The “New” iPad is a Letdown

Summary: The new iPad is a minor update. Better tablet options are on the horizon.

I almost pulled the trigger to purchase the third generation iPad. I actually went through the process of putting it in my cart several times, but I couldn’t checkout because of the over $600 price that kept staring back at me. I couldn’t justify spending that much money for a crisper screen. The new iPad is a beautiful product, but it is not as revolutionary as some anticipated.

Apple’s iPad strategy is truly genius. Release a revolutionary product (first generation) followed by incremental updates while maintaining the same price. By tailoring the software to only one device, they are able to maximize and utilize system resources so that they can get by with more without having to play the higher specs game that Android tablets rely on as selling points. While many upcoming Android tablets and phones will feature quad-core CPUs, the iPad has an “enhanced” dual-core A5X CPU. Apple’s marketing tells you that you need to upgrade to the newest model, but the iPad to is essentially the same thing. The average consumer will not notice a big difference between the second and third generation iPads.

The following limitations prohibit me from jumping on the third generation bandwagon.

Storage Limitations
The new iPad’s higher resolution screen dictates that apps will be larger and thus take up more space. Videos and photos taken with the iPad will also be higher resolution and eat up crucial storage. The new entry level iPad is still a 16 GB. This is pretty small considering that many of the apps designed for the new iPad’s high resolution screen will be nearly double the size needed for the iPad 2. I like to sample apps and keep the ones I use frequently installed for quick access. The image in this post shows that I only have 2 GB for free space on my 16 GB iPad 2. I also sync only a few playlists as my music library would use nearly all of my space.

High Price
The new iPad maintains the same pricing matrix as the previous generation: $499 for 16 GB of space, $599 for 32 GB, and $699 for 64 GB (Wi-Fi only models). It’s not too pricey if you’re a first time iPad buyer, but not worth the price if you want to upgrade from the iPad 2. The only difference between these models is the amount of storage; There are no distinguishable features between the 16, 32, and 64. Rumors are coming that Google plans to team with Asus, Samsung and/or Motorola on an soon to be released Nexus tablet. Word on the street says that this tablet will feature a Tegra 3 CPU, 7 inch form factor, have expandable storage, and cost somewhere between $199 and $249. That’s a good deal.

Lack of Focus on Productivity
I recently attended the eTech Ohio Conference in Columbus, Ohio, and there were more folks using iPads than I could count. Everyone using the iPad was implementing it as a productivity tool. One lady in a small group session had turned the chair in front of her around, placed her iPad on the seat of that chair, and had a bluetooth keyboard in her lap. Not exactly the best scenario for typing on the iPad, but it worked.

People are hungry for a tablet device that actually produces content rather than just eat it up. The new iPad continues to focus only on content consumption. Google has not yet stepped up yet either but is in a position to do some damage. Integrating Chrome into Android could allow for Google to position their Nexus tablet as a consumption/entertainment device as well as a productivity tool.

I’ll keep waiting for the next iPad or the 7 inch $249 Google Nexus tablet. Many may argue that the 7 inch screen is too small for productivity, but price eventually triumphs over all factors in the end. The 7 inch portability and size allows for quick thumb typing. Smaller tablets can also easily be synced to wireless Bluetooth keyboards. Low price, a more flexible tablet and productivity will eventually lead Google and Android to win the tablet wars.

Additional Resources

Best Tech News Sources (My Favorites)

Summary: The best places to get breaking technology news online.

My first exposure to a tech news blog was because of a visit to Engadget. I stumbled upon the site because of a product review, and I have been going back almost daily ever since. It surprises me how many people unfamiliar with great technology news sites such as Engadget, Gizmodo, The Verge, or Techmeme. I typically receive strange looks when I tell others about these sites.

One of these sites, Techmeme, is a frequent destination for up to the minute technology news. The beauty of Techmeme is that it provides links to the most popular tech stories of the day. Techmeme’s editors curate the web to find blog posts relevant to what’s happening in tech. While you might visit a site like Engadget to get some news and read a few product reviews, Techmeme provides a complete snapshot of the day’s hot topics. They track the stories and pin down the hot posts in one convenient place.

When I was teaching high school language arts I had a lesson that showed how Google News allows you to see many perspectives on the same story. I had printed an example that showed only the headlines of a single event. It was fascinating to see different authors describe an event as tragic and horrifying while others described the same event as dull and expected. Techmeme, like Google News, allows you to see many different perspectives on a singular topic. It is a great way to gain information, find additional news sites, and identify authors that you enjoy following.

