FlipBoard Review for the iPad and iPad 2
Thomas Holohan asked:
Would you like to turn your social media sites such as Twitter and Facebook into a visually appealing interactive magazine on your iPad or iPad 2? If you download and install the free App from Apple called FlibBoard, then you can actually turn your social media sites into a visually stimulating virtual magazine on your iPad. FIipBoard works similar to Pulse which is a news feed aggregator. If you must label FlipBoard, I suppose you could label it a social media and Blog aggregator. FlibBoard pulls social media feeds, images, video, and articles into a layout that resembles a magazine or newspaper. The magazine layout even lets you flip the pages as if the content was printed on paper. Installing is a breeze, you just install the FlipBoard just like any other app from the app store, within a minute you can have FlipBoard installed.
Interface and Adding Content
Once FlipBoard is installed and first opened you are greeted by a delightful visual display of media. FlibBoard’s opening screen slowly cycles through stories and photos every time you start the app. As you add new content to your selections the home page will randomly add images from your newly selected content. FlipBoard puts the swipe feature on the iPad and iPad 2 to use very well, just swipe the page and you are rewarded with a virtual page that flips to the next, the effect gives the reader a feeling of reading a high quality printed publication. As you flip through the pre-installed content you will come to a box that lets you add your own selected feed sources. You tap on the “Add a Section” box and an easy to navigate search page opens. From the search page you can choose from Social Networks, New Featured Content, and Browse Categories.
You can spend some time here just browsing through all the content. For example; in the Browse Categories section there are (at this time) 13 different categories ranging from Art & Photagrpahy to Shopping & Fashion category. Within each sub category there resides another varying amount of selections. Once you start building your own library of selected content you can easily use your finger to organize each square of newly added sources as you wish. Each square will contain updated pictures of the selected content, making for easy reference when selecting a feed to read.
Social Networking on FlipBoard
Where FlipBoard shines, is the way it integrates social media such as FaceBook, Twitter and Blogs into its magazine style format. When I added my personal Facebook page and opened the panel I immediately knew I liked FlibBoard. The app transformed my old and boring linear style facebook page into a dynamic magazine complete with embedded video, photos and links that were added by all my friends. Each comment is presented in a newspaper type of design that makes each story and comment look amazing.
Blogs work the same way, if not even better in my opinion. If you have a visual orientated blog on your watch list such as a photography blog or travel blog, prepare yourself for an amazing transformation of the content when viewing the blog on FlibBoard. One drawback at this time was that some of my blogs would not show up in the search for your own content bar. This is an issue that FlibBoard is aware of and the company is working on an improved search function. I had to add one of my own personal blogs through my Google Reader page. I have read that it is a RSS feed issue that FlipBoard is currently working on allowing improved search results.
News Feeds
FlibBoard currently has news feed partners such as ABC News, All Things Digital, Bon Appétit, Lonely Planet, SB Nation, SF Chronicle, Washington Post, Salon, The Guardian, CBS News, CNN Breaking News, Fox News, and others. The list of partnered content is gradually growing as FlipBoard gains momentum. When viewing news content you can easily tap the share button and share the story to your desired social network site. FlipBoard brings to the user a library of news feeds that is a delight to read as you are sipping your morning coffee.
The overall performance is fast and sleek, with excellent photo and video integration in the feeds. The only other app that has come close to feeling like a virtual magazine for the iPad or iPad 2 is Pulse which I reviewed earlier. To be fair Pulse had better search functionality when searching for RSS feeds. The overall look and feel of FlipBoard fits my style better than Pulse, I am really enjoying viewing my social media sites on FlibBoard as compared to Pulse.
Should You Install FlipBoard?
FlipBoard strongly delivers as an excellent social media, blog and news feed platform. It gives the reader a great sense of control over their selected content and is the best virtual magazine style app I have used for the iPad and iPad 2. It is easy to understand why FlipBoard is an award winning app. As long as FlipBoard keeps adding content and perfecting the feeds, I highly recommend installing FlipBoard.
