The Pink Mac

Hands on with the Nook Elves.

If you follow me on Twitter, you know that yesterday I went to Best Buy to check out the Nook, which is now being sold in there stores. I thought this would give me a good opportunity to compare the functions of the eReader, which has recently piqued my interest due to the addition of a web browser and games to the nook software. Without a doubt, the Nook is light, sleek and slim. Out of all the eBook readers out there, this one takes the cake for form factor. Once I awoke the Nook from its sleep mode, however, I discovered something odd. When the screen changes (because of page turning or application switching etc), instead of a seamless pixel change, it looks like little Nook elves are drawing an Etch a Sketch of the page for you. The images and text slowly come together in a grainy mix until the page is fully loaded. Now, I wasn’t sure if this was normal, or some sort of error on this device, so I went over to the Sony eReader display and found the same issue over there. Now, I realize I am a little behind on this eReader thing and perhaps some of you knew that the page rendering on these devices is reminiscent of 1980’s displays, but I wasn’t, and furthermore I am a little shocked that these devices are doing so well when they look so low tech. I suppose it’s the eInk display that causes this. I know the displays use less energy and make it easier to read for long periods of time in any lighting but when you compare them to even a cellphone or iPod touch display, they seem soo outdated. I don’t mind that the display is black and white, although a touch of color wouldn’t be bad, but I am bothered that the rendering of the screen is so rough.

With that being said and all things being equal on behalf of the screen rendering of eBook readers, I did enjoy the ‘mouse pad-like’ touch screen at the bottom of the device, although I did find myself trying to touch the actual eInk screen in an attempt to move the page or select something (totally embarrassing lol)! The web browser was nice, a little slow, but I always find the Wifi in Best Buy stores to be slow. It was a full web browser too, no flash of course, but still full pages with images, ads and text. The other thing I was disappointed about was that there are only two games for the nook, Sudoku and Chess, but this is an android based operating system so I suppose more games will be coming. Overall, I think this could be the most functional eReader, mostly because of the addition of the games and the Wifi for web browsing. I didn’t get a chance to test the mp3 player but I am sure that works fine as mp3 players seem to be in every device these days. If you have the Nook, let me know how you feel about it. I would love to get the opinion of an actual day to day user of this device!
lifestyle The Pink Mac

Happy Earth Day!

If you couldn’t guess from the title of this post, today is Earth Day! Perhaps some of you will let this day pass without notice, but to the few of you who may actually be interested in the planet and would like to make a small difference in your day to day lives I have something for you! Today, and today only (until Midnight) you can get FREE SHIPPING on your order from Baggu! I took advantage of this today, and it equates to $4 off your purchase ($4 is the standard flat rate delivery from the USPS). Just use the code earth10 at checkout!

Now, if you have never heard of Baggu before, you are in for a treat. Baggu is a line of handmade, reusable shopping bags made from 100% ripstop nylon and each regular sized Baggu is the equivalent of 2-3 plastic bags from the grocery store. I LOVE these bags, and actually, I am sort of obsessed with them because they are so useful in so many ways. The philosophy behind the bags is to use products that have more than one use, so you can ‘own less stuff’ as they say in their literature, and these bags do just that. I own a few sizes of the Baggu including the backpack- not only are these products well made and durable, they do function in multiple ways. I keep a Baggu with me whenever I leave the house and they are great for not only grocery shopping (where I get 2 cents off my purchase per bag I use and the bags each hold up to 25lbs so I no longer worry about them breaking on my walk home) but I have used them to carry wet clothing and shoes in my luggage, to cover my head during a rainstorm, to store linens in, as a laundry bag, as a lunch bag, and probably a few more ways I can’t remember right now. They are washable and come in a nice little carry bag that is made from the scraps of fabric left over when they make the bag itself- so these bags are really well thought out and well designed. They also come in an array of colors so I am sure you will find one you like.

Like I said, I’m obsessed, but I think this is a good obsession. These Baggu’s have taught me to look for multipurpose products helping me to reduce my consumption and, happily, my spending. For someone who lives in a tiny apartment, owning less is a philosophy I can get behind! So, seriously, check out the website. I know this isn’t a tech gadget, but I think that Baggu is a company with products that embody the promise of technology: to enlighten and simplify our lives.

