iPad File Sharing

I am changing my daily iPad blog to a research report format. Today, I am reporting on my research into iPad file sharing tools. The iPad requires a file sharing system. It does not have a general purpose USB interface or file directory structure to organize files. ITunes has a file sharing function that works with some file sharing apps, not all. IWorks provides an online file sharing service. I chose not to use iWorks for two reasons: 1) the monthly fee and 2) file security. I bought the Wifi iPad to avoid the 3G monthly fees, I am not going to pay for online storage. Google docs is another online service but only a few file sharing apps support it and same problem with file security. File sharing can also be accomplished using WiFi to a desktop computer. This works fine at home. My office computer network does not allow WiFi connection so it will not work. I can use VPN to access my work data but it only supports Internet Explorer or Mozilla, not Safari. Conclusion, use the iTunes file sharing method.
Note that iPad will only sync with one iTunes on a specific computer, however it will file share on multiple computers, try it! I found the following apps that support iTunes file sharing: 1). Pages, numbers and keynotes; 2). GoodReader; and 3). readdleDocs. Pages, etc. works great if you need to edit the documents however it is memory limited and I could only load about 12 good sized msWord docs. GoodReader and ReaddleDocs are roughly equivalent in that they allow you to create local folders and store documents for viewing PDF, txt, doc, xls, ppt, and rtf formats. ReaddleDocs seems a little more polished so I have chosen to go with it for now. I only load files in pages that need to be modified. Note that FileBrowser does not support iTunes file sharing. Also note that Apple is advertising new features for iPhone OS 4.0. they will provide a directory structure for APPS not files, they will increase the app capacity to over 2000. It still needs a good general purpose USB flash drive reader and file directory structure to make life easier.
I used my iPad on Sunday as a TelePrompter to give a talk from the podium. It worked well but I had trouble finding my place if I lost it. hmmm, need to devise a way to follow text easily.

iPad Day 6

Today, I added a few more apps for Amazon's Kindle service. It turns out that Amazon will load Kindle books on a variety of mobile devices, not just the Kindle devices sold by Amazon. I purchased an eBook on the Pages app but it was very short and not worth the price. Why use Kindle rather than iBooks? Kindle has a lot more titles available on subjects that interest me.
I also purchased the Pcalc RPN calculator which has a very nice interface and works in RPN or algebraic mode. Yes, I use RPN and like the faster calculation capability for engineering related calcs.
Another acquisition today was iStake for viewing local LDS stake and ward leaders. It logs into www.lds.org and extracts your local stake information based on your login and password. This is very handy to have access to this data for a Stake Clerk. I finished my talk for tomorrow's sacrament meeting. I will take minutes at a meeting in the morning and then use the iPad for giving my talk. I think it will sit on the podium nicely without being obtrusive or distracting. I will also use it for Sunday School and Priesthood, I have the scriptures and the Gospel Principles manual loaded and ready for action. I wonder how many conference talks I can load on the iPad, hmmm?

iPad Day 5

Not much new today. I worked on a talk that I will give on Sunday to our local congregation. I will use the iPad as a teleprompter on the podium. That will be interesting.

iPad Day 4

Convinced that the iPad can replace enough of my PC laptop functions, I gave my laptop to my wife who has been suffering with a mini PC laptop which doesn't work with her Cricut (hobby X-Y plotter with knife to cut out patterns) due to screen resolution. I ordered a 13" apple laptop case, why? There are many iPad cases that will allow you to carry the iPad and maybe the power plug and USB cable. Since I am using a bluetooth keyboard, I need a larger case but still small enough to be a substantial improvement over my PC laptop case. I purchase a black Incase from the apple website.
I also need a way to prop up the iPad (it would have been nice if Apple provided something with the unit). I found the Scoshe Kickback P1 case with kick stand for the iPad. That should do the trick and will fit nicely in the apple laptop case which is also big enough to hold a few papers when a hard copy is necessary.
I spent some time today studying the Pages formatting capabilities. There is a handy icon in portrait mode with formatting options for paragraphs, lists, and text. I still need to investigate the bluetooth keyboard shortcuts. I also took the iPad to work today and spent 1/2 hour with coworkers showing them the bells and whistles. I connected to our work WiFi with no problem and demonstrated the brilliant display on the internet. I think the iPad sold two more units for Apple. Onward and upward, until next time.

