iPad First Impressions (Day Two): Portability and Productivity

Right now, I am typing this post using the iPad Keyboard Dock, which I purchased from Best Buy along with a stylus (for use with note-taking apps like Penultimate).

One of my reasons (read: justifications) for purchasing the iPad was that it could replace my MacBook Pro whenever it needs to be serviced (which has been all to often, especially this past semester), or if I didn't feel like carrying around a 13-inch laptop everywhere I went on campus.

In my second day of usage, I decided to test out its usefulness outside of my apartment. So, against the advice of my mother and my friends, I took the iPad with me on my journey into the city. I assumed that my usage of the iPad would be limited due to its lack of internet connectivity (remember, I didn't buy the 3G version). I was pleasantly surprised to realize that I was wrong. Even though having internet certainly enhances the iPad, it is plenty useful. On my train ride into the city from Queens, I started reading Dan Brown's Angels and Demons via the Kindle app. I had purchased the book when I first bought the iPhone a year and a half ago, but I never got past the second chapter. It turned out that the iPhone wasn't the most practical of e-readers (side note: I am currently using an iPod touch, since my iPhone 3GS was stolen in Port Authority).

The iPad, however, is the perfect e-reader.

I know that the Kindle is arguably the e-reader du jour at the moment, but reading on the iPad was so amazing that I wouldn't be surprised if I purchased some more books. The screen, which as I said last night, was huge, allowed for very comfortable reading, in both portrait and landscape modes. I read most of the book in portrait mode, since I really did like how it mimicked the look of a book in your lap, without all of the page turning. However, I could have read it in either mode.

The iPad, as you would expect, is also a spectacular media player. I used my iPod touch to listen to music while I was reading, but I could have easily just plugged my headphones into the bottom of my iPad. The iPad is also great with games. During the Posse Awards Ceremony (which I attended as a current Posse Scholar from Trinity College), I was playing Angry Birds HD. Speaking of, if you do not have this app, I need you to head to the App Store and download it in whatever version you need, iPhone or iPad, even Android and webOS. It is soooooo worth it.

The other great thing the iPad has proven to do well without Wi-Fi is what I'm doing right now: typing. Before I bought the Keyboard Dock ($69 at Best Buy and Apple), I didn't think that typing on the screen was that bad. It may have been a bit more taxing and time-consuming (I've typed just as much as I did last night in half the time) but I have found it workable. The Keyboard, however, is a must for anyone seriously using the iPad. It's an absolutely spectacular addition to an awesome device, and it makes you want to use the iPad the way Steve Jobs suggested way back in January of last year: to produce content. As soon as you start typing with this keyboard, you can feel the iPad's usability increase tenfold.

With day two of my iPad experience almost over, I still have no regrets in purchasing it, or not purchasing the 3G model. It's a brilliant device, that still has all of the potential in the world.

Check back tomorrow, where I talk about my favorite apps so far, and which apps and accessories the iPad sorely needs.




- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad

Looking Back at... 2010: The Comebacks

It's that time of year again. It's time to look back at all of the good, the bad, and the absolutely ridiculous of the past year. While you all have been voting for your favorites in the BWU Awards 2010, I have sifted through the year in, everything, to find what's worthy of notice.

So, without further ado, here are the biggest comebacks of 2010!

5. Enrique Iglesias - He blew up during the Latin Invasion of the late 90's, but his career fizzled out at the turn of the new millennium, with his last hit being 2001's "Hero". Thanks to the Gaga-bred dance-pop explosion this year, the Latin lover caught an epic second wind. "I Like It", the first single off his latest album Euphoria, reached the top 10 of many countries, including the United States, where it reached #4. His next single, "Tonight (I'm Lovin' You)", is already burning its way up the iTunes chart, guaranteeing him success well into 2011. I guess we missed the mole more than we thought.

4. Usher - The King of R&B returned to his throne this year with very successful album Raymond v. Raymond, which spawned the ubiquitous smash "OMG", which #1 on the charts. He also celebrated the success of his protege Justin Bieber, who just won Artist of the Year at the American Music Awards. After the disappointment that was 2008's Here I Stand, 2010 was proof that Usher was the premier male pop star of the moment. Now if only he would get that haircut..

3. The British Royal Family - Let's be honest: the thirteen years since the passing of Princess Diana have been relatively uneventful. Sure, Charles married Camilla, and Harry became the troublemaker after bouts with swastika costumes and pot, but compared to the years of Diana, it's been quiet. That changed when Prince William, the second in line to the throne, announced that he would finally be marrying his long-time girlfriend Kate Middleton. Almost instantaneously, the world went absolutely bonkers over the engagement. The world's media plastered them across the front pages, speculating on everything from the wedding date to Kate's future role. Her status as a future pop culture figure has already been set; she was featured on Barbra Walters' 10 Most Fascinating People and the dresses she's worn in public have become instant best-sellers. The world, who probably didn't care less about the Windsors two months ago, now wait with baited breath over the April nuptials of the future King and Queen.

