iPad closes in on the Kindle

A survey done by a research firm named Changewave shows that the iPad is quickly closing in on the Kindle in the e-reader market. The survey of more than 2,800 consumers showed the Kindle leading by 47 to 32 percent, which is markedly lower than its 62 to 16 percent lead in the last survey.

Additionally, the same survey showed that 75 percent of iPad users are very satisfied with their e-reader, while some 54 percent of Kindle users are very satisfied with their device. Almost all Kindle owners (93 percent) use their device to read books, while those with iPads are 5 times more likely to read digital newspapers, blogs and magazines.



Among those surveyed, 42 percent responded that they would likely buy an iPad in the next 90 days to use as e-reader. Only 33 percent responded that they would get a Kindle.

Read more about the survey here

Favorite Apps

In one of our discussions, one of my fellow Mac fans asked us what iPad or iPhone Apps are our favorites and can't live without. I told him I have a number of favorite apps but not necessarily I can't live without. I downloaded some apps from the Apps Store to my iPad and use some of them more often than the others.

One of these is Pulse, a news aggregator developed by two Stanford students. It combines the convenience of RSS feeds with the engaging interface of a web browser. What I like about this app is that I can choose which news provider to subscribe to and place them in a grid. I can access them anytime I want and get updated on current and tech news without leaving the app.

For making on the spot reports and other documents, I use Pages. It is almost the same as the desktop version except that when sent through email, you will have to convert your work into a document that Pages could read. Otherwise, it's the only app I need to make documents.

I use iBooks and Kindle for iPad alternately to read my e-books because I have books on both formats. My only issue about reading on an iPad is eyestrain. Yes, even with the adjustable brightness, I cannot read as much as I would with paper book. This is one reason why I am contemplating on buying a Kindle.

Another favorite is Magic Piano. I can actually make music with this app even if I don't know how to play the instrument. All I did was turn on one of it's auto modes and voila! I can play music from it's songbook by just following the falling dots on the screen.

If I have time to waste, which is very seldom, I play games on my iPad. The big screen on this baby could sometimes make me waste more time than I should.

There's Angry Birds, the insanely addicting game that involves slinging birds to beat the green pigs that stole their eggs. The game is so wicked because its levels become more and more challenging as you progress.

Also wicked is Zynga's Scramble. It looks easy because you only need to make words from random letters on a 4x4 board. Try playing the online mode and compete with other players around the globe. The next thing you knew, hours have passed and the deadline you're trying to meet has come closer.

These are the apps that I use most of the time. There are others on my iPad that are also worth mentioning and I would discuss on another post.

Smart Bro Pocket WiFi

Smart Bro recently launched its Pocket WiFi, a 3G+WiFi router that allows up to 5 persons to connect at one time.  This is  Smart's answer to Globe's MyFi which was released in July.

This new service is available on postpaid for now at PhP495  for 50 hours per month.  Add another PhP150 for the device for the next 24 months lock-in period.  So that means you should fork out a total of PhP645 for 24 months.  Should you exceed the 50 hour limit, you will be charged  Php10 for every 30 minutes.

Smart promises a connection speed of up to 2Mbps and a nationwide coverage, unlike the SmartBro Share-It which is area specific.  That means, you can create your own hotspot wherever you are in the country.

I'm a SmartBro user whenever I go out of town but I use the USB dongle.  I could easily connect wherever there is a Smart cellular coverage and the speed is good enough.  In fact I used it  during my trips to Pagudpud and Bohol and I couldn't complain with the connection I got on both occasions .  If the same is true with this service, then it's worth trying.  The only thing that's holding me back is the 50 hour limit per month.  Yes, it's handy when I am out of town on a short period of time but when I am on vacation or something, I could easily use that up within a week.  Why Smart did not offer an unlimited plan is a mystery.  A little birdie told me though that Smart may have placed the time limit because   this new service might compete directly with their other products, like Smart Share It which has a Plan999 unlimited connection.

Skype 5.0 for Mac Beta now available

Skype recently announced the release of a beta version of Skype 5.0 for Mac.  The new version features a single window for ease of use and integrated the Address Book so you can call, IM and SMS your contacts even when they are offline.

Another new feature of the beta version is group video calling which allows you to make video calls with more than two people at a time.  Just make sure that they are also on Skype 5.0 Beta for Mac or Skype 5.0 for Windows for group video calling to work.  It is free for now but the company would probably start charging fees after the Beta stage.

The new Control Bar allows you to manage calls from a mini Skype control bar that sits on top of any open web page, document or photo.

For more information and to download the beta version, click here.

A PlayStation Phone?

I am following a series of stories on engadget.com regarding an upcoming PlayStation Phone.  According to the site, it will be an Android based gadget with 8GB internal memory which can be upgraded through MicroSD.  Information about the device is still limited and incomplete but the Engadget people are certain that the data and pictures they have on hand are real.  Anyway,  if you want to follow this story too,  here's a good place to start.

Goodbye Sony Walkman Cassette Player

Sony Corporation announced last week that it has already stopped production of the iconic Sony Walkman Cassette Player and the lot that rolled out of their factory in Japan last April were the final batch.

The Walkman first came out in July 1979 and revolutionized the way we listen to our music.  I was still in high school then and we were still using vinyl records played in large bulky stereo systems to listen to our favorite tunes.  The first time I saw an actual unit was before I graduated from high school when a classmate brought one to school.  We were all excited to try the player and he gave all of us to try it.  The first song I heard on a Walkman was "Boat on the River" by Styx.

It wasn't until I was in college that I finally owned a Walkman. By then, it has become more common and smaller.  A housemate had one that was only slightly bigger than the case of the cassette tape.  It was also during that time that we started producing "mix tapes" that we share among ourselves.  A housemate who had a good system in their house would gather all our tapes and choose the best cuts.  He would give each of us a tape of the music he has selected and we would play them as we go about our usual activities.

When I started working, the Walkman proved to be indispensable during my trip to and from work.  I put on my headphone, pump up the volume and I am by myself.  We also used it in our work to record and transcribe meetings, lectures and seminars proceedings.  At about the same time, a new technology was also slowly encroaching in the market of the cassette tape.  The era of the compact disc has began.  I would say that this was the beginning of the end of the cassette tape and the Walkman.  In fact, a few years later I bought my own CD Walkman and never went back to the cassette tape.

Digital music also gave rise to the MP3 format and the cassette tape was almost completely pushed out of the shelves.  It was just a matter of time before someone would come up with an idea for a gadget to play MP3s and revolutionize the way we listen to our music yet another time.  In 2001, a company in Cupertino unleashed the iPod to the world and the final nail to the coffin of the cassette player was placed forever.

But that's how it is with technology.  It is always changing.  Someone always has something that will change our lifestyle and the way we do things.  

Sony said that their factories in China will continue to produce Walkman Cassette Players for their markets in Asia and the Middle East.  The name Walkman will also live on through their digital players, although these gadgets wasn't able to dominate the scene the way their older sibling did for decades.

Sony Walkman Cassette Player, dead at 31.  Thanks for all the musical fun and the memories.