Tuesday, July 21, 2015
Thursday, March 8, 2012
iPad 2 Review by Craig Whisenhunt
For anyone out there who is considering whether or not to make the leap
and purchase the iPad 2, this review is for you. If you're still
debating between the iPad 1 and the iPad 2 check out my review of the
first generation iPad right here on Amazon to see a discussion of its
strengths and weaknesses with a number of people commenting (both
positively and negatively) over the past 11 months.
Let me begin by saying this upfront, I don't work for Apple, I don't own Apple Stock, and whether you buy an iPad, Xoom, a laptop or a pad of paper and pencil I don't get anything for writing this. I'm not an Apple "fanboy" although I can give credit where credit is due and lately Apple has deserved a lot of credit for some of their products.
Physical Characteristics
The iPad 2 is absurdly thin. More importantly than it's thinness is its tapered edge which feels more natural in your hand. One of the biggest complaints about the original iPad was it really wasn't tremendously comfortable to hold for long periods at a time. For a tablet device designed to be held, that's a pretty big deal. Apple really has done an amazing job of cramming everything into an even smaller space than before and the difference is really noticeable when you're holding the device. In addition to the tapered edge, Apple managed to reduce the overall weight of the iPad 2. That might not seem like a huge deal to most, especially when you consider the weight difference isn't tremendous when you're already under 2 pounds, but I spend a good part of my day holding the iPad in my hands and the weight difference is surprising by the end of the day. The first generation isn't heavy by any means, but the iPad 2 outshines it.
New and "Improved"
Apple doubled the RAM in the iPad 2 from 256MB to 512MB. What does that mean? For most casual users, probably not a whole lot. There is a performance bump that everyone will see the effects of in things like loading times for webpages that are open in the background, but 256MB was sufficient for most daily use and games. If you're planning to use your device for some of the more graphically intense games the iPad 2 does offer a better method of graphics processing that'll help deliver faster images with fewer jerky movements. If you're just playing Angry birds and reading e-mail you're not going to know the difference.
The screen is the same for all real purposes. It is technically a "new" part in that it isn't identical to the old, it's a bit thinner and more efficient, but it's the same resolution. The Glass is thinner though, and this amounts to a fair bit of the weight loss from one generation to the next. In playing with the device it seems surprising but despite feeling lighter it actually feels more sturdy in your hands. I still wouldn't suggest dropping it, but if it were to fall the iPad 2 certainly feels like it might stand a better chance to survive. Try not to drop it though.
The addition of 2 cameras was expected. Some were a bit surprised to see the first generation released without the cameras. Whether it was for a price point consideration, or a means to get people to upgrade, Apple held off until iPad 2. The cameras do a reasonable job, but they're not going to replace a dedicated digital camera, or really even the camera on your phone for most still images. The cameras do a substantially better job with video, and FaceTime is probably one of the best reasons to get the iPad 2 over the original iPad. For those who might not be familiar, FaceTime is Apple's face to face conferencing system, kind of like Skype, or if you'd rather, kind of like the Jetson's TV/Phone. With the push of a button you can be having a face to face chat with a loved one just about anywhere in the world (provided they're on a wireless network at the time). FaceTime doesn't work over 3G natively (it can be used over a wifi connection created by a 3G device however) so you're not going to be able to use it in your car anytime soon. This is probably a good thing though. It is incredibly easy to use and if you know other people with an iPad 2, iPhone 4, or Mac it's a lot of fun.
Smart Covers aren't really "smart" but they're really very useful. Not only do they provide a stylistic enhancement of the device, but they serve a practical and functional purpose of doubling as a screen protector and stand in 2 configurations. You can find them in a variety of colors and from third market suppliers, and it's a safe bet that more will be out soon to capitalize on the magnetic sensors in the iPad 2. It's unfortunate that this same feature can't somehow be retrofitted to the iPad 1, I wouldn't have thought a case would be a compelling reason to consider a product over it's competitor, but these covers are really so useful it's hard to understand why they've not been there since the beginning.
Multitasking Support
One of the biggest knocks against the iPad when first released was the lack of native multi-tasking support. Jailbreakers added the feature quickly and Apple soon realized it would be a requirement for any future device's success and released an OS update that included the feature. The iPad 2 capitalizes on that progress and takes it a step further with the increased RAM enabling more open applications to be suspended at once, and the time to open or close an application has improved as well. That said, even the first generation managed to open and close apps faster than most people would be used to on their computers, so while this is an improvement it's more akin to showing off.
