Free iPad App of the Week: LiquidSketch

This is a new series I'm starting from 2013, in which I'll be be writing about a new free iPad app every week. The article probably won't be too long or detailed. Just featuring a new (free) iPad app with a brief summary of the app.

This week's free iPad app is Liquid Sketch, although it's only free for a limited time so I suggest you go out and get it now. Here's a brief summary as on the App Store:
Solve puzzles using beautifully colored, unbelievably realistic liquid. Rotate your device to pour, use your fingers to splash around or build bridges and pipes with blocks. Engage in 90 challenges testing your logic over 6 stages covering different aspects of liquid mechanics or let your imagination run wild in the sandbox mode.

LiquidSketch is truly an amazing puzzle game that has received a great rating on the App Store (4+). I personally rate it:

5/5

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A Comprehensive Review of the iPad Mini

iPad Mini

I admit, I was skeptical at first. After publicly denouncing the smaller 7-inch tablets, Apple itself came out with the iPad Mini with the (pretty shoddy, I might add) excuse that it wasn't a 7-inch but rather a 7.9-inch tablet. The height of hypocracy ? Or the magic or marketing ?

So Apple had come out with a smaller tablet ? Naturally, my first response was "Why?". After all, the iPad had shown itself not only as a powerful tablet but as an all-in-one device that people world over loved. And there was practically no real competition.The Google Nexus, the Blackberry Playbook, the Samsung Galaxy Tab and countless others had tried and failed to deliver the amazing experience of the iPad. So what was the need for an iPad Mini? Unlike the iPad, it did not fill the enormous gap between smartphone and laptop. (In any case, I'm sure that gap was feeling a bit overcrowded now.)

Sure, I occasionally thought the iPad was a little big to hold comfortably while reading or browsing the web, but I wouldn't have thought of trading it for a smaller one. That is, until I used the iPad Mini.

The iPad Mini is one of those devices that you simply have to experience to know why Apple made it. After having spent a considerable amount of time with the iPad Mini, I feel it is now safe for me to say that I wouldn't trade it for the full sized iPad. Atleast, not yet.

The Design

It all comes down to this. The design is one of the major difference between the iPad mini and the full sized iPad, and I have to say: there's a difference. The iPad Mini is less than half the weight of the full-sized iPad and has a design similar to the iPhone 5 with diamond-cut precision and metallic chamfers surrounding the device (these are especially prominent on the white version). Unlike it's elder brother, it feels extremely comfortable to hold in one hand even for prolonged periods of time. For reading, browsing, watching videos, playing games, emailing, etc, it truly is the perfect sized device.

In order to make the iPad Mini more mini-like, Apple removed the thick bezel from the sides of the device, resulting in a beautiful overall design. This can create a slight problem in holding the device but Apple resolved that with an added feature in the preinstalled iOS 6, which detects when your finger is resting on the screen and doesn't consider it as a touch. Even though it works very well 99% of the time, I prefer to hold it by the thin side bezels because i prefer to see the whole screen rather than have my fingers obscuring my view. (Or perhaps I'm just not used to it yet)
Because the top and bottom borders are larger, it is quite easy to hold in landscape too.

iPad Mini is quite comfortable to use in landscape mode.

The back of the iPad Mini is silver-colored on the white iPad and slate-colored on the Black one. Both look extremely good although the slate back exhibits smudges and fingerprints more prominently.

One detail that particularly impressed me about the iPad Mini was how every single detail of the device was color matched. The Apple logo, the round ring around the rear-facing camera, the volume buttons, the power button, the rotation lock/ mute switch and even the inside of the lightning connector port, everything is perfectly color coordinated.

Given the success of this design on the iPhone 5 and iPad Mini, it's quite likely that the next model of the full-sized iPad will too be fashioned similarly (chamfers, color-coordination, etc), though presumably not the smaller side bezels.

And once again, I cannot stress enough how good it feels to hold because of it's light weight and comfortable form factor.

iPad Mini is the perfect sized device for reading, browsing, watching videos, emailing, etc

When it comes to design and feel, the iPad Mini has hit the nail on the head.

iOS and Apps

All iPad apps run flawless on iPad Mini and without any scaling, stretching or other modification.

