Video: Super Fast Touch Typing on The iPad
Check it this video of F-cked Company’s Philip “Pud” Kaplan typing full speed on the iPad. Who said the iPad’s no good for typing?
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iPad Not Charging Over USB? You Need a New Computer
The iPad won't charge using the USB 2.0 ports of some older machines, like my $2,500 Mac Pro from 2006.
Lots of people are complaining that their iPads aren’t charging when plugged into their computer’s USB port. The battery indicator in the upper right corner says “Not Charging.” The iPad still syncs, however.
Don’t worry, it’s not a glitch. The iPad needs a high-power USB 2.0 port to charge, which are less common on older computers. Many USB hubs and keyboards with USB ports won’t work either.
The complaints seem to be coming from users of older Macs and some Windows laptop users. The front-facing USB ports on a 2006 Mac Pro, for example, don’t put out enough power to charge the iPad, but the ports on a 2009 MacBook Pro (13-inch) do.
Apple has published a support document that advises charging the iPad using the included power brick.
Better get a new Mac to work with your new iPad.
First Impressions – The iPad Seriously Rocks
Although the kids have already monopolized CoM’s brand new iPad, here are some initial impressions. My colleague Jose Gutierrez also chipped in.
* It’s seriously WOW. A huge grin broke on my face the first time I swiped the lock screen. It’s so much better than just a big iPod touch. The size of the screen makes it a very different experience. I can already tell, using a mouse and keyboard is going to get old fast.
* It’s got great heft and feel. It feels tough and substantial, but the 1.5 lbs weight is going to take some getting used to. In fact, it’s heavy. Definitely need an armrest. Next model will likely be plastic backed. The glass screen makes it top heavy, especially when typing it portrait mode.
* At first I thought the screen was scratched — but there are shooting time lapse images of stars on the Home screen wallpaper. Hard to believe Steve Jobs didn’t spot this.
* The screen is bright and very sharp. HD video looks astonishing.
* It picks up greasy fingerprints super fast — in spite of the oleophobic coating.
* Out of the box it won’t turn on until you set it up through iTunes.
* Set up is super simple. Connect to iTunes (you need version 9.1) and there’s two choices: start from scratch or back up from iPhone.
* The UI is very fast. Apps launch instantly.
* Being able to put six apps in the dock is awesome. Many features like this and the custom wallpaper need to make it to the iPhone. Bookmarks bar in Safari is very nice.
* Keyboard needs work. Very difficult to type in portrait mode. In landscape, the keyboard dominates the screen. Might be a deal breaker for some.
* iPhone apps look horrible, especially Facebook.
* Some apps have bugs, due to lack of hardware availability to developers. Simulators can only do so much. Expect firmware upgrade soon as well as many app updates.
* The iPad’s speaker is pretty loud and perfectly adequate for watching TV or movies, even with background noise.
Overall a good product but will become an awesome product when people’s favorite apps are optimized for the iPad. A firmware update is needed to work out some bugs. Perfect for relaxing at home or on a plane. Not ready for the working world. iWork just not quite good enough due to file management constraints.
Please chip in your impressions in the comments. What do you guys think?
How To Find In-Stock iPads
If you’re looking to score an iPad this AM, it may be wise to check the shopping site Milo.com before heading out.
The site has a page listing the availability of iPads at Apple’s retail stores and Best Buy.
The system hooks into the internal stocking systems at Best Buy and thousands of other retail stores (not sure how it has data from Apple).
Milo.com, tracks the real-time in-store availability of Best Buy products, and almost 50,000 other retail stores nationwide. No more driving to or calling all of the Best Buy stores in a hundred mile radius to locate what you are looking for. Early adopters in hot iPad pursuit can simply enter their location and type “iPad” on the Milo.com Web site or from their mobile phones and Milo.com will find the nearest Best Buy location with it in stock.
Where the F*@k Is UPS?
Anyone having a UPS anxiety attack? Hitting refresh every 30 seconds and still not seeing those magic words: “out for delivery.”
Our friend Leigh in Texas says he still hasn’t received his iPad, and it’s after 10AM. He’s standing by the window, acting like a “nervous mother.”
Are you freaking out? Please tell us what’s going on in your neck of the woods.
Watch iFixit’s iPad TearDown As It Happens
iFixit sent three staffers to the east coast to score an iPad as early as possible, CEO Kyle Wiens told me yesterday. Looks like it worked and they are busy tearing it apart. They are posting the dissasembly as they go — you can watch the action as it happens. It’s the perfect distraction while standing in line for an iPad.
Some highlights:
* This machine is absolutely gorgeous inside. There’s clear symmetry that is there for aesthetics alone.
* The rear case is CNC machined from a solid block of aluminum, using the same process as the MacBook Pro.
* Apple has used more epoxy to secure chips to the board than we’ve seen before. This indicates that it is designed to be even more rugged than their laptops.
* The battery isn’t soldiered onto the motherboard. That means replacing the battery *is* feasible for users who do not want to give up their precious for a week. (And then get back someone else’s iPad!)
* This unit is different from the FCC photos. Toshiba DOES NOT have the flash memory in the production units! Instead, Samsung has secured a major win.
Update: Wiens’ local paper has a story about what iFixit is up to this morning and how they document the teardowns.
Woz Gets His iPad, Says It’s “Better Than I Ever Imagined”
Woz was camped out all night at the Valley Fair Apple store in Santa Clara, Calif. He seems to somehow have gotten his iPad early, because it’s still a couple of hours before 9AM on the west coast. But here he is holding it with a big sh*t-eating grin on his face.
“iPad delight…wow this is better than I ever imagined!”
Scenes From The iPad Overnight At Apple’s Flagship NY Store
Here are some fancy photos of the iPad overnight at Apple’s 5th Avenue store in Manhattan, courtesy of our friend Richard Gutjahr, who is currently first in line for an iPad.
Check out Richard’s campout blog here (BTW: it’s in German, but there’s a Google translate button).
If You’re Buying An iPad On Saturday, Here’s the Drill
The likely scene at Apple stores Saturday morning. Image from ABC's Modern Family sitcom, which featured an iPad lineup at the Grove Apple store.
If you’re going down to the Apple Store to buy an iPad on Saturday morning, here’s what to expect:
- At 7AM, all Apple’s ~14,000 retail staff will be in an all-hands meeting. They will be trained on all features of the iPad and each staffer will get face time with the device.
- The stores will set up two waiting lines: one for reserved iPad buyers, the other for walk-ins.
- There will be a strict two-iPads-per-person limit.
- All store staff will work until 10 a.m. to deal with the first rush of buyers.
- There is expected to be another rush 3 p.m., when left-over reserved iPads (if any) will be turned over to walk-in customers.
- Apple has likely shipped enough iPads to fulfill all the reserve orders at each store. It has also likely shipped ~100 iPads for walk-ins. Larger flagship stores will likely have larger supplies.
- Best Buy stores will have just 15 iPads each: five of each memory configuration.
Amazon Launches Kindle App For iPad
Even though Amazon’s hardware Kindle reader will be toast at 9AM Saturday morning, Amazon has just released its Kindle app for the iPad.
The app is free and available for download from the App Store.