Apps
One thing that Apple has clearly the advantage in for the moment is app availability. The App store has close to 70,000 iPad specific Apps, all of which will work on the iPad 2. The new cameras will undoubtedly see this list expand rapidly, as will the inclusion of a gyroscope for gaming and motion based uses. There are also a substantial number of professional applications ranging from document creation to photo editing and vector drawing. Chances are if you can dream it, there's an App for that (and if not you might want to get started on one to fill in the gap). The Android market is making a strong showing, and ultimately it'll likely be a strong competitor, for now it still has a ways to go, but any potential buyer should consider the strength of the application market before buying a tablet.
Pros:
Weight. Seriously. The minimal weight of this thing is by far the most impressive feature about it in my opinion. It seems to defy physics and logic that so much could be in such a small space working that hard for that long.
Battery Life. From full to dead my iPad 2 went just over 11 hours with the movie Robin Hood showing twice during that time, the screen at half brightness, wifi turned on, an Angry Birds marathon and a good portion of a book in ibook. That's better than a work day and that's constantly on.
Books. This is definitely a Pro, but reading itself could go either way. The great benefit to the iPad is having access to Google Books, ibook, Nook, and Kindle. This allows for some comparison shopping and price competition (although for the most part they're all usually about the same). Reading in the evenings in bed is great as the back light means you don't have to worry about keeping others awake, but the glass screen causes some glare trouble when trying to read outside or near a sunny window. If you're an avid outdoor reader the Kindle might still be your best bet.
Cons:
Still no dedicated USB support. While there is a camera add-on that allows for certain USB devices to be used there is no option for mass storage. Some of the Android Tablets allow for this and if you find yourself wanting to use your tablet as a standalone storage device this might be something to consider. The device can read from certain flash drives though, but is largely limited to photo and video files. Jailbreaks offer solutions to this, but those come with their own issues as well.
Still no dedicated SD card slot. This is troublesome on two fronts. First, if you want to import pictures from your camera you have to have an adapter which is just one more thing to carry around. Second, the lack of expansion means you're limited to what you purchase in terms of storage. I purchased a 32GB iPad last time and never filled it up completely, so for me capacity wasn't an issue. If you want to be able to have your entire movie collection with you though... you may want to consider whether the iPad 2 can meet your space requirements.
HDMI output. Really this is a Pro and a Con. The iPad does allow for HD output over HDMI but again it requires an adapter. All of these adapters are additional purchases for features that some tablets offer built in. This can be a pain, but then again if you're not likely to ever use HDMI Output then you're not paying for something you won't use.
No Flash Support. This is becoming less and less of an issue as the internet and web developers are moving away from Flash for many websites, but there are a lot still out there relying on Adobe's Flash to run properly (including a lot of web based games). Before you pick a tablet consider what kind of websites you frequent and try and determine if they are Flash driven or not. If they are you may really want to consider something from the Android offerings as it is expected that they'll have at least some Flash support.
If you're in the market for a tablet device the iPad 2 should definitely be on your short list. If you're uncertain it is always best to go and play with these things hands on first if you can. Best Buy is a good place for that, so are Verizon Stores since they have the Xoom and 3G iPad. Don't get pulled into the hype and mania that comes with an Apple release. They're exciting and... Read more ›
Let me begin by saying this upfront, I don't work for Apple, I don't own Apple Stock, and whether you buy an iPad, Xoom, a laptop or a pad of paper and pencil I don't get anything for writing this. I'm not an Apple "fanboy" although I can give credit where credit is due and lately Apple has deserved a lot of credit for some of their products.
Physical Characteristics
The iPad 2 is absurdly thin. More importantly than it's thinness is its tapered edge which feels more natural in your hand. One of the biggest complaints about the original iPad was it really wasn't tremendously comfortable to hold for long periods at a time. For a tablet device designed to be held, that's a pretty big deal. Apple really has done an amazing job of cramming everything into an even smaller space than before and the difference is really noticeable when you're holding the device. In addition to the tapered edge, Apple managed to reduce the overall weight of the iPad 2. That might not seem like a huge deal to most, especially when you consider the weight difference isn't tremendous when you're already under 2 pounds, but I spend a good part of my day holding the iPad in my hands and the weight difference is surprising by the end of the day. The first generation isn't heavy by any means, but the iPad 2 outshines it.
