Fixing Adonit Jot and Hex3 Jaja Stylus

Adonit Jot not working properly?

Adonit claims that only 1% of their capacitive touch disc tip styluses have issues with skipping and contact. I've found that to be wholly inaccurate. Every Jot I have has had an issue.

The problem is likely a design flaw that they don't want to admit to. Capacitive touch styluses essentially trick the iPad into recognizing it as your finger. The way the iPad screen works is somewhat difficult to explain, but essentially, a conductive surface of about 6mm is what the iPad looks for.

Instead of the typical soft rubber tips, some styli use discs, like the Adonit Jot series: Mini, Pro, Flip, Touch. Other manufacturers use disc tips as well. The disc is plastic with a metal piece that touches a metal pen, with a small enough surface area to offer precision, and just barely large enough to be detected. In theory, this is great. In practice, well...

If your Jot isn't working properly, Adonit may send you new tips or a new pen. But you will probably have the same problem again.

The most common issue is skipping, where a continuous line drawn on the screen with the capacitive stylus, in this case Jot Pro, is broken into segments and dots. In addition, the stylus may not start a line where you intend, appearing several millimeters after you thought you were touching the screen.

Fear not. There's a cheap fix!

Conductive grease or thermal compound will most likely solve your problem. I improved my HEX3 Jaja the same way. I ordered Arctic Silver Ceramique 2 from Amazon. [Order yours! There's also a link in the sidebar. I get a small credit if you use it. Thanks!] Another brand may work just fine; electronics stores should carry it, places like Radio Shack — or a store that sells motherboards and processors should you want to pick it up at a retail location. Other Jot owners have tried this as well; I actually found this solution on the Adonit forums.

Step 1: Simply remove the disc from the Jot.

Adonit has a guide to replace a disc. Make sure the disc is clean!

Step 2: Place a dab of thermal compound paste on the disc.

You only need a small amount. Just take a tiny dab and put it in the hole where the Jot's ball tip inserts into the disc. You can also rub a thin coating around the ball tip. Afterward, reinsert, and make sure the disc is clean.

And that's it! Your stylus should work 100% better!

I hope I just helped you save your $25-100 stylus, and/or a month of dealing with customer service getting nowhere. I'm sure many frustrated Jot owners have given up on their styluses, so let them know about this!

Problems with Hex3 Jaja pressure sensitive stylus?

The Jaja tips are slightly different. The disc is attached to a 0.7mm metal rod that inserts into the Jaja stylus (or any 0.7mm mechanical pencil). From my experience, it isn't that responsive, and requires uncomfortable, firm pressure and a near vertical angle to work properly.

You can improve the Jaja significantly by adding a bit of thermal compound. Remove the tip, and place the disc on a flat surface. Rotate the metal rod to the side, and put a small amount of paste onto the ball. Next, twist the rod and rotate it in circles, spreading the paste around the part of the tip that holds the rod.

The thermal compound will improve the conductivity of the tip, and your capacitive touch stylus should now work with very little pressure!

Hopefully this helps! Let me know.

Brad Chin uses Blogsy

iPad mini for artists

Apple finally unveiled its worst kept secret of the year, the iPad mini.

However, Apple also surprised a bunch of people with several product updates: a new iMac, 13" MacBook Pro with Retina display and my favorite, 4th generation iPad with Retina display. (I got a heads-up about the new New iPad from RazorianFly)

The new computers are very exciting on their own, especially because I desperately need one. (My 2007 iMac is entering senescence, is painfully slow and can't run current software due to minimum hardware requirements and specifications.) The 13" MacBook with Retina display isn't impressing me, however, after looking at all of its specs.

Since getting my first iPad, I've never missed my notebook computer. For years now, the iPad has replaced my need for mobile computers. There's an app for basically everything that I'd do on the go or in a hotel room. The sketching and productivity apps are incredible! Plus photo apps, reading, video, news, games. There are only a few things that I can't do from an iPad, things I prefer to do at my desk anyway.

The iPad revolution, again?

