Finally Got my iPad 2!

I had plan on getting my iPad 2 on launched day (March 11, 2011), but so many things were going on that day that I didn’t aggressively try that hard to get one. For some reason, I didn’t think it would be in such a high demand so I was just going to stop by my nearest Apple store to pick one up after work. Boy was I wrong.. My nearest Apple Store (still about 45 minutes away from me) already had 500 people in line before I even left work.

So plan B was to go to my local Best Buy. At 5:30pm, they only had two iPads left — both were the 64GB+3G on Verizon. I decided to stop by a few Walmarts and Targets after that. Of course, they’re all gone. I did surveyed them so I know what to expect with the iPad 3 comes out.

Target had about 5 iPads. One Walmart only had 2. Another had 5. Best Buy had 150 but sold out within an hour (or less). Yes, I was all over California that night!

The next day, I went to Best Buy and reserved my iPad. There’s a $100 deposit, but they gave me a $100 gift card in exchange. I waited about a week before calling back to check on my status. They said the iPads didn’t come in yet. So I waited another week, and they told me the model I wanted isn’t in.

Well, I couldn’t wait anymore. Any longer, I might as well wait for the iPad 3 to come out. So when I saw
Macmall’s Tweet about getting a shipment in, I hopped to the opportunity. I called them the next morning (3/26/2011) and they said they had plenty in stock! The nearest MacMall from me was about 75+ miles, but well, it was worth it. Torrance has plenty of great food so I had a yummy lunch and got to do some grocery shopping as well, and plus, I got my new iPad 2!

They only had the 32 and 64 GB wifi black ones available, so I settled for the 32GB. I desperately need the space anyhow. My current iPad barely has space for another email to download.

The funny thing is, Macmall didn’t even get a shipment of iPads on launch day. The customer service was great. If I miss launch day for iPad 3, I know where to go next time. ;)

I’ve only had my iPad 2 for a few days but I’m already testing and abusing it. New reviews for iPad 2 cases will be coming soon, so be sure to come back for those. You can also read my iPad 2 Review here as well as my list of Top 50 Essential iPad Apps.

Review: Happy Owl Studio Clutch for the New iPad and iPad 2

Do you have a geeky gadget gal in your life? Surprise her with the Happy Owl Studio’s The Clutch! It’s a sexy purse/case to carry her iPad and along with her other gadgets. Her devices and items will fit in this nice slim purse-like bag, complete with shoulder strap and plenty of compartments. The best part is that no one will know she’s carrying an iPad in there.

The Clutch is made of 100% genuine leather and contains two main compartments — one for the iPad, and one for everything else. The side for the iPad has a holder with the screen part cut out. The edge of one side is held together by a strong Velcro. Access to the iPad is easy when this compartment is open. The iPad doesn’t need to be taken out of the case/purse for most tasks. There’s also a cutout for the back camera if you want to sneak a photo or two. Cutouts for all buttons and ports for the iPad are also available. When the purse is closed, the iPad will be sleep mode. And when it’s open, it’ll wake up. On the side of the purse that covers the glass screen is a beautiful soft microfiber fabric that protects the iPad when closed and not in use.

Next to the iPad compartment is a zipper compartment that has room for all of her other gadgets and necessities. Within this compartment are smaller pockets perfect for a cellphone, pen, pencil, stylus, credit cards, business cards, cash, and more. There’s also two smaller zipper pockets inside as well that can store lipstick, eyeliner, mirror, keys, usb drives, sunglasses, camera, or anything a geeky gal needs.

Holding the purse together is a button latch with the Happy Owl Studio logo on it. And to carry the clutch, it also comes with a removable D-ring strap. The strap is adjustable, so you can wear it just over the shoulder or as a cross-body purse. And the front of the purse has a beautiful pleated pattern that’s both classy and stylish.

The clutch is made especially for the chic geekette. It’s available in two colors — black and red. The black clutch has a deep purple interior and purple stitchings on the outer layer of the purse. The red clutch has a red interior and gray/dark gray stitchings. It’s the perfect little purse for a night on the town, or even the geekiest of conventions. The clutch is also compatible with both the new iPad and the iPad 2.

Rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars · Happy Owl Studio.com · $79.99 · Amazon ($79.99)

Disclosure: This product was sent by Happy Owl Studio for review purposes. This is part of Beatweek Magazine’s coverage of iPad products. Opinions expressed in this article are my own.

Top 50 Essential iPad Apps

Are you a lucky and proud owner of a new iPad2? With hundreds of thousands of apps in the iTunes App store, your next task of finding just the right ones may become a daunting experience! But not to worry, I’ve got you covered! Below is a list of the top 50 iPad Only and Universal apps (works both on the iPhone and iPad) for you to get started. There are plenty more, but I had to keep the list to just the essentials!

Jump to the various categories: Music and Video, Books and Reading, Productivity, Photography, Games, Social Networking, Education, Shopping

*Unless noted, these apps will also work on the iPad 1st generation.

Music and Video

Pandora Radio – Create you own unique radio stations and stream them anywhere. Learn more about the artist and what inspires them. There’s even an option to bookmark your favorite songs and artists so you can refer back to them, as well as share to your social networks. There is also a link to iTunes so you can purchase the song. Create an account to further personalize your music-listening experience. Universal App (Free)

Hulu – Watch your favorite shows and movies right on your iPad! Glee, Saturday Night Live, Family Guy, The Simpsons, Bones, The Office, Grey’s Anatomy, House, 30 Rock, Food Network shows, movies, and much more. See the current listing. You can try Hulu+ for a week for free. To continue using the subscription, it’s $7.99 a month. Universal App (Free)

Netflix – Already have a Netflix subscription? Now you can watch the shows and movies on your queue right on your iPad! This is part of your Nextflix unlimited membership. You can also resume watching where you left off on your computer or TV. Video out is supported on the iPad, iPhone 4, and iPod Touch 4G. Universal App (Free)

ABC Player – Turn your iPad into a TV! If you enjoy ABC shows like Modern Family, Desperate Housewives, Grey’s Anatomy, Castle, The View, and others, you’ll love this. Put your iPad in the kitchen and catch up on your favorite shows while cooking or washing dishes. Commercials are short and Internet connection is required. iPad Version (Free)

Discovery Channel – Watch your favorite Discovery shows on your iPad! Episodes of Dirty Jobs, Gold Rush, MythBusters, American Chopper, and many more are available. Tap around to see extra photos and learn more about the characters. Internet connection required.
iPad Version (Free) | iPhone Version (Free)

Glee Karaoke – Sing your heart out to your favorite Glee song! You can sound like a star with the option to auto tune and harmonize. Compete online to earn the stars and prizes. Additional songs are available for in-app purchase for 99 cents.
Universal App (99 cents)

Shazam for iPad – Ever heard of a song you like but just don’t know who sings it? This app helps you identify that song simply be recording a few seconds of it. A link to download it on iTunes, artist’s page, similar tracks, and social network sharing, along with part of the song are displayed after it recognizes the song. iPad Version (Free) | iPhone Version (Free)

Magic Fiddle – Learn how to play a fiddle right on your iPad! Holding it may be hard at first because of the iPad’s shape, but you’ll get the hang of it soon enough. Try out Twinkle Twinkle as your first song in the songbook. Additional song sets are available for 99 cents.
iPad Version ($2.99 cents)

Garage Band – What if you could carry a portal music studio with you? Garage Band on your iPad is just that! It includes instruments like guitars, basses, keyboards, and drum sets that you an use to record and mix. Create music by mixing up to 8 tracks and easily share them with your friends. It is a big app, taking up 369MB of space. And it works best on the iPad 2. iPad Version ($4.99 cents)

Books and Reading

Goodreader – This is a wonderful PDF reader for the iPad. You can highlight and annotate text in your PDF. In addition, it could also read other file types such as: MS Office – .doc, .ppt., .xls, iWork ’08/’09, HTML and Safari web archives, High resolution images, and even audio and video! To my surprise, it also read Zip files! It’s like a Swiss Army Knife to file management on the iPad. iPad Version ($4.99) | iPhone Version ($4.99)

Dr. Seuss Books – These books are simply amazing on the iPad. Buy them for the child in your life and watch how they interact with the book. Or just buy it for yourself and bring back a piece of your childhood. I loved watching Dr. Suess’ characters come to life. All the apps are universal and have options to auto-read, have you read and manually turn pages. Tap all around the pages to make the drawing come to life. My favorites are How The Grinch Who Stole Christmas, the Cat in the Hat, and Fox in Socks. Universal Apps: Fox in Socks ($3.99) | The Grinch ($4.99) | Cat in Hat ($3.99) | Cat in the Hat Lite (Free)

iBooks – The iBooks store is fun place to look for new books to add to your iPad. Books simply look gorgeous in this app. When downloaded, your books are displayed nicely on a bookshelf. Each book comes with a chapter preview, so you can try before you buy. There are also many setting options to make your reading experience more enjoyable. Change the font size, font type, screen brightness, toggle sepia on and off, and add a virtual bookmark to your page. Search for text, highlight and leave notes in your book. Universal App (Free)

Kindle – If you already have a great Kindle/Amazon collection of books, this app is perfect. You can import all of your purchases over to your iPad easily. Just login and hit sync to bring your books over. Best of all, the pictures in your Kindle books will be in color! Enhanced books (ones with audio or video) are also available. Universal App (Free)

Google Books – Now you can buy your books from Google too. Access over 2 million Google eBooks on your favorite device. There are options to change font size/typeface, search within the book, more book info, page turns, night-reading mode, and offline reading mode. All you need is to log into your Gmail account to access your books. Universal App (Free)

Epicurious – Download recipes from the fabulous site, Epicurious.com right onto your iPad and read it in the kitchen while you cook! Choose from over 30,000 different recipes. Save your favorites, and create a shopping list of the ingredients you’ll need to cook it. It’s a delightful app for the most seasoned chef, to a casual cook. Universal App (Free)

InstaPaper – Instapaper is a free web service that allows you to save web articles and links for reading at a later time. The Universal iOS app caches the articles you save for offline reading on your device. This is really handy when you want to save articles to read on the plane or when traveling. Many apps also have Instapaper built-in so you can send links to it too. Highly recommended if you enjoy reading a lot of webpages and news. Universal App ($4.99)

Productivity

Penultimate – a great notebook app. Take notes by writing (preferably with a stylus) and organize them in separate notebooks. Choose from graph, lined, or plain paper for your notes. The app is fast and simple to use. There are also options to email your page (or entire notebook) to someone, save it to your photo roll, or print. iPad Version ($1.99)

ToDo – If you ever carried a daily planner with you in the past, you’ll fall in love with this app. It’s a gorgeous To-Do list that’s wrapped up in a beautiful interface. Create your list of To-Do’s and reminders and check them off as you complete them. The simple and beautiful interface is what makes this app unique. Change out the theme as your mood changes. Additional themes can be purchase in-app for 99 to $1.99. iPad Version ($4.99) | iPhone Version ($4.99)

SketchyPad – This is perfect if you’re an web or app designer. Add your design on the canvas, along with various components. Double tap on the component to customized and change. This is the perfect app when you need to jot down your ideas for a client. Design a page/app quickly to demonstrate your ideas. There’s even an option to email the design or save in your photo roll. This works well when you need to share your design idea with your development team. iPad Version ($4.99)

Dropbox – store your files in the clouds. It’s like a hard drive that follows you everywhere, no matter what device you use. Your files will be synced all across your devices. A Dropbox account is required. The free Dropbox account comes with 2GB of space that you can use for as long as you like. You may upgrade up to 100GB. Universal App (Free)

Bento – create your own personal database. Have a collection or cds or inventory you need to keep up? Store it in Bento and sync your databases across your devices. Bento comes with 25 ready-to-use database templates that can be easily customized to organize any type of information you have. You can manage contacts, track projects, organize your album collection, plan events and so much more. iPad Version ($4.99) | iPhone Version ($4.99)

Brushes – Love to doodle, paint, or draw? This app has a beautiful interface that’s simple to learn, yet powerful enough for professional artists. This app comes with 19 high-quality brushes, up to 6 layers, a quick zoom, in-app replay of your paintings (amazing feature), VGA/TV output, and much more. iPad Version ($7.99) | iPhone Version ($4.99)

Evernote – this is the app that can remember everything you can’t! Store your thoughts, pictures, and anything you want to remember in the cloud. You can even tag, search, and organize all your thoughts too. Creating an account is free. You can also go premium if you would like to be able to upload any file time, and up to 1GB of space per month.
Universal App (Free)

Pages – If you edit or create a lot of formatted documents, this is the app you’ll need. Simply type your text like you would in MS Word or Pages. Select and highlight text that you would like to bold or change color. Add, drag, and drop images into your file and move them around easily. Spell checking and word count also available. iPad Version ($9.99)

iMovie – Now that the iPad 2 has cameras, you’ll probably be taking more videos! Edit them right on your iPad with this easy-to-use app. Add photos, music, sound effects and give it the whole Hollywood treatment with 8 different themes to choose from. Some features exclusively on the iPad 2 are the Multi-Touch Precision Editor and Audio waveforms. Overall, it’s a great app to edit videos on the go without the need of a computer.
Universal App but compatible with iPad 4, iPod Touch 4, and iPad 2 Only ($4.99)

Photography

Photoshop Express – Now that there’s a camera on the iPad 2, this app will come in handy. It’s like Photoshop for your fingers! Import your image and edit away. Pinch and zoom to apply filters, and then save the image, or upload to Photoshop.com.
Universal App (Free)

Coolibah – This app is probably geared more for the crafty people. You’ll be taking a lot more photos on your iPad now. What better way to spruce up your photos than with a splash of patterns and colors. Digitally scrapbook your photos on the fly and post them to your favorite social networks. Export higher quality versions to make prints as well! The app is free to download, but your creations will have a watermark on them. You can upgrade via in-app purchase ($4.99), as well as purchase more scrapbook templates for 99 cents each. Universal App (Free)

Games

Plants vs Zombies HD – This is one of the best games out there. And it’s even more fun on the iPad because you can get your tapping-action going. Protect your house from the zombies by planting super-power plants in front of your house. Don’t let the zombies get close.. or you may lose your mind… iPad Version ($6.99) | iPhone Version ($2.99)

Angry Birds HD – You got to have the number one game of all time on your iPad. Your favorite birds are at it again, terrorizing the pigs and scaring them out of their homes. The adventure puzzle game just get better and better, especially being on such a nice big iPad screen. Hit your targets with better accuracy. And if you do miss too many times, call on the help of the big Mighty Eagle! Be sure to join Game Center and see how you rank in the world. (Angry Birds Seasons is a seasonal version of the game.)
iPad Version ($4.99) | iPad Lite Version (Free) | iPad Seasons Version ($1.99) | iPhone Version (99 cents)

Scrabble – Gather your friends around to play a round of Scrabble — everyone’s favorite word game! In party mode, the iPad becomes your game board. Have everyone else with iOS devices download Scrabble Tile Rack (Free) and they’ll be able to throw their letter pieces onto the board! It’s quite amazing to watch how the devices communicate with one another. Other modes are also available, but Party Mode is certainly the most entertaining. Best of all, you won’t lose any game pieces when it’s over. ;) iPad Version ($9.99)

Words with Friends HD – Play one-on-one with a friend with this word game. You can play quickly or take your time making your moves. There are more Triple Words (TW) places on this board, so you’ll be surprised how quickly the scores dramatically change. This game is available on both iOS and Android platforms, so you can play with all of your friends.
iPad Version ($2.99) | iPad Lite Version (Free) | iPhone Version ($2.99)

Cut the Rope HD – Who doesn’t love physics games with something as adorable as a green pet that only eats candy? Candy dangles on a rope and you must cut it so that it falls right into the mouth of your cute pet. Collect stars along the way to advance to the next levels. Trust me, you’ll love it. iPad Version ($1.99) | iPad Lite Version (Free) | Universal Holiday Version (Free) | iPhone Version (99 cents)

World of Goo – Winner of many design, puzzle, and game awards, this game is a must-have. Drag and drop moving and squirming globs of goo to build structures, bridges, canonballs, etc. Unused balls of goo will climb up your structure to reach and end point. Save and rescue enough Goo to advance to the next level! The World of Goo has beautiful graphics and an amazing soundtrack. It’s one of the best games for the Mac and even better on the iPad. Explore and get lose in the World of Goo! iPad Version ($4.99)

Smurfs’ Village – Hooray, hooray! The Smurfs are in here! Get ready for the smurfy cuteness to invade your iPads! If you enjoy games like We rule and Farmville, you’ll love Smurfs’ Village even more. Based on the original cartoon and comic art, this game brings back a lot of childhood memories. Universal App (Free)

