Seeing so many videos pop up in my Youtube lists with the Magic Keyboard left me wondering if I could put together a decent laptop-like experience with the iPad Pro.

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I already had the old "Origami"  Smart Keyboard which consisted of a nice light cover for the front and back, a keyboard, and a stand for the iPad, so I already had a decent option for couch use.  Personally, I would go with this type of keyboard again if they made it.  Their current version of this keyboard still folds back, but it will not work as a stand....bummer.

Since the Magic Keyboard essentially doubles the weight of the iPad, I assume many are just keeping it on a desk and just popping the iPad off when they want to use it in tablet mode.  Apple doesn't really give you much choice.  For me, this would end up with the Keyboard being in storage near the kitchen table and I could just get it out when I want to use it on the kitchen table.

I think there are better, much cheaper options than going this route.   However, the only way to get the same functionality as the trackpad on the Magic Keyboard would be with a new Magic Trackpad or Magic Mouse.  The Magic Mouse is $79, so you really have to decide how often you plan to use this setup to see if it is actually worth this money.    At one time, I thought my old first gen Magic Mouse would work with it.  Apple decided to cripple it by not even allowing scrolling!  I have that feature with my Logitech Mouse!   Personally, I went with the Logitech MX Ergo Pro, which works with a scroll ball rather than moving the mouse along the table, so it can be used in small spaces.  Also, I keep it near my spot on the couch to use with my Mac Mini and I can switch to the iPad with a touch of a mouse button.  It works fine, but it is clunkier than using it with a mini or a laptop.

Of course, I could use the iPad Keyboard stand, but I have a few options that can fold down for travel.  For me, the one I use depends on the stability that I think I will need.  At home, I just use a lightweight stand that works with this iPad, but isn't the most stable.  If I need something stable, I have something like this and this.

I have multiple options for this, as well.  I have small Bluetooth keyboards, the magic keyboard, and a mechanical keyboard.

I have been using the mechanical keyboard since it can be plugged in or run off of the battery.  Also, I just prefer typing on it.  Of course, I didn't get one with the number keys, since I wanted this to be somewhat small for travel.  I also like the fact that this one has back-lit keys.   The only downside is that the keys are a bit thicker (which I like for typing) which means it takes up more space in a bag.   I have to see how much room I have for it before deciding which keyboard to use. 

However, the keyboard itself is a pleasure to type on, so I am very happy with the experience.   The keyboard also has function buttons, so you can change the back-lighting of the iPad, control volume, etc. without needing to touch the iPad or go into settings (you can't do this with the Magic Keyboard).

As a side note, I have it pictured with the cable since I can slowly charge it with the iPad, but it can also go without the cable since it works with Bluetooth.  I would just have to watch running down the battery.

For me, it is important to be able to listen to music while I work.   When I need to save room in the bag or just want to work quickly, I use the Jabra Elites 75t Earbuds.  I haver reviewed them here.  When I am going to be working a while, I go with a more complicated setup that pairs the Shure SRH940 headphones with an older Dragonfly DAC.  They work great together and sound fantastic. Note that some of the Amazon reviews complain that they "broke their 4th pair", but I haven't had issues with mine since I reviewed them in 2012.  That being said, I'm not rough on headphones.  I keep these near my spot on the couch and don't wear them out in the rain or elements.  I have different earbuds I use for those purposes (Beatsx or the Jabras that I mentioned above). 

With my version of the iPad, I need power if I am going to plug anything into it.  I have the Lighting to USB adapter with the two ports.  It allows USB to plugged into one port and power into the other.  On the road, I like having an Anker power supply.   If I am just plugging in one thing, I can just use a Plugable device that fools the iPad into thinking it is getting enough power.  It is nice for this setup since I can go without power if I need to.  

As you can see, I have put together a setup for my current iPad that gives me ultra portability with the Smart Keyboard case, but also gives me a great desktop experience when I am going to be sitting at a table for a while.  

For me, this is better than having a heavy case that goes with it everywhere.   The only thing I might add down the road is a Magic Mouse, but we will see if it makes sense when I get a 12.9 inch iPad late this year or sometime next year.  For now, I am pretty happy with this setup.   Even when, or if, I get that 12.9, I plan to keep this setup around for more portability.   They great part is that I can just as easily use this "desktop" setup with the new iPad as the old, even though they are different sizes.  It also helps with longevity when Apple eventually moved the pins or changes the design so they can sell you a new "Magic Keyboard" with your next iPad.   

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Microsoft has been working on an operating system that works across all of their platforms.  The Surface is similar to a tablet that runs the full Windows 8 and later operating systems.  I still think it is a bit awkward to use as a main laptop because the cover/keyboard is not up to the same quality as a typical keyboard.  Also, it is a bit more awkward to use in the lap.  I am also not a big fan of the way that it jumps from the newish tiled “metro” interface into the old-school desktop, either.  However, it is giving people an ultra portable laptop that doubles as a decent, if not perfect, tablet.  For many, this is all they need.

