I’ve attempted to use the iPad for video and photographs this week. I haven’t been able to get past the iPad’s inability to share content to google drive, facebook messenger, google hangouts, and many other apps. I am hardwired to search for files in locations that have been designated for their storage, before attempting to use them in some way. iOS demands that I begin this search in the application that I wish to use the file in; to lock everyone into this alternate approach, they’ve completely avoided building support to share files to apps from the share button found when viewing the file. Apple is forcing me to push the home button, locate the application that I wish to open the content in, and open that application, navigate to the option/button that allows me to look for images/content/files on the iPad, remember which file it is that I wanted to use, re-locate the file, and continue what I was doing, instead of: push share, select app, move on with life. It damages the otherwise calm and speedy workflow that I get into on the device.

I’m finding that typing on the iPad is getting easier, but I would never use it for typing if I had a real keyboard, and no, the iPad keyboards are not adequate. Gmail, Chrome, Drive, and Blackboard are most valuable to me right now; because I have more screen real-estate, consuming content and responding has become much easier and more enjoyable. Next week, I’ll try using the iPad as a utility while I’m at work. I have a Screen Connect installed, for remote support, and a utility called Fing, which is “the ultimate network toolkit.”

The contents of the bag that holds my scholastic belongings:

In my bag, I’ve got some plays, some books about theatre, two notebooks, a fountain pen, ink for the fountain pen, two charging cables, one power adapter, and an iPad, complete with case. Nothing in my bag can be replaced by an iPad, except for the iPad. At the moment, I can live without the two plays in the bottom right corner of the image, as they are for leisure, but the rest, I must have with me. The only thing not pictured here is my binder, filled with various papers, that is currently in a storage locker at SBU. The most surprising thing that is found in my bag is the bottle of ink (inside the box below Next to Normal.) Unfortunately, I use ink rather quickly, so keeping the bottle close by is a must. The dramaturgy text is not a full time addition to the pile of texts that reside within my bag.

Being new to iProducts, I decided to start by switching off a few unnecessary features and and installing a bunch of Google apps, and other apps, that I have installed on my android device. This week’s goal was to waste as little time as possible trying to figure things out.

Everything seems to be functioning well. The iPad is speeds, responsive, and pretty to look at. Also, I’m finding that screen real estate allows me to be extremely comfortable and productive while using the apps.

I recently discovered that I can’t share data between apps as easily as I can on android, which is terribly upsetting, but this is something that I will try to look past for now. Also, typing is not as easy, or accurate, without a keyboard. I’m sure that my typing will improve on the iPad, but slamming my fingers against glass is completely undesirable when I have a mechanical keyboard at my disposal. Google Drive, Kindle, Chrome, and Spotify are at the top of the most frequently used app list. I seem spend little time using things that are distinctly “iPad”. I am actively trying to use my desktop less, now that I have this device, and this is a drop in replacement for most basic assignments / tasks related to my assignments. With that being said, I still need to use my desktop regularly, but I do enjoy being productive on the go.

Next week, I will try to do the majority of my computing on my iPad, during down time between classes. I’d also like to try and record video a few times.

When we first got our iPads I wasn’t that excited about it just because I already owned a tablet and had only used it at most 3-4 times in the past year. I found a tablet to be unnecessary when I already had an iPhone and MacBook laptop. Since we got the iPads on Thursday I decided to try to go without using a notebook in my classes this semester. Since the majority of my classes are computer based I don’t think it should be too difficult. I usually take notes in a notebook because my laptop is too much of a distraction and I always find myself ending up on Facebook or something else I shouldn’t be doing in class.

I’ve downloaded a few apps for listening and making music, to-do lists, Evernote, scannable, yammer, yik yak, and a few other apps. I haven’t downloaded Facebook yet because I’m afraid I won’t be as productive if I have it downloaded. I’m currently typing this post on my iPad which is definitely less efficient than if I had just used my laptop keyboard. I need to get used to typing on this awkward keyboard because I feel like I’m a much faster typer when using a physical keyboard. It’s a lot easier to just stick my iPad in my bag before running to class instead of lugging around a heavy MacBook and its charger. I’ve had my laptop since graduating high school in 2011 so the battery can’t hold a charge for very long. So far I am very impressed with the battery life of the iPad and think I could rely on it to last me throughout the day without having to charge it.

I’ve played around with a few music production apps so far like Beatwave, Auxy, edjing and a few others. I had a lot of fun with Auxy making different songs with my roommate. The app was simple to use and made it easy to export your songs from the app. I haven’t taken my iPad to class yet but I plan on using Evernote to take notes in some of my classes tomorrow. I hope I’m able to organize my notes and write them as well as I would in a physical notebook. I downloaded Instagram and made a new account for our class but have yet to post anything. The iPad is an awkward size for taking photos so I will have to experiment with that.

I’m finding most things pretty easy to accomplish with the iPad. Writing this post is going a lot faster than I expected but typing still feels pretty weird. I think I will probably always prefer a physical keyboard but Im sure over the next few weeks that I will get used to typing on the tablet.  One thing I noticed about the iPad that has been bothering me is that it locks automatically and requires a password to be entered to use it. I tried to change it in settings only to discover that this setting couldn’t be changed to allow even a minute before automatically locking. I realized that this is probably a security measure in case a student loses their iPad and doesn’t have their information and files accessed by someone else.

Navigating the blog site on Safari has been a little irritating but I think that’s mostly because I haven’t really become familiar with the blog site yet. I was trying to view other people’s posts other than the syllabus and assignments that Cole had posted but it took me a while of clicking around to find them.

I haven’t had the iPad long enough to say what apps I find to be the most valuable but I definitely see Evernote being very useful to take notes in class. I like a lot of the features it comes with like organizing by different “notebook” and being able to attach photos, reminders and lists. I think it will be useful to use scannable in combination with Evernote to scan syllabi or any other papers that my professors may hand out. I’d love to have all my class work and notes in one convenient app instead of notebookS, binders, folders, and scattered in my backpack and desk drawer,

The iPad has changed my workflow a bit by making it easier for me to focus on one task at a time because I don’t find myself constantly switching from one tab to the next. If I was using my laptop to write this post I would be checking Facebook, Buzzfeed or Reddit every few minutes. The most distracting thing I’ve done while writing this post is changing the song on SoundCloud or responding to a text message. I usually spend more time choosing a song to listen to than I do actually focusing on my homework or assignments.  I came to class this morning to find that my professor didn’t show up so instead of leaving I sat in the lobby writing this post on my iPad. If I had my laptop I would’ve just spent this free time on social media or checking my email. I think the iPad will make me more productive when I have a free hour or two in between my classes.

Next week I want to try taking and editing photos with the ipad, possibly editing videos, posting to Instagram, Twitter, and taking and organizing class notes. I’d like to work on making more music and seeing which app is most user-friendly.