Paper and now Pencil for iPads

Introducing the latest in writing technology, Pencil. An amazing tool for not only graphic artists but for those who already love Fifty Three's FREE app, Paper for iPad. I'm excited, are you? If you are, then I highly recommend you take advantage of the limited introductory pricing starting at $49.95 for the graphite brushed aluminum Pencil or $59.95 for walnut. If you're still not excited, watch the video down below. If you're worried about being able to convert your notes or drawings into real paper format, look no further as Moleskin and Fifty Three teamed up to print your books straight from the app!

With Erase, Blend, and adaptive Palm Rejection, Pencil puts creative possibility in your hands.

• Eraser tip - A unique sensor lets you flip Pencil to erase when connected to Paper, without switching tools.

• Bluetooth Smart - Pencil’s certified Bluetooth Smart wireless delivers a fast, stable connection with industry-leading power conservation.

• Seamless body - Each Pencil is milled from a single, solid piece of material. Graphite brushed aluminum and also available in Walnut.

• Lasting power - Pencil’s battery charges off any USB port in under 90 minutes and delivers power for up to a month of normal use on a single charge.

• Accurate sensing - Pencil’s tip and eraser sensors are plated in 14kt gold for lightning fast, accurate reaction.

• Tapered tip - Pencil’s durable tip has been carefully friction-tuned to feel great on a screen. Use the broad side of the tip to fill in larger sections. Extra tip and eraser included.

Image Retention Pops up once again on Various new iPad mini's

Marco Arment posted a follow-up article today in regards to his latest finding with his personal iPad mini. Over a year ago, image retention started popping up in multiple user experiences on the Retina MacBook Pros which led him to create a simple test image. This can "detect" whether or not you have a faulty LCD screen and once again it applies here to Apple's new iPad mini with Retina Display. It comes without mentioning that if you have a Retina MacBook Pro, you can look up your model ((The manufacturer that had the most hits for positive image retention came from LG while the Samsung variant produced far less instances.)) by running this simple command in the terminal window:

ioreg -lw0 | grep "EDID" | sed "/[^<]*</s///" | xxd -p -r | strings -6

credit: MacRumors user: kpdillon

With the new iPad minis selling out this week and other LTE versions shipping out next, you should give this test a shot immediately when taking delivery. And if you're able, exchange the product if you demonstrate image retention. As Marco also mentions, because of the short supply, the chances of an exchange can be hindered but if you plan on keeping your iPad mini for years to come, I'd highly recommend trying as best to squash the problem before it's too late.

On a good note, not all screens are presenting this issue as he also goes on the mention that the new iPhone 5s and iPad Air do NOT exhibit this symptom.

Here's his direct link to the screen test.

Dalrymple Reviews Apple's iPad mini with Retina Display

Jim Dalrymple of The Loop on Apple's new iPad mini with Retina Display.

The iPad mini can easily be your only iPad. The fact is, it always could, but you can do so now without feeling like you’re giving something up in return for the size. The iPad mini is small, it has a Retina display and it’s the most powerful iPad to date. There is just nothing bad to say about the iPad mini.

I can't wait to get mine. I orders the Space Gray 32GB T-Mobile version. Ships in 5-10 days. I pulled the trigger at 6:25am EST.

Apple's 2013 Fall Event in Review (and what I'm buying)

Recap After the introduction of the amazing and incredible iPad Air, the iPad mini with Retina Display, the Mac Pro, Haswell MacBook Pros, and finally OS X Mavericks, my biggest takeaway was the continued onslaught by Apple's talented programming team of providing productivity applications for one low cost; FREE.

The $19.99 operating system upgrade that we've been familiar the past few years has gone free (just like iOS), and all the iLife and iWork applications are now included with every new Mac and iOS device. That about quells any arguments that one could pose against converting over to an Apple computer. Think about it for a minute. You buy a computer and out of the box, the only applications you might need are… you tell me? Apple has always been about providing the best experience to the end user and BOOM, there it is!

If you need something a little more in line with "Pro" in photography, download Aperture (which received a modest .5 update to 3.5) and on the film side of the aisle, you still have the controversial Final Cut Pro X. Either than that, you're now free to collaborate offline or even online in real time with the new Numbers, Keynote and Pages also available on iCloud beta! One caveat to all this, Apple still hasn't given us users more cloud storage space unlike Yahoo's new free 1TB storage option or Google's unlimited photo storage.

The other big free news story of today happens to come from T-Mobile's introduction of 200MB a month of data for free! With both new iPads encompassing all 14 LTE bands in a single chipset for an additional $130 over the standard wifi version, it's a no brainer to elect a T-Mobile + WiFi version.

In-Depth

Since I never quite had the chance to use my iPad 3 let alone unbox and open it, nor had the chance to really use my iPad mini (it's my daughter's new Disney television), I've been eagerly waiting for the next 9.7" iPad and today, Apple gave us the iPad Air. From what I'm gathering, it's amazing. Smaller and more capable that its predecessor with the kicker being a device that's comfortable to hold with one hand. That's always been my falling in love moment with the iPad mini and I'm quite excited to try this out with the iPad Air. You can count on me to be in line the night prior to Nov 1st or eagerly waiting on my computer to buy and click Space Gray 64GB LTE+WiFI "In-Store Pickup".