Let me say that I believe Apple should continue to sell a true iPad tablet.  First of all, a true tablet will be cheaper and be an option for people that have to use Windows for work (as one example) and just want a fantastic device for reading magazines, comics, surfing the web, videos, etc.  However, I think they need a new hybrid device that runs (at least) two separate operating systems.  While OS X and iOS share many features, the fact is that some things still can’t be done with just an iPad or they are harder to do with an iPad.  I remember my 3rd Generation iPad having an issue when installing iOS7.  No matter what I did, I could not get it to boot after the update.  As a result, I got on the web and read that I had to plug it into a computer and launch iTunes.  It definitely didn’t feel like a stand alone device.  While Apple has continued to open up iOS to apps like IFTT and Workflow that give it more automation, it still feels limited compared to OSX

First off, the hybrid device would need to have a 10-13 inch (my preference would be for a 12 inch display similar to the MacBook) touchscreen with similar capabilities to the iPad's screen.  Obviously, using it in tablet mode would require a touchscreen, but it might come in handy for drawing or taking notes right into OS X apps like Pages or Notes.  For some reason, Apple has resisted putting a touchscreen on OS X because it isn’t built around touch.  However, they could still make it available in OS X without changing much of the interface.  Just give it the same access that they give Wacom devices now when you use pen input.  They could have it off in OS X by default and when you open the system properties to turn it on, give you the same type of access as Wacom’s tablets*.

* For those unaware of Wacom, it is a device that typically hooks up to your computer via USB.  It is a flat tablet that enables pen input into programs like Photoshop and Illustrator.   

I don’t know if you have heard of BlueStacks, but it will enable you to run Android OS in OS X via and Android emulator.  If I can run Android on the Mac, then I should also be able to just toggle iOS and OS X modes through a “gesture”.  For example, a four finger swipe down on the screen could take you from iOS to OS X and back.  

I am not a fan of the keyboard that the Surface uses, but Apple could use a detachable keyboard similar to the MacBook’s keyboard.  It might be slightly heavier, but it would be much more usable, which to me is more important than a few ounces.

The Parrot Zik 2.0 bluetooth headphones are  beautifully designed by the well known French industrial designer Phillippe Starck .  They have a mix of metal and faux leather that I find appealing in basic black.  These headphones come in some unconventional colors, as well.    The orange pair reminds me of the earmuffs I used to wear when I worked at the Airport, but if you are looking to be noticed, I guess the orange or yellow are available for you.  They also come in beige, blue, and white for the less adventurous.

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Compared to my regular (non-Bluetooth) headphones, these headphones are fairly light at 9.52oz.  Although they aren’t the lightest pair of Bluetooth headphones you can find, personally, I wouldn’t have minded a little more weight if the earphones could have more room for extending the ear cups.  They have 4 settings and I have them fully extended.  I would prefer the pads to be just a bit wider, as well.  However, trade offs have to be made for weight, and I am tall and probably have a larger head and ears than an average sized person.   However, I would suggest trying them on before buying, if possible.  Also, while the headphones are comfortable and there is cushioning in the headband, I did feel some pressure on the top of my head after an hour or so of listening.  However, I was able to adjust it to a different spot to take pressure off.

Below is a comprehensive video about the app:

The magic of these headphones is how they work with the iOS (Android) app that you can download for free.  I have an iPhone 6 plus and an iPad Air 2.  There is not an iPad specific app, but you can download the iPhone app and enlarge it.  Pairing with either device is easy, but when you change devices, you need to make sure it is no longer paired to the prior device.  

Once I had it paired to my iPhone, I launched the Parrot Zik 2.0 app.  You have to sign in to use it, which I don’t like, but I wanted to use it, so I signed in with one of my accounts.   Once you are into the app, you have three main controls:  “Noise Control”, “Equalizer”, and “Concert Hall”.   Also, the battery percentage you have left is displayed.  

The “Noise control” feature is amazing.  You can set just how much of the outside world you want in or even turn it off.   They have a big circle on the screen and when you tap and drag it in (making the circle smaller), you get less outside noise and as you expand it you let more outside noise in.  The choices range from “noise cancelling (max)” to “street mode (max)”.  

The “Equalizer” has some presets that contain a range of settings in a circle.  You move a curser that looks like a round ball in the center of the circle toward your choices  (Pop, Vocal, Cristal, Club, Punchy and Deep) and it changes the sound accordingly.   You can also choose “Producer Mode” by clicking on an icon that resembles an analog soundboard in the bottom left corner of the screen.  It will allow you to tweak individual audio bands using the “5 bands full parametric equalizer”.

The “Concert Hall” setting allows you to direct the “speaker placement” and expand the sound stage.  Personally, I think the “Silent Room” and “Living Room” settings are the only settings I would use with music (although I usually keep this feature off).  However, the “Jazz Club” and “Concert Hall” settings may be useful for audio from movies or games. 

The app allows you to save any of your presets and you can also sample presets from other users.  They have a search function that makes it easy to type in an artist and see if anyone has put together a preset for them.  If not, you can also search by genre, popularity, etc.  There are “Premium” and “Connoisseur” sections that divide the artist suggestions from user suggestions.   I would actually prefer one section for all presets, but I guess they have to give the artists some exposure.  

There is also a  “flight mode” section that helps you save battery power.   Speaking of battery power, it has a pretty wide range depending on the settings you are using.  I have been listening for about an hour and a half this morning with the noise cancelling, EQ, and Concert Hall settings on and it still has 76 percent power.  I think their 6 hours in normal mode with noise control, Bluetooth, and Concert Hall enabled is accurate.   Of course, you can save battery power by turning off features.  They say that their Airplay mode with noise control on and listening to music from the jack will give you 18 hours.   Parrot also sells their proprietary battery for $29.99 if you need it.  Unfortunately, these headphones use Bluetooth 3 technology rather than the newer Bluetooth 4, which would have made them more energy efficient. 

