A bug in beta software? I know, I know. Alert the media! However, this one is unique enough to be worth mentioning. Also, this particular beta bug isn’t tied to iOS 11. If you take a look at the image above, you’ll notice that I am running iOS 10 thanks to the older Multitasking App Selector. It is the iOS 10.3.3 beta, to be exact.
In today’s increasingly busy mobile world, keeping a backup battery on hand has become increasingly common. And if you are going to carry one, it had better have enough juice to not just handle your phone, but also tablets, e-readers, Smart watches, cameras, etc. You will also want one that has multiple charge ports and can output enough amperage to fast-charge your larger capacity devices.
I finally broke down and loaded the iOS 11 first beta on my new 12.9″ iPad Pro this weekend. Unfortunately, with this being the first version of the beta, doing so has pretty much rendered this device useless other than for testing the new OS. Several apps are crashing, and there are plenty of rough edges, just as you would expect for a beta release at this juncture. However, one thing I have noticed is that Multitasking is actually pretty polished, even in this initial release. Multitasking has triggered a few crashes, but it is stable for the most part, and the scrolling, gestures, and motions are all fluid and work well.
Considering that there are few keyboard cases out there right now for the new 10.5″ iPad Pro, this new crowdfunded keyboard case that I came across today looks all the more interesting. The Touchtype Pro doesn’t come with its own built-in keyboard, but rather works with Apple’s Bluetooth-enabled Magic Keyboard. However, while there have been other, more simple products that paired an Apple Bluetooth keyboard with a stand and/or case for an iPad, this one has some features that set it apart.
A few weeks ago, I had the privilege of interviewing Noah Leon about his documentary project, Love Notes to Newton. He is funding the project through an Indiegogo campaign, which has now entered its final week. If you didn’t catch it the first time around, our interview covers all of the details of the project in detail, and it is well worth a listen.
Keyboard cases have long been a favorite accessory of mine. I used to review just about every one that hit the market for the iPad at a couple of my previous writing jobs, and still try most of the good ones out, whether I write about them or not. One thing I have noticed is that all of the keyboard cases for first two iPad Pro models that I have tried have some kind of major trade-off that holds them back.
After the testing I’ve done with both of the new iPad Pros this week, I am unchanged in my personal opinion- the 12.9 is still the one for me. I absolutely love the big screen and it’s the main reason that I came back to the iPad after moving on for a while after the release of the iPhone 6 Plus. There is more room for multitasking and the Split Views are full iPad portrait views, rather than iPhone versions of the apps. It’s also a perfect match for my 13″ Lenovo Yoga when I’m out in the field and use Duet to make my iPad a secondary monitor. It still checks all of the boxes for me, and will hit even more when iOS 11 arrives.
The tablet stand is one of the first accessories that sprang up alongside the first iPad, and for good reason. There are lots of times, such as when watching video or reading, that having a little extra support for your tablet is a very handy thing. Having one that folds down to a credit card size is even handier. This stand from Neva Tech gives users plenty of choices when it comes to device angle, and the front bar adjusts to allow devices of various thicknesses. It’s simple, but effective, and that is the hallmark of a great accessory.
Life has been mostly lemons around my house the last two days, but I’m going to make a little lemonade right here and FINALLY turn my attention to the new iPad Pros. I got the 10.5″ model yesterday, and I just got my hands on the new 12.9″, which arrived late this afternoon and is currently restoring with my apps and data. I’ll defer my remarks on the 12.9″ until I’ve actually had some time with it tomorrow, but I’ve had enough with the 10.5 to at least form some early opinions:
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For riff-raff like myself, the process of reviewing the new iPad Pro models will begin tomorrow. However, today was the day for the lucky few in the tech media who got an early look at Apple’s latest goodies. I’m not jealous at all.
That aside, there are several insightful and thoughtful reviews that range from glowing to conservatively positive that hit the web today. The only complaints mentioned were price and practicality, and those are legitimate concerns considering the recent sales struggles of the iPad line. However, as for the hardware itself, the reviews are overwhelmingly positive. Most are also very upbeat about the iPad’s future thanks to the changes coming in iOS 11.
Here are some of my favorite of the early reviews: