My iPad display mirrored on the Visio TV

The closest thing to it was the A/V cable, which allowed you to output some video streams to an external display. The built-in video player, the YouTube and Netflix apps all supported this feature. This was nice, but it still didn’t give you a way to mirror what you saw on your iPad — an essential capability if you want to demo an app (for example) to an audience.

Fortunately, this is one of the features the iPad 2 supports. It does require the new Apple Digital A/V Adapter ($39) and an HDMI cable. With this, I’m now able to mirror the display of my iPad to my 47″ Visio flatscreen TV and pipe everything through my Pioneer VSX-820 amp.

I’ll be using this at upcoming meetings in the very near future.

Want more? iLounge has a great, in-depth review of the new adapter.

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For years, I favored Canon’s compact point-and-shoot line. They are fast and produce great shots. This is exactly what I used last year when I hiked the John Muir Trail, and it served me well.

But more and more, I find myself using my iPhone for photography. It’s convenient (I always have my phone nearby) and coupled with the wonderful photo apps for the iPhone, it’s a blast! The apps encourage experimentation and photographic “play” — which is right up my alley.

Of course, one of the problems with apps is that there are so damn many of them. How do you find the good ones? And so, I present to you my list — the good ones — the iPhone photography apps worth getting.

Instagram

Instagram is a pretty basic app, but it’s so damned fun to play with! You can snap a photo “live” with the app or retrieve one from your photo library. Instagram will ask you to scale and crop it to a square format. That’s right, all Instagram-generated images are square. You can then apply any of a number of old school film-like effects that will make your photo look like a faded old polaroid or a Kodachrome print from the ’70s. Check out a few of my Instagram photos to get an idea of what you can do with it.

The latest version adds the ability to apply an effective tilt-shift effect for creating “miniature” scenes. But where Instagram really shines is in the social aspect. You can create friends (importing from Facebook or Twitter) and view their Instagram “streams” with likes and comments much like Facebook. And you can share your Instagram creations easily. Once you configure it, with one click you can upload to Twitter, Facebook, Foursquare, Flickr, and other services.

Instagram is currently my favorite iPhone photo app, and well worth the price (FREE!).  Don’t think, just get Instagram.

Slow Shutter Cam

Slow Shutter Cam is a recent addition to my iPhone photo app toolkit, but WOW — what results! It allows you to create those really cool looking slow shutter images that normally you’d need a much fancier camera to create. You’ll need a tripod for decent results (I like the GorillaMobile for the iPhone), but it’s a lot of fun.

This shot isn’t the best example, but it was one of my first creations with Slow Shutter Cam. This is actually the local train passing by. Interesting that it captured the light but the train itself became essentially “invisible.”

This app does a great job of capturing night scenes with traffic passing by, or running water, or any number of special photographic effects where you want to capture the sense of movement. Fun stuff. It’s $0.99, and worth it. Get Slow Shutter Cam.

Pro HDR

HDR effects are easily achieved on the iPhone with this great app. It takes two photos, so it works best with a tripod and a stationary subject. But the results can be stunning. Get Pro HDR; it’s only $1.99.

Here’s an example I created with Pro HDR:

AutoStitch

The forth and final must-have photo app on my list is AutoStitch. This let’s you create panoramic images with remarkable ease. They aren’t always perfect, but they are damned good considering how easy it is. I know; I’ve used a number of desktop apps on both Windows and Mac and spent hours generating panoramas. This does the same thing, on your iPhone, in just a few minutes.

Basically you take a series of overlapping photos, turning a few degrees between each shot. Then in AutoStitch, you drag the photos into a pool and let it rip. A few minutes later, you have a panorama! AutoStitch is also just $1.99. Get it!

There you have it — four great photography apps for your iPhone. If you haven’t had a chance to experiment with any photo apps, these are a good place to start. And if you know of some other apps that I should check, leave a comment and let me know.

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Just about nine months ago, I decided to cut that cable. I called Cox and asked them to discontinue both my land line phone service (which I never used) and my cable TV. It was weird, but I don’t think they really believed that I was truly canceling my regular television programming. They asked if I was switching to satellite (I wasn’t). They enticed me to stay with lower monthly rates (I didn’t). The only service I kept was their broadband Internet.