While Techmeme is essential, there are other fantastic resources available. These are websites I visit daily:

  • Techmeme
    Described above, this site provides a snapshot of headlines and links to top tech stories.
  • Engadget
    Although it was recently purchased by AOL and many writers left to form The Verge, I still frequent Engadget on a daily basis. The traditional “blog-style” format is familiar and easy to read.
  • 9to5Mac
    Since I’m an Apple guy, I tend to enjoy reading news and rumors related to the iPhone and iPad. 9to5Mac’s coverage beats any other Apple blog out there.
  • GottaBeMobile
    GottaBeMobile is a great tech news site with a down to earth group of contributing writers. They originally focused on Tablet PCs and “inking,” but have broadened their coverage to just about anything related to mobile tech.
  • Twitter
    Despite visiting blogs for tech news, the majority of my information flows in from Twitter. The following list are folks that I follow for tech news. The information was taken from their Twitter profile:
    • @chippy
      Owner-Editor and Dev for Carrypad mobile computing websites and the mobile product database
    • @Josh_Smith
      Editor - Notebooks.com | GottaBeMobile.com. Professor of Business Technology. Lover of Sandwiches and Good Beats.
    • @MikeElgan
      The world’s only lovable tech columnist
    • @TeachPaperless
      Blogging a conversation about teaching, learning, and the digital revolution. Blogger-in-chief: @blakeplock
    • @ipadeducators
      iPadEducators is dedicated to a discussion of the role the iPad (and devices like it) can play in K-12 and postsecondary education.

Where are sites or people that you visit daily for your tech news? Hit up the comments to share your best resources.

Photo credit: NS Newsflash (Flickr Creative Commons)

My Son’s Education

Summary: What will education look like for our children?

I now see education primarily through the eyes of my son rather than viewing education from my own experiences and professional training. Although he is not yet school age, three important areas surface when I think of the type of learning I want him to experience.

Integrated Technology
Like it or not, technology will play a prominent role in my son’s future. I recently attended the 2012 Ohio eTech Conference, and the keynote speaker, Dr. Michio Kaku, co-author of String Theory, argued that technology of the future will be as ubiquitous as paper. It will be everywhere, it will cost nothing, and we will be constantly connected.

A good example of how technology is changing society is seen in the video of the small child who tries to navigate a paper magazine like it was an iPad (this was a popular video on YouTube). Technology is not the immediate fix to education’s problems, but it is a tool that educators can use to engage students and expand their learning opportunities. My son and all children must learn to use these tools because the world now relies on them.

Individualized
Students with learning disabilities are provided with an Individualized Education Plan (IEP). This IEP allows them to have accommodations and extra help. In many situations, learning is tailored to fit the needs and ability of students. Although the IEP is designed for special education students, I foresee all students having a specialized education plan. Technology will help make this possible. There are already companies experimenting with platforms similar to Facebook but designed for education. Students log onto a personalized learning website with interactive learning exercises, and the teacher serves as a coach/mentor. The teacher or coach helps the student as they tackle challenges that are suited to their ability and interest. 

20120227-202734.jpg
One such example of this specialized learning that has the potential to change the current system is from Goalbook. According to their website,

Goalbook is a private social network that connects a student’s learning team around their individual personal learning goals. Team members can quickly and securely communicate and celebrate student progress with each other.

Character Development
Perhaps the most important aspect to my son’s learning is character education. While the religious beliefs of families should be respected, the time for character education in the public school system is needed now more than ever.

Rather than the relentless obsession with student academic achievement and standardized testing, greater emphasis should be placed on teaching positive character qualities to our children. Viewing 5 minutes of any news program reinforces the need for students to learn how treat their neighbor with respect. There isn’t a religion that I know of which would state that the Golden Rule, treating others how you wish to be treated, is unacceptable. This also relates to technology in the importance of teaching our students appropriate use. Many schools take a hardline “block everything” approach, but this does not teach our students how to appropriately use technology. Instead we must model appropriate behavior and educate students about topics such as cyberbullying and sexting. We must help them learn how use technology to communicate respectfully.

I want my son to be successful when he completes his grade-school years. That means I want him to be independent, able to support himself and his family, and I want him to be a positive a contributor to a diverse crazy high-tech world.

What areas of education do you view as critical to our students’ futures?

