iPad is a bombshell. There's so much in it that it could take some serious time spent with it before one can actually use its full capacity. Here's a quick view of some of little known features this multifunctioning device has.

Built-In Dictionary
It's a no-brainer that a device that has superb features for e-reading is also backed with a decent built-in dictionary. Both the word processor and the iBooks application has dictionary for quick reference to words that you may find vague. Apple is also thoughtful enough to include a quick search of the eBooks using a keyword, just as you would do with a website. As if this is not enough, it is also easy to get quick access to online dictionaries via Safari, so it really isn't a big deal if some unfamiliar words make you stammer while you read Apple's massive collection of eBooks.

Auto-Adjusted Screen Brightness
The developers of iPad went so far as program the device to adjust its brightness according to specific environments to make eye strain less of an issue for users. This is particularly important for people who frequently use the device in different lighting conditions.

Don't wish for perfection though. Despite the brilliant design and programming that went into the creation of the product, it still has some limitations. Text and images look washed under direct sunlight, for one.

Home Screen Bookmarking
The home screen, is without a doubt among the most versatile features of the device. Aside from allowing the display of the shortcuts to specific applications, iPad's Home Screen also displays your bookmarked websites. For the end users, this means that you can go straight to your favorite websites with just one touch of the bookmarked websites icon.

Browser Dashboard
Forget tabbed browser, iPad's Safari offers users a different view of opened 'tabs'. Like the tabbed view we get from laptop or desktop browsers, the dashboard view allows the opening of multiple web pages, only with iPad's Safari, the web pages are shown as thumbnail images of all opened sites. This allows for easy switching between websites. All it needs is a single tap.

Smart Links
Mailing is more convenient with iPad. The device is programmed to recognize address, names, numbers and link these to relevant information. This function benefits users by cutting short the time spent on searching online or in the device's storage for information relevant to the inquiry. For example, when addresses are tapped, maps and directions show up on the screen. When a name or a telephone number is tapped, the entire information on the contact list is revealed.

Slideshow Soundtracks
We're done with boring, quiet slideshows. Apple's iPad brings forth the option of integrating music and sounds into its slideshow app. Now, that's a good way of jazzing up any presentation you create using Keynote.

Background Music
And you thought only slideshows can have a background music...Even while you are searching the web or playing any of Apple's apps, you can have music continuously playing on the background.

Technorati Tags: apple, features, Ipad, software

The commercial craze surrounding iPad gave us the impression that this nifty machine is small enough to trot yet packed with superior apps that would put an ordinary smart phone to shame.

Apple has made it a point, in fact, a selling point, that thousands of apps were designed specifically to iPad consumption. These apps range from the leisurely and educational to the business centered. At present, additional apps are still in the process of been developed to ensure that all kinds of processes are possible to be accomplished in the iPad.

Interesting apps are present in the iPad, which may not appear to be immediately useful, but to some extent, is on a good-to-know basis. For instance, there exists a table of elements app called The Elements that has absolutely no use for corporate individuals and just about everyone else. Unless we are still attached to academic Chemistry or have great propensity to create our own potions, the Table of Elements seems like a whimsical addition to iPad's list of apps. But it does not hurt to find this app, for one, it could come in handy in the face of an alien take-over.

One useful app would be the Epicurious, a comprehensive indexed cookbook. The user could randomly search for a recipe by simply using one of the ingredients names as the search keyword. It will return a list of recipes that includes the key ingredient and the user can further narrow down the search by adding more key recipes.

Other lifestyle apps are offered too that can supplement the Epicurious app such as the Grocery IQ and Mcormick Recipes apps among others.

Games and entertainment apps have a wide array of selection from scholarly to mundane to high speed racing. Even the game apps have been specially redesigned for iPad. Gaming is such a great experience on the iPad because of its rich display, ultra fast processor and multi-orientation screen. The user can flip the tablet from portrait to landscape to better enjoy the gaming activity.