It was a calculated decision. I already had Netflix, with streaming movie capabilities. I had Xbox Live and iTunes, allowing access to still more movies and shows. I have a cable from my Mac Mini to my 47″ Visio so I can play movies or shows I’ve downloaded. Most of the programming that I cared about was available at a much lower cost.

How has it worked out?

The biggest gaps in my programming are live coverage such as news and sports. Of course, the Internet is also a great source for updates on both, but certain sporting events are just more enjoyable to watch as their played. For this, I met up with friends at a local sports pub to catch a game, and relied on Internet news sites rather than cable news for the latest happenings around the globe.

I’ve also found new sources of programming. Last fall I added a wifi-enabled Samsung Bluray player that I’ve ended up using more as a streaming device than for playing discs. I use it regularly with Hulu Plus, Vudu, Netflix, Vimeo and Pandora.

Xbox Live added ESPN3 back in November 2010. So far, this hasn’t been much use to me. They don’t include any NFL games; my primary sport. But I have used it to watch tennis.

Still, there are times when I miss turning on the TV to catch the local news as I get ready to start my day. Not a big deal, but missed. For a while, ivi TV looked promising. They offered streaming of broadcast TV channels from major cities including New York and Los Angeles. Unfortunately the networks have tied them up in the courts and shut down most of the programming they once had.

For now, my experiment in cutting the cable has been a huge success. I’ve saved about $1,000 over the past nine months, even after you add in my Hulu Plus subscription. If you’re comfortable with streaming and downloading programming, you may want to consider joining the ranks of cable cutters, too.

Have you cut the cord? If so, what has your experience been? If not, what’s holding you back?

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I’ve had my iPad since last October, and love it. Now that the iPad 2 is out, the natural question is whether to upgrade.

In my case, the decision is pretty easy. My girlfriend already has her eye on my “old” iPad, so I won’t have any problem finding it a good home. But what do you do if you don’t have a built-in buyer?

One of my co-workers Richard told me about a site called Gazelle where you can resell used electronic devices. It’s a much simpler process than selling direct through Craigslist. They even send you a prepaid Fedex box to ship your device in. He sold two first-generation iPads, and is ready to upgrade next weekend.

Of course, before you ship it off, you’ll want to erase all your personal data.

Restore to factory settings

Here are the steps to follow:

1. On your iPad home screen, tap the Settings icon.
2. Tap General in the menu to the left of the screen, then tap Reset.
3. Here, you will have two options: “Reset All Settings” and “Erase All Content and Settings.” The former will restore all of your app settings to their original status. The latter will reset all app settings and erase all of your data (photos, apps, bookmarks, music, etc.). Choose “Erase All Content and Settings.”

At this point, the iPad will need to be reconnected to iTunes in order to be activated again. Let the new owner take care of that. You’re set!

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What really makes this band interesting was the way Scott and the Minimal team developed it. They had a great idea for converting the iPod Nano into a multi-touch watch, and to raise the capital they needed to take the bands from concept to production, they turned to Kickstarter. Kickstarter  allows people with an idea for a product, production or service to recruit micro-investments. The “investors” give a few bucks (or more), and rather than getting a share of ownership, they get the satisfaction of supporting someone with a great idea achieve their dream. And in some cases (as with TikTok and LunaTik) you get something in exchange.

Scott smartly put together great donor levels incentives. Pledge $25 or more and get a TikTok band. Pledge $50 or more and you got a LunaTik iPod Nano watch conversion kit. For $70 or more you got both. There were even bigger, fancier packages. In Scott’s case, their goal was to raise $15,000 — the minimum they felt they needed to justify the cost of going to production. They set a pledge deadline of December 16, but the response surprised them.

In the end, 13, 512 backers pledged a total of $941,718!

Needless to say, the project was a success, not only for Scott Wilson and Minimal, but for Kickstarter as well. Not that it wasn’t without some bumps in the road. Fulfillment was fraught with problems, as it turned out Kickstarter allowed people to pledge money without giving full addresses — obviously necessary for those getting the watch bands.

Scott did a great job of keeping the backers up to date with regular emails outlining the progress. He included photos as he travelled to China to meet with the manufacturer and shared videos of the bands being made.

A few notes about TikTok and LunaTik

• The are designed to work with the 6th generation iPod Nano (the current model, as of Feb. 2011).
• The iPod Nano is not included.
• It is super easy to remove the iPod Nano from the TikTok. Snap it in; snap it out.
• The LunaTik, on the other hand, is accurately labeled a watch conversion kit. While you can technically take your iPod Nano back out, it takes a couple special tools and some time.
• They are big, but there are bigger watches out there. It’s definitely more of a man-sized watch though (sorry ladies).