Additional Resources
2012 eTech Ohio Keynote Speaker Biography for Dr. Michio Kaku

Whoever said that the iPad should not have a physical keyboard has missed the boat. Concerned that a physical keyboard for the iPad would eat up too much battery life or that the keyboard case would be too small to use, the Zagg iPad 2 Keyboard case is a necessary addition for anyone who likes to type more than an occasional URL. Thus far I have been impressed with the Zagg keyboard. It fits snuggly over the iPad 2’s screen functioning as a sturdy case, and the keyboard is large enough for me to easily type out longer emails, blog posts, etc. I have fairly large hands, and the 90% keyboard is large enough for me to type comfortably. I’m currently using the keyboard case to type these words, and I can tell you that it is easily double the speed of typing on the iPad’s on-screen keyboard. The iPad’s on-screen keyboard is excellent for what it does, and I have learned to type on it fairly quickly. However, the iPad’s software keyboard cannot compete with the speed of a physical keyboard. The other benefit is that I now have the entire screen to view my text rather than have half of it taken up by a software keyboard. I waited until the Zagg case came down in price, grabbing it for $75 at Best Buy (there are generic versions on Amazon for around $30). Zagg has other keyboard cases worth considering, but I liked the simplicity of the case pictured. It allows me to easily use the tablet as both a tablet and word processor. I don’t have to carry around a clunky, folio-styled case that makes the iPad perform more as a “laptop wannabe” rather than a tablet with a keyboard. The other case I considered was the Logitech folding keyboard case. GottaBeMobile has an excellent review and mentions the Zagg case I purchased as well. Despite the full-sized Logitech folding keyboard case, the Zagg case does the job without the extra bulk. The benefits of a physical keyboard with tablet form factor are a perfect design. As tablets continue to become more useful tools rather than consumption devices, phyiscal keyboards will grow in popularity. Additional Reading: Here is the review of the Logitech folding keyboard case from GBM - http://www.gottabemobile.com/2011/12/15/review-logitech-fold-up-keyboard-for-the-ipad-2-and-the-logitech-keyboard-case/
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Whoever said that the iPad should not have a physical keyboard has missed the boat. Concerned that a physical keyboard for the iPad would eat up too much battery life or that the keyboard case would be too small to use, the Zagg iPad 2 Keyboard case is a necessary addition for anyone who likes to type more than an occasional URL.

Thus far I have been impressed with the Zagg keyboard. It fits snuggly over the iPad 2’s screen functioning as a sturdy case, and the keyboard is large enough for me to easily type out longer emails, blog posts, etc. I have fairly large hands, and the 90% keyboard is large enough for me to type comfortably. I’m currently using the keyboard case to type these words, and I can tell you that it is easily double the speed of typing on the iPad’s on-screen keyboard.

The iPad’s on-screen keyboard is excellent for what it does, and I have learned to type on it fairly quickly. However, the iPad’s software keyboard cannot compete with the speed of a physical keyboard. The other benefit is that I now have the entire screen to view my text rather than have half of it taken up by a software keyboard.

I waited until the Zagg case came down in price, grabbing it for $75 at Best Buy (there are generic versions on Amazon for around $30). Zagg has other keyboard cases worth considering, but I liked the simplicity of the case pictured. It allows me to easily use the tablet as both a tablet and word processor. I don’t have to carry around a clunky, folio-styled case that makes the iPad perform more as a “laptop wannabe” rather than a tablet with a keyboard.

The other case I considered was the Logitech folding keyboard case. GottaBeMobile has an excellent review and mentions the Zagg case I purchased as well. Despite the full-sized Logitech folding keyboard case, the Zagg case does the job without the extra bulk.

The benefits of a physical keyboard with tablet form factor are a perfect design. As tablets continue to become more useful tools rather than consumption devices, phyiscal keyboards will grow in popularity.

Additional Reading:
Here is the review of the Logitech folding keyboard case from GBM -
http://www.gottabemobile.com/2011/12/15/review-logitech-fold-up-keyboard-for-the-ipad-2-and-the-logitech-keyboard-case/

Leveraging the iPad and YouTube for School Announcements

The iPad has become a great tool to communicate the daily announcements of our school, Graham Elementary, to the staff, students, and parents we serve. The announcements are recorded each morning and published to the web in a matter of minutes. Sharing the announcements on YouTube provides teachers flexibility as they are able to complete morning housekeeping tasks before viewing the announcements with their classes. One of the benefits of using YouTube is that parents and community members can easily access the announcements to learn what events are taking place at the school.