Scrabble and Soduko are two of the most popular educational game puzzles that were integrated into the iPad apps. Puzzle games such as Labyrinth, Monkey Flight, Traffic Rush, Superstar Chef, Bloons Light and more. For the puzzle addict, iPad sounds like a stairway to arcade/puzzle games heaven.

Racing games have so many incarnations in the list of iPad apps such as Real Racing HD, Asphalt 5, F1 2010, Fast Lane Street Racing Lite, Fast and Furious The Game Test Drive, Need for Speed: Undercover among others. There are about hundred of racing games to choose from.

The iPad owner can decide which apps to download on the iPad depending on his lifestyle or tastes. Everything is available on the App Store and almost all of it has been rehashed to adapt to the iPad's specifications. With over a hundred thousand of apps to choose from, it would be impossible not to find one that will spark one's interests.

Technorati Tags: apple, features, Ipad, software

3d rendering I did of a fake apple product called an Apple iPad (Jan 28, 2010 Update: Since so many people are asking me about this video now, I thought I would post some more information. This was done back in 2007 for a school marketing class. I had to create a new product and market it. Instead of doing a power point presentation like everyone else in the class, I decided to do a commercial and let the product sell itself. Also, no I do not work for Apple and no they did not pay me for the name iPad. It's kind of funny that the name is the only thing people that saw it back then said they didn't like and said Apple would never name a product that. I posted this video and my other videos on my website http://www.wesleyseay.com just incase youtube pulls this video for some reason. Thank you all for watching... Now to figure out the next product and make it. lol

Duration : 0:0:32

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Well, even the best computer in the world has its shortcomings. With a promise of harboring new things for personal computing, iPad took center stage and impressed many. But not everyone is happy about what iPad brings to the table. For one, no one is quite sure what role iPad has to fill.

What Really Is An iPad?
Is it a toy, or is it a personal computer? A replacement for notebooks, maybe? For laptops? No one can quite pin down what exactly iPad does. It is a hybrid of sorts, but no one can truly say what it can do that other devices can't. Even when everyone is clamoring that this device could kill Amazon's Kindle, many from the Kinderworld still swear by the almighty e-ink. Still, even the not so big fans of reading eBooks on iPad think that the thoughtfulness of the technology used to recreate reading on an electronic device makes iPad a decent eBook reader.

Issues With Portability
It looks very much like an iPod Touch, only it is about 4 times bigger. But it is not an iPod Touch and certainly has more functions than iPod Touch offers. Besides, it doesn't even have SMS so there simply is no way it can be an android phone, a hybrid phone even. Also, unlike the iPod Touch, it is not as portable. You can't carry it around, not even in your pocket. It has the same portability issues as its heavier cousins - laptops and netbooks. Even around the house, people have difficulty carrying it around. It is too expensive to carry without a case - it's quite heavy, its slippery and looks very fragile.

It is a very impressive feat of engineering, though. No one can doubt that. At .5 inch thick, iPad stores so much power in it that it is virtually a go-to device when some work have to be finished or when you need a hand for your procrastination. But it's not just light enough. Surely, anyone who holds this device with one hand for a few hours while reading an eBook or watching a movie will get tired of the weight. Even when you place it on your lap, a few hours can kill your legs. Still, it would be so much to ask when you have a powerful device that can give you superb web browsing experience, brilliant applications, and whatnot and not be content with its .5 inch thickness and it's a little more than a pound of weight.

The Problem With The Screen
Too much glare. Susceptibility to fingerprints. Vulnerability to cracking. Too slippery. The list could go on. The main thing that makes iPad a very handsome device is what many of Apple products' detractors hate about it. And comparisons are always made about how Kindle can fare better under the sun.

But really, when you take all these things away from iPad, you are already asking for a perfect tablet PC. A perfect device that can do nearly all things other devices can do without giving you so much as a small problem. And to think that it is just the second tablet PC Apple has developed, it sure is a giant leap for personal computing devices. But we are humans. Although we are not perfect ourselves, we expect for companies like Apple to produce perfect devices that no one can complain about, ever.

