Thoughts on the various tablets?

I think the new beta has drawing tools.

Is Noterize free kris?!

Oh not normally, just a one-off thing by looks of it. Downloaded, looks good...

Yeah just had a quick play, looks like it will do pretty much everything notetaking-wise. Keyboard a little slow to pop up at times though.

Holy crap Noterize looks fecking great.


Your taxes, my iPad

Fuuuuuuck yes, just whored a fuckton. Top 3 I actually bought for school, will be a nice option to have.

Monopoly
Battleship
Scrabble
NBA Jam
Tiger Woods PGA
NFS Shift
NFS Hot Pursuit
Risk
FIFA '11
C&C Red Alert (FUCK YES)
SimCity Deluxe
Ultimate Mortal Kombat 3

Total Spend: $15.48 Fuck I love this shit.

Taxes? You'd think taxes paid for mine too, but instead, filthy liquor and pokies money did instead :>

Ultimate MK3!?

How does that play on the touch screen?



gc.

Like just about every other game does on the touch screen, d-pad style "joystick" and buttons. You can see here but the joystick is obscured. You get the idea though.

Sorry mate, I meant quality of gameplay as opposed to mechanics... Should have been clearer.



gc.

Just tried Noterize. Good, bit slow like has been said, and it doesn't want to display diagrams made from 3rd party applications, or display greek symbols. The latter two are a killer for me.

Yeah although the one thing Notes Plus has that is AMAZING for lots of handwritten notes is this amazing zoom that moves as you write so you can just keep writing screeds of text across the whole page. Hard to describe, but basically zooms in for writing and then has this very smart way of moving the zoom along.

If you want to write zoomed-in on Noterize it basically doesn't work (you get to the edge of the screen then can't move on without double-tapping and dragging)...


Nice work on the game haul Kris - I've actually run out of room on the device itself (16Gb only) because the games and magazines are so large though... iCloud re-download of previous purchases is helping manage that though

I'm not keeping fuck all media on it, which helps. 1.24gb for FIFA '11 tho? :>

That video is the big chunk I can dump, it's 3 HD docos that I'm using simply for the purposes of new toy demo.

Yeah I must have like 8-9Gb in apps. No music on it, maybe a Gig of Video. Looking forward to the new usage settings in iOS5 - will show you actual usage by app.

I got a transformer, it's awesome. Just a shame that Amazon marketplace doesn't work in New Zealand

Pffft 16GB. 64 or death. :>

Do you guys have the 3G/wifi ones or just wifi? Much need for 3G for your purposes kris?

I haven't used it a shitload yet, but when I have I've been really thankful for it. 3G or death imo

Edit: obviously if you have tethering to your smartphone option, theres that to consider too, but I find it much easier having it built in.

I guess the advantage of MK over other 2D fighters is there's a lot fireball and dragon punch motions which are notorious difficult on anything but a proper joystick (console controller thumbsticks are not proper joysticks).

Hehe. I haven't really used it in a mobile sense yet. That's what my perfectly good iPhone is for.

I've read reviews of GarageBand that say the microphone in the the 3G version is muddy and unclear because of the different setting it sits in on the top of the iPad, maybe that's something to consider if you plan to record your debut solo album on it...

Otherwise it all depends on how much you think you will use the 3G. Enough to justify the extra monthly fee another sim card would incur? Personally I didn't think so, so I went wi-fi only. You can always personal hot spot the iPhone if need be.

Yeah good call.. I completely forgot about the personal hot spot thing; that sounds like the go in the rare-ish instances I'll have a use for 3G. Considering getting a 32gb wifi one.. they're pretty cheap

I have a wifi only 64GB. I have tethered it to my iPhone with no real issue. It runs the battery down on the phone a bit, but it doesn't really matter in the end as I only really use my iPad when I am in range of wifi anyway.

I would like to hear more on this awesomeness and also Amazon deficit disorder please.

As I said last time, what monthly fee? Prepay nigga. Also he's in Australia where deals are considerably better than here too.

Well, kinda better (for data only)

unlimited for $110 a month I'm told

You would pay $110 a month just to have 3G data on your iPad?

I don't deal in no ghetto ass prepay shit!