The iPad Mini comes preloaded with iOS 6 and I have to say, there's not much of a difference.
It's pretty much the standard iOS which we have come to know and love. All the standard apps are too installed and the best part about is that all 275,000 apps work flawlessly and without any scaling, stretching or other modification. iPad Mini is also Siri-enabled.

iPad Mini is Siri-Enabled

The iPad Feel

The form factor feels great to use anywhere unlike the full-sized iPad which has it's limits where convenience is concerned. But aside from that, I won't lie: it feels exactly when an iPad in terms of the interface. And that's because it is an iPad. It runs the same apps, it has the same resolution screen and it even has the same physical buttons. Its just smaller.
The iPad Mini also features a lightning connector which is smaller, thinner and best of all, reversible.

How the Smaller Screen affects Usage.

As I mentioned earlier, the iPad Mini feels pretty much the same as the full sized iPad in terms of usage and interface. So far, I haven't had any problems because of the smaller-sized screen, but for the thicker-fingers out there, some things which are a little small even in the full-sized iPad may be a little more problematic on this mini screen. (pun intended) The Safari bookmarks bar is the only such thing I have come across so far, but I'm sure many more lie waiting.

Although very rarely, some things which are a little small even in the full sized iPad screen may be a little problematic on this mini screen (pun intended) such as the safari bookmarks bar. 

Typing

So this is quite a common question about how the size of the iPad mini affects typing capabilities and comfort. And it's rather surprising. I actually find typing easier on this a lot of the time. Because the screen is less wide, it's easier to type on it portrait than it was on the full sized iPad.
Typing on landscape is, again, great if you're holding it in your hands. But if you're used to setting the iPad down on a desk and typing, it's not as easy as it was. Not that it's uncomfortable or inconvenient but just that its not as easy as it was on the full sized iPad's keyboard. (I'm typing this article on the iPad Mini and it's quite comfortable to use)

The Display

The iPad Mini features a 7.9-inch display which separates it from other tablets in the 7-inch tablet market. Although it may not seem like much the extra inch (approximately) means a fairly large increase in screen real estate in comparison to other 7-inch tablets. Apple boasts of a 35% larger screen. 

Apple boasts of a 35% larger screen than on a regular 7-inch tablet.

The lack of retina display isn't too noticeable given the smaller screen and higher pixel density in comparison to the iPad 2. Since the iPad Mini has the same resolution as the iPad 1 & 2 but on a smaller screen, it's pixel density is slightly more than that of the iPad 2. (or 1). However it is significantly lower than that of it's retina brothers. 

iPad 1 & 2 - 132 ppi

iPad Mini - 168 ppi

iPad 3 & 4 - 264 ppi

'ppi' stands for pixels per inch

Despite the lower resolution screen, the pixels really aren't all that visible. If you live in retinaworld where all your devices have retina display and you're really picky about that sort of stuff, then sure you might notice the difference. But normally, you're unlikely to notice it unless you stick your eye right in the display and look for the pixels.

The Internals

On the one hand, there's the perfect size and form factor. But on the other hand, the iPad Mini has an outdated A5 processor and no retina display. And to make matters worse, the full-sized iPad sits right next to it, beaming with an A6X processor and an evil retina grin. So how does the iPad Mini perform with the older internals ?
So far, I haven't been too disappointed with the older A5 processor. Admittedly, the fourth-generation iPad with the A6X processor does run webpages faster and load apps quicker than the Mini does but the iPad Mini isn't lagging far behind. One reason for this is that although the A5 processor is slower than the A6X processor, the iPad Mini doesn't have to push out as many pixels as the full-sized iPad due to it's lack of Retina Display.
At present, the only part about the processor that I'm unhappy about is that it will probably get blacklisted from the latest iOS quicker than the others.

Cameras

The cameras on the iPad Mini are the same as on the 3rd and 4th generation iPads and thankfully, a significant improvement on the cameras present on the iPad 2. 