While these are Bluetooth headphones, they do come with a cable to connect directly to your device if you want to save battery power.   The cable is around 4 feet long, but since they used standard 3.5mm plugs, it is easy to find longer or shorter cables for very little money.   There is a sound quality trade off by running directly from the jack with the headphone’s features off, but I still found the sound to be acceptable in this mode for non-audiophile needs.   

The package comes with the headphones, a charging cable, the audio cable, a transport bag, a battery, and instructions.  The charging cable uses micro USB, but there is not a power plug included.  I hate to go on a rant about this issue, but I still can’t understand why a wall charger isn’t included with devices that need to be charged.   That being said, it is the current trend in Bluetooth devices.   I also would have preferred a carrying case rather than a pouch.  These headphones don’t fold up like most portable headphones and just using a pouch doesn’t seem like enough protection.  Parrot sells a $39.99 case, but for the price of the headphones, I wish they had included it in the box.

The controls on the headphones are unique and intuitive.   The only minor gripe in this area is the placement of the on/off switch.  It is placed in the spot that I would typically grab them for adjustment or to remove them to talk to someone for a second.  I have turned them off by accident a few times, but I have gotten used to the placement and have changed my normal habits.  The rest of the features are great.  You simply use the right earpiece to control everything from pausing audio (tap), volume adjustment (sliding finger up and down) and back tracking (slide back once to start song over and slide back twice to start prior song), and forwarding to the next track by sliding your finger forward.  By pushing down in the center of the headphone for a couple seconds, you can launch Siri and give her commands.  If you ask for a definition, Siri will ask if it can read it to you and  then it will actually read the page.  Pretty cool!

Another cool feature is the way the headphones will pause what you are playing when you remove them from your head.  When you are ready to listen again, you simply put them back on your head and the app will start playing automatically.  I also did a quick test of the mic. I made a phone call and the person on the other end said that I sounded fine.  I did have a bit of an issue hearing myself talking, but I didn’t find that it was a major issue.  

Note:  I get paid commissions for purchases made through any links to Amazon products in this post.

Finally, I agree with Parrot.  These are the most advanced headphones in the world (insert your favorite Dos Equis quote here).  Combined with their app, they are simply in a league of their own.  No, they aren’t perfect because they could sound better via the headphone jack when the headphones are turned off and they could update to the newest Bluetooth technology to extend battery life.  However, what is here is pretty darn cool and amazing.


Pros:
Customizable to the extreme
Noise Canceling
Works with standard 3.5mm audio cable when off
Battery can be changed out easily
Multiple Equalizer settings (with the ability to save presets)
Easy to find new presets for artists with search function
Good looking industrial design (in the basic black)
Easy setup
Headphone pauses music when removed
Intuitive Controls
Decent sounding microphone 
Access to Siri from headphones 

Negatives:
Price is around $400 (as of today)
Bluetooth 3 (newer Bluetooth would have given longer battery power)
Difficult to hear yourself on phone calls
Package did not contain hard carrying case or power plug
Big heads or ears might not work with design

As I have mentioned elsewhere, I have an Original iPad and the third generation iPad ("iPad 3").   Believe it or not, we still use the Original iPad in the kitchen.   Even though it hasn't received updates in a long time, it still runs apps like Plex, Next Issue, Rdio, and many more apps that I still use today.    The 3rd Generation iPad came out with a retina display and I updated on the day it launched.  It has been my favorite device since I bought it.

My main issue with the iPad 3rd Generation is that I own the 32GB model and it is constantly out of memory.  Just to install iOS 8, I had to delete a bunch of apps and magazines.  This wasn't a new experience since I am constantly monitoring the amount of space I have left and periodically deleting apps like Zinio (magazine app) to get more space.

When the Original iPad Air was released last year, I was disappointed with it for one main reason....the lack of Touch ID.  I keep my devices locked with a passcode and the idea of just using a fingerprint to open it, is very enticing.  The 5S had Touch ID, but the iPad Air lacked it.   I refused to update when I knew that feature was coming and I could just get by with my iPad 3 for a while.

This year, I updated my iPhone 4S to an iPhone 6 Plus.  I LOVE the Touch ID.  It just makes the experience so much better and the way they have integrated it into Password apps, purchases from the app store, and ApplePay have been awesome.   The iPad Air 2 has Touch ID (although you can't use it for in store purchases) and it is a major reason I updated this year.  If it was missing Touch ID again this year, chances are, I would have kept the iPad 3 for another year.

When I bought the iPad Air 2, I decided to get the 64GB model.  I am guessing that doubling the memory from my last iPad will be enough?  The fact that the new iPad has Touch ID and more memory was enough to make me want to update, but the features don't stop there.

The Air 2 has a much faster processor than the iPad 3.  Unfortunately, the iPad 3's processor was always a bit underpowered.   When Apple releases the 4th gen iPad a few months after I purchased the iPad 3, and it had twice the performance capability, I can't say I was too happy.

Within seconds of using the iPad Air 2, the speed difference is obvious.   When I hear bloggers say that there is little reason to upgrade from an iPad 3, I wonder if they have ever used the two devices side by side?  Yeah, if you could care less about having  a better experience in every single way, then by all means, hold onto that iPad 3.  If you enjoy reloading tabs in Safari, don't mind waiting for articles to come into focus in magazine apps, don't mind seeing the equivalent of a bouncing ball when trying to use Lightroom's mobile app, etc.. then by all means don't update.  For me, these differences were substantial and dramatically increase my pleasure when using the new iPad (which is often).

The new iPad is also lighter and smaller than the iPad 3.   I have never had a problem handling the weight of the iPad 3, but I do find the new iPad easier to handle.  Many complain about "Apple's fetish for thinness", however, I can understand why they want thinner and lighter devices, especially with phones and tablets.   These are usually handheld devices, so any difference in weight probably means you will use it for longer periods.    

One of the possible trade offs for this lighter, thinner iPad is that it has a smaller battery that last year's iPad.  It is still over the 10 hours of normal use that Apple has advertised, so I don't see it as a real issue.  Engadget's battery tests have it worse than last year's iPad, but  better than the iPad 3 (2012).  Also, Engadget tested with a wifi+cellular iPad, which would probably provide worse results than the wifi version I purchased.

For me, I rarely need to charge my iPad 3 more than just plugging it in when I go to bed.   In fact, unless they can increase the battery to 24 hours or more, I am going to continue plugging it in at night.  While, I am sure there is a user somewhere that is pushing video for 10.5 hours without being anywhere near a charger, I just don't think many people will notice the difference between ~11.5 and ~14 hours of battery life.   When Mossberg did his tests, they were dramatically different from Engadget (he shows a 90 minute difference between the Air and Air2).   

I should also mention the resonance that you feel when using the speakers on the iPad.  Personally, my hands can handle slight vibrations.  I have lived with a powerful subwoofer for several years, so my entire house shakes when we watch certain movies.  Also, I played PS3 games using a DualShock controller and lived to tell about it.   For me, the resonance isn't an issue at all.  I mainly listen to music using Airplay (I have several blog articles about it), so I don't use the speakers in the iPad very often.  

To me, the decision to make the iPad lighter and thinner makes a lot of sense.  A lighter iPad will be felt by everyone that uses it every time they use it and there is nothing you can add on later that will make it lighter.  For iPad users that are camping or doing something that keeps them away from electricity all day, you can buy a $40 portable charger that you can plug it into, if necessary.   It really makes much more sense to prioritize features by which features are noticed by the most people.   Also, if you are really put off by resonance from the speakers, you can add Airplay, Bluetooth, or just wear headphones.  Once again, nothing I can buy will make a heavy iPad feel lighter...well I could hire someone to hold it for me, but I doubt I could do that for $40 or less.

One other thing that is better this time around is the screen.  As I mentioned, I updated my Original iPad to the iPad 3 when the screen was improved.  Personally, I think the screen is one of the most important features on a tablet.  The current "retina" resolution is great.  However, according to Apple, they improved the screen without changing resolution:

"The displays on previous generations of iPad used three separate components. iPad Air 2 changes all that, combining those three layers into just one. This eliminates gaps between layers, along with the internal reflectance caused by those gaps. The result? Colors are richer, contrast is greater, and images are sharper and more vivid."

Also, Apple put an antireflective coating on the new iPad Air 2.  I have a floor lamp behind my usual position on the couch (best seat in the house) and it reflects off the screen.  However, when I compare the 3 with the Air 2, the difference is easy to see.  The iPad 3 has blown out areas caused by the brightness.  The Air 2 softens the light.  If you use Lightoom, it is like pulling back the highlights to get rid of the "blinkies".

For me, the upgrade from the 32GB iPad 3 to the 64GB iPad Air 2 was worth it.   To put it in computer terms, the difference is more noticeable that going from a spinning hard drive to SSD.   For me, the iPad Air 2 is nearly perfect.  The one thing I would add would be split screen multitasking, but I believe that is more of a firmware issue than an iPad Air 2 limitation.  

I have had a Lifeproof case for my iPhone 4S for over a year and I was happy with it, with just a couple exceptions.  The main issue is that it added bulk and makes the iPhone impossible to  use with a dock without an adapter.  However, for the beach and around the pool, it is my favorite option.

I have been considering a Lifeproof case for my iPad 3 for a while now, but the $129.99 price tag was a bit much to swallow.   Since the iPad Air came out, I have been thinking that it is time to get the case before they stop making it.  (I should mention that I am not sure they are discontinuing it, but it is always a possibility when Apple changes a design and case makers move on)  

To my surprise, Amazon had the black version of this case for 74.99.  While still expensive, I couldn't pass it up.   I really wanted a "water proof" case that I could use with the  iPad 3 while lounging in the hot tub.  I have never use the iPad 3 near the water because I never wanted to risk getting it wet.   As a result,  instead of reading magazines and books on my iPad, I would buy a paper copy of them and they would end up getting wet.   Also, with Zinio, Flipboard, Kindle, and the Next Issue apps on my iPad, I would rather not spend extra money on paper versions of magazines I am already paying for.  The other benefit is that I have an Airport Express in my sunroom (where we have the hot tub) and I can use airplay on the iPad to send audio to it.  It makes it easy to pull up my iTunes library or MOG and listen to music with volume control right on the iPad.

I tested the case in the sink by submerging it for 30 minutes and there were no leaks, so I was ready to insert the iPad into the case.  The main difference between the 4S case and the iPad 2/3/4 case is that the iPad has a "nuud" (nude) screen.  The 4s case has clear plastic over the screen that adds more protection.  However, the downside is that the screen is less responsive, loses some of its feel, and affects the clarity of the retina screen.  The Liferproof for the iPad doesn't have anything protecting the screen.  As a result, I would not recommend using it on a beach, around sand, unless you get a Zagg invisibleShield or something similar.  I will never use it on a beach, so I won't be putting on an invisibleShield.

