I have been giving WordPress 3.0 a try. Meanwhile, I’ve also taken the opportunity to update my site layout. I’m using the new default theme by Twenty Ten. The only changes I’ve made to this theme are coloring and a removing the text title in the header. What I like about Twenty Ten is the clean look. The footer widgets are nice, too.

WordPress 3.0 makes some basics easier on beginners. Bloggers no longer need to dig into the styles or edit php files to adjust header images or create menus.

Header and Background Images

Change the header image using a menu where several examples are available or upload an image of the correct dimensions (default uses 940 x 198 pixels.) The interface also allows uploading an image for the background set to repeat or single as I have done with the purple clouds and moon. I also took the opportunity to adjust my background image to fill an entire screen on the new iMacs for those crazy enough to widen their browser to the full 2560 pixels.

Some themes use thumbnail images and Twenty Ten uses “featured” images. The featured image must be the same size as the header (940 x 198 default) set on the post page. I made a couple featured header images on my Dunston Monster posts and my BIO page.

Navigation Menus

One of the best new features is the default menu which the administrator may customize including drop-down menus based on page parenting. It’s pretty easy to add a menu item for a category as I have done for “Featured” and “Stories.” I will add a “Books” menu later once my books are ready. Changing the order of menu items works like on widgets. Menus may also work in widgets on the sidebar. Some themes support more than one customized menu.

Content Management System (CMS)

Besides pages and posts, custom content types may be added. This will make it easier to use WordPress for an entire website which may not even include a blog. Custom types may be videos with reviews or widgets to sell.

Read about all the new features on Version 3.0

Is the iPad magical? That depends on your definition of magic. Revolutionary? Maybe, maybe not. In under two months, over two million units have sold beating expectations. Why? The iPad is not for Apple “fanboys” or “techies.” The iPad is what computers should strive to be, a device that brings the user closer to their data.

User Case: Non-Techie

I showed a book lover an iPad. At first she almost seemed skeptical. She doesn’t get along with computers. Gizmos never impress her. Copying a file between drives is an advanced concept. After a few minutes, she warmed up to the device—a little. A couple weeks later she put the iPad through a full test.

After a few days, she had purchased books and installed a couple apps. Then she went on a trip. She had no trouble connecting to wi-fi networks at airports or homes of relatives. Not only did she read several books, but she took notes, imported photos, added pictures to her contacts, e-mail, and more! On her return, she showed me a funny YouTube video and had no trouble bringing it back up—a process she’s not as familiar with on other computers. Just a couple taps and we were watching it.

After just two weeks, this person—a technology hater—uses the iPad extensively. She now uses Mail on iPad instead of accessing her e-mail on the desktop computer. Why? Mail for iPad is so much easier. She wants more applications on the iPad, ones that helps her get work done.

Some Questions for Software Engineers and Designers

• Why does MS Windows make it so difficult to connect to a wireless network?
• Why are so many applications cluttered with buttons, menus, bells-and-whistles, many of which never get used?
• Why are users more concerned about file systems and CPU stats than using their data?
• Why do so many basic applications consume so much memory and run slow?
• Why do computers still use the same design; file systems, windows concept, a mouse since the 1960s?
• Why is your OS or application hard to use?

Software engineers and designers: Are you paying attention?

Evolution

We are at a major transition point in computer evolution. Users want to get closer to their data and work more efficiently. Let’s move away from the large applications that try to do everything and come up short, and move to applications that do a few things very well. And let’s get things done on computers that are easier to use. The iPad sales show that consumers are ready for the transition. The iPad may not be the future, but it marks the a step in the evolution of the computer.

Is the iPad magical? You bet your butt it is.

Hear the origins of the iPad from Steve Jobs on this D8 video.

B&N eReader for iPad screen shot

Barnes and Noble released their eReader for iPad a few days ago. Similar to the Kindle Reader, B&N eReader uses Safari to find and purchase books. Only books purchased from B&N are available on supported devices. Even though eReader uses the ePub format, there is no support for reading DRM-free ePub books from other sources. Which is fine since iBooks allows this. B&N eReader covers the basics including text search, bookmarking, and built-in dictionary. The table of contents is a nice looking pop-up. Where the eReader excels is in thematic presentation allowing shades of colors for when black-on-white might be too much contrast. There is also a button for publisher’s choice theme keeping the presentation closer to the intended look, or a “Night Light” which uses a black background to keep the light level low. Missing is a built-in brightness adjustment as in iBooks, but the themes nearly make up for it. The big feature B&N supports is book lending, but not all books are available for lending.

