Mind Mapping comes to iPad with iMindMap Mobile HD

When it comes to taking notes or putting together thoughts and ideas no technique comes close to MindMapping. This amazing way of starting with a central idea then branching out from there is one of the best ways of taking notes. The key to using this type of technique is to use only 3 - 4 words per branch. Giving yourself key words and ideas to branch out your thoughts.

This form of note taking has been found to stick in peoples minds for longer periods of times and also when students have come back to notes years later, the ideas and thoughts seem to come back even faster then the conventional way of taking notes.

The Mind Mapping software has been available for years for your computer. But, now it is out for the Apple iPad. This gives you the power to take your thoughts and ideas with you where ever you go. Plus, you can sync back to your desktop to edit your thoughts there too.
Check out the link on ThinkBuzan to see how awesome this app really is to use. At the bottom of the page they have a video showing how easy and fun it is to use too. Watch the whole video because at the end they show one even more incredible feature available.

This feature is to connect it to your external projector and give presentations right from your iPad on to the screen. As you give it. You start with the central idea and you can build your branches out during the presentation. Giving you a great way to walk your audience through the material.

Strange things at Apple.....

This weekend as i was reading through the various spots on the net, I came across something interesting i wanted to bring to your attention. It seems that Steve Wozniak recently reached out to Gizmodo (the people that brought you the lost 4G iPhone, broken down in pieces) to speak out about a few things at Apple.

Photo found on MacRumors.com

It turns out that the early morning of the iPad launch, an apple engineer shows Woz an Apple iPad unit for two minutes. Because he did this, he was fired.

Now a few months later, we have an Apple engineer who goes out celebrating his birthday with a prototype next gen 4G iPhone, which he looses in a bar. Then someone picks it up, plays with it. Even comments on how the camera was crashing and mentions two sets of bar codes on the back of the unit. Then the iPhone ends up at Gizmodo, where it is broken down and demonstrated in detail. But, the unit seems to have its OS and content remotely erased (some think via mobile me) and they can't get the phone to come up working when at Gizmodo.

When the news comes out no one knows what to believe, is it real or a fake. But, its then definitely confirmed with a letting from a V.P. Gen. Council at Apple on its immediate return. The item gets returned to Apple. Everything is now fine and dandy.

The engineer doesn't loose his job and it seems that he is still with the company. A police task force is now set upon investigating Gizmodo for various possible crimes on having the unit in its possession.

Does this just sound a bit too strange or what. I mean if you remember back when the Apple iPad was a mysterious new device. The word after it was debuted to the public was that people who had the unit, pre-launch had to demonstrate to Apple these overly protective security measures were in place from blackening the windows of the room to keeping the unit in a specially sealed box, locked away, so no one would see the unit.

Then you hear about an engineer showing Woz (father of Apple Computer) the unit on the day but before the debut. Which if you are like most, you too consider Woz an Apple employee for life. Then that guy gets fired.

Now an engineer looses something major and its all ok. I have to say it almost seems like a planned loss to generate either hype or interest to see what people will say or not about the device. This is just my opinion. But, it just doesn't make sense when you look at what a few months ago was something not nearly as Major as what just happened and that engineer got fired.

I will leave my thoughts for you to decide. I love my Apple Computer and whole host of other devices i own and use. But, it sure sounds a bit strange for Apple to be so calm about an employee loosing such a device which is a major prototype release. I am not just buying it.

New cost estimates on iPad components

iSuppli initially (before its release) estimated that the Apple iPad components cost for a 16GB Wi-Fi unit would be at around $219. Now it has bumped it up to an estimation cost of $260.00. Currently, Apple sells the iPad 16 GB Wi-Fi unit for $499.

It seems that the biggest factor in the slight price bump up is the cost for the iPad's touchscreen, which is estimated now to go for $95.00.

I don't personally see a problem with Apples component cost vs the retail price. There is a lot of research and development, plus marketing and other costs that go into product development. Apple is trying to make some money and also recoup their expenses. There is nothing wrong with that. In fact, I remember that even before the January 27, 2010 debut of the iPad, many people were actually estimating that the low end of the cost for this device was going to be $1,000.00 and were pleased when they heard $499.00.

