Looks as if 1pm EST is just about the magic hour for Apple iPhone upgrades. About 30 minutes ago (at 1pm EST) the new iPhone OS – -iOS 4 – became available for download. This will work on all but the first generation iPhone and the iPad (which will get it’s own update later in the year).

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I received my iPad yesterday right on schedule from UPS.
Everything you’ve read about it online is true – the screen is great, it’s really nice to have a 9.7″ display which makes reading things much easier.

While the iPad can use all of the iPhone applications in the market (well over 100k) – in reality most apps have to be re-written to take advantage of the bigger screen.

Apple has a stated battery life of 10 hours — and remarkably that seems very accurate.

The device is fast — probably quicker than the iPhone in terms of swapping applications and loading web pages.

But you can read all about that online — here’s some things that sites aren’t pointing out that I think are important:

- The lack of multi-tasking is annoying. If you’re in an application and you receive an email you must completely shut down that application in order to even glance at the subject line of the incoming mail. This is probably not a huge issue for those who don’t use email much. For corporate/business use I think the lack of effective multi-tasking is a dealbreaker.

Apple will undoubtedly fix this as multi-tasking is rumored to be one of the next features added to the OS. However for now it’s annoying to have to swap from one screen to another (effectively closing applications) just to read an incoming email.

- The bigger question will be whether the iPad becomes a pseudo-laptop replacement. My first instinct is no — at least not this version and not so long as application loading (and approval) is tethered to iTunes.

For home use I think this type of app loading and approval is great but for business use I think most companies will balk at standardizing on what’s essentially a closed hardware platform that could limit the applications they deploy.

Granted this could change. However the Safari browser on the iPad can’t run a lot of sites — including any that have Flash technology (a way to view video in a web browser) embedded in them. It also crashes when trying to access Google Wave – though Salesforce.com runs beautifully.

The iPad also lacks a camera of any type which seems like such an obvious omission that it’s virtually certain that we’re all being setup for the “ipad 2″ to be rolled out within a year.

- There are several very good applications that allow for reading books and newspapers (WSJ, USA Today, NY Times). Most of the newspapers are struggling to sell a paid version in order to make money however their announced pricing of $15 to $20 per month seems way out of alignment with reality. Some like the USA Today ,which is offering a free trial through 7/4/2010, are probably testing the waters to get feedback and they could modify their subscription pricing eventually.

Should you buy one?

For home use – yes!

It’s not a laptop replacement for most businesses  though.

At least not until the web browser can run all the same applications as a desktop computer – which in my testing it presently does not do with notable crashes in Google Wave and a total lack of Flash Player support.

The iPad will be a good niche product for many businesses – things like note taking and social media work great on the device (as they do on your regular laptop). The real question is will the majority of business users see this as yet another expensive device to carry or will the iPad open up new functionality?

As it stands now – for business – the iPad is another device to carry until it can at least totally duplicate the functionality of the laptop browser.

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Today only Amazon has these Ultimate Ears TripleFi 10 Noise Isolating Earphones for $99. They’re available with or without microphone (allowing them to be used as a phone headset). Reviews are generally positive and the normal selling price everywhere I looked is well into the $300 range.

The world’s top performing artists choose Ultimate Ears custom in-ear monitors for one reason—they are made to deliver the best fit and sound reproduction available. Ultimate Ears represents the culmination of years of experience designing, testing and refining professional in-ear monitors. Ultimate Ears brings this experience to every pair of earphones that they make.

The unique sound signature of Ultimate Ears earphones has been tuned to be sonically accurate, yet musically impressive. The earphone designs and ear cushions create a soft, snug seal for long wearing comfort and noise isolation. And Ultimate Ears’ sleek, refined designs complement your personal style—instead of overwhelming it.

Ultimate Ears TripleFi 10 Earphones

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Does someone you know have an iPod Touch on their holiday list? Overstock has the iPod Touch (latest model) 8GB for $149 shipped ($50 cheaper than the list price of a new one). This unit’s a refurbished device though contrary to the (incorrect) specifications on the site – there’s no camera (yet).

iPod Touch – 8GB via SD

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Looking for a deal on an older style Zune? Amazon has this 8GB Zune (Red) for $94 plus $8 shipping. Listen to your favorite FM radio stations and click to tag the songs you like for later purchase when you sync your device with your PC. 1.8-inch color LCD with 320 x 240 pixel display resolution. It’s not an iPod (duh)  but a great choice if you want to connect to the monthly ($15) Zune Pass and obtain unlimited music downloads.

