Frasier Spears on iOS 7

Frasier Spears, who pioneered the use of the iPad in education, knows iOS as well as anyone form a user perspective. His needs and desires for operating system improvements skew towards the power user side, rather than towards the very casual user. Because of this, it’s certainly worth wondering what improvements, changes or enhancements he’d like to see in iOS 7.

Luckily for all of us, he’s telling everyone in a blog post published today, just what he’d like to see.

Check it out. It’s certainly worth a click. For the record, I like just about everything he’s suggesting.

Lightroom for iPad

CNET had me with four words. Adobe Lightroom for iPad.

It’s just a rough concept demonstration right now, but as a photographer, I can’t wait for this to be real.

Microsoft's Surface Problem II

The Wall Street Journal is reporting that Microsoft has plans to produce a 7” tablet device. The device is a response to the popularity of smaller Android based tablets and the iPad mini. The problem is, unless they plan to introduce an entirely new operating system, a smaller tablet device will be an unmitigated disaster.

Happy Birthday iPad

It seems only right on the three year anniversary of the iPad launch to take a look back at the many pessimistic stories and statements about the iPad. AAPLinvestors still has their iPad Death Watch going, and the list is really long.

New iPhone & iPad Rumors

iMore has possessed very good inside information over the last eighteen months or so. Rene Ritchie feels confident enough about some new information on upcoming iPad and iPhone models to put the site's name on the line.

Lag

Federico Vitacci highlights what is, for me, a real source of annoyance with gestured multitasking on the iPad. The lag when switching apps. I've never had a problem with the lack of true multitasking, but if Apple could speed up the switching process it woud make me very happy.

iPad 5 Mockup

MacRumors has commissioned a very nice mockup of what the next generation iPad would look like if the earlier leaked back case is a real part. I think it looks great, but maintain my usability concerns with regards to the smaller side bezel.

128GB

Well, that was quick. Less than 48 hours after details hinting at a 128GB iPad appeared, it's official. Apple announced the 128GB iPad today.

This 128Gb model isn't a model that many people will buy, but it does address a certain customer. Many people have made a concerted effort to replace their laptops with an iPad. This model will help. There are also many iPads being used in fields like medicine and design where the additional storage is necessary.

The iPad is growing up.

5th Generation iPad Case Leak

The Apple rumor mill is constantly swirling, and I avoid posting links to most stories, but 9to5Mac usually has good information. Mark Gurman, once again, has the details and photos in his story.

It's inevitable that the regular iPad will come to look more like the iPod touch and the iPad mini in any future redesign. The photos clearly show a narrower case. This design would lead to reduced side bezel, just like the iPad mini. This works fine on the mini, but I think it could pose some problems with handling the larger iPad.

Time will tell.

2012: The Final Gasp of the Netbook

John Gruber goes off on the netbook concept today with multiple posts here, here, here, here and here.

I think it's fair to say Apple's inventing the modern tablet with the iPad and the subsequent entries by other manufacturers is largely responsible. I'm happy to say my only experience using a netbook was laughing as I tried them in stores. Saving a few bucks should never be worth that kind of frustration.