I like the B&N eReader over Kindle Reader. Choosing between iBooks and B&N will likely depend on availability and price of the book. That’s the best part: choice. With several book readers and a huge selection of books, the iPad is looking like one darn good reading device.

See the review on Gizmodo.

As I noted in my previous post, “Why iPad,” the goal of computer design is to allow users to interact with their data without the burden of understanding the underlying system. In the last 3o years we have spent energy moving away from this goal. Many users have accumulated technical knowledge allowing them to perform simple tasks. Other users still struggle with their computer. The file system is one of the technical aspects of a computer most users have learned to some degree (and most people still don’t understand it.)

Since the iPad announcement many have made statements such as: The iPad storage is too small for all my files. How do I move my files without a USB connection? Using iTunes to sync files is ridiculous! These statements manifest from a file-oriented design. Users become more concerned about their files than the data the files hold.

The iPad uses a task-oriented philosophy. The goal is to bring the user closer to their data and not worry about files. For all those still uncertain what a gigabyte is or how to copy a file: rejoice! The iPad is for you. For the rest of us, we may need to build a bridge between file-oriented design and task-oriented thinking.

The Problem

Screenshot of iTunes Apps tab

The iPad is all about the applications. (No, this isn’t the problem. It’s a good thing.) Each application has its own storage space for user generated data (or photos library.) For many tasks, this is not a big deal. Just like on the PC, we don’t really care about the Twitter cache files, e-mail header files, or special settings storage. We do care about the spreadsheet data, the family vacation photo, and the story draft. We don’t truly care about the files that contain our data, but sometimes we must deal with them (for now.)

The Basic Solutions

iTunes is great for syncing music, photos, and some videos. It also provides back-up for your iPad. Some applications allow access to documents from within iTunes as a convenience. This is not a great solution, but an option if there is no other way. You may also e-mail the file to yourself. Seems silly, but it is no different than using a flash drive to sneaker-net between devices.

Better solutions include using MobileMe with iDisk or some other sharing service in the cloud. iWork apps (Pages, Numbers, Keynote) can share documents with iWork.com (beta.) Google Docs is another solution where your files stay in the cloud.

Another service is Dropbox.com which syncs your common documents with all your computers. Currently, Dropbox only provides viewing on iPhone or iPad. Opening in other iPad apps is coming soon using Document Sharing.

Document Sharing

Screenshot of iPad Mail Open In selection

This is a new feature in iPhone OS available on the iPad with apps like Mail, GoodReader, and Air Sharing Pro. If another app on the iPad supports the document, the Document Sharing supported app will provide a button to open in the other app. It works by creating a link and opening the other app which copies the document into its own storage space. You may notice an e-mail attachment with a Pages icon as seen in the screenshot.

Some might say document sharing is a “bandage” for the sandbox design of iPhone OS, but it supports task-oriented philosophy. Choosing the best tool for the job sometimes requires using multiple applications. Edit a document in one app then pass it on to another. Document sharing is about task-oriented work.

Screenshot of GoodReader file selection

File Utilities Solution

A file utility using document sharing builds a bridge connecting your file-oriented lifestyle with your task-oriented world. GoodReader and Air Sharing Pro support document sharing bringing common formats to your iPad from your e-mail, your desktop computer, Google Docs, Dropbox, MobileMe, or some other remote server. Until other apps begin using Document Sharing, one of these apps may be your good friend.

Let’s say you have a story in Word that you need to work on while traveling. Use GoodReader to connect with your desktop and just drag-drop files! Using GoodReader, “Open In…” to send your Word document to Pages so you can edit on the go! Back from traveling? The current version of Pages doesn’t share, but you may use iWork.com or e-mail the document back (to iPad in GoodReader or to desktop.)

As you might have noticed, you can also use GoodReader or Air Sharing to turn your iPad into a storage device to carry documents around. (But that’s file-oriented thinking!)

