While I’m sure Apple is doing the best they can to make this an easy upgrade process for developers, it’s frustrating, to say the least that after installing the new release of iTunes you will be unable to sync your beta 1 iOS 5 device until you have upgraded it to iOS beta 2. As those are ~750+MB downloads, it’s a bit frustrating. To resume syncing, connect you idevice and follow the upgrade process as you did when originally installing iOS 5; it will work successfully.

Some other highlights culled from notes and the internet:

• iTunes 10.5b2 can’t sync iOS 5 Beta 1 devices
• iOS5 Beta 1 devices can’t iMessage iOS5 Beta 2 devices and vice-versa
• WiFI Sync works with OSX Computers only (has to be enabled in iTunes 10.5 beta 2) – Sorry Windows users
• Over-the-Air (OTA) updates have been released – none current available
• General speed improvements (thank goodness) and bug fixes

That’s it for now – I will add more as I get it.

~geek

Some of the highlights:

• Fixes an occasional graphics glitch on the iPod Touch (4th generation)
• Resolves bugs related to connecting and activating on some cellular networks
• Fixes image flickering with Apple’s new Digital AV Adapter
• Resolves an issue authenticating with some enterprise web services

Curious to hear if you find anything else, but there you have it for today’s excitement.

geek

Video mirroring is the ability to show the iPad 2 screen on an external display – regardless of application. The first generation iPad had the ability to output some things (presentations and video), but for the most part if you wanted to play Angry Birds you were relegated to the relatively compact iPad screen. Not so with the new iPad. When connecting your new iPad 2 to an external display using the Apple VGA Adapter or the Apple DIgital AV Adapter it is possible to completely mirror all functionality on the iPad 2, including the home screen itself. This works equally well with projectors, big screens, and, to that end, everything I’ve tried to this point. Interesting, though that there isn’t currently a way to connect the iPad to Apple’s own 27″ monitor.

As someone that frequently talks and teaches technology, this is a godsend. Now I will be able to show them every step of the process and not have to create a slide-show full of screenshots to do it. For gamers, this opens up new worlds of opportunity. For developers the benefit is obvious – look at how Apple presents their own works now – and for business people the world is your oyster, virtually speaking, as any number of these benefits may apply.

So, if you’ve been sitting on the fence, this is your kick in the butt to get moving. The wait isn’t that long and if you order yours today you could have it in as little as a few weeks… or so Apple says.

geek

Of the products that were there, many seemed to be “coming soon,” and far less than ever before was really available to buy at the show. Overall, I walked away most of the cash that I came with, a couple of stickers, and a feeling of disappointment. I told my wife via text message that MacWorld was a lot like going to Fry’s, same size as the store, a lot of stuff that you would never buy, and shelf space showing stickers for stuff that you really wish you could buy.

So, what did I buy? Two items:

The “glif.” <link>  The Glif is a simple iPhone 4 accessory with two primary functions: mounting your iPhone onto a tripod and propping up your iPhone at various angles.  One of my favorite blogs had praised their design and after seeing it in person and realizing that it really is small and really useful.  The only downside is that it doesn’t work with any case, but the added functionality more than made up for any downside.  On the plus side, it is reported to be recyclable, made in the USA, and the packaging was minimal and some of the best that I have seen in a long time.  At the show price of $18, this seemed like a good deal.

The other “item” that I purchased was actually more of a kit, and that’s the Modulr <link> case for Apple’s iPad.  For $75 (show price), I purchased the modulr case and cover, slim mount, quick stand, shoulder strap, refrigerator mount (magnets) and hand strap.  Yes, that is about everything they offer at this point in time, but if I can get it all setup the way that I want it, I’m envisioning a lot of flexibility with how I use my iPad.  What I would say, like so many of the products out there today, the modulr case seems cheap to me.  Not in dollars, but in build quality.  It’s not terrible, but I consider the iPad an accessory and a piece of art.  I want whatever I am using with it to accentuate the product itself, even if I have to pay more for it.  That said, it fits well and does what it’s supposed to do.  We’ll see how well it holds up to use and if the practicality makes it outlive my beloved Apple case.

And that about sums up my experience at MacWorld 2011.  Too many cases.  Too much vaporware.  Not enough maturity in the market.  I sure hope for next year to be better, but I’d bet money that unless Apple decides to come back and pick up the show, it won’t be any more than another Fry’s store.

~geek

If there’s enough good stuff, I will even add more to this post later on.

~geek

Additional information can be found on the AT&T site here and of course all the Apple related information can be found here.

~geek

Am I disappointed? Frankly, I am, even though I guess I don’t really have the right to be. I’m just left wondering, what in the world is going to happen to my order if they don’t make that delivery date? After all, part of the reason I even chose to wait was because the delivery date was as early as it is. If I had known that it would truly be months I might have considered other options.

I’m wondering, how do others feel about this hail-Mary delivery promise from Apple?

~geek

Based on what Apple is leaking, applications submitted now will have a shot at being reviewed and approved before the iPad launch next month, but I would expect, since almost all apps have been developed with only the simulator, that many apps will experience problems on day/week one. Only time will tell, but I am hopeful that some good will come out of this and not a new round of fart and beer guzzling parodies.

~geek

No keyboard: I’m not sure that I believe there is a better (currently available and feasible) input device than the traditional keyboard. That is absolutely personal opinion, but one that I’d be happy to reconsider the next time my flight encounters turbulence. And, yes, I know that an external keyboard will be possible, it just doesn’t seem practical to carry along.

No camera: it’s a digital world, Apple, and your products are supposed to be opening doors and windows – not closing them. This should be as powerful as something like the MacBook Air and that said users are going to expect to be able instant message with tools like iChat and Yahoo Messenger with cam. Not to mention photograph things. Just looking at this from a purely business perspective it sure would be nice to be able to take a picture of someone’s business card and have it dropped into contacts like I can do on the iPhone.

Weight. So depending on what you have to carry with you this could be good or bad, but generally speaking I don’t think that people are going to want to lug around a notebook sized tablet and power and the other crap that they need to make it through their day – they may as well be carrying a notebook computer.

Size and durability. So I get that it’s relatively small and thin and easy to hold and pretty on the eyes, but there are two immediately obvious flaws to me. First is the bezel – does it really have to be that thick? Okay, so assuming it does, isn’t this also something that looks like it will break on the first drop or the first time something like my keys are dropped on it?

CleanlinessMaybe I’m just a pudgy geek with sweaty palms, but keeping my iPhone as clean as I like it has been difficult enough. I can’t imagine how difficult this is going to be to keep clean. Looks to me like it could be more work than it’s worth.

So those are my rants – at least for now – and I am planning a follow-up to this with why I think that this is a game-changer, if only for what it might do for mobile computing and the iPhone platform. As always, your comments are welcome.