On this Earth Day, go and do something good for yourself and your planet, even if it doesn’t involve online shopping!

tech

Steve Jobs is a Jedi

Now it should be no secret that I hate the iPad. I can ramble on and on about how stupid it is, but at this point you should all know that. I for the life of me could not figure out what the point of this device is. Steve Jobs said at the keynote address that the iPad would fill the void between a smart phone and a laptop. I’m sorry I didn’t know there was a void, gap, or even a crack of space between the needs of the two. If i need to check something on the go like e-mail or play a game, I’ll pull out my iPhone. If I want to go online and do all the functions of a computer… I’ll pull out my laptop. And guess what, despite being a little big a laptop is portable too! This rational logic has led to me hating the iPad and thinking it is a big waste of money. I don’t get the point of having this over sized iPhone.

(What the iPad should have been… and can be)

I just really wish it had an operating system so you can do more than just live off apps. Then I found a video on Youtube of a person using this app called Remote Desktop. My mind was blown. Remote Desktop is an app that allows you to access your computer from anywhere, granted your main computer is on and no one will mess with it. You basically control your computer from anywhere and see it on your mobile device. Now Remote Desktop is available for the iPhone but since the screen is so small, it hasn’t been too useful. Until now. Remote Desktop will work for your iPad and has thus turned this once useless device into a full touch screen, easily portable, app using – computer. And it will use Flash. And as much as I’ve hated and bashed this device so much, over and over again… I kinda want one now. So damn you Steve Jobs and your Jedi mind tricks that make us want this devices.
tech

A Real Apple Tablet.

Unsurprisingly, in the last few days since the iPad has been introduced, the media coverage of the new device has gone from mostly positive, to mostly negative. Now that the iPad is under the microscope, we can see it for what it is and for all it’s faults. Many people have been having issues with their iPad connecting to WiFi, over heating, taking a long time to charge, and I can’t say I’m that surprised. It is a first generation device after all, and Apple’s first gens do have a way of disappointing. I was thinking about it today, and understood that I am mostly disappointed because I wanted the iPad to be more like this…

If you are not familiar, this is the Axiotron Modbook, a real life full fledged Mac Tablet, and it has been available for years. Inside is a real working Macbook that has been manipulated into tablet form. This is what I was hoping Apple would create, albeit in a slimmer, more visually pleasing form.
Now, the Modbook isn’t perfect, it isn’t a touch screen like the iPad. Instead you can use a pen to write on the screen of the tablet. But not for long. Axiotron has also announced a new device they are working on call the Modbook Pro, which is a modified Macbook Pro with a dual touch and pen sensitive screen.

Although these modified Macs are pricey, they are exactly what many Mac users want from a tablet. A device like this is perfect for professionals in the art and design world who want to use their Macs to sketch and edit by hand but without the hassle of external devices. It is also perfect for business professionals who are always on the go, when carrying a laptop from meeting to meeting is too cumbersome. Finally, it is also perfect for the wired consumer who wants the convenience of mobile computing without having to stop to find a table to sit out just to whip out their laptop to compete a few tasks that aren’t possible via their smartphone.

I definitely think tablet computers are the wave of the future and a far more functional portable computing platform than netbooks, but instead of dumbing them down to do a few key things well, they should be able to do everything necessary to keep a mobile life, well, mobile.
The Pink Mac

Hands on with the iPad.

Today was the big day! The official launch of the iPad (WiFi edition only) in Apple and Best Buy stores around the country. I, of course, did my due diligence and went to visit the iPad, excited to be seeing the device in person and half expecting to leave the store with one. Sadly, however, I was underwhelmed by the device. Underwhelmed isn’t even the right word for it, devastated is probably more appropriate. There was no doubt that the device was very pretty, but from the moment I picked it up I found problem after problem.
First of all, the thing is a heavy hunk of metal. Now, I know, it is thin and small and light in comparison to a laptop, but this isn’t a laptop, it doesn’t go on your lap or on a desk even. It is meant to be held in the hands, and really one hand, but as the gentleman sitting next to me at the Best Buy store said “after a few minutes holding it, I found myself switching hands.” Now, I have never held a Kindle, or any eReader in my hands, but from what I know of their weight, they are considerably lighter than the iPad, which really throws a hard blow at the iPad as an eReader. Another problem with the iPad as eReader concept is the glossy screen. Sure, the text looked great on screen and was more than readable, but it was hard to ignore the glare of the lights around me reflected by the glossy screen.
The next problem I found with the iPad was that the speaker seems to be located in the back of the device and caused a vibration in your hand as you held it to watch a video. With a smooth metal backing, it was disconcerting to be holding such a heavy device as it vibrated in your hand- I almost felt like after a while I might just drop it! Speaking of the speakers, they were also pretty low. I know we were in a loud store, but the speakers were just so muted even on the highest setting.
The final major problem I found with the iPad was that it had an issue with apps failing to launch as you can see for yourself in my YouTube video below. This fact was a big disappointment as it really pointed out the fact that this device is a glorified iPod Touch. It’s operating system is that of an iPod touch or iPhone and therefore it is subject to the same annoying issues, such as failure of applications to launch. I have to say, the operating system part of the device must be the thing I am finding it hardest to swallow. If this is supposed to be a device that fills the gap between laptop and smartphone, why is it a sub-notebook size, but running a smartphone operating system? Why not something slightly more advanced, and less prone to the daily defects of smartphones. I’m not saying the iPad should have a fully functional OSX operating system (although it wouldn’t be a bad idea in my opinion) but it should have something that is more blended and less one sided.
Well, I know I wasn’t the only person to take a look at an iPad today, so if you did or do check one out, let me know what you think. And if you have one, let me know if you agree or disagree with my observations.
The Pink Mac

