On Monday we did a FirstLook of the ClearStream Micron indoor antenna. In that write-up we discussed a few of the advantages of pulling TV signals directly from the air, the most obvious being that they are free. We do recognize that most people who watch TV probably have either a cable or satellite subscription. So in today's Micron FirstUse review, we thought we would show another reason why one would want a ClearStream indoor antenna.

Adding TV capability to a computer used to be a bit of a hassle, but the digital TV conversion has made it a much simpler task. We have done a few articles in the past on this topic (Plextor, EyeTV, ClearStream C1). While the plug-n-play EyeTV tuner module made it easy to watch TV on a laptop, but it was still a pain to actually hook it up to the signal source. The C1 antenna was pretty small and could pull in a signal fairly well, but it was designed for outdoor use and looked like the outdoor antenna that it was. The newer ClearStream Micron, however, with its slim profile and sleek looks, was designed with displayable aesthetics in mind. What we wanted to know was, will the Micron work as well as the C1?

Granted, our office is in Boston, and we are a stone's throw away from many TV signal towers. Even so, can a flat square panel really be all that effective when it comes to local digital broadcast reception? Happily, the answer is "YES!" With the Micron, the EyeTV tuner was able to pull in every station found by the bigger C1 antenna. Also, we were impressed with the Micron's ability to pull in a clean signal regardless of how or where we positioned the antenna. This placement flexibility made it much easier to fit the Micron into our limited space. Even though the Micron is quite attractive, we found a hidden spot for it behind the laptop on a sliver of space. We can now watch TV on the second monitor while "working" on the main screen. We can also resize the TV screen at any point if we need more screen desktop space.

Some condos and co-ops do not allow the mounting of an outside antenna. Even if they do, you should consider getting a Micron. Not having to mount an antenna outside is not only much more convenient, it is a lot more practical. The antenna is not exposed to the elements. You will not have to run coax cables everywhere. You will not be missing anything but the hassles. [Permalink] -ClearStrem Micron FirstUse

All US television broadcasts went digital on June 12, 2009. While cable and satellite TV subscribers did not have to do anything to make the switch, those with analog TVs had to either add an adapter box to convert the signal or get a new TV with a digital tuner/receiver. We did a few articles last year about Antennas Direct's ClearSteam line (C1, C4) of antennas specifically designed for over-the-air reception of digital TV signals. Eleven months post-digitalization, we are here to update readers with a new addition to the ClearStream family of DTV antennas. Gone are the "rabbit ears" of old. The ClearStream Micron is a compact antenna engineered and optimized for indoor use.

The Micron delivers TV signals from widely located (spaced) broadcast towers, negating the need for an antenna rotator in most cases.

• Range: up to 30 miles
• Beamwidth (Horizontal Plane): 470 to 700 MHz: 70 degrees
• Front to Back Ratio: Typical 15 dBi
• Directivity: Typical 8.1 dBi Max 8.25dBi @ Channel 35
• Size Assembled: 10”h x 11”w x 4.5”d

The Micron was designed and optimized for the core UHF DTV band. The 10"x11" face and slim profile is suitable for desktop or wall-mounted use. The stand may be used to mount the Micron flat against the wall or raised away from it.

"Many people didn't realize how much the popularity of antennas would surge after the DTV conversion," said Richard Schneider, president of Antennas Direct. "We're seeing in our own sales data, however, that close to 50% of the 114 million TV-watching households are using an antenna to either supplement pay TV on the primary television in the home, or to get reception on secondary TV's in the home which are not hooked up to cable or satellite." Well, we saw it coming. [Permalink] -ClearStream Micron

When we got the iPad, we wanted to cover it with the InvisibleShield right away. We held off because we wanted to see how well the oleophobic coating of the iPad itself performed InTheWild. The special oil-repelling coating was supposed to make it easier to wipe off fingerprints and other oily residue. Smudges and fingerprints did seem to wipe off easily. We are also happy to report that after a month of "normal" use and with no particular efforts to protect the screen, it remained scratch-free.

Some here argued that we may not need to put the InvisibleShield on at all. They posed good questions of what the iPad would be like if we were to install the InvisibleShield:

• Will it be difficult to get the large cover on properly?
• Will the brightness of the screen be affected?
• Will it change the "feel" of the screen?

All of those were great questions and truth-be-told, we didn't know. It was because we didn't know that we decided to go ahead and install it, just to see. We won't go into details on HOW to install the InvisibleShield. Zagg has some excellent instructions and videos on their site. What we will say is (and we are paraphrasing a sniper school instructor): Slow is smooth, smooth is fast. We used five spritzes from the spray, let the excess drip off, positioned the cover at one end, then flipped the cover onto the iPad.

