27:12:2010

The iPad: the emperor’s new clothes?

Am I the only person in the world who DOESN’T want an iPad?

And this isn’t because Santa Claus didn’t drop one off down the chimney on Friday night thank you very much.

And, I am definitely not an Apple hater (My Iphone is actually one of my most favourite things ever and get more attention than my boyfriend and I would suggest everyone goes out and gets one right now ).

I just don’t GET it. What exactly IS it? Is it a laptop? Is it a phone (that doesn’t make phone calls?) Ok, so people say they’re fabulous for reading magazines – but you know what, so are actual magazines. I haven’t read a physical newspaper in years but I still have a flat bursting at the seams with copies of Wired, ID and Living Etc (aspirational, much?)

I also have a laptop that I pretty much take everywhere and, as I mentioned I have an iPhone which does everything I could possibly ask of it.

So why would I need an iPad?

Why are so many people wanting iPads?

Because Apple says they want one. That’s why.

Apple has now become SUCH a powerful brand that they could release chocolate covered keyboards (RRP £100) and people would be falling overthemselves to buy them, and the special coating (available from the Apple store RRP £140) that stop the chocolate from getting onto your hands.

Joking aside, for me the iPad is such an odd size that you wouldn’t just throw it into your handbag instead of a laptop and the poor on screen keyboard means it’s not a serious replacement for the laptop itself. So I’d have to take them both?

My sister, mother of 3 little ones, recently said that she’d love one for the kids – the interactivity and screen size, plus the apps and other wizardry would make it a great learning toy for them. I’m not sure I’d leave a child with a piece of kid that cost £450 quid (ok, maybe I would if I was desperate to distract them in Sainsburys, who knows) but still – would you TAKE it to Sainsburys with you?

This is kinda my point

The iPad for me falls down the gap between 2 very well serviced areas – the beautiful device that allows you to browse the world and see pretty pictures from the comfort of your own home (ie the laptop or that old device called the television) and the mobile device that lets you locate places, price check, catch up with friends and social network (the smart phone).

Maybe if you don’t have an iPhone then the iPad is a good purchase, but seriously – who out there who owns an iPad and DOESN’T own an iPhone?

27:01:2010

It seems we can’t have it all … hand held video recorders

I am in a dilemma.

I am the owner of a perfectly good (despite the reports) Sony Ericsson Satio mobile phone. The 12 megapixel camera (and other gadgetry) means the picture quality of video recording great for still interviews. The only downside, is the audio.

the internal mic is terrible. It is useless for interviews, and makes the subject sound like they are down a mine
the handsfree kit mic records excellent quality sound, but it gradually falls out of sync with the video.

Option 1 is, well, not really an option. 2 is “get-roundable”, if I have got 2 hours to spend muting the video, adding the audio as a sound file on a separate track in something like Movie Maker, and then edging it back in sync every minute or so. So much for a fast turnaround.

I have considered using the phone for the video (because it is so good) and getting a good digital audio recorder, then sticking the two together elements, but again, not incredibly practical.

So, begrudgingly, I am going to have to fork out for a handheld mini video recorder.

Thanks to a great blog post by @Podnosh (here) it seems to be between the Flip Ultra, Flip Mino, the Kodak Zi8 and the Zoom Q3.

I quickly ruled out the Flip MinoHD s it seemed all glitz and not much punch (and doesn’t take AA batteries). I spend my life battling against power. There are never plugs when you need them and to rely on main power (especially at festivals, where I will be using the recorder) would be foolish.

The Flip UltraHD, on the other hand, seems more practical on the battery-front but no external mic, something that is useful in noisier environments.

For better sound, the Zoom Q3 is an option – these guys know what they’re doing with sound, BUT there is still no external mic option – and I’m worried that at a distance, the audio will be lost

The Kodak Zi8 DOES have a plug in mic option but it is not compatible with Windows Movie Maker and needs some faffing around so it can be edited. I don’t really deal well with faff. This is putting me off. However the Zi8 does come with some useful features, including a imagine stabilization, face recognition, good quality video and stills so maybe I can forgo a smooth set up fora good finish.

Or maybe phone, Kodak AND laptop will end up out of the window. Tune in to Twitter later to find out …