Iowa TechTalk

It has been FAR too long since I last posted an article to my blog. We had a few family things come up last Fall around the time of my last posting and I simply didn’t have the time to sit down and write articles. Before long, even when I did have the time I simply fell out of the habit of writing. It is my hope that now that I’m getting back to it, I will continue to add articles on a far more regular basis. That being said, I’ll jump right into my review of the Apple Magic Trackpad.

The Magic Trackpad is by no means a new product, it has been on the market for 10 months now. I have read a plethora of reviews on the Magic Trackpad and often been intrigued by it, but I was fairly happy with my old Mighty Mouse so I never seriously looked at it. Over time I’ve grown tired of the clutter that USB cables adds to my desk, so I’ve taken to tidying things up a bit for a neater work space. The first two things that I decided had to go were my Apple USB Keyboard and my USB Mighty Mouse. I had an Apple Bluetooth Keyboard already, I just hadn’t gotten around to using it yet, so that part of the equation was already taken care of. Then came the decision of what mouse to use.

The first mouse that I tried was the Microsoft Bluetooth Mouse 5000. It was the lowest priced of the 3 mice that I was considering, and I’ve always been very pleased with Microsoft mice in the past, so I decided to give it a try. The mouse worked quite well, however it only had one side button so it wasn’t nearly as flexible as I’d hoped it would be. Also, it didn’t tend to “play” very well with my MacBook Pro. It seemed to take a long time to come out of sleep mode after it sat idle for a while, and usually I ended up just having to wake the system up with the keyboard and wait for the mouse to kick in. Given the lack of multiple buttons and the constant wait for the mouse to “wake up”, I decided to look at a different mouse, the Apple Magic Mouse.

The Magic Mouse was also a very nice mouse. It was larger than the Microsoft mouse which I very much liked. The Microsoft mouse was a bit on the small side for my taste, like most notebook specific mice. I was concerned with the ergonomics of the Magic Mouse as it has a very low profile, and while it took some getting used to, it wasn’t nearly as bad as I had feared. After a full day’s use though it did get to be a bit cumbersome for me to use. The addition of multi-touch to the mouse more than made up for the slightly irregular shape. Out of the box the Magic Mouse supports gestures for clicking, double clicking, scrolling up/down and left/right, zooming, and swiping backwards and forwards (very useful for going back and forth when browsing the web). Already it was far more functional than the Microsoft mouse, however I’ve grown accustomed to the multi-touch functionality of an iPad as well as the trackpad on my MacBook Pro, so I had hoped for a bit more out of the Magic Mouse. On the recommendation of a co-worker, I tried out an application called MagicPrefs. MagicPrefs is a 3rd party add-on that allows you to setup just about any combination of clicking, swiping, and scrolling that you can think of. I immediately fell in love with the application and started to use it to setup all sorts of useful multi-touch gestures. The only problem was that the size of the mouse in comparison to a trackpad quickly became an issue. A four-finger swipe to bring up Expose is anything BUT simple on a standard sized mouse . I had mentioned this to a co-worker and he suggested I test out his Magic Trackpad, so I gave it a spin for half of a day. Within an hour or so, I decided that THIS was the mouse I’d been looking for. The following picture shows the size difference between the Apple Magic Mouse and the Apple Magic Trackpad:

The Apple Magic Trackpad was everything that I’d hoped for out of the Magic Mouse, but large enough to actually realize the benefits of a program like MagicPrefs. While the Magic Mouse comes out of the box with 5 different options for multi-touch gestures, the Magic Trackpad more than doubles that with 12 gestures out of the box. With it, you can easily point, click, double click, scroll, rotate images, zoom in and out, page forward and backward, change applications, activate Expose, etc. The surface of the Magic Trackpad has close to 80% more surface area than the trackpad on a MacBook Pro. This gives you plenty of space for some of the more advanced gestures that MagicPrefs supports. With my Magic Trackpad I can use a 3-button click to activate Spaces, a 5-button click to lock my workstation, a 4-finger swipe to activate Expose, etc. I have already gained far more functionality out of the Magic Trackpad coupled with MagicPrefs than I could imagine with any other mouse, and I have only activated TWO of the more than twenty configurable options that it supports. As I think of more shortcuts for things I do all the time on my computer, I would imagine that I’ll be activating many more of those features as well.