When the cover is first placed on the screen, it is kind of "floating." This is when small adjustments can be made. We totally messed it up on the first attempt and had to peel the whole thing off and start the process over (using the same cover). Once we got the cover placed to our satisfaction (slight mis-alignment of the Home button hole not-with-standing), we used accompanying the squegee to remove the bubbles and excess liquid from underneath the film. We found it easier to squegee out from the center to the edge.

Drying:

Once we worked out as many of the bubbles as we could, we left the iPad on the stand to dry. Zagg's recommendation was to allow 12 to 24 hours of drying time before using the device. We left it overnight and most of the next day. The photos below were taken at the start of the drying period to show the state of the cover. Note all of the small bubbles around the Home button (yes...we know we didn't get it perfectly centered).

Next day:

After about 18 hours, all of the bubbles pretty much disappeared. Compare the photos below with the ones taken when the cover was still wet. There is a marked difference in the number of bubbles and other unevenness. The screen is no longer "glass smooth," but we knew that would be the case from our past experiences with the InvisibleShield. It is purely a cosmetic difference and noticible only when the device is off. Once the screen is on none of the dimpling will be visible. There is a reason why the screen needs to be CLEAN prior to installaiton. This bubble will not go away because there is a tiny little speck of something underneath the skin. We'll try to poke a hole in the cover to let the trapped air out, but we may just live with it.

Day 2 :

Here is a pic of it after two days. The surface is pretty smooth, but not glass-like. As one can see, all of the bubbles have disappeared with the exception of the one caused by the small piece of trapped dust (visible on the left).

After using the protected screen for a few days, we can confidently recommend the InvisibleShield for the iPad. The iPad suffered no ill effects as a result of the installation. It may be a little scary to put a wet piece of plastic on top of your shiny new gadget, but once you have it installed, you will feel a lot less apprehensive about tossing it (gently) into your backpack or laptop case. There was no loss in brightness or multi-touch sensitivity with the cover on. An unanticipated benefit from having the InvisibleShield on the iPad is that the unit is now much easier to grip. So not only is the screen practically scratch-proof, we are less likely to drop it as well. We will still look for a good hard cover for the front to protect the screen from impact injuries. If you have a good suggestion, send it our way. We'll be happy to take a look. [Permalink] -iPad InvisibleShield Install

An iPad cover is one accessory that many new owners are probably considering for their newly acquired tablet. A few weeks back we showed readers how to get by with what they already had around the office, including how to make a cover out of an old composition notebook. Today we'll take a look at a few commercially available options for the less DIY-inclined. There are a LOT of iPad covers on the market. We are going to cover a few general ones in this write-up. It will be basic enough to serve as a guideline for evaluation covers for different needs. We'll continue to review specific covers when we find ones which are unique, innovative, or in some way worthy of consideration.

We look for three things in an iPad cover: the kind of protection it offers, whether it makes the iPad easier to carry/transport, and if it has any feature that makes the iPad easier/more comfortable to use.

First up are the basic covers. They offer padded protection for iPads while in transit. These covers should be light, slim enough to fit into a backpack or briefcase, and allow quick access and easy removal of the iPad. One case which fits the bill are the sleeves from Slappa. Slappa sleeves have a nylon outer shell that shields against moisture, an outside pocket for cords and such, and is well-padded for all around protection. The sleeves also come in a variety of colors and textures for those whose style extends beyond basic black.

For readers with a need to carry a bit more than just their iPad, the Slappa Hardbody M.X. should fit the bill.  The case's outer shell is molded using Slappa's xEVA material. The Duro-Shock xEVA material is superior to other materials in that it is waterproof, fire retardant, and provides excellent protection against drops and bumps. There are three pockets for cords, plugs, and other miscellaneous accessories. This case is a bit bulkier, though, and will not fit into most briefcases. It is an excellent transport case, but is not suited as a primary case for the iPad as it does not have a handle or a shoulder strap. Get the Hardbody M.X. if you need to stow the iPad for some rough outings and want to make sure it survives the trip.

Next up is a case from a small company Long Beach, California, called Civilian Lab. It is an unusual company and not all that well-known outside of a group discerning customers. However, we expect their name and reputation will spread as more folks learn what they have to offer. We happened upon them in 2008 when researching harness systems for a "special project" back in the day. They had exactly what we were looking for. In poking around Civilian Lab's site, we also found a very interesting slim laptop case called the Radiator which was like nothing else we had seen before.