The front facing FaceTime camera is capable of 1.3 megapixel stills and 720p video

The rear-facing camera is capable of shooting 5 megapixel stills and full HD 1080p video while the front facing FaceTime camera is capable of 1.3 megapixel stills and 720p video.
The camera quality is reasonably good although it's lacking in low light.

The rear facing camera is capable of shooting 5 megapixel stills and full HD 1080p video

The Overall Experience

The overall experience of the iPad Mini is exceptionally good, primarily due to it's smaller size and portability. Just the fact that it is far easier to pick up and use comfortably makes it extremely enjoyable to use despite it's slightly lacking internals.

Portability

The iPad Mini, being extremely light and compact, is ideal for traveling. It fits nicely into a jacket pocket adding little weight. However if you plan to carry it around a lot, I suggest you get a case or cover for it, particularly if your jacket pocket has zips.

Price

The iPad Mini comes in 3 Storage Options: 16GB, 32GB and 64GB which come with a price tag of $329, $429 and $529 respectively for the Wi-Fi only models. The WiFi + Cellular Model adds an additional $130 to the existing price. Black and White Models are both available with no price difference.

Which Model to Buy

Given the portable nature of the iPad Mini, buying a cellular Model would make more sense on the smaller device unless you plan to use it primarily at home, work or other wifi enabled places.
As far as storage options are concerned,
16GB - If you plan to use it primarily for reading, using a few apps, etc (Mild Media Consumption)
32GB - Moderate Media Consumption (Movies, Music, etc), Reading, Gaming, etc.
64GB - Buy this model if your iPad is your primary device for Media Consumption, Gaming, Work, Reading, etc.

White versus Black

Both the white and black models are extremely appealing. The White model has a Silver back and the chamfers around the body of the device are particularly noticable and attractive. While reading, the pages blend nicely with the white bezel of this device making it a very pleasant experience. The Black Model has a Slate back and the device contrasts better with the screen. Black Bars in widescreen movies blend better in the Black Model but smudges and fingerprints are more noticable on this model.

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Guest Post: Searching for the Best iPhone Cases

Don’t make the mistake of using your iPhone without covering it properly with a good case. It’s possible to destroy the mobile device if you keep using it without cover. You don’t need to crack your brain just to get a good case for the device. There are best iPhone cases you can always get out there. All you need is to create time to search for them.

You can start searching for the iPhone cases by focusing on their names. There are several cases named according to their makers. Speck iPhone cases fall under this category. They are unique cases produced by Speck; a well known US company based in California. Actually, this great company is well known for producing all manner of protective cases for iPhones, iPads, Android Smartphones, Mac Books and other devices. The iPhone cases produced by the company are known to be very durable. They showcase in a variety of colors and designs. They are very much available on the Speck online resource and other reliable dealers that sell iphone cases.

Apart from the Speck iPhone cases, there are also other unique cases with specific nomenclatures. Many of them are named in line with their producers names. Others are simply named by their producers. You can always locate such cases from reliable dealers online.

Again, best iPhone cases showcase in varieties of categories. Among them include Leather Cases, Ultrathin Cases, Silicone Cases, Waterproof Cases, Metal Cases, TPU cases and a lot more. Several unique cases are also piled up under each category. You need to take out time to browse through the categories when searching for the best case to purchase.

You can also search for best iPhone cases according to colors. There are lots of cases made of lone colors. Others are also made of a mixture of colors. Among the best colors you’ll always see on the cases include Black, Blue, White, Green, Pink, Gold, Purple and a lot more. The color of your iPhone determines the kind of colored case to go for.

There are also designer iPhone cases. Many of them are designed with special themes, flowers and other features. They showcase in varieties of shapes and sizes. They are also meant for iPhones that have special designs on their bodies. You need to take out time to browse through the category of such cases when you locate a reliable dealer.

Meanwhile, there are certain qualities that make up the best iPhone cases. Apart from their colors and designs, they are still known for their durability. You have to use any of the cases for a very long time before thinking of changing it. With any of them, you can still have access to every part of your iPhone. The touchscreen and every aspect of your mobile device will also be protected from dangerous sources when you locate a quality case. You can only locate the best case when you visit a reliable online resource that deals on such products. Why not get started today?