Ergonomically speaking the Magic Trackpad is quite comfortable as well. As is the case with a trackball style mouse, you aren’t constantly moving your arm and wrist around so at the end of a full work day you’re not starting to feel like you’re coming down with carpal tunnel syndrome.

As was the case with the Magic Mouse, the Magic Trackpad also wakes up a sleeping Mac instantly, no waiting like with the Microsoft mouse. I’m sure the fact that the computer and mouse are both made by the same manufacturer helps here, as I’m sure the Microsoft offering is probably a bit quicker to respond on a Windows computer.

Despite all of the wonderful things that I like about the Magic Trackpad, there are a few drawbacks to consider before going out and buying one. The price tag of $69.99 is quite a bit higher than most mice (The Microsoft mouse that I tested was $49.99). However, with all of the functionality that you get from it, to me it is worth the higher cost. Another drawback is the fact that it is a bit more fragile than most mice. While it is constructed of a roughly 1/8″ thick sheet of aluminum that is quite sturdy, the surface of it (like all Apple trackpads) is covered in glass. Normal usage isn’t about to break the surface, but I wouldn’t throw it into a laptop bag without some type of protection. For now, I have kept the original box and use it to carry the Magic Trackpad in my bag, but I’m looking into options for a carrying case for it so that it is easier to store for when I am on the go. The other drawback that I could see for the Magic Trackpad is that it would not be ideal for gaming. Most games rely heavily on the mouse for movement, and I think trying to maneuver through a game like World of Warcraft or Portal would be rather cumbersome. My MacBook Pro is pretty much strictly used for standard office type applications (web browsing, word processing, email, etc.) so for me this is not an issue, but if you are into gaming on your Mac then the Magic Trackpad isn’t for you.

All things considered I find the Magic Trackpad to be the most functional pointing device I’ve ever owned. Its full potential isn’t realized without the use of MagicPrefs, but when combined the two pack a pretty powerful punch that’s worth looking into if you’re in need of a new mouse.

A few weeks back I gave an overall review of the Apple iPad. This time I thought I would take a closer look at what really makes the iPad great, that being the apps. There are literally thousands of apps available for the iPad, and many of them are GREAT apps. I have around 70 apps currently installed on my iPad, but only a handful of those are apps that I use all the time and would consider “must have” apps. Here they are, in no particular order:

iBooks (Included with iPad): I am admittedly not much of a reader. It isn’t so much that I don’t enjoy reading, I just never really think to go to a book store or a library, and having 2 kids under the age of 5 really doesn’t leave a plethora of free time to do so. My wife uses a Kindle and absolutely loves it so I figured I would check out iBooks and see for myself if the eReader craze is all its cracked up to be. I’m a big Sci-Fi fan so I picked up a Star Trek: The Next Generation book via the iBooks Store. I was VERY pleased with how easy it was to read on the iPad. I was leery of how easy it would be to read a full novel electronically as I tend to prefer physical paper. The beautiful display on the iPad definitely lends itself well to reading however, and I found the reading experience on the iPad to be quite enjoyable. The iBooks Store on the iPad is so easy to use (much like its musical counterpart, the iTunes Store) that I found myself browsing for books now that I didn’t have to head out to the book store to look. Since purchasing the iPad I have now read 4 novels on it, and can’t wait to check out more novels.

ABC Player (Free): This application does an AWESOME job of showing off the wonderful display on the iPad. For those familiar with Hulu, the premise is the same except the app is ABC specific (obviously). All of ABC’s popular shows are available to watch for free (with limited advertisements) and the quality is excellent. I don’t tend to watch a lot of TV (again, having kids doesn’t leave a lot of time for that!) but after they go to bed for the evening, it is nice to kick back on the couch and catch up on one of my favorite ABC shows, Modern Family. It would be nice to see the other networks follow suit and offer an iPad app for online viewing, but in the mean time the ABC Player has much to offer for those looking to catch up on their favorite shows.

