Bits, Bursts & Bongos

Six months ago I wrote the blog posts iPad Global Road Warrior Experience I, II and III. About 1MM iPads had been sold compared to an estimated 8-10MM today. Re-reading the posts reminds me of how fast things are changing and yet how much of that change is not visible to the great majority. As I shared on Facebook today: “Holding on to the past is easier then imagining the future”. Never had that problem.

We rarely as a society go back in time to check if what was said, forecasted or just imagined have become true. In all meanings of the word. So why not, with a great bottle of Chateau Langoa Barton 1997 and a couple of minutes to spare I’m inclined to make that journey.

Below are the “shortcomings” I found when on the road with the iPad for the first time and what has happened since then:

• Exporting to PPT in Keynote was added a few weeks ago and makes a difference when working with enterprise clients
• Editing Google Docs online was released today but the offline experience is still very limited to downloading and editing but no really good upload or sync. Rumors say that Memeo is working on updating their Connect for iPad
• Skype introduced free calls over 3G a few months ago which works amazingly
• iOS 4.2 Beta (to be released November 24 to the public) introduced multi-tasking which enables Skype to run in the background for inbound and outbound calls
• The new native Google Voice app makes inbound messages (calls and SMS) easy to monitor and act upon - wherever in the world I am
• I did buy an iPhone 4 recently to use as on-the-move and pocket-friendly mini-iPad. The camera / video recorder is really the killer app with associated photo apps as well as the most basic communication tools
• I was tempted to buy the new Air to be able to download files and edit Google Docs on the road but thanks to iCab (an iPad/iPhone browser) and today’s new mobile editing I’ll stick to my iPad and iPhone
• And I did install the iPad in one of our cars using a ProClip mount, for road trips when Google Maps and other apps add value. Took 5-minutes and is just beautiful

The only of my “shortcomings” that hasn’t been solved as of yet - without jail-breaking the iPad - is to demo web apps or mobile apps live on an external screen via VGA out. The first is solved by iCab, the latter only for Steve Jobs or individual app developers by adding a string of code leveraging the built in mirroring in iOS.

Things are happening faster then we think! ;)

In meetings and working online.

I hit the ground running in Stockholm where my first meeting was to run through the presentation I made on the flight. Using the VGA cable I easily connected the iPad to the projector and it connected as soon as I understood that I had to have Keynote in present mode. The iPad should be charged when you start running the prezzos as it cannot charge and use the VGA cable at the same time. A minor detail that could be devastating. And go to offline mode to avoid getting interrupted by Foursquare updates. That turns off the presenter mode and therefore the projector.

Taking notes, using Notes, in meetings is easy and a much better experience than on the Air or iPhone. The former as it actually shows what you are doing (i.e. working as supposed to checking Facebook) and the latter as the virtual keyboard is so much bigger and easier to use. I just wish I could easily share them instantaneous with the cloud. The only sharing option is email.

Creating, writing and editing documents works really well via Notes, Pages or many of the different iPhone/iPad applications. The challenge is if you’d like to access old docs from the cloud and edit them on the road. There are several synching applications available for Google Docs but none of these really rocks. The closest is the free Connect Reader which has a great user interface and let’s you access, download and read your documents.

Just tried the Office² HD (iPad version) and it does all of the above except sharing. Note that the application it’s still a little buggy (version 3.2.1).

Another option is the recently released Dropbox for the iPad. A third option is to use File Sharing and synching the documents you’d need for your trip before departure. Eventually this will be fixed by a third party developer or as early as in two weeks at the Google I/O.

So why can’t I use Google Docs via the Safari browser for editing if I’m online via 3G or WiFi? Well, the mobile version of the Safari browser does not support rich text editing. Editing spreadsheets works - as it doesn’t use rich text editing - but not documents.

I even held a Skype conference using the presentation I created on the flight. As the iPad have neither video nor screen sharing I had to email the prezzo in PDF format before the call. Maybe not a 2010 experience but it worked.

Managing my travel itinerary via the different travel applications is awesome. I booked and rebooked hotels, flights and used maps to get hotel directions. I even checked in on Lufthansa and SAS via the iPad and received a digital boarding card. The iPad even fit under the QR code reader at the airport despite the flight attendants doubt. Her first time, I guess.

I’ve been catching up on news via Reeder which is a fantastic Google RSS Reader on steroids (Thanks, Mark). It offers offline reading (caching), multiple sharing options, notes and integration with Instapaper. Reeder is just available as an iPhone app for now. 

The lengthy batteries and the fact that it starts up right away makes a big difference on business trips. I work 20 hrs per day when traveling and need to stay productive the whole time. My projects are scattered across several different time zones and when traveling this gets amplified. Working smarter is a must and the iPad provides that edge.