Super Monkey Ball 2: Sakura Edition – Your favorite monkeys are on the loose again! Keep your monkeys rolling in orbs as you collect bananas and race to the finish line. Mini-games include Monkey Base, Monkey Target, Monkey Golf, and Monkey Bowling. Have an endless fun time with this accelerometer game! This iPad game was $14.99 but is now on sale for $3.99. iPad Version ($3.99) | iPhone Version ($2.99)

HoloToy – While you’re waiting for the new Nintendo 3DS to come out, get a taste of the 3D effect on your iPhone or iPad! HoloToy a series of 3D games you can play on your iDevice. Believe me, it’s not like anything you’ve seen in the app store before. New games are added frequently and best of all, it’s only 99 cents! Universal App ($1.99 cents)

Social Networking

Flipboard is an amazing and beautiful interactive magazine designed just for you. As you flip the pages, you will see personalized pages filled with your friends Tweets, Facebook updates, and posted photos. At least that’s who it would work if you were allowed to connect your account. They’re currently still working on the accounts portion, but it’s definitely worth the download. I suggest adding the “Tech Influencers” to your content list to get tech news, tweets, and announcements. iPad Version (Free)

Friendly Facebook – Facebook doesn’t have an official app yet, so this app is the best next thing! It displays your Facebook profile, wall, and status updates nicely. Not to mention, the photos are gorgeous as well. You wouldn’t want to go back to the website after trying it. It also allows you to have multiple accounts, but from my experiences, the inboxes seem to get mixed up it there are two or more accounts. iPad Version (Free/99 cents – ad free)

IM+ – Sign into chat with this app and connect to your GTalk, Yahoo, MSN/Live Messenger, AIM/iChat, ICQ, MySpace, Twitter, Facebook, and Jabber accounts. There are push notifications when you receive a message. And it’s a universal app, so you only need to purchase once. Universal App (Free / $9.99 – ad free)

Twitter – Follow your friends and their tweets, real-time news searches, and your interests on the official Twitter app. It has a clean user interface, but is quite powerful underneath it all. Tap, swipe up and down, and reveal hidden features. The one thing I’d like to see add is the ability to manage users in lists. This feature seems to be absent on the iPad version.
Universal App (Free)

GetGlue – this is a social network for people who want to ‘check-in’ and rate movies, tv shows, music, books, and more! Earn stickers and badges along the way. You can also have your stickers mailed to you! Best of all, it’s free!
iPad Version (Free) | iPhone Version (Free)

Education

NASA App is a fabulous app if you want to dive deep into space exploration. Explore each of the planets closely. Read tweets from space, read NASA news, see thousands of images from space, and much much more. Internet connection is required.
iPad Version (Free) | iPhone Version (Free)

WebMD – This app lets you check your symptoms, access drug & treatment information, get first aid essentials, and check local health listings. To check your symptoms, simply tap on the picture of the body to narrow down your affected area.
iPad Version (Free) | iPhone Version (Free)

WolframAlpha – Love information? Now you can access expert knowledge no matter where you are. Computer solutions to difficult math problems, balance complex chemical equations, get help with a crossword puzzle, and much much more. This app was at one time selling for $49.99 and is on sale for just 99 cents this week. It’s universal, so you’ll be able to use it on your iPhone, iPod Touch, and iPad! Universal App ($1.99 cents)

EMD PTE Periodic Table – If you’re taking Chemistry, or need to review the periodic tablet of elements, this comes in pretty handy. Click on the elements to get more information on it. The app is universal, working on iPhone, iPod Touch, and iPad!
Universal Version (Free)

3D Cell Simulation and Stain Tool is perfect for students taking Biology. Learn about what makes up the cell structure with a 3d model, as well as stain your own cell by selecting colors for each structure. Have fun rotating the cell around and finding the Golgi, Lysosomes, and Nucleus! iPad Version (Free)

Shopping

Zappos – As if your weren’t addicted to shopping at Zappos.com already, they just made a gorgeous iPad app that let’s your browse through all of your future accessories! Select an item and swipe up and down to scroll though the different angles. It sure makes shopping a lot of fun! Tab through reviews, more details, and more info about the brand. Shop for shoes, clothing, bags, beauty products, as well as housewares. Great user interface and that’s both functional and easy to use! Universal App (Free)

Target for iPad – Getting ready for some Christmas shopping? Be sure to check out the weekly ads on the Target iPad app. Just set your store location and the ad will appear. Flip through the pages and when you see something you like, tap and add it to your list. When you’re done browsing, email the list to yourself and you’re ready to go shopping. The apps makes it a fun and green way to read the weekly ads! iPad Version (Free)

Windowshop by Amazon is a fun way to browse what’s available on Amazon.com. Pictures of products are displayed according to categories and you can tap and swipe away. Tap on a category and the entire screen is filled with items from only that category. It does make shopping and finding gift-giving ideas much easier! iPad Version (Free)

Boutiques – Shop or “window browse” the latest and largest collection of curated boutiques. These have been created or inspired by celebrities, designers, fashion trends, and popular users. If you love fashion, you’ll love this app. Beautiful interface to tap and browse. iPad Only App (Free)

iPad Stand Review: TwelveSouth Compass

The TwelveSouth Compass iPad stand is one of the most compact, yet sturdy, iPad stands you’ll find on the market. It’s lightweight and perfect if you’re always on the go with your iPad. When folded, the Compass reminds me of a Japanese fan — thin and compact. But the magic is when you unfold it into a functional stand.

Upright Stand. Pull all three legs of the Compass out to form an “A” or easel-like shape. Once you have it in position, pull out the smaller tab parts at the bottom in the front two legs. This is where you would put the iPad. It’ll lean against the stand and sit on these two tabs in the legs. The parts where the iPad rests on are lined with a soft rubber to ensure no scratches are put on your iPad.

