Apple’s not-so-hidden advantage

As I recently mentioned, I’ve traded in my aging Mac Mini media center PC for a third generation Apple TV. The timing was right, and after some careful consideration I came to the conclusion that the Apple TV performed almost all the functions I asked of the Mac Mini. What few things it couldn’t perform were available via a somewhat overlooked feature built into both iOS and OSX devices- Airplay Mirroring. With this feature I can still display Safari-rendered web pages, ESPN3 content, and a host of other media that isn’t available yet on the Apple TV. In addition, the ability to push games from my iOS device to the television has made some games far more enjoyable. The newly released Need For Speed Most Wanted (easily my favorite PC racing game) benefits from the larger screen and better speakers, and I haven’t had the chance to try out some of the apps specifically designed for Airplay that take advantage of the dual screens that your device and TV afford.

Airplay isn’t perfected yet; my iPhone 5‘s screen dimensions require excessive letterboxing (even more than the iPad does) but the technology has added a great deal of enjoyment to an already well designed device. While the content afforded isn’t broad enough for the majority of households yet, my experience with the Apple TV has reaffirmed my choice to cut the cord and eschew all paid TV.

While composing my first impressions of Airplay the tight integration between the Apple TV and iOS I had a feeling of deja vu. I had discussed just this focus on integration between products in Apple’s ecosphere a few months ago when someone asked me about my opinions of smartphones. While all of the flavors of handsets have something to offer consumers, I’ve enjoyed the extra benefit of integration between my iPhone and all my other Apple devices. Messages, iCloud, Photostream, and Airplay are features that I use regularly that I would have to either cobble together via third party solutions or miss out on entirely had I chosen a different smartphone.

While Microsoft leap with both feet into the concept of a single operating system for both mobile and traditional devices, Apple has played it a bit more reserved. Microsoft’s once-named Metro interface is lynchpin of their integration strategy; they seek to offer an identical user interface on every device. Apple has chosen to build two distinct platforms and slowly allow them to grow together. I obviously prefer the second approach; the iPhone and iPad offer significantly different user inputs and experiences than a desktop or traditional laptop. The slow osmosis of successful facets of each OS and cross-platform cooperation has provided a more enjoyable user experience so far compared to my limited use of Windows 8 (best described in polite company as a hot mess).

Android is a powerful mobile operating system, and Google’s free product offerings are enticing- I use quite a few of them every day. Google has recently even begun attempts to copy Apple’s Airplay concept, but it will likely be much more difficult for Google to replicate due to the lack of a comprehensive hardware lineup. Google-enabled TVs  and set top boxes are out there, but they are have a long way to go before they even approach the levels of market penetration of Apple’s “hobby” device, much less the entire OSX line. I completely understand the perspective of my friends that swear by their Android devices, but for me the end point is more than just the handset itself. My choice is influenced by the entire product lineup and its integration. The synergy of my various devices has provided me much more utility than the sum of what competitors offer.

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Adventures in media center solutions

If you’ve read some of my earlier musings you’ve likely noticed I’m a rabid enthusiast of the Plex Media Center software. Apple‘s devices, from handheld iOS  gadgets to the entire Mac lineup, excel in the role of media consumption. My gateway Mac was an early 2009 Mac Mini, purchased specifically to act as a media center and server for my ever-expanding library of movies, TV series, and music. Thanks to the addition of Plex it excelled in that role.

The size of the Mac Mini made it perfect for my big screen TV’s entertainment center. It took up minimal space, and fit neatly into one of the media bays normally reserved for a cable box or other device (paired with an large capacity external hard drive). When interacting with Plex all that was needed was Apple’s minimalist remote; the flattened aluminum control worked perfectly and didn’t create too much clutter on the coffee table (unlike the multiple remote controls most seem to collect thanks to devices that don’t seem to want to play well together). The Bluetooth keyboard and magic trackpad were stowed away in a drawer in the coffee table, providing easy access should they be needed.