Integrated into the case was a very funky suction cup laptop anchoring system. It was an interesting way to secure a laptop, but none of our laptops were the right size so we never got to use it. Fortunately, the suction cups were easily removable and the case was just as useful without them.

When we got the iPad, we realized the Civilian Lab Radiator case was an excellent carrier for it. It was highly portable, very sleek, and offered great protection. It was large enough to hold the iPad, a few magazines, and some accessories. It also had a very cool recess with a velcro cover which was perfectly sized for stowing a set of earphones. We have been using the Civilian Lab Radiator to carry our iPad since we got it on April 3rd. This is our everyday iPad case.

The value/ease of typing on an iPad is something which is actively discussed on many forums. We have looked at both the virtual and physical keyboard options in past articles. We have also posted some of our general thoughts on the subject of user interfaces, specifically regarding keyboards and tablets. However we do realize that for the time being keyboards are the only practical option for text input. Since that is the case, we might as well look at some covers that make the task easier, which brings us to the Apple cover. 

The Apple case is a custom-sized folio for the iPad. The case is slim and should have no problems fitting into a briefcase or backpack. The padding of the case is minimal, but well placed. It does not have the carrying capacity of the Civilian Labs case or the funky designs of the Slappa covers, but it does have one feature which none of the other covers have: it can be folded up to form an angled stand to allow for more comfortable typing. The back of the Apple case has a flap which will catch the edge of the front cover when it is folded backwards, forming the wedge. The case will also stand upright when so configured.

The case is made of some kind of synthetic rubber-like material, very form-fitting, and has custom openings for all of the iPad's ports and buttons. The front cover is hard and will protect the screen from direct impact. All of the edges have a bead which will act as a shock absorber for the typical bumps and knocks. Getting the iPad into the case can be a bit difficult. It was not designed so the user can quickly slip the iPad in an out of the case. Once the iPad is in the case, the iPad is expected to stay there. The material used for this case is an absolute dust magnet.  If you don't like fingerprints, this cover may not be for you. 

We have looked at three different style of iPad covers this time around. Undoubtedly there will be more coming over the next several months as more companies get on this iPad bandwagon. If you see something particularly interesting, let us know. We'll be happy to take a look and share the find with everybody. [Permalink] -iPad Covers

The floors of the RainyDayMagazine office are solid maple hardwood. Maple stands up well to foot traffic and we certainly have our fair share of that. However, some find it less comfortable as a sleeping surface. The people at SleepyPod have the perfect solution for this problem. They know that cats love defined spaces. Put a piece of paper on the floor and a cat will soon settle on it and our intern Eliot is no different. SleepyPod created the Crater Dot for owners (and employers) who want to provide a comfortable lounging area for their furry friends (and interns).

The Crater Dot's soft plush center is made of polyester, is attached via velcro, and lifts easily for cleaning. The Crater Dot's base is polyester fabric over a moulded foam form contoured to provide both cushioning and support. Underneath the base is a pocket where a Warmer Kit may be installed. There are two Warmer sizes and either will work, but medium size Warmer will warm the entire plush area.

The advantage of something like SleepyPod's Crater Dot is that it has been "feline-tested" and approved (as well as thoughtfully designed and well constructed). Of course, cats are funny creatures. One never knows what they are thinking. They will sleep in one spot for a few months and will move to a new spot somewhere else for no apparent reason.

When we put out the Crater Dot, Eliot came to check it out right away. He dug his big paws into the fuzzy cover, checked out padded frame, and gave it the critical "nap test." The initial FirstUse results were promising. We'll let you know the final InTheWild verdict after a few months.

If you are looking to create a soft patch in your hardwood world, the Crater Dot may be exactly what you are looking for. Eliot now has a new comfy spot to nap and watch over goings-on in the office. As we are actively looking for a new intern to join the crew, Eliot is taking full advantage of the Crater Dot now. He knows soon he may have to share the CraterDot with a "coworker." [Permalink] -SleepyPod CraterDot

We can all do things to reduce our carbon foot print. We can use use less energy; we can use it more efficiently. Today we have a FirstLook at two items which will help us use less energy and to use it more efficently.

We have floor vents for both the heating and AC systems. This never made much sense to us. A heating vent in the ceiling meant all the hot air stayed at the ceiling. An air conditioning vent on the floor meant the cold air stayed around our ankles. These systems should be done as two separate systems: AC vents only from the ceiling, heat only from the floor registers. However, we can still do something after the fact with a product such as the AirFlow Breeze Ultra.