Would you like to turn your social media sites such as Twitter and Facebook into a visually appealing interactive magazine on your iPad or iPad 2? If you download and install the free App from Apple called FlibBoard, then you can actually turn your social media sites into a visually stimulating virtual magazine on your iPad. FIipBoard works similar to Pulse which is a news feed aggregator. If you must label FlipBoard, I suppose you could label it a social media and Blog aggregator. FlibBoard pulls social media feeds, images, video, and articles into a layout that resembles a magazine or newspaper. The magazine layout even lets you flip the pages as if the content was printed on paper. Installing is a breeze, you just install the FlipBoard just like any other app from the app store, within a minute you can have FlipBoard installed.
Interface and Adding Content
Once FlipBoard is installed and first opened you are greeted by a delightful visual display of media. FlibBoard’s opening screen slowly cycles through stories and photos every time you start the app. As you add new content to your selections the home page will randomly add images from your newly selected content. FlipBoard puts the swipe feature on the iPad and iPad 2 to use very well, just swipe the page and you are rewarded with a virtual page that flips to the next, the effect gives the reader a feeling of reading a high quality printed publication. As you flip through the pre-installed content you will come to a box that lets you add your own selected feed sources. You tap on the “Add a Section” box and an easy to navigate search page opens. From the search page you can choose from Social Networks, New Featured Content, and Browse Categories.
You can spend some time here just browsing through all the content. For example; in the Browse Categories section there are (at this time) 13 different categories ranging from Art & Photagrpahy to Shopping & Fashion category. Within each sub category there resides another varying amount of selections. Once you start building your own library of selected content you can easily use your finger to organize each square of newly added sources as you wish. Each square will contain updated pictures of the selected content, making for easy reference when selecting a feed to read.
Social Networking on FlipBoard
Where FlipBoard shines, is the way it integrates social media such as FaceBook, Twitter and Blogs into its magazine style format. When I added my personal Facebook page and opened the panel I immediately knew I liked FlibBoard. The app transformed my old and boring linear style facebook page into a dynamic magazine complete with embedded video, photos and links that were added by all my friends. Each comment is presented in a newspaper type of design that makes each story and comment look amazing.
Blogs work the same way, if not even better in my opinion. If you have a visual orientated blog on your watch list such as a photography blog or travel blog, prepare yourself for an amazing transformation of the content when viewing the blog on FlibBoard. One drawback at this time was that some of my blogs would not show up in the search for your own content bar. This is an issue that FlibBoard is aware of and the company is working on an improved search function. I had to add one of my own personal blogs through my Google Reader page. I have read that it is a RSS feed issue that FlipBoard is currently working on allowing improved search results.
News Feeds
FlibBoard currently has news feed partners such as ABC News, All Things Digital, Bon Appétit, Lonely Planet, SB Nation, SF Chronicle, Washington Post, Salon, The Guardian, CBS News, CNN Breaking News, Fox News, and others. The list of partnered content is gradually growing as FlipBoard gains momentum. When viewing news content you can easily tap the share button and share the story to your desired social network site. FlipBoard brings to the user a library of news feeds that is a delight to read as you are sipping your morning coffee.
The overall performance is fast and sleek, with excellent photo and video integration in the feeds. The only other app that has come close to feeling like a virtual magazine for the iPad or iPad 2 is Pulse which I reviewed earlier. To be fair Pulse had better search functionality when searching for RSS feeds. The overall look and feel of FlipBoard fits my style better than Pulse, I am really enjoying viewing my social media sites on FlibBoard as compared to Pulse.
Should You Install FlipBoard?
