Showing posts with label iPad 2. Show all posts
Showing posts with label iPad 2. Show all posts

Thursday, September 1, 2011

I Just Sat Through iPad Training.

I just sat through iPad training.

Nothing really new, because we have the device at home.  I really do like iPads for reading, Twitter, e-mail, calendar.

Here's what I am thinking about school use:

  • This isn't a full-blown computer (yet) and yes you do need a full-blown computer every once in a while.
    • If it is graphics or audio or video work you will be much happier with a computer.
    • Full versions of programs don't run here.
      • FileMaker Go and FileMaker are not the same deal for instance.
      • SmartMusic still needs a computer, but playback has moved to Android and iOS.  (Hey SmartMusic!  Next million dollar idea is a full version for the iPad!)
      • Those are just two of my favorite programs.
    • What if you wanted to do some programming?
      • For iOS that is done with a computer.
    • What if there ISN'T an app for that?
  • I'm glad I don't have to share one of these.
    • If you had to share with different settings for each user, you would go nuts.
    • I am guessing that kids will have a lot of fun moving the apps around and changing the wall paper.
    • A computer can have multiple users.
      • I love the fact that I can set things up my way and the rest of the family can have their settings on our computers at home.
  • I wish there was more room to store things.
    • I think that iPads are a great place to share pictures, but there are only so many gigs to the memory on these.
      • The cloud that is coming this fall will have restrictions on the amount of time you photos will be stored.  
    • I have been known to want to walk around with gigs of data.
      • Schools are fairly complex data-wise and I like to use our info.
  • I wish it were easier to lock down.
    • You MUST wander through and monitor what kids are doing with iPads.
      • The remote desktop is easier with computers.
    • I love web browsers with "White Lists" for my kids.
      • This Safari doesn't have that.
    • I wish the web history wasn't so easy to obscure on iPads
      • In fact, it is fairly easy.  Go to the pages icon and start hitting X's.
  • I think that schools will purchase these by the truck load.
    • The cost of these is at a tempting price point and yes it is a CPU.
      • But can't we do a little better for our students?
    • It is a nice transition from paper to digital.
      • The form factor is very much like paper and can sit on a desk like a worksheet.  Teachers have worked this way for at least a couple of centuries.
Maybe I am being a little persnickety and I don't mean to sound grumpy.  iPads will continue to improve.  I am guessing that the ability to secure these for classroom use will get better soon (or maybe I am behind on my apps and it has improved already!)  But right now, if you could only purchase one device, would this be the device? 

Tuesday, March 22, 2011

FileMaker and The Music Department.

I have been playing around with FileMaker/FileMaker Server Advanced and an iPod.

FileMaker has some real possibilities for getting the music area organized.  The main uses I can think of right off the bat is tracking all that stuff and all those kids.  Eliminating paper, pens and clip boards from my life has been a mission of mine for the last 15 years.  If I can get it to a hard drive, I can find it later.

There are two ways to use the iOS/FMPro combination.  One works well for static lists.  The other works well for times when you will be editing data.

The method I use for static lists is to load your FileMaker file to the iPod with iTunes.  There is an option to do that upload right there on the apps page in iTunes.  There really isn't a sync for getting the info off the iPod later that I have found.  What list do I use it for?  The emergency class list.  You know the one you grab on the way out the door for a fire drill.  There is a chance that you won't be able to use the network in a real emergency.  The list is fairly static and way easier to find in an emergency on your iPod.

The dynamic/edit method is the one where you basically use your iOS version of FMPro as a client to your computer over the network.  Changes you make on your iPod go over the wireless network to your computer and update the FileMaker file that is running on your desk (or on a server some where.)  This works slick for attendance, inventory and what ever else you need to keep track of.  Picture the day kids turn in uniforms and instruments at the end of the year and I think you can see why this would be so cool!  You could even do before and after pictures of the loaned instruments to hold kids accountable for wear if your iPod has a camera...

It works great on the iPod.  Now I want to try it on an iPad 2.  Looks like I will be waiting a while.

Monday, March 21, 2011

The iPad 2

Has anyone else tried to find an iPad 2?  I don't think it can be done here in the Twin Cities. The stores that normally stock Apple iPads don't have any iPad 2 stock.  You can get an old version, but it seems to me that the memory upgrade in the new would make everything work better.  I haven't tried my friendly local Apple store yet, just guessing that they have floor models and a wait-for-yours-to-come-in plan in play.  I'll have to check.

Online ordering from Apple is out to 4+ weeks.

Who knew?

Thursday, March 3, 2011

Music and the iPad 2.

The iPad 2 came out yesterday and I will probably take some time to look at it when it makes it into stores.

I love the format... I don't think I could think of a better way to interact with a computer than to point at what I want to do.  The size is wonderful.  I read on my iPod Touch frequently and would love a bit more screen to do that. The freedom to access information everywhere is nice.  The iPad is what I want in a computer.

I like the idea of Garageband on the iPad too.  As a music teacher, I do use Garageband in class.  But I have some questions.  How do I get sound in?  What if the built-in mics aren't up to doing a quality job?  I do  a lot of quick stereo two mic set-ups for note taking and playback with a small mixer; Can I do that with an iPad?  Once the project is done, do I really have to e-mail it to get at it anywhere else?  What if I want to move a project up to Logic?  What if I want it on my iPod for listening in the car?

I would bet there is enough processor power in there to do a credible job with the processing.  I do remember some audio projects that were done on half of that processor power.

I think the thing iPad (3?) really needs for me to get one is an actual port that other manufacturers can use for things like mics and mixers.  Maybe even Thunderbolt like in the new Macbooks.

I suppose for class projects, course management software (Moodle) can solve logistics problems

Right now, I am too cheap to have both a Macbook and an iPad.  Maybe I just need to wait.

I am worried that we will end up with a bunch of these in labs at school and I will wish we had put the money towards more versatile computers.