Category Archives: My iPad

Oct 28 2011

My New Favorite App: Index Card

Having just read another book on my iPad, every time I spend time with it I learn something new – a new feature or a new app. 

I recently downloaded one cool app for just $4.99 and love it so much I wanted to share it with all my readers, mainly my writer friends.

It’s called Index Card. Anyone else out there using this one yet?

First, the interface is super neat in that the desktop looks like a corkboard.  You pin index cards to your corkboard and can arrange them, stack them, edit them, and even import them or look at them in outline form. 

You can also change colors and have multiple cork boards each for different projects.  And you can back them up using iTunes file sharing, or export them into several formats.

I like taking notes and jotting ideas down, but I’m not very organized when it comes to keeping them all in one place.  Several authors I know invest in a crisp clean notebook or journal to devote to a certain project. Joe Hill (Heart Shaped Box) recently wrote about the multiple purposes of his journals over at his blog and what he uses each one for.

I love the art of writing in journals or keeping a diary or even letter writing, but because of the internet and computers, I just don’t do it that much.  I had an obsession with those leather bound blank books and moleskin journals you find in the gift section in bookstores, and bought them all the time but only to end up using them for grocery lists and scrap paper for notes.

With the Index Card app, I’m at least making good use of my iPad with an app that I will actually try to use, and yet it gives me the look and somewhat of the feel of using actual paper notecards which makes it fun.  Currently, I only have one project going which is outlining my next novel chapter by chapter to keep them organized.  But I can totally see this being a good note taker just to jot down things that come to me whenever and wherever I am.

Are you using Index Cards?  If so, I’d love to hear your thoughts.

Sep 5 2011

PostSecret Goes Interactive With App

Sharing Secrets via Facebook

Yesterday, I downloaded the PostSecret app.  For those who don’t know, PostSecret is an art project where you create a postcard and write a secret on it that you’ve never told anyone.  You mail it to Frank Warren – the founder – and he posts them on the Post Secret website.  There’s a touring lecture and books also devoted to this project.  It can be very inspiring, emotional, sad, and heart felt.  Just visit the site every Sunday to read the new secrets.  I went there yesterday and found that an app was now available for iPhone and iPad for $1.99 so I downloaded it.

The app is really geared toward phone usage.  The size of the screen is for the phone even though I could blow it up on my iPad to be larger, which distorts the images. But the idea is that users can snap photos and type in a message (a secret) and immediately upload it to share with others.  You can also comment on other secrets and share them via Facebook and Twitter.

I immediately tested it by sharing one via Facebook which was kind of neat.

Now, here’s what I don’t like about it.  The app takes ways the personal feel to the secrets for me.  In the past, people had to sit down and creatively make a postcard with their own hands -using actual paper, photographs, markers, paint, and the like.  They had to buy a stamp and go to a post office and put it in the mail. Like I said, it was more personal. They were invested in it, and probably eager to see it appear on the site one day or in a book.

Now, it’s point, click, type, done – just like everything else in our world. It’s as easy as post to Facebook, or text messaging, or tweeting.  For me, it loses that personal appeal.  Sure, it saves on paper and probably saves a lot of time for Frank and his local post office.  Sure, it’s fun and quick and will now reach a whole new dynamic of people who “never had time” before to sit down and make a postcard.  But wasn’t that the purpose in the first place?  To get people to sit down and confess and invest in their secret.

But unfortunately, the online secrets are actually more like confessions than secrets.  They are cutesy pictures of pets sleeping with comments like “I wish I could sleep like that.” or “I love him more than anything else.”  Is this really a secret?  No.  It’s no different than how you might comment on a pic you posted to Facebook, so once again, the appeal there is lost.

Sorry, Frank.  I bought the app.  I like it.  I’ll still read the secrets.  But for me, this takes away some of PostSecret’s originality.

Sep 4 2011

Comics App for iPad

I downloaded my new favorite app last night on my iPad.  It’s Comics by comiXology.  As a kid, Archie was more of my Comic of choice although I did read the occasional G.I. Joe or super hero comic – but I didn’t invest in them much.  In grade school, I poured over the Far Side, Garfield, and Heathcliff collections though.

