Tuesday Tech Talk #59

Hello folks and welcome to another edition of Tuesday Tech Talk. For this edition of Triple T. I am writing it from my iPad using BlogPress. It was recently updated with the ability to insert links more easier.

For this edition of Triple T. I am going to deviate from the regular format. I wanted to share my initial review of my new Apple Bluetooth keyboard I am using with the iPad. Plus I will have a Triple T. extra out on Thursday regarding the Apple event on Wednesday.

Bluetooth keyboard Initial Review

I am using the Apple Bluetooth keyboard with my iPad to write this.

I went with the regular BT keyboard over the dedicated iPad keyboard incase I ever wanted to pair it up with my iPhone or one of my Mac's. The benefit of using it on the iPad is it allows me to write more naturally like I would on my MacBook and less finger smudges on the iPad where I would type. The keyboard is so light, it makes it easy to carry around with my iPad (I carry them both around in my laptop bag).

So why not just use my MacBook? Well the iPad even with Bluetooth turned on, has an incredible battery life as compared to my 2+ year old MacBook. The newer MacBook's do have a much better battery life but I am not in the market for one yet as my MacBook is running fine and quite honestly, the iPad probably puts a MacBook upgrade several more years down the road for me.

Pairing it up is a snap. Press the power button on the right hand side of the keyboard and open up the Bluetooth setting on the iPad to pair the 2 and type in a code using the keyboard and your off to the races.

It also gives you the ability to be away from the screen, so you can sit back in your chair for example holding the keyboard however you wish.

BlogPress 2.0

Now for the second half of the mobile blogging setup. BlogPress just updated to version 2.0 and it brings some much welcomed features with it. It has an HTML button in the right hand side that brings down a drop down menu that allows you to change fonts and colors, insert links, bold and italic, insert middle-line text, and insert quoted text.

It also allows you to set a time and date for the blog to be posted which is nice if like me, you blog a day or 2 ahead of the time it posts. It also works on the iPhone and iPod touch as well giving you the ability to blog right on the spot if you are away from an iPad or just don't have one.

BlogPress sells for $2.99 and it is great. I am looking forward to when the iPad gets iOS 4.0 so I can switch apps to make it even easier to add in links.

Well that's going to do it for this edition of Tuesday Tech Talk. Look for a Thursday special edition where I will discuss what Apple announced on Wednesday.

Tuesday Tech Talk #51

Hello folks and welcome to another edition of Tuesday Tech Talk. Quite a few things to cover this week so lets dive right in.

Mac mini Updated

Apple released an updated Mac mini. Two new welcome features in it, an HDMI port for connecting to an HDTV and easy access to updating the RAM. It comes in 2 flavors, a $699 model and a $999 server model which sports 2 500GB SATA hard drives. One has to wonder if this will spell the end of the AppleTV since the mini now has an HDMI port.

Starbucks to offer free WiFi

Starbucks announced that as of July 1st all company owned locations will offer free WiFi! If your favorite Starbucks is franchised owned then you may or may not be in luck.

ESPN in 3D

ESPN officially launched their 3D service with the start of the World Cup. If you happen to have a 3D capable TV and receiver box via your cable or satellite company, then you to can have soccer balls flying toward your head. I do not as of yet and quite frankly am not into the whole 3D thing yet, in-fact I have not even seen Avatar yet. Engadget has an interview with Chuck Pagano ESPN’s executive VP of technology regarding the 3D launch.

Navigon and Multitasking

Navigon has submitted their popular Navigator GPS app to Apple that will support multitasking with the release of the iOS4 yesterday. No more worries of getting a call while you have a key turn coming up in a town you don’t know. Also you can check email or something on the web while still staying on track with your route. This is going to come in great as Mrs. TupeloGeek and I will be on vacation in Pensacola Beach this weekend and driving down there.

Steve Jobs All Things Digital Talk

Available in iTunes is the Steve Jobs interview at the D8 conference. He talks about several interesting things such as the feud with Adobe over Flash, how he suggests the era of the PC as a platform could be ending sooner than we think, and how the idea of the tablet device came before the iPhone. Very interesting talk and worth the 90 minutes.

Blogging and the iPad

Finally I want to give a little follow up regarding my use of the iPad and how it relates to blogging. There are 2 great blogging apps out there, BlogPress and WordPress. At this point I am giving the edge to WordPress if you use WordPress for your blogging. But here is my beef with both of them. I want to be able to highlight some text in my blog and create a link like I do with MacJournal on the MacBook. This is the missing element in blogging from the iPad. Who ever comes up with that first, will get a nice write up from me on a future Triple T.

Well that will do it for this edition of Triple T. See you all next week for #52!