New and "Improved"
Apple doubled the RAM in the iPad 2 from 256MB to 512MB. What does that mean? For most casual users, probably not a whole lot. There is a performance bump that everyone will see the effects of in things like loading times for webpages that are open in the background, but 256MB was sufficient for most daily use and games. If you're planning to use your device for some of the more graphically intense games the iPad 2 does offer a better method of graphics processing that'll help deliver faster images with fewer jerky movements. If you're just playing Angry birds and reading e-mail you're not going to know the difference.
The screen is the same for all real purposes. It is technically a "new" part in that it isn't identical to the old, it's a bit thinner and more efficient, but it's the same resolution. The Glass is thinner though, and this amounts to a fair bit of the weight loss from one generation to the next. In playing with the device it seems surprising but despite feeling lighter it actually feels more sturdy in your hands. I still wouldn't suggest dropping it, but if it were to fall the iPad 2 certainly feels like it might stand a better chance to survive. Try not to drop it though.
The addition of 2 cameras was expected. Some were a bit surprised to see the first generation released without the cameras. Whether it was for a price point consideration, or a means to get people to upgrade, Apple held off until iPad 2. The cameras do a reasonable job, but they're not going to replace a dedicated digital camera, or really even the camera on your phone for most still images. The cameras do a substantially better job with video, and FaceTime is probably one of the best reasons to get the iPad 2 over the original iPad. For those who might not be familiar, FaceTime is Apple's face to face conferencing system, kind of like Skype, or if you'd rather, kind of like the Jetson's TV/Phone. With the push of a button you can be having a face to face chat with a loved one just about anywhere in the world (provided they're on a wireless network at the time). FaceTime doesn't work over 3G natively (it can be used over a wifi connection created by a 3G device however) so you're not going to be able to use it in your car anytime soon. This is probably a good thing though. It is incredibly easy to use and if you know other people with an iPad 2, iPhone 4, or Mac it's a lot of fun.
Smart Covers aren't really "smart" but they're really very useful. Not only do they provide a stylistic enhancement of the device, but they serve a practical and functional purpose of doubling as a screen protector and stand in 2 configurations. You can find them in a variety of colors and from third market suppliers, and it's a safe bet that more will be out soon to capitalize on the magnetic sensors in the iPad 2. It's unfortunate that this same feature can't somehow be retrofitted to the iPad 1, I wouldn't have thought a case would be a compelling reason to consider a product over it's competitor, but these covers are really so useful it's hard to understand why they've not been there since the beginning.
Multitasking Support
One of the biggest knocks against the iPad when first released was the lack of native multi-tasking support. Jailbreakers added the feature quickly and Apple soon realized it would be a requirement for any future device's success and released an OS update that included the feature. The iPad 2 capitalizes on that progress and takes it a step further with the increased RAM enabling more open applications to be suspended at once, and the time to open or close an application has improved as well. That said, even the first generation managed to open and close apps faster than most people would be used to on their computers, so while this is an improvement it's more akin to showing off.
Apps
One thing that Apple has clearly the advantage in for the moment is app availability. The App store has close to 70,000 iPad specific Apps, all of which will work on the iPad 2. The new cameras will undoubtedly see this list expand rapidly, as will the inclusion of a gyroscope for gaming and motion based uses. There are also a substantial number of professional applications ranging from document creation to photo editing and vector drawing. Chances are if you can dream it, there's an App for that (and if not you might want to get started on one to fill in the gap). The Android market is making a strong showing, and ultimately it'll likely be a strong competitor, for now it still has a ways to go, but any potential buyer should consider the strength of the application market before buying a tablet.
Pros:
Weight. Seriously. The minimal weight of this thing is by far the most impressive feature about it in my opinion. It seems to defy physics and logic that so much could be in such a small space working that hard for that long.
Battery Life. From full to dead my iPad 2 went just over 11 hours with the movie Robin Hood showing twice during that time, the screen at half brightness, wifi turned on, an Angry Birds marathon and a good portion of a book in ibook. That's better than a work day and that's constantly on.