Netflix (Free): Like the ABC Player, this app does a great job of showing off the iPad display. While the ABC Player is nice, you are limited in the content available. That is where the Netflix app comes in. Any subscriber to Netflix can login to this app and access their “Watch Instant” queue of over 10,000 movies. This app definitely comes in handy when you are on the road and there isn’t a thing on TV, or if you simply want to kick back in bed and watch a movie while falling asleep.

Tweet Deck (Free): This is definitely a must have for those that utilize Twitter. I initially started off using Twitterific which is a good app, but I found the layout of Tweet Deck to be much better. Unlike Twitterific, Tweet Deck utilizes columns where you can setup different views for Twitter. I have one column for my main Twitter feed, one that shows any Tweets where I am mentioned, and another that shows Direct Messages. The one thing that the iPad version lacks that the Mac OS X and Windows versions offer is the ability to view and post to Facebook. I really like this feature on the desktop version of Tweet Deck, and would REALLY like to see it added to a future version of the iPad app.

Wikipanion (Free): One of the best things about the iPad is the ability to have information right at your finger tips. Wikipanion extends that by tying directly into Wikipedia, the online free encyclopedia. The web site works well on the iPad, but the Wikipanion app makes it easier to browse through articles as it offers a Table of Contents that allows you to easily go to different sections of an article.

IMDb (Free): Users of the IMDb website know that it is THE source for anything and everything about movies, TV shows, actors, etc. The IMDb iPad app is perfect for looking up that info as it has a great dynamic Table of Contents. When looking up info about a movie it lists all of the cast members and when looking up your favorite actors and actresses it shows all of the movies they have been in. The iPad version of IMDb is easier and more powerful than the website itself, and is a must have for any entertainment buff.

Real Racing HD ($9.99): While the iPhone/iPod Touch was ground breaking in terms of mobile gaming, the iPad takes it a BIG step further. The higher resolution and extra real-estate of the iPad display make it the perfect personal gaming platform, and Real Racing HD utilizes the accelerometer of the iPad to provide for one of the best racing games ever. Everyone I have shown the game to is very surprised at the quality of the graphics, as well as the ease of use of the game. Those familiar with racing games on the Nintendo Wii will be right at home on the iPad as it utilizes the accelerometer so that you simply twist and turn the iPad to race around the course.

Wyse Pocket Cloud ($14.99): On the business side of things, anyone who needs to have remote access to Windows based desktops and servers will definitely want to pick up Wyse Pocket Cloud. For all intents and purposes, Wyse Pocket Cloud is simply a Remote Desktop application that utilizes Microsoft’s Remote Desktop Protocol. The app is vital for IT administrators who want to quickly access a Windows server to check on things or perform tasks without having to boot up their laptop. It also offers a unique feature called Thin Browser which utilizes a plugin that you install on the Windows based machine you are accessing to serve up just a web browser instead of the full desktop. Where this comes in very handy is when accessing web sites that utilize Flash, the achilles heel of the iPad. If your Windows system has Adobe Flash Player installed you can now access any Flash content you want using the iPad, despite Steve Jobs’ insistence that you not access Flash based websites

Weather Bug Elite (Free): For the science geeks like me, or just anyone looking to check up on the latest weather, Weather Bug Elite is a great app. In landscape mode you are able to view a full screen map (provided by Google Maps) with a live Radar overlay, or you can change over to a satellite overlay to view current cloud cover. You also are provided with a column on the right showing the current conditions including temperature, wind chill, dew point, barometric pressure, wind speed and direction, etc. Below the current conditions is an area showing a 6 day forecast as well as an hourly forecast, providing you with all of the weather info that you need.

Toy Story Read-Along (Free): If you have kids, or even if you just love Toy Story, this is a great app. This is a Read-Along version of Toy Story with many options for kids of any reading level. You can simply read the story yourself, have the iPad read the story to you, flip through the pages at your own pace, have the iPad change the page for you, etc. My kids love listening to the story time and time again, and each word of the story is highlighted as the iPad reads it to them to help them learn to read themselves. A few of the action scenes from the story include actual footage from the movie which the kids love. This is truly a fun app to have, and makes the Read to Me books that we had on cassette tape when I was a kid look like stone tablets

Pac Man ($4.99): The title says it all, its Pac Man! And I don’t mean any of the modernized versions of the game with fancy graphics, a story line, etc. this is just plain old, purely awesome Pac Man! The game offers 2 ways to play: you can use an on screen joy stick to maneuver your favorite 80′s video game icon around the screen eating pellets as you go and dodging ghosts, or you can simply use the touch screen to change Pac Man’s direction. This is an exact re-creation of the original arcade hit, and it definitely doesn’t disappoint!