Typing Position. Another nice feature in this stand is that it also folds into a typing position. Pull out a metal tab on the back tripod leg and put this new leg on the table. The back leg will fall into place. Lay the Compass in its new position on the table, then put your iPad on top of it. This puts the iPad in a perfect position for typing. It’s lifted off the ground and protected by the soft rubber on the stand.

There is one thing to keep in mind though. In this position, the tabs in the front legs get in the way of your typing, so it’s not recommended to type for long periods of time with the stand.

Overview. With the Compass, the iPad could be displayed in either portrait or landscape mode in both positions. Because of the compact size when folded, this stand is the most ideal for travel. It’s lightweight, sturdy, and quite functional. Beautifully crafted and designed, this stand deserves to be in a class all its own.

Note: The TwelveSouth Compass Stand for the iPad is compatible with both iPad 1 and iPad 2 as well as various eReaders and tablets.

Rating: 4 out of 5 stars · $39.99 · TwelveSouth · Amazon ($39.99)

Disclosure: This product was sent by TwelveSouth for review purposes. This is part of Beatweek Magazine’s coverage of iPad products. Opinions expressed in this article are my own.

iPad 2: Review and Upgrading Tips

Are you an iPad (1st generation) owner? Did you also just upgrade to an iPad 2? Here are a few things you should think when moving your data over to your new tablet.

Syncing your iPad 2 with your iPad 1 Backup¹

The iPad 2 isn’t that useful until you sync your collection of apps, books, and documents from your first iPad onto it. Downloading each app, one by one can be a large task. The best thing to do is to move a backup copy of your iPad 1 over to the new device. Here are the steps:

1. Sync and backup your iPad 1 in iTunes.
2. When this is done, plug in your iPad 2. On the left side in iTunes, find your new device. Right click so a menu comes up.
3. Select “Restore from backup”
4. Select the name of your backup (whatever you named your previous iPad device) from the menu.
5. Click “Restore”
6. Syncing your iPad 2 may take a while depending on how much data you had in your backup.

Be sure that both devices are running the same iOS version. The iPad 2 is shipped with iOS 4.3. If you’re running iOS 4.3.1 on your iPad 1, this will not work completely.²

What you should be aware of:
Be aware that restoring from a backup does not move everything over exactly the way they were. The apps, their data, and most of their settings are moved over, except they’re installed on the new device in alphabetical order. It’ll start installing on page 2 and end on page 11. If there are more apps, it’ll install on page 1 and then the rest will be on page 12+ (but these will not be visible on the display). You’ll need to use the search bar to find the apps that aren’t visible on screen.

Another strange thing is that folders are not moved over. So once you finish syncing your apps, you’ll have a bit of app sorting and organizing to do.

If you download a lot of book previews in iBooks, they will not be added onto your new iPad either. However, full books and PDFs will be moved over (if you sync/select them in the Books tab).

New Default Apps

Once you’re done syncing, you’ll notice a few extra icons on your iPad 2. These are the new default Apple apps available for the updated device.

• Camera – This app is the optimized version of the iPhone camera app. You can select camera or video mode in the bottom right settings. The option to use the front-facing or the back-facing camera is on the top right. When you run it for the first time, it will default to the back-facing camera. Change the settings if you like. The next time you open up the app, it will pick up your new settings.
• Photobooth – Like with most Apple products, the iPad 2 now comes with the classic Photobooth app. This app takes photos of the subject in 9 various modes including Thermal Camera, Mirror, X-Ray, Kaleidoscope, Normal, Light Tunnel, Squeeze, Twirl, and Stretch. Besides the Normal mode, I find the other modes just takes creepy photos of you. This app only works with the front-facing camera.
• Facetime – Now you can make video calls and video chats with other Apple users. Facetime is available on iPod Touch 4th generation, iPhone 4, and Macs running Snow Leopard 10.6.6+. You’ll need to sign in with your Apple ID (could be the same as your iTunes account). Both cameras will work on this app. Simply switch the camera used in the top right settings.

Camera Placement

Now that there are cameras on the iPad 2, there is a wrong and right way of holding it, at least when you use the cameras apps. The camera on the iPad works best when it’s on top and the Home button is at the bottom (portrait mode).

At first, I thought that having the back-facing camera on the left side would have photo alignment issues. But after testing, it seems fine as long as you look on the screen to center and focus your subject.

This position also works very well when you want to make a video in landscape mode. In portrait mode, if you turn your iPad clockwise, the back-facing camera will be on the top left, making it easier for you to hold the iPad and record video at the same time. Because of the size and shape of the iPad, recording video on it isn’t that practical, but it’s nice to have the option to.

Placement of Various Ports

Microphone. In the iPad 1, the microphone is located in the top left, next to the headphone jack. This is somewhat of an odd placement, but there were not many apps that needed to record sound, so it wasn’t so bad.

Now that Facetime has been added on the iPad 2, sound and voice quality is more important. The microphone has been moved right in the top center of the iPad, making talking to someone on Facetime much better. You’re not talking to just one side of the screen (which would look funny on video).

There’s a major improvement in the speakers as well. The speakers are much bigger in the iPad 2, starting from the bottom left edge of the iPad 2, and abut a finger size in height. Audio is spread much further, making your audio and music much clearer.

Processor

The addition of the Dual-core A5 chip has made the latest iPad much faster. If you play a lot of graphic-intensive games (or apps in general), you’ll noticed how much quicker the game responds to your actions. If you’re just using mostly text-based productivity apps, you may not see much of a difference at all.