Technorati Tags: apple, features, Ipad, software

The first time I heard about the iPad, I thought it was a joke. I eventually discovered it was a real product so I snickered at the name; I thought to myself that it is a funny way for Apple to pun its own line of digital products. But then I realized that it is actually a very nifty idea for a product.

First, iPad is undeniably sticky--it sounds like Apple's eponymous digital genius, the iPod, which has spawned a line of its own, starting from the classic edition to its more advanced babies such as the iPod Touch.

The most common reaction to those who have encountered the iPad for the first time is a mixture of surprise and pleasant confusion: 'Huh? Did I hear you right? Did you say it with an eh or an ah?' That is why it sticks to one's mind because the moment you hear it, you start to think about it.

Next, the iPad lives up to its name--and I just do not mean the Apple brand. It is very literal that it is almost funny. I remember when I first heard about it, after I got over its pronunciation issue, I thought about its appearance. My friend told me that the iPad resembles a clipboard or a tablet, and I just could not believe that it was going to look like that. Somehow, we all got used to the fancy and metaphorical model names of gadgets that when we find something so bluntly named, it is just incredible.

The iPad looks like a homogeny of a slate, a thick pad of paper, a clipboard, a tablet, and a binder cardboard. One of its greatest features is that you can use it as if it really is a clipboard cradled on the crook of your arm. It works on a touchscreen interface, which eliminates the need for a keyboard or a pen, thus freeing the hands. However, unlike most touchscreen gadgets, the iPad is a multi-touch device: that means you can pinch, drag, and tap two visual objects on the screen with your fingers at the same time. It is a lightweight gadget at 68 grams and 13.4 millimeters thick.

Think of it as a giant iPod Touch with the ability to create documents via iWork, which is Apple's office program that enables its users to create slide presentations, word documents, spreadsheets, and the like. The iPad can store and play music and videos through iTunes. It also has Wi-Fi capabilities; therefore, you can experience seamless Internet surfing, chat, and email.

An iPod will have you squinting at the screen to have a good look while the iPad provides a large enough screen to properly enjoy videos and movies.

Apple considers the iPad as its revolutionary project that will bring all other competitors to shame. We have yet to experience the lasting power of this magical product and its 150,000+ applications. It just made me think: how in the world am I going to use all 150,000 of them?

Technorati Tags: apple, features, Ipad, software

The iPad finally launches in the UK this month, and huge amounts have been pre-ordered already. With such a sleek and mouth-watering bit of kit, the first thing on your mind (well, ok, second, after frenziedly prodding at it and bragging to all of your friends) is going to be how to protect your iPad and keep it as snug and safe as a newborn baby. This three-step guide to iPad cases should give you some ideas.

1. Get a screen protector

I can’t recommend this enough! A good iPad screen protector will protect your phone from the scratches and scrapes that are almost inevitable on a screen as big as the iPad’s. Our favourite is the InvisibleSHIELD, which is made out of an invisible and invincible film that was initially developed for military-use. Designed to protect the edges of helicopter blades, it’s definitely strong enough to keep your iPad scratch-free.

2. Get a shell

A flexible iPad cover, made from plastic or silicone, will protect your iPad from bumps by absorbing the worst of the shock. On top of that, it’s moulded around your iPad closely enough that it won’t interfere with use, has cut-outs so that all the functions are accessible and will give you the ability to customise your iPad, making it something more colourful and personal. Our favourites is the FlexiShield, which are available in a range of bright colours.

3. Get a case

A good case is a must for transporting your iPad, especially for the business-savvy who want to use it at the office or on the morning commute. You wouldn’t take a laptop out of the house without a case, and the iPad’s the same. Our favourite is this leather iPad case, which looks stylish, has a padded and protective interior and a handle for easy carrying.

Technorati Tags: iPad Accessories, iPad case

A parody of the so wellknown iPod.