I submerged my iPad 3 in the water and took it out fairly quickly and it was no worse for wear.  I also noticed that despite steam coming from the hot tub, the screen did not fog up. As I mentioned, I never used my iPad around water, so that was a bit of a surprise.

While I really like this case, there are still some downsides.  The main issue is that it adds more bulk than most cases and the cover (that protects the screen when you aren't using it) needs to be detached when you want to use the iPad.  They do make a better cover for it, but that will add another $39.  The other issue is that the speaker gets output to the back of the case.  Therefore, if you are watching a video on the front of the screen, it will blow the volume out the back instead of the bottom.  I have a few bluetooth speakers and Airplay devices, so it won't be a big deal for me, but it is something to consider if you watch a lot of video and use the iPad's speaker.  Also, the charger port is set deep into the case and it makes it difficult to unplug it.  I actually broke a cable trying to remove the plug the first time I plugged it in. You also have to use a supplied adapter if you want to connect headphones.  Finally, the see through back seems to scuff easily.

I plan to keep the case on the iPad until at least the end of winter.   It may permanently stay on the iPad since I plan to buy a new iPad when they add the fingerprint scanner to it.  At that point, the iPad 3 will only be used in the kitchen, hot tub, and by the pool.  That will probably be late 2014, but with Apple, you never know. 

There were rumors this week that Apple was testing a ...wait for it... 6 INCH IPHONE!  Yep, here is the story from MacRumors.

While there is no guarantee that Apple will actually make a phone this large, it is encouraging to know that they are at least looking at a design that is bigger than the current iPhone 5.  

Personally, I have a tiny iPhone 4S and my contract is up in October.  Actually, I had offers to trade it in earlier, but decided against it.  In the new age of LTE and having a fast connection all the time, my desire for a larger iPhone has only increased.

As I have explained on my Mac Attack page, I switched to using Mac computers after I bought my first iPad (the Original).  My enthusiasm for Apple was at an all time high and my love for their ecosystem only solidified that opinion.  I still love their ecosystem, but their choice of going with a thin "bookmark" (per David Pogue) design for the iPhone 5 was a disappointment.

While I wish that a bigger size was coming out this year, it isn't supposed to happen.  As a result, I have decided to wait until 2014 to see if they increase the size (width).  With Siri, is it really all that important to be "one hand" friendly?  I personally don't think so.   Personally, I use my iPad more than my iPhone and I can' t remember every wishing I could stretch my thumb all the way across the screen.  Unfortunately, if they stick with the "bookmark"  design next year, I am going to switch to one of the new phones from another company.  Apple knows that many of their clients want larger phones, so I expect them to make one.  

By the way, I don't know if a 6 inch phone is too big to fit in a pocket, but I suspect that Apple knows that it will need to fit in a pocket if it is going to be popular.   Also, some people will say that they followed other companies that make larger phones, but I really don't care.  They just need to make a better large phone...  The last time I checked, they didn't invent the smartphone, either.  They just made it better.

Last year, I put together a list for my top ten tech.   As with last year, my list will consist of some things that have been around longer than this year, but I have now paid enough attention to buy it or to add it to my wishlist. 

Canon 5D Mark III - This was my favorite new device in 2012.  While there were cameras that came to market with many more megapixels.  This camera has better low light performance, faster frames per second, and is just a better all around camera, in my opinion and for my needs.   Popular Photography also named it their camera of the year.

Big Green Egg - I have wanted one of these forever and finally got one in 2012.  Whether I am making a steak, pizza, smoked turkey, pork butt, etc...  The Egg never lets me down.

Black Rapid RS7 (with Carry Speed Mounting Plate) -  When I found out that I had a pinched nerve in my neck, I knew I needed to find a way to carry my camera without adding more stress.  The black rapid hangs over the shoulder and makes it a lot easier to carry a camera.  I also bought the Carry Speed Mounting Plate since it allows a tripod to be attached without removing the strap.

iPad with Retina screen - I bought an iPad 3 earlier this year.  The main reason I updated from my Original iPad was the retina screen and LTE.  Apple has already updated the iPad to the 4th version and it would be my pick if I did not already own the 3.  The retina screen makes text, video and photos much better than the original iPad.

Eye-Fi Pro X2 - Since my camera now has a CF and SD card, I send a RAW file to the CF card and a medium jpeg to the Eye-fi.  This allows me to send photos from the Eye-fi to an iPhone/iPad without a computer.  I really like this for updating Flickr or other websites when I am on vacation.  Since buying it, I usually leave my laptop at home and travel with an iPad only.

Maverick ET732 - These are for remotely watching the temperature on your grill.  There are two probes..one for the grill and the other for the food.  I used mine all summer and it was nice to be able to keep an eye on things while sitting on the couch.

Geotag Photo Pro app - This is an app that works with an iPhone or Android device that can be used to Geotag photos when you shoot with a camera without a Geotagging feature.   

Google Nexus7- While I have never owned a Google device, this had to be on my top ten list this year.  It costs $130 less than the iPad mini and has a better screen.  While I have no need for this size of a device, it is hard to ignore a tablet that costs less than $200 with the ability to run so many apps.   As I mentioned before, if you have a ton of money tied up in Apple apps already, it may make the difference in price more acceptable.  Personally, I would get this or wait for Apple to put a better screen on the mini.