The final product? See for yourself. Click any image below for a larger version.

Check out other projects on Kickstarter, learn what else Minimal has been designing, and if you’re interested in the LunaTik and TikTok watch bands, you can find out more at LunaTik.com.

One Last Thought

Someone is probably wondering why I would need both a LunaTik and a TikTok band, after all, I only have on iPod Nano. The reality is, I do not need both. I am thinking of a clever way to give one away. If you’ve got any ideas, leave me a comment!

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As the machine was powering up, I was notified of a system update. I always install updates, and this was not exception. While I love the device, I’ve got to ding Samsung on how they handle these updates. The process itself is smooth and trouble-free, but there’s no information about what the update includes! After some poking around I discovered that a new app to play Vimeo videos was available.

I’ve been using Vimeo for a while now to post videos for SoCal Hiker as well as sharing how-to and usability screencasts. The Vimeo interface is much more pleasant experience than the cluttered crap on YouTube, and Vimeo allows longer videos. As a result, the quality of content on Vimeo is generally much higher than YouTube.

Even so, I’ve never really done much browsing or watching Vimeo stuff on my computer. I typically only watch something when I run across it in the search for something else, like this video tutorial on creating a tilt-shift video. But I was curious to see what this new Vimeo app would do, so I installed it and fired it up.

It’s freaking amazing. Seriously.

The user interface is clean, hi-def and beautiful. I checked out some of my own videos first (vanity rules), then browsed a few of the curated channels. This is where I was completely, unequivocally sold.

Here’s how it works…

First you select a channel that looks interesting. There’s a number of really nice ones, but the HD channel is a great starting point.

Once you’ve selected the channel, you’ll see a scrolling list of the videos contained in that channel. You can simply hit play or browse through and find something that piques your interest.

Since I was in discovery mode, I hit play and went back to my Saturday chores. I kept getting sucked back in. Without touching it, videos queue up and play one after another. The content ranged from a documentary from an urban adventurer illegally exploring the subway tunnels of NYC, to an innovative music video, to an artistic (and creepy) Japanese short film. It was terrific content, and I could easily see letting this just play for hours.

William Gibson said, “The future is already here – it’s just not very evenly distributed.” This is the future of television programming, and it’s here now.

You can find me here on Vimeo.

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Our stores are filled with mediocre products. How many things do you buy that you simple use, but don’t really love? I believe we should design, create and purchase love-worthy products. Apple has done this very well with their iPod, iPhone and iPad devices, but there are plenty of other companies doing good work. I’m going to take some time each weekend to share my favorites. Today, it’s the world’s best iPad case: the DODOcase.

An expensive device like an iPad is naked without a case. An iPad deserves something to protect it from scratches, dings and even the occasional drop. And the DODOcase (affiliate link) does this with style. It is the best case I’ve ever seen for the iPad, bar none.

I first spied the DODOcase at last year’s WordCamp LA. One of the guys sitting in a row near me had one. It caught my eye because I’m a big fan of Moleskine notebooks, and I had been lusting for an iPad since then were first announced. I finally got my iPad last fall, and shortly thereafter ordered my DODOcase.

The DODOcase is handmade in San Francisco using old school bookbinding methods. It has the look of a big Moleskine notebook (my favorite analog note taking device). The sides which cradle the iPad are cut from unfinished bamboo, which is both strong and has a nice paper-like patina. There’s even an elastic band like the Moleskine notebooks that holds the case closed.

The hand-crafted quality of the case is a double-edged sword. On the one hand, the DODOcase is a kick-ass case. On the other, I had to wait nearly four weeks for my case to arrive. Apparently there is a limit to how many of these beauties you can make when you’re doing it by hand.

As you can see from the photos, it’s a beautiful case. But it’s not without a few issues and might not be for everyone. First, it’s one of the more expensive cases out there. Second, like a notebook or a favorite book, it will show some wear over time. I’ve seen it in the corners. And of course, also like a book, it’s not water proof or even very water resistant. And finally, it doesn’t stand up like an easel as some cases do.

But it does look, feel and work amazingly well. Highly recommended.

If you’re interested, you can find out more or order your DODOcase at their website (affiliate link).

