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Bringing Your New iPad 2 to Work
As most companies have looked to cut costs any way they could, the result has been a workforce equipped with underpowered devices, plastic enclosures and an outdated mobile paradigm that require most users to carry around a mouse and power cord to be of any real use. Most business users have simply had enough, and for a very affordable price, are starting to fund their own IT revolution by bringing their new iPads to the workplace. Here’s how you can do the same.

Getting Connected

Getting a new iPad 2 is only half the battle. Once you’re at work, before you can reclaim the time you once lost to reboots or hunting for the one free power outlet in the conference room, you realize you need to get connected to the corporate network. For the most part, establishing a new connection to your place of work’s wireless network is quite easy. If you’re running into any issues when connecting, Apple has updated its iPad networking troubleshooting guide. You may also need to contact your IT help desk if you’re unsure about any of your connection settings.

While getting connected may have its technical challenges, don’t be too quick to overlook your company’s data policies and security guidelines concerning HIPPA, COPPA, FACTA and OPPA before attaching your personal device to the network. Even once you’re connected to your business’s network, you may find you’re no longer connected to the internet. This could be because you have yet to configure the proxy settings for your network. Apple has documented a series of deployment scenarios your business can adopt if you’re not the only one who’ll be using an iPad in the workplace.

Accessing Emails Calendars and Contacts

This is where things may get a little tricky, especially if your corporate email server sits behind a firewall. If you’re going to exclusively use your iPad on your business network, they you may not have any issues. But if you plan on taking your iPad outside of that network, it will constantly keep trying to access your email server that’s no longer accessible. For this reason, it may be worthwhile to see if you can access your email via a web-based interface. Both Microsoft Exchange and Lotus Notes offer such solutions.

The built-in iPad Mail app will support Microsoft Exchange, MobileMe, Gmail, Yahoo, AOL and any POP/IMAP email accounts. Setup for these services is easy if you follow the steps outlined in Apple’s online assistant for configuring mail. Most business users will use Exchange to sync mail, calendar and contact data. You may need assistance from your IT help desk to identify the mail server and domain for the solution you need to connect to. Lotus Notes users also have the option to download and install the Lotus Notes Traveler app from the App Store.

If you’re interested in maintaining just your business calendar via Google Calendar and keeping other elements separate, you can set up an account specifically for that purpose, and access multiple calendars via the CalDAV interface.

Establishing a Comfortable Workspace

While the virtual keyboard is great when on the move, there are times when your needs are a little more intense. I’ve always liked the BookArc ($29.99) from Twelve South paired with an Apple Wireless Keyboard. Another great option from Twelve South is the Compass Mobile Stand ($39.99).

JustMobile also has an impressive lineup of iPad stands, including the Slide ($39.99), the UpStand ($49.95) and the Encore ($59.99).

Sharing Ideas with Colleagues

There are thousands of apps that can help you express your ideas and make decisions that help enable your business realize its true potential. From just brainstorming a series of random thoughts in Notion’s Popplet Lite (free), to architecting the next great Internet innovation with The Omni Group’s OmniGraffle ($49.99), the options are endless.

One of the biggest trends is to replace the old school Black N Red note-taking standards of the past with more modern online repositories like Evernote (free), or if you’re looking to draft something with a little more substance, the Dropbox-powered Elements ($4.99) may suffice. When reviewing the work of others, I’ve also found the PDF annotation capabilities of GoodReader ($4.99) quite useful.

You may also find you don’t need more traditional editing applications like DocumentsToGo, QuickOffice, Numbers and Pages as much. I would, however, recommend using Keynote to at least start drafting a presentation or outlining a new idea. Once you’re ready to share, connecting an iPad to an HDTV via HDMI or to a projector via VGA requires only a simple hardware accessory.

