The New iPad Review

The New iPad – An Executive Review

Yes, I own a “The New iPad”.  You already know by now that Apple in one of it’s stupid moments decided that the latest iPad would not be the iPad 3 but officially “The New iPad”.   Sometimes they really don’t understand the business world.  iPad 3 would have worked much better.  Oh well.  Now that we have The New iPad what is different?

A5X Chip

Dual core processing with quad core graphics.  Much faster but not really worth selling your iPad 2 to get this new processor.  Most of the increased horsepower is used up by the new display.  If you are still on a original iPad then, yes, upgrade.

Retina Display

3.1 million pixels. (2048 x 1536)

This is a higher screen definition than any HD TV you own.  It is the most complex display ever built for any device, mobile or desktop.  It is brilliant and clear.  Whether you need this display or not is up to you and I will just say that you need to compare this new display sitting right next to your iPad or iPad 2.  Do I think this is the big reason to upgrade?  Maybe.

iSight 5MP, five lens, f/2.4, rear facing camera capable of capturing video at 1080p 

While this is an improved camera and very clear it is actually not as robust as the 8MP camera on the iPhone 4S with all the other same specs.  Upgrade for this feature?  No, your current camera is adequate unless you work for National Geographic taking photos or video.

Dictation

Yes, you can go download the free Dragon Dictation and be very close to this feature but now it is built into every aspect of the device and it works great.  From what I understand Apple licensed the basis for this dictation from Dragon and improved how it integrates with the iPad.   Upgrade for this feature?  No, go download Dragon Dictation from the app store and wait your turn with the next iPad.

Bigger battery with longer battery life

Well, they needed this bigger battery to power the super HD display and new processor but along the way they also ended up with longer battery life.  Well, that is unless you are playing games that are using a lot of video resolution then it will drop quickly and also tend to heat up a bit.  Heat issues?  Not for the real world only for gamers and even then the difference is minimal and was used as a tempest in a teapot by Apple distractors.  The new iPad is a bit heavier and can be a bit warmer but I would not use the term hot.

4G/LTE

O.K.  This is the biggie.  I must confess that I have been recommending that folks just buy an iPad with 802.11 and forget the extra data plans then use their iPhone as a hotspot.  Well, the iPhone as a hotspot is fine for one device, two if you have excellent cellular data support, but that is about all.  Also, I must admit I had never really seen 4G/LTE work.  Now I have.  Where supported I have been getting speeds as high as 38-47 Mbs both up and down.  NO KIDDING.  This is for real folks.  If you need to have better bandwidth this is the way to go.  I have been completely taken by this new technology.  Even it cities where I only get the 4G and no LTE the speeds are still 4-5 Mbs down and 1-2 Mbs up.   I have become so enamored by this technology that I have also purchased a new Verizon hotspot device that I am testing this week that will support up to 10 devices via 4G/LTE.  I will write on this more when I have more real world results but for now let me say it is already very promising.  Another nod to Verizon is that you can turn your “New iPad” into a hotspot using your 4G/LTE account and that there is GSM support in the Verizon iPad now catching up with AT&T.  AT&T will not allow their version of the iPad to be used as a hotspot, yet.    Not smart on their part as the data plans are not unlimited.   Is this worth the upgrade?  Yes, if you are a heavy data user.  No, if you just check email and are a light data user.

Hope this helps.  Happy iPadding to all!

Dropbox

One of the best ways to move files to and from an iPad is Dropbox.  I have been using Dropbox free account now for over nine months and it has been great.  Last fall my HP laptop died when the power on button snapped off in my hand while traveling back from a speaking engagement in NC.  I am so grateful that my partner, Tommy Stephens, had recommended Dropbox to me a few months earlier.  As soon as I was able to get a new laptop I was able to quickly restore all my critical teaching data and some very important personal files.  No, I don't put anything up in Dropbox that contains sensitive personal information but i probably could as Dropbox is both encrypted in transit and encrypted at rest.  If you decide to use Dropbox for sensitive data be sure to evaluate the security policies before you put up sensitive data.

Right now I had Dropbox on two Windows-based PCs, one Macbook Air, an iPhone, iPad, and iPod.  All my data flows accross these devices seemlessly.  I haven't been this excited about a sync tool since Windows 95's Briefcase.

Here is a referral link for Dropbox:  http://db.tt/Cl16SlXj

Next week I will write about SugarSync.

Regards.

Back In The Saddle Again

Sorry for the lapse of time.  It has been a very busy spring but good right?  How about that new iPad.  You know, the one that should be called the iPad 3 but is officially called "The New iPad".  Great update on the screen but the killer feature is LTE.  I will write more on LTE soon but for now let me say that if you are buying a new iPad do not buy anything except the The New iPad with 4G/LTE.  No question, hands down, the best Internet access to date with speeds up to 72Mbs.  

I am also testing a new Verizon hotspot which I will write about very soon.  Hint, it has already blown away anything I have ever owned in hotspot devices. 

Welcome back, tell your friends I will be updating this much more often than ever before.

Val Steed’s List of Top Ten iPad Apps

10/20/2011

1. GoodReader

GoodReader is a well-known document reader. I prefer good reader to any other one as it is cheap, fast, and easy to work. I can easily annotate a PDF and store the annotations in the file or as a separate file.

2. Dropbox

Free for up to 2GB Dropbox is probably the best synchronization tool I have ever used. I have it loaded on my iPad, laptop, and desktop. All files sync in seconds and are available across all systems. Be sure to have strong Windows passwords and invoke the security keys on the iPad. I seconds I can create a file on my desk system, access it in Dropbox on my iPad then open it in GoodReader.

3. Speed Test – OOKLA

Free speed test. There are many speed test apps so be sure to get the right one. Only the one from OOKLA is this good. Great graphics and reliable results. You would be surprised at how often the speed of your internet connection changes.

4. FaceTime

No doubt one of the best communication tools ever invented. The only issue is that the person on the other end of FaceTime must have an iPad or iPhone 4 or newer. Despite the face this is an Apple app and comes with your iPad do not overlook it’s power and capabilities.

5. Photobucket

2GB of free cloud storage and an interface that works great across all devices. The key to Photobucket is that it becomes your library of photos and videos that you can easily link to for Facebook, LinkedIn or any other website posting.

6. MLB.com

I am a baseball fan so this ranks high on my list despite the fact that you have to buy an annual subscription to the service each year for around $15. You get to see any game not blocked by blackouts in HD (internet connection permitting).

7. Intellicast HD Weather

I guess I am part Eubank (local joke). Truth is, I love weather and especially like to know what I am headed for when traveling. This is the best of the weather apps to date as it gives you HD radar. Try zooming in/out and you can examine the world in detail even ocean beds!

8. Keynote

Not free, Apple app. This is a pay for app that is the PowerPoint of the Apple line. If you want to do presentations from your iPad this is the tool. Create the presentation in PowerPoint on your PC, transfer the file with Dropbox, open with Keynote, and present. Viloa, it is that easy but it will cost you $ 9.99

9. Dragon Dictation

Free app. Best voice recongnition to date. You talk, it types, this can help with email responses especially when they become lengthy on the iPad.

10. Concur

The app is free, the account with Concur will not be free. You can get a personal free account for you by signing up for the Concur Accountants program. See http://www.cpafirmsoftware.com/cpaprograms.html click on the Concur Accountants Program and join. Then you can use this app on your iPad to help track and report expenses. We have our whole company signed up and this is a great tool.

iPad 2

iPad 2,

I held off upgrading for a while so I could evaluate reasons to move from an iPad 1 to an iPad 2. I have now moved up to an iPad 2 based on the following considerations.

Business

1. Ability to project entire iPad screen to audiences.

2. Many mobile apps now emerging for the CPA firm market.

3. Faster, lighter, clearer

Personal

4. FaceTime

5. Easier to carry

Overall, I am extremely pleased and surprised that the iPad 2 feels so different and runs so much better. This was touted as a small upgrade based on certain features but I feel like it is a substantial upgrade based on size, speed, and the one killer feature the projection to audiences.

Definitely recommend and upgrade to anyone and a new buy to a non iPad user.

Thomson Reuters Enables Seamless iPad™ Access for Virtual Office CS® and SaaS Customers

ANN ARBOR, Mich., March 8, 2011—Users of Thomson Reuters cloud offerings now have a new way to access their CS Professional Suite^® applications and data, thanks to a new release that offers support for the Apple iPad tablet.

iPad users will have full, secure access to Software as a Service (SaaS) for CS Professional Suite^® and the Virtual Office CS environment, providing easy access to staff portals and client files within FileCabinet CS^®

The new functionality is a better fit for today’s computing environment, which is expanding beyond traditional PCs to offer users a variety of tools for different mobile environments, according to Scott Fleszar, vice president of strategic marketing for the Tax & Accounting business of Thomson Reuters. He said the new capabilities offer a way to meet the rising expectations of increasingly tech-savvy Gen X and Gen Y clients.

“The massive success of the iPad is certainly no secret, but what has surprised a lot of people is its popularity as a business tool,” Fleszar said. “More and more firms are discovering how valuable they can be at meetings, during client appointments, at client sites, or in situations where it’s just not practical to carry a full-sized laptop. And this new release ensures that our users can take full advantage of that convenience. The instant-on feature of the iPad and its convenient size and portability are freeing professionals from the need to lug larger computing devices as well as paper documents and collateral.”

In addition to using iPads to access apps and data, CS Professional Suite users have access to

Mobile CS on iPhones and iPads for convenient mobile access to Practice CS data.

For more information about Virtual Office CS, SaaS for the CS Professional Suite, and other Thomson Reuters web services offerings, visit CS.ThomsonReuters.com/Web-Services.

, including source documents, tax returns, and financial statements.

Photobucket

While I am late to the online photo game it is because I have not liked any site so far. I have tried Picasa, Office Live, etc. I have now settled on Photobucket and love it. Easy to manage, store, share, move and much more. I am very happy with this solution and now am looking to use my iPad to help manage photos. Viewing and managing photos on the iPad is super.