Zune 8GB

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The Microsoft Zune HD is on sale in the Microsoft store. Use coupon code MSSTORE10%OFF to take 10% off your purchase price. Shipping is free.  One of the interesting features of the Zune is the ability to connect to Microsoft’s paid Zune Pass service ($15/mo) and download an unlimited amount of music. Granted, you don’t own the music and you must keep paying the monthly fee or access to the songs turns off. However for your monthly $15 you also can download 10 MP3 (non-DRM) tracks free. It’s a great deal for someone like me who doesn’t really care about owning their music.

Zune HD 16GB – $198

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Dynamic Controls announces a solution for connecting powered wheelchairs with an iPhone or iPod touch. The solution connects a user’s iPhone or iPod touch to the wheelchair system via Bluetooth® to display information in real time as well as speed in kph or mph and compass heading. A cradle is available to mount the iPhone or iPod touch onto the wheelchair.

Other benefits include the incorporation of an on-chair charger for the iPhone and a ‘chair doctor’ wheelchair diagnostics feature that interprets any problems with the wheelchair.

Connectivity features include displaying the status of wheelchair, through to computer mouse control, IR and WiFi appliance control, on-chair connected devices as well as direct access to Dynamic Controls’ website with content of interest to wheelchair users.

Dynamic Controls via 9 to 5 Mac

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This Logitech Squeezebox Internet Radio is being offered (color black) at several retailers for $50 of the normal $199 price. Connect the Squeezebox up to your wireless Internet connection (wi-fi) and stream Internet radio anywhere in your house. Included are connections to all your Internet favorites including Slacker, Pandora, Last.FM, Rhapsody and of course Sirius Satellite radio.

Logitech Squeezebox Internet Radio – $149

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Tired of overpaying carriers for ringtones that are then locked to the phone you’ve downloaded them to? Here’s a way that I’ve been obtaining free ringtones and notifications for my new Verizon Droid.  What’s great about this service is you don’t need to register or provide your mobile phone number (often used by unscrupulous sites to ding you with some absurd monthly fee). Here’s how.

How To Load Free Ringtones, Notifications and Alarms to your Verizon Droid

The first step to loading your own ringtones, wallpaper and notifications is to cable your Droid to your computer. I’m using a Mac but this will work just as well with a PC.

Once you have the cable connected you’ll see the USB icon in the upper left corner of your Droid’s screen. Use your finger to pull down on the icon and view the notification.

Touch the USB connected notification on the above screen and then select “Mount” as shown below. That’s it. That’s all you need to do for your Droid to then show up as a drive on your computer.

Open up Windows Explorer on the PC – or if you’re using a Mac as I am in this example – open Finder.  You can see my Droid has mounted onto my computer and is shown by the “NO NAME” label under devices.

To the right you can see all the folders on the Droid microSD card. Some of these are default folders created by Android.

The folder that you want to create is media. I created it right in the root (home) folder.

Once you’ve created the media folder – create folders to hold your content. You’ll want to use

• alarms
• notifications
• ringtones

Place these folders inside the media folder as shown

Now you can drag and drop mp3 files into the appropriate folder. When you dis-connect your Droid it will re-scan your microSD and the new media files will show up for selection.

I’ve found the web site Zedge.net to be handy for downloading free ringtones and notifications. There’s no registration and you don’t provide your cellular phone number. All their tones can be downloaded to your desktop and then uploaded to your droid.

To edit tones on your Droid – use Ringdroid which is free and allows you to open any MP3 on the Droid and select a tiny portion to use as a notification or ringtone.

Zedge

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FiiO E1 is a headphone amplifier, specifically designed for use with Apple’s iPod and iPhone. If your iPod or iPhone is a little low in the volume producing category and you don’t mind risking possible minor long term hearing loss give this adapter a try. For $20 it also includes a built-in controller for your iPod/iPhone which adjusts volume and track playback. Just remember most MP3 manufacturers limit the sound coming from their device for a reason and prolonged playing of high volume music may give you worse hearing than Ozzie Osbourne.

Fiio E1 iPod/iPhone Amplifier – $20 and FiiO E1 Manufacturer’s Site (manufacturer contact info)

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