Heh, well that makes sense, I didn't realise they did a prepay data only deal for the micro sim.

nope but I might if it was on iphone and I could tether

All 3 providers do in fact.

yup I just had a data only top up on my telecom micro sim for iphoney

Amazon marketplace is an alternative to Android market for apps. They have quite a bit of overlap, the bonus of Amazon marketplace is that you get a free app daily (that you would otherwise have to pay for)

Is there anything in particular you would like to know about the transformer? I haven't had it long, as they haven't been in the country long so I'm still getting settled

I have to say that Transformer looks really nice. Had a look at JB a couple of days ago and can almost see myself getting one instead of the iPad.

Anyone done any photo editing on the iPad? What's the best app? Photoshop express? ...will be looking to do some basic editing of photos and uploading to "cloud" while I am overseas.

Got photoshop express and photogene. Photogene seems much better. Can export straight from the app to facebook/flickr/dropbox etc.

I had a wee play wth a 16 gb model today without dock/keypad that comes included with 32 gb version, which is expected in tomorrow. Very nice form factor and screen etc. Would like to hear of any bugbears and if you are familiar with ipad a comparitive analysis would be good to hear.

I'm considering this a very strong contender but as I have iphone and am committed for 2 years, having an ipad2 could be more convenient for me on balance what with apps and dna.

Pros/cons?

Just saw the vid that Q put on Plus - looks pretty fucken sweet.

Will let him dig it up!



gc.

pbtech has the 16gb with keyboard on display from this arvo, was messing with it and convinced is an ipad contender, 32 gb version on sale soon but with 2 sd card slots there is plenty of expansion available as it is


http://www.asus.com/Eee/Eee_Pad/Eee_Pad_Transformer_TF101/

can you give some more details on your first-hand impressions of it?

very little to distinguish it for the lesser in terms of quality of build from the ipad

the screen is equal to the ipad and the response times in terms of touch screen seem as good

it has flash ability which is a big improvement as are all the ports - I took along my seagate goflex hdd and it was able to see its content but not play codecs without the requisite app

I've been reading on amazon some negative reviews from users re dead batteries and so on but mostly only good reviews - it's still early days and one could reasonably expect some firmware updates and some software to sort out the camera hd video recording and playback issues

it has so much more versatility than the ipad that it is churlish to criticise it for lack of accessories - you just don't need most of 'em - for instance there are now wifi hard drives coming out just to serve the tablet (read ipad) market which, if you read reviews introduce security issues - the eee can be connected using regular cable via keyboard, no need for expensive new wifi hdd which cannot be used on airplane for starters

you don't really need a case for it unless you anticipate disconnecting from the dock and packing it with you and then a simple sleeve would suffice - the extra battery life of the dock gives it a huge advantage over the ipad so long as this works out in real life conditions

I'm 90% sold on it myself

Hard to give a proper pros/cons withouth spending some real time with it but so far from everything I have seen its def above the iPad for me.

The iPad is smaller (thinner and lighter) but also has a smaller screen. The Asus 10.1" compared to the iPads 9.7". Battery life looks to be the same but when you add the Asus keyboard dock to it you can add another 10+ hours where Apple's dock is around 8hrs. I like the feel of the Asus better, the bronze back looks dope and when you add the keyboard dock to it and close it, its nicely protected without having to cover it with some horrible piece of leather.

Asus has better camera's front and back when it comes to quality even though they are the same megapixel. (Actually think the Asus is 1.3mp in the back and Apple only 0.3mp)

Asus has 2 x USB ports, one on each side so another plus and it also comes with a microSD card slot if you feel you need more space. Everything else is the same, Bluetooth, 3G if you want it, Wireless b/g/n

OS's are well yeah you can guess, Apple OS or Android 3.0 Honeycomb however I will be upgrading to 3.1 as soon as I plug it in.

Pricing here in Aus is $499 for the 16GB and another $150 for the keyboard or $780 for the 32GB that includes the keyboard.

Going to pick one up after work today so will come back to you later. Was going to buy Jo one but she wants to play Smurfs so guess she is getting an iPad instead.