Books. This is definitely a Pro, but reading itself could go either way. The great benefit to the iPad is having access to Google Books, ibook, Nook, and Kindle. This allows for some comparison shopping and price competition (although for the most part they're all usually about the same). Reading in the evenings in bed is great as the back light means you don't have to worry about keeping others awake, but the glass screen causes some glare trouble when trying to read outside or near a sunny window. If you're an avid outdoor reader the Kindle might still be your best bet.
Cons:
Still no dedicated USB support. While there is a camera add-on that allows for certain USB devices to be used there is no option for mass storage. Some of the Android Tablets allow for this and if you find yourself wanting to use your tablet as a standalone storage device this might be something to consider. The device can read from certain flash drives though, but is largely limited to photo and video files. Jailbreaks offer solutions to this, but those come with their own issues as well.
Still no dedicated SD card slot. This is troublesome on two fronts. First, if you want to import pictures from your camera you have to have an adapter which is just one more thing to carry around. Second, the lack of expansion means you're limited to what you purchase in terms of storage. I purchased a 32GB iPad last time and never filled it up completely, so for me capacity wasn't an issue. If you want to be able to have your entire movie collection with you though... you may want to consider whether the iPad 2 can meet your space requirements.
HDMI output. Really this is a Pro and a Con. The iPad does allow for HD output over HDMI but again it requires an adapter. All of these adapters are additional purchases for features that some tablets offer built in. This can be a pain, but then again if you're not likely to ever use HDMI Output then you're not paying for something you won't use.
No Flash Support. This is becoming less and less of an issue as the internet and web developers are moving away from Flash for many websites, but there are a lot still out there relying on Adobe's Flash to run properly (including a lot of web based games). Before you pick a tablet consider what kind of websites you frequent and try and determine if they are Flash driven or not. If they are you may really want to consider something from the Android offerings as it is expected that they'll have at least some Flash support.
If you're in the market for a tablet device the iPad 2 should definitely be on your short list. If you're uncertain it is always best to go and play with these things hands on first if you can. Best Buy is a good place for that, so are Verizon Stores since they have the Xoom and 3G iPad. Don't get pulled into the hype and mania that comes with an Apple release. They're exciting and... Read more ›
Wednesday, August 3, 2011
iphone4g review by Sean
I just purchased the factory unlocked iphone 4 from the Apple store. After using it for a bit, I took it back to the Apple store and the 'Genius' told me that because I was on t-mobile and the phone didn't sense AT&T or Verizon, that MMS and Facetime would not work on the phone. That kinda defeats the purpose of an unlocked iphone. My Blackberry would send MMS on my old blackberry no problem so this is just Apple being annoying and trying to force me into a expensive phone plan. If anyone has any tips other than jailbreaking to get this to work, please let me know. I feel ripped off.
iphone4g review by krlos
Item came really fast. I just insert my microSIM and THAT's IT!!! It worked right away.
This phone has a extreme clear and beautiful screen. Is fast and has a lot of applications/games. Came with iOS 4.3.3 so I was able to jailbreak.
By doing so, you'll be able to do a lot of customization to improve your iPhone experience. Please try: Action Menu, Activator, Celeste, Auto3G, Facebreak, FastSnap, FlashLock, LockDown, Multiflow, TetherMe, etc
Note: Please buy a bumper or cover eventhough you take out the beauty of the phone!
This phone has a extreme clear and beautiful screen. Is fast and has a lot of applications/games. Came with iOS 4.3.3 so I was able to jailbreak.
By doing so, you'll be able to do a lot of customization to improve your iPhone experience. Please try: Action Menu, Activator, Celeste, Auto3G, Facebreak, FastSnap, FlashLock, LockDown, Multiflow, TetherMe, etc
Note: Please buy a bumper or cover eventhough you take out the beauty of the phone!
iphone4g review by Gerald Aboud
I just bought this product right here on Amazon , unlocked iphone 4. I unwrapped it , plugged in itunes and stuck in my micro sim and the product worked great. I used facetime for the first time tonight and it was obvious that this Apple product is lightyears ahead of any Phone or OS I have used on any other smartphone. I have no dropped calls and absolutely not even one single problem. I will admit that it seems the battery reduces at about the rate of any laptop (Mac of course) when using power hungry apps but apart from that I am so happy I bought this phone, if only everything could be this simple. Well done Apple, well done.
