Linked List: April 4, 2010

Sunday, 4 April 2010

Paul Thurrott:

Anyone who believes this thing is a game changer is a tool.

Apple Support Document: Powering a Peripheral Through USB ★

Apple:

The USB ports on Apple computers provide 5 V (Volts) and 500 mA (Milliamps) to each port, regardless of whether the port is USB 1.1 or USB 2.0. This is in compliance with USB specifications. On some newer Intel-based Macs, such as the MacBook (13-inch, Late 2007), when a device requiring more than 5V and 500mA is connected, the port with that device connected to it becomes a high-powered port capable of offering up to 1100 mA at 5 V. That port will continue to operate as a high-powered port until the device is removed.

Jason Snell’s iPad Review ★

Excellent, comprehensive review. I agree with almost every word. Love this bit about Safari:

There’s just something about surfing the Web using Safari on the iPad. It feels different, somehow. Apple’s marketing pitch says “it’s like holding the Internet in your hands,” and while that’s a little bit cheesy, it’s not far off. There’s just something different about holding that Web page in your hands, rather than seeing it on a desktop or laptop PC, or on a tiny iPhone screen. Tapping on links doesn’t feel the same as clicking on them with a mouse. It’s a good feeling.

Marshall Clow Reviews PCalc for iPad ★

5-star review. Worth noting: PCalc is a universal binary — the iPad native version is included with the iPhone version.

Teabonics ★

Flickr set featuring signage from “Tea Party” rallies.

On the Placement of the iPad Headphone Jack ★

Joshua Topolsky:

And one other item of note — Apple chose to place the headphone jack at the top of the device. We don’t know about you, but we think the idea of draping our headphone cord across the screen or snaking it around back is a tremendously bad idea. And guess what? In practice, it kind of stinks. Why the company didn’t opt for putting the plug in the logical place — say, the bottom of the iPad, or the side even — is a mystery that will undoubtedly haunt our every waking moment.

But the top of the iPad is the side half the time. It’s meant to be held horizontally just as often as vertically. Perhaps the headphone jack placement isn’t optimal for listening to music in the background, but it seems pretty good for watching video. And putting it on the bottom means you wouldn’t be able to use headphones while it was docked.

If you really want your headphones plugged into the “bottom”, just turn your iPad all the way around so that the home button is at the top.