When you hear about the upgraded dimensions of the iPad Air, you’re undoubtedly impressed. 28 percent lighter. 20 percent thinner. 1 pound. 1 freaking pound! But it’s not until you actually hold the device until what Apple has done here really registers. - MG Siegler

Over the course of the past year, I've advised many friends and acquaintances, and even family members to grab the iPad mini without hesitation. The weight, form factor and size was just perfect and didn't lead to wrist fatigue. None have returned it nor complained and it's always been praised. The one glaring omission from the first generation was a Retina Display and now we have it. The release date is set for late November and you can also bet that I'm going to pull the trigger on this device. I might keep both, but my aim is to classify the use of each iPad and optimally choose one device. I'll be keeping my 1st gen iPad mini too. On a side note, I also have a 2012 Nexus 7 tablet. Click and Buy Space Gray 32GB LTE+WiFi

If you've installed OS X Mavericks, Federico Viticci from Macstories.net has posted a very thorough roundup on tips, tricks and details here.

Now here's the bigger news on my personal front. Ever since I sold my 2008 MacBook Pro, I've been using my wife's late-2010 MacBook Air and taking it along with me on my overnights. I've been hogging it so much (yes I'm using it right now to type this post) that it's downright disgusting. As personal punishment, I've kept the bright purple Marc by Marc Jacobs slip cover and can be seen totting it around. NBD. It's come in quite handy as it's easily spotted.

So, with that, am I going to pull the trigger on the new 15" MacBook Pro w/ Retina Display with Crystalwell? As some of you may know, I've been putting on hold for just over a year. I really want to say yes and I'm still really close, but with Broadwell touting increased CPU figures over Haswell's battery and power management upgrades, I'm still up in the air. I need a laptop now so the scales are tipped more towards the just do it but I'll let you know. The one I would get would be the 15" with a dedicated GPU so that starts at $2599 and I'd up the CPU to the next step up for $200. Add Apple Care and you're above the $3k mark! It's pretty scary once you break that threshold but if it's going to last over 36 months, then $2.75 a day for an awesome machine is a figure that I can live with. my previous 2008 MBP cost me just $0.85 a day (Purchased for $1899 + $200 in upgrades two years later minus the selling price of $860 divided by 4 years)

Surface Pro 2 or Retina MacBook Pro 15"

Microsoft can't be serious, right?

Therefore, to pick up the flagship Surface Pro 2 SKU, along with the hardware that Microsoft is building for the extension of its use inside the corporate realm, you will spend three dollars under the $2,200 mark. That’s a high price.

via TechCrunch

'And there's a lot more to it than hardware'

One of the most comprehensive reviews EVER of the next-generation MacBook Pro with Retina display by a trusted source we have all come to know and love since the early 90s. I actually like the abbreviation rMBP too!

After using it for the past two weeks I can honestly say it’s the best Mac Apple has ever built. And there’s a lot more to it than hardware.

The next-gen MacBook Pro with Retina Display Review by Anand Lal Shimpi

And today, after it's debut almost two weeks ago, shipping times at apple.com are still showing 3-4 weeks out!

Maxing it out

Simply put, the latest and greatest MacBook Pro w/ Retina display is the hardest and most difficult laptop to have been ever torn apart. Of course, the guys at iFixit have done all the dirty work for you and neatly labeled and dictated their work in perfect form.

As in the MacBook Air, the RAM is soldered to the logic board. Max out at 16GB now, or forever hold your peace—you can't upgrade.

via iFixit

iPad 2012 Summary of Reviews

As of 2100 EDT on the 14th of March, the media embargo from Apple was lifted and the reviews are in. Everyone LOVES the Retina Display and LTE.  I might as well reiterate it again; EVERYONE LOVES THE RETINA DISPLAY!!!

Truth also be told, I'm glad I went with the 32GB Verizon model and can't wait to pick mine up on Friday.  Some have already asked and yes, I might end up asking if I can up it to the 64GB version being that applications are coming in weighing at at least 1.5 times the size and some even up to 5 times larger!  Here are a couple of snippets from the sources that I believe run true to the way that I analyze new hardware, tech and software.

"...it just looks otherworldly; like a glowing piece of paper." - Joshua Topolsky; The Verge

" The new iPad is the most functional, usable, and beautiful tablet that any company has ever produced." - Joshua Topolsky; The Verge

"It has the most spectacular display I have ever seen in a mobile device. ... Using the new display is like getting a new eyeglasses prescription — you suddenly realize what you thought looked sharp before wasn’t nearly as sharp as it could be." - Walt Mossberg; WSJ: All Things D

"Since it launched in 2010, the iPad has been the best tablet on the planet. With the new, third-generation model, it still holds that crown." - Walt Mossberg; WSJ: All Things D

"Reading on the big retina display is pure joy." - Jon Gruber; Daring Fireball

Techcrunch has a great review with pictures detailing the difference in Tweetbots's iOS Twitter client; Retina vs. non-Retina.

Check it out:

Props out to Tapbots for hurrying up the development of Tweetbot for iPad and getting it rushed out into the Apple App Store Ecosystem! SWAG! (you'll be getting my donation in first thing on Friday!)

Here's another close up from The Verge on the difference in screens of non-Retina vs. Retina.

Update 1: One of the newest and one of my personal favorite sites, The Wirecutter, also just posted their tablet recommendation. I've also included The Loop's review as well.

"This is the tablet you want." - Brian X. Chen; The Wirecutter

"The bottom line is that it's the best tablet and everyone who reviews one agrees. And even people who love Android phones kind of can't say much about how Android tablets stack up against the iPad. And unlike with computers or stereos or cameras, you don't really need my help, or anyone else's help, to understand that. So, I will end here." - Brian X. Chen; The Wirecutter

"So, what did I like about the iPad? Simple — the experience. Nobody in the market today can touch the Apple experience." - Jim Dalrymple; The Loop