Logitech Wireless Speaker Adapter for Bluetooth® audio devices - While I prefer Airplay when I am on a wifi network, sometimes you get outside a network and still want to wirelessly handle audio streaming.   I bought one of these for our sunroom and it works great.   I simply hooked it up to an amp (t-amp) that feeds a pair of outdoor speakers.  Then I paired my iPhone or iPad to it and it worked like a charm.  

Weebly web hosting - While I don't know that  I have ever mentioned my web host, I thought this would be a good time to do it.   It makes setting up a website extremely easy and their customer service is simply fantastic.  Before I was on Weebly, I was using a competitor and getting them to help with anything was a waste of time.  However, I had an issue this year that I needed help with and Weebly told me the steps I needed to do and they did the rest.  (I pay Weebly the same as everyone else with a pro account, so I am not saying this because they pay me).

Of course, there are some things I didn't mention...Photoshop CS6, Lightroom 4, Flipboard app, Splashtop Win8, VM Ware Fusion 5, Phillips Fidelio Airplay speaker, iPhone5,  etc..  but there are always cuts that need to be made.

As I mentioned back in the early days of the Kindle Fire last year, I believe that the iPad Mini was a necessary device for Apple.  With a huge amount of people out there that don't want to spend $500 on a tablet, Apple needed to put something out at a lower price point.  

I thought at the time, that Apple would charge between $250-$299 for this device.  However, Apple decided to put the base price at $329.  At that price, it really does make it a stretch when compared to slightly smaller, and much cheaper ($179 without adds & $199, respectively), devices like the Kindle Fire or Nexus7.  

The question is whether the Apple ecosystem and the ability to share apps across devices is worth the higher price.  Obviously, if you already paid for tons of premium Apple store apps, you would have more reason to stay with Apple.   If the playing field was flat, it would be much harder to justify the added expense.

Other than price, some people will see a benefit in having a smaller, lighter iPad.  For me, I find it impossible to justify the device with an iPad 3 and iPhone 4S already in the stable.  The question is whether the device is a necessity for someone that owns an iPad?  I don't think it is.  However, I have large hands and never find the size or weight of the iPad 3 to be a problem.  I know some women that say it bothers their forearms if they use the iPad for a long time, so I do believe there are some people that will find the smaller size more comfortable to hold.  Also, I struggle with the concept that it is more portable than the iPad for men, but I can see how women could fit it in a purse that would not allow the Original iPad.  I don't carry a purse, so it would not be any more portable for how I use it.

While I certainly would be happy to have the lightest device possible, I would rather wait for the 9.7 inch iPad to lose some weight.  The fantastic, larger, retina screen are worth the extra effort for me.  I find the screen the most important aspect of a tablet.  The iPad Mini is not only smaller, but it does not have a retina display.  I have an iPhone (which actually does have a retina screen) when I just want to jump on email or the web.  I have the iPad for magazines, photos, video, safari and tons of apps that are simply better on the larger display.

Anyway, I think the iPad Mini had to be made and I think it will be popular.  The price may move some people to the Nexus 7 or Kindle Fire, but I think many people that have had an iPhone for any length of time will find the extra $130 worth the money, assuming they bought more than a few apps.  The question is whether we need a smaller iPad?  I think  demand shows that we did.  I just don't have a personal demand for one at this point.

The article below (scroll down the page) was on one of my old blog sites and I recently tracked it down because of all of the new comments about the iPhone 5.

A thread was recently started on a forum I frequent that discussed Apple's new power cable for the new iPhone and the conversation, as per usual, became a troll haven for comments about Apple and all of Apple's products....once again leaving the subject at hand to learn about someone's personal irrational feelings.

Some of the new comments are similar to the old:

1.  Apple's customer service is a joke:  While one person's experience is their experience, you have to look at these things in total because some customers may be idiots that demand things that are irrational.  Articles from last year:

Apple tops in customer satisfaction for 8th year

Apple ranked highest in customer satisfaction among smartphone manufacturers

Given the surveys above, it shows that they still lead the industry in satisfaction for computers and smartphones.

2.  Apple has a the highest customer satisfaction rate in the industry  because their users don't know how to use a computer (this is the summary of one very long post):  Apple's users are like any other user base.  They want a product that works with little headaches.  The user base is made of people that are tech geeks (ever heard of jailbreaking?) and people that just want a reliable device for their basic needs.  There are similar people that use Windows and Android, but their customers are not as satisfied.  

3.  The iPhone lacks features of other phones:  The most quoted missing feature is Flash.  Personally, I am glad they didn't support it.  It forced websites to move to HTML5.  Here is an article on why this change is for the better.  That being said, Apple has allowed browsers in their app store that support Flash websites.  I have tested the Photon app on my iPad and it ran Flash.   Needless to say, I won't be needing it for Flash very often since most sites have an app or HTML5 available...thanks Apple! 

4.  The new iPhone 5 is not revolutionary, it is evolutionary:  Let's be honest, the last revolutionary hardware in the smartphone market was the original iPhone.  Just because Samsung apparently stole the blueprints and then made a bigger device, it doesn't make it revolutionary.  It is a tweak to what was already on the market.. a touchscreen interface with apps.  Given the size limitations that require the phone to fit in a pant pocket (for most people), it limits the ways you can fundamentally change the form factor.  I think back to The Office (television show) episode where they were using triangle phones.  This is a perfect example of a revolutionary change, if you don't mind the small inconvenience of 3 pointy ends and a holster that would hold such a device.  Not really for mass public consumption.

