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Ok the reviews are all in and the iPad has impressed us all when it was finally unveiled by Apple CEO Steve Jobs on January 27th. All the hype finally came to an end when Mr. Jobs gave a run down of all the great features the iPad has to offer its users. I was just as impressed with many of the specs of this long awaited device.  I have read many reviews that were Good, Bad and even down right Ugly when it comes to the iPad, so here is my take on those reviews.

The iGood
iPad reviewed by Ben Parr of Mashable.
Apple iPad: A Comprehensive Guide

This review is the most comprehensive of the reviews I read. It is very detailed and well thought out. Ben does a great job of first giving an overview of the iPad by showing the introduction video that is also featured on the Apple website.  Ben goes on by breaking down all the specifications of the iPad. He then gives you the pricing, the availability, the closest competitors to the iPad and then finally what the iPad lacks.

Please click here to see Ben’s full review of the iPad.

The iBad
iPad reviewed by Bianca Bosker of The Huffington Post.
Apple iPad Review (PHOTOS): 9 Worst Things About The Apple Tablet

This review gives you a breakdown of all the things that are not so good about the iPad. I like this review because it uses pictures to tell the story of why you may want to think twice before you run out and pre order the iPad. It starts with the fact that Apple chose to name their new device iPad instead of one of the rumored names like  iTablet or iSlate. This review then goes on to criticize all of the many things wrong with the iPad that include the lack of mutitasking, a camera, flash capability and a USB port just to name of few. I thought this review was very creative in bringing more attention to the weaknesses of the iPad.

Please click here to see Bianca’s full review of the iPad.

The iUgly
iPad reviewed by Michael Arrington of TechCrunch.
iPad v. A Rock

This was the funniest review and the most harsh, hence “The iUgly” term used.  Michael goes so far as to compare the iPad to an actual Rock.  Even though this review makes fun of all the things the iPad does not do, it gives  you a cut and dry understanding of why we should not have played into all the hype.  And get this, the  rock almost wins in this side by side comparison.

Click here to see the full story.

The Verdict

When first hearing about and then seeing all the cool stuff the iPad could do I was convinced this device would be the first Apple product I would choose to own. Unfortunately after then hearing about all the things the iPad could not do, I am going to give it a PASS for the wish list this Christmas. Their were a couple of deal breakers but the ones that sealed it were the lack of USB and SD ports on the device without an adapter or docking station, the lack of multitasking and the lack of compatibility with the T-mobile 3G network. I just signed up for T-mobile and even though the iPad is sold unlocked it will not connect to my cell phone carrier. I guess I will have to wait for the iPad II or see what the HP Slate has to offer when it debuts some time this year.

Will you, get an Apple iPad?

If so please let us know why.

All the best

JB

Jeffrey Alexander Brathwaite, aka “JB”

Internet Strategist, Speaker and Trainer
404-287-0848 Office
Jeff[at]2thenextlevel[dot]com

Follow me on Twitter: twitter.com/jbrath

The organizers of a brand new event in Atlanta went all out to put on a high caliber show for the technology community around social media and social marketing. The New Media Atlanta event was billed as:

The New Media Atlanta conference is a high level, business dialog about how social media is changing marketing and messaging – and in fact, changing the nature of all communications.   We’ll talk about strategies to leverage its power to build your company, product, brand, service, etc.

You’ll have an opportunity to ask your burning questions of the speaker panel and get real answers.

The opening speech by the organizers detailed a vision to make New Media Atlanta a yearly event on caliber with South by Southwest (SXSW). That is one grand order for sure! That is really like wanting your garage band to be U2?!? Ambition is a good thing, but flash can not make over substance and there was not as much substance as SXSW. Personally, I would not ever compared this show to SXSW were it not for the mention of it by the organizers.

Having said that, the even staff was GREAT, the venue was superb and overall the day was well organized and the presentations kept on time for the most part. Chris Brogan was the highlight for the event and he did not miss a beat! Once Chris took the state the crowd settled in for some particular strategies and approaches for social media.

The highs were the keynote by Chris Brogan, the small business presentation by Jonathan Baker of Monday Night Brewing was outstanding and a panel session with executives from Rubbermaid, Turner TNT, and Coke was VERY informative on strategy, ROI and techniques for social media engagement.

The areas for improvement would be, NOT to listen to the noise going on from the detractors. The event planners were overly focused on negative comments being made anonymously in chat rooms. They would bring then get onstage and make comment and even ADJUST the program based on comments by a small minority. The acknowledgment of this Back Noise became VERY distracting to the entire event. So the majority of the audience was subject to comments made anonymously by a few silly attendees and that threw off the "spirit" of the room in my opinion. What was a little know chat room became the focus of the event by the end of the day and that sentiment was fueled by many presenters and the organizers. Note to self…when you have  99% positive comments, do NOT focus in on pleasing the 1%, keep the 99% happy!

Please Rate My Video with 5-Stars DSR’s

So many functions you want in a video making tool are missing. Even when you pay hundreds of dollars (and trust me, I have) for video software, you often come up short for making good video masking. I wish I would have found ManyCam a long ago, but I was not that fortunate. I could have saved a fortune on video processing software had I only known.

What is ManyCam?

• Use your webcam with multiple programs simultaneously.
• Add text to your webcam video window with any application.
• Add cool animations to your video window.
• Show your local day and date in your video window.
• Add live CGI graphics like fire and water effects.

Please Rate My Video with 5-Stars DSR’s

While ManyCam does NOT record video you can use services like YouTube or Viddler.com to capture the recording for you and then down load it from there to use for other purposes or just link to them and embed from there.

ManyCam will work with LIVE broadcasting on sites like Ustream.tv or Justin.tv so you can actually do desktop capture LIVE!!! Now that alone is worth the price of admission folks. We got a hot one right here!

Keep in mind that this is a FREE tool and as such it may not work for every setup and PC environments with all software. I have not had issue with it working with my tools, and will be testing this LIVE on this Thursday nights show, so be sure to tune in TONIGHT at 10:30 pm et or so for Late Night Beta w/ ColderICE and watch how this thing does in a real world environment.

As it stands right now out of the gate, I have to give this one 4 Ice Cubes (out of 5) This is a killer freebie with fun interface that offers many possibilities

ColderICE Rating 4 Cubes (out of 5) :

Marsha Collier’s latest book for the Dummies series is out for eBay sellers. It is kind hard to believe that this book is now into it’s 6th printing! Wow, that makes me feel kinda OLD, I started with version 2 of this book back in the day.

So what is new? Basically everything!!! eBay has made many changes to the way it does business and most of those changes are with the platform itself. What worked in just 2007 is "old school" and not nearly as competitive or successful in 2009.

You must keep up with the changes and strategies for implementing good practices for the new eBay. The game has changed and eBay for Dummies by Marsha Collier is primed for play. Marsh puts the other so called "eBay experts" on notice with this latest publication. The undisputed "Queen of eBay Commerce" is BACK BABY, game on!

Get the information you need, delivered in the manner you can understand. eBay for Dummies gets 4.5 Ice Cubes…

Please Rate My Video with 5-Stars DSR’s

I am an avid fan of Twitter and have been using the Hootsuite Hootlet for quite some time to shorten my URL links and to afford the ability to track those links by clicks. At a glance you can see how many clicks a link has, country, top referrers etc. You also can use it to schedule tweets for later as well.

The latest update of Hootsuite is now 2.0 in BETA and this version knocks it out the PARK! They also have several "how-to" videos on their HootSuite YouTube Channel

I have a new favorite tool for Twitter use and with over 11,000 friends on the ColderICE profile I have been needing a good tool to group my followers. Finally a tool that works the way I work and does what I want it to do.

PROS:
Works inside the browser, no download required, tabbed window navigation, customizable search tabs, embedded results, statistics, monitoring tools.

CONS:
May be too much for a novice. If you want to repeat a post multiple times, it can be clunky to do that.

My overall rating is:
  4.5 ICE Cubes (out of 5)

 

Check out this review video..

Please Rate My Video with 5-Stars DSR’s