I think Apple could have changed $1,000 and people still would have bought it. The price that Apple currently sells the iPad for is very reasonable, especially when you look into what you are getting for the price. The Apple iPad is the beginning of a new world of portable computing. There are more and more competitors coming on to the market. But, they pale in comparison to what they have to offer and cost.

All one has to do is look at the apps and other things that are now coming out for the iPad they are pretty impressive and very reasonable cost wise too. If you were to talk a walk into any Best Buy store or go to many vendors websites, you would be hard pressed to find some of the awesome apps for 9.99 or even lower price range. The developers that are now coming on board for the iPad are creating some new, amazing and very creative apps that will give us some new amazing tools to mold with our creative minds and ideas.

Converting PDF's into iPad iBooks format

I found this great article on Lifehacker and i wanted to share it with everyone. The article is about how to convert PDFs and other formats into the ePub format (Apple iBook).


I know a lot of people are like me and own copies of various books in pdf format. They wonder what to do now since I just bought an Apple iPad and it doesn't accept pdf format books. Well folks there is a light at the end of the tunnel. Its a FREE app called Calibre. This program is available for the Mac, PC and Linux. It allows you to convert your pdf to ePub format.

See the link below to walk you through the process and show you how easy it works.

LifeHacker - How Can I Convert PDF's and other eBooks to the ePub Format?

Link to Calibre website

Apple iPad Jailbroken already

I had a feeling it would happen. But, wow this is sooner then expected.The first video has surfaced showing the iPad Jailbroken.

It was done by iPhone Dev Team member 'MuscleNerd' with a demo of it on YouTube showing the device jailbroken with root access and then him controlling the device from a command line. The details are unclear as to how the hack works but it all seems to point to an iPhone jailbreak called "Spirit". Spirit was written by a developer who goes by the name Comex.

Pretty interesting to see it working from a command line on another machine. I wonder now if someone will try to do something a bit more out there like installing Chrome OS, Android or any other flavor of Linux on the unit to see how it works. Then post a demo of it on YouTube to show it was done and it works.

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UPDATE: The word is coming out that the hack was done on the iPad with a 3.2 firmware that had some security holes which allowed the Team to break it using the iPhone 3.1.3 hack.

To jailbreak a phone using Spirit, one only has to surf on over to a particular Web site using the device's internal Safari browser. Grant the site permission to jailbreak the phone, and it'll take advantage of a bug found in the browser to gain root access to the device.

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PC Mag - First iPad Jailbreak Demoed...with Video!
Engadget - iPad 'Sprint' jailbreak demonstrated by MuscleNerd, now it really is magical (video)
CrunchGear - iPad jailbroken

My Apple iPad first impressions....

Well i got my Apple iPad today at about 12pm just when i got back from running some errands. It was interesting because on my UPS tracking it still showed it at the UPS facility. I got to talking to the UPS driver and she was telling me it was a nightmare with all the units shipping. I mentioned, how it said that my unit had shipped on the 30th but didn't come to the U.S. until the 2nd. It seemed to have been delayed and caught up in shipping in China.

She said yes, it seems they had some big delays with the Chinese government when it came to exporting these things. Also, because of these shipping times, iPads going out to many of the stores were being received later then expected. The driver had mentioned how Best Buy was supposed to get it yesterday and didn't get it till this morning at 9am. So even though my little iPad took a while to get here, I was very happy to receive her in my hands today.

One thing i did notice was that they did a good job packing the Apple box within the brown plain shipping box. It was a small box in which the unit was suspended in the air by using some cardboard bracers on the side. As i took the box out and began to open the plastic seal I noticed the beautiful detail Apple takes in its product box design. The box looked beautiful with the wording and images around the different sides. I have always love the boxes that apple puts their products in. Its actually a shame to dis guard them.

As I opened up the unit I saw the little iPad in its protective plastic cover. I lifted it out and noticed that below it was a nice little package unit with a card instruction sheet, some legal paper work and of course 2 Apple white stickers (more flare for the car).