The New iPad was new for about six months. The 4th gen iPad has an A6X processor, supposedly twice as fast as the A5X, Lightning port and an improved FaceTime camera. (I wonder what's next and when it'll arrive!)

The mini was thought to be Apple's response to the Android 7" tablet market and industry analysts and experts guessed that the iPad mini would start at around $250. To me, that sounded like nonsense because of the iPod touch price tag and hardware specs. The mini has a bigger screen than the iPod touch, but isn't any faster. I think Apple might've deliberately scaled back the iPad mini components to prevent cross-competition with its own devices. The iPod touch is in essence, an iPad nano.

On the topic of nano…

Apple has gone backward with the new iPod nano. Some might think of the constant design changes as revolutionary, some might think the term renanoed is cute — but I'm not one of those people. The previous generation nano was much more groundbreaking; its size and shape made it a hit with athletes and travelers, and its form and software lead to numerous wristwatch conversion kits for the iPod.

The new iPod nano is basically a gimped iPod touch — it doesn't make sense to me as anything other than a gift for someone else (because if you're going to get it for yourself, save up a little and get an iPhone or iPod touch), but there are so many better things available for $150. My Amazon wish list has a bunch of those things — you know, just saying.

Art and design on the iPads

The iPad is amazingly an all work and all play all-in-one.

The iPad could be significantly improved for artists in two ways: first the impossible — Apple adds a Wacom digitizer to the tablet, second (mkre realistic, definitely feasible) — Apple could support pressure sensitivity on an OS level. There are some amazingly creative solutions for pressure sensitivity built into capacitive touch styluses, but apps haven't yet fully utilized the hardware. Many apps will never support pressure-sensitive styli such as the Adonit Jot Touch or HEX3 Jaja on their own, and stylus manufacturers don't have any standards to work from, inventing their own as needed.

Currently, pressure sensitivity is more of a gimmick in a few apps, unable to recreate the digitizer tablet experience. I love Wacom tablets, but I don't miss pressure sensitivity much on my iPad. The trade-off is size, weight, iOS software and amazing battery life.

Drawing and writing on the iPad with Retina display is truly magical; I thought doodling and sketching on the iPad 2 was fantastic, the Retina display is something else entirely. The wow factor is like seeing Disneyland at night for the first time, with everything lit up and fireworks overhead. Well, I suppose that's a bit of an understatement.

I don't know how the iPad mini will be as an artist's platform. Will it be a good drawing tool? Undoubtedly. Will it have a place with an iPad with Retina display? That's the question. I already know that I want the fourth generation iPad.

Brad Chin uses Blogsy

Hand Stylus Review – First Impressions

I didn't write with it for long before I could feel my hand starting to cramp; the Hand stylus has some serious drawbacks that I hadn't read about anywhere, and I'm wondering now: what did the other reviewers do with it?

The HAND Stylus – far from being my favorite.

There was a lot of hype surrounding the Hand capacitive touch stylus; numerous reviews praised its design and functionality, thousands were per-ordered and paid for via Kickstarter, and… it looks fantastic.

The Hand stylus comes in super sleek packaging: a stamped aluminum tray inside of an understated white paper box with foil logo. The printed materials sport slick graphics. HAND: Designed in USA. Made in China. Sigh. We can't Affordably manufacture things statewide anymore? Oh wait, maybe we can.

The Hand has a magnetic clip. A retractable 4mm tip called the world's smallest. I chose the glossy red. It looks amazing and precise. It isn't.

The Hand, the problems

The Hand stylus isn't bad. I love many of its features — I love the styling, the highly-technical, over-engineered bits like the rotating retractable nib. But sadly, these features don't save the stylus because the most important attribute, reliably writing and drawing, is off. With great handwriting and focus, the Hand can produce decent lines… just like other less-stylish (and more comfortable) styluses.

The tip feels too soft, too squishy. In order to reliably convey my intentions from stylus to capacitive touch screen, an uncomfortable amount of pressure must be applied from HAND to screen. The tip deforms just enough to give the capacitive touch screen the 6mm it looks for. HAND calls this the sweet spot. I find it uncomfortable and aggravating.