Now More Than Ever

At the latest iPad launch, I was able to talk with many individuals who all shared a common need, which was to have a simple, portable, powerful connected device. It struck me as I was conducting the latest round of iOS benchmarks that Moore’s Law may no longer be applicable, as Apple has found a way to enable individuals to think and communicate using less energy and less computing power, not more. You may not be using your iPad in the workplace yet, but even if that’s the case, the day when you will isn’t far off.
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Apple Getting Serious About the Cloud With Free MobileMe in April?
Earlier this month, Macerkopf.de claimed a “trustworthy” source had revealed plans by Apple for a software-only event during the first or second week of April. The event would be to preview iOS 5 and relaunch MobileMe, both of which had been previously rumored for the iPad 2 announcement event, which didn’t happen. According to the rumor, better integration with iOS 5 and MobileMe is expected, as well as more social networking, like the Find My Friends service, and remote photo and media streams.

Citing a “trusted source” at a “major educational institution,” iLounge is also now also predicting a MobileMe relaunch in April. A new, free version of the online service will apparently coexist alongside the current paid version for the next year. Presumably, that would cover those like myself unfortunate enough to have recently renewed their MobileMe account, but without Apple having to offer refunds or credits. However, a deprecated service running alongside a free one seems confusing and very much out of character for Apple, and I think it’s more likely a free service would coexist alongside other paid tiers.

The possibility of an imminent iOS 5 preview does seem likely, too. Last year, the iOS 4 preview showed multi-tasking, Game Center, iAd, and AirPrint, though the last was eventually scaled back from its earlier incarnation. Perhaps we’ll get an update on AirPrint this year in iOS 5 that expands support beyond a few select printers.

As for MobileMe, the recent discontinuation of retail boxes is probably the best indicator of an imminent relaunch. Besides that, it’s been widely rumored that some kind of storage “locker” for media content, music and video, will be part of the service. The most interesting social networking feature that’s been talked about for the service is a new personal homepage, dynamically updated based upon where you are and what you are doing.

While “free” is likely the most anticipated potential feature of a new MobileMe, I’d personally prefer Apple-hosted domains. What features are you looking for in a new MobileMe?
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iPad 2 One Week Later: Still Worth the Upgrade?
I’ve had the iPad 2 for just under a week now (it’ll be exactly a week Saturday morning), and during that time, I’ve gotten a lot of use out of the device. I even leaned on it heavily during an unscheduled emergency archive and reinstall of OS X on my main work Mac. So how do I feel about Apple’s latest tablet after a decent amount of time using it, and do I still think it’s a worthwhile upgrade for owners of the first-gen iPad? Read on to find out.

Same UX, but Better All Around

This shouldn’t surprise anyone, but the iPad 2 provides the same great user experience as the original version. It’s that experience which makes it hard for competitors to come close when it comes to tablet market share, and it doesn’t feel any less impressive despite the lack of any major iOS overhauls since its introduction. (The addition of third-party apps is probably the single most significant change, despite features like multitasking, push notifications, and so on).

User experience benefits from the iPad 2′s improved hardware specifications. The dual-core A5 processor and 512 MB of DRAM provide noticeable speed improvements throughout the OS and apps, and animations look and feels smoother. You’ve probably seen the number around browser performance, but in terms of actual usage, the difference makes the original iPad feel sluggish by comparison. It’s sort of like when you get a new computer even though your last one isn’t very old. It doesn’t seem like performance could be all that much better, but the cumulative effect of under-the-hood improvements really changes the overall experience, even when OS and software all remain the same.

Smart Cover Is Amazing (if Flawed)

I thought maybe the Smart Cover would be like the original iPad’s official case, in that I would use it exactly once and then bury it in disgust. Not so (haha). The Smart Cover actually is as versatile and useful as the promo videos from Apple make it out to be.

I’m using the black leather Smart Cover with my iPad, and although the surface has already endured scratches and wear, they tend to add character rather than make the thing look ratty. Some users with the polyurethane cover have complained of smudges, but owing to material and color, that hasn’t been an issue for me. The only real issue is that the cover doesn’t do anything to protect the vulnerable aluminum back of the iPad 2. As a result, I’ve already got a couple of thin cosmetic scratches back there, but I’ve never yet been able to avoid that happening to an Apple product I own, despite my best efforts.

