I came across this very cool iPhone & iPad app the other day called Press Reader (iTunes Link). The app allows you to download and subscribe to some of the top international newspaper & magazines from around the world.
All of the above only cost $0.99 per copy, and are bought as in app purchases, whish means you would need credit in your iTunes account. This is a bargain in the case of Finweek & Sunday times., as these are well over the R7 mark.
Some of the features of the app include:
Set up automated subscriptions to your favorite titles
Flip pages like you’re reading real publications
Pan, zoom or rotate pages, articles and photos and view in stunning clarity
Reading these on the iPad or iPhone is awesome, and you get an exact copy, just without the horrible print all over your hands and reams of paper all over your lounge. You can also download editions of newspapers & magazines from over 94 countries worldwide.
The app itself free, and is another must have to your iPad & iPhone app collection.
One of the announcement at the iPad 2 launch a few weeks ago was that Apple would be releasing 2 new Apple iPad apps, GarageBand & iMovie. I have used Mac GarageBand briefly on the Mac a few times, but never actually given it too much time. So I wasn’t in a rush to get the new iPad Garageband when it released on Friday, but after seeing a few tweets about how cool the app was, I decided to drop the measly $5 for the app. And what a good decision. Actually, I think I have probably used the app so much this weekend, I would have easily spent $50 for the app. Seriously :)
GarageBand turns your iPad into a collection of Touch Instruments and a full-featured recording studio — so you can make music anywhere you go. Use Multi-Touch gestures to play pianos, organs, guitars, drums, and basses on your iPad. They sound and play like their counterparts, but let you do things you could never do on a real instrument. Enjoy a full range of Smart Instruments that make you sound like a pro — even if you’ve never played a note before. Plug an electric guitar into your iPad and play through classic amps and stompbox effects. Use the built-in microphone or a guitar to record, or capture any performance. Then mix up to eight tracks to create a song you can share.
As you can see from the app store description above, the app is full of features. The Smart Instruments for me is amazing. You select your type of instrument, (Piano, Guitar or Drums) and it almost teaches you about the instrument. You can then record your tune into a track, and mix it with other effects. I have always been a fan of drums, but never got round to playing them (apart from the pots in the kitchen & annoying my wife) and now with Garageband, it is so simple.
I have been playing quite a bit, and put a few tracks together. I honestly have a bit of a dull ear when it comes to music, so this track below, self titled “House” might sound a bit out of sync, but you will see how simple it is to get something like this going. This track probably took me around half an hour to do with all the tweaking. To get it off the iPad, you can either email it, or send to iTunes. You can also save the files as a GarageBand file for the Mac & edit on the Mac afterwards.
If you own an iPad, I highly recommend you download GarageBand for the iPad from the iTunes store. At $5, it is a steal ! I am also thinking of putting up a few tutorials about how to use GarageBand and some of the features it offers.
One of the best new features that I have found and used on the new iPhone iOS 4.3 release is a feature called Personal Hotspot. Basically, what this is, is it turns your iPhone into a wireless hotspot using your 3G connection. So for example, if you out at a coffee shop, or somewhere where there is no internet connectivity, you simply turn your Personal Hotspot on and you can use any other device, like your PC or Mac, or iPad or even another WiFi enabled phone to connect to the net. Previously you needed to purchase whole other device, like a MiFi, to be able to connect to the net. Now it is built right into your phone. Brilliant !!
To get started using Personal Hotspot you can follow these steps :
On your iPhone go to Settings -> Personal Hotspot
Turn your Personal Hotspot to ON. You will see a Blue bar at the op of your screen which shows you that Personal Hotspot is now active.
On you computer or iPad, choose iPhone from the list of network services in your WiFi menu.
Enter the password that is shown in the Personal Hotspot
You can now browse the net using your iPhone’s 3G connection. Try and make sure your 3G is on, otherwise things will really be slow.
Remember to turn it off once you are done.
You can also use Personal hotspot using Bluetooth or using the USB cable, to create an internet connection. You can have up to 5 devices connecting at any time (3 WiFi, 1 Bluetooth & 1 USB). Currentley there is no extra charge associated with this, but in the US, AT&T does charge an extra fee every month. Let’s trust & hope the SA Network providers don’t follow suite, as I think it makes absolutely no sense !
Have you used Personal Hotspot ? What do you think ? Leave a comment below with your findings.
2 days ahead of schedule Apple have (finally) released iOS 4.3 for iPhone & iPad. This is a biggie for me, as it now turns your iPhone into a fully fledged WiFi hotspot. This means I can now use the WiFi iPad anywhere, and don’t have to worry about internet not being available. Bonus.
Here are some of the changes for iOS 4.3:
Personal Hotspot
Share iPhone 4 cellular data connection with up to 5 devices (combination of up to 3 Wi-Fi, 3 Bluetooth,and 1 USB)
iTunes Home Sharing
Play music, movies and TV shows from a shared iTunes library on a Mac or PC (requires iTunes 10.2)
New AirPlay features
Play videos from the Photos app including the Camera Roll album, iTunes previews, enabled third-party apps and websites on Apple TV
Faster Safari performance with Apple Nitro JavaScript
engine
HD video out using the Apple Digital AV Adapter
View 720p HD videos from Videos app, iPod app, Photos, YouTube, Safari, Keynote, and enabled third-party apps on an HDMI display
New Settings
Messages setting for number of times to repeat an alert
iPad side switch setting to lock screen rotation or mute audio notifications and sound effects
Steve & his crew announced the release of the latest iPad this eve. The new iPad is quite a step up from the iPad 1, although, quite honestly, I am not overyly blown away.
Amongst some of the new features that were launched in the iPad 2 are:
Thinner and lighter than its predecessor, weighing 1.3 pounds and measuring 0.35 inches thick
Gyroscope
10 hours of battery life
Choice between a black or white iPad.
Pricing stays the same
A nifty new cover has been announced which magnetizes to the frame of the iPad as well as keeps the screen clean
And that’s about it. The new ipad will be available on the 11th March in the US and the 25th in 24 other countries, except South Africa. No date has been given for South Africa yet. Steve also announced that iOS 4.3 will be available on the 11th March, for both the iPhone & iPad, and you will be able to use new apps like GarageBand & iMovie on the iPad2.
I can’t see myself rushing out to get an iPad2, but if someone is in the US and can get one, I will gladly take it as a new gadget. And let the kids an have the iPad 1 :)
For more info about the new iPad and specs about it check out the Apple iPad site
One of the announcement at the iPad 2 launch a few weeks ago was that Apple would be releasing 2 new Apple iPad apps, 