Author’s Bio

James writes a lot on best iPhone cases. He deals on Speck best iphone 5 cases and other kinds cases as well. He has a flare for the mobile technology niche.

 

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Which iPad Mini Will You Buy ?

The iPad Mini is Apple's latest addition to the already brimming tablet market. Refusing to make a 7-inch tablet, they decided instead upon an (almost) 8-inch tablet. An extra inch may not seem like much but, as all screens are, the iPad mini's screen was, too, measured diagonally so it actually is quite a substantial difference.

The smaller, lighter form factor coupled with its superior build quality and features are among it's plus points while it's lack of a Retina Display and its older processor lie among its cons. So will you buy an iPad Mini ? And if so, which one ?

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iTunes 11 Postponed to November

Apple recently announced that they have postponed the release date of iTunes 11 (the new minimalistic iTunes media player). The reason behind it, Apple said, was that they wanted to "get it right".

Of course, it is quite a rare thing for Apple to have postponed the date of a software release that had already been announced.

Still, with millions of users and dollars on the line, Apple has no option but to "get it right" and so we can expect the release to be somewhere near the end of November.

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Apple's 'Apology' to Samsung

As per ruling by a U.K court, Apple has 'apologised' to Samsung on their website. It is as follows:

Samsung / Apple UK judgment

On 9th July 2012 the High Court of Justice of England and Wales ruled that Samsung Electronic(UK) Limited’s Galaxy Tablet Computer, namely the Galaxy Tab 10.1, Tab 8.9 and Tab 7.7 do notinfringe Apple’s registered design No. 0000181607-0001. A copy of the full judgment of the Highcourt is available on the following link www.bailii.org/ew/cases/EWHC/Patents/2012/1882.html.

In the ruling, the judge made several important points comparing the designs of the Apple and Samsung products:

"The extreme simplicity of the Apple design is striking. Overall it has undecorated flat surfaces with a plate of glass on the front all the way out to a very thin rim and a blank back. There is a crisp edge around the rim and a combination of curves, both at the corners and the sides. The design looks like an object the informed user would want to pick up and hold. It is an understated, smooth and simple product. It is a cool design."

"The informed user's overall impression of each of the Samsung Galaxy Tablets is the following. From the front they belong to the family which includes the Apple design; but the Samsung products are very thin, almost insubstantial members of that family with unusual details on the back. They do not have the same understated and extreme simplicity which is possessed by the Apple design. They are not as cool."

That Judgment has effect throughout the European Union and was upheld by the Court of Appeal on 18 October 2012. A copy of the Court of Appeal’s judgment is available on the following link www.bailii.org/ew/cases/EWCA/Civ/2012/1339.html. There is no injunction in respect of the registered design in force anywhere in Europe.

However, in a case tried in Germany regarding the same patent, the court found that Samsung engaged in unfair competition by copying the iPad design. A U.S. jury also found Samsung guilty of infringing on Apple's design and utility patents, awarding over one billion U.S. dollars in damages to Apple Inc. So while the U.K. court did not find Samsung guilty of infringement, other courts have recognized that in the course of creating its Galaxy tablet, Samsung willfully copied Apple's far more popular iPad.

Read it on: http://www.apple.com/uk/legal-judgement/

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White iPad Mini Sold Out in 20 Minutes

Less than 20 minutes after the iPad Mini was made available for pre-ordering online, the delivery date for the white iPad Mini changed while that of the black one remained the same, indicating that the pre-orders for the White iPad Mini has exceeded the pre-order stock.

Related article- iPad Mini: Where does it fit in ?

 

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Guest Post: How to Fix a Frozen iPad

It is summer time and summer means travelling for American families. And moving on wheels means traversing huge distances either on roads, rails or cruises. While you are travelling you search for mobile apps that can keep your tour entertaining and enliven you al through. iPad, the mobile tablet, is one such useful travelling companion. Even then, there can be situations when your iPad freezes.

This quite happens when you cannot start your iPad or when you are using some other application in it. There is nothing to worry as online tech support engineers are available round the clock to assist you whenever you are in a fix. However, you can also make an attempt to restore your iPad from frozen situation.