Remote Desktop Solution

Screenshot iPad RPD to Windows (click to enlarge)

If you have internet access, you can connect to your desktop at work or home and run programs as if you are there. No file copying and run any application. Apps like Desktop Connect and iTap will connect your iPad to another computer using RDP (Windows machines) or VNC (Linux or Mac.)

Wrap-up

Once Document Sharing becomes common, the iPad will support better workflows across multiple applications and sharing in the cloud or on other computers. Many tasks don’t require file management. When it becomes necessary to access documents outside of the iPad, choose the best method for your task and available resources.

[Update: Dropbox supports iPad Document Sharing. Here is the Mashable post.]

If you’re new to digital books or have a shiny new digital book reader, you may be wondering where to find books. Some stores use DRM that may limit the book to a device, while others sell DRM-free books allowing you transfer the book to a new device. Below are some quick lists to help get you started.

eBook Stores

• iBookstore for iPad
• Amazon using Kindle software
• Barnes & Noble using nook or B&N reader
• O’Reilly [technical, DRM-free]
• Smashwords [some free, DRM-free]
• Feedbooks [many free, DRM-free]
• Project Gutenberg [free, DRM-free]

The iBookstore provides searching Project Gutenberg, but if you are shopping elsewhere you may find it easier to download an ePub using your PC then import the book using iTunes same as a song.

iPad reading software

• iBooks (need to add, not included out of the box)
• Kindle for iPad
• GoodReader for PDF and MS Office documents.

iPhone / iPod Touch reading software

• Kindle for iPhone
• Stanza
• GoodReader
• Barnes & Noble

Android reading software

• Aldiko

PC reading software

• Adobe Digital Editions

Digital Reading

Until recently, I considered myself a traditional reader especially with technical books. I preferred using the physical book, marking pages and quickly flipping through to find something. PDF documents on the PC are difficult to work with, and many eBooks on the PC aren’t much better with the ability to search as the only benefit. Searching usually just jumps through the document, but the iBooks search reveals a list of results showing surrounded context. Some of my technical books are full of sticky notes, many of which I’ve forgotten their purpose for being there and end up checking each one. Digital readers make bookmarking cleaner.

The iPad using iBooks and GoodReader has changed my opinion. The iBooks bookmarking tool is handy. I highlight as much text to give me enough information, a reminder that may be all I need in a pinch. If I need to read more, I can jump to the page. Devices like Kindle and iPad allow the reader to hold and carry the device like a book, even leaf through pages. Even better, I can now carry my 1,500 page technical book around without breaking my back. Another great bonus: some technical eBooks get updates downloaded straight to my reader. No need to visit the web for corrections.

The pages of my favorite book has turned yellow and the spine is falling apart. I read it too much. When I replace it, I will get the eBook.

The iPad is truly a portable computing device. The tablet design is more suitable than clam shell notebook for working in the field where there isn’t a place to set a device down. The iPad is a light user friendly tablet that gets work done. For some, the iPad may replace their notebook.

Besides mail, a portable device must allow primary tasks for getting work done: connect to the office and create documents. Connecting to another computer turns the portable computer into a portal to computers that do special tasks or using a more powerful machine.

VPN and Remote Desktop

iPad RPD to Windows

Many work places require logging into web servers hidden from the public using a virtual private network (VPN,) or connecting to machines using remote desktop (RDP.) At my office, we have servers that require checking or updating running applications while I’m away from the office. The iPad supports VPN which is found in the network settings. Using a third-party RDP app, I can access the servers using my iPad to check or make changes to running operations. I could also do work as if I’m on a Windows OS machine. A person could also RDP to their own desktop while away from the office. The experience depends on the quality of the RDP app. Heavy work may be best reserved for the office, but RDP apps allow getting something done while on the road.

Search the app store for “RDP” and you’ll find several. Some will help you setup your Windows OS desktop if that’s all you need to do.

iWork

iWork Pages Screen Shot

Writing documents, working spreadsheets, and creating presentations is a big part of daily work. The iWork set of apps: Pages, Numbers, and Keynote may be purchased individually for the iPad. Pages is a word processor with all the basics including inserting pictures. I find editing documents quick and easy, including my blog post from earlier this week. Export documents, including Word format, to your PC using iTunes or a wireless service like MobileMe. The touch keyboard is large enough in the horizontal direction for regular typing. Some may prefer connecting a bluetooth keyboard for extensive typing. Not all the features of a full word processor are here, but the limited bells-and-whistles app is refreshing and allows the user to focus on getting work done. iWork for iPad proves that the device is capable of content creation.

