John Suder

A photo is circulating around the internet of a billboard that allegedly appeared along I-35 near Wyoming Minnesota. The photo is of George Dubya, with his smug, goofball face, waving. The question is: Who paid for it? And judging by the odd photo, is it pro-Bush..or anti-Bush?

Yes, we all know that the ‘Hope and Change’ we all prayed for hasn’t happened in an instant, like most thought it would. But if I had to answer the question on the billboard, the answer is still no.

Apple has just unveiled their new tablet device, and it’s called..the iPad. Personally, I think it’s an unfortunate choice of name (besides the obvious “feminine product” name comparisons, what will Bostonians call it? They already call iPods “iPads”:).

Steve Jobs called it a “third-category” device. Basically, what we have is a great couch-surfing device/reader (think of it as a GIANT iPod Touch). Many people were disappointed as to what this device didn’t have: No microphone or camera, no Flash support, no USB connection. However, as a first-generation device, it’s impressive. It runs all 140,000 iPhone apps natively and features a retooled version of Works just for the iPad. Besides being a great entertainment device, the iPad will further accelerate the adoption of eBook readers (I can certainly see this being used in a school environment). An on-screen drawing app called ‘Brushes’ was shown briefly, which I think is a natural for any tablet device and any artist would love it. I’m eager to see what types of drawing apps will be developed around the platform.

The pricing is attractive for those looking into netbooks; early adopters will be the usual Apple fanboys, but even at the lower tier model (16GB, Wifi, No 3G Wireless), $499, (plus the data plans) is a steep price to pay for a casual device. Of course, we all said that when the iPhone came out – the big difference is that a mobile phone is something you keep with you (almost) always – a device like this requires some forethought as to use, storage and travel.

A quick rundown of the iPad specifications:
0.5 inches thick
Weight: 1.5 Pounds
16-64GB Storage (Flash memory)
9.7-inch IPS display
1 GHz Apple A4 chip (built in-house?)
Battery Life: 10 hours
Full-capacitive multi-touchRuns iPhone Apps natively
802.11n, WiFi, and Bluetooth 2.1 + EDR.
Built in 3G Wireless

Also features an accelerometer, compass, a speaker, microphone and a 30-pin connector.
USB Sync.

Book downloads from the iBooks store will run $7.99 – $14.99

New version of iWork just for the iPad.

Huge onscreen keyboard

Full-size keyboard dock

Data Plans with AT&T
250MB per month – $14.99

Unlimited data  – $60 per month

Free use of AT&T WiFi hotspots

iPad 3G models are unlocked

The Cons
No Flash support
No camera
No microphone
No USB slot
You can’t bend it like paper:)

Pricing
16GB
WiFi $499
WiFi + 3G $629

32 GB
WiFi $599
WiFi + 3G $729

64 GB
WiFi $699
WiFi + 3G $829

Availability
Within 60 days

Apple Computer will be holding one of their famous ’special media events’ today at 10am Pacific (1pm Eastern) at the Yerba Buena Center for the Arts in San Francisco. It is expected that Steve Jobs will unveil the magical “Apple Tablet” (or iSlate or iPad or whatever it might actually be called). Unless you live under a rock, or have no interest whatsoever in technology, the hype surrounding this mystery product is as big (or bigger, depending on who you ask) as the announcement for the unveiling of the original iPhone.

In the last year, several sites have shown prototypes (based on on ‘wish lists’ and not actual input from Apple itself), leaked ’spy photos’ (most turned out to be fakes) and specs (again, mostly from ‘wish lists’ based on available technology). Apple is famously secretive with any new product in development. Developers are sworn to secrecy and products are developed under tight security. (Hey, if you were lucky enough to be working for a company like Apple developing world-changing products, you’d probably keep your big mouth shut too.)

The hype surrounding this product is so huge because, if the rumors are true, it will be a game-changing eBook reader and entertainment device. If some of the leaked specs are true from those who have actually seen this mythical creature, it could well accelerate how we consume ‘print’ media. This is important (especially to me, a traditional print designer) because there has already been a fundamental shift in how people acquire this type of information. Newspapers and magazines all over the world are closing. Traditional book manufacturers are shifting away from large volume sales and putting their resources toward the eBook publishing model. Magazines are relying more on their web outlets for revenue, driving readers from the print versions to the website, not the other way around.

The tablet will not replace your iPod or your Kindle, but could be the device that combines the best of both. I see it as a casual device for reading and entertainment, and as a bridge between netbooks, but done only the way Apple can do it. This will usher in a new era for computing, but also present new opportunities for designers and developers in this expanded space. The competition will need to follow the Apple lead. A simple eBook reader like the Kindle or a $300 netbook will no longer suffice.

I guess we’ll find out soon enough.

The World Wildlife Foundation created this great video short titled “Change the Way You Think”. It show in a very simple manner the small things that we do everyday that have an impact on our world and environment. Using your morning latte as an example, it plainly illustrates the resources and energy that goes into the production of a simple cup of coffee. It asks you to think further about the choices you make everyday, from your morning coffee to how your run your business.
The bottom line: The health of business is directly connected to the health of the natural world. And both can grow and flourish—together.

You’ve got a cabinet full of spices. Some of them are used frequently (Pepper, Garlic Powder, Dried Oregano, etc.). Others were purchased for a certain recipe (which caused you run to the store for that 1 oz. jar of Tarragon leaves that just sits in the cabinet). What else could you use these spices for? More importantly, are they still fresh?
SpiceAdvice.com has a handy chart listing many common spices and suggested pairings and usage, divided by foods. Looking for something that goes with Allspice? Got some fish that needs a little something? Check the chart.
The design leaves a little to be desired, plus an option for a print-ready version would have been helpful. There’s also sections on storing spices and tips on checking for freshness.