Sadly, this setup wasn’t a permanent one. After four years and a lot of use (the Mini was set up to never go to sleep or hibernation mode as it was configured to be a remote streaming server via the Plex iOS app), the bearings in the Mini’s fan finally started complaining. The occasional buzzing sound didn’t impact the Mini’s performance, but it was a sign that I’d have to make a decision soon- repair the Mini’s cooling fan (no minor job; swapping components out is doable but a bit labor intensive compared to other small PCs), upgrade to a new Mac Mini (enticing due to the dramatic improvements in power over the past few revisions and my uncontrollable gadget lust), or seek another answer for my media needs.

I was on the verge of choosing the newest generation of Mac Mini; trading the built-in Superdrive for an external USB model paired with a model of Mini that had a true HDMI port (my 2009 model had to use an adaptor and separate audio cable). Then I had the dawning realization that I really didn’t need that level of power; between my iMac and iPad I never used the Mini as a PC, just a means of getting media to a bigger screen. So if I didn’t need that much functionality, what were some other options?

Some of my friends at the dojo owned a version of the Roku and were fairly satisfied with it. I was intrigued; the price for the various models of Roku were much less than a Mini, and the streaming options were fairly robust. Unfortunately, it just wasn’t a viable option as I have purchased several season passes of TV shows on iTunes, and my TiVo already provided access to Hulu Plus and Netflix.

The second option was the Boxee Box, but it was quickly discarded. I had tried the Boxee software about a year ago, and while it’s not bad I didn’t particularly care for the interface compared to Plex (and it had the same lack of iTunes compatibility as the Roku).

Google’s TV box wasn’t really fully considered. I was excited when I first heard of it, but Google hasn’t had much headway with providers after introducing their TV interface (even though it’s being built into some sets now, and Google’s Play store is growing). Were I primarily a Google customer (Android handset, Chrome laptop, etc.) I would likely have chosen this route, but since I’m already heavily invested in Cupertino’s products I opted for their living room solution instead- the Apple TV.

Apple’s favorite ‘hobby’ has fascinated me every time I ventured into my local (and horribly overcrowded) Apple Store. The diminutive device matched it’s competitors well, but afforded a few extra benefits that sealed the deal for me. Not only can it access my iMac’s iTunes library, the media purchased from iTunes need not be present on any local device- I can stream it directly from Apple’s servers. The device’s solid state construction makes it completely silent, and the device is almost the same size as my Bose speaker control module. Were it not for my Tivo I wouldn’t even need a media cabinet; the media hard drive has been relocated to the desk that sports my iMac (and the TiVo may be discarded entirely).

Then there’s Airplay Mirroring; the Apple TV’s ability to render the audio and screen of any iOS device. With a tap and swipe I was able to push audio, video, Safari, even games to my 54″ TV. This was more than just eye candy. Any functionality that the Apple TV lacked natively (like a browser or Pandora) could be used via Airplay; sometimes with better interaction than a native app would have allowed. This afternoon after coming home from work, I had only to turn on my TV and push Pandora to the Apple TV; I was able to advance tracks and switch stations from everywhere my Time Capsule router (and the sound output of my media setup) could reach.

I’ve had the Apple TV for just over a week now, and have been more than pleased with it. Streaming video is surprisingly better than what the TiVo offered- Daily Show episodes via Hulu no longer look pixellated during the busier moments of the intro, and the interface is easier to navigate and control than what Tivo had built into their device. Now the only reason to change my TV’s input was to watch a rare live broadcast; since I don’t have cable or satellite everything we watch in my household is available through iTunes or streaming services: Hulu, Netflix, or dedicated iOS app via Airplay.

Sadly, even the best setup has disadvantages. My old Mac Mini had a Superdrive built in; without it if I want to watch a DVD on the TV I’ll have to push the video from a Mac with an optical drive (while they still exist!) or purchase a dedicated DVD player. I’ve considered shopping for a Blu Ray Player, but watching movies via DVD is so rare I’ve held off for now.