iPad Day 3

Day 3 with the iPad. I used the iPad with the bluetooth keyboard to take meeting minutes tonight at a two hour meeting. I found that the keyboard works very well and easily captures my touch typing at about 50 WPM. I have used msWord since the dawn of Windows and pages has a different set of formatting and shortcuts which I will need to learn to be efficient again. I still have 80% battery power left, no more swapping spare batteries or plugging in a power supply under the feet of the meeting leaders.
I got a nice email from the folks that make Glyder 2 wondering why my game was crashing. I explained that resetting the iPad fixed the problem. See you on day 4.

iPad Day 2

Day 2 with the iPad. I visited the local Apple store in Salt Lake City. I have never seen so many people in a computer store. I picked up a bluetooth keyboard which I am using to write this blog. As a touch typist, I like to rest my fingers on the keyboard and find the home position. Not a good idea with the iPad electronic keyboard, it picks up every touch of a finger. So you have to lift your fingers off the glass and only touch the keys when you really mean it. The BT keyboard is still the way to go for extensive typing but the good news is that it works.
The problem with programs crashing was resolved by resetting the iPod without erasing the memory. There is a way to do both in the settings icon so be careful. Once reset all of my graphics intensive programs starting working again. Armed with renewed confidence I researched some of the best games and downloaded Nova, Cog D, Pocket Legends, Scrabble, and X-plane for iPad. Cog D is a really cool game if you like puzzles, gears, pipes, and time limits.
I downloaded a word document into pages and practiced typing with the BT keyboard. Works like a charm, so I am now armed for my next opportunity to take minutes at a meeting. I also managed to use File Browser to download pdf files to the iPad. This is getting good.

iPad Day 1

This is day 1 with the new Apple iPad. Yes I am typing this on the iPad electronic keypad. First I want to congratulate Apple on a successful deployment on April 3 as advertised. I tracked the shipment via UPS from China to my home in Utah and expected at least a 1-2 day delay due to weather or some other malady. I purchased the 64 GB WiFi version. The first impression is WOW, the screen is bright and very responsive to the touch. I have tried several other PC type tablets and laptops, this one is in a class by itself.
I downloaded a bunch of free LDS apps and purchased the LDS scriptures app from AJIdev.com. I installed the AJI Reader Service on the PC and managed to get the PC to sync with iPad version of the scriptures. This allows you to save highlights, notes, and tags on multiple machines. I have not been able to sync random Yancyware books yet.
I want to use the iPad to replace a large and bulky laptop. I purchased the Apple Pages wordprocessing app and used iTunes to sync an existing word document that I use for taking meeting minutes. No problem, the file loaded into pages with no problem. I am not convinced that I can type fast enough to take minutes so I plan on plan on purchasing a Bluetooth keyboard to allow speed typing. pages also can be used as a pdf viewer.
There are two things that I need to adjust my way of thinking. 1). No mouse, use must use the touch screen to move the cursor to the edit position. 2). No file explored to see the directory structure. I purchased the File Browser app which allows you to see files on any computer on the network. Not sure how useful this will be, yet.
I also downloaded iBooks, ABC Player, Labyrinth 2HD Lite, Netflix, Pad Info, and Wikipanion for iPad to get a feel for the iPad interface. I love it. It is simple, responsive, and professional. Apple really understands the user what is important. Some programs crash unexpectedly but usually recover by tapping on the app. no Flash player available in Safari is a real handicap as has been reported.
Day 1 has been very impressive. I am looking forward to Day 2.