The AirFlow Breeze is a remote-controlled fan sized to fit the typical vent opening. It can be mounted in the ceiling or just dropped into the 6″x10″ or 6″x12″ floor register opening. The remote allows the easy control of the unit when mounted overhead. The unit has two fans with three different speed settings and a combined output of 115-150 CFM. This is more than sufficent to raise or lower the temperature of a typical room by 3-5 °F, enough to solve the majority of problems in both winter and summer.

The power connector is in the back, but an access opening in the front allows the cable to be routed to the rear. Being able to route the cable from the front is a nice touch. It gives the option of moving the AirFlow from room to room, or when permanent installation is not possible. With a fan like the AirFlow Breeze, there’s no need to adjust the temperature of the whole house and waste energy when we can solve our “problem room” just with better air flow.

Using energy efficiently is one thing, but sometimes we are using energy even if we don't think we are. Many of today's devices are on "standby" even when we think they have been turned off. This is so they can turn on faster when needed. Newer energy-efficient equipment is better at managing the amount of "standby" energy used, but still...it adds up.

One way to make sure devices are actually "off" is to disconnect them from the outlet. Of course, nobody is going to actually pull the plug of every connected device when not in use. Belkin's Conserve power strip was designed to make that task as simple as clicking a button. Standby Power impacts both the environment and the electricity bill. It can account for up to 10% of a household's power consumption. The savings can add up quickly over the course of a year.

The Belkin Conserve is a different from other power strips. It has both Always-On and Switchable outlets. Devices requiring a continuous power (routers, DVR, etc...) can be plugged into the two Always-On outlets. The six Switchable outlets are for any device (TV, computer monitor, etc...) that does not have unattended, timed, or automated functions. Power to the Switchable outlets is controlled by a remote switch, which can be wall mounted or used as a portable control button. The remote switch is battery powered and has a 60ft range. It is based on RF technology and unlike the typical TV remote control, it will work even if the Conserve is in another room.

A register booster fan like the AirFlow Breeze costs only about $5.00 per year to operate. It helps circulate heat and air conditioning more efficiently and eliminates the need for space heaters or room air conditioners. The Belkin Conserve cuts off the power-using devices at the source and will pay for itself in the first year. There are lots of ways to be "green," but these suggestions are painless, saves money, and reduces energy use. A win-win for everybody. [Permalink] -Energy Savers

The Apple iPad display is amazingly bright and viewable. The main reasons are the ipad's In-Plane Switching (IPS) LCD and its LED backlighting. The two technologies gave the iPad impressive brightness and a large 178º viewing angle. IPS was developed over ten years ago by Hitachi to address some inherent issues of LCDs: poor viewing angle, color inaccuracies. The advantages of LED backlighting are its low cost, long life, immunity to vibration, low operational voltage, and precise control over its intensity. The main drawback is that it requires more power than many other backlighting methods (ELP, CCFL, WF). Click on the various iPads in the image below to see the screen at increasingly obtuse angles to see what we mean.

Unlike a laptop screen, the iPad's screen was designed to touched. In order to keep the smudging to a minimum, the screen has a fingerprint-resistant oleophobic coating similar to the iPhone 3G. From the Apple pamphlet ... “iPad has an oleophobic coating on the screen; simply wipe iPad’s screen with a soft, lint-free cloth to remove oil left by your hands. The ability of this coating to repel oil will diminish over time with normal usage, and rubbing the screen with an abrasive material will further diminish its effect and may scratch your screen.”

When we read that, we knew an Invisible Shield for the iPad was in its future. As Apple did not give out any technical specs for the iPad prior to the release, the Zagg folks had to wait until April 3rd to get the exact dimensions, and begin production. We are happy to report that Zagg now has the iPad shields in stock. They have two options for buyers: front only and full coverage. Both include the wetting spray and rubber squeegee. We got the full-coverage version, but will likely only use the front cover.

There are a lot of new protective films on the market since we our first InvisibleShield article back in 2005. We have tracked the durability of that first InvisibleShield cover for five years (Year1, Year3, Year5). While the iPod nano's protected front is almost as nice today as the day we first put on the InvisibleShield, the unprotected metal back and sides shows lots of scratches from five years of use.

The is no question the InvisibleShield provides awesome scratch protection, it will not protect the screen from direct impact damage. For that kind of shielding a hard cover will likely be more effective. We suggested a few ideas in a previous article.  Those options worked fine for laptop bags, but made the iPad too large for a pack such as the Tom Bihn Buzz. There are a LOT of iPad covers out there. Unfortunately, most of what is currently available did not really appeal to us. We wanted a cover which would offer good protection while being a bit more discrete. Since we could not find any we liked, we decided to make our own.

