iPad – From An Apps Perspective

I have been struggling for some time to write a meaningful article about the iPad. When it comes to the device itself there has been so much press that little remains to be said. Is it, as Steve Jobs proclaims, ‘Wonderful and Magical’? I think so. Whilst there are shortcomings, such as lack of Flash, I have not really noticed this as an issue in real terms. That said I would REALLY like to be able to watch ABC iView or any of the other TV Catch-Up services on it!

It crossed my mind that a good approach to writing an article would be to relate my experience of taking it with me on a holiday to the USA and how it would manage as a laptop substitute. I should clarify that I did have to bring a laptop for work – but aside from using it to download photo’s onto, it did not see the light of day. I would not have even needed this if it had not been for the iPad’s camera connection kit being sold out months in advance!

Connectivity wise I have the WiFi only iPad. As I already had a pocket WiFi hotspot for all my other gadgets, it seemed pointless to pay extra for the iPad and pay monthly for another data plan. In the US i was reliant on free WiFi which I was able to access from McDonalds and hotel reception areas. Since my trip Starbucks offers free and easy WiFi across the US and Canada.

I was concerned before departure that the battery, while good, would not make it across the Pacific to San Francisco. I needn’t have worried. Most of my use was reading books (Kindle App), magazines (Zinio) and various other documents (Goodreader) and listening to some music and podcasts. On arrival I still had about 50% battery left. On the way back the story was much the same except that I also watched a movie on the iPad.

In the US I had no trouble keeping up with my email. The Mail app is very nice and typing is not a bother in small doses. I have the iPad office apps (Pages, Numbers and Keynote) and they work well for dealing with attachments. A variety of news apps kept me informed (Bloomberg, ABC and Early Edition). Using PressReader I was even able to read my Sydney Morning Herald daily. The native ‘The Australian’ app is not bad

- but still needs polish. I was even able to listen to Australian radio stations using WunderRadio.

If I needed access to any of my work documents they were all safely stored online and accessible from Dropbox. Notes in Evernote. If necessary I could access the work server via remote desktop and work on it as if I was there by using iTap RDP.

As a games platform the iPad excels and Nintendo/Sony would have to be worried, especially when you consider a top end game on the iPad is less that $15 on average. On the games front Plants vs Zombies will keep you busy for hours…

The value of the iOS came home to me after 3 days in Yosemite with no connectivity (Yes – I did suffer withdrawal!). We ate at a redneck diner just outside the park – which funnily enough offered WiFi). I had my iPhone with me, was able to check my email and fix a minor crisis in Australia.

Until next month…