Apple and Macs: New products, iMacs, iWork, iLife

[ScoopBrady]

Well, the iPad was a big hit in the household over the weekend.

I like the smart cover a lot as far as protecting the screen and using it to prop the iPad on an angle while I'm sitting at a table or even on my lap. Since it is primarily for home use I'm not concerned with the back being uncovered. If I was traveling with it I would likely want something that protects the whole unit. I wonder if the iPad 2 with a smart cover on it would fit in one of the old covers. That might sound redundant but I really like how useful the smart cover is so I wouldn't want to not use it.

As far as Garage Band is concerned, I can't believe it is only $5. It's amazing what you can do with it. For $5 you essentially get a portable 8-track recording studio with access to many different keyboards and drum sounds. I tried hooking up my guitar and bass to it using iRig but something seems to be wrong with it. It worked very briefly a couple of times and then I couldn't hear anything and what it picked up was very low. I'm going to return it and instead of getting a new one I might go with Peavey's dongle to attach my guitar/bass/mic. I've got a couple of parts laid out for a song and I can't tell you how happy I am to have this type of musical outlet. Now if I can get a working connection for my guitar/bass/mic I will be in heaven.

[Slumberland]

I got Garageband this weekend and am really impressed with it. Regarding guitars, isn't it possible to plug directly in to the headphone port?

[Danimal]

Scoop -

Let me know what you go with, I was going to pick up an iRig instead of a pin converter because I heard the sound quality was better with the iRig but now You've got me wondering.

Why doesn't Apple have an official adapter.

[ScoopBrady]

Okay, so I decided to download the Amplitube lite version on my iPhone to see if I was getting the same problems with the iRig but I wasn't. Everything was working. I plugged everything into my iPad and opened up GarageBand. I was getting nothing but then I started messing around and noticed that the master volume was turned all the way down on the amp and as soon as I turned that up everything was fine. I laid down a few riffs and played around with different effects. All in all I was very impressed and can't wait to record more. I'm still trying to figure out how the amps master volume was all the way down especially considering it happened twice and while I was playing. Very odd. Based upon my experience last night I would say go ahead with the iRig, Danimal.

[jLp vAkEr0]

You just don't see this type of enthusiasm for Android tablets... It's just a fact.

[wco81]

Yeah but wait til the Xoom gets Flash!


Do they have music lessons in the GarageBand app like the Mac version?

[Danimal]

Yeah but wait til the Xoom gets Flash!


Do they have music lessons in the GarageBand app like the Mac version?

I didn't see any music lessons. The smart instruments are cool though, I need some music for an iPhone app and I was able to just mess around with those and put something together.

[dbdynsty25]

You just don't see this type of enthusiasm for Android tablets... It's just a fact.

Nope...you don't. And it's a shame really. I guess that's why I use whatever the newest Android phone is (Thunderbolt LTE on Thursday, woohoo) and a Zune HD over an iPod also...I just prefer technically superior products, not the products that society (yes, that's Steve Jobs' name now) tells you that you should have.

The iPad 2 is legit tho...no doubt about it. It's probably their most technically sufficient product when compared to the competition. I'd probably even get one over an Android tablet but that's mostly for work purposes. But alas, I think all tablets are pointless for ME, so I'll just keep buying new phones. It's just what I do.

[pk500]

Screw all of you. I'll stick with this:



I must admit, I'm really tempted by the iPad 2. But my resistance remains strong, as I really don't NEED it. I only buy things I need, not want. But the iPad 2 looks nifty as hell.

[dbdynsty25]

I must admit, I'm really tempted by the iPad 2. But my resistance remains strong, as I really don't NEED it. I only buy things I need, not want. But the iPad 2 looks nifty as hell.

You do know they are 5 HUNDRED dollars, not 5 right? Just wanted to be sure you saw that trailing zeros.

[pk500]

I must admit, I'm really tempted by the iPad 2. But my resistance remains strong, as I really don't NEED it. I only buy things I need, not want. But the iPad 2 looks nifty as hell.

You do know they are 5 HUNDRED dollars, not 5 right? Just wanted to be sure you saw that trailing zeros.

I'm doing some freelance work and have some extra dosh. But yeah, the extra zeros made me flinch.

[sportdan30]

There's a great Simon app in the Apple Store. It was free and the kids absolutely love it. They would never know there was a stand-a-lone game of Simon.

Anyways, Pk I'm surprised you haven't found a way to win an iPad yet.

I'd sooner give up my PS3 and copy of MLB The Show '11 than give up my iPad 2. That's how much I love this little device.