Design and Weight

Design. The significant differences between the iPad 1 and iPad 2 are their designs and weight. The new design borrows the best parts of the iPhone 3G/GS and iPhone 4 designs. It takes the rounded concave edges to make it appear much thinner, and the back is completely flat like the iPhone 4. When the iPad 2 lays flat on a table, it’s still easy to pick up since the edges don’t touch the table.

In the iPad 1 design, they also mixed the designs of the iPhone 3G/GS and iPhone 4. The edges took the trait of the iPhone 4 and had a straight flat edge all around the iPad 1. However, on the backside of the device, it had a more rounded feel. So if it was to lay flat on a table, only a little part of the device would actually touch the table. This was intentional also so you can pick the iPad up easier.

That’s two design concepts for solving the same problem. I’d have to say the iPad 2 approach is much sleeker and makes the iPad appear much thinner than it is. The optical illusion on the sides gives it the edge.

Weight. If you hold the iPads in one hand, the iPad 2 is significantly lighter. However, you still can’t compare it to the Kindle which feels as light as a feather. The trade-off between a Kindle and iPad is the ability to do multiple things though.

Should I Upgrade?

So the big question is, if I already have an iPad 1, should I upgrade to an iPad 2? The iPad 2 is one of those devices that you don’t need, but instead, just want. It also comes in two colors now — white and black. iPad 2 are scarce, but iPad 2 in white are even more rare. The cameras and speed upgrades aren’t compelling enough to have to get a new iPad. But if you’re interested in using apps like iMovie and Garage Band, you may want to think of an upgrade. More and more interesting apps that require an iPad 2 will start to pop into the app store soon enough. If you’re app-dicted, getting an iPad 2 as soon as you can is a good idea to maximize your time with one. The iPad 3 after all is rumored to be releasing soon!

¹You can also use an iPhone or iPod Touch backup, but most apps will require the 2x view. It’s recommended to start fresh instead and download iPad optimized apps.

²This article was based on iPad 1 and iPad 2 running iOS 4.3.1. Some parts may be different in future versions of iOS.

iPad Stand Review: Griffin Loop

At first glance, this stand looks ordinary, but once you use it, you’ll love how elegantly it holds you iPad in a few different configurations.

The Griffin Loop is basically an oval-shaped piece. On the bottom of the Loop are three non-slip pieces. This keeps the stand in place. There are two cutouts that holds the iPad in an upright position. This is the perfect angle for watching videos. The iPad could be placed in either portrait mode or landscape.

The more interesting position is when you lay the iPad right on top of the Loop. This angle and position is perfect if you’re playing a tapping game like “Plants vs Zombies” or “We Rule” or just surfing websites. It’s one of few stands that hold the iPad in a comfortable gaming position.

Although, packing this stand is not recommended due to the space it takes up, it’s perfect to put in the kitchen or near your work area to hold up your iPad. It’s a strong and sturdy stand that you’ll definitely enjoy.

Rating: 4 out of 5 stars · $29.99 · GriffinTechnology.com

Disclosure: This product was sent by Griffin Technology for review purposes. This is part of Beatweek Magazine’s coverage of iPad products. Opinions expressed in this article are my own.

Fling, a Joystick for Your iPad!

Tapping on your iPad screen is great for most games, but do you ever wish you had a joystick for other games? Ten One Design, the maker of the first capacitive touch-screen stylus for the iPhone, just announced their revolutionary game controller for the iPad called Fling!

For more information, see GeekBeat.TV

Mac App Store is Open!

The Mac App Store is now open for business! There’s currently over 1000 free and paid apps for you to choose from. Using your iTunes account, you can download and install great new apps in just one step!

The Mac App Store offers apps in Education, Games, Graphics & Design, Lifestyle, Productivity, Utilities and many other categories. Similar to the iTunes Store, users can also browse new and noteworthy apps as we ll as staff favorites and top charts for each category.

The Mac App Store is available for Snow Leopard® users through Software Update as part of Mac OS® X v10.6.6.

For more information, see the official Mac App website.

Etch-A-Sketch iPad Case

Relive your childhood with the new Etch A Sketch iPad Case by Headcase! Inspired by the original Etch A Sketch from Ohio Art, this favorite toy can be brought back to life by your iPad!

The case comes in two parts — the top red piece and the bottom closing piece. When you first receive the iPad case, you’ll need to open the enclosing. To do this, use a coin, slide and twist to loosen the two pieces apart. You’ll need to do this twice in the two slots at the bottom of the case.

Once you you take the two pieces apart, you’ll see that the top piece is made of a hard and sturdy red plastic, with the same familiar design of the classic Etch A Sketch. The top part of the case has all the cutouts for the buttons and ports of the iPad. If you’re holding it in landscape the mode, the top part also has “Magic Etch A Sketch(R) Screen” written in big gold letters. At the bottom are the two pseudo white knobs (used for drawing up/down and left/right on the original Etch A Sketch).

The bottom piece is made of the same sturdy plastic, except in black. It also has the familiar big X running through the back of the case. However, there’s a big circle cutout in the middle that showcases the beautiful Apple logo. There are also two flip-out tabs that act as a stand for the iPad (in landscape mode).

To put your iPad in the case, gently lay it on top of the bottom piece, and snap the top red piece on. Work you way around the case and make sure each edge is snapped in tightly.

As beautiful as this case is, there are a few flaws. The biggest one is the cutout on the back that showcases the Apple logo. It’s not protected, so there is possibility of it being scratched on the back. I would have liked to see a hard clear plastic covering the back. Another minor issue is that the cutout for the Home button is a bit small. I often find myself using my nails to click on the button — this may be a problem if you don’t have nails. This goes the same for the volume and notification buttons. Also, if you hold the iPad case in portrait mode, you’ll notice that the gold lettering may start to wear off, so be careful touching that area as well. Although there are a few minor flaws, anyone who owned an Etch-A-Sketch will be able to look pass them and enjoy this amazing reminder of their childhood!