FREE iPad: http://myipadbuzz.com/free-ipad/

Duration : 0:1:29

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Technorati Tags: apple ipad, Comedy, Free iPad, Ipad, jobs, mad, MadTV, Parody, steve, Steve Jobs, tabblet, tv

Thanks to the major marketing boost that the iPad received from parent company Apple, we now have the impression that it is the best device to experience the Web, watch online streaming video, and connect with friends via social networking services.

The opinion is backed with good reason and real results because the iPad is filled to the brim with Internet-savvy features and services. Despite the initial skepticism expressed by most industry pundits when the computing device was unveiled at a press conference in San Francisco, positive reviews by tech experts who had the privilege of testing the first few commercially available iPads--from Walt Mossberg to the guys at Engadget--had to admit that, indeed, Steve Jobs has unleashed a worthy competitor to netbooks.

It is equipped with built-in, high-speed 802.11a/b/g/n Wi-Fi, which makes downloading files and streaming videos fast and easy. You can forget about buffering, which takes up so much time that it lengthens a four-minute video into eight minutes of waiting. Although some connections may tend to slow down--particularly when there is heavy gateway traffic or when too many subscribers are using the network--it is not going to affect your iPad browsing experience, thanks to its combination of a beefed-up Safari app (which is Apple's answer to Mozilla Firefox and Internet Explorer), and the latest Wi-Fi standard.

Browsing most of the online content that you'll be accessing on an iPad is mainly handled by a specially designed mobile version of Apple's proprietary web browser called Safari, an app that, according to Apple engineers, is the fastest browser among its league. Considering its reputation as the fastest app to render mobile webpages and the degree of advanced Wi-Fi technologies that are built into the iPad, it can be predicted that browsing the Web for information on the device will take your breath away at lightning speed.

These days, Wi-Fi hotspots are easy to come by; one does not need to remain in highly metropolitan areas to stay online because even rural towns and suburban communities have Internet access. However, that is not to say that we are entirely wirelessly connected. Some Internet connections can be accessed through 3G technology. Fortunately, the iPad does not only operate on Wi-Fi but on 3G as well. That means you are not solely tied up to Wi-Fi and feel completely powerless when a hotspot is not available because 3G, via your mobile telecommunications provider, will keep you connected.

Depending on your location, most major network providers have 3G service contracted by Apple. For instance, AT&T has monthly Internet plans that allow you to swiftly switch from a Wi-Fi network to a 3G connection seamlessly. All the processes can be completed online on your very own iPad, so there is absolutely no need to go to an AT&T store or contact their customer support to purchase the plan.

When you have used up all your surfing minutes, an interactive push notification will pop up to tell you about your impending state and will provide you with two options: switch to the latest Wi-Fi standard with a frequency emanating within your vicinity or upgrade to the next data plan. Data usage and plan information can be monitored and managed on the iPad itself because that, too, has its own app.

Technorati Tags: apple, features, Ipad, software

4 Reasons Why Some People Aren't Crazy About iPad

Many waited in line for the release of Apple's 'revolutionary' tablet PC, the iPad. But many, too, shrugged their shoulders with indifference and dissatisfaction over the fact that this almighty device would not deliver on its promise. Well, these two opposing views clearly show how polarized people are with iPad. Let us take a look at a few things that make iPad a not-so-hot item for some.

iPad 2.0 will be available soon, so why bother?
This is a big issue. The currently released iPad is a big disappointment for many and that doesn’t help much with Apple's efforts to make its newest tablet PC a big hit. Whether the disappointments of the general public – techies, mostly – are justified or not, it still hurts Apple's sales. It still, in many ways, discouraged quite a huge number of people from buying the product.

But on top of this issue is the expectation that Apple will release a new, upgraded version soon. (Maybe this time, iPad will come with a built-in camera.) People would rather wait for the upgraded version, which many expect will offer a substantially improved version of its predecessor. Following this line of thinking, people would rather wait for one full year or two than dole out their more than $500 on a device that will soon be replaced.

