Apple iPad 2 Unboxing - 32GB

The lighter, thinner and faster iPad 2 has arrived. Enjoy and look forward to a slur of videos right here on TekSocial covering the iPad 2 this weekend. 

My Thoughts on iPad 2

On March 2nd Apple unveiled their sequel to their most revolutionary products; the iPad. If you thought that the original iPad was fast, you thought wrong. The iPad 2 features an A5 processor. So, the iPad 2 is twice as fast and graphic performance is 9 times better graphics performance. iPad 2 also introduced FaceTime to the iPad lineup. You can now to video conferencing on your iPad. This was a feature requested by the majority of consumers. iPad 2 also introduces HDMI video output. This is great because you can mirror you're iPad's display onto your HD TV or monitor with an HDMI input. Apple also introduced iMovie for iPad. This is great for video production on the go. iMovie for iPad is just as good as iMovie 11 for the desktop in my eyes. iMovie for iPad is also just $4.99. Many people would easily pay $9.99. GarageBand also made it's way onto the iPad. You can now play you're instruments and record into your iPad. That's great for musicians. There's also interactive touch instruments. That's pretty cool! iPad 2 has a plethora of great new features. Is it worth the upgrade. That's up to you. 

YouTube

iPad 2: My Overview and Thoughts

It's official. Today, March 2, 2011, Apple introducted something we've all been waiting for. That is, the iPad 2. We've been expecting it since January, but today our waiting has ended. 

First off, the iPad 2 has many new features. The first and most wanted feature is a front and rear-facing camera. This allows you to Facetime video chat to other iPads, iPhones, Macs, and iPod Touches. That itself if a big selling point in the tablet market. The iPad 2 is also much thinner than the current iPad. It's actually 33% thinnger than the iPad 1, and it's thinner than the iPhone 4. 

Processor wise, the iPad 2 got an upgrade to a new dual core Apple A5 chip. That will provide a much more speedy experience.  The original iPad had an A4 chip, along with the iPhone 4. The iPad 2's A5 chip runs at 1GHz. The iPad 2 also runs on two carriers (3G model only). Those carriers are AT&T and Verizon Wireless. The best part is that all 3G models support BOTH carriers, so you can change anytime you wish!

Another big change is colors. You can now get your iPad in two different colors, black and white. The pricing is the same as the previous iPad, starting at $499 and ending at $829. Another added feature that nobody remembers is the 3-axis gyro that was added to the iPhone 4. It's now in the iPad as well! This provides a much more flexible experience.

Overall, the new iPad 2 looks great, and it's packed with nice features. It's definately a huge upgrade from the original iPad. It's available on March 11th for both models and both colors. I think it's going to be great. What do you guys think?

Review: Blue Snowball Microphone

In today's post I'm doing a quick review of the Blue Snowball Microphone. It's priced at $99 but if you'd like a cheaper way to go, go with Amazon. The Blue Snowball Microphone has a very unique form factor; a ball. It's actually pretty cool looking to me. It's also got a mount that helps keep it stable while use. The stand has three adjustable legs to create easy and hassle free transportation. Overall I'm very satisfied with my microphone. You can use it for podcasting, video blogging, music creation and more! Personally, I use it for my YouTube videos and my live webcasts on uStream.TV. Thank you for taking the time out of your day to take a look at my post. 

If you'd like to see more content check out my YouTube channel: ace4vikings

How to Make Calls on Your iPod touch or iPad for Free

Many people may not know this, but if you have an iPod Touch or iPad, a pair of headphones with a microphone, and a wi-fi signal you can make calls to any phone number in the U.S for free! This all happens with an app called iCall, which is available in the app store. There are similar apps like iCall that are available, but I've honestly never tried them. For a free app, iCall works very well and can make a great backup source in case of your phone dying or breaking. Here's how to set up iCall in 6 simple steps:

1. Open up the App Store and search "icall". The first result, which is technically called "iCall Free VoIP" should appear. Then proceed to download the app.

2. Open up iCall. It may take a few seconds to load and find the server. Once iCall loads you will be presented with a terms of use page. Touch the "I agree" button.

3. The next page you will be brought to is a "Choose your account type" page. There is a paid version of iCall, but if you want the free version, touch the "Free Calling" button.

4. Now you will be asked to put in your contact information. Do so, then touch the continue button.

5. The next page you will be brought to is the "Phone Verification" page. Touch the "Place verification call" button. A prompt will pop up saying that you will have to dial a U.S phone number. Touch the ok button.

6. A new prompt will appear saying to dial a specific number on your cell phone. Once you call the number, it should hang up right away. Then press the ok button and you should be greeted with the last prompt telling you that you have successfully activated your iCall account. You will then be taken back to the dialer page where you can start making calls!

I hope this tutorial helps. Some side notes to consider are that in the beginning of your call, you are presented with a 10-15 second add. This can be a pain but it is still worth the free calling. Another note is that you have a 4 minute limit for calls. Again this is a real downside but it shouldn't be a deal breaker.

YouTube