Finding the Best Way to Read Books on an iPad | Walt Mossberg | Personal Technology | AllThingsD. Though it’s just five months old, Apple’s iPad is a certifiable hit, having already sold millions of units and spawning tens of thousands of apps tailored for its 10-inch screen. The tablet has prompted many of its owners to use it instead of their laptops for everything from email and social networking to games and Web surfing.
It’s also a very good e-reader, in my view. Unlike dedicated e-reader devices like Amazon’s Kindle, the iPad offers a wide selection of e-reading apps, and I have used several of them heavily to devour scores of books. In particular, I have spent the past few weeks testing the best known of these iPad e-reader apps, comparing their strengths and weaknesses. My verdict is that none of the three apps I focused on—which mimic and often interact with dedicated e-readers like the Kindle device—towers over the others. Each has its good and bad points, and I personally switch among them. Overall, they are more similar than different. But iBooks has some big downsides. The iPad's charging challenge explained | Accessories | iPhone C.
Editor's note: We've revised this article to include information about charging the third-generation iPad. If you’ve recently taken possession of a shiny new iPad, you may have noticed an odd message when connecting the tablet to some computers or USB chargers: the words Not charging in the iPad’s status bar.
Or maybe you've plugged a third-generation iPad into Apple’s official charger while you’re using the tablet, and later noticed that it doesn't seem to have charged at all. Or perhaps you’ve left the new iPad to charge and it seems to be taking longer than with your older iPad. Why? Compared to iPhones and iPods, the iPad simply has more-demanding charging requirements—and for the latest iPad, those demands are even more challenging. Some USB ports, especially those on older computers and many USB hubs, don’t provide enough power to charge an iPad when the screen is on.
And with the third-generation iPad, even Apple’s own charger can struggle at times. Your iPad May Have Trouble Charging On Certain USB Ports. By Matthew Chung on 04/04/2010 Some of you who received just your iPad might have encountered some issues while trying to charge it, possibly getting the “not charging” message when you plug it into your laptop. Well, it appears that this has happened to quite a few people, and the reason behind it is the use of high-powered USB ports and low-powered USB ports on certain computers/laptops.
Taking into account the iPad’s larger display, it’s obvious that it requires more juice, which your USB port may or may not be able to provide. Generally, when you’re iPad is plugged into a high-powered USB port, it gets enough juice to keep it charged, but if you happen to only have low-powered USB ports, your iPad will still be able to charge, provided that it’s on standby mode, so that it’s not using more power than it’s receiving. iPad -AT&T. Editor’s Note: This story is excerpted from Computerworld. For more Mac coverage, visit Computerworld’s Macintosh Knowledge Center. If the iPad is truly going to be “magical,” as Apple claims it will be, a lot rides on AT&T’s networks, especially its much-derided 3G performance for the iPhone.
So, it’s fair to ask what a user can realistically expect after unboxing an iPad, when the first Wi-Fi-only versions are released Saturday, and later in April when versions with 3G are released. AT&T is pretty cocky about its readiness. “We are absolutely ready,” spokesman Mark Siegel said today. Analysts believe that the Wi-Fi experience with the iPad will almost certainly be the same as with a laptop or an iPhone, but bigger questions remain regarding wide-area cellular performance from AT&T when 3G/Wi-Fi iPads begin shipping sometime in late April.
The Wi-Fi-only iPad The iPad supports fast 802.11n Wi-Fi, but that much speed might be irrelevant. The iPad with 3G and Wi-Fi. iPad Keeps Up with Columnist's Speedy Typing. iPad enthusiasts say it will change computing forever. Critics say the iPad is overpriced for what you get. CBS I wrote almost this entire column using an iPad, which partially answered my biggest question about the device: Can it replace a laptop PC?
So far, the answer is a qualified yes. As a writer and radio commentator, I wanted to see if I could use this device for my work. Bluetooth Keyboard Fortunately, Apple thought of that by offering an optional dock and keyboard, but unfortunately that keyboard wasn't available on launch day. As with any new piece of hardware and software, it took me some time to get used to working in Pages on the iPad, but it was very little time - less than five minutes. More iPad Coverage Apple's Much-Hyped iPad Hits ShelvesThe iPad -- Revolutionary, or All Hype? One of my biggest concerns was whether the Bluetooth keyboard and the software would be able to keep up with my typing.
Kids May Grow Up Learning to Type on Glass Testing Kindle for iPad. 'iPad-ready' Websites. If we weren’t amidst the feeding frenzy of iPad hype before, we definitely are now. The reviews are out, confirmations have been sent, and new apps are popping up every day (not to mention accessories). But maybe you’re not interested in this craziness—you just want to know if you can play this Vimeo video on your brand new iPad when you unbox it Saturday. Don’t worry—Apple’s got you covered. On Thursday, the company released a section of its Website entitled “iPad Ready.”
The simple name serves a simple purpose: to catalogue all the companies currently serving up sites incorporating “HTML5, CSS3, and JavaScript… to deliver content that looks and functions beautifully on the iPad.” In other words, no Flash. Amusingly, Apple doesn’t link to any of these sites—though they do provide screenshots of them within the iPad’s Safari browser. “Is your site taking advantage of the latest web standards?”
In short: Apple has released a cheat sheet for consumers. 11 Essential Tips For Getting The Most Out Of Your iPad. Apple's new 'A4' chip. Along with the iPad, the Apple chip has arrived. Called the A4, ("A" presumably for Apple), the most obvious difference with the chip in the iPhone 3GS is speed. The iPad's chip runs at 1GHz, compared to the estimated 600MHz (0.6GHz) of the iPhone 3GS. On Wednesday, at the event in San Francisco , the A4 was billed as "the most advanced chip" Apple has done yet. While fast, it's also frugal with power. By definition, the A4 is a system-on-a-chip, or SOC, that integrates the main processor, graphics silicon, and other functions like the memory controller on one piece of silicon--not unlike what Intel is trying to achieve with its future "Moorestown" Atom processor.
Based on what Apple has achieved with the iPhone 3GS, the chip should deliver a snappy interface. And speaking of 3G, the iPad will offer two AT&T plans. Apple CEO Steve Jobs described the iPad the "best (Web) browsing experience you've ever had. Another technology worth noting is the screen. Apple’s Jobs Spurns Intel, Qualcomm With A4 IPad Chip (Update1) Apple creates own CPU to power iPad. Apple Launches Its Own CPU, the 1GHz A4.
More than meets the eye. Today's unveiling of what seemed to be a dull product, also introduced something else even more significant from Apple--its first real CPU, the 1GHz Apple A4 processor. Apple's purchase of PA Semiconductor not too long ago, yielded its first product today, but it's not the fact that it was used in the iPad that makes it special. What's special is that Apple now has a real processor on its hands. And in case you're wondering whether or not Apple's own CPU can compete with the likes of ARM's Cortex or Qualcomm's Snapdragon CPUs, the A4 has potential to kick the living shnizzles out of those CPUs.
First, the A4 runs at a 1GHz frequency, which by mobile CPU standards, is quite high. Considering that Qualcomm's 1GHz Snapdragon powers Google's Nexus One, the Apple A4 could power the next wave of super-smartphones. As of currently, other specs about Apple's A4 CPU are scant, but we're sure things will be more clear in the next coming weeks.
More on the Apple iPad here. Trouble In Paradise: iPad Users Complain Of Wifi Issues. Just one day after launch and there are already scores of complaints on the Apple support site over faulty wifi on the iPad. A typical complaint is that the iPad shows no wifi signal, or a very weak signal, where other devices pick it up just fine: Having this issue with my iPad as well. It’s dropping down to one bar in a part of the house the most other devices, including my MBP and my iPhone, get full service. The WiFi is so dense in our house that I often get signal outside on most of my devices. Count me in as someone who’s having iPad Wifi issues as well. Early Macbook Air users complained of Wifi issues, too. My understanding of Wifi issues on devices, particularly cramped devices like the Macbook Air and iPad, is that it’s usually a hardware/design issue and something that can’t be fixed via a software patch.
As one commenter on the Apple site said, “Not spending $500 on something I cant even use. Apple responds to iPad wireless issues, offers fix tips | Ventur. We reported Monday on complaints from many iPad owners regarding issues with the device’s wireless connection — which included bad reception and slow speeds. Apple still hasn’t come up with a complete fix, but it’s now offering some troubleshooting tips that may help users who are having trouble.
A Knowledge Base article for general iPad wireless issues has been up since the day after its launch, and on Monday Apple also put up a support article specifically for problems with the device not reconnecting to wireless networks. Even though the latter support article is aimed at a single iPad wireless issue, the fact that Apple is acknowledging one problem also lends some credence to the many other issues being reported. If your iPad isn’t reconnecting to your network, and you have a dual-band router (one that’s capable of broadcasting an 802.11b/g network and an 802.11n network simultaneously), Apple suggests making sure that your wireless networks are named differently. Apple iPad Components Cost At Least $259 (Arik Hesseldahl/Busine. At this moment, the must-read stories in technology are scattered across hundreds of news sites and blogs.
That's far too much for any reader to follow. Fortunately, Techmeme arranges all of these links into a single, easy-to-scan page. Our goal is to become your tech news site of record. Story selection is accomplished via computer algorithm extended with direct human editorial input. Our human editors are: Lidija Davis, Mahendra Palsule, Andre Garrigo, David Connell, Jarrod Cugley, and occasionally Omer Horvitz and Techmeme founder Gabe Rivera. Launched in 2005, Techmeme remains independent, bootstrapped, and privately held. How to Turn an iPhone Into a Wireless iPad Camera - Ipad camera.
3G iPad or iPad + MiFi / Overdrive: What’s the Best Value? In our full review of the iPad, we noted that it feels like a different device when you’re not online. Not only can you not surf the Web or download e-mail, many apps that require connectivity are rendered useless. So it’s easy to see why many shoppers are holding out for the Wi-Fi + 3G version of the iPad ($629 for 16GB), which goes on sale later this month. But getting integrated 3G isn’t the only way to stay connected on the go with Apple’s tablet. With a device like the MiFi, currently available through Sprint and Verizon Wireless, you can keep your iPad and up to four other devices online with a single gadget.
The Sprint Overdrive is another viable option, especially if you live in a 4G coverage area. So which approach makes the most sense? 3G iPad Cost Over 2Years: $1,325 (including device) Pros: According to AT&T, the data plan for the 3G iPad will offer truly unlimited data, as opposed to the more typical 5GB data cap. iPad + MiFi iPad + Sprint Overdrive Recommended by Mark Spoonauer. iPad Video FAQ: How Good is the Typing Experience? Apple’s iPad Accessories: What Should You Buy (or Skip)?