Troubleshooting a frozen iPad involves you to know what exactly the cause of freezing is. If it a battery problem, charging the battery will resolve the issue. Again, if the problem is related to some software, you might have to set your iPad back to factory setup. Hence, detect the issue first and then go ahead with the troubleshooting ways.

Ways of Restoring a Stuck iPad  

During freezing if you have any application running on your iPad, close it down forcefully. Hold by pressing sleep/wake button present at the top of your iPad. A red color slider will appear. After that, hold home button by pressing it for around 6 seconds.

After forcefully closing an app, your next task will be to reset your iPad device. Press and hold sleep/wake button on top and home button at the bottom at the same time for around 10 seconds. If you can successfully do this, you will be able to shut your iPad down. To make sure that your iPad has turned off, you will see the Apple display on your screen once it restarts.

Isn’t your iPad turning on? Check the charge whether it is full. You can ensure the amount of charge left over in the battery from its display on screen. Another way of restoring your iPad is by connecting it to iTunes. You will find one white color USB cable with your iPad. Use it for connecting your device with your PC. Open up iTunes on the computer system > click your iPad in Devices menu > select Restore.

Yes it that simple! You are done and your iPad is set to factory settings. Aren’t your iPad displayed in iTunes? You have to conduct force restoration. Plug the USB cable to the PC system but unplug dock from your iPad. By pressing and holding the home button of your iPad, plug it to your PC.

Now, you should be able to see the instruction for connecting to iTunes. Once you see it displayed on your screen, leave the button. You will get to see all the instructions thereafter on your screen. Carefully follow all the prompts and your restoration will be successfully done. But in case some issue occurs in the process, get in touch with computer technical support group.

Author’s Bio: Restoring the iPad back to its form can be made easy with tech support. Call up the online PC repair services right away!

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iPad Mini: Where does it fit in ?

The concept is intriguing, no doubt. An iPad that is smaller (or rather, mini) and yet boasts the capabilities of the full sized iPad. But the most interesting question it poses is whether the concept will be able to compete with the practicality.

When the iPad was first launched in 2010, it was amazing. And although it was criticised by some for being a big iPod, it has proven to be incredibly successful with millions of iPads having been sold in such a short period. Not to mentions the dozens of failed attempts by other companies at replicating the iPad's success. This only goes to further the fact that the iPad is, by far, the most advanced and successful tablet in the market.

Aside from this, critics have debunked the iPad for "not fitting any particular niche". There were mobile phones for the pockets, desktops for the desks and laptops for the beds. So where did the iPad come in? Or rather, to generalize, where did tablets fit in? After all, if they didn't fit a niche, why would someone buy it ? Yet it managed to find a place in our lives.

With the iPad Mini, however, this question remains to be answered. There are two main reasons why things might not play out quite as they did for the iPad. (The Cons)

Why not ?

1. It's an iPad: The iPad Mini is a smaller iPad. That's the truth, that's the problem but that's also Apple's marketing strategy. It's smaller yet the same. The problem is that we are being forced to choose between a 10-inch tablet and an 8-inch tablet. And apart from the price difference, which isn't as big as one might like or expect it to be, the 10-inch tablet is more appealing in all aspects. It's the same but with a bigger and a better screen.
"It's bigger so it's better, right ?"

2. It doesn't feature anything unique as far as the iPad is concerned. In other words, there's little except the price to drive people towards the iPad Mini.

Why ?

In spite of this, I believe the iPad Mini is sure to be a hit from the start. Here's why.

It's features everything the full-sized iPad does, including a stunning display and all of the iPad's powerful apps. It has an incredible display of the same resolution as that of the iPad 2 and with the sides narrowed down, it's beauty is enhanced. It has a 35% larger screen to work with than most 7-inch tablets and flaunts the same 5MP camera capabilities and 1080p video capabilities as the iPad. It features the lightning connector which is reversible (my favorite part) and clicks in a very satisfying manner. And of course, let's not forget the beloved and super-intelligent Siri.



