Category: ipad

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It’s quite good really…

Let’s get a few things straight, though I may have a reputation for been something of an Apple fanboy, the reality is somewhat different.

Yes I have the iPad, yes I use an iPhone, true the MacBook Air does spend a lot of time with me when I am out and about, also true that the iMac at home (and the one in the office) are well used. You might think that I am an Apple fanboy and I only buy Apple?

The truth is more complicated. I like products for what they do and how they make my life easier, better, quicker and more efficient. Over the last few years the end result has been that I have been buying more and more stuff from Apple.

When the iPhone first came out in 2007, I didn’t like it, no real apps, no decent camera and importantly for me no 3G. At that time I was using the Nokia N95 which was, though somewhat chunky, was a great phone with a decent camera. With wifi and 3G I could use it as a portable wireless hotspot. Though with the iPhone 4 that became a possibility, the reality today is that I use my Google Nexus One for tethering over the iPhone. It is more reliable, it keeps the connection live and the impact on battery life is minimal – that was the one downside of using Joikuspot on the N95 it killed the battery life.

I do like the Apple laptops, but before getting a G4 PowerBook I was sold on Sony laptops, especially the compact ones. These, with their extended batteries, lasted all day and were small and light. I think it was Windows Vista which really moved over to OS X in the end. The constant updating and permissions issues made using Windows such a drag that using OS X was always like a breath of fresh air.

Even today, having used an Airport Extreme as my main home network router, having gone back to Netgear as I have reverted back to ADSL from FTTC I have found that the routing side is less than perfect and I have had a few network issues. True not all my Apple networking stuff has worked all the time.

So going back to the blog post title, “It’s quite good really…” am I talking about a new Apple device, no it’s the Google Nexus 7. I’ve had it two days so far and I am really impressed.

Google Nexus 7

For a tablet that costs just £159 it has the responsiveness and speed that I would expect from a tablet costing two or three times as much. Google have put a lot of work into it and the new Jelly Bean Android OS to give the end user a great experience. It is that great experience which counts as I am sure that is the reason that the iPad has cornered the tablet market even though it has its limitations. I am in the process of writing a full review of my experiences so that will come later. The Nexus 7 does have some limitations and issues, but overall I am really pleased with it and liking it a lot. It’s quite good really…

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Chroming the iPad

I actually quite like Safari on the iPad, but was intrigued by what the new Google Chrome App had to offer.

I generally use Chrome more than Safari when using my desktop Mac, but until now there wasn’t that choice on the iPad.

After installing Chrome and starting the app you have the option of signing in with your Google account.

Google Chrome Browser

This to be honest is the only real reason for using Google Chrome so that you can sync with your desktop browser.

Trying out some of my usual sites I found it worked fine.

eLearning Stuff on the Google Chrome Browser for iPad

Of course there is no Flash support, but a lot more sites realise that and are offering their content in alternative formats. A lot more of the video on BBC News for example now works on the iPad, regardless whether you use Chrome or Safari.

BBC News on the Chrome browser for iPad

Despite the fact that this is Google Chrome, it relies on the Safari WebKit as a result the performance is similar to mobile Safari. As a result I was disappointed when I tried Google+ on Chrome. I got the same “mobile” browser default that I do on Safari. I prefer the desktop browser version of Google+ over the Google+ App and really don’t like the mobile browser version of Google+.

Google+ on Google Chrome for iPad

If you really do like Chrome, alas you can’t using iOS change the default browser, clicking links in Twitter apps or Mail will result in Safari opening.

On the desktop I use multiple browsers, so for me it makes sense to have a similar capability on the iPad. So far I like the synchronisation with the desktop version of Chrome and I think that will be the key reason I will use it.

Get Chrome in the iTunes App Store.

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Halftone is free

I reviewed this app on my e-Learning blog, it was good value then at 69p, however for this weekend Halftone is free, so well worth checking out.

What it does is take a photograph and convert it into a comic style image that can then be used on a blog, in a presentation, or on a print document.

Tthis is a nice simple app that allows you to create a vintage comic panel from one of your photographs in a particular style. You can remove the captions and I quite like the built in photo editing tools.

Get Halftone in the iTunes Store.

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Even more Lego Harry Potter

Harry Potter is back, well in Lego form, on the iPad. The first Lego Harry Potter game for the iPad (and iPhone) was a great success in our house. Enjoyed by all and still played a lot today. However we have been looking forward to the next instalment, our anticipation getting hyped even more when Harry Potter: Years 5-7 was released for all the other gaming platforms.

However the wait is over…

Lego Harry Potter: Years 5-7 is now available for the iPad and is only £2.99

So far I’ve only downloaded the 466MB App and no one has had a chance to really play the game… so no idea if it’s better or worse than the original and no idea if it’s any good.

First glance is that the graphics are better than the first one, the app appears to be snappier (but that may be because my first glance was using the new iPad rather the original iPad, however the game is (allegedly) compatible with the original iPad, which is nice as some new games are only compatible with iPad 2 or better).

Gameplay is pretty standard Lego gaming style, combination of puzzles and processes to progress through.

My only real concern is that the latter part of Harry Potter is certainly darker than the first four films. However this is Lego and when you “die” in a Lego game, you basically fall to pieces and you can always build the Lego pieces back together!

Overall I think this is going to be a fun game and at £2.99 is very good value. I don’t know what (if anything) is missing from the game compared to the console version, but at first glance it does look more like the PSP version than the PS3 version.