My hand is mightier than the Hand.

The Hand stylus is about as inaccurate and annoying as the Adonit Jot Pro. It's not terrible; it's better than the WACOM Bamboo and the plethora of $10-or-less options. (For non-pressure sensitive use) I still prefer oStylus DOT — although in addition to being more expensive, the DOT is also more fragile. For an equally durable, inexpensive option, I recommend the COSMONAUT, a stylus David Pogue likened to a Pringles can. He probably thinks he's clever and funny, but he's doing his minions a disservice.

Final thoughts on the HAND Stylus

If you like super-stylish, frustrating, unreliable devices (like AT&T phones), get the HAND. However, I think that the Hand is cramp.

I can be clever, too.

Brad Chin uses Blogsy

The Best iPad Stylus and Five Touch Apps

These are a few of my favorite styluses for capacitive touch screens (for me, that's the New iPad with Retina Display). From left to right: Wacom Bamboo, Adonit Jot Pro, oStylus DOT, Studio Neat Cosmonaut.

Of these, my two favorites are the oStylus DOT and the Cosmonaut, but for different reasons.

The oStylus DOT is a highly precise, reliable tool for writing and design. It never misses. Although it's base has a vinyl pad, people have mentioned scratch anxiety due to the metal tip. Believe me, gorilla glass is fairly tough. Unless you have glass shards or sand all over your screen, you should be fine. I've been using the oStylus DOT every day for months (on the iPad 2 and my New iPad) and my screen is perfect. [Also: The Adonit Jot Pro has a hard plastic tip that some people have complained can leave a residue on the screen if you swipe too quickly.]

The oStylus DOT is a phenomenal artist's tool.

The design of the oStylus DOT offers great control at any angle. Because the tip can rotate between the wires, you can maintain perfect contact with the screen irregardless of how sharp an angle you hold it. By comparison, the Adonit Jot Pro stops at 45 degrees. As an artist, I want precision and reliability; a stylus should accurately capture every line, stroke and dot, 100% of the time. The oStylus DOT delivers, making it essential to my artwork, designs and handwriting.

The wires won't easily break, but they can bend, so some care is required. I recommend getting a good protective case for it, as the sleeve the oStylus comes in isn't great protection. If I were able to change anything about it, I'd add a magnet and make the shaft wider for an easier grip: I'd like to be able to use the oStylus to sleep/wake the iPad like the Jot Pro, and after about an hour, my hand cramps — a thicker grip would help. Also, the DOT and Jot aren't as good for tapping and typing because they make a hard impact with the screen; it's uncomfortable and makes a clack similar to that of a fingernail.

Despite any minor issues or inconveniences, I love the oStylus DOT. The DOT, $38, is hand assembled by Andrew Goss, a jeweler in Canada, and the quality is phenomenal. If you draw on the iPad, you need a DOT.

The Cosmonaut is the do everything stylus.

The Cosmonaut, unlike many touch screen stylus designs, isn't shaped like a pen. It looks like a large, black crayon. Studio Neat (with Kickstarter) created the Cosmonaut to feel like a dry-erase marker, and it does. Their logic is simple and sound; the screen surface is slick, and because you can't easily rest your hand on the screen (*I have a super simple method to remedy this, check back soon for a full explanation), the iPad is less like paper and more akin to a dry erase whiteboard.

The wide grip is excellent, although I'd prefer it slightly longer because I have large hands. Due to the wide body of the Cosmonaut, it's easy to control large movements and broad strokes — this stylus is great for anyone, and perfectly suited for children and anyone with hand control problems. If I could have my dream stylus, it would be a pressure-sensitive combo with a slightly longer Cosmonaut shaft and the oStylus DOT tip.

