Category: Technology (Page 6 of 7)

In my initial post reviewing the iPad, I mentioned my struggle with deciding if I would use it for home or work. This was a surprise, because I did envision it being anything but a home media device. In the first 48 hours, I was surprised to see my thoughts on this changing. However, that introduced a new problem; to allow my family to use the iPad, I really needed to not have it syncing with my business Exchange account. I do not want to risk unwanted messages being accidentally sent from that account or, even worse, data being deleted. After 3 weeks of using the iPad, this post will cover what I have learned and how I plan to use it for work.

First, I never undock my laptop to carry it around for meetings anymore. It stays at my desk and my iPad goes to meetings. It has hundreds of pages of project documents stored on it, and can access SharePoint to gather more if needed. Add in a bluetooth keyboard and this is a great portable platform.

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When I am away from the office, I will either use just my iPad and iPhone to connect to WebEx meetings, or I will use the iPad to reference materials while I use my laptop for the WebEx or Live Meeting session (I wish Live Meeting worked with iPad).

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My iPad is viewing project docs, iPhone is on a conference call and laptop is connected to a Live Meeting session. The frozen lunch, that was a mistake 😉

In general, the iPad has not replaced my laptop. I am a “power user”, and simply have too many utilities to abandon a laptop at this point. However, it has replaced a large portion of what I used to rely on my laptop for, and it actually does a better job at most of those tasks. In truly fit the bill of being better than a laptop at some things, and better than an iPhone at some things. Convenience, UI, battery life and simple geek points aside, it is largely the apps that have moved this from a home media device to a work device, so let’s look at the apps I am using:

Let’s start with the native apps; Notes, Mail, Contacts and Calendar. You can find a lot of reviews on these apps, so I will be brief. The layout and usability of each of these apps is a huge improvement over the iPhone version. Notes was very easy to use, and I found myself using it to store all kinds of thoughts. The biggest drawback…no folders. To use it extensively, I would need to be able to better organize my notes into folders. Calendar is probably my favorite’ with it’s landscape format providing a complete view of my daily and weekly schedule. I found myself often leaving this open in landscape mode at my desk. As nice as the contacts/calendar/mail apps are, I am very used to these apps on my phone and will likely end up disabling them to make my iPad more family friendly. At the most, I may leave the calendar sync in place. However, if you use multiple email accounts on either the iPad or iPhone, I recommend iSignature to manage multiple email signatures.

Next, I will look at the apps that Apple should have included (and I imagine they will put back in future releases). I installed Pcalc Lite to make up for the missing calculator. I also installed Voice Memos to replace the missing voice recorder. These are not critical apps, but still very useful. I am hoping that the native versions of these apps were left off to allow time for Apple to retool them in a manner similar to the email and calendar apps. I would have preferred a simple native version up front, with improvements alter, but the makers of Pcalc Lite and Voice Memos picked up the ball (thank you).

As for Apple’s paid apps, iWorks was well worth the money. For those unfamiliar with iWorks, Pages is a word processor, Numbers is a spreadsheet app and Keynote is a presentation app. I can use Safari to connect to our corporate SharePoint server and open documents, then I get the “Open in…” dialogue in the upper right corner that will allow me to open word/excel/powerpoint documents for editing on my iPad. This same dialogue also exists for email and calendar attachments. This is a very nice interface, and I think the Numbers interface is very nice. In just a few minutes, I was able to use it to create a spreadsheet that took VMware cluster stats and calculated capacity based on an equation (may be a session at VMworld, but that’s another story). Though I have only used Keynote to view a few PowerPoint files, I have really enjoyed using Pages and Numbers. The iWorks suite was an immediate purchase for me, and may be what initially made me begin to see the iPad as much more than just a media device.

For me, the next apps that I added were the WordPress and Analytics Lite applications that I had used on the iPhone to manage my blog and check my Goggle stats. Analytics Lite is still an upscaled iPhone app, but the WordPress app was rewritten for the iPad. I wrote my initial iPad review on this app, and am writing this on it right now. I maintain multiple blogs, and this app allows me to easily manage my pages, posts and comments on all of these sites.

Another useful app that got a nice redesign was the YouTube application. Anyone at fails to see this as a business tool needs to seriously reconsider their definition of a business application. Companies like VMware have their own channels on YouTube, and provide a lot of educational videos to give in depth information on their products and services and to give insights into their technology direction. I have found this to be extremely valuable.

On the topic of social media, I have also found TweetDeck to be an extremely valuable app. This may also challenge your definition of a business tool, but I only use twitter for professional communications. The information I have learned from the people that I follow on Twitter has been invaluable at work. I have also been able to reach out for advice and get a range of quick responses to provide me with good input as I look to narrow down targets for further research. I would say this app is up and running on my iPad at work even more than the calendar app.

