With a design so sleek you’d be forgiven for finding it resist fingertips from its glassy (and yes, sexy) exteria. Apple’s new iPad is best savoured, and welcomed, as a socially acceptable aesthetic experience. That, or I’m risking going all Nigella on you for nothing. Yes, it does look like an over-sized clipboard/iPhone hybrid. Trust me that doesn’t detract from its irresistibility. Even when in the hands of black-t-shirted Mr Jobs.
Here at Girlygeekdom we know/enjoy that new technology comes along in rather rapid succession. And just because somethings ‘new’ (and shiny) it doesn’t make it right. Sometimes its taken up with a flourish – recall if you will Nintendo’s first GameBoy. Other times the new toys disappoint – like the not so tasty LG Chocolate mobile phone. A device that promised to be all good taste, if not perform some sort of gadgetry performance akin to a gorgeous sugary high. In case you missed it, it didn’t.
Fast-forward four years and bring forth Apple’s iPad. Those of you familiar with the GG blog will know that I am a long-time Apple lover. I haven’t let this little state of affairs flavour this review, if anything it’s made me more critical. Apple have never paid me to write reviews, add commentary or (unlike Mr Fry) handed over new devices for free. I won’t bore you with how I got hold of one, however, what I will let slip is that this was a stressful experience mediated by conversations that included ‘tracking’, ‘order’, ‘accepted’, ‘dispatched’, ‘delay’ and ‘somewhere’…
The somewhere is now here with me, as it has been for two weeks now. You won’t need to be told how to use the iPad. The design is explicitly sleek to promote the smooth stroking action required surf, explore, interact and, yes, even type. I ordered mine with an accompanying keyboard. That particular aid attachment is still experiencing some of the above adventures of the iPad – as in ‘dispatched’, ‘delayed’ and ‘not here’… A review on that addition WHEN it gets here.
Another brief reference to Mr Fry, do download his new FryPaper application and marvel at the book-like experience of page-turns amidst, as always, his best of wit and social commentary. Then open the Winnie The Pooh adventures for more of the same and shamelessly indulge your child/ish side. Better yet, borrow some children and invite them to discover their own amusement amongst Pooh and his friends. IF this were a Marks and Spencer advertisement it would go something like this, (adopts mockish snobbery eloquence): This isn’t any old application; this is an iPad application.
Continuing with the foodie theme, if it’s the hardware that’s your thing then imagine Apple did this: ‘We took a pound of creamery butter, wrapped it in 12 different kind of sugar, covered it in rich chocolate, poured over sprinkles…’ (cue Homer Simpson salivation). Proof that the finest technology IS about the function, AND its staying power is secure where the emphasis is on the attention to detail, design and interaction. Accessories for your iPad are still rather thin on the ground, for now we’ll just have to carry on with a rather strategic BIG ass pocket fashion forward.
There are guaffs amongst some iPad onlookers; ‘what on earth do you want an oversized iPhone for?’ Yes, well sit these nay-sayers down – as I did over the weekend – and watch the minutes spin punctated by the ooh’s and aah’s of appreciation. Mr Jobs your new congregation is waiting in the wings.
I am aware, so far, that I haven’t really relayed any of the functionality of the iPad to you dear reader. My reasoning is thus, you do not need to be told the ‘how’ you are going to enjoy the caressing of the iPad and wonder at its digital image resolution – which is truly superb by the way. You may need to justify ‘why’, but this is between you, Steve Jobs and your bank manager. As is the ‘when’. The ‘where’ I can supply you with: Everywhere. So let us assume that you’re already partly convinced by the drama, hype and beauty of the product and have been equally curious/captivated by the ‘buzz’ and reams of commentary that has accompanied The Launch and been persistent ever since. What next? You want to know what you can actually do with your iPad.
So let us now turn to the Top Five Finest (and free) iPad Applications
Hit me with music – So sings Mr B. Marley. Hit me indeed. But, whats that? You have no musical training. For shame, well may I recommend that you download the Red Fish app. This ones from the French – so it’s got to be good. Red Fish is based on the website Poisson Rogue and theirs is a FreshPlanet liscenced game with a learning edge. No! don’t fall asleep– this IS for game play and not for boring lessons. Red Fish makes the most of iPad design engaging nimble fingers to compose music – oh, you can also count, read and spell… blah, blah, blah – But it’s the music composition – via the touch piano – to get you twinkling that is a marvel of adept cultural experience. Marvel at your quick fingered-ness. If you don’t others will, as I rather discovered on a longish train journey London to York last week. The two hours flew by. I didn’t get the carriage singing, but I was swaying in a good way.
Next up, calling all dedicated bloggers: Of equal composition potential is the WordPress iPad application. Like me, if you’ve ever been frustrated with on-the-go blogging via your not-so-smart phone, content management is has progressed to become a better experience. I hesitate to use the word ‘delight’ because this app. has a long way to go. The edit mode isn’t as slick as it could be, but you can experience the admiring intakes of breath and gasps of your fellow commuters/public audience as you make a pretence of looking very-important amid the smooth-ish interplay of blog updates. I’m including this app. in the TopFive because I do write and publish all the time and WordPress usually caters for all eventualities. HOWEVER, the iPad is yet to have all the WordPress functionality without the jerks and jolts of testing/maddening tiny screens and timed out network connections. So an enthusiastic huzzah to potential, and a im/patient wait for updates. Overall, this is mostly a joy, not a frustration.
True iPad beauty comes from its captivating visualisation. In short, how any image comes to appear so striking. In terms of app’s there are two favourites here.
First up is The Guardian’s Eyewitness app. full-colour compelling news photography. Great for intricate detail, people watching and sensory overload exposure. Particularly effective are the series of crowds. I like to play my own version of ‘where’s Wally’ in the crowd images and to stay informed with present events. An app. that is smart and distracting. Perfect.
Second up, and for all those Chemists out there, The Elements. For all those not into your chemical symbols marvel at the periodic table up close and personal. Play God; you can flick, rotate by 360 degrees and scrutinise each one. The geek in me adores this app. For the true geek initiated (and if you’ve your Avatar 3D glasses still to hand) you can experience each element in glorified 3D. A must-app. for the attention to detail focused – and creative criminal mastermind wanting to get creative with Kryptonite.
Finally for that all essential status updating you want to squeeze out of any day and turn mediocre what ya doing into melodrama there is Tweetdeck. This is THE multipurpose and rather lush looking Twitter app. IF you haven’t experience the virtues of split column updates load this onto your iPad/iPhone/desktop – there’s a version for all. Master at the flows of information that skim beneath your fingertip touch. Now it is even easier to Follow and ditch fellow Twitter-er’s. This feels sleek. It looks incredible, with big wonderful buttons that bring out the nostalgic ‘can I press that button?’ Science Museum child in me. Happy happy happy.
The best app. of all? Why those admiring stares and gasps of intrigue as you’ve the power of the web at your fingertips. And no, you can’t touch mine.
About Dr Mariann Hardey
I hold the position of Lecturer in Social Media Marketing at Durham Business School. I also spend too much time enjoying social technologies, media+ stuff. That'll make me a Geek then. And a gal.
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