iPad 9.7 and iPad mini 7.9

The number is interesting. Size of iPad 9.7 and iPad mini 7.9 Looks like 7 and 9 are magic numbers related to iPad.

We use iPad mini a lot and like it since its light weight.

iPad mini is great!

We got our pre-ordered iPad mini on Nov 2nd. Normally, UPS man stops by our place at noon. On last Friday, he finally showed up at 3:15pm. Guess he got many iPad mini to deliver last Friday. After I signed it, he handed me the box and said "there is your phone". He may think that there is a iPhone 5 inside the small and light box. He didn't know there is an iPad mini inside!

The display is good comparing 1st generation of iPad and 3rd generation of iPod Touch we are using. We are very happy with the display on iPad mini.

I sync this new iPad mini with our iCloud account and loaded some music, photos, iBooks to it.

We like the small size, light weight, and price. Have been using 1st generation iPad since April 2010, iPad mini is great to us. Really enjoy it. From 1st generation of iPad jumping to iPad mini, the difference is huge.

If you don't have any iPad and want one now and try to save money at same time, iPad mini is for you. If your kids like to have a Christmas gift for this year, iPad mini is the best gift you can find.

100 Million iPad

Yesterday, Apple said there are 100 million iPad sold in last two and half year. iPad mini is coming with smaller in size, lighter in weight, cheaper in price. Apple may sell 300 millions or even 500 millions in next two or three years.

I like to go to Apple store to check it out on Nov 2nd.

iPad mini

iPad mini is coming. I may get one of those although we have iPad. It is easy to carry around since is smaller and less weight. It will come with almost all of functionality as iPad. It will be cheaper than iPad. Like a lot of people expect, Apple will sell a lot more iPad mini than iPad since more people can afford it.

Today, there is news about coming iPad mini even and iBook. Some are asking why all books in iBookstore can be seen with iPad and iPad mini but iPhone and Mac(running OS X). They also got question on how come people can use Mac(Pro, mini, Air) to write iBook with iBook Author, why cannot use them to read iBooks like iPad. I was asking the same question with additional one - why Apple doesn't provide a tool as iBook Author in iPad(?). After few days, I realize that Apple likes to see people buy both Mac and iPad. So, I ended up to buy a Mac mini to create iBooks with iBook Author.

I am very glad to see iPad mini is coming. It is a great more for Apple. It is also great for me since more people will enjoy iBooks created by me. In iBookstore, searching by author name Tony Xu or iBook names such as "Animals", one can find iBooks I got. Get my "Animals" ebook for your kids. They will like it. If you like to see the world with your iPad, try to check out other ebooks I created in Apple's iBookstore.

Remember Steve

One year ago this day, he left. I was having a visit in Beijing at that time. People over there felt sad when they heard this. They got connected with Steve through great products he created for everyone. In October last year, people in Beijing were getting the book about Steve in Chinese edition to learn more about him, his life and his products.

We are still using 1st generation iPad

It is still joyful to use 1st generation iPad. I found out the new iOS 6 will not work for original iPad. So, we have to stay with iOS 5 on our iPad.

Of course, we don't have those new things on iPad 2 and the New iPad. We like to see what iPad mini can offer this month and maybe get one.

Upgrade to iOS 6 and failed

I was trying to upgrade my iPhone 4 to iOS 6 and failed. When restoring it to factory default with iTune, on the final step to restore firmware, I got -1 error. Went to local Apple store, they tried several times and got the same thing. They told me that it is time to upgrade to iPhone 5.

Now, my iPhone 4 is dead. I have to wait for a while to get iPhone 5 or get an iPhone 4S.

iPhone 5 is here

Very glad to see iPhone 5 is here.

ebooks in iBookstore

It is fun to read ebooks. iPad makes the reading more joyful since we can watch video, see photo shows, a lot of things from ebooks created by Apple iBook Author.

Here are some new ebooks written by Tony:

http://itunes.apple.com/us/artist/tony-xu/id509101132?mt=11

It is fun to watch animals and see places around the world through these ebooks.

New MacBook Pro and OS

Yesterday, Apple got it's WWDC. New OS and iOS 6 will come soon. New hardwares are coming, too.

Apple Smaller iPad

These days, people are talking about this Apple smaller iPad, a 7 to 8 inch model.

It will be great to get one as we see. We love and still use the first generation iPad we bought in April 2010. After trying Amazon Kindle Fire, we are considering to buy a smaller iPad when it comes. We will enjoy to use this smaller iPad with all the apps we got in last several years. We can use new features which are not available in our first generation iPad. This new smaller iPad will be easier to held with one hand. From our experience with Amazon Kindle Fire, the typing with the soft keyboard on pad of this size is not too bad. With the smaller and cheaper iPad, Apple will sell more iPad and benefit from it.

Really looking forward to get one in near future.

New iPad is great

Around noon, I went to local Apple store and tried out new iPad. It is great. The line for purchase is not long. I saw people were happy to setup their new iPad there. The box is smaller than one for iPad 1.

Mac mini and Apple iBooks Author

When Apple announced iBooks Author, I was very excited since it provide a lot of people to have book published.

Since this free iBooks Author is only run Mac, I did some research on what kind of Mac I would get. We only had iPod Touch, iPhone, and iPad; never had any Mac before. After one week research and two visits of local Apple store, I decided to get a Mac mini and ordered 8GB memory with it from Amazon.com. I enjoy this Mac mini very much since I got it. I have been working on my first ebook with the Mac mini and iBooks Author with all the pictures I took in last ten years. I carefully picked up over 300 pictures to create a ebook called "Pictures from Beijing" and turned into Apple ibookstore as free book.

Photography has been my main hobby many years. I study photography through books, magazines, clubs, going out with friends, and taking pictures. I am very glad now I can put all my collection to ebooks.

As I am working on this first ebook, I learn a lot on how to use iBooks Author. Now, I am working on my second ebook and wish to publish it soon.

The New iPad

New iPad is available for pre-ordering.

Glad to know it got better display, 4G, iPhoto, and more.

iPad 3 is coming

It is expected to come next month.

Today, there is news saying Best Buy is selling iPad 2 at $50 discount now. I saw an article on the web talking about trade in iPad 2 now and prepare for iPad 3. We are still using and enjoying iPad 1 everyday. It is hard to image how to sell it today and wait iPad 3, without an iPad for 10 days. While trying to see how much iPad is still worth, I found out that gazelle.com will pay only $126 for iPad 1(16GB WiFi only in good condition). It is better to keep it or give friends/relatives as gift.

iPad 3 will be great. People will rush to store to get one next week. For me, I will go to local Apple Store to take a look when iPad 3 is there.

Apple education events

In this morning's Apple education events, Apple introduced iBook 2, iBook Author, and iTune U.

iBook Author is a free Mac app. There is no Windows version. Why is there no iBook Author running in iPad? People have to get a Mac to use it. Now, everyone can write a book and publish it to iBookstore. It is really amazing!

I just downloaded iBook 2 and iTune U. But they quit on me when I use them. Guess there are so many people got them and trying to have the first look. I will try them later.

Flipboard for iPad

It is a good app to get the news everyday.

Nice apps called Flipboard

I got this free apps one month ago. I like it since I can get news with it in a very easy way.