Under the card was an Apple sync cord and a square electric plug for recharging the device. This has got to be the smallest power unit I have ever seen from Apple. It has a very cute and compact design. The two electric prongs collapse in when not in use. On the other side is a USB plug opening for plugging your sync cord in to recharge your iPad.

My unit came fully powered(100%) and ready to go. I went and hooked it up to my Mac. The iTunes opened up and I went through the short registration process for the unit. Then i spent sometime syncing over a few things and shopping in the iTunes store.

I went and picked up a few of the new iPad related appz: iBooks, iWork for iPad collection(Keynote, Pages, Numbers), and a few other goodies. I then tried them out after everything was done downloading and syncing up. I had also made sure my iPad connected up to my Airport Extreme Wi-Fi connection.

As i sat back on the couch and began to use the unit, I did notice the weight a little bit. I know its only 1.5 pounds but you do notice the feeling. After a while i didn't mind it but i did notice myself shifting the unit around in different positions as i used it. I went and started trying out the various apps.

The iPhone apps seemed to work fine, i was using then in the iPhone size then also 2x sized up too filling up the screen with the app. There is a 2x button in the lower right hand corner for enlarging the app on your unit to fill the screen. I did noticed some pixelizing in the graphics and even text when using 2x. It wasn't too bad, but i did notice it.

The iPhone apps all worked fine without any issues. I also tried some of the various news apps like BBC and AP and they worked fine too. The pages loaded up quick and the video worked without a hitch. I will have to say that the more i used it the more i enjoyed it too.

The ibooks app that was free came with a free children's book to try. I enjoyed using it and flipping through the pages. I also noticed something interesting too. If you choose to look at the books available through the ibooks store, you can actually download a sample of the book to look through it before deciding to purchase it. It was fast, easy and simple to use. One of the reasons I love Apple products is for the most part its something you can pick up and use without spending time going through manuals on figuring it out.

I had to try out one of my favorite iPhone games, "Plants vs. Zombie". I played it double sized and it looked great. I loved the big screen for playing and it was a bit more addictive playing now then on my iPod Touch unit. I know this larger sized screen is going to be a great platform for games. On the iPhone the screen is ok but on the iPad its just plain AWESOME.

I also had a chance to watch some movies that i had picked up from the iTunes store. I was blown away by how good the movies looked. I watched some of "Bicentennial Man" and the classic "Blade Runner" movie. I will tell you I've watched Blade Runner on a few different media platforms and on my iPad i was totally blown away by the richness and color on the unit. I watched it in the wide screen format and also the full screen format where it scales up the movie to fill the whole screen. Both looked awesome.

Then i tried out the three iWork apps that i had purchased. They worked great. It really put me in use with the virtual keyboard and I enjoyed using it to enter my input. Truthfully, i had seen the videos and photos of it but until i actually had a chance to use it first had i didn't realize how nice it was.

I am not a small man and i do have big hands. But, I will tell you for a big man this small little device was perfect. The more i used it the more i was glad and happy that i chose to order it now. So if you want my honest opinion on my first impressions about the iPad, it is AWESOME. Yep, so good that I had to yell it out loud.

I know there will be future released with more things added to the unit. But, I will definitely enjoy this one until then. So if you are considering getting an iPad all i can say is go down to the Apple store and see for yourself how great this unit is and be the judge of it yourself. I don't think you will be disappointed, this unit is a wise investment.

I want to say Thank You for all the people who helped to bring this unit to market and to all the employees at Apple. But, especially Thank You to Mr. Steve Jobs. Steve has always given us something to blow our minds and this is definitely another one of them.

The iPad is here - Saturday April 3, 2010

The day has arrived for the official delivery of the new Apple iPad. There has been a lot of talk in various directions about the iPad. I've read a number of articles where people are for it and think its the greatest thing since sliced bread. But, then there are the 'HATERS' who can't seem to find anything good to say about it.
The most interesting thing i've noticed is that there is no middle ground. Its either you love it or hate it.