Key learnings from 5 days on the road:

• The iPad can definitely replace the laptop for the basic needs I have (create presentations, hold presentations, write and edit documents, check emails, browse and manage travel itinerary, read news)
• The only obvious shortcoming is the lack of cloud apps apart from iWork and Dropbox but as I’ve described there are workarounds for the creative user
• Being faster with 10 hr batteries makes up for having to find workarounds. While my fellow travelers in business class (got upgraded on a dirt cheap economy ticket) saw their gray and heavy PC laptops die my iPad charged ahead like the energizer bunny
• The 3G is a must for the road warrior. I’d like to check my emails on the iPad while I’m in transit and cannot rely on the existence of WiFi on speed trains or in transit lounges. And 3G is cheaper than WiFi for low usage
• The iPad also replaced the need for my iPhone but that is probably something very personal. As I was mostly in-room (on flights, in lounges, in transit and conference rooms) the iPad offered the better user experience. I’m also a heavy Google Voice user, channeling all voice mails and text messages to my universal GMail inbox…
• The iPhone/iPad applications are in many cases superior to a browser or a desktop experience. The best apps combine the best of both worlds 
• Apple usually carries a premium but $700 for truly portable laptop including case and a few basic apps is very affordably if not cheap
• The Apple Case is fantastic and much better than all other third party cases I’ve seen. The only additional accessory I’d look for would be a wall-mount for the kitchen or for the car…

I’m selling my Apple Air (1st Gen). Any takers? ;)

In the air experience.

The first thing I realize is that the 3G is a must. Traveling and not be able to pull out the iPad to check or write emails, browse or write notes is not very productive. The new data-only plans are actually surprisingly good. The international roaming, paying $1,000 per GB, is redonkilous.

The iPad fits perfectly in the carry-on and I was never asked to take it out during security checks in San Francisco, London, Dusseldorf, Berlin or Stockholm. Might seem like a detail but just dropping your bag on the screening area and going through the metal detector without all the hassle is pretty sweet. Sans slow, and overpacked tourists of course.

Using the iPad on the flight is a fantastic experience. The Apple case should get a design award. Yes it doesn’t looks great but works both as a protective shield and a fantastic stand, either on it’s head to watch movies or lying down, angled to write. It enhances the experience tenfold.

The fact that it never overheats, wakes up in a heartbeat with batteries that lasts for 10+ hrs is a dream come true. The size is perfect if you are a frugal entrepreneur, always traveling Economy Plus. It’s actually possible to work without bumping shoulders. After getting use to the virtual keyboard I personally think it’s feels much better to use than the Air’s.

The media experience with everything from Spotify, to iTunes, Photos and Video is obviously outstanding. C’mon. I never had a doubt. I watched “I love you, man”, slept, then “Rush in Rio”, slept a little more and then while creating a presentation from scratch rocked out to Led Zeppelin, Chris Cornell, Genesis, Yes and Phish.

I created a presentation in Keynote from scratch during the flight and once I figured out how to access the toolbox, create new slides, delete text et cetera it went really fast. The fewer choices compared to the desktop version makes the experience much faster. It helps to have pre-loaded the Photos application with useful images for the flight. I love that I can import PPT and export PDF. Exporting PPT would be even better.

Doing research is obviously hard while in the air but if you gather the data that builds your story then the design of the presentation can easily be done while wasting away in an airline seat for 10+ hrs. It’s very cool to see that it works.

Creating, editing and sharing documents and spreadsheets is a completely different story. The only application that works well is Notes and Pages but can only share via in-mail. There is no application available that is letting you use Google Docs offline and then sync when online. There are workarounds with manual downloads and syncs but they are clunky and feel unnecessary. I’m confided to taking shorter notes that I then need to manually add to Google Docs (now when the email functionally is gone). This is really the biggest area for improvement. It can be done so let’s do it!

Does it beat the laptop experience while in the air? Hands down. It’s faster, lasts longer, easier and more fun to use. The only current drawback is the lack of word processing with cloud sharing but that will eventually get fixed.

Our market economy’s abundant offering and ample choice forces us to create restrictions not to drown in excess. The idea that choice is a democratic right assumes that everyone is well-informed and educated. People are not.

I’ve embraced simplicity in everything I do since a few years back. If forces me to think before I buy, use or throw away. A few weeks ago - inspired by Minimal Mac - I cleaned up my iPhone home-screen. It was a fantastic experience in defining real need, prioritizing and setting restrictions. Not to speak of de-cluttering life.

I’ve done the same on all our desktop and powerbooks. Above is an image of how the desktop on my Air looks like. No visible hard-drive or files, no cluttered menu bar and no overcrowded dock. It’s Desktop Zero.

Here is a list of desktop applications I use on a daily, weekly and monthly basis:

• Chrome - the best browser ever made. I use the Diigo, Freely, GMail, Facebook and Calendar extensions. Google Docs to store, edit and share any file extension.
• Spotify - cause they rock. The interface is making iTunes look silly.
• Hulu desktop - a fantastic user experience via the Apple remote.
• Skype - for outgoing free calls.
• iTunes and iPhoto - cause I must. Stuck in the Apple ecosystem (no need to have in dock though).

By using Google Docs for any file extension I’m also keeping my desktop clean. Docs is self-organizing so I don’t have to think about what I worked on last. Waking up to Desktop Zero (and Inbox Zero) makes work so much more pleasant. I don’t have to spend time working on old problems that might no longer exist, but focus my best creative hours on creating new value.

The Chrome extensions are a great way of being notified on new emails, invites or posts. Great place to start every morning to check mail, RSS feeds and Facebook posts. The same accessibility should obviously be available on the iPhone when traveling.

PS. The iPad has the potential of becoming the best of the desktop and the iPhone. Or the worst. In a few weeks we’ll see.