2. Rihanna - OK, so it's not really that much of a comeback, but Rihanna definitely regained lost ground on the pop landscape this past year. The Bajan beauty featured on the biggest record of 2010, Eminem's "Love The Way You Lie", and scored two #1 hits of her own with "Only Girl (In The World)" and "What's My Name". Her new album Loud gave her the highest first week sales of her career, although she hasn't been able to get that coveted #1 spot, yet. Also, she has fans cracking up with her witty, shady comments on Twitter and guessing about her love life, in a good way. It's nice to see that she's moved past the drama of last year.

1. Kanye West - He's a douchebag. He's an asshole. He's a scumbag. He's one of the most provocative musical artists on the past decade. Of course, he knows all of this. After the Taylor Swift debacle last year, it seemed like Kanye might have finally pushed the public too far. Well, being Kanye, he took the criticism and unleashed one of the most critically lauded records in recent memory, My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy Part-ego trip and part masterstroke, Kanye re-worked the conventions of rap and pop with impressive critical and commercial results. Yes, he's still got his antics (replacing his bottom row of teeth with diamonds, the Today Show interview disaster), but no matter what he does, we still have love for the college dropout. So let's have a toast for Kanye, who kept us on our toes in 2010.

Brandon's Best of....Top Singles of 2010 So Far

Okay, so the halfway point of 2010 was last month, but as the summer winds down and I head back to college in a few weeks, I thought now would be a great time to list my favorite songs of 2010 so far (well, since the end of July). Luckily for me, this was pretty easy.

First, because I realized there were lots of songs I loved, here is my #20 - #11:
20. Breakeven (Falling To Pieces) - The Script
19. I Like It - Enrique Iglesias
18. Crossfire - Brandon Flowers
17. Memories - David Guetta featuring Kid Cudi
16. I Got You - Leona Lewis
15. Ego - The Saturdays
14. Missing You - The Saturdays
13. Hands Tied - Toni Braxton
12. Need You Now - Lady Antebellum
11. Your Love - Nicki Minaj

Now, for the Top 10:


10. Airplanes - B.O.B featuring Hayley Williams
I mostly skipped over his first single with Bruno Mars, so his second single with Paramore's frontwoman is what really got me interested. Between the effortlessness of the chorus and the true lyrics about wishing for a simpler life, "Airplanes" was clear evidence that hip hop could be more than sparse beats and lame rhymes about money and swag.


9. OMG - Usher feat. will.i.am
Was it a sellout move? Usher went the electropop route on his album Raymond v. Raymond, teaming up with BEP frontman will.i.am. Instead of playing like a cheap trick, it was one of the hottest songs of the year, topping the Billboard Hot 100 and saving what would have been a flop era. While it didn't push boundaries with it's lyrics (Boobies? Are we twelve?) but it did remind everyone why Usher was once the biggest male popstar since MJ.


8. Commander - Kelly Rowland
Who knew she had it in her? After the worldwide (a.k.a, outside of the US) success of "When Love Takes Over" last year, the former Destiny's Child member teamed up with David Guetta for "Commander", a full-stop dance-pop smash, instant on first listen. For reasons that are beyond me, she didn't release it to radio in the States, just as the dance-pop fever hit full force.


7. Dancing On My Own - Robyn
The Swedish dance diva delivered a sweet treat for her first single from Body Talk Pt. 1. With it's mournful lyrics paired with pulsating, somber beats, "Dancing on My Own" embodied everyone's fear of lost love and loneliness while on the dancefloor.



6. Love The Way You Lie - Eminem featuring Rihanna
Domestic violence isn't supposed to sound this good. The two music superstars teamed up on a surprisingly personal, visceral, and accessible duet about the truth behind abusive relationships. Currently #1 on the charts, it goes to show that lyrical honesty can make for an amazing pop tune. Plus, Rihanna plus rappers is always guaranteed gold.


5. Find Your Love - Drake
Last year, he set the pop world on fire. This year, he fanned the flames. "Find Your Love" was an unexpected turn for the Canadian rapper. It was sharp, yet sensitive. Pulsing, yet melodic. Fierce, yet tender. Of course, that's because of Kanye's excellent production and Drake's great vocal performance. It made for a true blue pop hit for him and the confirmation that he may be the future of hip-hop.