Hah sweet... Yeah do let me know Gunna be doing a bunch more reading over the weekend but it's good to get first-hand accounts I can trust

these two reviews should give you a good idea

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KUm6D9cVuRQ

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W3N9MmKy87s&feature=relmfu

Def a great purchase. One of us uses it most evenings

So this Asus transformer is pretty awesome. Took me some time to get my head around Android HC 3.1, love the fact that I can customise it so much. Widgets is brilliant Only downfall at the moment is having to wait for people to update their apps to support HC 3.1

Few things to note: USB ports is only on the added keyboard, the camera to me is not as good as the iPad however both my brother and Jo says I'm blind. Its noticebly heavier and thicker than the iPad, I didnt think you will really notice it but you do.

The wider screen is awesome, specially if you are watching media on it (Plex Media Server for everything you need, Apple and Android). The build quality is very very good can't fault it at all. Also didn't know but its got build in GPS, hooking it up to the iPhone for internet goodness when I'm out of the house is easy as fuck.

SO far so good.

You can get an accessory that gives usb without keyboard.

Also coming very soon is ability to resize android apps so ones that are still phone size will fit tablet much better.

http://android-developers.blogspot.com/2011/07/new-mode-for-apps-on-large-screens.html

Ugh, 200% scale up, pixelated hell.

Yeah fuck that, iPad does the same sort thing and it looks horrible. Just dev the program so it works on HC.

DIY build like this guy

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I6TAguL2nFU

messed around a bit on hp touchpad this weekend and gotta say some of the reviews are overly harsh

integrates seamlessly with pre and is bt enabled to make phone calls using pre, google chat is effortlessly synched and integrated between devices and so on

only time will tell if app store becomes as well stocked as apple's

Here's a tip: it won't.

webOS is streets ahead of iOS and only needs the quality apps equiv so volume is not tone

Can you list some reasons?

to which I have to add as frustrated ios user that after observing webos over past three years I can only concur

heck apple had to poach palm's notification's guru to get ios 5 alive, so much promised in ios5 has been on palm for years

BUT form factor of palm pres I still can't contend with though licencing out webos might add some variety of this

for me a a smaller galaxy s2 and slightly thicker but larger than iphone ff would suit; no slide out keyboard for me

Are you really going to try and tell me two of the main reasons it's better are "synergy" and "internals"?

Or are those headings?

Either way it's a fairly shoddy list.

Also I am very surprised to learn webOS is built with XML.

What does that mean for the non programmers amongst us?



gc.

It's doesn't mean anything.

problem of quoting fanboys

HTML:

http://mobile.tutsplus.com/tutorials/webos/introduction-to-webos-3-0-enyo/

should have done a better job of editing

for other info

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/WebOS

but there are a whole host of ui features I think are better such as the ergo arc for thumb unlocking on pre and discreet notifications, cloud updating backing up, whatever

and then there's FLASH it just works and I want it to and so do a host of other frustrated ios users

the synergy feature is explained in that wiki article and it works

good thing for me is I just bought hp laptop so webos release for this would be a bonus should I go the tablet route

Flash is rubbish on touch devices as far as I can tell. Maybe 1 out of 5 websites work properly on my Android phone.

Will read new links.

that touchstone and touch to share feature are petty good too

don't forget to read user comments in fanboy's second link, some are ex ios people familiar with both systems

Ho ho ho. Ahhhhhh hahaha. I mean really, 'no need to download browsers and email clients'? What? I haven't ever had to do that on iOS.


Just fucking laughable.


Sure, WbOS has some nice points, but the fact remains it's an also-ran and will remain so. The only thing that will bomb worse is Blackberry.

There's only one tablet that's selling and 1000's that aren't. HP/WebOS certainly won't be the ones to change that any time soon.

we should re-visit this in a year or so and see if you are proved right but I think i know where my synergies are taking me

slowly as I won't be making a decision until ipad 3 and touchpad 2 are out

HO HO HO

louder

This reminds me, we were meant to the same thing with the Windows Phone 7 thread.

do that in another year too by which time nokia may have a decent model or two out there on that platform

Too slow to rollout on top of the usual NZ problem of dismal selection. At least it's still a platform with some future though :>

The only reason it has future is locked in companies and near endless cash reserves behind it.

the tablet wars are hotting up - your choice may be restricted a little

http://www.nzherald.co.nz/technology/news/article.cfm?c_id=5&objectid=10742582

No one cares about stupid tit for tat patent troll wars.

unless you want to buy a samsung galaxy that is

Or you want an HTC Sensation in America!



gc.