Thanks Verizon and BlackBerry!

I have great news for you all! Finally, after nearly 8 months of using a third party application to connect my BlackBerry to my Mac as a modem to power an internet connection, BlackBerry has put out the 5.0 software update for the Tour (which I have just spent nearly 5 hours downloading) that works with the updated VZAccess Manager! I am now connected to the internet via my BlackBerry and just in time for my trip home for Easter weekend!

I will update later- I need to test out how well this connection works over Bluetooth. I might finally be able to take my Mac to work now and use it during my breaks!
The Pink Mac

The eReader that could change everything…

I want an eReader. I will admit that I was not initially a fan of eReaders because, to me, they seemed like a glorified waste of money. I say glorified because it seems to me that people frequently believe, or would like to believe, that they read, when in fact they don’t. Plenty of people like the idea of reading, but many of those same people usually end up watching American Idol instead of entertaining themselves with a book. Don’t get me wrong, I don’t think that there is anything wrong with watching American Idol instead of reading a book, but I think spending $250 on an eReader when AI is your preference is wrong. There is this whole market for eReaders that to me felt like a waste of money. Think of all the things $250 could buy you that would be so much more useful! But I digress. The point of the matter is that since the inception of eReaders to the literary market, the price has been to high for too little. That is, until now. May I now have the pleasure of introducing to you, the Kobo. The Kobo is an up and coming eReader (taking pre-orders online) with the simple yet clean style of a Nook, and the utility of a Kindle, but at almost half the price. Both the Nook and Kindle retail at $259, while the Kobo is priced at $149! Even the sub-eReader Sony Pocket costs more at $199.

How can this be? Why such a dramatic price difference? Well, it seems to me that the Kobo’s features are simplified. First, there is no 3G connection, just USB and Bluetooth to get your books on the device. Bluetooth maybe a new term associated with eReaders, but the Kobo solves the problem of syncing books on the go by connecting to a mobile phone (also equipped with the Kobo software). The Kobo also slims down on size. The screen is the same 6″ diagonal the Nook and Kindle share, but, the Kobo is thinner and lighter. It also slims down on random functions, for example, instead of the 6 font sizes available on the Kindle, the Kobo has 5; and instead of a grey scale level of 16 like the Nook and Kindle, the Kobo has 8. To me, all these little details are trivial. Who cares how many different colors of grey are used to read the black and white electronic pages, you can read just as well with 8 as you can with 16. The Kobo also reads more formats than the Kindle, although still less than the Nook, but it uses one of the most popular, ePub, as well as PDF’s and Adobe DRM.

The Kobo seems to have started something. It has slimmed down on superfluous features and drilled down on the few things it needs to be a useful eReader. For a dedicated device, I think this fact is a crucial one. Why pay over $100 more for features you might never use, or wouldn’t even miss? I wouldn’t, which is why the Kobo has finally opened me up to the idea of an eReader. Until I make my final decision, however, I will have to stick to reading eBooks on my Mac.
The Pink Mac

Please, let this be true!

I just read this article from The Wall Street Journal about Apple creating a new iPhone for Verizon. I WANT THIS TO BE TRUE!

I know, I know, we have been hearing these rumours forever, but look what happened with the iPad! Maybe geek dreams can come true, and perhaps this summer, the iPh0ne will come to Verizon, hopefully looking like the above mythical model. Now I can stop thinking about the iPad and start dreaming of the Verizon iPhone instead!