iPad?

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I pad?

Feb 15,2010

it seems that as of yesterday I was the only one in the world who didn't know what an ipad is.  Ok so I don't watch TV and I don't really get out much. But, I'm a multi level Mac user. I love my 27" imac and can't live with out my iphone which retired my ipods. I'm on the internet daily and I live in NYC yet still; Ipad ipad everyone's talking, blogging, texting, tweeting about it and I've not a clue. My best guess... oversized ipod? Or maybe a charger like this wireless charging pad that came out last fall.  I key in apple.com, it opens up with revealing the talk of the global town, an oversized iphone more specifically iPod touch.  

Immediately my mind is flooded with questions

Will it run OSX/ Jaguar or ipone OS3 some thing new?

Will it sync content with your ipod/phone vice versa?

Will I be able to email multiple photos?

What about my apps?

What about wi-fi and 3g? How much will it cost?

Will I be able to access and edit my notes on my Mac with out emailing back and forth

Am I gonna get more than an hour and a half of battery life?

In another tab a google search reveals  this quote:

"Last time there was this much excitement about a tablet, it had some conmmandments written on it."

- The Wall Street Journal

Still I wanted to hear it straight from the horses mouth. I click on the Keynote. Steve's back great good 4  him. Now about this ipad! Steve described the iPad as a 3Rd category product situated between a lap top and a smart phone. That is "far batter at doing some key tasks...otherwise has no reason for being" The key features he described: Browsing, email, Photos, Video, Music, Games and Ebooks .

GENERAL KEY NOTE SYNOPSIS:

HARDWARE: 

Specs

.5' thin 1.5lbs

16GB-32GB -64GB FLASH 

WIF 802.11n

Bluetooth 2.1

9.7"IPS COLOR DISPLAY 

MULTI TOUCH SENSOR 

1GHZ APPLE A4 CHIP

ACCELERMETER 

30 PIN CONNECTOR 

10 hr Battery life ex; video  from SF TO TOKYO  THE WHOLE WAY 

1 moth standby life

 and its green 

COST

The ipad will  retail for 

WiFi MODELS 

16GB $499  32GB $599  64GB $699

3g MODELS

16GB $629  32GB $729  64GB $829

Apple Care? My estimate is around $99

3G MODELS  (US To ship Late April)

 (ATT Service in the US)

250MG DATA/ MONTH $14.99

UNLIMITED PLAN $29.99

FREE USE OF WI FI HOTSPOTS

ACTIVATE ON iPAD

NO CONTRACTS 

Ipad arrives unlocked 

Uses new GSM micro SIMs so should work on any carrier.

SOFTWARE

iphone OS 3.2 ?

iPhone SDK will support iPad development complete with ipad simulator. 

While demoing his  "Brushes",  app Steve Sprang, stated " Brushes takes full advantage of the new interface elements available in the iPhone OS 3.2." My iphone runs 3.1.3 and as recently as Today itunes says "Your iPhone software is up to date. iTunes will automatically check for update again on 4/3/10." Ironically, this is the official release date for the ipad. It's my guess that apple will release the OS 3.2 on 4/3/10 along with the ipad. Will iphone users have to pay for this upgrade? We will have to wait and see I imagine not or is it just wishful thinking. 

IPad comes with revised versions of the standard pre-installed apps you'd expect to find on your iphone. Don't let the familiar app icons fool you all iPad apps sport new looks and interfaces.

Photos: Photos are shown as stacks and has built in slide shows new features include events, geo tagging  and new slide show features that take advantage of the new screen real estate. 

ipod- 

Calender- 

Contacts / Address book 

Maps- uses googles "back end"  street views 

Itunes Store with itunes U visually reflects the style of the itunes store on a mac. 

Youtube: including HD

Videos: also resemble  itunes menu with floating cover Icons & split screen chapter break downs as in DVD menus. 

What about my old apps?

Ipad also runs most iphone/ ipod touch apps unmodified right out of the box. Users have the option of running the app black boxed at the iphone screen size or use pixel doubler to run full screen. 

iBooks

iBooks Store built in to the app. You can  preview and purchase e-books stored on a book shelf in the ibooks app. also includes Ny Times Best Sellers list. 

i work 

Apple demoed completely redesigned versions of Keynote, Pages & Numbers  with a clever new interface for ipad. The Ipad versoin of Iwork looks great and is compatible with Mac versions, easily connects to projectors, heres a synopsis.

Keynote- Slides  runs in landscape and uses a media navigator to select images. Keynote features multi slide select,  guides, resizing, one touch match resizing, rotating masking, animations, transitions and more.