The next category is totally job specific, a set or tools I use in IT. This includes VNC Lite for connecting to my iMac and RDP Lite for connecting to workstations and servers. I also use Touch Term for establishing ssh sessions to my iMac or to other unix/Linux devices. And for personal connections (family and friends tech support calls), I use the LogMeIn app. As you can tell by the many “Lite” apps that I have already mentioned, I am adverse to paying much for apps. However, I did cough up the $29 for the LogMeIn app on the iPhone. This app had saved me several house calls, and I was very pleased to see it updated for the iPad. Not only was the iPad version free (an extension of the iPhone app I already owned, and not an entirely new app), but it also had some significant improvements to take advantage of the iPad improved screen size.

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LogMeIn app connected to my home PC.

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This is RDP Lite. Not as nice as LogMeIn, but free and better for direct connections.

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Quick ssh session with Touch Term.

Two other IT tools that I find useful for quick data lookups are DNS Lookups and Net Utility. Where the purpose of the DNS Lookups app should be pert obvious, the Net Utility allows me to perform network pings, port scans and whois lookups. Both of these are iPhone apps that upscale for the iPad, but these apps are not really visual anyway.

I have also found the improvements to the WebEx application to be very useful. This has allowed to multi-task and watch several presentations from other meetings (don’t tell my project managers). Even when at my desk, this allows me to put the meeting presentation on my iPad and free my computer screen up for…well, multi-tasking again.

Finally, I have saved my two most valuable apps for last. iSaveweb and GoodReader have not only provided business value, but they have eased my back pain. I removed a pile of papers and files from my backpack that was over 3 inches tall. This was several hundred pages, and is now all on my iPad for easy retrieval. I used iSaveweb to capture all of my web pages for offline reading. These were mostly articles that I wanted to read, though I had been carrying some of them over over a year. All of my documents and PDF files were placed in GoodReader. GoodReader not only organizes everything into folders and interfaces with my DropBox account, but it also indexes everything for searching. Both iSaveweb and GoodReader also provide interfaces for easily exposing their files shares on your network to upload and download files, though GoodReader can also share files in a number of other ways. If it’s web interface was a little nicer, it may replace iSaveweb altogether. Not only is GoodReader free, but it is likely the single most valuable business app for the iPad.

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Before GoodReader, I was carrying this three ring binder home every night and to most of my meetings during the day. I also had a stack of several hundred documents and articles in my backpack…all in GoodReader now.

I am still looking for a good app to take and organize notes in. GoodReader can take notes, but I am not blown away by that part of the app.

Overall, I hope is will give you a little information on the many ways that an iPad can provide you with business value. For the price, the many non-business uses, the long battery life and the amazing interface, finding these many business uses for the iPad was a pleasant surprise. In fact, I know several initial iPad purchasers that are seeing this value as well, and it may just drive some of us to buy a second iPad.

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I will begin by admitting that I am an Apple fan. I do not own a modern Mac, but I own two iPhones and use an iMac at work (and am anxiously awaiting the release of the i5 MacBook Pro). I love the iPhone, and have found at it has almost replaced my home PC for e majority of my daily usage (email, web surfing, Facebook, twitter, LinkedIn, etc).

At home and work, my iPhone is a constant companion. So, when I heard rumors of the iPad, I was intrigued from the very beginning. However, I am skeptical and needed to know it would deliver on the promises…or at least have good reason to believe. I avoided pre-ordering and decided to instead reserve one at my local Apple store. That way, I could actually look at it in person before making the financial commitment, and still be guaranteed one should I want it.

To pull the trigger on this purchase, I needed the iPad to be exactly what Steve Jobs said it would be: positioned right in between the iPhone and a laptop, offering value and functionality that neither had. I wanted an easy user experience, high quality graphics, quality materials, long battery life and an improved user experience. I did not just want a bigger iPhone, I wanted something that would leverage the increased size to offer new features.

In the interest of full disclosure, when I went to the Apple store about 10am on April 3 (waiting to let the lines die down before I went), I was 97% sold. It would have taken an unpleasant surprise to make me chose not to pick up my reserved iPad.

I was planning to make this a new home media device, maybe even using it as a photo frame. It would be for my kids to play games like Smack Talk, for my wife and I to check email and social networking updates, and for ad hoc web browsing or book reading around the house. Although these would still be a great use for a second iPad, I quickly began to see that my initial iPad would be a business tool. I will do a follow up post on the iPad as a business tool, and stick to a simple review of the iPad for now.