As it so happened, we had a notebook which was perfectly sized for the task. The overall dimensions gave us about half an inch around three of the sides. The spine will be removed to allow easy lifting of the iPad from the cover. The thickness of the pages was almost exactly that of the iPad. The one problem we have not solved is how to attach the cover to the iPad itself. There are a few suggestions being kicked around, but no front-runner has emerged as of this writing.

There were two ways we could go in making the cut-out for the iPad: cut then glue, glue then cut. We went with the latter option, but decided that completely gluing the pages together was not necessary. All that was required was to glue the edges together. The glue we had on hand was some Elmer's wood glue. It was a bit thick for our purpose, so we diluted it 2-to-1 with some water and brushed it on the top, right, and bottom edges of every page. This was actually not as problematic as we thought as the pages stuck together and made the work rather quick. Some wax paper was inserted between the cover and the wet sticky pages to keep the cover from being glued to the pages. We then clamped everything downto make sure the edges of all the pages made good contact with each other. It should also keep things from curling as they dry.

Once the glue has dried, we will cut out the middle and fit it for the iPad. We expect cutting through the glued paper will provide a challenge. We are not sure how best to do the cutting (razor blades, Dremel tool, etc...). We'll continue with this DIY cover project once the glue has set.

We are not fanatical about keeping our gadgets free from everyday wear and tear. However, with the InvisibleShield and our DIY cover, the iPad should have a better chance at surviving the inevitable bump, nicks, and bruises certain to befall a mobile device. [Permalink] -iPad Protection

LCD televisions that are 50 inches and larger have become affordable in recent years. Televisions 40 inches and smaller are now available for under $500. Unlike projection TVs and the first crop of 50-inch LCD TVs, which weighed over 200 pounds and dominated an entire corner of a room, the current crop of 50-inch LCD TVs weigh no more than 70 pounds. This means that if the user does not want to put the TV on a stand, they can safely mount it on a wall. A heavier unit can also be mounted on a wall provided the bracket is secured to the studs in the wall. We have received quite a few questions regarding types of mount and how to put one up. We thought this was a general enough question that we would cover it in a DIY series.

We took a look at what was available in stores, on Craigslist, and EBay. What we found was a wide variety of styles, options, and qualities. Fortunately, they television wall mounts group into a few categories: thin profile, fixed, angle-adjustible, and articulated. We will take a look at the first three types in this write-up and save the articulated type for a later date. All of the mounts have a few things in common. There is usually a wall plate, two brackets, and an assortment of screws. The wall plate is typically slotted for cable runs and thru-wall access.

The angle-adjustible mount was made by Kanex. It is available on EBay, and we got it from the seller Abacus24-7. This mount is rated for LCD panels from 30"- 63" wide and up to 165 lbs.

The thin-profile mount was from VideoBasics. This mount is also available via EBay, and we got it from the seller 5star_cellular. The VideoBasic mount is rated for LCD panels up to 63" wide and up to 150 lbs. The key feature of this mount is, when mounted, the back of the LCD panel will only be 19 mm (3/4") from the wall!

The VideoBasics Thin-Profile mount is very straight forward. The kit came with a wall rail, two vertical brackets, a collection of screws/bolts/anchors for most conceivable mounting situations (cement, plaster, etc...). The included directions were clear, concise, and fully illustrated. We think most folks will find this a simple DIY project.

The fixed mount is the most basic and widely available style. We got this used unit on Craigslist. While the mount is used, it is in like-new condition. Like the thin-profile mount, it has two brackets and a wall plate. The brackets attach to the back of the LCD panel and hook on to the wall plate.

The most flexible mount of the three is the angle-adjustible mount from Kanex. This Kanex bracket is useful for mounting an LCD panel higher up on the wall and tilting it at an angle for more comfortable viewing. Like the other two, the Kanex mount came with a large bag of screws, bolts, and anchors.

The wall plate is almost identical to the generic mount with the exception of the level-bubble. It is a nice extra, but perhaps not necessary because with this type of installation, we would always check alignment using a more accurate tool.

As expected, the Kanex bracket is more complex due to its adjustability. The angle of the brackets are individually adjustable up to 15º by means of the knobs at the top of each rail. The brackets hook onto the wall plate and lock in the same way as the other two mounts.

The thickness of the steel plates relate directly to mount's weight and rigidity. Kanex, the most complicated of the three, was the thinnest at just over 2mm. The generic mount plates were 2.29mm thick and the VideoBasics thin-profile plates were the thickest at 3.36mm. The fact that Kanex used thinner plates was not surprising as thicker plates would have made the entire mount heavier without any functional benefits for holding panels under 150 lbs.