It's also super-light and portable at 308 grams and can be held comfortably for long periods of time with one hand like an iPhone or with more than one hand. It's a 7.9 inch unibody design with perfection embossed all over it. It's 23% thinner than the iPad and 53% lighter. The color is a beautiful blend of silver and white or black and slate. It's aluminium back is reminiscent of the iPhone 5. Like all other Apple products, it's just stunning.

Summing It Up

So where does it fit in ? It fits right in the hand(s) of the people who feel the full sized iPad is too big or who feel the iPad is too pricey for a supplementary device. It's a godsend for companies and schools that use or want to use a large number of iPads. It fits perfectly into the life of the avid reader. It fits in with those who are looking for the right balance of portability, power and price in a device. It simply fits.  

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What do you think of the iPhone 5 ?

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Apple's Keynote Event (September 12th 2012) - Video

Apple's iPhone 5 launch held a great store of surprises right from the details of the iPhone 5 to the launch of the new iPod lineup. You can watch the actual keynote event here: http://www.apple.com/apple-events/september-2012/

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Get Rid of Viruses and Mac Malware

 A lot of people consider the Apple products to be the safest ones in the world, but just like any other device, gadget or software, they can be hacked when connected to the Internet. The Apple gadgets came as sophisticated items no one could get in. Years ago, unlocking an iPhone was impossible. Today, a lot of people do it. The same goes for Mac OS, which came out as a solid and impressive operating system, but it took Apple a couple of years to realize that it required some protection.

Compared to other operating systems, the number of harmful applications is insignificant. With a little over three hundred malicious scripts, they cannot compete with the one million viruses for Windows.

However, you are still exposed to some risks, and although many of these malicious codes are demonstrative and developed as concepts, there are others who can entirely ruin you. When your online banking session is intercepted and hackers take advantage of your bank account, you will realize how important an antivirus is. When all the Mac systems in your office get hacked and your entire network is compromised, getting an antivirus is a priority once you clean your computers. Therefore, nothing can be fully protected. A good hacker can step inside your computer, but in order to prevent it from happening, you need protection.

How malicious software can enter your Mac:

There are a multitude of myths and facts around the Mac systems. The claims vary widely from one expert to another, but some ideas are common and general. For instance, the malware scripts use the same operating principles and tricks the Windows viruses use. Or, you can get a virus by checking out a website. You don't even know when it gets automatically installed and run. Some websites hide scripts for Windows, while others attack Mac exclusively. You may think it is safe to download particular programs for online live streaming, for example. Are you sure the software is safe? What if it downloads other components from different servers?

Some applications get inside your computer as your fault. Sometimes, you download a software only to be able to see a video of your favorite celebrity naked or to crack a particular program. When you upgrade your computer to play a free game, hack the registration process of a program or see a video, you have no clue what hides behind them. Some other programs are different though. They are harder to observe, since they are included in source codes and they are run as soon as you load a particular website.

Being safe requires loading trustful and safe websites only, but also refusing any files from people who are not among your friends. Even your friends may send infected files too, without even being aware of it.

So, what's the solution?

There are definitely some unwritten rules for a safe experience over the Internet, but since you are not always in control of your experience, an antivirus or a security package is a necessity. The Mac OS may be among the safest in the world, but it can still be penetrated pretty easily by hackers. From many points of view, the safety of your information, data and secrets depends on you only. You need some education and the right software.

About the Author

Robert Woods writes about different tech-related subjects including Apple products and Mac security. You could visit some of his articles at "www.antivirusformac.org"

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Re-Weaving Notification Center

Is Notification Center too dull for you ? Of course it is. The much-overused grey linen background is far too dull and looking at it everywhere doesn't really help. But that can always be changed. To anything you want. (Not necessarily to the funky background above) How ?