I could go on and on about all of the great apps that the iPad has to offer, but this list is my current must have list, and if you have an iPad yourself I would highly recommend checking out all of them. The platform has so much potential and I can’t wait to see what new apps continue to come out for the device.

I am first and foremost a technology enthusiast, so when new gadgets and devices come out, more often than not I’m that person standing at the front of the line on launch day ready to snatch up the latest new toys. In January when Apple announced that they were releasing a tablet device, the iPad, I was skeptical at first. I wasn’t sure what to make of a device that did not have a full blown desktop operating system on it. So, when the iPad was announced, I had decided that I would not be one of the people to run out and pick one up right away.

Despite deciding that I was not going to purchase an iPad, I continued to keep an eye on the device and read up on it. Of course, all of the articles that were out were pure speculation at the time as it was not released until April 3rd, but the hype around the device was growing at exponential levels. On launch day I was still on edge about it, however I wanted to go in and see it for myself. I spent about 20 minutes in the store trying out the display model of an iPad. That was all the time that it took me to decide that I wanted one, although those that know me well know that it really didn’t take much twisting of my arm There was of course a delay since the initial launch stock was sold out, so my iPad arrived around April 20th. I have had a month now to really put it through its paces, and after that time I have made the following observations about it:

• The iPad will not replace your laptop.  It is a great entertainment device, and I could see it picking up in certain sectors such as Health Care and Education, but it is not going to replace a laptop for your typical corporate user.
• This goes along with my first statement: the iPad is not suited for creating content.  Apple has made leaps and bounds with touch screen technology, but sometimes you still need the tactile feedback of a mechanical keyboard.  If you have a Bluetooth keyboard these can be used with the iPad and it makes a big difference.
• A case for the iPad is a MUST HAVE accessory.  The back of it is the same aluminum used on Apple’s MacBook Pro laptop line, and while it does not EASILY scratch, it wouldn’t take much normal wear and tear before it starts to show signs of usage.
• Holding the device for extended periods to watch movies can become tiresome.  Make sure the case you get has some sort of a stand to it so that you don’t have to hold it the whole time. I picked up this case from Incase, and I LOVE IT!
• The screen is far more durable than you would imagine.  My first concern about the iPad was that it would scratch easily.  I have not tried this myself (nor do I plan to!) but in one review that I read, they tried to scratch the touch screen with a nail and were unable to scratch it.
• The iPad is more than just a “Super Sized iPod Touch”.  The higher resolution and screen real estate have freed software developers to do so much more with this device.  In a future post, I will discuss some of my favorite Apps that I have found for the iPad.
• Anyone can use an iPad.  The device just makes sense when you pick it up and start to use it.  My 4 year old daughter watched me view photos on it for all of 2 minutes before she asked if she could try it out.  She had no problem opening pictures, scanning through them, and closing them.

So, is the iPad for everyone?  No, it certainly isn’t.  I think it is a strong competitor to Netbooks for home users who would like a device in the living room or bedroom to do light web browsing, watch movies, and read books on.  From a purely entertainment perspective, the iPad is a superior device to Netbooks in that it is much faster and easier to use than your typical Netbook.  As I mentioned in the opening of this post, I was skeptical about it not having a full blown operating system on it, but I think the fact that it is based on the iPhone OS is definitely a strength.  The software operates much faster and doesn’t feel as “clunky” as what Windows 7 does on a Netbook.  It isn’t about to replace your laptop or desktop though.  Too many tasks still call for the horsepower and peripherals that a desktop or laptop offers.  It will certainly be interesting to see what Apple does with future iterations of the iPad, and to see what types of devices competitors come up with.