In addition to allowing for Flash in apps, Apple's ecosystem has gotten more sophisticated.  Siri, Photostream, iCloud, etc.. are all major changes to how I use my iPhone.  Here are a few examples:

a.  I want to set a Reminder:  I simply pick up the phone, push a button and tell it the time and date I want to be reminded and I am all set.  It also works for alarms and calendar entries.

b.  I want to take photos on my iPhone and edit them on a Mac:  I simply take the photo and it automatically puts it in my Photostream.  When I sit down at my computer, it is already there waiting to be edited.  I also use this with an Eyefi card, so I am not limited to the iPhone's camera.

c.  I want to backup my very large music collection:  I subscribed to iTunes Match, so my ~23,000 song collection is now on the web in 256k format.  This is great (so great that Amazon has copied the feature) for backing up a collection in case of a catastrophe at home.  I know it is not lossless, like my home collection, but it is better than not having any of the collection I have built over the years.

d.  I want to access the music I backed up in iTunes Match:  I simply push a button on the iPhone and tell it to play an album.  It will then go out to the cloud, find the album and start playing.  This beats shuffling through my collection to find an album or artist.

e.  I want to play that music over my speakers:  If I am at home, I simply push the Airplay button on the iPhone and pick the Airplay device I want to use.  If I want to play it over my main system, it will turn on my Denon receiver and allow me to control volume from the Music app.  It works with most audio apps in my collection.

f.  I want to take a photo and see it on my AppleTV: Since AppleTV is hooked up to Photostream, my photos automatically show up.  It also works with iTunes Match for when my Mac Mini is off.

These are just a few of the important new features that make it hard to leave Apple.  With IOS6 around the corner, I am sure there will be more.

Read below for the old post I was referring to above

Why not feed the trolls?
My canned response related to Apple products that I own

Back in 2003, I bought my first iPod. It was the 2nd Gen version that had a firewire port and predated iTunes on the PC. It was one of the few models out at the time that had 20GB of storage space. Over the course of time, I have gathered a few more products (Shuffle, iPod Classic, iPod Touch, iPhone 3GS, Airport Express, and iPad, respectively). In my quest for more information related to gadgets and audio, I participate in a few online forums. What amazes me is that whenever I mention any Apple product, I get some ludicrous comments from one or more members. As a result, I am creating this blog entry to put in my signature link that can respond to these comments without derailing every thread in which an Apple product is mentioned into a debate about Apple.

Below are some of the most common comments and my reponse to them. If you want to add further comments, use the comment button, send me an email, or PM over your issue using the forum where you got this link, and I will try to answer the comments here:

1. You are an Apple Fanboy - this is by far the most common comment to any of my (or others) posts related to Apple devices. The comment is meant to imply that I only like Apple products because of some sort of blind loyalty to the company. This would make sense if I did not also own two portable players by Creative and own several computers running Windows.

2. Apple products are gimmicky – I think some people confuse ease of use and cutting edge devices as gimmicky. iPod hit the scene back in 2001. By 2007, over 100 million iPods had been sold. A gimmick is a “quirky feature that distinguishes a product or service without adding any obvious function or value”. Most people do not think of ease of use, apps for everything, 160GB hard drive space, etc.. as quirky features.

3. Faddish - A fad usually means that it is a product that is fashionable for a short period of time and then disappears. The iPod is not going anywhere. Also, I would argue that other players are much more faddish. An iPod is about as common as wearing socks. A SanDisk player (for example) is much more likely to be faddish because of their small market share and its flavor of the month status in some circles.
Edit: Woot had a deal on SanDisk Sansa Fuze and I bought one for comparison purposes. It was cheap, which is its main benefit and has decent EQ choices. Personally, I don’t think portable devices and EQ work that well together unless you live near a subway or have to take a bus and just want to mess with settings. I still prefer the iPod Touch because it is much better at a lot of stuff. Also, I don’t think it needs EQ out of the box like the Sansa. From what I understand, there are very good EQ apps available at the Apple app store, but I have not tried them.

4. Trying to look cool - Many have their own interpretations of “cool”. However, if owning an exceptional product is part of being cool, then I guess some buy them for the coolness factor. However, they are only cool because the product is viewed by the buyer as an exceptional device.

5. Trendy – How trendy can something be when 100 million+ devices have been sold? Once again, iPods have been around for 10 years. If they are still trendy, it is because of their exceptionalism when compared to the rest of the market. There is also news out that the iOS devices have now sold over 100 million, too.

6. Build Quality is suspect – I am sure every brand of electronic device has had an example of it being broken or just stopped working at some point. I still own a fully functional 2nd Gen iPod. So, from that perspective, I would say that this iPod is exceptionally well built. My 1st gen shuffle also works like it did the day I bought it.

Also, the fact that the popularity has not diminished seems to point to the fact that people are happy enough with the product to buy a new version of one. This is extremely common for iPhones and iPods. If people were miserable with the build quality, why would they buy the new version when it came out? There are many other options…many that appear to be copied directly from Apple. The fact is that the build quality is good enough for most people.