4. California Gurls - Katy Perry featuring Snoop Dogg
Pegged as the West Coast answer to "Empire State of Mind", Katy snatched the summer with what may become her signature hit. It's bouncy electropop sound, the cute and clever lyrics, and an excellent cameo from Snoop made this song a #1 hit throughout the dog days of summer. Even with the sweltering heat, Katy made us wish we were all chillin' on the beach, melted popsicles and all.


3. Alejandro - Lady Gaga
So maybe the macabré video killed the vibe of the song a bit, but "Alejandro" was one of the highlights of an album full of them, The Fame Monster. It's ABBA-esque charm and it's tale of unwanted desire made it an excellent soundtrack to the summer. It also showed that seven singles into her career, she shows no sign of stopping her effortless domination of pop music.


2. Telephone - Lady Gaga and Beyoncé
What happens when you put two of the biggest female singer in the world on one track? Um, how about dancefloor heaven? Okay, so not all the time, but the unstoppable duo's second try together yielded much sweeter fruit. Thrown in a colorful, Tarantino-styled music video and you have a pop juggernaut on your hands.


1. All The Lovers - Kylie Minogue
I had been waiting for this song before I even knew I was waiting for it. The Aussie pop princess threw out the baggage of 2007's X and came back with an absolutely epic first single. Part teary-eyed, part euphoric release, and part dancefloor stomper, "All The Lovers" was a goddess send (the album is called Aphrodite after all). After only three months, it is only the eighth song ever to have over 400 plays in my iTunes. It also made me rabid for two months until the release of her equally as epic new album. Kylie is back!

Brandon's Best Of... iOS 4

Apple fanboys and fangirls got their wishes when iOS 4 was uploaded to the iTunes servers at approximately 1pm EST today. I had the privilege of running the GM of the software for four days before, but I upgraded to the official release as well. Here are my favorite features of iOS 4:

MULTITASKING - I realized that the iPhone software was sorely lacking when I couldn't read a web page while listening to Pandora. Thankfully, the grievous error was resolved with the addition of the seven background services added to iOS 4. It allows for background audio, app freezing and switching, background VOIP (a.k.a Skype), better notifications, background GPS, and background task completion. The best example of this so far has been Pandora, which runs perfectly while on Safari or even on the home page. The full scope will be realized once more apps become available for iOS 4, but its going to be a massive gamechanger for a lot of users.

CUSTOMIZED BACKGROUNDS - I'm sorry, but the black background Apple stuck us with was so freaking boring. Now, you can change your home screen wallpapers to be a little more interesting. Be mindful of what backgrounds you have, though. I would stick to simple ones that don't draw much attention to themselves. Otherwise, your home screen risks being a complete tacky mess.

FOLDERS - Are you an apps whore? Well than this feature is key for you. Apple has answered the call to improve their app organization with Folders, which groups apps together in a bid to reduce home screen clutter. Apple claims that Folders allow for 2160 apps to sit on your iPhone. For a store housing a quarter million different apps, this feature is a godsend for anyone who just can't resist the allure of a fresh app out the oven.

PLAYLISTS - Are you a music whore (like me)? Than this feature is like a gift from the heavens. On-The-Go playlists are officially dead; you can now edit and create playlists right on your iDevice. So if you have a list of the hottest songs and you realize that Gaga or Drake isn't it anymore, you can just delete and replace with something else. Also, remember the playlist folders in iTunes? They've finally been incorporated into the iPod. No more long lists of playlists. Yes!

TASK LAUNCHER - It will definitely get some mixed reviews, but I like the new task launcher. By double clicking the home button, a tray of your latest apps used will pop up, as well as the iPod controls when you swipe to the right. No matter swiping through your countless screens to find the other app you were just on after using another.

So, what are your favorite things about iOS 4? And, if you have no clue about what you're doing, Gizmodo has an excellent how-to guide here.

Looking Back...at 2009: The Top 5 Breakthroughs

2009 was a pretty big year, with some pretty big entrances to the mainstream. Here they are...

5. Twitter - What a fantastic little website Twitter is, huh? Sure, some will argue that it does nothing but foster people's narcissistic tendencies, but Twitter became 2009's pop culture thermometer. Basically, if you were not a trending topic, no one cared about you. Twitter's ever-growing scope was proven in June when it crashed due to all the tweets about Michael Jackson's death. Hell, even Oprah had an entire show about it. Narcissistic it may be, but denying the pure power Twitter had this year is just makes you a "tweet".

4. Taylor Lautner - He is arguably the most sexually exploited male teenager in the history of film. Yet, the millions and millions of girls (and some boys, don't lie) who lined up at the movie theaters to catch a glimpse of his ripped torso probably don't care. Known as the long-haired boy in last year's Twilight, Lautner became the center of the Twilight world, being used as the primary face (and body) for New Moon's promotion and gaining a lot more storyline in the sequel. By the time November rolled around, it was clear that "Team Jacob" gained a lot more members.