In this overview, we did not include any mounts in "articulated" category because they are more complicated. We expect to have a full write-up on a few articulated units by the end of Spring/beginning of Summer. If you know of one which you think would be of general interest, drop us a note. We will check it out and include it as appropriate. As always, we'll send you something "fun" for the tip! [Permalink] -LCD Wall Mounts

The iPhone has been a success in part because of the large number of third-party apps available for it. Likewise, the usefulness and ultimate success of the iPad (beyond the early adopters) will depend heavily on what developers create for this new form factor. We expect to see a flurry of activity now that the iPad is out "in the wild." We also expect the pace of app releases to snowball as we head into the Fall.

The iPad came with a set of standard apps:

• Safari browser: Surfing the Web
• Mail: email program
• Photo: Image viewer/organizer
• iPod: Music Player
• Calendar: Time and Task organizer
• Contacts: Addresses and Phone Numbers
• Notes: Writing pad
• Maps: Google Maps application
• Videos: Movie player
• YouTube: Clip viewer
• iTunes: Find, buy, and download music
• AppStore: Find, buy, and download iPad Apps
• Settings: preferences for apps

At launch time, there were already over 3,000 apps written specifically for the iPad. The price of an iPad app is averaging a few dollars more than iPhone apps, although many of them are free. We scanned the AppStore and downloaded a bunch of free but promising-looking ones. We expect this set to change. As with anything free, some are worth the cost, some not so much (really, some of them we should be paid to use). We have culled the list and settled on a set which we found to be innovative, useful, or just plain fun.

Tracking the stock market is an excellent application for the iPad. ETrade and Bloomberg both fielded strong iPad apps for that purpose. Both apps are free and very well implemented. We will be using them everyday. We'll have a more detailed InTheWild report on them in May.

The iPad may be the vehicle by which an entire industry is saved. That industry is, of course, is magazine and newspaper publishing. Many major publisher (WSJ, NPR, etc...) have a free app for the iPad to view their content. News providers have been getting hammered by the explosion of the Web. The major source of their revenue is from advertising, and they have had a difficult time monetizing the Web using their old model. The hope of newspaper and magazine publishers is that the iPad will finally enable them to leverage their size, expertise, and global connections to once again sell content, that would reinvigorate their declining advertising revenues. Unlike a website, an iPad app enables publishers to have more control over when and how ads will appear, for how long, and in what format. It will also give them the real time stats they need to demonstrate their reach and/or effectiveness.

Learning will also see a major impact from the iPad. Interactive and immersive learning tools will finally be literally "at your finger tips." Want to see what is in the night sky tonight? A hundred years ago? A thousand years from now? There is an app for that. Want to rotate a DNA molecule with your fingers? There is an app for that. Want to see what the weather is like? With or without cloud cover? There is an app for that.

The obvious next stop is electronic textbooks. But things like interactive homework and child-specific paced learning protocols are just around the corner. This is because the interface to using the iPad is so simple and intuitive that even young children will be able to use it with just a few simple instructions. No typing skills needed.

Amazon has provided an excellent eBook reader for the iPad. To some this may seem odd as Amazon is directly competing with Apple via the Kindle. The Kindle is a great device by Amazon and it kick-started the eBook market. However, in the end...Amazon is not a hardware/device maker. They are at the mercy of their tech providers. Any Kindle improvements are going to come from their tech partners. As Amazon has created an awesome infrastructure for selling books, we are guessing they wouldn't care much where/how their books are sold as long as they get the purchase volume.

We have a NetFlix account. If you don't have one, seeing the NetFlix app running on the iPad will convince you to get both the iPad and join NetFlix. It just works. The movies are crisp, steady, and "oh so excellent" for watching anywhere (bed, couch, office). The sound from the integrated speakers are fine, but the experience is totally immersive when headphones is used.

While it is true that an open OS (Mac, Windows) allows anyone to write and sell software for computers running those operating systems, it was difficult and required someupfront upfront investment. However, that software model contributed to the emergence and acceptance of the AppStore, which is not an open OS (you don't get to choose what development tool to use and you don't get to sell it anywhere). Users now have a single place to go to get apps for the iPhone. Buyers don't have to worry about giving credit card info to unknown sellers, downloading viruses, or being scammed. For the small developers, the AppStore took away the headaches of marketing and selling apps. With willing buyers and lots of inexpensive apps, the iPhone ecosystem flourished.