Some apps support file sharing through iTunes. Connect iPad, click on the Apps tab, and click on the app that has your file. Apps may support other means of transferring files such as wireless connection with your PC or to sharing services.

Working on iPad

• VPN and RDP to a Windows server or desktop while away
• Write stories, post blogs, or create presentations
• Sketch ideas or create art using Autodesk Sketchpad Pro
• Deliver presentations using VGA connector kit
• Photo editing with Masque (alternatives?)
• Mail, calendar, notes, social media, view videos, browse web
• Voice dictation

Nice to See

• Connect bar code reader (or cam) for counting inventory
• Annotations in iBooks (Coming soon)

Video conferencing might be nice, but all phones should already be doing this.

I purchased my iPad primarily to read books and do lightweight work, but I’m already finding myself doing more work than I expected. It will be interesting to see what kind of powerful apps arrive in the future. The iPad marks a transition. It shows us that we can get work done on a lightweight device with 10+ hours of battery life. The user-friendly interface and apps force designers to think more about bringing the user closer to their data. The future of portable computing will be interesting.

Are you getting work done on the iPad? What kind of apps would help you get more work done?

____________________________________________________________

What Others Are Saying

• Shotton traded Macbook for iPad for a day in “iPad at Work“
• “Who really needs an iPad? Workers weigh in“
• “iPad, the destroyer: 19 things it will kill” at RoughlyDrafted Magazine
• Ars Technica “Can you do actual work on it?” (Bottom of page)
  

The iPad works great as a reader allowing hours of comfortable reading using iBooks. Some avid readers using e-Ink devices may be hesitant about considering LCD screen due to eye fatigue. Don’t be. With proper brightness adjustment, the iPad is perfectly suitable for hours of reading.

Problems with e-Ink

The technology e-Ink uses still has a ways to go before it is ready. Faster refresh, improved graphics, and color are necessary for the demands of daily reading and computing. Think about all the textbooks with illustrations and diagrams. The slow refresh and lack of graphics severely limits interactive applications; no interactive or multimedia storytelling.

Problems with LCD

Three primary reasons for eyestrain, headaches, and fatigue when viewing a monitor: flicker, poor lighting, and low quality (low res or blurry) screen. LCD screens don’t flicker. Apple only uses good quality screens, and the iPad produces sharp enough text. That leaves lighting.

Lighting is key when working at a computer for many hours. I see too many super-bright screens especially at night. Some screens—including the iPad—automatically adjust for room brightness, but screens need initial calibration for the user and may need adjustments in extreme lighting situations such as direct sunlight or a dark room. Lower the brightness.

Keep reflections away using proper lighting and screen position. The iPad screen is only moderately reflective, and I barely notice it.

The iPad includes a brightness adjustment in settings, and iBooks includes a quick brightness adjustment during reading. Eyes should never squint or become tired at the proper brightness. Like reading physical books, looking around occasionally keeps eyes from becoming fatigued.

My book in iBooks

Why I prefer the iPad

The iPad is a truly portable computer. I can do work including write this blog. Apps allow many possibilities for storytelling that we haven’t even thought of yet, and iBooks is currently the best eReader for traditional book reading. The touch technology and interface of iPad and iPhone is a joy to use. And my story, Dunston Monster, looks great in iBooks.

Someday we may have a “screen” that is a flexible paper-like colored touch display, but until then I’ll stick with touch LCD display.

This post produced using iPad: Written in iWork Pages then pasted into WP dashboard using Safari and edited.

