Living with the Apple iPad (part 2)

Back in July I gave some feedback on the iPad after a couple of weeks' use. A short while later, including a break on holiday, it's still close by my side and here's some extra tips:


It's not a Laptop Replacement

The iPad is a fantastic device for what it is, but don't expect it to be a laptop replacement for several key reasons:

1. The iPad is geared to consumption of content, such as videos and webpages, not for creation. However the keyboard is OK for short emails and the like, and other short documents can be created such as Keynote presentations.
2. Your normal PC applications are not available to run on the iPad.
3. There are times when you will need Flash, e.g. for watching and listening to many online videos and to BBC and other TV/radio programmes. However the iPlayer app for iPad does provide access to some programmes recently transmitted, and the YouTube app provides full access to YouTube.
   

Syncing

When the iPad is connected to a PC or Mac, they attempt to sync content betwen the two devices:

1. Backing up data and new applications from the iPad to the PC/Mac (which must be done before any software update - cancel the update and return to it after other syncing)
   
2. Transferring nominated files from the PC/Mac to the iPad, including music, photos and videos
3. Transfferring data both ways for diary and similar apps that are likely to be used on both your iPad and PC/Mac
   

The latter transfers are controlled from the PC/Mac, but in different ways depending on the type of data. On the PC (and probably Mac) you need to go into iTunes and with the iPad connected, click on "iPad" in the left column. A set of tabs appear that allow you to configure each aspect, such as photos and videos. Here are some tips that were not obvious before I used the syncing processes:

Syncing Photos

Click on the "photos" tab, far right, and specify the folder on the PC in which there are photos to be synced. It's worth noting:

1. Only photos currently in this folder will appear on the iPad. Photos already on the iPad that are not in this folder will be lost from the iPad display
2. Putting photos in sub-folders will appear as albums on the iPad (which you cannot adjust on the iPad). This is useful for running a slideshow of an album. However sub-sub-folders are ignored, i.e. each set of photos you want to run as separate slideshows need to be in sub-folders, if necessary duplicating the photos into more than one sub-folder.
   

You need to allow a significant time for the transfer process, as it first converts the photos into an iPad-friendly format.

Once on the iPad, press "Photos" on the screen to see the albums available. Running a slideshow is easy, and you can change some of the settings each time you run a slideshow. However for some settings you have to exit and go to "Settings" "Photos", notably whether the slideshow auto-repeats, and the time delay between the slides changing (Apple - why aren't these settings accessible from within Photos?)

Syncing videos

Videos first need to be pulled into iTunes. Each set can usefully be put into a "playlist".

No videos transfer to the iPad unless they are specified in the syncing tab. You can do this individually, by playlist, or the complete set.

As videos are the largest type of file you are likely to load onto your iPad, worth being selective. The syncing process clearly shows the memory used and available, so you can manage accordingly.

Once on the iPad, touch "Videos" rather than iTunes to view the videos. Unfortunately the playlists are lost, and it's a two-click process to view each video which is unnecessarily painful. (Apple why are there no playlists?)

Syncing Music

Again music has to be in iTunes on your PC, specified on the "music" syncing tab, and then accessed from "iPod" on your iPad.

iTunes on the iPad is only used to access Apple's iTunes store.

Other Tips and Issues

1. Many iPad games can be played without internet access. If you are likely to be without internet access for a while, make sure you've downloaded a selection first!
2. Other people will want to use the iPad, especially teenagers! "Settings" allows you to specify a 4-digit access code to keep them out. Whilst the iPad is intended as a personal rather than multi-user device, it would be useful for there to be a "guest" account that didn't show your diary, photos etc without specific permission. (Apple, please)
   
3. The keyboard is missing left and right arrows. Chubby fingers do not provide the control when trying to edit text such as searches, which tend to have to be completely retyped.

Improvements for Apple

Whilst the iPad is a fantastic device, these changes would therefore be worth Apple making:

1. Safari: Need "find" function in web pages, pdf documents etc
2. Photos: All slideshow settings to be directly accessible when run slideshow
   
3. Photos: Option which albums already on iPad are kept or lost when syncing a new folder
4. Videos: Retain and be able to run playlists from PC
5. "Guest" account with no access to aspects such as diary and photos unless individually allowed

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