When I wrote about the genius of Apple’s Smart Cover for the iPad 2, I didn’t need to have it in hand to make my bold assertion. The Smart Cover had sold itself before anyone needed to touch it, thanks in part to Apple’s well done product showcase. It is the first accessory offered as you purchase an iPad 2 online, and the Apple store representative I was with made sure I knew all about the must-have covers. Apple is aggressively putting the spotlight on Smart Covers wherever they can, and for good reason. Put simply, this is the accessory you’ll want to buy with your next iPad.
Posts tagged with "iPad"
The Smart Cover: Revisited & Reviewed
Zen Viewer: iPad File Manager With A Unique Design
Of all the features Apple is expected to implement in iOS 5, one has gained particular interest from iPhone and iPad users recently: better file management options for documents and files created inside applications, and a way to get these files out of an iOS device quickly. Many have speculated iOS 5 will get some sort of direct integration with the Finder, with Lion’s AirDrop feature leading to think that, eventually, iOS will be able to easily communicate with a Mac nearby. But for now, we’re “stuck” with a variety of apps from the App Store that aim at providing what Apple left out – a way to group documents together, manage them, share them, edit them.
In the past months, we reviewed several of these apps with most of them being iPad apps meant for a larger screen and easier file viewing. iFiles is my app of choice with lots of features and deep cloud integration (something that’s vital for my daily workflow), but I was also impressed by the quality of Berokyo and Cloud Connect Pro, two apps to manage files in a visual grid and access documents stored on external Macs, AirPort Disks and servers, respectively. iFiles, for many reasons I outlined in my review, still wins the file management space for iOS with a universal app for iPhone and iPad, built-in WebDAV server and Rackspace / Dropbox integration.
Today we take a look at Zen Viewer HD, the new kid on the block of file managers and viewers. The app is on sale right now in the iOS App Store for $0.99, and it’s quickly climbing the charts of Productivity and Top Paid apps. What differentiates Zen Viewer from its competitors is the unique design that brings a Finder-like column view to the iPad (the app doesn’t have an iPhone version) and a bottom tabbed toolbar to access a series of functionalities with a couple of taps. Zen Viewer is a powerful application that can preview almost any kind of file, from PDFs and images to .mp3, .rtf, .xls, iWork and HTML files. Read more
#MacStoriesDeals - HUGE Friday
We’re sending thoughts and prayers to the people of Japan today. Also, today is iPad 2 day! Here are today’s deals on iOS, Mac, and Mac App Store apps that are on sale for a limited time, so get ‘em while they’re hot!
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.
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).
#MacStoriesDeals - HUGE Thursday
So who’s getting a new iPad 2 tomorrow? Here are today’s deals on iOS, Mac, and Mac App Store apps that are on sale for a limited time, so get ‘em while they’re hot!
GarageBand for iPad Now Available
Following the release of iMovie for iPad, Apple also pulled the trigger on the second app unveiled at the March 2 event, GarageBand for iPad. The app is available now in the App Store at $4.99.
GarageBand for iPad features an intuitive interface depicting real music instruments you can play with your fingers and multitouch; with Smart Instruments, users who are not musicians but still want to play music can use the tools provided by the app to easily switch between chords and notes without actually having to precisely know music. For medium to advanced users, GarageBand offers a semi-professional music making and mixing environment with multi-track audio recording, exporting features, touch instruments with a realistic interface for drums, guitars, synthesizers, pianos and many more. GarageBand for iPad really is a full-functional port of the Mac version with the addition of multitouch that allows you, for example, to play instruments at different sensitivity levels thanks to the built-in support for pressure recognition through the accelerometer.
GarageBand looks like a must-have for iPad owners and an app that we’ll thoroughly test next week once we get our hands on the iPad 2. You can find it here at $4.99. Full changelog below. Read more
The iPad: Does It Need Programming Apps?
Many things have been said about the iPad as a content creation tool, rather than a device to consume media like music, movies and photos. In spite of the plethora of apps released in 2010 that proved you can actually do stuff on an iPad, at the iPad 2 event last week Steve Jobs himself wanted to remember the audience how the tablet is “no toy”, also thanks to the upcoming iMovie and GarageBand apps. But no matter how many apps allow you to produce and create original content using only your fingers and the virtual keyboard, there’s still a niche market Apple hasn’t addressed yet: coding apps. Read more