But, this app was free and acts just like the iBooks or Kindle apps, but for Comics. I had to give it a test run.  So, I bought Astonishing X-Men Vol. 1 for just $1.99.  Prices across the board are pretty decent from .99 to $3.99.  And the assortment is awesome.  I love the Search by Genre function. And yes, you can even download samples.

My only complaint so far is that some of the smaller panes – I’d say under 2×2 in size – are a bit distorted and extremely hard to read.  And there’s no way to enlarge them. Other than that, the images are crisp and clear.  The screenshots move page by page more like the Kindle app, rather than the added feature of the actual page turning like iBooks, but I can live with that.

If you love comics and have been looking for a new app, I highly recommend this one!

Apr 10 2011

The Bear in a Muddy Tutu by Cole Alpaugh

Cole Alpaugh’s book, The Bear in a Muddy Tutu, immediately had my full attention as it began with the story of Buddy Wayne Hooduk, an odd character of sorts who has just abandoned his needy mother and is intent on convincing people that he is God. With stolen guidebook in hand, How To Become a Cult Leader in 50 Easy Steps, Buddy sets out to find his flock. Odd circumstances cause Buddy to take charge of a run-down traveling circus where an oddball loser like Buddy doesn’t seem so out of place.

It is here in the book that the reader is introduced to a variety of characters and you quickly learn that this book just isn’t about Buddy. In fact, pretty soon Buddy is out of the center circus ring and we find ourselves following the story lines of several other more interesting characters from a drunken ranger obsessed with killing bugs to a lonely reporter who has lost his daughter thanks to his ex-wife running away with the little girl.

And since you are following a circus, there’s all sorts of Midway characters and Side Show freaks coming and going from the storyline that, while not the center of the plot, are just as alluring.  A sexy contortionist, a man who has survived lightning strikes a dozen times, the flat man, and the human cannonball to name a few.

My favorite character had to be Gracie the Dancing Bear – an old toothless bear in a pink tutu who becomes separated from the circus during a bizarre accident. Alpaugh treats Gracie’s point of view no differently than when he is writing about the other characters. It’s as if this is a story he’s engagingly told out loud for years possibly to his children. In fact, Gracie becomes a living metaphor for a story Lennon Bagg, the reporter, used to tell to his daughter Morgan at bedtime each night about a bear who wanted a circus magician to turn her into a bird.

Although the reader’s attention is focused on Buddy and whether or not he can convince the circus that he is indeed God and whether or not they will build a altar to him, the underlying focus of the book will take you by surprise. It is in fact the story of Lennon and his daughter. The author bares his soul as we witness the desperate loneliness of Lennon who has been searching for Morgan for over a year.

And then we are treated to chapters told from Morgan’s point of view as she is stowed away in Bermuda after her mother told her Daddy was dead. Obsessed with birds and convinced her father has turned into one, Morgan becomes the punchline of her classmates’ jokes as she searches the island and talks to birds about her father. And sometimes the birds talk back!

I was a third of the way through the book and still had no idea where the sotry was taking me. Buddy and the circus attempt to set up permanent residence on an old island, while Lennon finds Gracie and tries to reunite her with the circus. And yet, by the last page, the reader is treated to an ending that is as satisfying as cold lemonade and cotton candy.

Alpaugh pens a world of fascinating characters, not to mention their bizarre unforgettable names, reminding us that it is our individuality and uniqueness that makes each of us special in our own way. If we look past our differences, we can see people for who they really are and we can appreciate the little things that make each of us tick.

The fate of each character plays on our hearts as Alpaugh takes us deeper and deeper into each persona. I felt like I knew these characters inside and out, and while the story might lack action at times, the author pushes the story forward with a multitude of point-of-views. If you are looking for a “big top” read with lots of heart and laughs, and characters you can sit down with to listen to their story for a spell, magic, whimsy, and dancing bears, then look no further than Cole Alpaugh’s The Bear in a Muddy Tutu.

Mar 25 2011

Good-bye Kindle!