Sound quality sucks – I think that this is marketing hype put out by companies trying to get some market share. The fact is that sound quality is in the ear of the beholder. I would not argue if someone claimed that they prefer the sound of a Fisher Price record player to a VPI Scout. It is their opinion. The fact is some like tubes, some like solid state, some like analog, and some like digital. Its not an absolute. However, Apple makes some of the most flexible players if you want to improve on the small amps and DACs in a portable player.

There are many LODs (line out docks) that skip the internal amp to send the sound to a better portable amp (PA2V2 and Fiio E5 are two products I own). Also, if you want to spend the money, you can get a Pure, Wadia or Onkyo dock that will allow you to dig out the digital stream and send it to a better DAC (digital to analog converter). Most portable players have no way of doing this.

For the iPad, you can get the camera connector and send out a digital signal to a DAC via USB. Once again, this is not possible on most devices. While some people may appreciate Sony’s tweaked sound (for example), the fact is that most of their players do not even support compressed lossless formats (FLAC, WMA Lossless, etc..). As a result, the source file is lossy and I would argue garbage in/garbage out.

Edit (1/9/11) For the record, the iOS devices will now play FLAC if you want to download the FLACPlayer or one of the other apps in the Apple Store that make it possible. Personally, to me, lossless is lossless and I have no problems with ALAC.

Edit (1/9/11): Apple has made the USB a little more of a pain to use with unpowered devices. It now requires a T3hub (which tricks it) to work with my uDac. However, they added Airplay which gives it (and iPhones and the iPod Touch running the latest firmware) the ability to stream audio from the the iOS device to the AppleTV, Airport Express, certain receivers and speakers. I did an update for my Denon 4311CI receiver and I just tell the iPad to send the audio stream to my receiver and it will turn on the receiver and begin to play music. It also has volume control right on the iOS device. What other company makes devices with this type of flexibility? Also, best of all, this update from Apple was FREE!

(Edit) Apple is great at marketing – Yes, they have features the other guys don’t (or didn’t before they were copied), so it is easy to market them. Also, no one is saying Sony can’t market its mp3 players, but somehow they can market the PS3. Maybe marketing works better if you have a unique device that has features no one else has?

While the above are general comments that appear in any discussion of any Apple device, here are some popular comments related to specific products:

iPhone
The iPhone requires a jailbreak to be useful - OS4 should have put an end to this complaint. With it, you now have multitasking…which is the reason I jailbroke my 3GS. While many gadget fiends like myself will jailbreak, mod, and push a product past its basic commercial limits, it does not mean these products are useless before geeks get ahold of them.

There are better phones on the market - I don’t think there is a better phone for me. I like to have functionality across platforms. For instance, I download the Orb app to my iPhone. I then sync it to my computer. After that, I sync my iPad and iTouch to my computer and now I have Orb on all three devices. It is simplicity at its best. I also like the way the “Remote” app integrates with iTunes on my computer.

iPad

Here are a couple to address some concerns:
Its a big Touch – umm…yeah…that is why I wanted it. If someone wants to argue that a 3.5 inch screen is better than a 9.7 inch screen for anything visual, I would just have to say they are a liar. Fortunately for the iPad, the 9.7 inch screen makes it better for Netflix, Orb, ABC, USA Today, Pulse, Zinio, Pandora, etc.. The Touch is only more portable…but comes in handy when you need a pocket device and don’t own an iPhone.

A netbook does more – Who cares? My laptop does more than a netbook. My swiss army knife does more than my butcher knife. The question is what you use it for and how well it does those tasks. Have you tried chopping meat with a swiss army knife? Most people have netbooks for quickly getting on the net. They like them for their portability and battery power when compared to a laptop. However, it has a keyboard that takes up half the space. As a result, the iPad is easier to read on, carry from room to room, and it is faster to boot up. In other words, a netbook may do some things that iPad doesn’t, but I would use it much less… We own an MSI netbook and I would gladly trade it in for another iPad. At this point, I also use it A LOT more than my fairly new laptop. Form factor is everything!

iPod Classic 160GB – I rarely post about this product, but I have a good reason for selecting it instead of Cowon (which I also like). My car has a plug in that works with iPods. It allows the user to control what is playing (via genre, playlist, album, artist) using the head unit or the steering wheel controls. There is not another brand that will work with it, so it is what it is. However, the fact that so many accessories (I also have a Sendstation pocket dock for attaching my iPhone to my car’s USB input) are made specifically for Apple devices makes them more user friendly than other devices. I should also mention that I wanted 160GB, so I could use lossless files.

Ipod Touch – I got one of these while I was locked into using a Treo on Sprint. The apps and the wifi capabilities are incredible. While I rarely use it since I got an iPhone, it is what got me interested in apps and the iPhone. It also has an LOD output that allows it to be used with outboard amps. The new version also works with airplay.

Airport Express – Inexpensive music server. Unlike the Roku Soundbridge I also own, it does not take up any desktop space. It can be controlled using the Remote app. Edit (1/9/11) It also supports Airplay which means I can fire up audio on my iPad and it will play it back on this device.

While I am not saying that Apple devices are perfect, AT&T for the iPhone in the USA is an issue (Edit..obviously, Verizon now has the iPhone, too), I am saying that making a bunch of ignorant comments about them anytime they are mentioned serves no purpose…other than derailing threads to a point that the original post is no longer being considered. Admit it, Apple makes some decent products.

(Since I lost all of my old articles, thanks to moving to a new host, I am reposting some of my old articles…Thanks to Google for the ability to get the old articles from their cache.)