If you take pride in supporting the writers and content creators that add thoughtful and insightful information about the topics you read about daily, you may already be a subscriber of Readability. Readability support was added in January, but now Reeder allows you to send articles to your read later queue so may share your public articles with followers or to read them in the new web app. Reeder has also addressed bugs and usability issues, fixing shared articles that didn’t sync, eliminating crashes, and overall improving the syncing experience. You can download the latest update for Reeder in iTunes, through the App Store app, or by visiting this link (App Store link).
iPad 2: Thoughts, Questions & Answers
Short of a full review, I wanted to go over some of the sporadic thoughts I’ve had while using the iPad 2. I want this to be a place where you can leave questions in the comments, and where I’ll update this post as ideas come to mind. These aren’t quite initial reactions, but more of an unfolding conversation in response to a new discovery or comment. Many of the initial reviews left me a little unsatisfied, and I want to fill that gap with burning questions about what’s on your mind. I can’t answer app compatibility questions, but feel free to plug away about the iPad 2.
The Time Is Now! iPad 2 Is Online
The iPad 2 has officially launched in the Apple Store for United States shoppers, and if you don’t know why or what you’re getting into, quickly get the rundown from our iPad 2 roundup. It’s available in eighteen different models between white & black, storage capacities, and carrier compatibility, and they’re all up for grabs. Don’t forget about the iPad 2’s must have accessories, including those delicious Smart Covers (which I think are genius), the Apple iPad 2 Dock, the Apple Wireless Keyboard and the AV Digital Connector for HDMI out. Lastly, don’t forget about AppleCare!
Shipping Updates:
- iPad 2s are shipping within 3-5 business days (limit two per order).
- Smart Covers are shipping within 1-2 business days.
- The iPad 2 Dock is shipping within 1-3 weeks.
- Digital AV Adapters are shipping within 1-2 business days.
Apple will recommend a lot of these goodies at checkout. Once you add your iPad to the cart, the most common accessories (recommended for you) should help you checkout with a full basket faster.
If you’re considering some optional upgrades, the Apogee JAM is available as a companion for GarageBand, and will ship within 3-4 weeks.
Update: iPad 2 shipping times in the US are already up to 5-7 business days from 3-5 business days last night.
Get Coding For the iPad 2: CodeBox for Mac Review & Giveaway
You’re going to want to create the best apps for the iPad 2, and I bet you have an arsenal of methods and classes that could all use some proper organizing. CodeBox for the Mac wrangles all of your fancy code so you’ll have those App Store winning formulas available right from your menubar.
Blue Planet Casts Shadows On Your Mac Desktop
A couple things are very telling of an individual when you first analyze how they use their Mac. Desktop wallpaper in particular is very personal, and Blue Planet for the Mac transforms the desktop into a world theater cast in shadow. Perhaps someone who paints their desktop with glow of sleeping cities finds it almost calming that the world continues to turn as time intended it. Blue Planet covers your desktop in a map of the Earth, overlaying one of four different topographic maps, and enables you to pinpoint your location if location services are enabled. In real time, you can witness the passing of the sun as day turns to night for the small price of $4.99 in the App Store.
Flickpad Pro 2.4 Launches: Visual Updates & The Return of Flickr Explore Grid
Flickpad is an immersive way to browse Flickr and Facebook photos with flickering fingers, and the latest Flickpad update brings an update interface (new app icon and wood background), introduces advanced search capabilities, and brings back Flickr Explore in a grid-tastic format. We reviewed Flickpad a while ago, and it’s still a fantastic way to browse through photos by flicking them off the screen, browsing the latest photos as a slideshow, and to comment on inspiring photographs. You can download Flickpad Pro on your iPad for only $0.99 from the App Store.
The HandStand: The iPad Case With A Hand Strap
Similar to the Meglio whose Kickstarter we promoted yesterday, we’d be remiss if we didn’t talk about The HandStand for your iPad. A velcro strap secures the iPad to the palm of your hand, and allows the iPad to rotate a full 360 degrees for comfort and mobility. It offers a slight typing angle with its studded back, and provides full protection against scratches and dings. It might not be as functional in the movie stand or hanging shelf department, but this could be a better alternative for iPad walk-a-roos. You can get one for $49.95 if you’re holding on to your original iPad (an iPad 2 version is coming in the Spring).
Your Verizon iPhone Won’t Send iMovies To Your Apple TV Just Yet
The Verizon iPhone might lessen dropped calls, but it’s getting the short end of the stick thanks to the lack of Apple’s latest iOS 4.3 update. Heads up: a note in the iMovie support documents indicate that the Verizon iPhone isn’t compatible with the Apple TV just yet, as sending a movie from iMovie to the Apple TV requires the iOS 4.3 update for your iPhone, as well as the Apple TV Software 4.2. AirPlay has recently been vastly expanded in the iOS 4.3 update, adding support from Photos to other supporting apps, and you’ll need to hold on a little longer if the movie buff in you can’t wait to share home movies on the big screen.
iPad 2 Review Roundup
The iPad 2 won’t be here for two more days, but Macworld, Engadget, and others are flooding the Twitternet with the reviews we’ve all been waiting for. Reviewed in ebony and white with all of those colorful smart covers, your purchasing decision was just made easier.
It might frustrate the competition to hear this, but it needs to be said: the iPad 2 isn’t just the best tablet on the market, it feels like the only tablet on the market. As much as we’d like to say that something like the Xoom has threatened Apple’s presence in this space, it’s difficult (if not impossible) to do that. Is the iPad 2 a perfect product? Absolutely not. The cameras are severely lacking, the screen – while extremely high quality – is touting last year’s spec, and its operating system still has significant annoyances, like the aggravating pop-up notifications.
The iPad 2 also has 512MB of RAM—twice that of the original iPad—and a 200MHz bus speed, likewise twice that of the original.
Though the iPad 2 is an improvement on the original iPad in numerous ways, it’s still an evolutionary product, not a revolutionary one. If you’re happy with your current iPad, there’s no reason to dump it just because there’s a shinier, newer one. (This is not to say that millions of people won’t do just that. I mean: shiny!) If you’ve invested in iPad accessories such as a dock or case, keep in mind that you probably won’t be able to use them with the new iPad.
Apple’s design wizards have made the new iPad feel much airier. Placed on a table between the original model and the new Motorola Xoom, it makes the others look bloated. Its top surface doesn’t even reach the side buttons on the original model. It has much more sharply tapered edges, and a new, optional, white color adds to the sense of lightness. While the 1.33-pound weight isn’t that much less than the original’s, I found the difference noticeable when carrying the device.
My friends, I’m telling you: just that much improvement in thinness, weight and speed transforms the experience. We’re not talking about a laptop or a TV, where you don’t notice its thickness while in use. This is a tablet. You are almost always holding it. Thin and light are unbelievably important for comfort and the overall delight. So are rounded edges, which the first iPad didn’t have.
The single biggest change form a physical perspective is the thickness. Holding the original iPad now feels a bit like holding a slightly bulky monitor compared to the iPad 2. The iPad 2 feels much more like holding a clipboard — albeit a mildly heavy one. The move to cut the thickness from 13.4mm down to 8.8mm really makes a huge difference when you switch from holding one to holding the other.