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I first read about Flipboard months before I finally plunked down the cash for an iPad, and it had already captured my attention. It’s remarkable in that Flipboard really doesn’t do anything that I couldn’t do before.

What is Flipboard?

Essentially, Flipboard is a different way of reading and consuming media that I’ve already been reading and consuming via other means. What makes Flipboard remarkable is that it does it so elegantly.

Flipboard transforms Twitter, Facebook, Flickr, Google Reader and RSS feeds into a beautiful, magazine-like interface that leverages all the good bits of the iPad. A Twitter stream is noisy and difficult to browse. The same stream through Flipboard is a pleasure. Links, photos and videos show up inline without requiring extra clicks, making browsing your streams not only a pleasure, but making it possible in a new way.

Here are a few screenshots to help tell the Flipboard story. Click any thumbnail to browser the larger images.

I still use Twitter and Facebook, but reading the same streams via Flipboard never fails to surface new and interesting conversations that I might have otherwise overlooked.

If you have an iPad, you must download and use Flipboard. Hell, it’s free.

If you don’t have an iPad, Flipboard might be reason enough to get one.

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Unfortunately, I have way too many apps to cover in a single post, so I’m going to post a series covering my favorite apps, breaking it down based on how I organize my apps and beginning with utilities.

As you can see, I like to keep things organized in folders. I still have multiple pages of apps — nine at last count — but I want the apps that I use regularly on the first three pages. This means that folders are a necessity.

First up on page one is my Utilities folder. Most of the apps here are standard iPhone apps like the Clock (which I use as my alarm clock and a timer when cooking), the Calculator, Notes, Voice Memos, the App Store and Contacts. I put Settings in here as well, only because I don’t use it every day.

To this group I’ve added the following four indispensable iPhone utilities:

Simplenote

Simplenote is a terrific little free utility that is part Notes, part DropBox. You create an account and then you can use Simplenote from your iPhone, iPod Touch, iPad or computer. It’s essentially like the regular Notes app, with one significant difference — your notes are saved in The Cloud. This means that you can create, access and edit your notes from whatever Internet-connected device happens to be handy. I use this for lists and note-taking on my iPhone or iPad, then access them later from my desktop. On my desktop, I just use my browser, but there are a number of desktop clients for both Macs and PCs available.

Shopper

I started using Shopper to build my grocery list, but have since used it for trips to the home improvement store and pretty much anything else I would shop for. I like that I can simply and quickly add items to any of my multiple lists right when the idea strikes. As I go through the aisles at the market, I check off the items that I put in my basket.  Note that there is a free version and a commercial version. I’ve only used the free one, and it fits the bill better than anything else I’ve run across.

Things

One of the basic functions notably missing from the iPhone is task management. Things is a commercial app, and at $9.99 for the iPhone, it ain’t cheap. But it is elegant, intuitive, and works exactly like I need. It was worth the $9.99. There is also a $19.99 version optimized for the iPad, and I’ve since graduated to that. What I haven’t done (yet) is spring for the $49 Mac app, which would sync everything. For now, the iPad version fits the bill for me, but if you only have an iPhone, Things still rocks.

Dropbox

Last but not least is one my favorite utilities. I started using DropBox as brainlessly simple way to share files between PCs. Since then, I’ve added the DropBox app to my iPhone and iPad. How does it work? Essentially it creates a special folder on your device where the files you want to share are stored. I use it primarily for personal sharing between my own devices — multiple computers and OS, and multiple mobile devices. But I’ve also had occasion to use it with clients to share larger files like videos and images. You choose what you share and what you keep to yourself.

Dropbox has saved my butt many times, giving me easy access to all my essential working files whenever and wherever I need them. And it’s free, although you can pay for additional storage.

Of course there are other apps I use that might be considered utilities, but these are my personal favorites. Next week, I’ll look at my favorite photography apps.

Do you have a favorite utility that I’ve overlooked? Share in the comments below.

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Bluetooth wireless technology

Most people use Bluetooth wireless headsets for hands free operation of their mobile phones. And some have Bluetooth keyboards and mice. All are common applications. But if that’s all you use Bluetooth for, you might want to take a closer look at my list.

Here are my favorite Bluetooth gadgets, listed in order of acquisition.