That single flaw aside, the Smart Cover is fantastic. I’ve come to think of it as part of the iPad 2 itself, and it rarely, if ever leaves the device. The folding design really does serve as a capable stand for landscape viewing, and props up the iPad perfectly for lap or tabletop typing. It doesn’t really offer a good way to stand the iPad up in portrait orientation, but that’s not something I’ve missed during the past week. What it does accomplish, it accomplishes without adding significant weight or thickness to the iPad 2, which is maybe its best feature. I tried many cases with built-in stands with the original iPad, and none left me satisfied the way Apple’s own solution for the iPad 2 does.

One final fun note about the Smart Cover: the magnets it uses are amazingly strong. I even used it to hang my iPad on my fridge, after seeing someone tweet a photo. Check out the evidence in the gallery below, but don’t go doing it yourself, lest I get blamed for everyone’s cracked screens and dented casings.

Better Carry-Around Device

With the iPad 2, I’m finding that I’m more likely to bring it along when I set out for the coffee shop or to run errands. The original iPad was heavier (though not by much) and bulkier, and while I might have taken it with me, I wasn’t often inclined to actually pull it out and use it in public. The combination of the Smart Cover (which provides grip on the backside) and the new design that’s more conducive to holding makes it a much more convenient travel companion.

The iPad 2 is still lacking in one key respect. There’s not much I miss about the Samsung Galaxy Tab I briefly owned, except for the 7-inch form factor I could easily slide into a jacket pocket. The iPad still needs a bag, pack or purse to be used on the go, which is always going to leave you thinking twice about whether or not you really need it with you.

FaceTime and Camera are Nice, not Necessary

The new cameras on the iPad 2 might eventually allow for some amazing applications on the platform, but for right now, I found myself not really making any use of them during the past week. I used FaceTime exactly twice, mostly just to find out how it worked between iPhone and iPad, and between Mac and iPad. And I used the rear-facing camera one other time, shooting demo video for use with iMovie. A third attempt to use the rear-facing camera simply crashed the app I was testing.

Unless you already find yourself doing a massive amount of video calling on your Mac, iPhone or iPod touch, the addition of cameras probably isn’t a worthwhile motivation to upgrade at this point. Unlike some, I think the quality is fine for what you’d actually use the cameras for, but I honestly don’t think those uses currently justify an iPad 2 purchase.

Sore Spots

A few things consistently annoyed me about the iPad 2. First, I found it really difficult to get the SIM card tray open when I had to swap in the one from my original iPad. Obviously, this is only a concern for iPad 3G models, but it was frustrating enough to merit a mention. I did eventually get it to work, but it actually felt like I may have done some minor damage to the mechanism in the process.

Overall, experience with ports and protrusions isn’t ideal on the iPad 2. Because of the sacrifices made in order to allow for minimum device thickness, the dock connector and headphone jack leave part of the connector exposed when plugged in. It can also be quite trying to get the dock connector in to the port on the iPad 2 in the first place. You really have to pay attention to what you’re doing, as an incorrect angle could cause the thing not to insert at all. And while I don’t find the volume rocker or lock switch to be any worse or better than on the previous design, I do find myself having to spend a bit more time finding the sleep/wake button.

One final minor concern: Using the March Madness live streaming iOS app, I found that streaming quality was much better on my original iPad than on my iPad 2, over the same Wi-Fi connection, even after multiple reinstalls and network setting resets. This wasn’t the case with other video streaming apps, so it might be specific to this app, but it does leave me wondering if somehow the iPad 2 might not be getting a slightly weaker Wi-Fi signal with its redesigned antenna.

To Upgrade or Not?

The iPad 2 is a great buy; there’s no denying that. Buyers looking for a tablet won’t find a better option on the market today (or likely even a year from now, if the situation continues on as it has been in that space). But is the iPad 2 really a worthwhile update for owners of the original iPad? Despite my initial inclinations, after a week of use and given the limited stock of available software specifically tailored to the device, I’d have to say no.