It doesn’t support Flash.
Ok, big deal. Apple seems to have a thing for Adobe's Flash, a standard on the web. Flash is what most websites and rich media are built with. It's the program that runs videos, audios and games that have saturated the online world. But Apple seem not to like it. The company prefers a more stable, less vulnerable to hack platform. It prefers its own HTML5. It only makes perfect sense that all Apple's products – iPad included – runs on this platform and not on Flash.

What most people don’t quite get though is that nearly all websites on the internet use Adobe Flash. For the end users, this means that when visiting websites using iPad's browser, Safari – glorious and beautiful as it is – there would still be some problems that may be encountered. Big problems. No Hulu and HBO for now, buddy.

No built-in camera. Na ah.
Before Steve Jobs formally presented iPad to the public, everyone thought it's a no-brainer that Apple will attach a camera to the device. Apparently, iPad doesn’t carry one and there seems to be no clear indication that iPad 2.0 will have one. For now, iPad can’t be used for taking snapshots of yourself or for making video calls over Skype or YM.

You only get to multitask when running Apple's native applications.
iPad runs on iPhone's OS, fine. What is not okay though is that the same limitations on iPhone are experienced with the iPad. Say goodbye to multitasking.

If you are a regular user and if you see iPad as nothing more than a sophisticated, multifunctioning multimedia player/toy/laptop hybrid, it won't be much of a problem. But if you live your life online, you'll be stumped. There is no way you can listen to iTunes while making a video call using Skype.

Technorati Tags: Ipad, iPad Accessories

Do You Enjoy Reading? iPad Has An App For That

Probably one of the more popular features of the iPad—aside from its multi-orientation interface—is its accessibility to hundreds of thousands of apps. These programs have been specifically designed to run on the iPad; there is zero possibility to find it anywhere else, except on the iPhone and iPod Touch. The applications cater to a wide range of categories, including entertainment, business, games, education, and sports. Practically anything you can think of has been prepared for by Apple engineers and third-party developers. Whatever your need, there's an app for that.

One useful application offered on the iPad is an e-book reader called iBooks. The size of the iPad screen is ideal for reading; there is no squinting necessary to view text displayed on this device. Most of the technical aspects relating to the readability of the material can be adjusted such as its brightness, text size, typeface, and background. The background lighting can be dimmed according to the user's preference and this is especially useful for reading at night since nocturnal reading becomes unbearable when the screen is too bright.

Moreover, text size and font styles can be altered to suit the user's needs. For some odd reason, we all have quirky preferences when it comes to font styles. There are people who just simply could not stand neither Times New Roman nor Arial; sometimes, they find it easy to read huge blocks of text displayed in Helvetica or Palatino Linotype. Text adjustment is definitely good news for those who like to read lengthy novels.

Another wonderful feature of the iBooks app is its capability to render superb graphics. iPad's crisp screen and high-speed memory allows images to appear as you read it without waiting for the image to complete. It makes graphic novels and illustrated books better appreciated.

Incidentally, Marvel Comics has its own e-book reader app on the iPad, which means the Marvel experience is easily accessible via a simple download! The images can be enlarged or minimized by simply pinching on the multi-touch screen. It is also easier to navigate and browse the pages of Marvel's comic books by tapping the thumbnails.

In line with further reading, the Wall Street Journal and the New York Times have also created an app exclusively for the iPad. While it is not exactly a great replacement for a physical broadsheet newspaper, it provides as easy, "tap-worthy" access to news as you need it.

These applications are available on the not-so-subtly named marketplace App Store, which can be accessed on a specialized app on the iPad. iBooks is already included in the device once you purchase it, while the Marvel Comics app can be purchased on the App Store or through Amazon. Currently, Amazon still holds the record of offering more and better titles more than any other e-book seller. The user has the option to preview the books or comics before buying and as a lucky iPad owner, you can also order Marvel Comics in print to add to your collection.

Technorati Tags: Ipad, iPad Accessories