I sold my Kindle over the weekend!  It went to a good friend who purchased it for her father for an upcoming Hawaiian vacation, so I was very happy for them and also happy to part with it.  It got me to thinking about what the next generation of Kindle will look like though.  We’ve already decreased in size and changed in physical color.  What’s next?  Let’s hope a color screen or touch screen capabilities even. I honestly doubt that will happen for a while though. Why?  Amazon doesn’t need it.  The Kindle is still a proven seller, and at just $139 now it’s worth every penny.  They own the Ereader market as far as device price goes.  And with the Kindle app available for free on your desktop, phone, and yes, on my iPad, everyone can enjoy Ebooks without even owning the Kindle device itself. And the Kindle is still a nifty lil affordable device that lots of us are in love with.  I’d still be reading on mine had I not gotten the iPad, which brings me to what I really wanted to talk about in this post.

I began seriously reading my first book on the iPad this week, an awesome small press book called The Bear in the Muddy Tutu written by Cole Alpaugh. The iPad offers up a very different but great reading experience.  First, I appreciate that the screen is indeed a bit larger.  Sure, it’s a handful but I can increase the font and feel like I’m reading at a fast pace with there looking like there are more than 10 words on the screen.  Yes, you can increase the font on the Kindle but I always felt like I was reading a Kindergarten coloring book since the screen was smaller and held fewer words.

The back light is also nice.  I had never invested in a book light for my Kindle.  You can’t avoid the glare on the iPad, but the back light is definitely a plus.

Unfortunately, the iPad goes to sleep on me if I stay on a page for too long (because of looking up at the TV occasionally).  I know I can probably adjust this in settings; I just haven’t attempted to yet.

I like the touch screen capability better for turning pages.  I feel like eventually you’d wear out the page turning buttons on the Kindle.

Lastly, at the bottom of the page is a percentage grid showing you how much of the book you’ve read.  On the Kindle, this feature stays there permanently.  On the iPad, you can have it disappear.  So, it’s not as distracting.

As you can see, each device weighs in with its on pros and cons.  It really comes down to what you can afford and what you expect from your device.  Obviously, the iPad as more capabilities, but that also means there are more distractions to take your attention from reading.  I admit I have gotten distracted from time to time, but for the most part, I have been able to devote myself to the reading when I wanted to.

And as for the Bear in the Muddy Tutu…great book!  I highly recommend it.  Review to follow…

Mar 23 2011

Notes from a Novice: Kensington KeyFolio Bluetooth Keyboard & Case for iPad

The iPad is definitely new technology to me. I don’t even own a lap top. Since I blog and write a lot, this KeyFolio Bluetooth Keyboard appealed to me as a great addition to the iPad to increase functionality and to also serve as a nice protective cover. As soon as I got it, I sat down to write a blog post. Not having a Shift Key on the right side really hindered my typing. Since I have large fingers, I also misspelled a lot of words. A lot! But no more than I probably would have misspelled had I used the touch screen keyboard. And this keyboard at least allows you to use both hands to type while not having to hold the iPad itself.

As for it being a cover, it increases the size and weight of the iPad quite a bit and I mostly found the keyboard getting in the way if I’m just holding the iPad in my hands. I wish that the leather cover was just a bit bigger allowing the keyboard to fold behind the iPad out of sight and making the iPad and cover together capable of being held in one hand. So, while it serves as a nice protective cover, I still find myself taking the iPad out of the cover to use by itself at home and to just get the keyboard out of the way when I’m not using it. I even thought of investing in a cheaper cover that is just a cover, but I know I’d get tired of switching between the two when I want to use the keyboard.

So, if you travel a lot or are on the go and depend on the iPad for typing functions, this might be a wise investment. The keyboard itself does work great (despite the absence of that one shift key) and you definitely get what you pay for. That’s why I am rating this 4 out of 5 stars. But if you mainly just need a cover and think the keyboard would be a nice accessory that you might only occasionally use, then I would probably just invest in a cover alone.

Mar 13 2011

Adventures With An iPad

iBooks on iPad

I got an iPad on Thursday, in case you didn’t already know.  I’ve Tweeted and Facebooked about it already several times.  I honestly haven’t used an Apple product probably since the old green screen computers in junior high, and even then it was just to play Oregon Trail.

Like everything else in the tech world, I was a bit hesitant at first because that’s just the way I am with new products.  I’ve been “on the grid” since the mid 90s when I got my first email account and spent hours on AOL every night so computers are an every day vice for me by now.  I write on them.  I work on them.  I play on them.  I’m still not a huge tech junkie and wouldn’t know what to do if the computer broke, but I do know my way around one.

