Ipad Media Coverage and the Year I Ruined Christmas

What do the year I ruined Christmas and Apple's new iPad event this week have in common? More than you may realize.

I've been interested in the media coverage of Wednesday's Apple iPad event.

Typically following one of these event's the media coverage is off the charts. Front page, features, top-of-the-fold type of stuff. But this iPad cycle feels a bit different--like the craze is a bit more laid back.

For certain the Apple PR shop is racking up billions of impressions with the coverage generated by yesterday's 90 minute event. But the coverage this morning seemed a bit like "meh".

I captured some screen shots of the electronic coverage I read on my iPad2. It seemed like headlines and placements were much more subdued.


The Daily

Remember, The Daily is THE news app created by News Corp specifically for iPad.

Rupert and company gave Tim Cook only the lower third of the screen, trumped by FLOTUS Michelle Obama and her fight against slime.

The Wall Street Journal

The WSJ relegated the iPad event coverage to the Marketplace section of the paper. No front page coverage here. Instead, the Journal lead with top-of-the-fold front page coverage on a potentially negative story about Apple related litigation.

USA Today

USA Today, the nation's paper, featured the iPad in the rotating featured on the front page. But the story links to the tech section where iPad got top billing. Kind of front page coverage, but in a feature-like kind of way.

New York Times

The Times iPad app version pushed coverage all the way down to the Technology section. As you can see below, they produced multi-media content, but there was not mention in the middle of this morning about iPad at all in the front section. Just another tech story....

The Columbus Dispatch

iPad coverage got pushed to page two of the front section of the Columbus Dispatch. The paper ran AP copy of the event. A pretty minimal story from AP that ran the night before online.

Zite

And this morning, iPad news app Zite even minimized iPad coverage, relegating it to second place on the Top Stories page. There were many more iPad-related stories in the Mac News and iPhone sections of the app, but again, no "top billing" coverage as in the past.

So What Does This Mean?

It's non-scientific, but the watered-down coverage of the iPad update this week is a sure sign of a few dynamics.

• We're are past the point of revolution.  When iPad was first launched in 2010 it was truly revolutionary and generated blockbuster coverage. That type of thing only happens once. The surprise of the tablet experience is out of the bag and what was once "breaking news" is now becoming just another tech event.
• Tim Cook isn't Steve Jobs. Let's face it--there was not a "one more thing" moment at yesterday's event. Tim Cook is an able leader for Apple, but he isn't capable of that showmanship that Steve Jobs brought to these events in the past.  Is it possible that some of the appeal of Apple died with Jobs? 
• Leaks let the air out of the news value. The rumor mill around these Apple events is a major factor in news coverage. Three weeks ago, we knew that we were looking at Retina display, 4G and a faster chip. With yesterday's event, I felt like I did that year when I found all my brothers and sisters Christmas presents in a cupboard in the basement. My "discovery" dashed the magic out of that Christmas. Yesterday brought that feeling clearly to mind.

Regardless of the news value, the new iPad kicks all other tablets to the curb. The news isn't necessarily in the new device. The real news is it is beginning to define our habits and our culture in the 21st Century digital age.

And just because I found the presents that one year when I was a kid....I still love Christmas!!!

And I loves me my iPad!!

Your thoughts on the media coverage? Are you delighted or non-plussed by the new iPad?

Apple iPad3: What does the invite mean?

The official announcement is out.

Apple will unveil the iPad3 at an event on March 7. Here's the invite.

There are tons of rumors swirling about what we may see in iPad3, but now we have some direct clues from Apple. They always provide a visual for their invite and in the past it has nicely provided insight on what we may expect.

Here's my speculation:

• "You really have to see":  How about confirmation that an upgraded retina display? This has been a big rumor and may be what this phrase in the invite alludes to in the next iPad iteration.
• Maps: Every element of the invite picture may be a clue. Could Apple be ready to unveil it's own version of Maps and dump Google Maps from the iOS environment. I'd put it in the mix.
• Keynote: This one has me perplexed. Could Apple be adding some new functionality to Keynote that makes it easier to display presentations from the iPad? Maybe this plays into the Retina display?
• "And touch": This is a long shot, but maybe there is an iOS update waiting in the wings that build upon the finger gesture environment Apple has built into iPad and now is extending to the Mac.