The tip itself is hard to understand from photos — it's similar to the nine-bazillion other styli out there, although slightly more rigid. It glides easily enough, although I have to press down harder than I'm used to for it to accurately register. It has a softer impact on the screen than the oStylus DOT and Jot Pro, but is slightly harder than the Bamboo; it's a nice balance that offers good control and feel for drawing, and more comfort for tapping and typing than the hard tipped styli.

The Cosmonaut is a great everyday, anytime stylus; it's durable, accurate enough, comfortable and stylish. It costs $25 USD but doesn't look or feel cheap. It's not quite as accurate as the DOT, but it is more comfortable, and great for tap typing and games. I like using it with card games such as Assassin's Creed Recollection, Ascension and Magic 2013, as well as RTS games like Eufloria, Autumn Dynasty and Anomaly.

Here are a few apps you must try with an accurate stylus.

Some apps are custom designed to work with high-precision capacitive touch styluses.

Here's a list of apps designed to work with the Adonit Jot styluses. They work great with any stylus, and some have pressure sensitivity features for styli such as Jot Touch, Jaja and By Zero Studio Pen. This list includes many of my favorite art apps, such as Autodesk SketchBook Pro, ArtRage and Procreate.

Paper by FiftyThree is a fantastic sketching app for anyone. It makes your notes look good. Here are some of my thoughts on paper.

Remarks is my new favorite note taking app. It's wonderful; it has most of the features I'd ever want, it's stable, and when I got it, it was on sale for $0.99 — but it isn't the most simple note taking app. Write, draw, type, add photos, record audio, it does it all, and can automatically backup to Dropbox. Super.

Noteshelf is a simpler notes app, but equally amazing. It is beautiful on iPad 2, and the clarity is stunning on the Retina display.

Infinite SketchPad is a remarkable vector drawing tool that offers an incredible canvas — zoom in or out, for incredibly large or complex notes. You have to see it to believe it. Best of all, you can export your notes/art or publish it online in its full glory. This app is perfect for mind-mapping, diagrams ideas, thought webs and all kinds of brainstorming. I use Infinite SketchPad almost daily, and the developer is really cool and friendly.

Sketch Rolls is a super simple, utilitarian sketching app that acts as the successor to the now defunct Drafts by 37signals and drawthings apps. It isn't for everyone, however and it costs $4.99 — there are cheaper apps out there that do more, but some people will like the style of this app. Presently, I like it more than Penultimate.

I hope that this list helps you to get more out of your iPad; the iPad is the single greatest thing in my life due mainly to great apps and a great stylus, and I want everyone to experience it.

I'm putting together an entry on palm rejection (wrist protection) on the iPad, and how to use the iPad more like a notepad without pesky software solutions, as well as a review of the new Adonit Jot Touch Bluetooth Pressure Sensitive Stylus for iPad (what a name!). So if you like my blog, please help me out and tell a friend! (Or Facebook friends, or Twitter followers.) Thanks!

Brad Chin uses Blogsy

Awesome iPad Stylus

There are 46.1 million capacitive touch styluses (styli maybe) on the market. Approximately. Most are the same with a different name. Many of them suck.

The Cosmonaut by Studio Neat is a wonderful iPad stylus for just about anyone. Don't let the odd looks dissuade you. Check out Studio Neat's product video.

Below is something that I wrote using the Cosmonaut stylus and Noteshelf on my iPad.

Brad likes Blogsy

Two iPad 2 stylus too cool!

Due to my disability and pain, it's taking awhile longer than I thought it might to write reviews for my new iPad styluses (thanks, Andrew from oStylus Due to my disability and pain, it's taking awhile longer than I thought it might to write reviews for my new iPad styluses (thanks, Andrew from oStylus & adonit!), but I thought I should mention them.

The photo shows an Adonit Jot Pro (red) and a one-of-a-kind oStylus made by Andrew Goss' company in Canada.

The oStylus is particularly cool because inherent in its design is the ability to see exactly where the iPad thinks you're pressing! This is great for drawing and handwriting apps.