#1 & #2 – Logitech Mouse and Apple Wireless Keyboard

I bought these at the local Apple Store to use with my Mac Mini at home. No cables, and no clutter. The Apple Wireless Keyboard (affiliate link) is very compact, and when I hook up the Mac Mini to my 47″ Vizio LCD TV, I can simply bring the keyboard and mouse over to the coffee table and control everything from there. The Apple keyboard looks amazing, and is really easy and comfortable to type on (your mileage may vary; it’s a personal thing). I really like the form factor. Compact, good looking, space-saving. And I’ve even used it with my Windows 7 laptop, just for kicks. Works fine.

The Logitech VX Nano Cordless Laser Mouse (affiliate link) was, for me, a much better choice than the funky Apple mouse. Coming to the Mac as a former Windows guy, I like the left/right buttons and the scroll wheel. Plus I read reviews that the little roller ball that Apple was using at the time in lieu of a scroll wheel tended to gum up quickly. This mouse has worked perfectly.

I’ve been using both the Apple Wireless Keyboard and the Logitech Bluetooth Mouse for over two years and love them!

#3 – Jawbone JAMBOX

The Jawbone JAMBOX (affiliate link) is a sweet little brick-sized speaker that first catches your eye, then impresses the hell out of everyone who hears it. It’s essentially a rechargeable external speaker that can double as a speaker-phone. It is sturdy and looks and sounds great. Friends who had one of those Bose table-top speakers said it sounded as good as that, although I suspect if you put them side-by-side, the Bose would win out. But for the price and the portability, you can beat this.

Check out this video  for a “day-in-the-life” of a Jambox, and you’ll understand why I love this gadget.

Click here to view the embedded video.

#4 – Pioneer AS-BT100 Bluetooth Adapter

The Pioneer AS-BT100 Bluetooth Adapter (affiliate link) is a very specific device that is designed to work with certain models of Pioneer A/V receivers. Of course, most receivers today come with front-facing jacks that allow you to plug in peripheral devices such as an iPod or iPhone.  But being able to accomplish the same thing without cords or cables? Perfection!  I have paired three devices with my receiver: my Mac Mini, my iPhone 4 and my iPad. It works beautifully with rich sound. It’s a joy to sit on the couch with my iPad and browse through music or setup a new channel on Pandora. Highly recommended.

#5 - Motorola S9-HD Bluetooth Stereo Headset

I love to listen to music when I workout. I could be lifting weights, on a machine or running down the beach trail — the music gives me energy. The problem I always had was my damned earbuds. They’d be constantly falling out (not a problem when I’m sitting relatively still, but never fails to happen when I’m running). And the cord was constantly getting snagged on something; my watchband or a branch. Very annoying.

The Motorola S9-HD Bluetooth Stereo Headset (affiliate link) is rechargeable and stereo with a design that hooks over your ears. The sensation is a little bit like wearing glasses. It sounds great, doesn’t fall off and even includes a mic for handling phone calls. Problem solved.

#6 GOgroove FlexSMART X2 Bluetooth FM Transmitter

My 2005 Nissan Xterra has a great Rockford Fosgate stereo system, but it doesn’t have a auxiliary input or iPod/iPhone support. Ugh. Yeah, the 6-disc changer will play MP3s, but that’s too much like work – compiling playlists and burning CDs.

The GOgroove FlexSMART X2 Bluetooth FM Transmitter (affiliate link) plugs into a power port with a gooseneck to the nicely designed controls and display. The rest is purely cord-free bliss. I pair my iPhone via Bluetooth, and the FlexSmart plays my music on an unused FM frequency through my car stereo. Now I’ve got all my music (at least, all that I carry on my iPhone) and I can crank it right through the car stereo.

And when I get a call, my music is paused and the audio quality both ways is great!

So there you have it — six, great little gadgets that I now use every day. I know there are plenty more. What Bluetooth wireless gadgets are on your list?

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The intro at the conference took about 90 minutes, but the good folks over at Mahalo Daily have created a wonderful highlight reel that actually covers all of the salient facts in a mere 60 seconds.

Click here to view the embedded video.

Current iPhone owners such as myself can upgrade, but I’ll have to turn in my old (broken) iPhone and restart my two-year contract. It’s worth it.

When can you get the new iPhone? It hits Apple and AT&T stores on Friday, July 11th. Now you know where you can find me.

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Wishes, like dreams, should be BIG. So in the spirit of big wishes, here’s some real wish-list eye candy.

Now I’m off to find my tape measure — I think I’m going to need a bigger desk.

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