Alas, let the speculation begin.

Next Wednesday is the day we'll find out.

Are you planning to purchase an iPad3?

Don't Forget to Pay Your Future Self

I took a few moments today to play around with this app on my iPhone that let's you age yourself. It wasn't the best app, but here are the results.

I don't know about you, but I think I have a Zombie apocalypse in my future.

Seriously, I got to thinking about getting older and planning for retirement.

A lot of people are getting or waiting for a nice rosy check from Uncle Sam in the form of an income tax refund.

Most of these folks have visions of sugar-plums dancing in their heads. Should they buy a new flat screen TV? Maybe an iPad? A new grill for the back yard? Or maybe a down payment on a new car?

Rather than making a major purchase on something today, many of us should be thinking about paying ourselves in retirement.

Most households do not have enough money socked away for retirement. Many aren't even saving. We are an instant gratification society and we'd rather buy the toys now, and not think about the day we may  be looking like my pasty friend above and to the right.

Many of us think that Social Security will take care of our retirement needs and that Medicare will pay for our health care. Anyone my age (early 40's) should not be banking on Social Security or Medicare to be around when we retire. I mean, seriously, Congress has cut our contributions to these funds to help stimulate the economy. And there's not plan to recoup that lost revenue. That means there is a good chance Social Security and Medicare won't be able to pay for us. In essence, we're paying for today's retiree.

But time passes quickly. We should all be thinking about stashing at least a portion of that refund in an investment appropriate for our risk tolerance.  We may not think we're rich, but every penny is going to count in those years far out.

Start saving now. Consider finding a fee-based financial advisor you can trust. Fee-based advisors don't work on commission. They charge a fee for services provided, therefore they aren't just motivated to sell you stuff they from which they can make a buck.

If saving makes you chafe, consider it a paycheck for yourself that you'll cash in 30 to 40 years from now.

You won't regret it.

If you are getting one are you going to spend your refund now? Or sock it away in a savings account for the future?

Taking the Punge with iPhone 4S

I've made my choice.

On impulse, I have taken the plunge with iPhone 4S.

I did not pre-order as millions did. I did not get up early and stand in line.

Nope. I got home from work Friday evening at 5:30. I ate dinner. I decided to drop by McDonalds for a sweet iced tea, and there was the Verizon store.

On a whim, I decided to go inside and see how long it would take receive delivery of an iPhone on order. Of course they'd have sold out by now.

But to my surprise, they still had phones in stock. It was 6:05 p.m  After picking the white 32GB model, I was out the door with within 30 minutes (it took a little longer than expected to transfer my contacts).

All I can say is, "Wow, what a great phone."  It was definitely one of the smoothest upgrades I've encountered...and I've upgraded many times (Let's face it, my Verizon buddy Kailyn knows me by name! :-) )

After bringing the phone home and doing an initial tether sync with my Macbook Pro, I was set to go.

Super Speed
So far, this phone is FAST. It is faster and smoother than any smartphone I have ever owned. My wife has an iPhone 4 and this phone is noticeably smoother and faster than hers.

Camera
The camera on the phone produces super fine pictures. I'll take some video and share soon.

Battery
The battery life blows my Samsung Fascinate away. The Fascinate with Froyo was a power suck. You could watch the battery charge go down as soon as you turn on GPS or BlueTooth. Not so with the iPhone 4S. I'll keep you posted on battery life.

Siri
The "cool" factor for iPhone 4S is Siri. Like the demonstrations and the reviews, Siri is pretty convenient to check the weather or to find a nearby restaurant. But beyond that, I haven't found additional uses. I hope that changes over time.  I didn't buy the phone for Siri, and I'm glad I didn't because it feels kind of overblown.

Twitter Integration
The other thing I want to explore a little bit more is the "deep Twitter" integration built into iPhone's iOS5. I own an iPad, and iPad2 and a MacBook Pro. So far, I'm not seeing the value of the "deep Twitter integration", but I'm willing to give it time.