How we started

Our school is equipped with some impressive high-tech tools. The original thought was to use the school’s in-house cable/TV system to have live broadcasts of the daily announcements. We tested this setup, but found a few shortcomings and limitations. First, there were several classrooms that had difficulty accessing the channel we used to broadcast. An apparent lightening strike did some damage to some of the classrooms and created problems. The second limitation was that we would have to begin the live daily announcements at a specific time. This would interrupt classrooms, tie up the principal and myself from a crucial part of the day, and prevent parents from having access to the announcements. The ease-of-use factor was apparent in our selection of YouTube.

What we’re using to record

Currently, we’re using the 16GB iPad 2 and the iMove app to record our daily announcements. The building principal and myself meet each morning to record announcements for the day. We review our calendars, and we check what the lunch and weather forecast are for the day before recording. We then pick a location and begin filming.

Staff members can easily submit announcements to us using a Google Form that we created. Teachers simply fill out the form with information they’d like on the announcements and it is automatically recorded in Google Docs. Perhaps the only shortcoming in this setup is that any staff announcements have to be submitted the day before they will be recorded.

Once we’ve recorded then announcements, the clips are imported into the iPad’s iMovie app. The introduction clip to the daily announcements which includes the pause for the Pledge of Allegiance is already loaded in the iMovie project. All that must be done is importing our daily clip, exporting the entire announcements to the camera roll, and uploading them to YouTube.

Where we’re headed

Ideally, we’d like to get students and staff members involved in the announcements on a regular basis. Another benefit of using the iPad is the freedom it provides in determining a filming location. We can easily film in any location in or out of the building.

We will be using the morning announcements to help model appropriate student behavior in the building as we will soon be rolling out a school-wide Positive Behavior Support (PBS) program in the coming weeks. The announcements will allow us to show students modeling correct behaviors and support the overall goals of our PBS program. The daily announcements will also be beneficial throughout the year in helping us promote activities, theme weeks, and positive recognition.

The announcements are an excellent way to reward students for demonstrating positive behavior. It is not uncommon to have students ask to be on the announcements. We are currently playing around with ideas such as having student guest reporters, student meteorologists, or “Student of the Month” interviews.

A few considerations

Before beginning YouTube announcements for your school, it is important to consider students, families and staff members. Our district has a “Photo Opt-Out” form that allows any parent to prevent their student or their student’s name from appearing online. However, the opt-out form does state that there may be times when their student does appear in candid shots. An example of a candid shot would be a picture or video at an assembly where many students are pictured in the gym. These forms are distributed at the beginning of the school year and available in the office.

Overall, using these technologies to share news, build relationships, and highlight student achievements is our goal. Students are excited to watch the daily announcements, and It has been a great tool to establish a positive student culture.

Additional resources 

iPad Resources for Administrators

This link from the Mid-Hudson Regional Information Center provides a detailed list of useful iPad apps for school administrators, teachers or others who work in education. Some of the apps listed do have an associated cost while others listed are free.

Arrogant Apple: The iPad’s Three Weaknesses

Apple iPad 2

Apple is arrogant. What they create is top-notch, high quality, and beautiful. It is a fact that they design some of the best mobile devices available and this is evidenced by their strong sales and growing popularity. However, the Apple iPad does have weaknesses.
 
The current approach other tablet and smartphone companies have taken is to release a product that directly competes head-to-head with Apple. There have been a lot of copy-cat tablets and smartphones that essentially do the same while lacking the mature iOS and thousands of available apps. HP, RIM, and Microsoft have tried to create products that match the Apple experience, but they’ve each released disappointing products. The iPad’s current tablet competition feels rushed and sloppy. Instead of trying to compete head-to-head with the best, these companies should try to release products that offer something different. There are at least three gaping areas that Apple has missed opportunities.
 
The Stylus 
Many critics including Steve Jobs believe that the stylus 

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Technology in the Antique Mall

Inspired by the television shows Pawn Stars and American Pickers, my wife and I made a trip to the famous Webb’s Antique Mall in Centerville, Indiana, this past week. We were on the hunt for any good deals, unique items, or rusty gold. I snapped a few photos of these “modern” technology antiques. It’s somewhat hard to believe that a 56K PCI Modem now finds itself at home beside WWII uniforms and wagon wheels.

(click the image above for a slideshow of tech finds)

This is great marketing by AT&T/Samsung.  Hilarious.

Why Verizon is Rated High for Customer Service - Droid Incredible Reboot Problem

Earlier this week many news outlets reported that Verizon is highly ranked for customer service satisfaction. The post below chronicles my own experience with Verizon’s HTC Droid Incredible, frustrations with the phone, how the issue was handled, and why I would recommend Verizon.