That’s not to say upgraders will regret their purchases; I don’t. But for the vast majority of tablet owners, who aren’t using their devices in personal and professional capacities for most of the day, the original iPad still offers a user experience unmatched by any other company’s offerings, and is more similar to the iPad 2 than not, in all the most important ways. If you’re buying new, get an iPad 2 (unless price is your number one priority), because the future will bring better apps to the platform that really show off the hardware upgrades, but if you’re thinking about updating, wait until those apps start to appear before making your decision.
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iPad 2 with black leather Smart Cover.

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AT&T Drops Price of iPad 3G By Another $100

AT&T has reduced the price of the original 3G-capable iPadby another $100, adding to the existing $100 discount that it introduced following the introduction of the iPad 2. That means that starting today, you can now get an iPad 3G + Wi-Fi for as little as $429 in the U.S.

The $429 model is the 16 GB version, while the 32 GB and 64 GB Wi-Fi + 3G iPads now sell for $529 and $629 respectively at AT&T retail locations according to The Loop, although at AT&T’s official website, the price for both the 32 GB and 64 GB model as of this writing is $529 (this may be a typo, but we’ve contacted AT&T and will let you know if that info is in fact correct). All models still sell for $100 more on clearance at Apple’s official online store. The new pricing means that you’ll pay only $30 more for a 3G-equipped model when compared to the Wi-Fi-only iPad boasting the same storage capacity. Even if you don’t foresee yourself using 3G that often, the negligible additional cost and minimum $14.99 data plan purchase with no additional commitment makes this a very smart buy.

If you’re on the fence about whether to buy a new or an old model iPad, a $200 difference might help make up your mind. Anyone eager to take advantage of this deal?
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iPhone 5: To NFC or Not to NFC?
NFC, or Near Field Communication, will change the way consumers make purchases, allowing wireless transactions to be made using electronic devices like an iPhone, but maybe not an actual iPhone just yet. Earlier this week, reports from U.K. wireless operators suggested Apple would skip NFC in the next iPhone revision. According to sources, Apple was “concerned by the lack of a clear standard across the industry,” and the company hoped to include NFC in the iPhone in 2012. Yet a new report contradicts the earlier one, claiming that the iPhone 5 will have NFC after all. But which is accurate?

That first report has the feel of a controlled leak, one that sets expectations for technology partners, and is also in keeping with other recent events regarding Apple and NFC. In January, job listings for employment at Apple focusing on wireless payment communications appeared, building on related hires made in 2010. It takes time to integrate major new technologies into products. Not surprisingly, the iPad 2 was launched without NFC in March, and the iPhone 5 is expected to share iPad 2 tech. It makes sense then that the iPhone 6 in 2012 would be the first iOS device to have NFC. The only problem is that such a timeline could put Apple a year behind the competition.

Citing “people familiar with the project,” Bloomberg is reporting that Google plans to begin testing mobile payments in New York and San Francisco within four months. Thousands of special cash registers will be installed at stores to be used in conjunction with Android devices, most likely the Nexus S (which already has NFC built-in) and could combine “financial account information, gift-card balances, store loyalty cards and coupon subscriptions on a single NFC chip on a phone.”

Going a step farther than field testing, RIM CEO Jim Balsillie announced at the Mobile World Congress that “many, if not most,” BlackBerry devices launched this year will have NFC. From the NFC Times, RIM executives further expanded on that statement, asserting the company wants “to build an ecosystem to try and exploit the capabilities of this technology so all of us can use and have a much more interactive capability in our lives and on our devices.” RIM’s aggressive move into NFC has apparently gotten the attention of wireless carriers. According to the Wall Street Journal, carriers like Rogers in Canada want the data kept on the SIM cards, rather than devices, and that there is “going to be a little bit of a fight” involved in determining which strategy ultimately wins out.

