Apple’s guided tour videos explain a device’s marquee features. Apple released a set for the iPad last month, and this week it’s added two more: Maps and the App Store.

In the Maps clip, a user is in the now familiar “lap up” pose as she uses Maps to explore Paris. I must admit that the Google maps app looks fantastic on the iPad, though I doubt I’d walk around with it out as I’ve done with my iPhone.

The App Store video starts with users playing Plants Vs. Zombies (get your feet off that table!) and a few others before demonstrating to how to find, download and use the app of your choice, as well as store features like categories, features, etc.

The info in these clips won’t enlighten most of us, but do send them to the novice Apple customers among your family and friends if they still need a little convincing on an iPad purchase.

[Via MacNN]

TUAWApple updates iPad guided tour videos originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Thu, 22 Apr 2010 18:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Apple has quietly updated the design of 85-watt MagSafe power adapter used with the 15-inch and 17-inch MacBook Pros. The new connector design features an aluminum tip instead of the plastic one which is still available on the 60-watt MagSafe power adapters used for 13-inch MacBook Pros and MacBooks.

Beyond the aesthetic redesign, there doesn’t appear to be any added features. The new 85-watt MagSafe now mimics the form of the 45-watt MagSafe power adapter used by the MacBook Air. The advantage the 45-watt and new 85-watt MagSafe power adapters have over the existing 60-watt version is that the design allows for a more slimline interface while connected to the MacBooks they power.

Thanks to reader Max M. for the tip.

TUAWApple quietly updates design of MagSafe power adapter originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Thu, 22 Apr 2010 11:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Desktop for iPad tries to bring a little (sort of) multitasking joy into your life. Through some split screen tricks, it can give you a browser and let you write an email on the same screen. Of course, you can cut and paste between the two. You can also use the split screen functionality to accommodate a calculator, currency converter, dictionary, maps with geolocation, a translator, unit converter, and a weather app.

It’s a pretty clever idea, and I found a few good uses for it, like selectively sending parts of a Web page to someone in an email. Yes, you could do it with the standard cut and paste, but it was nice to see the body of the email and the Web page at the same time.

The app supports landscape and portrait modes, and you can split the screen vertically or horizontally.

Of course, when Apple brings its flavor of multitasking to the iPad later this year, such apps might not be so helpful. On the other hand, I don’t see anything in the Apple previews that leads me to believe I’ll be able to have two Web pages open on the same page or a Web page and translator app visible at the same time.

To get around the strict Apple rules, this app plays some games. It’s not using Safari as the browser, just a built in WebKit version. That means your bookmarks aren’t available; you have to type everything in manually or save the bookmarks again in the included browser. You’re not really seeing your mail app either. You type on a blank slate, and when it’s time to send, your page is copied into a regular iPad mail message. It works fine, but it’s still a workaround dictated by Apple.

Desktop for iPad is on sale for U.S. $0.99 until Friday.

Pictures of Desktop in action are in our gallery:

TUAWDesktop for iPad plays some ‘multitasking’ tricks that are useful originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Thu, 22 Apr 2010 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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There are plenty of cloud storage and collaboration services that sound good in an elevator pitch or seem promising when sketched on the back of a napkin; precious few ever really get working at a scale and sophistication that truly can make a difference for the vast majority of users. One service that has the track record to claim that crown (not to mention a long list of happy customers) is Box.net, which has been pushing bits and making friends since 2005.

Beyond the web-centric file storage and laundry list of distributed applications that Box offers, there’s an item of keen interest to iPhone and iPad users: the new and improved Box.net app, which gives you easy and rapid access to your entire file library on the go. You can also find Box.net API support in apps like Goodreader, giving you plenty of options when it comes to getting at your stuff.

With all this mobile support in place, it’s interesting to think about the usage scenarios and new solutions that businesses could devise … if only they had some iPads, and some help. Wouldn’t it be exciting to experiment? And wouldn’t it be that much more exciting if, say, the iPads were free?

The hunt begins for one fortunate firm that’s ready to answer the question “Is the iPad ready for business?” Box.net is offering 20 iPads and a Box business account to the company that comes up with the best fit and workflow for how your business would take advantage of the iPads and the collaboration tools. In 200 words, in the widget below, upload a text or Word file with your rationale, and put your contact info/company name in the description field. If your story resonates, your shop may benefit. The Box account lasts a year, and the iPads are yours to keep.

Meanwhile, TUAW will be checking in with the winning firm frequently through the course of the program, sharing the lessons learned and the experience gained with other would-be iPad adopters in the business world. We’ll be chatting by video, visiting the office (geography permitting), and helping share your stories during the year to come.

Full details and FAQ are here. Give it a shot — you could find yourself sitting atop a stack of 20 iPads.

Do not submit your application in comments; use the upload widget.

Disclaimer: Box.net is the sole administrator of the iPads for Business program and will determine all the conditions and requirements of participation. TUAW is not responsible for the iPads for Business program and cannot answer questions or provide support for any device or application on the iPads. No advertising contract or financial relationship exists between TUAW and Box.net.

TUAWWhat could your business do with 20 iPads? Box.net & TUAW want to find out originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Thu, 22 Apr 2010 14:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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We’ve already pointed you towards Element Case’s Joule stand for iPad but now we’ve had some hands-on time with both the polished aluminum (with custom TiPb logo!) and anodized black versions and we can tell you ourselves — they’re stunners.