FlipBoard strongly delivers as an excellent social media, blog and news feed platform. It gives the reader a great sense of control over their selected content and is the best virtual magazine style app I have used for the iPad and iPad 2. It is easy to understand why FlipBoard is an award winning app. As long as FlipBoard keeps adding content and perfecting the feeds, I highly recommend installing FlipBoard.
iPad 2 – Best Apps for Note Taking and Organization
Savannah Groeneveld asked:
Most people are drawn to the iPad and iPad 2 devices because they believe it will somehow make them more organized. Equipped with all the tools needed for extreme organization, the iPad devices have proven to be the ultimate organizing companion. There have been even more apps created beyond the original apps that come with the iPad. Let’s take a look at some of the most popular apps that promise to get you organized in one way or another.
The “Notes” App
Well, the name says it all for this app. The sole purpose of the Notes app is to allow the iPad user to take notes at a moment’s notice. This is one of the free apps that comes standard and pre-loaded on all iPad and iPad 2 devices. The note taking app resembles a yellow legal pad and is extremely basic. If you are looking for an “easy-to-use” note-taking app- this is the one for you!
The Famous Evernote App
Evernote actually started out as a computer software program that was made for writers. This software allowed writers to organize their thoughts, plots and stories in a streamlined fashion. The actual software is still very popular among the reading and writing industries. However, this app has become one of the most downloaded apps for the iPad. People love this app because of its “syncing” capabilities. You can essentially turn anything on your iPad or iPad 2 into a “note”, even a picture. You can then “sync” these notes to any desktop or laptop computer that you have it installed on. This app is surely one of a kind. There is a free version that limits the amount of data that can be uploaded on a monthly basis and there is also a paid version that gives you a larger amount of data uploading capabilities.
The “Stick It” App
The app is based around the ingenious concept of sticky notes. Sticky notes have been organizing people for decades and they are still doing it as a virtual stick note on the iPad devices. You can create sticky notes with text on them and then stick them to any of the Home Screens on your iPad or iPad 2. You will know when your “plate is full” because all you will see is yellow stick notes when you turn on your iPad’s screen. This is more of a fun organizational app, as opposed to an effective one.
Most people are drawn to the iPad and iPad 2 devices because they believe it will somehow make them more organized. Equipped with all the tools needed for extreme organization, the iPad devices have proven to be the ultimate organizing companion. There have been even more apps created beyond the original apps that come with the iPad. Let’s take a look at some of the most popular apps that promise to get you organized in one way or another.
The “Notes” App
Well, the name says it all for this app. The sole purpose of the Notes app is to allow the iPad user to take notes at a moment’s notice. This is one of the free apps that comes standard and pre-loaded on all iPad and iPad 2 devices. The note taking app resembles a yellow legal pad and is extremely basic. If you are looking for an “easy-to-use” note-taking app- this is the one for you!
The Famous Evernote App
Evernote actually started out as a computer software program that was made for writers. This software allowed writers to organize their thoughts, plots and stories in a streamlined fashion. The actual software is still very popular among the reading and writing industries. However, this app has become one of the most downloaded apps for the iPad. People love this app because of its “syncing” capabilities. You can essentially turn anything on your iPad or iPad 2 into a “note”, even a picture. You can then “sync” these notes to any desktop or laptop computer that you have it installed on. This app is surely one of a kind. There is a free version that limits the amount of data that can be uploaded on a monthly basis and there is also a paid version that gives you a larger amount of data uploading capabilities.
The “Stick It” App
The app is based around the ingenious concept of sticky notes. Sticky notes have been organizing people for decades and they are still doing it as a virtual stick note on the iPad devices. You can create sticky notes with text on them and then stick them to any of the Home Screens on your iPad or iPad 2. You will know when your “plate is full” because all you will see is yellow stick notes when you turn on your iPad’s screen. This is more of a fun organizational app, as opposed to an effective one.
iPad 2 and Motorola Xoom – How Does the Competition Size Up?