Pages-Use templates, Edit texts, Place images, auto text wrap around a graphic, format, create 

Numbers- Create spreadsheets, add photos link charts to tables save multiple spreadsheets in one document. Rearrange columns tables charts etc. Add data and do calculations. Numbers also sports multiple soft keyboards for ease of data entry. 

I work is available as individual programs or a suite. $10/ app  totaling $30 bucks for the whole suite.  i always get upset when manufactures make a product that is so advanced but then make you pay for basic features that should be included as part of the preinstalled package. Especially disappointing for this product considering its most likely potential users are students beautiful as is may be it's still a little pricy. Although we love our note pad a key feature missing from both iPad and the iPhone is a word processor.

Consumer market

Many have argued that there is no market for such a product. That may be so but I also recall the same argument about a little product called the ipod. I can think of a host of uses for such a product. 

Students- this product makes total sense for a student. 

I can access the internet my school's website & digital black board download assignments pdfs  and email my professors. 

For the last year I've been taking notes exclusively on my iphone and recording lectures. I've even written entire papers, later to be revised in an actual  The problem with that is the tiny keyboard and lack of battery life. My hands cramp from holding the phone and the battery is dead before the lecture is over. I always have to make sure my phone is fully charged then I leave and find a seat in the front of the lecture hall near an outlet. The ipad's slim design almost full sized keyboard and extended battery life would resolve those issues. 

Artists Photographers Models  I can think of thousands of applications for business surveyors and so on and so forth.

Other markets may not want to talk about at product launch are education and Health Care industry applications alone are endless. 

Reservations:

Keyboard lacks #s on the top row that still sucks.
Still no flash.

ipad, come on Really?

1st i-mpressions:

Steve is a great orator and I was easily excited by his keynote speech. As the demo went on I became less impressed. 

Personally for me this IS an in between product i'd love to have but, probably wouldn't purchase for my self unless i had a few extra bills lying around. I have greater demands for my mobile computing and the ipad doesn't seem to offer much more than a larger screen. Perhaps future apps and accessories will address this. Still as far as I can see there's no way to connect say USB device or camera.  When the iPod photo came out there was a peripheral that allowed you to transfer files from a card reader but it worked via the pin port and  took forever and killed the battery before large transfers were completed. Also you couldn't view the files and forget about raw files. Again maybe a software update could resolve that. I'm not optimistic.

 It's perfect for my mom who hasn't a clue how to use my iphone much less a computer. The computer is a bit daunting but the iPad icon based, visually familiar, less daunting and easier to learn how operate. In the end while a great product it leaves much to be desired  if you're a tech whore. As for the general public, I expect consumers will consume ravenously.

"It needs to do everything... better"

Experience, speed and a large screen are going to be the iPad's greatest features. Yes it browses the web faster and games and video look better duh the screen is bigger and it's the latest piece of technology, of course it will browse, launch and operate faster. Don't we all expect the next ipone to out match the first gen ipad? Further frustrating was the noticeable absence of flash. Yes as Steve showed us how beautiful the internet was,  the "REAL"  internet as promised with the original iphone: the ominous blue lego cube appeared more than a few times on the NY Times site especially designed for the ipad as well as Time Magazine. Beyond that I'm afraid my worst fears are confirmed. it's just a big ipod. Bigger and faster maybe even more fun to use but a big iPod none the less. Still is that such a bad thing

What's next?

Apple has been historically tight lipped about future projects so your guess is as good as mine. However, I'd put my money on a new iphone late June/ July 2010.  According to Apple history this is the time they typically introduce new products. Some say an iPhone redesign is past due. Let's face it phone 3g was not much of an upgrade.  I was mentioning this article to a friend of mine and he replied..

"What's an ipad?"

Gap in Gay Apps, Apple & Censorship

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Gap in Gay Apps Apple & Censorship

An iPhone or iPod Touch is one of the coolest most fashionable personal devices on the world. Millions of gays own them. But even in 2010 like much of the mass media, with the exception of the internet, there is a lack of gay content.

At the very least Apple did put the whole Internet in the palm of our hands. Almost. When the iphone launched Apple ads promised the internet the "real internet". A reference to the fact that at the time mobile devices accessed mobile versions of internet sites or watered down text based content. Via safari you can You can not however view any Internet content that requires flash. I did some research on Apples battle with adobe and it's more than I care to speak on in this article. Suffice to say, Apples promise falls just a little short.


Potential Unrealized:
I finally got my iPhone, arriving fashionably late to the iparty with the introduction of the iPhone 3g.
My 1st impression was, great potential.  A few key features were missing; cut and paste, video, and mms were later resolved. I kept waiting and waiting for my fave websites, magazines and comics to issue iPhone apps and digital issues. How awesome would it be to have an app that could access mail profiles and allow you to chat with your buddies.