Features

• 

  My book in iBooks

  User friendly computing device: no need for complex OS or file system knowledge

• Great book reader
• Better than netbook or laptop for travel or in the field without a desk
• Touch keyboard works good, but may want to connect wireless keyboard for extended work
• Storage space isn’t much of an issue with streaming including Netflix
• iWork Pages works well for writers

I purchased the iPad primarily as a reader and doing light work. This is the first time I’ve purchased a first generation device. I usually wait, but the iPad is nearly the computing device I’ve been dreaming about for years. This is the first step towards truly user friendly computing. It’s also nice to carry Steven King’s Under the Dome with me to work. The physical book is too large to carry on my bicycle.

iPad beside a book

iPad beside keyboard and iPod Touch

“For years we’ve all held to the belief that computing had to be made simpler for the ‘average person’. I find it difficult to come to any conclusion other than that we have totally failed in this effort.” -Speirs “Future Shock“

Since the iPad announcement a number of posts, comments, and articles appeared bashing iPad. Some include colorful language in titles like, “epic fail.” While the iPad may not be what everyone expected (it’s exactly what I expected,) some of the anti-iPad reasoning seems to be about clinging to old methods.

The iPad is not an iPod Touch, but familiarity of the interface improves understanding. If you have never tried an iPhone or iPod Touch, please borrow one and give the following a try:

• Photos: try swipe, pinch zoom, tilt
• Stocks
• USA Today app (free)
• Stanza (free) or Kindle for iPhone app
• Play a video

“These new devices allow ‘computing’ to get out of the way of what users really want to do: interact with data.” -Eaton, comment on “Flash, iPad, Standards” at Zeldman.com.

Common complaints about iPad

1. Only 1 connector and it’s USB.
2. No camera (future possibility.)
3. No Adobe Flash support.
4. Limited storage/don’t like copying files.
5. It’s just a big iPod Touch.
6. Not eInk.
7. Doesn’t replace laptop.
8. Where’s the innovation? Old netbooks do that.
9. Phone/Nintendo DS/organizer has touch. Big deal.
10. No multitasking.

My Short Response to Common iPad Complaints

1. Wireless and sync. Reducing connector dependency is the goal.
2. Camera might be nice for video conference, but phones and PCs do this.
3. Adobe Flash must improve or watch something else take its place.
4. Sync and streaming. You don’t need to carry everything with you.
5. Not quite. Wait to see future apps.
6. eInk isn’t ready yet. Needs faster refresh and color.
7. iPad is not a PC replacement.
8. Innovation brings the user closer to the content. See the two quotes above.
9. Try an iPhone, iPod Touch, or iPad. See the difference?
10. Unnecessary for casual use, and we’ll see it in the future.

Now let’s look at some of the complaints in detail.

No Adobe Flash

This is a strong argument since Flash is well entrenched on the web. How many iPhone users complain? Many don’t miss it preferring apps instead. Flash consumes resources and sometimes crashes browsers. If Adobe addresses these issues, we may see it on the iPad. We may also see another solution, HTML5, or specialized apps may take over.

Old Habits Die Hard

Read the quote at the top of the page. Give it careful consideration. Not convinced? Read the entire “Future Shock” by Speirs.

People take comfort in the familiar. Before computers, most people didn’t know why they would want it until they tried it. Old habits die hard. General hardware and software hasn’t changed much in decades. We learn about file systems and complex hierarchies in order to use computers.

Big File Storage: Demanding enough storage for a copy of everything on every device surfaces from the chore of copying our music and movies to devices. We must understand file systems and capacities, and most devices make it difficult to copy. So many make a habit to copy everything and leave it.

Netbooks and Notebooks: They work like our desktops. The lid makes it difficult to carry and use and sometimes the field doesn’t offer a nice table to set it on. Short battery life limits portability. Many want a tablet without giving up the familiar interface, file system, and connectors. Many of us want our portable computers to do everything a desktop does. Some of us don’t want change.

Personally, I want a portable computer to be truly portable. I do most of my work sitting at a desk.

Computers require extensive knowledge. Even some of the self-proclaimed computer experts manage to get their operating systems mangled or overburdened by poor applications. So much technical skills are required in order to design software that often the user experience gets pushed aside. We end up with clunky software that requires hunting through menus using an absurd number of mouse clicks. These become habits and users learn to accept it.

This must end.

The goal of a computer is to remove the complexity. We have been going backwards in some cases. Many older office software products were faster and easier. We need to give control back to the user. As a software designer, I make this my personal quest.

Conclusion

The iPad may not be the computer some consumers want, but that doesn’t make it a failure. It may seem underwhelming. Major changes shock consumers, and products with too much change sell poorly. The iPad fills the gap between a dedicated computing system and a phone. Apple carefully steps in the right direction by making progressive changes to products already entrenched in the market. The future will bring new devices and better computers.