What this game also does is ask the question, what is the future of mobile gaming systems, when you can buy the iPod touch (which supports this game) for about the same price as the Nintendo 3DS or PS Vita and not only does it so much more than those two systems, but also the games which are of a similar quality are so much cheaper. The same game for PlayStation Vita is currently £24.99 at Amazon and the PSP version is £15.49. Of course those versions were released back in November 2011, though were more expensive then too. Is the £2.99 price point on the iTunes App Store sustainable? No idea.

Get Lego Harry Potter: Years 5-7 in the iTunes App store.

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Monopoly for iPad – Game Choice #06

If you like using your iPad for games (in the main casual gaming) then you may be interested in the following games that I have enjoyed playing on my iPad over the last few years.

“GO” with the best MONOPOLY for iPad yet! Enjoy ALL-NEW gameplay features and improvements, including a Toyota Prius mover that lets you go for the green in more ways than one! From Mediterranean and Baltic to Boardwalk and beyond, enjoy a wealth of ways to play with friends – or friendly computer opponents!

Monopoly for iPad – £4.99

To be honest most people either hate Monopoly or tolerate Monopoly, there are also a few people who quite like it.

Playing Monopoly on the iPad makes me realise how many “house” rules there were in the games I played and how the actual rules can be quite different.

What I like about the iPad version of Monopoly is that when playing with others, it is easier and quicker to play and certainly takes a lot less time to setup and put away!

Playing against the iPad, using the AI, is less satisfying after a while, as you can predict the behaviour and use that knowledge to defeat it.

So for me Monopoly for iPad is an alternative to using the actual board game when you need a quick game or when you are in a place in which you can’t play the board game.

Get Monopoly for iPad in the iTunes App Store

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Scrabble for iPad – Game Choice #05

If you like using your iPad for games (in the main casual gaming) then you may be interested in the following games that I have enjoyed playing on my iPad over the last few years.

Enjoy the game you know and love with stunning new HD-quality graphics, quick and easy play, plus incredible exclusive features. The world’s favourite word game is now an iPad essential!

Scrabble for iPad £4.99

I quite enjoy playing Scrabble, but it’s not the easiest game to play on the move, when travelling or when you’re on your own. I bought Scrabble for the iPhone.

When I got my iPad, I did buy Scrabble for iPad and was pleased with it.

It works well and the AI can be quite challenging when you play against the “computer”.

I have to admit I am slightly sceptical about the dictionary as it doesn’t allow some words, and has some really “weird” two letter words in it. However it is consistent and as everyone is playing by the same rules, it isn’t too much of an issue if you are playing Scrabble for iPad with a real person.

Some may think that, where as Words with Friends has Facebook integration built in that this is a limitation with Scrabble, others like me think of it as a real advantage.

From an usability perspective I found it very easy to move my letter tiles around and to try words out.

Overall I like Scrabble for iPad, and it is possible to play reasonably quick games against the AI. Quick and simple interface means that it works quickly and easily.

Get Scrabble for iPad in the iTunes App Store.

Update

Scrabble has been updated to a new version in the App Store.

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iPad 2 for £329, but not for long…

As well as releasing the new iPad, Apple also reduced the price of the 16GB iPad 2 to just £329 ($399). However according to information I have from Apple, that this is only availabel for this reduced price, for a very limited time.

This information was in a marketing e-mail about the new iPad.

The reduction in price is temporary and will be for a short time. So if you are thinking about buying the cheaper iPad 2, then you may not want to wait for very long and buy it now.

The other thing to consider is, because of this it doesn’t matter that the old iPad is called the iPad 2 and the new one is just the iPad, because before long we’ll only have the iPad and as the only iPad available it won’t matter what it’s called. Apple will just sell the iPad.

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Photoshop Touch for iPad

It has been talked about for some time, but Adobe Photoshop Touch for iPad 2 is finally released today.

Adobe have worked hard to create a stunning looking application that is both powerful and easy to use through the touch interface. I’ve only had a small amount of time to use the app, but what I can say is that it is very easy to use, pick up and is very powerful. Photo professionals will really like the power that this app gives the iPad and enthusiasts will find the app very accessible and easy to use. The app gives you the toolbox to manipulate, edit and create stunning images.

I can image photographers taking this tool on the road with their cameras enabling them to both edit the images in the field, but then send those photographs on via 3G.

The app has been designed for both new users to Photoshop and those use to the existing application on the desktop platform. It comes with a series of useful tutorials and these explain how to achieve certain effects and the way in which different tools work.

Continue reading “Photoshop Touch for iPad”

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Grand Theft Auto 3 for iOS going cheap…

It’s some kind of holiday over the pond and as a result there are a few games that are going cheap in the App Store and one caught my eye, Grand Theft Auto 3, which is going until Monday 20th February for just 69p.

Rockstar Games celebrates the 10th anniversary of one of the most influential games of all time. The critically acclaimed blockbuster Grand Theft Auto III comes to mobile devices, bringing to life the dark and seedy underworld of Liberty City. With a massive and diverse open world, a wild cast of characters from every walk of life and the freedom to explore at will, Grand Theft Auto III puts the dark, intriguing and ruthless world of crime at your fingertips.

With stellar voice acting, a darkly comic storyline, a stunning soundtrack and revolutionary open-world gameplay, Grand Theft Auto III is the game that defined the open world genre for a generation.

Usually £2.99 this is quite a price reduction. It is an universal app so will work on the iPhone, iPod touch and iPad.

This is a much better looking version than the Chinatown game that came out a couple of years back. The touch interface does take some getting use to, especially if you are use to playing these style of games on the PSP or the PS3.

However be prepared for a big download as the game is 462MB big!

Get Grand Theft Auto 3 in the iTunes App Store.