That kind of tumult over NFC in smartphones does indeed mean the technology is far from a “standard across the industry,” but does Apple really want Google and RIM, let alone wireless carriers, getting the first — and possibly deciding — say on how mobile payments are ultimately handled? Apple already has more than 200 million iTunes Store accounts with credit cards on file, and NFC would seem like the last step in an Apple-controlled system of payments. All that’s needed from the company to throw its hat in the ring is the device. And NFC isn’t just limited to mobile payments. There are plenty of other uses for the tech, too.

There’s new reason to believe that NFC will indeed make an appearance with iPhone 5, at least according to the latest from Forbes. The source of a source (yes, you read that right), who supposedly works at Apple, “believes” the iPhone 5 will have NFC. Considering the money-making potential of mobile commerce, and the impact on mobile platform viability, that’s not much to go on, but until June that may be all we get. Let’s hope we don’t end up having to wait until June 2012 to find out Apple’s plans for NFC.
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iPad 2 May Face Supply Woes After Japanese Quake
iSuppli, the company responsible for thorough product teardowns of Apple products, reported Thursday that the Japanese earthquake could affect iPad 2 supply volume, since at least five components from that device are likely sourced from Japanese suppliers, including a few hard-to-replace parts.

The specific parts iSuppli has been able to identify as mostly likely sourced from Japan include NAND flash from Toshiba Corp., DRAM from Elpida Memory Inc. and touch screen overlay glass for the display likely made by Asahi Glass Co. The battery (from Apple Japan Inc.) and electronic compass (from AKM Semiconductor) are also produced by Japanese suppliers, and are so specialized they could be quite hard to replace from suppliers located elsewhere.

Other components may have been sourced in Japan besides those identified above, but the teardown process isn’t always capable of identifying the country of origin of all parts, iSuppli cautioned. It also noted at least a few of Apple’s Japanese suppliers reported that their facilities didn’t sustain any damage as a result of the earthquake, but that problems with logistics and other factors could still affect the supply chain at those facilities.

iSuppli also noted that semiconductor facilities in Japan, at least, can’t recommence full production until all aftershocks have stopped. According to Dale Ford of IHS, which acquired iSuppli in 2010:

Earthquakes ranging from 4 to 7 on the Richter scale will make it impossible to really restart these fabs until the earthquakes stop happening with such frequency. Every time a quake tops 5, the equipment automatically shuts down.

Apple can find alternate sourcing for NAND memory, including South Korea’s Samsung corporation and the U.S.-based Micron Technology. Samsung can also provide the DRAM, but when it comes to the other major Japanese-made components, finding a suitable replacement may not be so easy.

The electronic compass found in the iPad 2 is apparently calibrated very specifically to work with the tablet’s accelerometer and gyroscope, and is highly sensitive to electromagnetic interference. According to IHS, this means it can’t just be swapped out for a similar product from another manufacturer.

The glass used to protect the iPad’s touchscreen is thought to be the new Asahi Glass Dragontail product, which is stronger than the glass used in the original iPad. If Asahi is indeed the supplier, it would pose problems, because the company has reported damage to three of its facilities in Japan. Since the glass is a proprietary product, sourcing alternatives might lead to variances in quality.

Finally, the iPad 2′s battery, while labeled as “assembled” in China,” looks to actually be made by Apple’s Japanese subsidiary. IHS Senior Analyst Wayne Lam explains why Apple may have had to stick with in-house manufacturing for this particular component, making it difficult if not impossible to have it built elsewhere:

Typically, battery cells are made at the site of assembly but because the iPad 2's lithium-ion polymer battery is unusually thin, it likely requires advanced battery cell manufacturing technologies that reside in Japan.

Obviously, iPad 2 supply levels are the least of Japan’s worries right now, but this could mean that Apple will have trouble meeting customer demand in the U.S., and might even lead to a general postponement of the international launch of Apple’s latest tablet. Apple’s share value dipped earlier on the week, due partially to supply fears, and while prices recovered yesterday, this latest report won’t do much to allay those fears, either. We reached out to Apple for comment, but have yet to hear back.
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