OT: New iPad

[HuskyNan]

I bought a new toy today. After dithering over the advisability of a Kindle Fire vs iPad 3, I finally plunked down my cash on the iPad. So far, I am loving it and conside the extra $300 money well-spent. My oldest boy is loving the iPad 1 he "inherited". Everyone's happy!

 

[Icebear]

Isn't the retina screen amazing, Nan? I find it much easier on the eyes for reading and displaying photos on it is flat out amazing, almost film like.

 

[HuskyNan]

It's like HDTablet, just awesome.

 

[Sargassoc]

I upgraded my first gen. iPad to the new one and love it as well.

Now the real question: what is the ONE app you must have-- and why?

For me, while I love many of my apps, I find Zite to be my most widely used (and that's saying something, because I'm addicted to the game Creeps).

 

[MilfordHusky]

Sounds great. I have the first version and am trying to be patient. I'm current with the MacBook, iPhone, and Nano. All nice toys.

 

[Icebear]

It's like HDTablet, just awesome.

Friends who know I'm up to date on most Apple tech asked me if I was buying the new iPad and when I say I did they ask is there really any difference and when I show them they just go, "Wow!" HDTablet indeed.

 

[FairView]

I work in marketing/advertising and we're having a hard time keeping up with the demand for apps and mobile optimized pages. The new screen is unbelievable and even the sound is more than you would expect.

 

[HuskyNan]

Now the real question: what is the ONE app you must have-- and why?

Angry Birds. It's silly and useless but I love it. What can I say?

 

[DaddyChoc]

surprised at the comparison IPad vs Kindle Fire...

thats like UConn vs ________ (fill in the blank)

 

[bmayuc]

Uconn vs Quinnipiac

Anyone who buys the shittiest tablet ever made aka the kindle fire is not great at evaluating technology

Sent from my DROID RAZR using Tapatalk 2

 

[DaddyChoc]

Uconn vs Quinnipiac

Anyone who buys the ****tiest tablet ever made aka the kindle fire is not great at evaluating technology

Sent from my DROID RAZR using Tapatalk 2

its not that bad... just doesnt have all the top players like an IPad

 

[RoyDodger]

Don't forget to download Tapatalk for the iPad.

Despite being a longtime Apple fanatic, I was initially resistant to the iPad, thinking it was just one device too many. But I finally went for the iPad3 and haven't regretted it for a second. It's wonderful for sports. Up to the minute scores, highlights, etc. of almost any major sporting event. I can listen to any major league baseball game radio broadcast via MLB's app. What a contrast to the days, many moons ago, when I had to struggle, late at night on my transistor radio, to hear Bob Prince doing a Dodger-Pirate game on KDKA, with loads of static and the sound going in and out.

 

[HuskyNan]

Uconn vs Quinnipiac

Anyone who buys the ****tiest tablet ever made aka the kindle fire is not great at evaluating technology

A tad harsh, no? Which device a person chooses depends on their needs and financial situation. If someone wants a device primarily as a reader but also wants occasional Internet access and the ability to play music then, yeah, the Fire might be a better option. And people that can't afford to spend $500+ on something they may not use all that often will also find the Fire a good choice.

 

[Drumguy]

A tad harsh, no? Which device a person chooses depends on their needs and financial situation. If someone wants a device primarily as a reader but also wants occasional Internet access and the ability to play music then, yeah, the Fire might be a better option. And people that can't afford to spend $500+ on something they may not use all that often will also find the Fire a good choice.

Agree, each has it's place. I still prefer reading books on my kindle 2 over the iPad2 I own. The fire is meant to hit a market segment and is fine for its limitations.

 

[Icebear]

Is the Fire as readable in direct sunlight as the regular Kindles or is it backlit and washes out in the sun?

 

[HuskyNan]

Is the Fire as readable in direct sunlight as the regular Kindles or is it backlit and washes out in the sun?

It's backlit.

 

[Drumguy]

Is the Fire as readable in direct sunlight as the regular Kindles or is it backlit and washes out in the sun?

I think it's more like an iPad, virtually unreadable in sunlight. That's the main reason I have both an e-ink kindle and an iPad. The brightness of the iPad makes it a little harder on the eyes as well when you're reading it over a long time period as opposed to the kindle (non-fire).

 

[Fishy]

You simply can't use these things outside.

Apple has an option for a matte screen on the larger MacBook Pros - I can use it out on the deck in sunlight and it's perfectly readable. If it were a $50 or $100 option on the iPad, I would jump on it. I just doubt it makes sense for Apple, though.

My favorite app is something called Instapaper. It's a $5 app and although there are free competitors, I prefer it.

How it works...it's a browser add-on in the iPad's Safari browser and also works with Zite (a must), Stumbled-Upon, etc. Whenever I see an article that I want to save, share, read later or keep for reference, I can save it to Instapaper with one tap and then the article is available to me on my phone, computer or iPad.

Another handy thing with the iPad (or Kindle) - whenever you buy something that has a manual, download it online and have it saved to your library on iBooks or your Kindle library. You'll always know where it is when it comes time to order parts, make a repair, etc.

 

[HuskyNan]

The brightness of the iPad makes it a little harder on the eyes as well when you're reading it over a long time period as opposed to the kindle (non-fire).

You can adjust the brightness easily in the Settings app. Reducing the brightness gives you more time between battery charges, too.

 

[Icebear]

I think it's more like an iPad, virtually unreadable in sunlight. That's the main reason I have both an e-ink kindle and an iPad. The brightness of the iPad makes it a little harder on the eyes as well when you're reading it over a long time period as opposed to the kindle (non-fire).

I suspected the Fire screen was similar to other non e-ink tablets but conveniently Amazon fails to mention it. I have both an iPad and Kindle and find the screen on the new iPad extremely readable and low on eye fatigue. I have always used a lower screen intensity than many folks.

 

[Icebear]

You can adjust the brightness easily in the Settings app. Reducing the brightness gives you more time between battery charges, too.

Bingo, Nan.

 

[Fiftyish]

I bought a new toy today. After dithering over the advisability of a Kindle Fire vs iPad 3, I finally plunked down my cash on the iPad. So far, I am loving it and conside the extra $300 money well-spent. My oldest boy is loving the iPad 1 he "inherited". Everyone's happy!

The kids and I just gave my wife a birthday/mother's day present of the iPad2. They also signed her up for iPad lessons at the Apple store at the West Farms mall. She is so used to Microsoft applications, icons, etc that she is having a little difficulty transistioning to Apple stuff. It really is an amzing device and as a result I will get almost exclusive use of her Dell laptop while we are blobing on the couch. This thread has given us some ideas on future apps to download. Boneyard comes thru again!

 

[DaddyChoc]

I love the CRACKLE app... free movies, tv show etc when stuck in one place for hours

 

[HuskyNan]

It's wonderful for sports. Up to the minute scores, highlights, etc. of almost any major sporting event.

Which app do you use to get score updates? Anyone? I'd like an app that has scores for all sports, college and pro, one that's updated frequently so you can get games in progress, etc.

 

[Sargassoc]

Which app do you use to get score updates? Anyone? I'd like an app that has scores for all sports, college and pro, one that's updated frequently so you can get games in progress, etc.

For all sports scores updates, I use SportsTap. But I also navigate to ESPN Women's Basketball on Safari and then click the arrow button to Save to Home Screen. I put those two apps (along with the Boneyard, of course) into a folder on my iPad and iPhone and name it Sports. I also save the current UConn Roster and Schedule that way, so I can check heights of players --and dates and stuff.