Overall, this is a great iPad case if you want to make your iPad look even more awesome. It’s a great conversation starter, and a great reminder of a classic toy. If you’re looking for something special for your geek for the holidays, this case will surely put a smile on their face!

Ratings: 4 out of 5 stars · Headcase · Purchase for $39.00

Disclosure: This product was a birthday gift from my relatives. I enjoyed it so much that I wanted to write a review to be part of Beatweek Magazine’s coverage of iPad products. Opinions expressed in this article are my own.

iPad Case Review: Otterbox Commuter Series

The Otterbox Commuter Series is quite an attractive case for your iPad. It’s slim, lightweight, and protects the iPad from everyday use.

The case consists of three pieces -a soft interior layer to protect scratches and impact, a hard outer layer for further protection, and a hard snap off piece that allows you to access the back to mount your iPad on a dock or keyboard.

To put the case on, hold the iPad vertically and slide the soft interior case on the top corners first, then the bottom corners. Once that’s in place, put the hard outer shell on, starting at the bottom. The hard shell piece has somewhat of a hook that hugs the bottom of your iPad. Once it’s on, snap the top edge on. It gets a bit tricky near the two buttons. Slide the hard shell over the on/off button first, making sure it’s aligned correctly. Then slide the hard shell over the headphone/mic area. You’ll need to tug the soft interior over these parts through the hole of the hard shell case. The hard shell case should slide easily through afterward. Lastly, slide the snap-on piece on the back and you got yourself a stylish case for your iPad.

With the Otterbox Commuter Series iPad case, you have access to all of your ports and buttons. There are cutouts for your mic, orientation button (soon to be mute button), and speakers. The headphone jack is covered by the soft part of the case, but can be easily removed when in use. The volume buttons are also covered by the soft part of the case, making pressing them much easier.

The two layers of protection and slim look gives the Otterbox Commuter Series the perfect balance between sturdiness and a dash of style! The best part about this case is the back. There’s a round opening that displays the beautiful Apple^TM logo for all to see.

This case however is not the type you want to take on and off all the time. But once you have it on, there’s no real reason to want to take it off. It’s slim enough to fit on most iPad stands. If you need to charge or use the iPad Keyboard connector, simply removed the flap on the back side.

In addition, the package also comes with a cleaning cloth, squeegee, and screen protector, which is at least a $15 value. The Otterbox Commuters Series iPad case comes in only black and can be purchased for $64.95.

Rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars · $64.95 · Otterbox.com · Purchase on Amazon ($36.84)

Disclosure: This product was sent by OtterBox for review purposes. This is part of Beatweek Magazine’s coverage of iPad products. Opinions expressed in this article are my own.

Baby with an iPad

I was at a bakery today. While waiting for my coffee, I saw this beautiful thing stroll by next to me… The first thought that came to me was why is that iPad caseless?! I’m really happy that the baby has a great grip on it. heh

iPhone and iPad App Review: Smurfs’ Village

Hooray, hooray! The Smurfs are in here! Get ready for the smurfy cuteness to invade your iPhones and iPads! If you enjoy games like We rule and Farmville, you’ll love Smurfs’ Village even more. It’s a universal app newly released by CapcomMobile. Based on the original cartoon and comic art, this game brings back a lot of childhood memories for some of us.

Read more on GeekBeat.TV..

iPad Case Review: Fabrix Booklet

If you’re looking for a nice clean design, you need to take a look at the Fabrix Booklet! It’s a folio-styled iPad case that holds your iPad securely in place, minus al the bulk.

Open the case and simply slide in your iPad into the slot. The slot has cutouts for the iPad screen, the Ambient Light Sensor, and the Home button. Along the edges are cutouts for ports like the headset, speakers, charger, as well as openings for the on/off, orientation (soon to be mute), and volume buttons.

Once the iPad is in, you can close the front flap and it’ll look like a beautiful book. The booklet is held together using ultra thin magnets. This prevents the front flap from opening up on its own. Anti-slip suede used on the interior prevents the iPad from sliding out. You can hold it upside to test. To take the iPad out will require you to pull it out. This eliminates the need for straps or small flaps to hold it in.

When you open the flap, there are three small and thin compartments on the inner side. These compartments are nice to slide in business cards, or smaller pieces of paper. Bend the flap further back to create a sturdy landscape iPad stand. You can put it in portrait mode, but I wouldn’t recommend it.

One downfall of this case is that doesn’t protect every aspect of the iPad. The left edges of the iPad (if you held it in portrait mode) are exposed, making scratches and bumps possible. I would recommend carrying this case in an iPad bag if you intend to take it to various place, or apply a scratch protect system that covers the edges of the iPad.

Overall, the simplistic look and high quality materials used for this case sets it apart from other cases. The case is lightweight and protects the screen, which is a huge plus.

The Fabrix Booklet is available in 3 colors — Faux Black, Gray Matter, and Classic Tan, perfect whether you’re a fashionista, a professional, or both!

Rating: 4.5 out of 5 Stars · $59.90 · FabrixCases.com

Disclosure: This product was sent by Fabrix for review purposes. This is part of Beatweek Magazine’s coverage of iPhone and iPad products. Opinions expressed in this article are my own.

iPad Case Review: Incipio 1337

Serious iPad gamers need a good grip on their device. The only iPad case on the market that can keep up with the quick turns and high speed racing games is Incipio’s 1337 iPad case. Ergonomically designed, this high density silicone case makes your gaming experience more enjoyable.

Four L-shaped protrusions on the back make the iPad very easy to hold. You’ll have the same sturdy grip on the iPad, no matter which direction you hold it. It doesn’t exactly feel like a steering wheel, but it’s pretty close!

