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Just over a month ago we took a look at how the Kindle Fire stacked up against the iPad, last week saw the actual release of Amazon’s Kindle Fire. I was pretty hopeful about this one, the least the iPad deserves is some genuine competition…
The reviews cames flooding in, everyone trying to assess the potential while simultaneously rattling off a review after a single day of use. It’s not that first impressions aren’t important, they are, but I’m more interested in how the Kindle Fire will look once the dust has settled – there’ll inevitably be a Kindle Fire 2, what does this new device from Amazon mean for the iPad?
If you love apps, gadgets, and great deals on software as much as we do at AppStorm, and you haven’t had a chance to sign up for the AppFanatix newsletter yet, then you’re missing out! AppFanatix is a classy fortnightly email newsletter that distills the very best content from around the network and will regularly bring you:
- An exclusive discount on a fantastic application.
- Some of the best content published on the AppStorm network.
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- And much more…
It’s been going strong for several months now and we’d hate for you to miss out on everything we have in store. Subscribe now and make sure you’re on the list to receive the next awesome app discount!
Ever since the Retina Display was unveiled on the iPhone 4, one question has been on everyone’s mind: when is it coming to the iPad? One of the most-rumored features of the iPad 2 was this high-resolution display, and many (including myself) were disappointed that this wasn’t the reality.
With the iPad 2’s release almost a year ago, we’re due for an upgrade some time late winter or early spring. I’m willing to bet that the next iPad will have a high-resolution display, and I’d like to talk to you about how such a display would make my favorite device even better!
A friend of mine suggested this poll, and the potential results fascinated me! As part of what I do I use my iPad for a staggering amount of time each day, but what is the norm among AppStorm readers?
I’m guessing that most of the excellent people who read AppStorm are pretty keen on their iPads, and as such probably use them more than the average. There are some many ways in which the iPad is useful, and developers are adding to these every day – how long do you spend using your iPad?
Whether it averages out at about ten minutes a day, or an astonishing over 6 hours, I want to know. Has iOS 5 made a difference to your usage habits, do you know read magazines more often on your iPad, thereby adding greatly to the time spent using it?
Do feel free to leave a comment below, do you use your iPad more now than when you first got it, or less? Is your time limited by others who have made their claim on your iPad?
I’ve been thinking recently, which is a pastime many of us (myself included) neglect, and have had to let go of some assumptions that have been lurking in my subconscious since the first time I slid my fingers across the words ‘slide to unlock’. Pictures under glass, the primary mode of interaction with the iPad, might not actually be the future.
It might appear to be the future, for the next decade at least, and things could very well move further in that direction, but is it a particularly coherent or sensible vision in the long run?
The article that got my mind turning was a fascinating piece by Bret Victor on the future of interaction design, in which he argues fervently for designers to consider the incredible complexity of our hands when looking forwards. He asks the question:
With an entire body at your command, do you seriously think the Future Of Interaction should be a single finger?
His discussion was open-ended, intended to make you think, but I want to dive a little deeper and look at the myriad possible directions of interaction. Let’s start with another question to get you thinking:
Why, when we have developed language as the most effective form of human communication, would you completely disregard it in the design of future interfaces?
Winners Announced
Thanks to everyone who took part in the giveaway this week, and special thanks to the kind people at Coffee Pot Labs! I’m excited to let you know that the winners have now been chosen. Congratulations are in order to:
Alexander Friesen
Lucas
Hudson-Peralta
Sima
Brian
Kevin
Guy Eiiy
Ari Arsyadi
Stephanie
Daniel Rodríguez
Sebastian
Outsider
Christoffel Gilis
Mike
EstebanD
Ziogas Chris
Steven Van Hissenhoven
Mario Aguilar
Greg Connour
Oluf Nielsen
Jelleke
Christoffel Gilis
Dan Palmer
Thomas
cxinw
Well done to the lucky winners, and we’ll be in touch soon. Sorry to those who missed out, be sure to check back for more great competitions!
Old Competition Post
Another massive competition for the loyal readers of AppStorm this week! We have 25 promo codes available for the iPad game Pod Odyssey, a game that encourages you to use your galactic pilot skills to guide a lost space POD through a series of jagged cosmic mazes, evil missile-shooting robots, and homing space spiders.
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The key feature of Stitcher is the ability to “Stitch” together your favorite shows to create your own customized stations in My Stations. Although Stitcher can also automatically create a station for you based on a show you like. It’s a great way to discover new shows that are right up your street, listen on demand, stream live radio, and stay up-to-date with the breaking news. Stitcher also makes it effortlessly easy to share what you’re listening to with friends via Facebook, Twitter or email.
Stitcher is the easiest way to stay connected to the information that’s important to you while on-the-go. Stitcher Smart Radio, a smarter way to listen to the radio…
Go Grab It!
Stitcher Smart Radio is available now in the App Store for absolutely nothing! If you’re smart you’d at least go and have a look, it might be the best decision you make today…
We’ve had a few wallpaper things going on in the last week or so, and it got me to thinking; how often do people change their iPad wallpapers?
For the sake of ease, lets include both Lock Screen and Home Screen in the equation – although I imagine people change their Lock Screen wallpaper much more frequently. Once you’ve found the perfect Home Screen that suits your taste – why change it?
I, personally, rarely change the wallpaper on my iPad – I have a photograph that I love, and leave it there. But everyone’s different, what is your preference?
So there it is. Are you a frequent changer who can’t settle down, or have you still got the wallpaper that the iPad loaded up with? Feel free to leave a comment, or even links to your exact wallpaper so others can share in the delight!
Winners Announced
Thanks to everyone who took part in the giveaway this week, and special thanks to the kind people at InterfaceLIFT! I’m excited to let you know that the winners have now been chosen. Congratulations are in order to:
Stephanie
Maciej
Kirk
David West
andy
Angelica B.
stu
Lucas
Dan Hannon
DonnaB
Michael Solis
Marley
Eric
JamesFJX
WPHead
Hashem Zahran
Linhy
Gerry
Flo
Christina
Pablo Herrera
Michael
Ben
Andrew
Victor Djumpah
Fly Smasher
Stezi
Outsider
Yousuf Tafhim
Well done to the lucky winners, and we’ll be in touch soon. Sorry to those who missed out, be sure to check back for more great competitions!
Old Competition Post
Yes, you heard me. This week we have an astonishing 30 promo codes for Backdrops HD to give away to our fantastic readers! Not only that but the developer has also decided to put the app on sale, so that those of you who miss out can still grab it!
If you’re looking for something extra to impress people when you hand them your iPad, Backdrops HD just might be for you. Read on for a short review and the details of how to enter…
Everyone has got an opinion about the iPad.
Old people look at them in bewilderment and young people infuriate their parents until they get one. Everyone in-between? Well they either openly love the iPad and will defend it with fervour, or they are the kind of person that suavely indicates their alliance with Apple by selectively choosing only high end coffee shops in which to expose their iPad 2.
The iPad, despite being an inanimate object, has become a cultural icon – transcending the collective conscious like nothing ever seen before in technology. Journalists, tech-heads, posh snobs, musicians, haters, goths, people from every cultural sphere all tuned in to the unveiling of the iPad 2 back in March 2011…
