Apple Thoughts - News & Reviews on all things Apple

"It has now been 100 days since my iPad 3G arrived. (And exactly four months since I first used an iPad in early April, and posted my thoughts about it.)"

And for the most part, Business Insider's Dan Frommer really likes his iPad. There are some things that annoy him, such as web sites that aren't designed for devices such as the iPad, but it has become his favorite computer. Speaking of annoyances, does it annoy anyone else about the Business Insider site that you have to click through each page? It really annoys me, but the article is worth the read to get his perspective on the iPad in my opinion.

"The latest iteration of Apple's Mail client, like the OS it accompanies, seems little changed on the surface. Its greatest improvements lie under the hood, and while not all of them entirely live up to Apple's promises, the program on the whole remains dependably excellent."

The biggest change is the built-in support for Microsoft Exchange 2007, which makes it easier to work from home if you need that kind of access. And if your business has the autoconnect feature installed on its server, you can set it up using only your email and password. There are also some other features such as faster response times and a drag-and-drop feature for organizing your sidebar. Some minor stuff but good to see they are still working on it; it's simple but I like it.

I've used XO Skins since the iPhone 3G came out. In fact that XO Skin is still on that iPhone (my son uses it now) still providing protection. I've also got one on my recently retired 3GS, so I was happy to see they came out with a version for the iPhone 4. If you aren't familiar, XO Skins are a thin layer of polyurethane that provides protection to a wide variety of electronic devices, such as phones, laptops, GPS devices and much more. XO Skins makes the skins device specific, and pretty much covers any electronic device out there. Don't believe me? Well head on over to their product page and see for yourself. For the iPhone 4, they offer two types of protection: front screen only for $11.96 USD and front and back screens with side protection for $19.96 USD

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"Let’s start this review of the iPhone 4 by saying that after picking up the phone on Thursday in the middle of a rushed day of travel and work, not to mention waiting in line, I felt initially disappointed."

Image Credit: Apple

A nice review of the newiPhone 4. Interesting that the author's opinion changed somewhat after he stopped thinking of the new iPhone as revolutionary, and adapted his usage accordingly.

"When the iPhone 4's screen was shattered, people said that the test wasn't valid. Only scratch-resistant. But it seems that "30 times harder than plastic" can still be scratched in normal use."

It isn't a great picture but you can still see some scratches. And Apple never said it was "indestructible" as the Engadge article states, but it is cause for concern if this was just from normal wear and tear. Walt Mossberg said he didn't have the same issue, and he dropped his review unit a few times from varying heights, but of course we don't know what "normal use" included. In pocket with keys? I expect a few scratches out of any device that gets as much use as my iPhone, but if it's glass then I would hope that it is more resistant than this review unit.

"Let's back up here a minute. Apple has earned its reputation as the evil gatekeeper of the App Store. You know, rejects apps for no reason, keeps competition at bay, and more or less acts like a total jerk to developers. And I was fine with that-it gave us something to whine about."

He's not at all happy with Opera for the iPhone, and I think our own Vincent has a thing or two to say about this browser on the iPhone too, and it isn't good. I suspect we will find a lot more with the same opinion since it was one of the top downloaded apps shortly after it was released (over a million per Ars Technica today) in the App Store.

"It was hyped and ripped before it even had a name, and after it was announced, it was both praised and panned. Apple's iPad has been the subject of debates about the future of technology and media, and massive speculation about whether people will really want to buy and use it."

Pretty thorough review of the iPad and Jason Snell's opinion on the new device from Apple. And it is still being panned by some, Paul Thurrott for example, and some others as referenced by this article on Silicon Alley Insider. I think perhaps the complaints are from trying to do too much with it, after all, Steve Jobs said that it fills a niche between the iPhone and a laptop. My own perspective is this: I'm impressed with what it is and what it can do, but I bought it for a very specific reason (reading books, surfing and watching movies). Granted, it isn't going to be for everyone, but Apple did what it does best: create a product to fill a need you didn't realize you had.

"Finding replacement earphones with an inline microphone for your iPhone can be a frustrating process, especially since the selection can get expensive quickly. ifrogz is targeting the budget conscious buyer with its EarPollution Luxe microbud with microphone earphones, and they add a splash of color to your iPhone, too."

Ah the search for the perfect earbuds. And when you have an iPhone you definitely want that microphone option. Trouble is they are usually at least $70.00 USD or more to get any kind of quality. The ifrogz EarPollution Luxe earbuds are surprisingly cheap at $25.00 USD, include the mic, come in several colors, and have good sound according to this review from MacObserver. The mic aspect wasn't quite as good, but if you are looking for some cheap earbuds that have passable mic performance, you might want to check out the review.

"I spent way too much time playing with the iPad today. In fact, I'm still thinking about it and here's why: The browser is better than the browser on my MacBook. It might be the best browsing experience out there. By a lot."

And so began the review from Seth Weintraub over at 9 to 5 Mac. And here is an even better hands-on review over at Apple Insider. I'm not sure if you watched the keynote or any of a number of streams from the event, but here are my thoughts on it.

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"Rely on the most trusted guide to restaurants and access over 40,000 Zagat Ratings & Reviews on your iPhone or Wi-Fi connected iPod Touch. Nightlife, Hotels, and Shopping are also included."

I don't have this app, since they don't have Portland listed as one of the cities, but I have used their books in the past when traveling so I can see the appeal of having that information handy on your iPhone or iPod Touch. It is available now in the iTunes store for $9.99 USD, and if you aren't sure you need it, have a look at this review.

"Apple's new 5th-gen iPod nano, unveiled this past Wednesday, is "exactly the same size as the previous one: 3.6 x 1.5 x 0.2 inches. That is, it's a wafer-thin, rounded-edged slab that comes in 9 metallic colors," David Pogue reports for The New York Times."

It is a down and dirty quick review of the Nano, something that Pogue seems to really like. I have to admit I'm tempted to pick one up to play with. The video quality is standard definition and is like the iPhone 3GS according to Pogue. You can read the entire review here.

"The long-awaited iPhone OS 3.0 is finally here. While it is certainly less momentous than the launch of the original iPhone, it is still a solid OS upgrade in terms of performance and additional features."

If, like me, you aren't picking up a iPhone 3G S today, you can still enjoy the benefits of the 3.0 software. There are many articles on just what each feature can do and this article talks about some that didn't get the coverage the Cut and Paste feature did for example. Mainly because they are minor improvements, but even minor they "raise the usability" of the iPhone. One such feature is the addition of more options for the "Home" button on the iPhone. Now you can double tap the button and it will take you to the Home Screen, Spotlight, Phone Favorites, iPod or Camera. Minor yes, but major when it comes to usability, for me at least.

Which improvements were your favorite?

"I have just spent a few weeks testing [Apple's MobileMe] again on multiple Windows and Mac computers, and an iPhone," Walter S. Mossberg reports for The Wall Street Journal."

And what did Mr. Mossberg conclude? I'll let him tell you.

According to Mossberg, "Apple has fixed all of the speed and reliability issues I encountered last year. In my new tests, MobileMe's email was prompt and reliable. I was able to add, delete or edit a contact or calendar entry on one device, and see these changes almost immediately on all the others, and on the MobileMe Web site. The Web-based photo gallery, which can also house videos, worked fine on both Windows and Mac, and I was able to upload photos to it from my iPhone. The file storage also worked well, and now has a feature that allows you to share files too large to email. And each MobileMe account works with an unlimited number of computers, iPhones and Touches."

Sounds like he likes it. You can read his review over at All Things Digital. Oh one caveat though, it does work better with Macs than it does with Windows.

Product Category: Notebook Computer
Manufacturer: Apple
Where to Buy: Amazon.com [Affiliate]
Price: $1999 - $2499 ($2499 configuration tested, no BTO options)
Specifications: Detailed Specs Here

Pros:

• Solid smooth design;
  
• Powerful CPU and GPU;
• Excellent screen.
  

Cons:

• Trackpad is somewhat fidgety;
  
• A tad on the heavy side;
  
• Expensive.
  

Summary:
Apple has ditched the two-piece shell of the MacBook Pro, opting for a new single-piece shell they refer to as "brick." Is the new MacBook Pro a divine piece of masonry or an over-hyped marketing gimmick? Read more...