Savannah Groeneveld asked:
The Xoom, Motorola’s version of the iPad, was really the only recently released tablet expected to compare with the iPad. Other companies, like Samsung, have attempted to recreate the industry leading device, but haven’t had any luck. Motorola released the Xoom in late February and has received mixed reviews while being compared with the iPad. As of March 2, 2011, this comparison took a dramatic turn of events, with the unforgettable release of the iPad 2.
Comparing the Motorola Xoom to the iPad is now pointless, seeing that the original iPads will be phased out in no time and the iPad 2 is packed with a significant of upgrades. Let’s see how the iPad 2 sizes up when compared to the Xoom.
Price: iPad 2 Takes the Cake
One of the Xoom’s biggest downfalls from day one was the price. The Xoom only comes in one version (32 GB) and sells for $799 with 3G capabilities and $599 with a Verizon contract. Surprisingly, Apple did not raise the price of the original iPad when releasing the iPad 2. The least expensive iPad 2 sells for $499, significantly less expensive than the Xoom.
Weight of Device
When using a tablet, weight makes all the difference in the world. Steve Jobs proudly announced the new iPad 2 weighs in at a shocking 1.3 lbs. The Xoom isn’t far off, weighing at 1.6 lbs, but the difference is very noticeable when in hand.
Battery Life
It’s very surprising that a table can last for up to 10 hours of use when a typical laptop is barely able to last two hours. This is one category that the Xoom meets the standards of the iPad 2, with both having a battery with a 10 hour life span.
Tablet Thickness
Xoom stole the spotlight in the thickness category upon its release. It pummeled the original iPad with a thickness of.5 inches. That all changed with the release of iPad 2, measuring in at.36 inches thickness.
Camera Capabilities
Both tablets have both front-facing and rear-facing cameras. This is another category in which Apple just caught up to the Xoom with the iPad 2.
Taking these categories into account, it seems that the iPad 2 beats the Xoom in a few categories and is dead even with it in others. The iPad 2 might be a devastating blow to the Xoom market, which seemed like a front-runner for about a week.
The Xoom, Motorola’s version of the iPad, was really the only recently released tablet expected to compare with the iPad. Other companies, like Samsung, have attempted to recreate the industry leading device, but haven’t had any luck. Motorola released the Xoom in late February and has received mixed reviews while being compared with the iPad. As of March 2, 2011, this comparison took a dramatic turn of events, with the unforgettable release of the iPad 2.
Comparing the Motorola Xoom to the iPad is now pointless, seeing that the original iPads will be phased out in no time and the iPad 2 is packed with a significant of upgrades. Let’s see how the iPad 2 sizes up when compared to the Xoom.
Price: iPad 2 Takes the Cake
One of the Xoom’s biggest downfalls from day one was the price. The Xoom only comes in one version (32 GB) and sells for $799 with 3G capabilities and $599 with a Verizon contract. Surprisingly, Apple did not raise the price of the original iPad when releasing the iPad 2. The least expensive iPad 2 sells for $499, significantly less expensive than the Xoom.
Weight of Device
When using a tablet, weight makes all the difference in the world. Steve Jobs proudly announced the new iPad 2 weighs in at a shocking 1.3 lbs. The Xoom isn’t far off, weighing at 1.6 lbs, but the difference is very noticeable when in hand.
Battery Life
It’s very surprising that a table can last for up to 10 hours of use when a typical laptop is barely able to last two hours. This is one category that the Xoom meets the standards of the iPad 2, with both having a battery with a 10 hour life span.
Tablet Thickness
Xoom stole the spotlight in the thickness category upon its release. It pummeled the original iPad with a thickness of.5 inches. That all changed with the release of iPad 2, measuring in at.36 inches thickness.
Camera Capabilities
Both tablets have both front-facing and rear-facing cameras. This is another category in which Apple just caught up to the Xoom with the iPad 2.
Taking these categories into account, it seems that the iPad 2 beats the Xoom in a few categories and is dead even with it in others. The iPad 2 might be a devastating blow to the Xoom market, which seemed like a front-runner for about a week.
What are people saying?