The Apple TV does offer paid sports programming via the NBA, NHL, and MLB apps built in. Sadly, the only major sport that interests me is football- NCAA or pro; there’s nothing else that gets me pumped. While I do have some access thanks to the ESPN and CBS iOS apps, it is a bit limited. I will dance a jig in the front yard the day that Apple negotiates the rights to broadcast NFL Sunday Ticket or develops a dedicated NCAA app, but that’s not going to happen in the forseeable future. Should you prefer one of the other major American sports, you’re all set.

While I do obtain quite a bit of media from iTunes, it’s not my only source. Plex has almost the same level of flexibility as VLC (my go-to video player and ultimate media multitasker); no matter what type of video format I threw at Plex it handled it with ease. iTunes is far pickier; it prefers MP4 files for video. I’ve slowly begun weeding out the AVI and MKV files for conversion to something iTunes-friendly with HandBrake, but the going is slow. In addition, Plex automatically added metadata to media (posters, background info, even theme music to TV shows when browsing your library); iTunes recognized some of my movies but almost a third of my library had to be manually given artwork.

Enjoying local content isn’t without its trifles: to stream content the host computer must be on and running iTunes,meaning my iMac’s power settings had to be altered so that it wouldn’t need to be aroused from sleep mode should I want to browse it’s library from the living room. Easily done, but still something to bear in mind; if I had obtained all of my video from iTunes I could have relied on streaming directly from Apple.

Lastly, I’ve lost my remote media server as iTunes won’t provide the out-of-home-network access that Plex will. I didn’t use my remote connection to the Mini’s Plex library often, but it was nice to have on occasion. While I could configure my iMac to run the Plex server software, I haven’t made the decision to do so yet as there are already plenty of apps running in the background on my primary desktop.

I’m still exploring the intricacies of the Apple TV, but I am fairly enthusiastic about it so far. The benefits have been more numerous that I had anticipated, and the cost savings over a new (or repaired) Mac Mini are considerate. Should I come to the conclusion that I just can’t live outside of the comforting confines of Plex, I may still stick with the Apple TV- it’s possible to hack it and install Plex as an app!

 

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Caveat Emptor

If you’re one of the many like me that picked up Apple’s latest iPhone, you’ve probably also noticed the dearth of accessories due to the implementation of the new proprietary Lightning cable and port for sync and recharging. Due to the complex nature of the cable and Apple’s resistance to licensing the technology to third party manufacturers the iPhone 5 has been accessory-free without the use of the late-released Lightning adaptors (that don’t always provide the same function that an unadapted older generation iPhone would have with the same accessory).

I was excited to see the first third party Lightning cable hit the web- a jazzy little device produced by an outfit called iPhone5Mod. They advertised a reverse-engineered non-Apple Lightning cable, with an extra bonus: flashing christmas tree-like lights that run along the length of the cable (which looked far better in the product photo than it sounds when written out). Due to the lack of official products at the time, I happily plucked my credit card from my wallet and placed the order.

Fast forward a couple weeks, and my order finally arrived from Hong Kong. I gleefully opened the well-taped manilla envelope to find…a warning message. I had previously received an email from the manufacturer that they had revised their product after I had ordered it, but the revision was to improve data transfer speeds; since I ordered this cable strictly for recharging (I usually sync wirelessly) I thought it was of no real consequence.

The warning card enclosed said the following:

Insert the Lightning cable into your Apple device BEFORE connecting to a USB port on your Mac. On subsequent usage, disconnect the cable from the USB port first before again connecting to your Apple device. 

Bizarre warning for what should be a fairly straightforward device. I’ve seen the product breakdowns of the Lightning cable, and it isn’t just a shielded wire like its predecessor. Even so, I would have thought the chips in the Lightning cable would have served primarily as a means of validation, not a part of the function of the cable. A warning like the one above has been all the incentive I needed to seek a refund.