It will be interesting to see how the dust finally settles for the iPad, but we have feeling that by 2012 the world of software is going to look very different. The $500 price point was, in large part, to set a very difficult entry point for device-only vendors (HTC, HP, etc...). Device-only vendors will need to have sufficient ROI from just selling the hardware...an increasingly difficult proposition in today's app-driven world. Apple is in a catbird position and can actually sell the device at a lost yet still make a profit from revenue generated from the AppStore. This is a HUGE advantage over all other tablet vendor. Just imagine a $200 16GB 3G iPad, subsidized by AT&T or Verizon, if you are willing to sign a 2-year contract. We would put money on the table that this will happen before the 2nd generation of iPads hit the shelves. Any takers? [Permalink] -Free iPad Apps

Whenever a new Apple gadget shows up on the market, what follows is an inevitable deluge of gadget-specific accessories. The iPad will be no different. It will spawn an entire ecosystem of iPad-specifc screen protectors, carrying cases, docks, extended battery packs, and attachments. However, well-gadgetized geeks may already have many of those accessories in-house. Yesterday we showed how a mouse pad could double nicely as an iPad stand. Today, we took a quick look around the RainyDayMagazine office and came up with half a dozen things which could be repurposed for the iPad. Some gear was relatively new, and some were surprisingly old and no longer actively used.

The mouse pad with a wrist rest worked as a stand because the friction of the pad kept the iPad from sliding. However, as the back of the iPad is curved, pretty much any soft wrist rest would work just as well as long as it has a little "grab" to its surface. We can see ones made of silicone being especially good for this purpose.

We reviewed the BookArc from TwelveSouth last September. The BookArc is a well-crafted stand designed specifically for the MacBook. We found that it also works quite well for the iPad. Yes, the Home button is not accessible from the top if used in the vertical, but we found the horizontal orientation to be more functional anyway. The "grippy" insert held the iPad securely without marring the glass or the back. The larger gap allowed for a slight range in different view angles. It is also a nice place to park the iPad while charging. If you are looking for a stylish stand, the BookArc is pretty hard to beat.

Back in 2006, we got the AnyCom Stowaway keyboard to use with our Blackberry. We did not use it much because typing anything more than a few words on the Blackberry is just silly. The keyboard was forgotten and sat in the back of the equipment drawer. When we ordered the iPad, we thought about getting the Apple Bluetooth keyboard as well. One of the interns remembered that we had the Stowaway and suggested we hold off on the Apple one.

The cool thing about the Stowaway was, of course, it folds up to the size of a small paperback. Since it is Bluetooth enabled, there is no cable. The Stowaway also has a removable stand. It works when the iPad is in landscape position, but it was not sturdy enough to hold the iPad in the portrait orientation.

Since we had not used the Stowaway for a few years, we had forgotten how to turn the thing on. Once we managed to dig up the directions on how to activate (Cntr-LFn-RFn) Bluetooth communications, we were able to get the iPad and the keyboard to talk to each other. It was a pleasant surprise to have the Stowaway Bluetooth keyboard working with the iPad. Looking back, we realize that we should not have been so surprised as Bluetooth IS a standard :-)

With any portable device, one of the quandries is how best to carry it around. Should it be in its own protected enclosure? How do you keep it from getting scratched? What if we want to take along the cables and accessories?

The great thing about the iPad is that it can fit just about anywhere a pad of paper will fit. So any folio, 3-ring binder, or small notebook carriers (BUILT, Tom Bihn) will work just fine. If there is a need to bring along accessories, a slightly larger folio (we got this free at a tradeshow) or any of our current laptop cases will have plenty of room. There is really no need spend money on iPad-specific cases. Some case vendors may disagree, but they may have a different motivation. Of course, we love a good case as much as the next gadget freak. So we are always happy to be proven wrong! If you think there is a "must-have" iPad case out there, let us know. We'll be happy to check it out.

We were glad we took a look around. We realized that until our own iPhone/iPad apps start cranking out the cash, it wouldn't kill us to be a little frugal with our cash flow. So before you plunk down your credit card for those new iPad-specific accessories, take a look at some of the gear you have in storage. Like us, you too may find a second life for that folio from a few years ago or the forgotten Bluetooth keyboard from the Blackberry days. [Permalink] -iPad Accessories Your Already Have

Now that our iPad has been unboxed we thought we would provide a quick tour of the unit and offer a few observations about the physical aspects of this device:

• Height: 9.56 inches (242.8 mm)
• Width: 7.47 inches (189.7 mm)
• Depth: 0.5 inch (13.4 mm)
• Weight: 1.5 pounds (0.68 kg) Wi-Fi model
• Display: 9.7-inch LED-backlit glossy widescreen Multi-Touch
• Resolution: 1024-by-768-pixels at 132 pixels per inch (ppi)
• Fingerprint-resistant oleophobic coating
• Dock connector port
• 3.5-mm stereo headphone jack
• Built-in speaker and microphone

The frame is made from a single piece of aluminum. It is tapered out from the center to the edges, giving the iPad a much thinner overall appearance. It is not just a nice visual trick, the curve also makes the iPad more comfortable to hold. Unlike the unibody laptops, the iPad's edges are nicely beveled. The first thing we noticed was that the feel of the iPad is much more substantial compared to that of the Amazon Kindle. The finish of the back is smooth but matte so fingerprints do not show. The glass of the LCD has an oil-resisting (oleophobic) coating to minimize the amount of fingerprints. This is not to say the screen will stay clean, far from it. It will get smudges and lots of them. However, they will wipe off easily. We recommend using a microfiber cloth.