First, when you open the box you are looking at what looks like a small MacBook Pro screen. You have a brushed aluminum body with a vivid glass screen and display. The picture quality is amazing. It boots fast, even from a cold boot. The new processor is a clear performance improvement over that of my iPhone 3Gs. I also found the weight and form factor to be pleasant, not too heavy or bulky and easy to carry.

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Yes, I was the geek that took his Apple Newton to the iPad launch

The new layout for mail, calendar, contacts and notes was very impressive, making good use of the increased screen real estate. The sound quality was actually a little better than I expected. Some of the upscaled iPhone apps like Facebook look grainy, while other upscaled apps like Brothers in Arms look pretty good. Then there are apps like Pandora and The Weather Channel that have been reworked for the iPad, and they look amazing.

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There has been a lot of buzz around the iPad as an eReader, and it lives up to the hype. iBooks look amazing and are very simple to download. You can also highlight words to open a selection box allowing for copy, search, dictionary look ups and bookmarks. You can drag your finger along the bottom of the book to quickly jump to any page in the book, swipe your finger to turn the pages, or use quick keys in the upper right to adjust font size and brightness or to perform a word search. Having used my PDA phone/iPhone as a Bible reader for over 4 years, I have found the ability to perform word searches in books to be a huge plus. You can also simply search for the word “free” in the iBooks bookstore and you will find thousands of free books. For most books, you can also download a free sample of the book that will include the first 30 pages or so.

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Typing in portrait mode is a true hunt and peck experience, but I have found the landscape keyboard to be very useful. In fact, I am typing this entire post from the WordPress app on my iPad. It only take s a few seconds to adjust to the keys, and a fee minutes to kick the poor habit of not watching what my pinky fingers are doing. At first, I had a tendency to let my pinky fingers rest on the keyboard and this generated a lot of unwanted keystrokes.

To make typing even better, Apple has finally embraced the HID protocol within bluetooth. HID, or Human Input Device, will allow a bluetooth keyboard to be paired to the iPad (and soon the iPhone wi OS4). I have an old ThinkOutside folding bluetooth keyboard that I used to use with my previous PDAs and Windows Mobile phones. This was the first thing I tested on my new iPad, and it worked perfectly. Though I am not using it now, it does make typing much easier. Another advantage of the bluetooth keyboard is that you get rid of the on-screen keyboard and regain that screen space.

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iPad with my folding bluetooth keyboard and a MiFi hotspot

For a case, I recommend the black folding portfolio case from Apple. Apple is simply calling this product e “iPad case”, and it folds back to make a stand. This can be used to either hold the iPad upright for display or at a slight angle to improve typing. I would strongly recommend this case. I also hope to add a screen protector soon, as finger smudges do tend to build up on the screen. I currently use the Power Support anti-glare film on my iPhones, and plan to buy one of these for my iPad as soon as it is available. I have found these to be very good at both reducing finger smudges and reducing glare outdoors.

For battery life, I have been very impressed. Even with bluetooth and wifi turned on all the time, and with a great deal of daily usage, I am getting two days out of each charge. Here is a link to a more deliberate battery test from Cali Lewis.

Overall, I am very pleased with my purchase. When I truly believe in something, I can be a pretty effective spokesperson. In the last week, I know of 4 people that have left a demo of my iPad and gone straight to the Apple store to buy one. My only challenge is how to balance this between being a home media device and a business tool…without having to buy a second one. In fact, the support for distinctive users would one of my few complaints.

I have been open with my likes, so I will be open with my dislikes. I wish that I could separate my content from that of other users. For now, if I want to share this with my family, I may have to stop syncing it with my work email. I cannot risk an accidental deletion or an errant email being sent from that account. Given that I am constantly tied to my iPhone with access to my work email, this may not be much of a sacrifice…but still an inconvenience. I would also like to see a common file store for all apps to place files in. All in all, those are my only two wishes. I have a few ore things that I would “like” to see, but I already know they are on the horizon with iPhone OS4.

I also chose the WiFi version of the iPad, without built in 3G. I could not stand to pay another monthly fee for internet service that was tied to one device. My thoughts were that I would either get a mobile hotspot like the Verizon MiFi or hope that Apple/AT&T will fulfill their promise to enable tethering on the iPhone. You can also jailbreak an iPhone to make it a mobile hotspot, but have always been very reluctant to do that with a device I rely on so heavily.

I will follow this post up with one on business uses for the iPad, and another on my favorite apps. For now, I will close this off and upload fit to my server. I will still use my computer to do a final review and to add some images. I can do that from this app, but I need to get this post completed. Maybe I will explore more of these new WordPress features in a follow up post.