These apps already existed for social networking giants like face book and Twitter I struggle to mention myspace. Aol and yahoo both have apps for chat. I can't even tell you the last time I used either.

Some sites now offer an iPhone version of their sites and some comics have issued digital issues, almost 2 years later I'm still waiting.

With the iPad coming out April 03 and claims of revolutionizing personal devices, a boom for developers publishing giants and self publishing, I find my self browsing the AppStore and Internet looking wondering where is the Queer Revolution?
Out... to lunch?
A search for Gay on the AppStore reveals a meager list of a handful of apps mostly "pictorial" subscriptions.

Where are the Queer apps?

The only area where these seem to thrive, I use the term loosely is social networking (SN) With SN being the buzz word of the neo digital era I anticipated an explosion of gay SN apps. Not so. This far the few that exist are barely worth mention save they are the only few that exist. There are two however few that stand out from the pack desrving marked praise.
*Since I began this article several new SN apps have appeared but still are lack luster leaving me disinterested. For more on those apps I'll be posting reviews in the Lewd Tech. section of this blog.

recon- fetish social networking site
I was happy to see this app as Im already a member of the Internet website. Secondly, I saw this as a sign of the times and Apple's comitment to diversity. Strangely enough there was no advertising about their app on their website which currently offers an iPod Touch for some promotion. May have something to do with their business model since recon relies on subscription for full access to their site. I suspect they will expand their app to include more features beyond the very limited capabilities of the current app which allows you to chat with people on your favorites list and view a simplified profile. If you guys are reading I have fantastic ideas for your site and app.
*Since I began writing this article, recon has updated their app to include "who's nearby" as well as a member redirect to a sign up page once you have reached your limit. Interestingly enough the description reads guy finder and all reference to fetish removed.

Grindr- a social network app that a buddy of mine mentioned this app to me and "what's that?", was my response. Once I did a search, I realized I'd seen it before but, it never jumpped out at me. My experience with Grindr was more bitter than sweet. I started off excited at the prospect of viewing profiles of pervs in and around my area down to a few feet! My elation lasted less than a day. I logged on to find my profile had been deleted for " breech of terms". This has happened several times and even as I key this article I'm awaiting a resons as to why my profile was actually deleted.
Reply received

"Damian,
Thanks for your reply. Your web link was being censored because it was advertising your photography...Hope this helps and let me know if I can help you further.
Regards,
--
(name CENSORED DL)
Grindr Support"

So I cut and pasted this into my profile text and entitled it so much for social "networking".
Several profile deletions, revisions, and another email to Grindr support I got this reply...

"Thanks for contacting us and I apologize if you feel your profile has been wrongly censored. Apple has issued new, more strict photo/text guidelines for social networking apps and we must censor anything that is considered overly sexual or in any way sexually suggestive. We must abide by these new rules in order to continue providing the Grindr app."
The irony of this...
To download this app you must be 17 blah blah blah so why rate  the app if your going to censor the fuck out of it so that my 6y/o nephew can used it. I thought this was an Adult app. Additionally the name   Grindr is very suggestive. Grind Her or Grin Dr.... come on....

Other than that it's a pretty good app with most of the basic featutres profiles chat buddy and beacon you can even send additional pics. One key missing feature is cut and paste. It makes for a clumsy transition if you meet someone and they send your number you can't dial direct or even copy paste to say your contacts. Grindr will soon be celebrating it's 1 yr anniversary. (See article Grindr Party @ Splash Bar NY)
*Since I began writing this article, Grindr has issued an update to include landscape typing.

Best for last:
Gage Diel- a social network for Gay Men. This app is so good I wrote a review on the app store and wrote to the developer. A first on both accounts. (see full review in article Perfecttly Gaged) Many other reviews made statements like this one, "this is what Grindr was supposed to be".
This only shows that we are here and we do want gay apps.

All content is not created equal:

Personally, I like to monitor the the App Store's content. As Queer man & artist with an interest in putting out a few apps of my own. I did some research and apps are EXPENSIVE to make. We're talking upwards of $1000 for the most basic app to $100,000 for a multifunction app. There are subscription sites popping up that offer basic apps and hosting for more reasonable fees but strangly provide little information no examples or previously created apps. All seems a bit dodgy to me. I'll sit this on out and wait and see.

With R rated Films like Saw et al and programs sold on iTunes from networks like HBO SHOWTIME inclusive Logo and off colour programs like South Park and Rick Steve ( all excellent programming ) one would think now is the time things are moving in the right direction.