Considering the price of an iPhone 5 and the cost of repairing one (should Apple decide that the damage caused by the third party accessory not be covered by the warranty) the benefit of having an extra Lightning cable just can’t outweigh the risk of possibly damaging the handset. To be honest, I’m infuriated with the manufacturer- had they been upfront with the necessary steps to use their product I wouldn’t have bothered ordering it; hence the title of this post- buyer beware.

In previous generations of iPhones a large majority of accessories I’d obtained through purchase or submitted for review have been of at least acceptable quality, some (possibly spurred on by Apple’s focus on aesthetics) have been outstanding. The list of high quality third party goods of every type for iOS devices is long and impressive: every product from TwelveSouth (including my favorite, the BookBook line of cases), the JawBone Jambox, the Pad and Quill lineup, and so on. I suppose I have been lulled into a sense of false security when shopping for accessories (one caveat- I’ve never shopped the bargain-basement knockoff vendors like Alibaba or the super-cheap accessories you can find on eBay). I consider this a learning experience- not only to not blindly trust third party vendors (there are times that the more expensive option can cost less in the long term), but also that being an early adopter isn’t without its perils.

I doubt I’ll ease off my desire for cutting edge tech, but take my experience as a cautionary tale- Caveat Emptor!

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Sometimes Life gets in the way

Apologies for the lack of posting; as the title says sometimes real life gets in the way. Career (and my frenzied efforts to advance), keeping a house in order, trying to keep up with judo class…oh yeah, and there’s a presidential election going on tonight too. Thankfully Florida allowed early voting, so I was able to cast my ballot two weeks ago. I still had to wait in line for about an hour and a half (some reports in South Florida claimed wait times of up to six hours). During waits like that having an iPhone is a boon: the wait was much easier being able to check on college football games and peruse my movie library remotely made the time spent in line almost enjoyable. If you haven’t had a chance to watch Spirited Away, please do- it’s easily one of my favorite movies, and I highly recommend it.

So whether you’re stuck at work, keeping your house in order, or fulfilling your civic duty, don’t forget the digital Swiss Army knife in your pocket. Your iPhone is capable of more than you might even be aware of. Regardless of what you need to get done, be it productivity, communication, navigation, or just entertainment, it’s a good bet that your handy iPhone can fit the roll nicely.

 

