(Time to read: ~ 5 minutes)
I continue to be delighted with my iPad. As time has gone by I have found it useful for more and more things.
The original vision
As I mentioned in my previous blog, I got my iPad (original version) at the Canadian launch date of May 28, 2012, at the Eaton Centre in Toronto.
I had been looking for an electronic replacement for the hardcover notebooks I was using and carrying with me (a journal, a “visioning” notebook, and a notebook for translating negative thoughts into more positive connecting energy – I called this my “Jackal-busting” notebook).
An electronic version would enable me to combine all 3 into one (lighter) physical object, and, more importantly, provide a more easily “searchable” format. It would also make it easy for me to have a backup of the material on my computer.
All of these visions were fulfilled from day one, with the addition of the Apple Pages software, which presented the front covers of my three notebooks when I opened that application.
Next Benefit – Maps
In my adult life, I have generally served as navigator on driving trips. This has generally meant “guess-timating” our location on a hardcopy map and issuing information on turnoffs to look for and when to turn left or right.
I have been extremely grateful for the development of things like MapQuest and Google maps, that make it so much easier to research ahead of time how to get where you are going. CAA and AAA TripTiks were a significant advance when they were developed – over the days when you got as many maps as you could to cover as much of the terrain where you were going as possible, and picked up others along the way. (For some reason, I never adopted the Road Atlas approach – I think because I loved being able to continuously see the route in its full context which the folded maps provided.)
For me the iPad Maps feature – which provides Google map information and integrates it with the GPS functionality built in to my iPad (3G model) – has been a source of delight from the first day I used it on a trip.
You can look up an address or a place (e.g., Manitoulin Inn), and it will provide a customized map showing the route from where you are to that location. Best of all, a round blue dot, like a water droplet, shows your progress between the starting point and your goal.
On at least one occasion, John and I were guided out of being lost by this functionality. It not only helped us recognize we were not where I thought we were, but also that we were moving further away from where we wanted to be, and how we could get back on the highway, heading in the direction we wanted.
This functionality does “cost” data, so I have used it only when needed. But it has been both delightful and invaluable when we’ve chosen to use it.
e-Books
It was at McDonald’s at the Eaton Centre that I first experienced the value of my iPad for reading books. I had done my usual day-off journalling on my iPad, gazing up at the wonderful domed ceiling, and had stopped for a salad lunch before heading home.
And I was feeling bored. The usual panorama of human life unfolding in front of me was not enough to hold my attention that day. I felt a hankering to read something inspiring and encouraging. I pulled up a book by Leo Babauta, one of my favourite time-management writers, and enjoyed a few pages of his insights.
I love being able to flip back and forth between my journal and a book, or even the Internet for insights – all on a single notebook-like device.
And it is a delight to me that on my iPad I can read ebooks published on any of the three platforms available in Canada – Apple iBooks, Amazon Kindle books, and Chapters Kobobooks.
Reading books on my iPad has paved the way for me to start enjoying reading books on my iPhone while waiting for the bus, or on the subway. (John has also been a huge inspiration here).
Video – Netflix
Although we have a “normal” size television and DVD player, I generally watch things on a small portable DVD player unless John is around. It allows me to do chores like washing dishes, tidying, or folding laundry and put it away while I watch, because I can easily carry the player with me.
But buying DVDs gets expensive, and I had run out of ones that I knew I would want to watch over and over again – enough to make it worth the expense. There were a few British comedies I wanted to watch, but probably not often enough to make the expense worthwhile, especially since I didn’t think John was very interested.
Netflix had recently come to Canada. I searched their listing and discovered that both of the comedies I wanted were available (“As Time Goes By” with Judi Dench and Geoffrey Palmer, and “Waiting for God” with Stephanie Cole). So I chose to sign up.
I remember my sense of absolute delight at being able to prop my iPad up on a shelf by the sink and watch a video while doing dishes – it was even tinier than the portable DVD player.
The magic of having all these things in one object the size of one of my old notebooks – multiple easily-searchable notebooks, built-in maps of everywhere I’ve ever tried to travel by car, a huge ebook library, and videos – has been a source of amazement, delight and gratitude for me.
Next on the Horizon
I know that photos display beautifully on the iPad (as long as I remember to keep my screen clean!). I know that I have not chosen to take full advantage of this feature. So I look forward to creating albums, slide shows and KeyNote presentations that can take advantage of this amazing capacity.
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