Weave your Non-Linen Background

• Find the image you want to replace the background with. Now open the image in preview and go to File --> Export and export it to your desktop as a tiff file titled "linen.tiff".
• Remember that for best results, the image you choose should be repeating and of size 256x256 for a normal mac display and 512x512 for a retina display.
• You need not (and should notuse some

Tear up the Linen

• Open Macintosh HD/System/Library/Core Services
• Now locate the file called "Notification Center", right-click (or control click) and select "Show Package Contents"
• Then go to Contents/Resources and locate the file titled "linen". It'll be a TIFF file and depending on your preferences, the extension may or may not be visible. 
• Copy the "linen.tiff" file and store it somewhere safe. (I left it in the same folder and titled it "linen copy.tiff")
• Drag and drop the "linen.tiff" file on your desktop into this folder replacing the older file of the same name. You may need to authenticate the transfer using an administrator's username and password.

Relaunch!

• Now open the "Activity Monitor" application (either by locating it in Applications/Utilities or by searching for it in Launchpad) and find the process titled "Notification Center".
• Select the process and click on the "Quit process" button on the top left corner of the window.
• The dull linen background of Notification Center should now have been replaced by the image of your choosing.

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My New Project: YourInternship

Hello everyone, this is just to tell you that I've been working on a new project with a friend: YourInternship. Please check it out and sign up. - http://yourinternship.in/

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Flipboard For iPad: Reading Made Fun

There are several apps for iPad in the "reading category". And after having experienced several of these applications, I can say with absolute certainty that Flipboard is the best one you'll find (right now). Flipboard is one of the few applications which makes you want to use it regularly.

What is Flipboard ?

There are several ways to describe an app like Flipboard but in simple terms, Flipboard is a social reader. A visually stunning Social Reader which makes reading even the most most dull articles seem fun. Think Google Reader meets... Well, everything else.

Functionality and Support



Flipboard, unlike many other applications in this genre, provides an extremely versatile selection of feeds. From Facebook, Twitter and Google Plus to to RSS and Blogs, you can have your pick. Flipboard is unique in yet another aspect: it adds major web networks and blogs (Engadget, Appstorm, etc) for you to add to your Flipboard account. This is a particularly great feature since it makes the articles look much better than they would otherwise. Also, publishers have the option of requesting such a feed for their own blog or website.

User Interface and Appearance

To me, the appearance and user interface of an application is the most important aspect, even more than the use of the app itself. If it doesn't look good, I know I won't use it so I don't even bother to download it. On the flip side of the board (forgive the corny humour), there are also some apps, which, even if I have no use for, I would download it purely for its gorgeous looks and great UI. Flipboard is one of those few applications which falls in the intersection of use and appearance.

When you open Flipboard, you'll be greeted with a stunning screen which displays the cover stories in a neat layout typical of Flipboard. You'll be prompted to "flip" the page to reveal your personal Flipboard page. This Flipboard page, after several customizations will display all the feeds (Twitter, Facebook, RSS, Blogs) that you would like to read on a regular basis. You can also keep "flipping" to more pages based on the number of feeds that you have set up. Tap on one, and you'll be greeted with a beautiful screen with all the posts of that particular feed. At this screen, you can also browse through all the posts in the feed through a time bar at the bottom.

Tapping on one of the posts will display it in a nice and clean screen with the font size adjusted to your preferences and the images nicely streamlined within the post. All pages have a little share sheet button which allows you to share the post to Twitter or Facebook or any other account that you have set up, email it to a fried, retweet it and do much more. All of this can be done within the application itself. Each post also has a button at the end of the post which allows you to view the original article in an in app browser.

The Flipboard screen is also gifted with a little button on the top right which really makes the app look ebullient. Tapping it discloses a beautiful sidebar that pops out from the right hand side and allows you to add your accounts, feeds and a lot more.

But details aside, what's the best part about Flipboard ?

Well, everything looks stunning. Every single screen is amazing, every post appears crisp and pleasurable to read. I would go on, but it's probably better if you experience it for yourself: http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/flipboard-your-social-news/id358801284?mt=8

and


Although not too often, Flipboard does have a tendency to display incomplete articles which can be quite troublesome. However the little "View Original Article" (in-app browser) button make 

Cost, Alternatives and Rating

Cost: Free!

