Many thanks for welcoming PIND back so wholeheartedly during this last week; viewing figures were back to where they belong! Top of the shop this week has to be today’s launch of the iPad2, and in its honour we will dwell on the tablet topic a little longer this week. Firstly, if you are seeking a bargain, it has been mentioned on several sites this week that the original iPad – iPad1 I guess we could call it now – is likely to be found on sale at some “£100 off”. To my mind this is going to be something of a bargain. I’m not convinced that iPad2 really offers that much more in terms of hardware. OK, it’s got camera’s front and back – but when you look like me that’s no great benefit! However, if you feel a strong urge to trade back your original iPad for the new version, do seek the best trade-in deal.Actually, rather than give you my opinions, let’s see what the experts say about iPad2. Also it is worth looking at another of those competitive analysis offerings – this one is from Mashable. Certainly iOS4.3 is already out and available, and indeed already downloaded here at PIND towers. Yes, it’s a bit faster, which is nice, but not mind-blowing; and the dreaded slide-switch on the right of the iPad can now act as either the orientation lock or a mute button (I’ve gone back to orientation lock – much more useful!).
Worth waiting in line for? Well American student Amanda Foote thought so, but then decided to trade-in her position at the head of the iPad queue for $900!
One more essential bit of reading if you are thinking of investing in a tablet device: how to convince your partner that you need one!
On the whole tablet thing in general, our chums at Lifehacker have just this week posted an interesting feature on how you might start to integrate a tablet into your computing life. There is little doubt in my mind that tablet technology hasn’t brought us anything radically new in terms of what you can do with a computer; what I mean is that everything you can do on a tablet you can also do on one or more other devices. What the tablet has done is to enable us to do those tasks either more easily, in different environments, or in different ways. The Lifehacker piece takes a closer look at what you can use your tablet for, and how you might adjust your computing life to accommodate the capabilities of a tablet.With regard to app news, Zite is the new iPad “personalised magazine” on the block. Definitely a challenger to “app of the year” Flipboard, and first impressions definitely give it the edge in my opinion. It seems to be able to accommodate a broader summary of what the reader wants to have in his personal magazine, with additional, easily connected links to typical magazine/newspaper topics, rather than just news feeds. Both products have their merits, and both are free to download, so get them both!
With regard to other newly released tablet devices, Viewsonic has sallied forth with its dual booting offering. The Viewpad 10 allows you to load up either Windows 7 or Android, but only 1.6 according to the specs, which is the “oh” moment I do think! However, it is 10.1 inch and pricing from a straightforward Dollar conversion would appear in the right ballpark at £370 to £420 – not a cheapo though.Rumours have it that sales of the Motorola Zoom are not exactly making Apple quake in its boots. A few technical issues seem to be spoiling the party, and the price point is still a bit sticky.
Under the “at last” heading, PIND has been searching and asking for some little while for a folding, Bluetooth keyboard suitable for working with both iPhone and iPad, and by its very folding nature suitable for my pocket. Well, good news fellow small keyboard fans. It’s here! The good people of Verbatim have come up with a solution, and we are looking to make a purchase ASAP!Also on the computing side of life, there has been a couple of interesting browser announcements this week. Firstly, Firefox is getting ever closer to a final version of its Firefox 4.0 product. It has now reached “Release Candidate” stage after no fewer than 10 beta releases, so Firefox fans are urged to try it out. We expect to be loading up early next week when we can find a little time to play! Already running it? Tell us more at PIND.editor@gmail.com On the subject of browsers, an annual browser “hacking” competition, Pwn2Own, took place this week with IE8 and Safari falling early on day one. Firefox and Chrome have yet to be hacked at the time of writing, but Google did launch a late update closing at least 24 security flaws, which might have put off some would be participants!
Taking a sideways step towards digital print, we should make mention of M Partners recent announcement in which it detailed a partnership with MGI Technology, the UK operation working hand-in-hand with the French digital press and post-press equipment manufacturer. MGI will be M Partners first digital offering, and the product line-up will sit alongside the company’s Mitsubishi litho presses, GUK folding and inserting equipment, and Steinemann laminating equipment.In closing, have you ever sought inspiration regarding that new logo design? Here are 50 fantastically clever logo designs that will get you thinking.
Finally, do keep checking back to see what will be featured in our next edition, PIND 44. Details of new stories will be added to this text page during the course of the week.
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