[MizzouRah]

There's a great Simon app in the Apple Store. It was free and the kids absolutely love it. They would never know there was a stand-a-lone game of Simon.

Anyways, Pk I'm surprised you haven't found a way to win an iPad yet.

I'd sooner give up my PS3 and copy of MLB The Show '11 than give up my iPad 2. That's how much I love this little device.

Where do you work and can I get a job?

[jLp vAkEr0]

Screw all of you. I'll stick with this:

Yeah but does it have the wi-fis?

[ScoopBrady]

PK, it starts out looking like a want but quickly becomes a need. A need you didn't you know you had. I really am impressed with the iPad 2. When I got it it seemed more like an indulgence but after spending a few days with it and seeing what it is and what it does it seems like the natural progression of computers. Of course that aspect is not just limited to iPad, that applies to all tablets.

[Pete]

What might be the best way to get my hands on an Ipad2?

The Apple Store states 4-5 weeks till it would ship. Any ideas on how I could get one sooner?

Thanks.

[dbdynsty25]

What might be the best way to get my hands on an Ipad2?

The Apple Store states 4-5 weeks till it would ship. Any ideas on how I could get one sooner?

Thanks.

Camp in front of a store and wait for another shipment like the rest of the lemmings.

I laughed hysterically at my buddy who waited in line 4 hours and got to the front and they had sold the last Verizon 64gb version. Now he gets to wait 2-3 weeks for shipping, which I told him to do the night they went on sale...he'd have had it 2 days later. Sucker.

[wco81]

Last year, people were going to Apple Stores and lining up to the daily shipment. That went on for a couple of months.

Now that they're distributing through Best Buy and Target, maybe there will be more availability if they ramped up production.

[Pete]

What might be the best way to get my hands on an Ipad2?

The Apple Store states 4-5 weeks till it would ship. Any ideas on how I could get one sooner?

Thanks.

Camp in front of a store and wait for another shipment like the rest of the lemmings.

I laughed hysterically at my buddy who waited in line 4 hours and got to the front and they had sold the last Verizon 64gb version. Now he gets to wait 2-3 weeks for shipping, which I told him to do the night they went on sale...he'd have had it 2 days later. Sucker.

We mostly use our older laptop for web browsing, email, etc., so I thought this may be a good replacement purchase.

I may just purchase off of the Apple Store and wait for it as it is not an immediate need.

[sportdan30]

It'll be perfect Pete. Plus, it's awesome for traveling (books, movies, music, etc). If you have a day off, line up in front of the Apple Store. They're getting in daily shipments. You just might have to wait a while that particular day. Good luck!

[Naples39]

I wasn't chomping at the bit to get an iPad2, and thought if I just sit out the first week they'd soon be available. Looks like I misjudged that one

On the verge of just ordering one and accepting the 4 week wait, for better or worse.

[sportdan30]

Rethinking my decision regarding the purchase of the 16GB version. 32GB might have made a lot more sense as I could really see recording a lot of home video on the iPad. Definitely wouldn't think of taking it out in public and recording my kids birthday parties, family events, etc., but it's pretty sweet for those quick 1-3 minute video clips. I'm assuming I can transfer the videos to my wife's work laptop and then copy them onto a flash drive?

[Danimal]

Picked up the iRig at lunch, hooked up my guitar easily and laid down some music. It was absolutely a lot of fun. The ability to add it right to iTunes or email it is great. I emailed my teacher because i was having problems with a lick, he listened to it and wrote be back what I was doing wrong...fantastic.

[Danimal]

Rethinking my decision regarding the purchase of the 16GB version. 32GB might have made a lot more sense as I could really see recording a lot of home video on the iPad. Definitely wouldn't think of taking it out in public and recording my kids birthday parties, family events, etc., but it's pretty sweet for those quick 1-3 minute video clips. I'm assuming I can transfer the videos to my wife's work laptop and then copy them onto a flash drive?

Why can't you just copy them off the device? I know when I take videos on the iPhone I just copy them to my computer then delete them off the device.

[Naples39]

I only have a 1.5gb of music and no pictures on my 32gb unit. Most of it sits empty, or has some sizeable games like Madden or FIFA that are 500mb that I bought for $1 and never play so they could be easily deleted. It only gets close to full when I load up a bunch of shows before going on a trip, which of course proves to be way too much to watch anyway.

Still, for my new iPad2 definitely going 32gb. I think 16gb should definitely be manageable if you're active in moving things on and off, but bigger equals freedom and less micro-managing.