iphone4g review by sharoo
For the last 2 years I have been carrying a cell phone, an iPad Touch, an iPad Shuffle, and (when I thought I would need it) a camera. I was waiting for a device that would do it all in one, but without forcing me into an unwanted 2-year cell phone contract (I use an AT&T prepaid GoPhone account). The iPhone 4 is that device. For the most part, I adore my new iPhone. Only the substandard built-in software keeps it from being a 5-star product, IMHO. More on that later.
When I was reading reviews before my purchase I wanted to know if "factory unlocked" really meant what it said. Yes, I would have to say that it does. This was clearly a brand-new phone in factory packaging, not a phone that had been unlocked illegally. On the down side, because it had been packaged for the UK market, it came with a British-style plug on the wall charger! This didn't matter to me because I always charge my device from my computer, but the vendor should have mentioned it.
The important part was whether it was really mine to do with as I pleased. I took the AT&T SIM card out of my old Motorola phone, cut it down to size with a SIM cutter, and popped it into the iPhone. When connected to a computer running iTunes, the phone immediately started working with my same old phone number. It was that simple.
So now I have a $750 phone with a $100/year prepaid phone plan. But that's not as silly as it sounds, because I also have the following:
1) The world's best PDA. The high-resolution screen is so beautiful that I just want to sit and stare at it. The built-in apps are pretty lame, but the unbelievable bounty that is the iTunes app store more than makes up for that.
2) An astoundingly good camera. At 5MPs I expected it to be barely adequate as a camera, but I think it takes better pictures than my 10MPs point-and-shoot. Whatever it uses for a light meter is miles ahead of any camera I have ever owned. It takes the best low-light pictures I have ever seen, and when the flash IS needed it is never too bright. I love being able to operate the flash control, auto-focus point, and digital zoom right on the touch screen. The HDR feature is subtle, but amazing. And the 3rd-party apps (many of them free) - just SOOO much fun. This is not a professional quality camera, of course, but it just might be all the casual camera you will ever need.
3) An Internet connection device. Because I don't have a real phone plan, I mostly use wi-fi for my networking needs. But I also have a limited 3G data plan as a backup if I'm not in wifi range. Getting a prepaid data plan to work is a little tricky. You have to set the APN, and neither AT&T nor Apple will tell you how to do this. It's easy, though - just google it.
4) An OK music machine. It works as well as any iPod, but at 16GB it doesn't have the capacity to hold my whole music collection. If I'm just going to load music temporarily for on-the-go use I prefer my little Shuffle. If there were some way to pause the music on the iPhone with a single button press I would find it much more usable as an iPod.
5) An adequate phone. Honestly, the weakest function on the iPhone is the phone. The shape is awkward for a telephone and the sound is nothing to brag about. On the other hand, I have not had any problems with dropped calls or weak signal. I like the big lighted virtual buttons, and the fact that it integrates with my main address book. Mainly, as an infrequent cell phone user at best, I like the fact that I have a cell phone if I need it without having to carry an additional device.
6) A bright, directional LED flashlight. The LED bulb used for the new camera flash also works as a nifty little flashlight! How cool is that? Apple did not see fit to include a flashlight app as a built-in, so the first thing the new user should do is download the excellent free iLED Flashlight app.
7) A surprisingly effective eBook reader. Sure the screen is small but the resolution is so exquisite that you really can read on it. I read "Moby Dick" on my iTouch, and the screen resolution is even better on this device.
Downside - the built in apps are TERRIBLE. The contacts manager, notepad and calendar are primitive. There is no standard way to backup/restore application data, even for built-in apps. The built-in photo manager is jaw-droppingly bad. All pictures taken with the iPhone camera go into one huge folder called "Camera Roll." They can't be moved into sub-folders, renamed, sorted, or rotated if the orientation ends up backwards (which occasionally happens). And what excuse can there be for not including a flashlight app to go with the new LED light?