The Adonit Jot Pro feels more accurate but it's also more solid (and heavier). It feels like a high quality metal pen, like a Cross, maybe (Montblanc doesn't have something with that kind of straight cylindrical body). The Jot Pro has magnets and a rubber grip that the standard Jot lacks. The magnets are brilliant. It secures well to the iPad 2 screen with or without smart cover, and can attach to the side of the iPad (where the smart cover attaches). The Jot Pro can be used to sleep/wake the iPad like the smart cover. I don't have a "the new iPad" cool because inherent in its design is the ability to see exactly where the iPad thinks you're pressing! This is great for drawing and handwriting apps.

The Adonit Jot Pro feels more accurate but it's also more solid (and heavier). It feels like a high quality metal pen, like a Cross, maybe (Montblanc doesn't have something with that kind of straight cylindrical body). The Jot Pro has magnets and a rubber grip that the standard Jot lacks. The magnets are brilliant. It secures well to the iPad 2 screen with or without smart cover, and can attach to the side of the iPad (where the smart cover attaches). The Jot Pro can be used to sleep/wake the iPad like the smart cover. I don't have a "the new iPad" so I can't comment on how it works with it.

The oStylus seems to make a softer contact with the iPad screen. The Jot feels like its poking the screen — I'm not comfortable typing with it.

I'll write up a detailed review of each when I'm feeling up to it. If you have a favorite stylus, let me know about it!

Touch Tablets & Muji Notebook Inkblogging

The iPad 2 really is a marvelous thing. Even though I can't sit at my desk for more than a few minutes (without tremendous pain), I can write, draw and read on a computer that feels as fast as any notebook or desktop I've used. However, recently — not so much — crazy back-and-forth, sunny-cloudy weather has been giving me migraines, keeping me down, eyes-closed.

Note: (Though it isn't unique to Squarespace) I really love Squarespace's scheduled post feature. When I'm feeling okay, I can write a few blog entries and let Squarespace automatically post them at preset times. That's what I've been doing... I think it's a worthy tip to pass along. (I remember using a similar feature with WordPress; Tumblr has it as well, and I'm pretty sure post major blogging tools/engines have the ability.)

iPad & Tablet Thoughts

iPad capacitive multi-touch is stellar for just about everything except art and design; without a pressure-sensitive digitizer (something like Wacom Penabled or N-Trig), variable line weight (thickness) can only be determined by speed. For artists, dual-input slate tablets are ideal, (active digitizer and capacitive touch) such as Windows 7 devices: ASUS Eee Slate EP121 (or B121) and the Samsung Series 7 tablet. I really want one; even with Windows 8 and the iPad 3 on the horizon.

Art makes me happy. I like creating; designing, doodling, sketching, illustrating, composing. I love mixed media; ink and watercolor, charcoal and paint, handwriting and blogging! Drawing helps my mood and writing helps my memory, and the iPad 2 is like my (virtually) unending, lightweight note/sketchbook. If sharing is caring, why not share what I care about?

To be continued — second part in three hours!

Is the iPad 2 a toy?

Is the iPad just a big, expensive toy?

I suppose that it could be. However, with hundreds of useful productivity and design apps and new iOS5 features, the iPad 2 is certainly much more than a toy.

There are a lot of games for iOS, but they represent only a fraction of what iDevices can do. The iPhone 4, for instance, is a powerful point-and-click camera in addition to being the best 3G smartphone. There are tools to keep in touch with friends and family, find the best restaurants and the lowest gas prices. Notification Center keeps tasks, weather, stocks and calendars one convenient, downward swipe away from whatever you're doing. And the iPhone 4S? Well, there's an 8 megapixel camera, and most importantly, Siri.

But about the iPad itself, specifically the iPad 2...

The iPad 2 is much more than a "big iPhone."

When the first iPad was announced, I bought the hype — I thought of the iPad as a big iPod touch, nothing more. Of course, everything changed when I actually used one. If you're thinking about buying one (and can afford it), do it. If you're skeptical, try to get to an Apple store to spend a few minutes to test an iPad.