Who didn't like the bit where Samsung sued Apple for infringing on Samsung touch screen patents.......while on the other hand, building and supplying the touchscreens Apple use. :>


It's all simply tit for tat bullshit with each player flexing their patent muscles. "Oh, you wanna go after us for that patent? OK, we'll come after you with this one, this one and that one."

http://www.thisamericanlife.org/radio-archives/episode/441/when-patents-attack
An excellent listen (or read if you just follow the transcript) on the subject of patent trolls.

TBH I haven't paid much attention but it sounds like Google / Android are the worst infringers in the area?



gc.

The article states that Apple is suing Samsung for patent infringement for the touchscreens, not the other way around?

That's this weeks one, to do with tablets. I'm talking about the one from a few weeks ago, about phones. That's why I've used the term tit for tat 3 times now.

Yes, BUT......only because they don't have a huge mountain of patents to fight back.

That's why Google was bidding for the huge pile of patents from Nortel, so they can play the patent troll game too. Except they didn't have the cash to win, a consortium of Apple, Microsoft and a bunch of others threw over US$5 billion into the kitty to get their hand son them instead.

Also http://itunes.apple.com/nz/app/the-incredible-machine/id440297659?mt=8 :>

omfg, TIM!

The hp touchpad goes on sale at jb hifi this week.

Just bought iPad2 on Sunday Got 64gb wifi+3G black in the end but only paid for wifi, JB Hi Fi put the wrong one in the box haha

Score!

$679 for 16 gb and $819 for 32 gb at Leemings

Google buy Motorola.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/technology/google/8702132/Google-buys-Motorola-Mobility-in-12.5bn-deal.html



gc.

what droid and wp7 (and hp/palm) need is a universal docking port like iphone so that competing cool devices to all the i this and i that can be manufactured for them, some kind of agreement as to standard between the different manufacturers

Or they could just licence the dock connector


Christ, can you imagine the wailing and gnashing of teeth? Isn't USB universal enough for you? It even has the word universal in its name!

I refer of course to the rather convenient ability to onboard dock and play music/ charge without need of cable that I see no alternative to apple's port and the various idevices that cater to the ipad/phone/[pod iterations

It wouldn't be difficult to come up with an alternative for droids et al

As I said, licence the dock port.

who? apple? why would they if they maintain an advantage?

Jesus you're fucking dense. Apple already has a dock connector, and they already licence it to enable people to make accessories for it.

These Android chumps should just licence it from Apple, then accessory manufacturers can make one version of their device that supports many mobile devices.

They wont, because supposedly Android users want it all to be open and USB and shit, that's what they constantly harp on about.

I had a dream I was in a consumerist riot the other night and on waking I realised I didn't loot an ipad

some days later I still regret not getting mine

concerned of gore

dense am I?

I suppose this is some sort of widely disseminated knowledge? No I didn't think so.

Also why would apple's competitors wish to enrich it further? They already charge like wounded bulls a la their wireless connectivity which also puts cost constraints on those non Mac consumers wishing to use it.

As I said bafore an alternative docking solution could be found.

And they've licensed out the male docking solution alright but not the female that I can see. Which fits with their business strategy.

lol whats that supposed to mean?

The fact that you can go out and purchase many different products with the dock connector should give you a clue. And plenty of these devices have a female socket.



Because of the very thing you mentioned - the wide range of dock connector fitted accessories. And what the hell are you on about with wireless connectivity?



It it would likely look almost identical to the Apple dock. Guess what happens then? Confusion. Great market strategy that.

Fruit Ninja HD multiplayer is fucking awesome so hooked

Since we are on the topic of games. Any recommendations of recent games to play on the iPad? I need plenty of stuff to play whilst I spend large amounts of time in transit in the next couple of months.

True puzzle.
Sim City