Retina Display
The Retina display on iPhone 4s (like iPhone 4) is spectacular. I was reading a book on the Kindle app while waiting to get my hair cut this morning and the letters on the screen were as rich and clear as on my wife's Kindle app. When the iPad get's Retina display, it will be like going from regular to HD TV.

Phone Call Quality
I've made a few brief phone calls on the iPhone 4S. Funny, you don't hear much about phone call quality in the reviews. It's OK, but I'll have to admit that the Fascinate is on par, maybe better. The iPhone 4S has a better speaker phone than the Fascinate.

Speakers
The speakers built in to iPhone 4S provide rich sound. They are located on the bottom of the phone and it actually has better sound quality than the iPad 2. I don't like the speaker on the back of the beveled side of the iPad 2. You have to cup your hand around the speaker or set it next to a solid backdrop to get rich sound while watching the screen (but that's a different review, right?).

My one bit of advice for anyone considering a purchase of the iPhone 4S: if you can afford it, go for the 32GB version. My experience with iPod Touch, and iPad is that 16GB is just not enough when you load apps, video, music and photos together. Go bigger. You will be disappointed if you don't.

So far so good on iPhone 4S. I'm simply delighted by the speed and responsiveness of the device. I'm also delighted to be entirely on the Apple platform with my devices. iCloud and wireless synching seem to be very natural. More on both of these coming soon.

Update: Here are some pictures I took with the iPhone 4S camera:

Review: MyWeather.com app for Android

The MyWeather.com app for Android is the best weather app I have been able to find. Unlike the app provided by The Weather Channel or the one's that leverage AccuWeather, this app is very fast and very functional on my 3G Fascinate.

You can load multiple locations and easily move from forecast to weather radar map to hourly conditions.

For the Android platform this is the best weather app in terms of speed and functionality. It has even worked pretty well when I'm just in 1X coverage areas....which seems to be more and more frequent on Verizon Wireless these days.

TWC and AccuWeather need to invest more for the Android platform but both are preferred on the iOS side of the house.

Pics of the MyWeather.com app for Android:











-- Post From My iPad

Why this Verizon Wireless customer will wait to buy an iPhone

The day has finally come.

Of course, it didn't hold the drama of last winter's announcement of the iPad by Apple CEO Steve Jobs--but it's still a pretty big deal.

iPhone is coming to Verizon Wireless.

My excitement level isn't nearly has high as it was for iPad and here are a few reasons why....

1.   I'm not eligible for an upgrade on my Verizon account until May. More accurately, my 15 year old son's phone will be eligible for an upgrade and I will plan on hijacking that opening to make the switch. Poor kid (heh heh).

2.  I'm really interested to see how Verizon's network performs under the demands of all those new iPhone users.  I'm assuming all of us Android phoners will be able to tell if/when all those new iPhones start dragging Verizon's network. Of course Verizon says it has this covered, but the jury is still out. It will be worth the wait.

3.  I'm actually pretty satisfied with my current smartphone. I'm carrying a Samsung Fascinate that provides a very slick user experience. I'm an Apple fan and one of the original iPod Touch and iPad adopters. I love the Apple interface, but I have to say that Google's Android platform, especially since the 2.1 upgrade delivers an experience that rival's Apple on the smartphone platform.  The app developers have become more sophisticated and the hardware (the Fascinate is an excellent phone) is pretty snazzy.

I'm set up for now with my current phone. Time to sit back, relax and watch this all unfold.

And who knows? Maybe by the time my son's phone comes eligible for an upgrade all the buzz will be about iPhone5.

That, my friends, will make it worth the wait.

The Galaxy Tab Challenges iPad

The Samsung Galaxy Tab is here.

It's out to challenge iPad.  The Wall Street Journal has a new review posted on the tab.

The upside:

• The Tab is cheaper than iPad.
• The Tab can multi-task (but iPad will be able to also in the next week or so).
• The Tab has two cameras.
• The Tab plays Flash videos.
• The Tab runs Android.
• The Tab is smaller (7 inch screen, which some may consider a downside), about the same size as the newer Kindle model
• The Tab is lighter.

The downside:

• The Tab has less horsepower.
• The Tab has a smaller screen (which some may consider an upside).
• The Tab has a plastic case.
• The Tab has a much less efficient battery.
• The Tab does not come in a "WiFi" only version.

I'm certain this will be a popular "knock off" option for holiday gifting. And those folks who absolutely hate Apple may go for this just to spite Steve Jobs.

One thing is for certain. I won't be waiting at the door for the UPS man to get a Tab. Instead, I'll be waiting for the iPad iOS upgrade.

ALSO:  Also, BlackBerry is announcing it's new tablet, the Playbook, will be priced under $500.

Greetings from La-La Land

Found this article from USA Today regarding how technology is blurring the line with regard to work life balance.

This one hits me square between the eyes. My son often has accuses me of being in another world when I get home from work and drop into my Lazy Boy recliner. It's true. The tech can suck you in and be a real impediment to family time.

And I have a feeling it is just as much an issue for kids, with their iPods and laptops, as it is with me.

This is one of the downsides of tech. One that will take some discipline and intentionality to overcome.









-- Post From My iPad

Posting from Blog Press

Downloaded BlogPress from the App Store to more efficiently post to the blog from the iPad. This is my first test run post.

BlogPress allows you to post video, photos and other content more easily from iPad than from trying to do so through the Safari browser.

Here is a picture one of my kids made with a drawing app.




-- Post From My iPad

How to post to Blogger from iPad (and other reflections)

One of the initial shortfalls I discovered with my iPad is that I am not easily able to utilize the Blogger posting tool to update this blog.

After some careful experimentation, I discovered that if I switch the editing tool to the "edit HTML" mode, it does allow me to interface.

So far the experience with the iPad has been very positive. While some are airing complaints about Wifi connectivity and overheating batteries, I have not had that experience. As a matter of fact, this has been one of the better tech device experiences I have ever had. Not a lot of bugs, and a lot of "up" time using the device with positive results.

The simplicity of the iPad is a huge asset. The interface is so simple, even my anti-tech mother said she would like to have one of these devices. That type of response has been typical of most everyone who has taken my Ipad for a test drive.

A laptop killer? Not certain of that yet. A net book killer? Maybe. A mouse killer? Yes.

Probably the greatest irony of the IPad is that Apple brought the computer mouse into the world and this device probably spells it's demise.

iPad Review: April 3, 2010 Video

iPad Review: Initial Thoughts

Here are my initial thoughts on the iPad (video also). While many folks were sitting in line at an Apple store, I had taken the risk (which is very unlike me) and pre-ordered a device with shipment directly to my house.

My early conclusion is that the iPad is exactly what I was hoping for in terms of quality and experience.

A Platform for Content Consumption, Not Creation 

Okay, so we all read this early on and it is true. The iPad fulfills it's intended purpose of content consumption very well. It is not a content creation platform. I could not even post to my blog from the Safari browser, which is a gap that will close in future updates, I'm certain. You can't take pictures or video with iPad either.

On the flip side, watching videos and surfing the net are awesome experiences. Even without Flash, there is plenty of video content to consume from Netflix and other apps.

Performance

A major source of appeal for me is the quick boot up time for the iPad. Unlike my Windows-base laptop, which can take several minutes to boot up, you pick up the iPad and you are in action as soon as you hit the power button.

The interface is smooth and slick. Frankly, I'm shocked at the battery life built into the device. I used it for about 4 to 5 hour straight this afternoon and it still has more than 60 percent battery life. Try that on your Droid, iPhone, or iTouch. And thank Apple, for making sure that battery was fully charged before it left the factory in China on Wednesday. I had 100 percent full battery power out of the box.

No glitches and smooth interface have made for a very fun experience so far. Not all the apps are perfect, but I'm certain developers will be sending out updates faster than we can download them.

Favorite apps

My favorite iPad app so far is the Kindle app from Amazon. It's exactly what I was hoping Amazon would deliver. I download the app, entered my username / password, and in about a minute, all my Kindle books purchased on my iTouch were on board and available.

I also downloaded iBooks. The experience is different, but I'll definitely give it a try with some free books before I write it off.

Wall Street Journal, New York Times, and USA Today have free apps to download. We'll all be paying for the content soon. I accessed the WSJ content through my print subscription ID. Now more than ever, I believe iPad-like tablets will definitely save newspapers. Yes, the solution has arrived and the need for high quality, high journalistic content will be stronger than ever with these devices.

Surprisingly, Facebook doesn't have an iPad app available today. Quite honestly, I was really surprised at that, but I'm certain that will be resolved quickly. Meanwhile the iTouch app and access through the Safari browser give users complete access to Facebook. I had initial issues with the Tweetdeck app (see the video), but I think I have it figured out now. It's pretty decent.

Conclusion

The iPad isn't perfect. If you are in a lit room, the screen is too reflective and hard to see. Maybe a protector will fix that a bit, but I found that to be one of only a few minor issues so far.

Was it worth the risk to pre-order? Yes. Absolutely.

But don't toss away your laptop. If you plan to create and post content (blogs, video, etc.), Apple still has some work to do on that front. 

But if you are looking for a convenient, slick, well-crafted platform to consume content, the iPad rocks!

Happy iPad Day!

Got this email from Apple today:

Also got a note from UPS that my package is in route from the hub down in Columbus. I'll  offer my own initial review of the iPad later today, with more in-depth reflections moving forward.

While I wait, I'm updating all the Apple software on my computer this morning, so I'm ready to go when the UPS man arrives.

I'm Not an iPad Technophile: Kindle Made Certain of That

I read with interest some comments in this New York Times story today. Specifically, the following quote drew my attention.

"The people who have already ordered an iPad or will show up at the Apple store on Saturday “are technophiles — the phrase ‘leading-edge technology’ sends goosebumps all over their skin,” said Eitan Muller, a professor of high-tech marketing at New York University’s Stern School of Business.

I take issue with Eitan Muller's comment because I am not a "technophile."

To be honest, I'm not typically an early adopter of much.  If anything, I am a skeptic and play it conservatively until I'm certain that a product or service has the "standing power" I desire.  I spend my money wisely and prefer quality in the product and the experience.  I'm not interested in being a guinea pig on new products--most of the time.

But the iPad is different.  From the day I learned how to download apps on my iPod Touch, I've always thought a larger version of that platform would be ideal. And now, Apple is delivering.

The kicker for me was the Kindle App for the iPod touch. I remember shopping on Amazon for a Kindle.  The price was about $300 dollars and the Kindle looked clunky and "experimental". I wasn't looking to be an "early adopter".  THEN, I found the iPod Touch app for Kindle for FREE. That was an easy decision. Save the money, download the free app, and test the experience. (A pretty conservative approach).

After downloading two or three books, I was hooked on the Kindle App. As a matter of fact, that app solidified my desire for a larger version of the Touch as an alternative reader platform.  I believe, unwittingly, that Amazon, through the Kindle App, helped convince me to not buy the actual Kindle, and instead desire what I am supposed to receive via UPS on Saturday.

I'm pumped by the WSJ story today (and this updated blog post confirming Kindle is in the app store-thanks to @KindleEmily on Twitter), referring to the fact that Amazon is making an iPad Kindle app to sell me books. Sure, I'll try the Apple iBook app, but I think Steve Jobs knows that people like me will probably use the Kindle app when it is available.

Until then, I hope Steve and the gang will let me use my iPod Touch Kindle app on my iPad. We'll see.

Meanwhile, the speculation that "technophiles" are the majority of the early iPad adopters, I believe, is dead wrong.  Amazon made sure of that.

Is Flash Doomed?

Here's an interesting article from ReadWriteWeb about how big ticket media outlets like NPR and WSJ are planning to build "Flash-free" applications for the new iPad.

In and of themselves, these developments are "market-leading" and pave the way for other media outlets to follow suit, which in turn build anticipation for the arrival of iPad on the market in Q2.

So is Apples refusal to incorporate Flash into it's browser interface starting a negative trend that could impact Flash?

Highly doubtful.  Flash is so ubiquitous and creates such a dynamic presence on-line, it's viability seems pretty entrenched. 

However, Apple's ongoing insistence to refuse accomodation of Flash is probably just an ongoing sign that they are working on a competitive solution.

iPad: Will it Meet Expectations?

Well, now we know. After all the waiting, Apple unveiled the iPad today.

Like the name or not, I personally think this product will succeed.  While some tech geeks are probably disappointed that the iPad doesn't cure cancer, it looks like it will deliver an expanded "iPod Touch" experience for users.

I love my iPod Touch. The experience is great, and I became hooked on the device when I began using it as an eReading device. I always thought, "Man, if this thing was just a bit bigger, it would be perfect." Apple has tapped into that iNsight and appears to have delivered a platform that will open opportunity for new content delivery moving forward.

Here are some of my initial thoughts, pro and con about the iPad.

What I like:

Expanded iPod Touch experience:  As I mentioned earlier, I really like the similarity to the iPod Touch experience that is built into the iPad. If the experience is comprable, this platform will far exceed the experience of the best Kindle device (or any other reader I've seen).  I use my Touch to read the news, read multiple books, play an occassional game...and listen to my favorite tunes while I'm at it.  The apps make the Touch superior. The fact that the iPad will automatically use all App store apps out of the box makes it a winner to me up front. And who knows where the creativity of the app developers will lead. The sky is the limit.

WiFi: I'm glad Apple opted to go with a WiFi only version of the iPad. It's a model that is working with the Touch and it will work here. I'm assuming I would not travel with the iPad, but use it primarily at home. If I travel, I still have my Touch, which is an acceptable alternative to me.

Price: I think we were all surprised at the $499 price tag for the iPad. While prices will vary, it sounds like a 16GB or 32GB WiFi version will still come in lower than what the experts were predicting.

Content:  Again, the sky is the limit on content. It will be interesting to see if magazines and print publications develop apps to bring this platform to life. I believe there is a market for eContent on a platform like the iPad. I hope content creators and publishers agree.

Kindle App compatability: The iBook store looks cool, but I was won over on this device when I heard the Amazon Kindle app will work on the iPad. It'll be interesting if Apple enhances (or allows the enhancement of the Kindle app) to drive sales for the Kindles store. The iBook store appears to be a direct challenge to Amazon, so we'll have to pay close attention to where this goes.  And hey, if Apple can sell me on iBook, I may abandon the Kindle app and drink the Apple kool-aid on the reader.

What I don't like:

AT&T 3G:  I was tremendously disappointed that Apple is opting to stay with AT&T on an exclusive basis. But the more I process this, it makes good business sense. Truth be told, AT&T probably decided to go along with the "no contract" 3G support for the iPad to keep it's exclusivity with Apple. Apple is in the driver seat and probably used the potential to expand iPhone compatibility with other carriers to get what it wanted from AT&T on this launch. We can only hope this marriage doesn't last so more of us can have access to the iPhone.

No multi-tasking. I'm disappointed on this front, but not as much as some. Multi-tasking isn't that big a deal to me. As long as the device works, I'm ok.  As long as I can listen to my music while I read, I'm ok. I am kind of shocked that Apple put so much horsepower in this puppy and missed the opportunity to multi-task.

No camera:  All this effort, and no camera. This is intentional. Apple will make a future device like this with a camera. And those who buy this one, will have to hand it down to their teenager, so they can buy the upgraded toy. It's all about marketing. I don't like it, but I get it.

No Flash. I thought it was interesting that during the demonstration, it appeared very clearly that Flash plug-ins will continue to not be compatible with the Safari browser. Apple has to resolve that. Flash is becoming more and more ubiquitous and we can only hope a future Safari upgrade resolves this significant gap in "experience."

Unanswered questions:  In coming days, the tech geeks will come up with more and more questions about what this device can and cannot do.  That's ok, but I feel I know enough to be very attracted to this platform.

Bottom line for me:  No it doesn't have iPhone compatibility, but can you imagine people holding this thing to their ear? I already have a cell phone. Jobs even said it's and "in between" device.

As I stated earlier, some tech geeks who want holograms, hyperspace, etc are never going to be satisfied, but I think the iPad will satisfy a huge need for a superior multi-media experience that is only just emerging in our WiFi society.  At the $499 price, count me in.

It'll be a fun experiment. I can't wait to get my hands on an iPad and start play.