The switches and button are at the front (home), on the right (volume, orientation lock), and on the top (power) of the frame. These buttons are there for convenience, as all of them could have been implemented in software. The mic and headphone jack are on the top left. The connector and speaker are at the bottom. One thing we did notice was that the USB port from our MacBookPro was not sufficient to charge the iPad. Using the AC charger with the USB cable worked just fine for recharging the iPad's battery.

Typically, small display screens have a high pixels per inch (ppi) count so they can display a good image without aliasing. The iPad screen at 132 ppi is amazingly dense for a display of this size. It is certainly sharper than most computer monitors or TV screens in productions today. The high ppi number translates to gorgeous images, great looking videos, and easy to read text.

We have not been this excited about a device since the launch of the 128K Mac in back in 1984. The discussions today around "Why an iPad" reminded us of trying to explain to all the IBM PC-DOS folks of what a GUI was and why it was better. They would keep saying..."why would anyone want a mouse? Our arrow keys work just fine for moving the cursor up and down lines of text." A little more than 25 years later, we find the same type of folks asking, "Who would want to use their fingers? My mouse and keyboard work just fine." Sometimes, all one can do is just smile and wait for everybody else to catch up. While it is often quoted that Windows has 95% of the market. That is all fine. However, at this moment, AAPL's market cap is $215.09B and MSFT's is $257.24B. Hmmm....[Permalink] -iPad FirstLook

Our Apple iPad showed up late in the afternoon yesterday. We had a previous commitment for the evening so we had to wait to do the "unboxing," but, wow, the wait was worth it. We ordered the 16GB WiFi version of the iPad, which is the least expensive model of the iPad line. Many people consider it a risk to buy the first generation of anything, especially if it is something completely new to the market. In our "previous" life, we were Newton MessagePad developers, so being on the bleeding edge of technology is not uncomfortable for us; actually, it's when we are the most excited. So nobody was surprised that we had no hesitation in plunking down $500 for a device no one had never seen before...especially since the gadget was from Apple.

Having unboxed quite a few devices from many different vendors over the years, we are always struck with the particular attention Apple always gives to this aspect of the user experience. The joy of owning an Apple product starts the moment it is unpacked from the shipping container. The product box is visually clean, nicely proportioned, and always well-presented. Apple manages to create an emotional bond with the buyer with the just the simple act of lifting the box cover to reveal the product.

The box's content was neatly organized, well laid out, and easy to remove. There were no ugly twist-ties, rattling pieces, or loose bits to spoil the mini-ceremony. Even the process of removing the clear plastic wrapping around the device is a pleasurable experience.

With everything unpacked, examined, and out of the box, it was time to turn it on and set things up. The directions could not be simplier. The iPad requires the latest version of iTunes (free download from Apple) for the setup.

The entire process took about five minutes and was fairly typical. We were asked to register the iPad, to setup an iTunes account (which we already had), and whether we wanted to sync the iPad with the various data (music, photos, apps) we had on our iPod Touch. We answered the questions, waited for the process to complete, and as ususal, did not encounter any problems.

iPhone apps which worked on the iPhone and iPod Touches will work on the new Apple iPad. Those apps will run, but they will not take advantage of the larger screen's real estate. At launch time, the AppStore also had a large selection of apps written specifically for the iPad. Many of them are fee-based, but there are plenty of free ones available as well. We selected a few which looked interesting. For obvious reasons, we were specifically interested in the apps from media outlets and publishing houses such as WSJ, NPR, and BBC News.

The Apple iPad is here. It is going to be the most talked about gadget ever and the enthusiasm is completely justified. The "sunsetting" of the mouse/pointer interface has started. The mouse/pointer paradigm is over twenty years old. Multi-touch for the masses has arrived and it is about time. With the introduction of the iPad Apple has made accessible an entirely new way to interact with not only a computer but information itself. We will have a complete rundown on the iPad, the apps, and accessories over the course of the month. [Permalink] -iPad UnBoxing