The entire case is made of soft silicone that’s light and extremely easy to put on. It’s one piece that you can fit your iPad in, one corner at at time. The case is thick in the back for easy holding, and covers the entire iPad (except for the screen), leaving the edges well protected. There are cutouts for the certain ports like the headset, orientation button (soon to be mute button), speakers, and charging areas. The On/Off and volume buttons are covered and are much easier to control with the case’s own buttons.

The interior of the case is shaped into a unique honeycomb pattern. This reduces 30% of the case’s weight, yet still gives your iPad superior protection and absorbing any bumps or shocks.

The Incipio 1337 iPad case is available in 3 colors: Dark Red, Blue Steel, and Yellow. The case comes with a Surface Protector and Microfiber Cleaning Cloth and can be purchased for $34.99.

Rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars · $34.99 · myIncipio.com

Disclosure: This product was sent by Incipio for review purposes. This is part of Beatweek Magazine’s coverage of iPhone and iPad products. Opinions expressed in this article are my own.

iPad Case Review: iFrogz Soft Gloss

The iFrogz Soft Gloss iPad case is simplicity with a little pizazz! If you ever slipped into those jelly shoes back in the 80′s, you’ll feel right at home with this case.

This clear case features a radial circular pattern etched on the interior, highlighting the beautiful Apple^TM logo in the back.

Putting the iPad in the case is quite easy. Just slide one corner at a time and it’s in. There are cutouts for all ports and buttons on the iPad, making all functionalities accessible. The case covers all the edges of the iPad, protecting it from any potential bumps and scratches.

What makes this case stand out is the beautiful design. You get ouu’s and ahh’s when you carry your iPad around in this. It’s sleek, compact, and should fit in most iPad sleeves and bags. It makes a fashion statement while protecting your iPad! It’s a total blast from the past!

The iFrogs Soft Gloss is available in three retro translucent colors — pink, blue, and clear. You can get them for $29.99 at iFrogz.com

Rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars · $29.99 · iFrogz.com · Purchase on Amazon

Disclosure: This product was sent by iFrogz for review purposes. This is part of Beatweek Magazine’s coverage of iPhone and iPad products. Opinions expressed in this article are my own.

iPad Case Review: Griffin AirStrap

The Griffin AirStrap is a case with that has the right combination of sturdy hardness for protection, yet still have a touch of softness for comfort. Made of a non-slip material, this case is the perfect solution for those times when you need to hold the iPad in just one hand.

The case encompasses all the edges of the iPad with a thick hard plastic. This piece has little grooves in it, making it easy to hold onto. The edges have cutouts for ports such as the headset, mic, orientation button, speakers, and charger. On/Off and volume buttons are accessible, but covered by the case. What makes this case special is the wide neoprene strap on the back. Slip your hand in and you can safely hold the iPad with just one hand.

The strap on the back has little bumps to keep the iPad from slipping against your hand. It securely holds it in place, but once you’re done holding it, you may find your hand filled with little round bumps. Not to worry, they go away in a matter of minutes. I did find that the strap is a bit tight and restricts the blood flow to your hands. So be sure to remove it from your hand when not needed.

Overall, this case is great when you need to use the iPad while walking. One hand will hold the iPad securely, while the other one is jotting down notes or drawing.

The Griffin AirStrap is available in only black and can be purchased for $49.99.

Rating: 4.5 our of 5 stars · $49.99 · GriffinTechnology.com · Purchase on Amazon

Disclosure: This product was sent by Griffin for review purposes. This is part of Beatweek Magazine’s coverage of iPad products. Opinions expressed in this article are my own.

Review: Just Mobile AluPen

When it comes to elegance and design, Just Mobile understands and delivers. Sculptured from fine soft aluminum is the exciting new Alupen^TM; a stylus made with the iPad in mind.

This chunky pencil-shaped stylus gives you what their competitors don’t — more precision and control over your device. The simplistic design in itself is one to marvel at. This piece fits perfectly in your hand, like a chalk or a crayon when you were a child. The wider pen gives a better grip and more control of your writing or drawing.

Instead of a flat tip like some of their competitors, the Alupen has a soft round tip used to write on your iPad. No matter what angle you hold the stylus in, it’ll still make the intended marks on your device.

It’s the perfect tool to use with iPad apps like Penultimate (note taking/drawing app) and We Doodle (drawing game). You’ll be surprised at how much your handwriting is more clear when writing. Or how more crisps your drawings are.

Another plus to this stylus is the beautiful color. It matches Apple products perfectly! It’ll match your Apple iPad, keyboard, and trackpad like it was part of a set.

This stylus also works on the iPhone and iPod Touch, however, the size of it may seem a little awkward on the smaller devices. Overall, this is probably the best stylus for the iPad on the market now and is a necessity for any tablet artist.

Just Mobile’s new Alupen^TM comes in only aluminum color and can be purchased for $24.95. For more information, see their official website.

Disclosure: This product was sent by Just Mobile for review purposes. This is part of Beatweek Magazine’s coverage of iPhone and iPad products. Opinions expressed in this article are my own.

More Just Mobile products..

iPads at Target

This was the first time I saw iPads at Target! Yes, I had to take a photo. :)

Top 10 iPhone Apps with Game Center

Want to rank #1 on Apple’s global leaderboards? Compete with your friends for the top spot while racking up those achievement points!

iOS 4.1 lets you experience social gaming in a whole new way. But not sure which games to buy? No need to fret! Here’s a list of some of the top 10 Game Center apps just for you!

>> Read more at GeekBeat.TV

Family Time with an iPad

Family time was spent around the iPad, playing Cut the Rope HD. :)

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