technology
Apple iPad launches in UK to acclaim…but why?
May 28th
The iPad from Apple – which sold 1 million devices in the first month of its US launch – has finally gone on sale here in the UK and as always, people queued through the night to be amongst the first to get their hands on one.
Culturally iconic, technologically average
The question I’m asking is why?
Having had the opportunity to mess around with one a couple of weeks ago, I can safely say that my initial view that it was a slightly improved and much bigger iPod Touch proved to be true…almost.
Let’s deal with its plus points first.
The screen resolution and performance is amazing. It’s truly wonderful. Never before has any app looked so crisp or any video NOT from a DVD looked so sharp.
The improved size makes using the keyboard a joy, especially if you prefer a touch screen to actual keys as I do.
It is brilliantly future proof too – but that is also one of its downfalls. The iPad IS just a big iPod Touch…for now. At least it is unless you’re prepared to spend the time getting to know it. And I would be if it wasn’t for its other major problem, but I’ll get to that in a little while.
There are some good uses for the iPad in all fairness. As a travel companion I can’t think of a better option now. Ignore the relative difficulty of getting things on and off the iPad (no DVD drive etc) and with a little preparation and the help of iTunes and you have a superb little music and film player that is the ideal size for travel.
It won’t quite replace the laptop for really practical uses just yet, but there’s no reason you can’t manage a database or do a bit of office work on it. Apple provide the software to do so. The laptop remains King for now though because of its sheer versatility, something the iPad cannot be accused of being.
There are two downsides that I can see and both of them or either of them stop me from investing. Firstly, there is that issue with Apple’s tight control over what you can and can’t have on the iPad. No USB port, no way of doing anything except through your Mac and iTunes. Limiting for those of us without a Mac at best.
The second downside is the big one for me. Given its current limitations the price of the iPad is ridiculous. The cheapest version on offer is £429. That has a pitiful 16Gb memory and is WiFi only, no 3G. Want the top of the range iPad? That’s a cool £699 for 64Gb and the 3G.
Want to add a dock, keyboard, case, camera connection kit? Another £110 or thereabouts
I’m sorry but the price does not justify the product, it really doesn’t. The iPad is a piece of cultural and cosmetic genius but it is not a step forward in technology or even, really, the use of it.
What the iPad will do is open the market for everyone else – and with competition comes development, progression, innovation and competitiveness. Just as the iPod kickstarted the boom in MP3s and the iPhone spawned Android, the iPad will create new interest in the ‘tablet’ and will be the catalyst, I think, for ever more useful and user friendly versions.
For that reason alone I welcome it. I just won’t own it.
Whatever happened to…Google Wave?
Apr 28th
Google Wave-d bye bye?
Seriously, anyone know? I downloaded it, installed it, used it, realised no-one else was using it rendering it pointless, and haven’t looked at it since.
Do you use it? Or know anyone that does? For God’s sake, let me know, because Google invested a LOT of time and effort (as did the likes of Mashable! and other commentators) into it and I want to know what it’s FOR!
Help me out…leave a comment or two if you know anyone getting some use out of Google Wave.
Flickroom: Browse Flickr from your desktop
Oct 1st
One of the most exciting Flickr developments in recent times, the Flickroom application allows desktop browsing of Flickr using the Adobe Air platform.
But this isn’t just another way of viewing Flickr…no, this is to Flickr what Tweetdeck is to Twitter. And its dark, neutral and pleasing appearance is very reminiscent of the Twitter desktop client. Take a look:
Ok, so what does it actually do? First of all, you authorize the app to access your Flickr account. Now you can browse your photostream, your groups, your sets…it is like being logged into the web interface only better presented (depending on your opinion – that’s mine). Across the top of the app are your main menu functions, including:
- A button to view the most recent uploads of your Flickr contacts
- A button to open the upload tool in Flickroom
- A button to access the Flickroom chatroom – IN the app
- A button to search Flickr – photos AND users
- A button for the obligatory settings
- A button to give feedback to the developers
There are a couple of things I want to focus on there.
The Upload Function
This is very, very clever. Easy to use, offers the full features that the Flickr web interface does and allows you to drag and drop onto the app rather than searching through your file structure. You can also add more than one pic at a time, though you can only edit details individually – a limitation of space more than anything else. Clever. As I said.
From there you can title your pic, give it a description, tag it, add it to a set and / or group and set its privacy level. All that before you hit upload.
Flickroom Uploader
The upload time is fast and you can view your new pics in your photostream by clicking the Reload link on the Photostream page.
The Flickroom Chatroom
This COULD prove to be one of the most useful tools offered by Flickroom. It’s certainly an interesting experience chatting with fellow users, learning how they use the app and what sort of things they find interesting on Flickr. It could be a brand new way of finding new users to follow that share the same interests as you. Right now I found it a little quiet and dominated by just a few users.
With the addition of rooms and more users – yes, it could be brilliant.
Browsing
The browsing experience in Flickroom is very good. Already connected to your groups through your account, the search function is strong and the app allows you to comment, favourite, add a note, save to your hard drive and even Tweet about the pic you are viewing.
You can control how much detail about the image is displayed ranging from a simply slideshow appearance to a sidebar with all the description, comments, tags, and EXIF data. From here you can also add the person who posted the pic as a contact.
If you’re looking for an aesthetically pleasing way of viewing Flickr on your desktop this is it – and it does compliment Tweetdeck in appearance, so if you are a style guru it’s ideal. Basically, you should never need to visit Flickr again. Except…if you want video. But you can bet the Flickroom team are working on that too.
Link: Flickroom
Have you been looking for a Flickr desktop app? Have you tried Flickroom? Do you know of any similar apps? Let me know in the comments.