If you’re looking for a high-end way to show off your new iPad, portrait or landscape, [...]

Give-away: Joule stand for iPad by Element Case is a story by TiPb. This feed is sponsored by The iPhone Blog Store.

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Let’s face it. iBook offerings are, at least for the moment, pretty limited. They’re also on the slightly pricey side for anyone who emptied their piggy bank on a new iPad. Even those public libraries that offer ePub lending aren’t set up to make those titles available for iPad reading. You generally need special Mac or Windows software, and there’s DRM aplenty.

That having been said, there are many great readable books out there for the asking. The problem is, as with nearly all free options, a very low signal-to-noise ratio. Sure, you can download one of the top Project Gutenberg titles, but those top twenty lists tend to be uninspiring. Getting a peer recommendation for a truly excellent read is often a lot better indication of whether you’ll like a book or not than popularity charts.

That’s why we thought we’d open up this post to your free ePub recommendations. Our TUAW reader pool is full of passionate book enthusiasts. We’ll get the ball rolling with a few of our suggestions and then we invite you to chime in in the comments with yours. Don’t forget to say why you’re recommending the book and who it might be a good match for, taste-wise.

Let’s help each other to find some quality iBooks. And don’t forget: Just because a book isn’t already in ePub format, there’s no reason that it can’t be converted using a tool like Stanza or Calibre!

	Parnassus on Wheels is a warm, delightful novel about a woman who buys a traveling bookstore and the adventures she encounters. Its full of fun for anyone who loves books and practical homespun self-reliance. Recommended for: Readers who like chick-lit		The Egg and I tells the nearly-real story of Betty MacDonald’s days as a child bride and chicken rancher. This hilarious comedy is the source of the “Ma and Pa Kettle” characters you may have heard of. Recommended for: Readers, especially women, who like humorous first person memoirs.
	Wizards Bane wonders what would happen if a computer geek got transported to a world of magic. Could you create a programming language for spell casting? It’s a solid but silly fantasy that’s fun to read. Recommended for: Computer geeks.		Sheepfarmer’s Daughter demonstrates what happens when classic fantasy meets an author with a military background. There are elves and gnomes — but also patrols, cold weather, wet socks and a heavy dose of realism. Recommended for: Readers who like fantasy, military lit, or both
	Five Children and It is one of E. Nesbit’s many amazing fantasy books for children. It’s full of that “sense of wonder” that so many children’s books strive for and never achieve. If you like this one, you’ll want to try some of her other titles as well! Recommended for: Children and former children		Magic Pudding offers a classic tale of silliness and mayhem among the Koalas. Make sure you download the illustrated version of this children’s book! Recommended for: Fans of Pooh who want to range beyond A. A. Milne. Good for story time with younger readers.
	Marvelous Land of Oz proves that the Oz story doesn’t end with the Wizard of Oz movie. I loved these books as a kid, both the Baum ones and the later ones by Ruth Plumly Thompson. Recommended for: Fans of the original book Wizard of Oz even more than the movie	Also of interest: iPhone OS 4.0: iBooks for iPhone Apple announces “iBooks” application for iPad iBooks app now available in App Store

TUAWTUAW reader braintrust: Filling up your iBookShelf originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Thu, 22 Apr 2010 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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In a larger article discussing the circumstances surrounding the iPhone HD/iPhone 4G that founds its way into Gizmodo’s hands on Monday, Daring Fireball provides some interesting details about what just might be the near-final production unit:

A few weeks ago engineers already familiar with the 4th generation iPhone were permitted to use disguised versions as their [...]

Leaked iPhone HD/iPhone 4G is near-production unit is a story by TiPb. This feed is sponsored by The iPhone Blog Store.

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9to5Mac believes Hulu is coming to the iPad (and Android), with testing to begin as soon as May 24. This comes on the heels of a LA Times article that reveals Hulu’s plans to offer a $9.95/month subscription option, granting access to their back catalog of TV show.

Netflix and ABC.com are already in the [...]

Hulu coming to iPad, bringing $9.95 subscriptions with it? is a story by TiPb. This feed is sponsored by The iPhone Blog Store.

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Network Attached Storage (NAS) is gaining in popularity as an alternative to a home or small office server. A few weeks ago, I reviewed LaCie’s Network Space 2, which is a non-expandable 1TB storage solution. For those who want a solution that will be expandable in the future, Data Robotics has recently introduced the Drobo FS.

Like its predecessors, the Drobo FS has multiple drive bays — five in this case — into which you can insert standard SATA hard disk drives. The array can be set up for either single or dual-disk redundancy, meaning that one (single) or two (dual) drives can fail without compromising the integrity of your data. Data Robotics’ proprietary BeyondRAID technology makes the array easy to set up and expand.

The Drobo FS is easy to set up. The review unit sent to TUAW by Data Robotics was removed from its box, three disk drives were installed by sliding them into available slots on the unit, the power supply was connected, and a gigabit Ethernet cable run from a router to the back of the Drobo. Upon powering up the Drobo FS, the device showed up under the Shared list in the Finder — so far, so good.

TUAWTUAW review: Data Robotics Drobo FS NAS originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Thu, 22 Apr 2010 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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