There are features and apps that just wouldn't work well on the smaller screen of the iPhone, even with the retina display. There may be a lot of small pixels on the iPhone 4, but that doesn't just change the size of your fingers. Organization and writing tools are much more natural on the iPad, and there are apps that allow you to draw and write as you could on paper that just aren't practical on a small screen — you'd either have to write/draw smaller, or constantly zoom in/out and scroll. Typing is much nicer and quicker on the iPad, and iOS5 has a new split keyboard feature.

Popplet is a good example of the iPad's wonderful abilities. This organization app, a mind mapping tool, has been around since the first iPad, and I still use it to organize thoughts quickly and to share ideas. Popplet takes advantage of the large screen; you can drop text, images and drawings into the popples (the boxes), resize them, connect them, and move them around, while still seeing the bigger picture. There are mind mapping tools for the iPhone, but I haven't found one as useful. And I do constantly keep an eye out for new apps.

Bringing me to something else, worth mentioning...

You don't need to empty your wallet on apps.

Check out AppShopper, a universal app that keeps track of new and popular apps, as well as your favorites, and notifies you of price changes and updates. I've snagged hundreds of apps, usually in the $1.99-9.99 price range, for free — many of them I wouldn't have known about in time if not for AppShopper. This tool keeps track of the many holiday sales and discounts, so you can get that $4.99 app you've been eyeing for $0.99 when the developers decide to have a special 24 hour sale.

There may be over one million reasons to get an iPad or use it for more than gaming. I could go on for hours about it. I love my iPad 2. But here is what you really need to know: as Steve Jobs said, it's magical. The iPad is revolutionary, and the device can change your life if you let it. (Also, for the disabled/handicapped, the iPad is the greatest computer, ever. Essential.)

This review of sorts may sound like a sales pitch, but it's not... Apple doesn't need my help to sell iPads. I'm sharing, because I've gained so much from this device, the one I'm writing this blog entry from, and I hope to encourage others to give the iPad a chance. I'll try to share more tips, tricks, and reviews... and hopefully, Apple will release Siri for the iPad 2. That'd be a wonderful treat for me. And hey, I'm helping them sell iPads! Apple should do something nice for me.

:-)

Birthday, 7 Days Away!

Because you're awesome, and I'm worth it.

I've been told that my blogs have been a little depressing lately, and frankly, I agree. My blogging doesn't include my actual voice, and I think some of my thoughts on disability and chronic pain have been lost in translation. So... to change that...

September 16th, one week away, my birthday!

I got the Sony PS3 wireless headset and some Blu-Ray movies... and later this month, we can play Gears of War 3 and (hopefully) Dead Island (I don't have it yet — I read that the 360 version is better).

I am very excited! I've been reading, writing, and watching US Open Tennis (Roger Federer is playing so well! Swiss Maestro, greatest of all time). In a few weeks, SLF and I are going on a wonderful little trip to the so-called happiest place on Earth. She's really never been there, so this will be fantastic. Epic. Eventually, we'll come back to reality. But that's okay! It means medications, doctor appointments and everything else, but because of my birthday, I'll have some presents!

You can send me something, too; make sure I remember your birthday!

My ThinkGeek Wish List starts at $4.99 and almost everything is under $35. It's mostly fun, but there are some very useful, potentially life-saving tools and gear on the list as well. The big item, the only one over a c-note, is a laser stars projector. It's rad; I can ponder the importance of ethyl formate while eating raspberries and think about the cosmos, while looking at my own in-home galaxy! (Did you know that the warp drive is theoretically possible, powered by negative energy?)

I've also updated my Amazon Wish List with inexpensive items that I'd love to have! I've loaded it with books, movies and interesting, useful things.

A little something for my birthday goes a long way toward making me feel 'tastic! A few dollars really improve life. I'm such a kid... I love presents. I can always use iTunes gift cards for iOS apps — I'll review them, too! (App devs, I'd love to review your software!)