Alternatives: Zite and Pulse are similar apps for iPad that come close to achieving Flipboard equivalency but they still aren't the same

Rating: I'd have to be far too critical to give this app anything less than a ten, considering its features and price. Yet I'll succumb to its (very) few Shortcomings and rate this application:

9/10

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Blogsy: Blogging Beautified

Blogsy App Icon

What's missing from blogging platforms? Visual appeal. What's missing on the iPad? An app for bloggers.

Well not anymore. Blogsy is an iPad application for bloggers that fills a very useful (not to mention empty) niche in the App Store.

What you can do with Blogsy

Blogsy Photo Upload Screen

To the average user, this may not seem like a great application in terms of functionality, but to an avid blogger this is a potential gold mine. After months of searching for a good blogging application that is both visually appealing and capable of catering to my blogging needs, I found that Blogsy is pretty much the only app that fits the bill.

Unlike many other apps in this genre, Blogsy is a great app that is capable of doing everything I need it to be capable of doing. It allows me to browse the web while I write. It let's me choose photos from my iPad or my Picasa / Flickr account. And it can post to multiple blogging platforms, so if I ever need to change mine, I don't have to give up Blogsy.

Aside from this, here are some of the best features of Blogsy:

• Multiple Platforms - Blogger, Wordpress, Tumblr, you name it, Blogsy has it.
• In-App web-browsing (while writing). Particularly convenient for those who want to research a little while blogging.
• In-App email. Aside from the more obvious use of this feature, it is also useful in that it enable you to email to post to services that are not blogsy supported.
• Picture Gallery - Browse through your iPad's photo albums or scroll through your picasa / flickr albums.
• Youtube Support
• Formatting options - Edit and format your text through Blogsy's inbuilt menubar formatting options that could give word processors a run for their money. Blogsy's formatting bar is particularly impressive, with options for text editing, colors, highlighting, the works.
• Markup Editing - If you prefer to edit the HTML on your blog rather than the Rich Text, Blogsy isn't one to stop you.

This is just the tip of the iceberg. Naturally, this is not to mention the more obvious provisions that Blogsy has for the keen blogger such as adding images, videos, etc.


The Interface

Blogsy has a beatiful interface that makes it the right mix of easy-to-use simplicity and amazing productivity.

This is one area, where Blogsy Realy excels. It has a clean layout that's easy to get used to and yet displays all it's different features on the screen for quick access. On the right hand side, in a narrow column, it has icons for web browsing, photos, mail, Picasa, flickr, YouTube, etc which, on the whole, contribute towards a nice look for the app. Any user will immediately recognize each icon's specific function. A tap on the icon will reveal a sidebar-like extension suited for its specific function. For instance, tapping the browser icon results in a larger pop-out suited for browsing the web, in contrast to the narrow one revealed when skimming through photo albums.

The majority of the screen's real estate is dominated by a white typing space for your blog posts. Thank god for that. With an app like Blogsy, it's easy to forget what the app's originally intended for, above which are nice looking buttons which blend in with the app quite well. These buttons allow you to edit the attributes of your post, add a new post, change the publishing date of your post, etc. Tapping the title of the post allows you to edit that.

Above this mass of text is a neat clean formatting bar which can slide to the left / right to reveal more extensive formatting options.

Blogsy also has a set of two button at the bottom of the aforementioned right hand column which allow you to edit the markup of your post (through HTML tags) and Chang the settings of your blog or add new blogs to the app and edit other general settings.

Shortcomings

With an App like Blogsy, this is the one section where I post where I am, and always will be, dumbstruck. Few words of criticism come to my mind with such an app. And the shortcoming that I do find are more related to the iOS platform than to the app. But if I must succumb to looking for a drawback simply for the sake of it, I'd have to say that the photo uploading process is a tad too tedious.

Summary

Blogsy is an app that fills a unique and underdeveloped niche in the App Store. Although there may be fewer people (in quantitative terms) who would appreciate such an app, it is undeniable that this is the best app they will ever come across fr the purpose. In fact, some might even go so far as to say that blogging apps aren't going to get any better than this.

Rating

It is when I find an app like Blogsy, which makes it harder for me to find flaws in than to understand the app itself that I allow myself the pleasure of rating the app:

9/10.

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