Never thought I would write that, but it’s true. After a month or so of blissful usage, it is dawning on me that I made a error of judgement. I should have bought a model with more storage.
So far, 16GB has been enough. I stream video using AirVideo, so no need to hold any video on the device. I use Pandora Radio to listen to music and discover new bands, so have little of my own music installed. The only significant consumer of storage has been the large number of applications I have acquired; so now I only have 10GB free. But since I have discovered magazines, my remaining storage is under threat.
An application called Zinio offers a wide range of publications. I have always enjoyed the photographs and articles in National Geographic, but at 275 baht for a copy in Thailand, it is an occasional pleasure. A year’s subscription on the iPad works out at 45 baht an issue and comes with videos in support of some of the articles. Maxim, the magazine for boys of all ages, is 365 baht from a book shop, 28 baht from Zimio. Rolling Stone is 55 baht. They are ridiculously cheap, and of course they all look great on the iPad, and are easy to read with zooming and scrolling.
Good as they are, they are rather overshadowed by the first iPad edition of *Wired *magazine which was released today.
The bad news is that it is relatively expensive at about 160 baht a copy; although that is still less than half of the Thailand newsstand price. And at half a gigabyte; it is a big download and a substantial consumer of storage.
The good news is that this is the first magazine to really take advantage of the medium. The other magazines are just digital copies of the original, with a few added goodies. Wired gives you a completely different experience from the printed version.
There are simple things like choosing from a selection of photos:
Or choosing a photo and then listening to the relevant audio:
How about a small movie?:
There is a long article on the making of the new Toy Story, with a detailed walk-through of the making of a single frame:
Followed by an extract from the movie:
Then there are pages where you swipe to change the content of a page. such as showing the gradual construction of a Lego Lamborghini:
It’s a magazine; but it is more than a magazine; and my 160 baht has bought me many hours of interactive enjoyment.
So, if you are buying an iPad when they are released in Europe this Friday; get plenty of storage, and get Wired.
Comments 🔗
2010-05-27| Lloyd saysGreat subject title, shame about the rest of the post, with the exception of the Wired application of course.
From speaking to people in the UK it seems the 3G version will be the big seller here on a similar level to how 3G broadband is gaining in market share compared to conventional ADSL.
2010-05-27| Spike saysSWMBO saw me writing it and asked “why that title?”
“Because it will make Lloyd happy” was the obvious answer.
2010-05-27| TT saysPlease, can we get back to Braveheart - he’s fun. Really fun. Not advertising, but anyone wanting to meet folks who have been round the block a few times, hit schoochers zoo - oh and someone send the idiot address. Goodness, will we have fun. Tee-Hee.
2010-05-27| Spike saysYour wish is my etc. Prior post opened again for comments.
2010-05-27| Billy saysAnyone of a certain age knows that in the olden days if you were the youngest brother of, say, three, then you were clothed entirely in what they used to wear. I apply the same principle to tech gadgets, hence my little lad has an iTouch, my wife has an iPhone 3G (or at least did until very recently) while I am rather closer to the leading edge with a 3GS.
So, stop moaning and hand on the 16GB iPad to SWMBO and get yourself a 64MB with 3G. She probably doesn’t like National Geographic or Wired so everyone will be happy.
2010-05-28| roman169 saysLet me know if you sell the 16GB - want to wait to purchase the Ipad but the Wired application looks too good…. What’s the price in Pantip now? 24.900 in Tukkomm yesterday….
2010-05-29| Spike saysI paid 23,500; I believe they are slightly less than that now. If I wanted to change, there is a lady sat beside me who would love to get her hands on my “old” iPad. So will wait until the next model and upgrade then. I have no regrets about acquiring one, it’s a joy to use.
2010-05-29| Lloyd saysWill be interesting to see how you last before the novelty wears off, a very common theme amongst work friends who purchased iPads… http://www.theregister.co.uk/2010/05/28/ipad_love_affair_goes_sour/
In London now I am seeing far more HTC and different “smart” phones in shops and in use than iPhones, wheres last year it was all iPhone.
2010-05-30| Bingotits saysLloyd, Your constant, whiny hatred of Apple is beginning to border on the tiresome.
Do you really have so little enjoyment in your own life that you find the belittling of others’ pleasures a worthwhile hobby?
2010-05-31| Billy saysBingotits … not only am I not without sympathy for your sentiment but more importantly I love your “handle” …. That said, please don’t spoil it by telling me how you got it … I much prefer to idly speculate ..
2010-05-31| Lloyd says@Bingotits
C’est la vie! I am pretty sure Spike is smart enough to understand sacrastic banter.
2010-05-31| Spike saysSadly, my intellect is insufficiently developed to be able to differentiate between sarcastic banter and mean-spirited whining.
2010-06-01| Billy saysNot without merit to have some counter weight to the Apple thing … so long as measured and reasonably factual rather than automatic gainsaying flavoured with emotion … MS’s existence has been a vital part in the development of computing - and personally I shall be for ever grateful to it for having helped me to make an semi honest living for the last 25 years ….
2010-06-01| Spike saysIn spite of the best efforts of that wonderful initiative which ensured that part of our day was spent screaming down the phone at a not very helpful desk.
Very good for games too; and there is also the Xbox.
2010-06-01| Lloyd says@Billy
interesting comment, so far I am yet to see any comments relating to the iPhone that haven’t been factual or reasonably unbiased personal opinion.
I am lucky than in the past 10 years I have worked as a developer for both MS and Apple and buy and use their products in roughly an equal balance. But alas people will always read comments how they want to often not as how the writer intended!
2010-06-01| TheSon saysI’m holding out for a 4G.. then it’s time to spend some quality time with Xcode.
2010-06-01| Spike saysSubmarine Hunter (tm) on the iPhone? The world awaits; or at least, I do.
2010-06-02| Spike saysA good article, highlighting some of the areas where Apple really need to make some major improvements:
http://gizmodo.com/5552953/why-arent-i-the-center-of-the-apple-universe