New iPad 9.7" with Pencil So Far

Last weekend I picked up one of the new A10 Fusion chip Retina display  9.7" iPads with Apple Pencil support. I was able to get the Apple academic discount ~ educators and students can purchase this iPad starting at $299 (US) and an Apple Pencil for $89 (US). I also picked up a Logitech Slim Folio Bluetooth keyboard and a Hermit Shell pencil case. 

I've been doing a lot of sample problem video and audio recordings this semester for an AC electronics course. The example videos are best described as applied mathematics problem solutions -  I write and talk through the problems while recording and post them on the web for students to access. Up until last week these recordings were being made using a 10 year old Tablet PC. The Tablet PC worked but the process was a little clunky - Apple adding Pencil support was my initial justification for the purchase. 

Video recording on the new iPad has been a breeze. I'm using the built in recording app on the iPad along with the GoodNotes app - simple and slick. I don't do any editing by choice. My recordings go automatically into Photos on the iPad as mp4's and I just upload them to Google Drive for student access. 

I'm also teaching an Engineering Design course this semester. Students in this class are proposing and building some really cool Arduino based projects. They do a lot of writing in this course and are required to electronically submit all work. Up until last week I was using Word on my MacBook to make document review edits and add comments. Once completed I email the edited document files back to the students. A few days ago I started using the iPad and Pencil to make handwritten edits and add comments to the student Word documents. Once saved I also send these documents back to the students. So far so good.

I purchased a first generation iPad years ago and it got very limited use. The new one has been a completely different experience so far. 

Could an iPad replace my four year old 15 inch MacBook? Not yet but...... substitution is getting closer.

Hands-on with the iPad Podcast

On Sunday (4/25/10) Mike Q shared his initial impressions after some hands-on time with an iPad. Mike does a great job describing the device along with some of his favorite applications for the device. Here’s some of the questions he answers:

• So Mike you broke down and got an iPad - which one did you get?
• Why only 16 gig?
• So how long have you had it?
• So give us some of your impressions. How is the battery life?
• What about the screen?
• What about the keyboard?
• How much is the case?
• Did you get any other peripherals? Can you connect it to a projector for presentations?
• Have you been to the app store? What are some of your favorites so far?
• What do iPhone apps look like on the iPad?
• OK, how about some apps? Let's start with the iWork suite.
• So what's your assessment of these apps?
• What about Keynote?
• Have you moved your Kindle content over? And, speaking of the Kindle – I know you have a first generation one – how do they compare as a reader?
• What about some quick hits on some apps that you've found interesting ?
• Does it have a GPS radio? Have you tried out any of the location based applications?
• What about some quick hits on some apps that you've found interesting ?
• What’s up with Israel banning iPads?
  

Mike also provided a few screen shots from the device:

• Here's a screen shot of a dictionary lookup created by Mike on the iPad.

• Here's an OmniGraffle example created by Mike on the iPad.
  

• Here's a Penultimate example created by Mike on the iPad.

Note: After we recorded the podcast, the Israeli Government lifted the ban on the WiFi iPad.

Here's how to listen:

To access show notes and audio of our 44 minute and 29 second audio podcast titled Hands-on with the iPad click here.

Listen to it directly in your web browser by clicking here.

If you have iTunes installed you can subscribe to our podcasts by clicking here.

Apple iPad First Impression Podcast

Last week Steve Jobs and Apple announced the iPad. Jobs and Apple say the tablet-style iPad computer represents a whole new category of consumer electronic devices. On Sunday we recorded a 36 minute and 40 second podcast where Mike Qaissaunee gives his first impressions and we discussed some of the technical specifications of the iPad. Here's a list of some of the questions Mike answers:

Size - How big is the iPad?
What about the hardware? Some people are referring to this thing as a big iPhone or iPod Touch?
What about the screen?
What about capacity?
Does the iPad have senors like the iPhone?
What about wireless?
What about other carriers?
Bluetooth?
What about GPS?
Battery Life?
What about the processor?
What about the software?
What about what's missing?
So, what do you think - is this going to go down in history as a revolutionary device?

Podcast

To access Mike Q and my 36 minute and 40 second podcast titled Apple iPad First Impression Podcast, click here.

Listen to it directly in your web browser by clicking here.

If you have iTunes installed you can subscribe to our podcasts by clicking here.