Fortunately, I had been through this with my iTouch, so I already had a nice set of apps for managing lists, contacts, appointments, recipes and so on. However, it took me a couple of weeks of experimentation and research, plus a small outlay of money for paid apps, to turn the magnificent iPhone4 camera hardware into a device that really can be used as a camera substitute. In short, the iPhone 4 is a device that is good but not great right out of the box. But if you are willing and able to spend a little time installing apps, it can be massively customized to make it the best electronic friend you ever had.
When I was reading reviews before my purchase I wanted to know if "factory unlocked" really meant what it said. Yes, I would have to say that it does. This was clearly a brand-new phone in factory packaging, not a phone that had been unlocked illegally. On the down side, because it had been packaged for the UK market, it came with a British-style plug on the wall charger! This didn't matter to me because I always charge my device from my computer, but the vendor should have mentioned it.
The important part was whether it was really mine to do with as I pleased. I took the AT&T SIM card out of my old Motorola phone, cut it down to size with a SIM cutter, and popped it into the iPhone. When connected to a computer running iTunes, the phone immediately started working with my same old phone number. It was that simple.
So now I have a $750 phone with a $100/year prepaid phone plan. But that's not as silly as it sounds, because I also have the following:
1) The world's best PDA. The high-resolution screen is so beautiful that I just want to sit and stare at it. The built-in apps are pretty lame, but the unbelievable bounty that is the iTunes app store more than makes up for that.
2) An astoundingly good camera. At 5MPs I expected it to be barely adequate as a camera, but I think it takes better pictures than my 10MPs point-and-shoot. Whatever it uses for a light meter is miles ahead of any camera I have ever owned. It takes the best low-light pictures I have ever seen, and when the flash IS needed it is never too bright. I love being able to operate the flash control, auto-focus point, and digital zoom right on the touch screen. The HDR feature is subtle, but amazing. And the 3rd-party apps (many of them free) - just SOOO much fun. This is not a professional quality camera, of course, but it just might be all the casual camera you will ever need.
3) An Internet connection device. Because I don't have a real phone plan, I mostly use wi-fi for my networking needs. But I also have a limited 3G data plan as a backup if I'm not in wifi range. Getting a prepaid data plan to work is a little tricky. You have to set the APN, and neither AT&T nor Apple will tell you how to do this. It's easy, though - just google it.
4) An OK music machine. It works as well as any iPod, but at 16GB it doesn't have the capacity to hold my whole music collection. If I'm just going to load music temporarily for on-the-go use I prefer my little Shuffle. If there were some way to pause the music on the iPhone with a single button press I would find it much more usable as an iPod.
5) An adequate phone. Honestly, the weakest function on the iPhone is the phone. The shape is awkward for a telephone and the sound is nothing to brag about. On the other hand, I have not had any problems with dropped calls or weak signal. I like the big lighted virtual buttons, and the fact that it integrates with my main address book. Mainly, as an infrequent cell phone user at best, I like the fact that I have a cell phone if I need it without having to carry an additional device.
6) A bright, directional LED flashlight. The LED bulb used for the new camera flash also works as a nifty little flashlight! How cool is that? Apple did not see fit to include a flashlight app as a built-in, so the first thing the new user should do is download the excellent free iLED Flashlight app.
7) A surprisingly effective eBook reader. Sure the screen is small but the resolution is so exquisite that you really can read on it. I read "Moby Dick" on my iTouch, and the screen resolution is even better on this device.
Downside - the built in apps are TERRIBLE. The contacts manager, notepad and calendar are primitive. There is no standard way to backup/restore application data, even for built-in apps. The built-in photo manager is jaw-droppingly bad. All pictures taken with the iPhone camera go into one huge folder called "Camera Roll." They can't be moved into sub-folders, renamed, sorted, or rotated if the orientation ends up backwards (which occasionally happens). And what excuse can there be for not including a flashlight app to go with the new LED light?
Fortunately, I had been through this with my iTouch, so I already had a nice set of apps for managing lists, contacts, appointments, recipes and so on. However, it took me a couple of weeks of experimentation and research, plus a small outlay of money for paid apps, to turn the magnificent iPhone4 camera hardware into a device that really can be used as a camera substitute. In short, the iPhone 4 is a device that is good but not great right out of the box. But if you are willing and able to spend a little time installing apps, it can be massively customized to make it the best electronic friend you ever had.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)