Well i think its 'AWESOME' and I LOVE ITlove it. I know it might be easy to say things like it doesn't have a camera or this or that. But, how bout we focus on the positive things and go from there. Its easy to be negative and I'm sorry but i like to be positive about things in life first, then go from there.

So some of the reasons why I Love the new Apple iPad:
1. It's another amazing product by Apple. Face it folks, Apple is on the cutting edge of technology and design. They have produced a number of things that have definitely changed the way we live today for the better. In the most recent years we have been blessed with the iPhone and iPod Touch devices.

2. Change is a good thing. The new iPad is not like anything we have seen before. Yes, I've heard people comment on it being an iPhone on Steroids. But, I have to humbly disagree. I think it's a step into a new direction at small, light and amazing portable technology. This new step is the perfect developing ground for so many new innovate ways of doing things.

Imagine the uses in a hospital for taking notes and dictations. A doctor can speak his diagnosis into the unit and with some software it translates the doctors words into text and also attaches it to one file in a medical data base. Then in the future if there is any question of what was written it can easily be seen without any mis interpretation. This is one example of many different areas where the iPad can take us to the next level and beyond.

3. The Apple iPad is the beginning of a new way of how we see light, portable and useful technology. It is more then just a colorful Kindle. Its the start of introducing to us a more simpler way of working with technology. One of the reasons for the popularity of the iPhone/iPod Touch units is because anyone can pick it up and use it without too much thought or manual reading required.

4. Tons of Apps already available rite now. The Apple iPad has over 1,300 approved appz on the day of its release. Also, don't forget the 150,000 appz it can use that are available for the iPhone/iPod Touch too. There are more appz for this unit then any other portable device. With one big thing, there are a ton of them that are FREE that work great. No one else can even come close to saying this.

5. This unit could be a great learning tool for kids. Today kids are always complaining about how heavy their book bags are with all those big, clunky, heavy books they need to haul around for class everyday. Now, they don't need to worry about hurting their backs because on this platform we can put all those books in one small, compact easy to carry place.

6. Appeal for groups of all ages. When you see this device there is something so pleasant and appealing about it. Its not to big and clunky like so many other portable units on the market today. Also, you don't need a mouse to use it.

On this past Wednesday, there was a show on ABC called "Modern Family" where they had the unit as part of the story. One of the most amazing things that i saw was a Birthday Cake app. The woman held up the iPad as the virtual candles flickered then as the guy blew on the touch surface the candles moved like someone was blowing them out and wala they were blown out. The next thing you see is the smoldering candles just like they normally would. I love this app.

7. Apple has always been the leader in bringing new ideas and ways of using technology to the public. The one thing Apple is known for is walking to the beat of its own drum. I can remember many times where when they took the leap forward, it wasn't a step, but a great big Jump into the new way of doing things and it was AWESOME.

8. If you loved the iPhone/iPod Touch you will love the iPad because its the next stage of evolution in the world of technology. Yes, I know it doesn't have a camera but so what. There are hundreds of other great features that are currently available now. So you can wait and be a closet iPad fan or step up to the plate and enjoy what we have today.

So these were just a few of my feelings on this amazing new technology from Apple.

Our lives have forever been changed by Apple and Steve Jobs, and i for one want to say Thank You to all the people at Apple and to Steve Jobs for giving us some great goodies. I am proud to be a loyal supporter of amazing advanced technology from Apple.

Apple iPad on David Letterman

You know you've made it big when the Big Man of late night TV "David Letterman" starts cracking jokes about you.

Last night Dave took it upon himself to show off the iPad and then poke a few puns at it too. But the nice thing was he gave people a bit of a taste of things to come from the iPad with a comical twist.

Letterman's nightly "Top Ten" installment was the top 10 questions to ask yourself before waiting in line for the iPad. The Late Show host then pulled out an actual iPad, and attempted to demonstrate its ability to automatically rotate before he accidentally hit the lock button on the device and turned off its screen.

Letterman then slapped the iPad, banged it against the table, and shook the device in a humorous attempt to turn it back on. Unable to turn it back on, he even jokingly tried licking it, earning laughter and applause from the audience at the Ed Sullivan Theater.