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Life Sans desktop

Thanks to Apple’s recent hard drive recall I am, for the first time since my original (and at the time very cutting-edge) custom Windows 98 PC, effectively without a desktop computer in my household. The realization came over me on my way out of my local Apple retail store; the associate’s assurance that I’d have my iMac back in a short five to seven days slowly sinking in. Surely I can make do with what I have left in my computing arsenal, I thought.
My first fallback option was my media center Mac Mini. The early 2009 model is a fantastic media jukebox, but its integrated graphics and less than powerful 1.6 GHz processor meant I would have to do without one of computing life’s greatest pleasures- gaming. Casual gaming and the occasional round of Infinity Blade II can only get one so far before the craving for some real FPS fun becomes too difficult to ignore (especially since I finally succumbed to installing a Boot Camp partition so I could enjoy Black Mesa Source) . Still, one makes do with what one has, not with what one wants.
My decision to rely on the Media Center Mac Mini was ultimately thwarted by something unexpected- the viewing angle. My 54 inch Samsung is wall-mounted at a perfect height and angle for viewing video content; but as I shortly discovered it was far from optimal for tasks like browsing. While it was easy to adjust the font size to be readily legible on the larger screen, the fact that browsing meant sitting on the floor using the coffee table as a makeshift desk for my keyboard and trackpad; putting the screen at an uncomfortably higher position that it would be if I were using my iMac in my office. Using a lapdesk while sitting on the couch made it a bit better, but still suboptimal due to the lower than normal position of the keyboard and trackpad and greater distance of the TV/monitor. I realize these are the very model of First World problems, but it was enough to make me shift gears.
On to my trump card- my trusty iPad and Zagg keyboard case. It handles browsing like a champ, is perfect for casual video or streaming downloaded content from the Media Center via Plex or shared iTunes library, and offers some functionality like ebooks that the desktop isn’t intended for.
As I’ve mentioned before, the Zagg Folio case provides a reasonable approximation of the functionality of a laptop. The hardware keyboard is a must if you want to type more than a paragraph or two, and the Zagg version is a fine choice (although I do look forward to getting my hands on the Brydge keyboard that I’ve preordered).
There’s something to be said for actually sitting at a desk when it comes to being productive. While some advertisements show smiling beautiful people happily finishing that best selling novel or sale-clinching spreadsheet while at the beach or park, actually sequestering yourself in an office at a desk does seem to have at least a subliminal effect on actually getting something done. I tend to take my iPad with me most days, but get little other than media consumption done when I’m out and about. When sitting at my iMac the only distractions I have to fight off are the call of my Steam games, Fark.com, and drinking more port than is helpful (Facebook is always there, but it rarely takes up more than five minutes unless I’ve picked another fight over politics).
I’ve used the iOS WordPress app to write this post, and it’s worked well, although I’d be hesitant to use it as my primary means of posting. It’s far easier to use the iMac’s expansive screen to keep multiple apps running; Safari for both WordPress and research, Pandora or iTunes for audio inspiration, Messages for staying in contact via multiple platforms, and ready access to saved images or press releases in the Downloads folder. App switching has been made much easier thanks to the inclusion of multitask gestures in iOS, but it’s not quite the same experience as a full OS.
So far I’ve successfully fought off the temptation to do an early hardware upgrade. I’ve been seriously considering bypassing the iMac entirely for my next setup for the more mobile configuration of MacBook Pro plus Thunderbolt Display paired with my current bluetooth keyboard and trackpad; the idea of being able to have both the desktop experience and the ability to take my full home Mac setup with me is a fantastic idea. The MacBook’s ability to run in clamshell mode, tucked conveniently behind the Thunderbolt Display like a diminutive PC tower is enticing, but sadly prohibitively expensive at the moment.
So for now, my iPad is my sole conduit to my second life online. It’s not a bad option, but I’ll be more than happy to have my iMac returned and its Time Capsule backup restored.

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iPhone 5- some completely unscientific observations

After a long and fretful preorder wait, UPS finally smiled on me- my shiny new iPhone 5 arrived at my doorstep. The technical aspects of Apple’s latest cornerstone mobile device have been dissected ad nauseum; every possible objective facet of the iPhone 5 has been well covered and discussed.  While iOS 6 has taken its (perhaps not so deserved) lumps, for the most part the iPhone 5 has been judged another winner for Apple. The only point of dissension so far involves its new aluminum back; some claim that the metal (especially the black anodized version) is far too easy to scuff or scratch. More on that later.

Instead of yet another breakdown that I have neither the time nor expertise to provide I’d like to offer a very subjective, impressionistic review of daily life so far with the iPhone 5. For starters, one thing hasn’t changed- Apple still has better packaging than just about any retail organization I’ve bought from. It would never have occurred to me that packaging could be aesthetically pleasing, but everything I’ve purchased from them reflects their overall corporate image- sleek, modern, eye-catching, and produced with minimal waste. An admission- I am one of those strange people that keeps the boxes my gadgets come in (although no cord will ever easily reoccupy its original space once unspooled, no matter how much you try).

My first impression of the 5 was mild surprise. The form is the same one we’ve grown accustomed to, but the extra length combined with the thinner profile mark it as a different animal at a casual glance. I’ve read of complaints of the iPhone 5 being easy to scuff (and some even stating that the phone arrived scuffed) but after two days of use with no case I had no marks on my iPhone’s chassis. That being said, I’ve since placed it in a case- no matter how solid a phone may be, I can’t see the wisdom of carrying something so expensive about without some measure of protection. I’m saddened by the loss of my BookBook and other card cases, but I expect accessory makers to adapt quickly.