I'm so tired of the excuse, the children.
I wouldn't want to be a parent but if you have these kinds of concerns can't monitor your children and their devices (which have parental settings and req a credit card to have an acct) then you shouldn't have kids and or they shouldn't have these devices. Or just use the fucking parental settings. Whatever the case it ain't my problem. Besides you can find far more sexually suggestive content on face book myspace et al. Censorship Isn't just a queer issue Apple's recent rash of censorship is not gender specific. Well not exactly.

The Blogosphere is ablaze with stories of Apple's interest in censorship.
Apple's claim that social networking profiles are getting out of hand and they're focusing on going after "bikini"mag type apps. (Has something to do with things that appear in yhe app store and how apps get listed according to # of downloads.) Yet if you type the word "magazine" in the search field and Playboy is a top app on the app stores list. No 5.

Clearly plolitics and money are the key factors in this equation like frenzied over reaction to Janet Jacksons wardrobe fiasco to Pot head Michael Phelps comes down to dollars and cents
Sponsors don't want to be associated with anything that middle America dens dirty. Face it we still have queer senators fighting against queer rights in America the great. Daunting but when has the status quo been surprising. Can you imagine backlash if an Apple product associated say a situation like the craigs list killer. I can the rss feeds and head lines now "TheQueer App killer" "Bad Apple" "forbidden fruit" Apple slasher strikes again. Just look at what it did for craigslist. Since then craigs list has added so much burracracy and censorship terms and conditions that it's not even worth using anymore.

Has Apple gone the way of MTV?
Remember that revolutionary little network that used to play 24 hr music videos but, sold out and now serves up more manufactured "reality" bullshit than all the other networks combined.

What's Erie about the whole censorship thing is this. Do you remember the 1984 Apple commercial introducing the mac? It was a take on the film 1984.



If your not familiar but, this seems familiar it's because. President Obama's campain ran a similar ad against Hiliary Clinton... Piggybacking on that ideal.



...but I digress.

When I think of Apple, I think America apple pie, natural, the little guy, recycling, energy saving, art friendly, media, great products and service. Progressive movements America has taken a few steps forward and a few hundred backward. I hope Apple's new policies are not a reflection of their falling in line.


- Posted from my iPhone

Ricky Martin Queer?

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"I'm proud to say that I am a fortunate homosexual man. I am very blessed to be who I am."

Yes it's true kids, there's been nothing wrong with your gaydar all these years. You can now feel vindicated in all the heated arguements thrown drinks and fag drama. Ricky Martin is gay. We already knew that, the news is that he admits his sexual orientation as a homo. According to news & blog sources, Ricky came out Today in a statement posted to Twitter in which he referred to himself as a "fortunate homosexual".
Rick's coming out comes on the heels of beginning writing his memoirs. Martin cites this, his two children and conversations with loved ones for his decision.

Ricky has remained reservedly private, avoiding the topic of his sexuality. In a 2000 interview with Barbara Walters, Ricky was as reserved dispite her efforts to extricate an admission.

All I have to say is, each in his own time and Ricky, we welcome you to the Lewd Life.

A late night visit to rickymartin.com Monday night revealed a nearly empty web page. A blue bacground with white text.

"Thank you for visiting Ricky Martin We are currently updating Ricky Martin and will be back soon. Come back soon"

Don't worry we'll be watching.

- Posted from my iPhone

Markus

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- Posted from my iPhone

Black Party Blues

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Original Photo: Joe Oppedisano NexT Mag (Mar 12, 2010 17.37)
March 22, 2010
Most of my peers are @ or on their way to the infamous Black Party. Likely rolling, grinding, sucking, fucking the night and day away. I however, have a 10 am Behavioral Neuro Science class to attend and I need my wits about me. You might day take the day off or leave early I really can't. Shame I've never been. There's always next year.

- Posted from my iPhone

China's Newest Fitness Sport: NY Times 03.10.03

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WORLD

China's Newest Fitness Sport

A growing number of Chinese women are experimenting with the country's newest, and most controversial, fitness activity.

Produced by Jimmy Wanghttp://video.nytimes.com/video/2008/07/18/world/1194817103513/chinas-newest-fitness-sport.html

Confessions of An APP Addict 03.06.10

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The problem with the iPhone is, 150,000 apps in the palm of your hand = 149,000 distrations to keep me from what I have to do. All the while keeping me feeling like Im still being productive but, Im not.
Like right now it's 11:58 on a sat night. I should be studying for a Behavioral neuro science exam but I'm watching lost on Hulu and writing my prescious blog.
I could just as easily be using the 3D Brain mapping App I downloaded or listening to lectures.
Pause while I roll one.
Back and burning and not believing I'm dong this to myself.
Logging off wish me luck on tomorrows exam.



- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone