iPad 2: Not Quite the Magazine Experience

Engadget published a first hands-on about the iPad 2 and what piqued my interest was this:

“The design feels great in your hands. Sleek, super thin — much nicer to hold than the previous version. Definitely has more of a magazine than book feel. Everything is tight and solid. It is pretty amazing how thin they’ve gotten the device.”

I’m an avid magazine reader and if the new iPad 2 has more of a magazine than book feel like they said, I’d be very happy with the iPad 2. However, I’m still reluctant because the magazine experience I think is still better with the print copy than a digital copy on an iPad. I will have to spend more time using an iPad 2 to read magazines, but from my experiences so far with the original iPad (which has the same form factor anyway), I would rather stick to traditional print magazines. The biggest issue is that the iPad 2 is basically only half the size of an open magazine. You can’t look at the iPad as a 2-page spread, but rather as a single page. On an iPad it’s hard to read an article and quickly glance at the pictures like you can with a print magazine because you have to zoom in to read the article. You almost need to have 2 iPads with a spine. And I don’t see that happening with future generations of the iPad or with other tablets in general. Steve Jobs joked how 2011 is the Year of the Copycats. And he’s right. What a shame. Unfortunately, Microsoft cancelled their Courier concept which I think could’ve been a great competitor to the iPad. It could’ve been a great alternative as it would meet the needs of different users. But like everyone else, they’re instead probably going to try to copy Apple’s iPad if they eventually try to join the tablet wars.

The cancelled Microsoft Courier Tablet concept. Picture courtesy of Engadget:
<

VW Corrado Successors: 2010 Audi Quattro Concept

If you haven’t noticed already, my favorite car is the VW Corrado. It ended its production in 1995 so it’s been over 15 years since the last Corrado rolled off the assembly line. There was never a new Corrado made by VW and no real spiritual successor. Corrado owners are always wondering if there will be another Corrado. Some argue there will never be, while others remain hopeful. I for one don’t think there will ever be another Corrado. And I’m happy about that. However, there will always be cars that have a similar hatchback coupe profile that remind people of the Corrado.

This list includes the Mercedes C-Coupe, BMW 318ti and the Cadillac CTS-V Coupe that I wrote about in an earlier post. Also on this list are the hatchback coupes with a movable spoiler like the Corrado. For example the Chrysler Crossfire and the VW gruppe’s own Audi TT. But the latest on this list is the Audi Quattro Concept introduced in late 2010. Although it is really inspired by the original Audi ur quattro, many see the concept’s design as a modern Corrado. I agree. However, if it’s produced, Audi says that it’s cost would be 6 figures. I hope that they make a VW version with a more affordable price tag! Check out autoblog’s impressions of the Audi Quattro Concept by clicking on its picture below:

Look at the similarities! (Thanks to Rento_VW for the side profile pic)

Must Read: Gizmodo’s Apple iPad Design Analysis

I don’t have anything to excerpt, except to tell you to read the entire article. Great article stating how “perfectly” Jonathan Ive designed the iPad. I agree 100%!

WTD: Zinio and International Magazines for iPad

Where have I been? Apparently Zinio features magazine subscriptions to be read on the computer and soon on the iPad. Although they’ve been around for over 10 years, for some reason they haven’t come up in my Google searches for internet magazine subscriptions. So I’m going to try and get the word out. In my last post I posted how the iPad needs magazine subscriptions before I would buy one. Zinio has them. And they have plenty of car mags to subscribe to, including Road & Track. I think my decision has been made now. Zinio makes the Apple iPad Worth The Dough.

It seems like the cost of the subscriptions are the same as or a couple bucks less than their paper counterparts. Or as some people call “dead tree versions.” For example the Road & Track subscription is $8 as opposed to $10 for the print version. The real savings however are in International magazine subscriptions.

British car magazines are widely known to be bigger and better than US car magazines. And since Europe is where Formula 1 is popular, their F1 publications, like F1 Racing, are amazing. The US simply does not have any dedicated F1 publications because F1 isn’t as big in the US. Subscriptions to these mags by a US subscriber are very expensive. I mean, these British publications are expensive for British subscribers too but with shipping fees and other fees it’s even worse for US subscribers. For example, a 1 year subscription to the print edition of F1 Racing is $66 for UK subscribers and $90 for US subscribers! So far Zinio only has the spanish version of F1 Racing, but a 1 year subscription is $43.39. Look at the cost savings! Cheaper for both UK and US subscribers. Here are some other prices for US subscriptions to other International publications.

Lastly, I’m going to go slightly off topic and mention that for those who like reading novels more than periodicals, it’s been said that Project Gutenberg books will work on the iPad. “The site has over 30,000 free ebooks, most of them classics whose copyrights have lapsed.”

So there it is. The Apple iPad is Worth The Dough and Zinio is a major reason why. If you like international magazines like I do, then it is WTD for you too!

2010 New York Mets and Jose Reyes

Should I be optimistic about the 2010 season for the NY Mets? This Sports Illustrated article hints what to expect this season.

I’m a genuine Mets fan, but much of my interest in watching them this year depends on whether my favorite player, Jose Reyes, is healthy and in the lineup. He’s my favorite player because I used to play baseball back in Little League and Reyes is the type of player I would’ve wanted to be if I miraculously made the Major Leagues. I did some leadoff hitting and loved to play shortstop. And I think the stolen base is so much fun to watch. Jose is one of the best and most exciting to watch. Good luck to him and the Mets this year!

USF1 Electrical Wiring System Video

The USF1 website is just awesome. I’ve mentioned it before, but I have to again. Formula 1 is a sport that is so competitive that many of the teams try and keep everything they do a secret. It’s nice to know that USF1 is willing to put out alot of great information about the development of their car. On the opposite end, Ferrari is the most secretive team. Yes it probably helps them and may be one of the reasons they are successful (the main reason being that they are one of the richest teams), but for the fans I don’t think it’s right. I’m not a fan of Ferrari F1.

On the other hand, Red Bull Racing has been very good about showing and educating fans about the sport and the design of their cars. That’s what makes me a fan of their team. Well, I’m a fan of Sebastian Vettel also because he brings enthusiasm to the sport. Their Red Bull F1 website is also informative. If you think they’re losing their competitive edge by giving away their secrets, they’re not. They still came in second place last year! The guys at Speed Channel, including Peter Windsor of the US F1 team, went out of their way to praise this aspect of their team. So it’s no surprise that US F1 has been equally cooperative. Because of this, I’m not just a fan of them because they represent the US. I suggest you support them too!

Case in point, check out their video on the Electrical Wiring System of their F1 car. As a wiring system engineer, this video they posted is right up my alley. What a fun and interesting job it would be to do wiring on an F1 car! There are many electronic systems on an F1 car to keep busy.

Just one look at the steering wheel of a typical F1 car and you can see how complicated and important the wiring must be.