Also, if you have Netflix service, can you please call them for me and request the addition of Judging Amy to their "watch instantly" offerings? It's not available on DVD and had been off-air for years (was on TNT until 2007 or 08 I think). gmc recently added it to their lineup, but because it's a Christian family channel, they not only sensor language, they skip tons of episodes. Being able to watch that show again would be a great present. (Weird, I know.) Also, while you've got them on the phone, mention Star Trek: Deep Space Nine as well. (You could mention that it's part of Amazon Instant Video.) It's the only series absent from the Netflix line-up.

Chronic pain is such a downer. Enjoy things like sports and other physical activities whenever you can — I never imagined that my athleticism could be taken away so quickly, and I really miss it.

Last wish list item, "gift of time" (not for the faint-hearted):
Please let me know if you'd like to help me hit some tennis balls on the weekends. You don't need to know how to play — I can't really "play" (crippled) — I can rent a ball machine and fire away without running around.

Thanks, everyone!

If you don't have the funds presently, that's okay. Christmas is coming soon enough!
;-) much love.

The Amazing iPad

I’ve been amazed by the iPad from the moment I first saw one…

And since purchasing and syncing it, it’s rarely left my hands. I’ve read dozens of iPad reviews but none have quite represented how truly incredible the device is for someone like me. It’s replaced my desktop and laptop; the only other device I use regularly is my iPhone, and that’s to make phone calls.

I can’t say that I was ever skeptical of the iPad, but prior to seeing the device on, in person, the hype was easy to ignore. I didn’t want to fight for pole-position in long lines, and I wanted the 3G model.

I still want the 3G model — just not as much. I’m almost never away from WiFi hotspot, and if I am, I’m generally doing something that requires my full attention. WiFi is prevalent where I live and spend time, and I doubt that free hotspots are a fading trend. That said, it would be nice to use the iPad for GPS navigation; attempting to use the iPhone for such a purpose while driving in San Francisco with a visually-impaired passenger is inconvenient, if not dangerous. Luckily, we just got a little lost.

My only other iPad complaints are fairly minor. I’d like WACOM Penabled technology built-in, the screen collects and reflects smudges (making it difficult to view the screen in sunlight), and there isn’t enough software — yet.

I’d like to see a version of Adobe Illustrator for iPad. I’m not sure that that will ever happen because of the Adobe Flash war (conflict), but something similar could be created, like Inkscape.

I know that the iPad was never created to be an everything replacement — but for me, it really could be. The iPad really is a dream, come true… I could never have imagined as a child that I’d one day have a device like this, and for it to have happened so soon! I’m excited to see next year’s model.

Looking back at the first-generation iPhone to the 3GS — the biggest improvements were software, not hardware. I think that current iPad software is barely 1/10 of what’s possible. Let’s hope the Formics don’t attack us until then.

iPad Experience — Impressive

For over one week, I’ve extensively used the iPad everyday for almost all of my work tasks. The only thing that it doesn’t do for me is make calls. So far, the entire experience has blown me away — it’s been beyond my expectations.

More than a large iPod touch, yes…

I could go into this at length, and at some point, I might. For now, I’d rather talk about the quality of the software. So much has already been said about the hardware; brilliant screen, great battery, et cetera. What’s been am unexpected surprise is how great the app developers have been.

All of the developers that I’ve contacted with feedback, questions or feature recommendations have replied promptly and thoughtfully. Since the updates are mostly free and I’ve already paid for the software, they could just ignore me. They haven’t. I suppose it helps that I take the time to properly articulate my ideas and my advice is generally sought after — but that is beside the point. You could contact them, too.

This is NOT the typical computing experience.

I’ve been particularly thrilled about Maxjournal by omax media. As is, the software works… it’s just not exactly what I’d want. I contacted them about adding fonts, rich text, timestamps and tags — my questions were answered and my suggestions, noted. It’s a fry-cry from the days of generic boxed software purchases at the local CompUSA.

I like that there’s no large corporation, automated feel present in the overall iPad experience. It’s an empowering feeling atypical of computers — the ability for a single-mind to make a difference. I think that Apple’s software development kits have a lot to do with it.