My first impression when holding it was that the phone is light- almost too light. While it feels sturdy in your hand, the 5 lacks the heft that my old 4 sported. After about an hour of use I didn’t miss the lost mass; it was more comfortable and easier to hold for longer periods than its predecessor and sat better in the breast pocket of my hospital scrubs.

The black version I opted for looks fantastic. I have friends that love their Android handsets, but I don’t think anyone can successfully argue that any of them have the iPhone’s charisma. The changes to the form have all been welcome as well. When I first heard that the headphone jack was being moved to the bottom I dreaded having to reprogram myself to flip the iPhone bottom up to plug in my earbuds. The new placement is much more ergonomic, however: no more fussing with the earbud cord falling over the screen.

The new Lightning cable has been welcome for the most part. I had seen numerous photos of the new cable long before my iPhone arrived, but was still struck by how diminutive it is. The connector isn’t much bigger than the cable itself, and is dwarfed by the USB end. It fits (very) snugly into the iPhone. Not having to insure that the connector was properly aligned is a huge plus, but I worry that the smaller connector will make any accessory that used to rely on the structural support of the connector unreliable. The tiny footprint of the Lightning connector won’t be able to stabilize the iPhone in a loose cradle or dock like the original 32 pin connector did, so accessory makers will have to reengineer their devices accordingly. Another plus is the transfer speed; even though it uses the same USB port that my old sync cables did, it’s markedly faster transferring files. Fingers crossed for a Thunderbolt-compatible version in the future; being able to sync several gigabytes in seconds would be fantastic. I’m not looking forward to getting an adaptor for or replacing my current accessories to accommodate the Lightning port; my Mini Cooper (and cars made by their parent company BMW) won’t be able to interface with the 5 like it could with the 4 even with an adaptor.

I had installed iOS 6 on my old iPhone as soon as it was available, so I was already comfortable with the nuances of the updated OS. That being said, the 5 is much more nimble, flying through tasks and apps. The only new task that I’ve been routinely doing that my iPhone 4 wasn’t capable of has been voice launching of apps via Siri; especially useful when you can’t or shouldn’t be looking at your phone. Siri as a whole has been a fascinating bauble: cool to play with, but not something I really need. Too often speaking to your device just isn’t the most optimal method of interaction for it to be a central part of the user experience.

Overall use has been an evolutionary improvement. The more powerful processor and increased system RAM offers a bump in performance that’s not readily obvious, but after using it for a couple days going back to a 4 is a bit of a exercise in patience. The one area it has shone has been the phone ‘app’. The extra microphone provides better noise handling and the earpiece audio is better than my prior phone as well.

I’ve had several friends and coworkers ask if they should upgrade. My response is a firm “maybe”. If you have a 4s and/or are under contract, no- unless you have money to burn. If you have a 4 or earlier, absolutely; the 5 is a leap in performance and the new form offers some significant improvements. Having access to LTE is fantastic; the speeds are almost equivalent to my cable modem at home. The better camera is welcome, as are the aforementioned improvements. The iPhone 5 hasn’t remade the category like it’s great grandfather did for smartphones, but it’s another step up for what I feel is the best handheld device you can have.

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The iPhone 5 not necessarily cell provider friendly

A vast majority of us that have purchased iPhones have done so at a significantly subsidized price in exchange for signing a two year contract with a cell service provider. At first only AT&T had rights to provide service to the iPhone, but now all manner of providers large and small have joined in.

With this influx of competitors for your iPhone’s service an underground market developed: “unlocking”, or removing the barriers that keep your iPhone tied to a specific provider. Unlike jailbreaking, unlocking your iPhone isn’t against the wishes of Apple- only the provider that’s subsidizing the purchase price of your handset. While the contract  you signed will keep you in their service (and there’s a hefty penalty awaiting you should you decide to break that contract) your handset remains ‘locked’ even after that contract expires.