Why iPad? It’s a step in the right direction.

Will you buy an iPad or wait to see what the future brings?

What others are saying:

The eBook Test provides a list in “Must-Read Pro-iPad Posts.”

“The iPad isn’t what you think it is” at Mainly Thinking.

“Why I See The iPad As An Epic Ereader Fail” at Indie Author.

Lamarche of iPhone Development says, “for many people, a regular computer is both overkill and frustrating.” in “Same Ol’ Same Ol’…”

Chris Rawson on “Adobe speaks up about Flash on the iPad”

PC World: “iPad Study: The More You Know, The Less You Want One”

Ars Technica: “Survey tries quantifying iPad hype, suggests interest waning”

MarketWatch: “Disney CEO: iPad ‘could be a game changer’“

The eBook is a digital copy of the physical book, same concept as in 1971 when Project Gutenberg was founded. Much has changed since 1971 including the Web where we may find many eBooks in formats included text, PDF, HTML, XML, ePub, Kindle, Open eBook, and more. PDF is great layout for print, but not as useful on the screen. Some modern eBooks contain hyperlinks, but otherwise remain the same as the original concept.

The eBook is trying hard to be like print.

Current eBook readers are lost in the past. Amazon Kindle, Sony Reader, Stanza, Zinio, and others are simple print replacements. They offer nothing functionally new and few of them do better than print. Some readers present books poorly lacking the nice format we are accustomed to in print.

Single function reading devices like Kindle come with big price tags at $250-$400, but Forrester Research shows that consumers want to pay under $100 for a single purpose reader. E Ink produces a paper-like display, but even after they add color, a quality view isn’t enough for the price.

Students hate lugging stacks of textbooks, but carrying multiple devices is not much of an improvement. And some publishers are trying to rent textbooks (eBook only lasts 180 days; see Mashable “3 Reasons Students Aren’t Ready“) at print prices.

A few readers try to mimic print exactly. The Zinio reader uses a layout approach presenting magazines on screen where the reader gives the feel of the printed magazine including animated page flipping. Why does a digital version need to mimic print? Format for reading devices.

Future digital books will bring new concepts, new ways of telling stories. At basic level, an eBook must support connecting common items including linking related stories, jumping to author biography, finding similar books, going to and from an appendix. Hyperlinks accomplish this, but digital books need more. Imagine an instruction book including optional video clips. Vook is video embedded book, and this is only the start. Educational books may include sounds, connect students together, import new material, quiz the student, or provide alternate instruction. New ways of telling stories will go beyond the eBook.

New digital readers supporting other functions will push basic readers out of the market, and they are just around the corner. Even better, other functions allow storytellers to deliver new forms. What about consumers that just want to read a traditional story? New readers support that as well. And there’s always print.

Gizmodo shows a sample of Microsoft’s Courier, a dual screen device based on a traditional organizer. The video gives us a peek at the near future. These smaller devices will replace notebook computers as the business travel companion. Heavy work can wait for the office while those with mobile offices may prefer keeping their computers. By including other functions, the Courier may have a future in storytelling.

Apple may introduce a multifunction device like a larger iPod Touch aimed at reading. Applications allow future formats revealing new ideas to fit right in. Consumers want to see Apple’s attempt at doing e-reader right.

Future digital books will kill current readers. The old eBooks may survive as free content to support print books, future digital books, or other products.

Just as they gain popularity, eBook readers are dead on arrival.

What others say:

• TIME points out that as e-reader gains traction, it may become obsolete.
• “Sony’s E-Reader: A Nice Device at the Wrong Price” at Portfolio.com
• “The iPod Decade And The Steve Jobs Effect“
• Adam Penenberg declares, “It’s the End of the Book as We Know It,” calling Kindle “clumsy” with an “uninspiring interface.”
• Techdirt is “Still Debating The Cost of Ebooks.”
• At LibraryJournal, Roy Tennant declares “Single Purpose E-Book Readers are Dead.”
• Macworld: “Apple looms large over e-reader market.”
• “On Formats and Friction” talks about the need for better formatting.
• Penny Arcade reaction to Kindle popularity in the comic, “Progress.”
• Newsweek: “The Hype is Right” on Apple’s new device.