It’s not perfect — nothing is — the dev kit is missing a rich text editor amongst other things, and it’s still unclear what criteria Apple uses to accept and reject software for the App Store. For every good app, there’s 3000 crappy ones, and there’s only one iPad app for every 50,000 or so iPhone/touch apps. I’m sure that these ratios will change for the better. (Note: these numbers are estimations… if you have the specifics, please feel free to share, and cite your source/s!)

Add nothing, straight out of the packaging, the iPad still rocks.

Remember what the first-gen iPhone was like? Think about how much better it’s become, all around. I think that the Apple tablet platform has a bright, grand future. The only weak area that I can justifiably complain about is the iBooks app and store. As a bookreader, the iPad isn’t better than the Kindle (or Kindle DX) — I’m not sure about the Barnes and Noble nook, but it’s probably better, too. The e-ink screen offers a much better reading experience in any lighted condition. (The iPad may be superior for people who need to read in low-to-no light often.) The iBooks store offers many books, though the process of translation from print to digital might’ve been rushed, as there are many silly errors in the books that I’ve sampled (in particular, everything written by Orson Scott Card). With Zinio, however, the iPad makes for a much better magazine reading experience than the Kindle (except, for me, the magazine Foreign Affairs, because there aren’t any pictures.) I just wish Zinio offered more magazines; namely Newsweek, and less critically, some US video game magazines (the current offerings are all foreign, mostly European).

If you’re on the fence about the iPad (but you can afford one) — get off.

Get to the Apple store, order one online, do whatever works for you. Price aside, I can’t think of one good reason not to get one. That said, if you read books more than you browse the net, listen to music, watch videos and play games, then you might want to get a Kindle first.

More on Superfluous and Bradtastic Premier soon. This entry was composed on the iPad.

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New Browsing, Products and Services

I've been waiting for Apple to announce a MacBook Air upgrade — hopefully a chasis redesign — but so far, nothing. The iPad looks really nice, however. Although the iPad seems like just a super-sized iPod touch — no camera, no multi-tasking, no Adobe Flash — I think it's great. Of course I don't like the limitations, but I'm okay with it. I use my iPod touch and iPhone for most of my work; a large-scale device, thin and light, with iWork apps... how is that not awesome? I'm writing this post from my iPhone — of course I'd like a 9.7" screen version! I hope the device has keyboard support.

I tried to update this blog from my Playstation 3, but I couldn't login. Squarespace isn't built to support the PS3 Mozilla browser. I did however pair my Apple Bluetooth keyboard with my PS3; making a few updates at my Backpack page, catching up at Gmail and using Bighugelabs' Writer was fairly convenient... and cool.

There were display issues with PS3 browsing and working (writing), but altogether, the experience was eye-opening. I'm thinking about trying to hookup my MacBook Pro to the plasma screen for easier writing; software such as Writeroom, or anything else with a full-screen "distraction-free" writing environment, will increase my output — allowing me to write even when sitting upright hurts too much.

I'm still looking into three-column designs.

Lastly, I've been streamlining my modern practical self defense system. More on that — perhaps with some sketches — next post. At the moment, I'm working on adding to AIS-insurance.com as the company has many hot new products, real game-changers, and interestingly — these aditions aren't insurance products.

One of the new services almost everyone can use. CARA HealthAdvantage offers a discount drug card — prescription discounts across the country at virtually all major pharmacies. Best of all, the card is free... and limitless. Download or request your copy; you can use it, and in addition, your family and friends can, too. Help your loved ones save some money.

You should know that I don't deal with scams, and I'd never peddle or offer one.

If you don't know me, look at AIS' history — thirty years doing business the right way, fighting to support individuals and small businesses, to give them benefits typically reserved for only the largest corporations willing to shell out top-dollar.

As always, if you want more details, contact AIS (800-788-6524) ask for Ed (direct extension 115) or Doug (125). Alternatively, you can contact me here, Twitter @bradtastic, or at Facebook.com/bradtastic.