Feb

5

A Very Interesting APP

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I don’t write about iPhone Apps too often – a roundup of my favourite apps has been requested for a while – there’s just so many! However, I came across one called Siri today. Alas, it is only available at the moment in the US iTunes Store – so if you have an American iTunes account you can get it. For the rest of us the following video will give you an idea…

Siri – The Personal Assistant in your Phone from Tom Gruber on Vimeo.

For those of you looking for an App of the day type of fix – there are quite a few sites out there. One is called funnily enough: App Of The Day. For App reviews try iPhone App Review or Appvee.

Other News: The first of the iPad accessories have been announced – by Griffin. A whole new iPad accessory ecosystem is coming to a store near you: Giffin iPad Stuff

One more thing: A link to an interesting take on the current state of Microsoft and why it is leaving itself out of the innovation game these days: Op-Ed On Microsoft

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