Your cell provider may or may not unlock your iPhone after your contract has expired; your mileage will likely vary depending on the provider and possibly even the location you visit. If you’re tech savvy (and feeling brave) there are software solutions and tutorials so you can do the unlocking at home, although none that I’d endorse.

Apple may have given a virtual thumbed nose to the carriers with their latest handset, however. Reports have pointed out that Verizon‘s version of the iPhone 5 arrives unlocked and able to use GSM SIM cards right out of the box (Verizon’s CDMA-based service doesn’t require a SIM card). TUAW (The Unofficial Apple Weblog) revealed in a recent post that an unsubsidized iPhone 5 sold for AT&T’s service can easily be unlocked by restoring it in iTunes. Bear in mind, this iPhone 5 was sold full price and without a contract; no word if this trick will work on a handset that is still under contract.

Provided you honor the terms of your contract I see no reason for your iOS device to be tethered to a provider. If you’re one of the fortunate ones that can afford an iPhone full price, you should be able to shop around for the best possible price on your cell service- even carriers like T Mobile want you!

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The iPad and sports

While the iPad is one of the best media consumption devices, one area it just doesn’t venture into is sports (in particular live sporting events). Sure, you can use one of the many radio apps to listen to your favorite team (and those feeds are often on a significant delay- I got texts spoiling the end of the NFL game I was listening to last week), but it’s not the same as actually watching your team crushing their opponent.

So what’s an iPad user to do? Well, there are a few answers depending on how much effort you’d like to put into your sports watching. One method would be to stream a video feed from your home. There are several products that would make this possible, from the venerable Slingbox to TiVo‘s new Stream that will work in conjunction with your TiVo Premier. These devices all work in basically the same way: they digitize live or recorded content and provide it for remote streaming via your home internet connection. The significant negative is the cost; each requires a significant investment in hardware and possibly (as with TiVo) a monthly subscription.

For those of you that either can’t or don’t want to go the hardware route, there are software solutions. The iTunes App Store has both official and unofficial sources for live sports broadcasts. My personal favorite so far has been the WatchESPN App. While coverage is limited (no NFL, not all events available on ESPN and it’s siblings are available) and access isn’t free (you need a subscription TV account with an approved provider for full access, or an ISP that provides ESPN3 access) the experience is very good. I’ve used it many times to watch both live and recorded football games (proper football, not ‘footie’) and the only complaint I had was caused by the poor quality wireless network I was on, not the app itself.

For those without access to ESPN there’s still JustinTV. The streaming video service has been my last option for access when all other sources came up dry. While the feeds aren’t approved (the NFL has taken an aggressive stance on pirates broadcasting NFL games via JustinTV) and can be of poor quality, it’s still worth checking if you’re desperate to catch a game.

There are numerous websites that claim to provide streaming access to sporting events; there are too many to cover and their legality is dodgy at best. I’ve never used one before and would be wary- caveat emptor.

The NFL’s official app provided streaming access to all preseason games this summer for a modest fee, but like most NFL fans I couldn’t bring myself to pony up money for streaming access to what are essentially practice games (especially when my hometown team is broadcast locally for free). I’m hoping that this is a exploratory move to see if there is any interest in streaming access to NFL regular season games- if the service is anything like their Sunday Ticket package available via satellite or PlayStation 3 the answer is a resounding YES.

If you’re a sports fan like me, where there’s a will there’s a way. My iOS devices are with me just about everywhere I go, so it’s only logical that my favorite electronic Swiss Army Knife be used for one more facet of media consumption. Do you have a favorite means of access that I haven’t covered? Please share it in the comments section!

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iPad or Laptop?

I’ve discussed iPad keyboard cases earlier, but since that time more accessories have come to market, offering multiple aspects of using the iPad for productivity. Most notable is the Brydge, a Kickstarter-funded accessory that does more than folio-style keyboard cases to turn your iPad into a faux Macbook Air. The device is impressive, offering both a model with stereo speakers that are touted to be superior to the iPad’s existing mono speaker and a bracket that holds your iPad firmly.