Back Story

For the past two months my wife’s Droid Incredible has suffered from a reboot problem. For some unknown reason, the phone gets stuck in a reboot sequence or “boot loop” and is unable to function correctly. I remedied the problem the first time it happened by doing a fast reboot, one of the options from the Incredible’s start up menu.

The phone worked for a few weeks before shutting itself off and getting stuck in another boot loop. A battery pull and allowing the phone to sit for a few minutes would usually remedy the problem for a few days.

Seeking Professional Assistance

I ventured to the local Verizon Wireless store for an official solution and to see if it was possible to get a refurbished, working Droid Incredible. I didn’t care if I got a brand new phone, I just wanted my wife to be able to have a working phone. The store employee greeted me and asked what she could do to help. I explained the information that I shared above, and her words to me were, “Ok, you just keep exploring the store and give me a few minutes to take a look.” She left with the phone while I wandered around the store.

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$25 Computer to Entice Kids into Programming

(via techtree)

“With the actual cost estimated at around $200, the One Laptop Per Child (OLPC) project may be nowhere near its $100 target. However, game developer David Braben’s (of Transport Tycoon and Kinectimals fame) endeavour, the Raspberry Pi Foundation, aims to achieve much more at a fraction of the OLPC’s cost by deploying its ULPC (Ultra Low-cost PC) for $25.


The specifications are impressive despite the unbelievably low price. What looks like a naked USB stick actually holds a 700 MHz ARM11 processor mated to 128MB of SDRAM. The yet unnamed ULPC may not match up to current-gen cutting edge tablets and smartphones with 1GHz dual-core processors, but to put things in perspective, the iPhone 3G was outfitted with a 412MHz version of the same ARM11 CPU. The very spartan product website fails to mention the fact that the ULPC includes Wi-Fi connectivity and web browser, as confirmed by Braben through a tweet.”

Read the original article by clicking the link above.

(via Microsoft.com) Over the past 30 years, designer, writer, and researcher Bill Buxton has been collecting. Explore his collection of input and interactive devices that he found interesting, useful, or important in the history of pen computing, pointing devices, and touch technologies. Learn more > “Look at the collection and then try and convince me that our slow rate of progress is due to a lack of technology rather than a lack of imagination.”—Bill Buxton
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(via Microsoft.com)

Over the past 30 years, designer, writer, and researcher Bill Buxton has been collecting. Explore his collection of input and interactive devices that he found interesting, useful, or important in the history of pen computing, pointing devices, and touch technologies. Learn more >

“Look at the collection and then try and convince me that our slow rate of progress is due to a lack of technology rather than a lack of imagination.”—Bill Buxton

Source: research.microsoft.com

Reasons Every Child Needs an iPad

Mike Elgan at Cult of Mac writes:

“Letting kids use or own iPads is controversial. Parents, teachers and others aren’t so sure about letting kids get sucked into yet another electronic diversion.

Everybody’s asking: Are iPads healthy for children?

I’m here to tell you: That’s the wrong question.

The right question is this: Is the iPad a healthy replacement for TV? And I believe the answer is a resounding yes.”

Click the link above to read the whole article including Elgan’s reasons for why every child needs an iPad.

If you have 6 minutes to spare, this video is worth the time. Randy Pausch, the professor made famous for giving his “last lecture,” speaks to Carnegie Mellon University students during their 2008 commencement ceremony. Pausch died just a few months later. 

Pausch reminds us of the importance of our relationships, that material things matter very little, and the that the only regrets we will have in the end will be about those things we never tried.  It will be three years this summer that Pausch passed away.

You can visit Professor Randy Pausch’s official web site to read the first hand accounts of his battle with cancer.  His last lecture is titled “Achieving Your Childhood Dreams” and it is available for viewing on YouTube.

BRYCE DOT VC: Ten Years of Innovation Highlighted in One Night

Via brycedotvc:

As I woke this morning I was struck by that fact. In less than 10 years the world and the technology we use to experience it has changed so completely. On September 11, 2001 there was no iPhone, there was no Twitter, there was no YouTube. But there was a basic human desire to connect, to share experiences and to have our experiences shared and understood by others. These shifts in technology happen over time in such a way that they seem to evolve naturally. Sometimes even imperceptibly…

A thoughtful post about how much technological innovation has happened in the past ten years. Read more by clicking the link above.

Source: brycedotvc