I bring this up because I’ve only had a cell phone for about a year.  I never felt the need to have one and could probably still cope without it.  I just recently upgraded to a model that can connect to the web, and while I enjoy checking FB statuses from my phone from time to time, in the back of my head I keep saying, “Oh God, I’ve become one of those people!”  Those people are the wired ones that I’ve been making fun of up until now.  I totally feel like a lemming.

Oddly, I didn’t feel like that back in December when J gave me a Kindle for Christmas though.  Being a book junkie and an author, I already felt like I knew a lot about the Kindle.  After seeing coworkers with their Nook Color, I almost felt like my Kindle was “old school” since it wasn’t in color, had limited web capabilities, and wasn’t touch screen.  The iPad is definitely a step up, but I’ll get to that in a minute.

A friend on Twitter pointed me to a blog post from a man who actually preferred the Kindle over the iPad.  The post mentioned that you have to keep in mind what purpose each device serves and how it fits your needs, something I had obviously been blind to after seeing the iPad.  The Kindle is an Ereader, and although it may not be in color, it’s still a nifty and very affordable gadget.  While I can read on my iPad as well (and read better), I can also become easily distracted – checking Facebook, checking Twitter, running apps, checking email…  The Kindle almost forces you just to read, although I did download several games on mine as well to pass the time.

The iPad is more expensive, but you definitely get what you pay for.  And I almost feel like my Grandma trying to learn how to do that email thing.  (FYI, my Grandma has never touched a computer in her life and does not have that email thing.) The complete touch screen function definitely takes some getting used to, but it is quite impressive. You also seem to get more use out of your desktop than you probably do on a desktop computer.  For instance, at my computer I have to sign into the computer, sign into an internet connection, go to my email server, and then sign into my email.  On the iPad, I tap an Email icon on my desktop and I’m immediately in my inbox.  So all those in-between steps are eliminated. Though I’ve downloaded very few of them, let’s not forget all of the other apps that you download on the iPad.  Besides email, I’ve also got my Twitter account and Facebook just a tap away.

Kindle App for iPad

Now let’s talk about the Kindle app since it’s the first one I downloaded.  First, I love the set up much better.  Your bookshelf on the Kindle consists of just the titles of the books.  You have to move the cursor up and down to select the book you want to read.  On the iPad, you are actually looking at the book covers in color.  You tap on the cover and the book opens.  You can also view full screen snapshots of the cover in color.  On the iPad, you have a back light display.  No light with Kindle unless you buy a book light.

You use your finger to flip the pages on the iPad and can even turn it sideways to view two pages at once just like a real book.  Your Archived books are also just a tap away at the bottom of the screen where as on the Kindle you have to go back to your main menu and scroll through the titles to your Archived Listing.  This is not a time consuming effort, but the iPad function is definitely easier and quicker.

One of my books had web and blog addresses on the last page.  With just a tap, the iPad takes you right to the site.  Kindles does this too if you move the cursor to the link but we already know you wouldn’t be able to enjoy the site in color or on a full screen.

Kindle is definitely more compact and lighter in weight.  I feel safer carrying my Kindle around in its case, as I have yet to get a cover for the iPad.  And the iPad is bigger in size and definitely weighs more.

Kindle Home Page Showing Only Titles

Lastly, when reading Ebooks you aren’t really reading it page by page because you can increase or decrease the font to your sight preference. This function changes where an actual page might end or begin. To measure where you are in an Ebook (the number of pages you read), there is a percentage grid at the bottom of the page…showing you might have read 10% of a book and you have to get to 4562 before you reach the end.  This grid is always visible at the bottom of the screen on Kindle and I always found it to be a distraction.  On iPad, you can hide it.

There are also other Ebook apps available on iPad as well.  See the iBook shelf pictured at the top.  I’ve downloaded this app but have not made a purchase from them yet.

So there you have it.  Hopefully I’ll have more to share with you as I learn more about this new nifty lil device.  And hopefully I won’t get too distracted from my E-Reading while on the iPad.

What device are you reading on?  Are you considering an Ereading device if you don’t have one?  If so, which one and why?