iPad OS 4.2.1

The new iPad OS upgrade is very well worth the grief. I did have an iTunes lockup while updating but that could have been my Internet connection. Multi-tasking with the iPad is great, beyond handly, and wonderful. What can I say!

Flipboard

The new social networking app of day is Flipboard. Works very well and the other links are nice but I am not sure it deserves all the attention from folks like USA Today, etc.

Transfer Files to iPad

Ed Zollar recommended GoodReader app. Combine that with iTunes and you can easily transfer files. Load iTunes, hook up the iPad, click on your iPad icon, then the Apps tab and select your app for files. Mine is GoodReader. Now, don't forget to scroll down with the far right scroll to File Sharing, again click on your app and you should be able to transfer files now. :-) I now have many PDFs right on he iPad.

Skydrive & Other Web Portals No Go!

I have now tried Skydrive, OfficeLive Workspace, Sharefile, all with no success at transferring files to the iPad. I can view the files on Sharefile.com and any file attached to email but I still cannot download the file. Reading some posts it looks like right now the only way to get the file physically to the iPad is to use iTunes. :-(

Another CPA using an iPad

This is a very nice article on using the iPad as a CPA. Ed Zollars has done a nice job here. This was published by the Arizona Society of CPAs. http://ascpa.wordpress.com/2010/04/25/the-cpas-guide-to-the-ipad/

Flash - Hello Steve Jobs!

Mr. Jobs,

I sincerely respect almost everything you have done to date. I now take exception with your position on Flash. I have been an Apple user since 1987. Yup, worked directly with Apple back in the days of John Sculley. My point is I am not your average Apple critic so please listen.

YOUR POSITION ON FLASH IS WRONG AND WILL HURT iPad USERS LIKE ME!

Apple has a rich tradition of running anything Windows can run/open and in most cases better. Flash should not only run on iPad it should FLY!

Wake up!

Dr. Bob Spencer on the iPad

The following is posted with permission from Dr. Bob Spencer http://www.bobspencer.com/.

The iPad for business movement, like most things these days, is evolving more quickly than expected (remember the Netscape year – 9 months? Well the new product life now is estimated at 6 months!).

Below are links for Citrix on iPad as well as a demonstration on VMWare VDI via Citix for remote Windows application processing. Two excellent options to run Windows based apps via the iPad as well as iPhone (yes, Citrix app via iPhone – maybe not practical for accounting apps, but works nicely for account/sales reps in the field that need to look up account info/balances or place an order!)

I have received lots of interest and comments about the iPad and was it business ready - and the answer is for some uses and growing daily.

I am testing the iPad Keyboard Doc as well as the VGA adaptor and Camera media adaptors to see how far we can push those. From my prospective, I would love to be able to present from my iPad to my projector in seminars. I can tell you that the iPad Keyboard Doc works very well for data entry (Pages, Spreadsheet updates etc.) which would make the Citrix approach more viable.

Always keep in mind that the iPad is not a replacement for the desktop or laptop for most office workers. The iPad is not a volume data entry or computing device – it is a light entry and information retrieval device.

Which unit should you buy? With the type of apps coming down the road - and there is a lot of them! I am telling people to not short themselves, if you can afford it and plan to use it for business, get the 3G 64 model, even if you don't plan on using the 3G.

Finally, if you are not sure about mixing the Apple and PC worlds - hang in there until late June and early July and you will be Tablets and Slates from a number of PC providers as well as Cell Phone companies running Windows 7, Google Android and Chrome, WebOS and more. Fun times ahead!

As a side note, I do not plan to subscribe to the 3G network service initially, but that is because I have Sprint broadband and a MIFI card; the MIFI uses my Sprint service (Verizon has something similar, but not ATT) and is a credit card size device that is a true WIFI switch that supports up to five active users, so my laptop, iPhone, and my iPad all can use it to access the web at the same time.

If you want 3G service for when you travel, you have options. The ATT service for the iPad is not an annual contract but month to month, and you can take the basic service for on the road, and then use WIFI when it is available to keep cost down. If you need more usage one month over another, you can also up the monthly fee for one month only, and then go back to the minimal as needed. Or, drop the service altogether for the off months and use it during the heavy travel season. Pretty flexible. But, as noted I do not plan to subscribe because the MIFI is awesome.

Sprint also has the Overdrive device; which is similar, but supports 4G where available. I tried that one first, but as with the USB version of 4G which I tried, I was not happy with it. If you are in a 3G area only, service was choppy and the device seemed to keep trying to find a 4G connection which degraded the 3G side. Just my experience and general comment.

http://link.brightcove.com/services/player/bcpid1753162278?bctid=79213259001

http://blog.ziggytek.com/2010/04/25/ipad-how-to-run-windows-xp-via-vmware-video/

Dr. Bob 5.23.10

Favorite Apps

Here is a list of iPad not iPhone apps that work great:

• AccuWeather
• MLB At Bat 2010
• Pandora
• RealRacingHD
• USA Today
• iReader
• Kindle
• NPR
• Editor's Choice (NY Times)

You can still run iPhone apps on an iPad just select 2X:

• SitOrSquat
• Japanese
• Ballistic FTE
• Boston.com
• iConvert
• CNN
• ESPN
• Facebook

Apps that are stink!

• WSJ (Wall Street Journal - really requires subscription to read articles!)

Welcome

The iPad is one of the coolest devices Apple has created in years. Very clear screen and lightweight. I consider this my Kindle purchase as I never did get a Kindle and was waiting for the color Kindle. Many have already told me that reading a Kindle in bright light is much better than reading the iPad even at full screen brightness. I have not done much with the reader yet other than reading USA Today and Boston Globe on the iPad. It works great in regular room light and might be an excellent reader tool. That is to be tested soon.

So far I have found the iPad great for video replay, web browing, checking email, calendar & contacts. Not sure about the business value yet. Also you can easily run any iPhone app just runs small so you need to select 2X and make it full screen. That is great. What is not great is all the companies that want too much for their apps on the iPad such as CNN & ESPN. Favorite app so far for the iPad is MLB Baseball (Red Sox fan)!

I will continue to post new items as I get them. For now, I must say this is the coolest hardware device I have owned since the iPhone but cool does not justify $900 and a $30 monthly data plan (unlimited). I do not recommend you sign up for a data plan that is NOT unlimited. Any pay by the megabyte plan will bite you in the end.

Stay tuned.