Another accessory offering the Macbook Air experience with your iPad is the ClamCase, affording full protection for your iPad along with a fully positionable keyboard that can fold behind your iPad. The ClamCase would be an excellent choice for those that want to quickly transition between laptop and tablet functionality without having to remove the iPad from the accessory.

While both of these products are excellent accessories (to go along with the folio-style cases discussed earlier) there is an elephant in the room that hasn’t been recognized: is this option a worthy investment? Even if you choose the least expensive iPad (16 gigabyte storage, wifi-only), adding one of the two keyboard cases above (ClamCase at $149, Brydge at $210 for speaker-equipped and $170 for speaker less) raises the price to around $700. That’s very close to the entry level price for a Macbook Air that offers a full OS as well even more cloud storage options than the iPad. Pick up a larger capacity iPad or one with LTE capacity and you could easily surpass the price of the least expensive Air. Bear in mind, if you don’t need the portability of an ultraportable and aren’t devoted to OSX there are options far less expensive than the Air (caveat emptor!).

So what’s your best option? The answer depends entirely on what you need to do. If you need network connectivity from where ever you are, the iPad/keyboard case is likely your best option provided you don’t need the power of a full OS. The latest generation of iPad’s LTE connection is blazingly fast, and even 3G connectivity is  sufficient for most productivity tasks. More than a few businesses have switched to using iPads as their primary device, relying on proprietary apps for ordering and inventory; in cases like this a ClamCase would work perfectly. If you need the best battery life possible the iPad/keyboard case might be your best choice as well. While the Air offers great battery life, it can’t touch the iPad’s 10 hours (I routinely use my iPad for a full business day, including constant Pandora play without falling below 50% battery charge).

There are some tasks that are simply better on a full fledged laptop, however. I can attest that while the WordPress app in iOS is fine for quick posts, it’s much easier to collect all of the references and information I like to use in a typical post on my iMac. Having the ability to have multiple apps windowed (even on the smaller screen of the 11 inch Air) is a great productivity tool. Then there’s the physical form of your device- while the ClamCase and Brydge are solid, there are times that the aluminum unibody of the Air offers an advantage. The form is even slimmer than the combined iPad/case and offers a slightly wider screen to go along with the more powerful processor and multitasking ability. Then there’s the far greater range of applications available to the Air, all the way to being able to boot or emulate a different operating system. While the Air typically has a smaller hard drive than other Apple computers, it does afford the ability to use Bootcamp or a virtual environment like Parallels to provide access to Windows or Linux.

The question of what setup provides the best experience is actually a good problem to have. More choices for consumers is always an advantage, allowing users to tailor their devices to exactly what their needs are. The only requirement is that customers be aware of their options and have all of the information needed to make an informed decision as to what best suits their needs.

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The next step for kickstarter campaigns

I’ve been fascinated by Kickstarter for some time now. The service has been a paradigm shift in funding for entrepreneurs and small organizations that were forced to rely on angel investors or unreliable traditional funding methods for their products or ideas to come to market. I’ve invested in several, and most of the campaigns I’ve been involved in have reached their funding goals and have gone into production.

So what happens after a successful Kickstarter campaign? While reaching your funding goals is an exciting achievement, it is merely the starting point for what creators hope to be a successful and profitable venture. Where you take your product or service after that isn’t as simple as running your Kickstarter campaign, unfortunately.

But where there’s a problem there will always be innovation. Enter Outgrow.me, the logical prologue to your new product or service. The site acts as a marketplace for Kickstarter products that have (or soon will) come to fruition. Products can be sorted by availability, product-focused (such as iPhone-related products), or general terms like ‘fashion’. Outgrow.me also includes products funded by Kickstarter competitor Indiegogo.

If you’re looking for something unique, clever, or like supporting small businesses and entrepreneurs give Outgrow.me a look. I’ve spent just a handful of minutes perusing their listings and have already found several fascinating offerings.

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