"The radiation this thing gives off is incredible," he joked. "You're supposed to wear a lead apron when you operate it."

Later in the episode, the first guest, Sam Worthington, noted he doesn't know how to use an iPad, and then placed it under his coffee mug as a very expensive coaster.

Apple iPad App Store is now Live on iTunes

Just in time for this weekends debut of the Apple iPad.
Apple released (March 30) a new version of iTunes (version 9.1) that supports the iPad. Also the iTunes store is now giving the public, access to iPad Apps. There are rumored to be over 1,000 iPad apps ready to go with the launch. Plus, over 30,000 free books that are available too. But, lets not forget that there are over 150,000 iPhone/iPod Touch apps that work with the iPad too. So this is one great Easter Egg given to us from Apple....

iTunes iPad Edition Section


Keynote, Pages & Numbers - iPad Edition Apps


Brushes - iPad Edition App

Let the Apple iPad Videos Begin

I figured i would do my part to burn up the web waves with some of the assorted iPad videos now flooding the web. Enjoy..

Steve Jobs hits front page of Time Magazine - April 12, 2010 issue

Just in time for the Apple iPad release, Time magazine has the man himself Steve Jobs featured on the front cover of its upcoming issue (April 12, 2010).



Steve is interview by British Actor Stephen Fry. He gives us a look into the new Apple iPad, his career and his amazing life.

Some great wording about the article was found on AppleInsider, Thursday April 1, 2010 segment on this issue.

"I think the experience of using an iPad is going to be profound for many people," Jobs reportedly said. "I really do. Genuinely profound."

Fry asked Jobs if he believes the iPad is the high point of his career, and if the CEO intends to go out on top, given his recent health issues. In January 2009, Jobs took a leave of absence from Apple due to health-related issues, leaving Chief Operating Officer Tim Cook at the helm. Jobs eventually returned to work in June after receiving a liver transplant.

"I don't think of my life as a career," Jobs told Fry. "I do stuff. I respond to stuff. That's not a career -- it's a life!"

In addition to Jobs, Fry also spoke with Jonathan Ive, senior vice president of industrial design; Phil Schilller, senior VP of worldwide product marketing; and Eddy Cue, VP of Internet services. Schiller said while many have criticized the iPad as being "just a big iPhone," he actually views that comment as a compliment.

"Luckily, millions of people have those, so there is an instant ease and familiarity when they first encounter the iPad," he said. "As for everything else, it's not about the features -- it's about the experience. You just have to try it to see what I mean."

Fry also asked Ive about features missing from the iPad, such as a forward-facing camera for video conferencing.

"In many ways, it's the things that are not there that we are most proud of," Ive said in the latest issue of Time. "For us, it is all about refining and refining until it seems like there's nothing between the user and the content they are interacting with."

This awesome issue will also feature a history of the tablet computer by author Lev Grossman with some interesting perspectives on how things have influenced the Apple iPad. I would definitely recommend you pick this issue up and keep it aside. Because one day years from now it will most likely be a collectors item.

iPad hands on Videos begin on the web today

With the much anticipated launch of the new Apple iPad the media has been given the go ahead to start showing the iPad and speaking more about it. Just last night on the ABC show "Modern Family,", the new device was featured and shown to have a cool app available for it that gives you a virtual cake with lit candles that you can blow out.



Also here is an Apple iPad unboxing clip by Chicago SunTimes columnist Andy Inhatko. Andy takes you through opening the box and displaying what you get with your unit.



I will be posting my thoughts and feelings on the iPad when i get it this weekend.
Personally, I think the iPad will open up a new day for many people and its a great new platform to do some developing on. Its a great device because it appeals to users of all ages and backgrounds.

Where else can you find a simple device that you can take out and do many of the things that take more then one click to do. It boots up quick, has an incredible 10 hour plus battery life, and just works. Apple has done an amazing job here because they've given us a device that you don't need to worry about or deal with file structure. Its so simple a child can use it.