3. Drake - To some, he will always be Wheelchair Jimmy from popular teen drama Degrassi: The Next Generation, but this year, Aubrey Graham became Drake. The TV actor turned rapper from Canada blew up this year, thanks to this spring's jam "Best I Ever Had". The song went to #2 on the Hot 100, and he became an instant hot property. The craziness is, his debut album hasn't even been released yet! Thank Me Later is due next year, and will probably be one of the biggest of the year.

2. Susan Boyle - Good things don't always come in supermodel packages. That is the lesson the world learned this year, courtesy of Scottish Britain's Got Talent contestant Susan Boyle. The middle-aged spinster wowed the planet with her audition for Simon Cowell's UK talent show, and even though she lost, she became an instant sensation. Interviews worldwide followed (including Oprah) and this past month, she released her debut album I Dreamed a Dream. Here's something for the cruel cynics to chew on: she sold over 1 million copies worldwide in her first week, and is expected to sell over 5 million by the end of the year, making her album the fastest-selling debut album in history.

1. Lady Gaga - Who else would be #1? Yes, she had a #1 hit last year with "Just Dance", but 2009 saw Gaga morph from club vixen into pop supernova. Four consecutive Top 40 radio chart-toppers, five consecutive Top 10 hits on the Hot 100, and an archive of over-the-top costumes and performances have cemented Gaga as 2009's most innovative, creative, and fearless artist. Her domination of this year was truly confirmed when Beyonce worked with her on two songs and Madonna acted with her in an SNL skit. I have no doubt that her reign will continue in 2010.

Looking Back...at 2009: The Top 5 Flops!

With every amazing success, there is a crash-and-burn disastrous trainwreck. And this year, there were many...


5. Jonas Brothers - It seemed like the Jonas Brothers were everywhere last year, and that may have been their undoing. 2009 proved that a third album in three years, a television show and Taylor Swift was just too much to take from the boys from Jersey. The group released Lines, Vines, and Trying Times this year and it barely passed half a million. Their show JONAS fell to popular Nickelodeon shot iCarly, and Joe Jonas' reputation was shot to hell by a little ditty from the best-selling living artist of the year. Now, Nick is going solo, Kevin is getting married, and Joe is licking the deep wounds caused by her guitar. Maybe the JoBros aren't "forever and always" after all.

4. Mariah Carey - The diva of pop divas had the worst year of her career since 2001 (one word: Glitter). First, her single "Obsessed" underperforms, even with the Eminem-mocking music video. Then, Eminem brutally responded with "The Warning", which dropped enough bombs about their "relationship" to clear the rainforest. Then, after two album pushbacks, Memoirs of an Imperfect Angel came in at #3 behind Paramore and Barbara Streisand. The sad part is how many Mariah fans laughed at Whitney's opening sales. Ermmm...

3. 50 Cent - You know your rap career is over when you can't outsell the man you've been dogging out all year. Yes, 50 Cent's album Before I Self Destruct sold 114,000 copies in its first week, way below rap rival Rick Ross' album. Note that, two years ago, his Curtis LP sold 650,000 copies in a battle with Kanye West. Oh, how the mighty have fallen.

2. The CW - Even with the cultural touchstone Gossip Girl as its crown jewel, television network The CW was a complete fail this year. 90s reboot Melrose Place proved to be a massive disappointment, and the anticipated Mischa Barton vehicle The Beautiful Life was canceled after two episodes. Even GG has seen a ratings slip. The WB is starting to not look so bad.

1. Jon Gosselin - He had a popular television show, a loving family, and presumably millions of dollars. Then, in the course of few months, sent to hell in a handbasket by being an adulterous, Ed Hardy-promoting, Michael Lohan-befriending douchebag. Absolutely fail.

Looking Back...at 2009: The Top 5 Comebacks

 
Well, 2009 is winding down (the 2009 BWU Awards are heating up, though) and it seems like the right time to look back at all the craziness that has happened these past 12 months.

First up, the five best comebacks in pop culture, in 2009!

5. Sandra Bullock - America's rom-com sweetheart wrote herself back onto the A-list this year, thanks two huge films: The Proposal and The Blind Side. The comedy, co-starring Ryan Reynolds and Betty White, was one of the summer's biggest movies and reminded fans of a side we haven't seen from Bullock since Miss Congeniality. Then, this past month, Bullock proved to be a formidable opponent to the behemoth called New Moon with The Blind Side, bringing in a respectable $34 million opening weekend. The football flick also brought Bullock heaps of praise and Oscar buzz. One final note: both films rank in the top 2 of her highest grosses ever!

4. Pop music - Blame on Gaga and the Black Eyed Peas, but pure pop music came back in FULL force this year, after years of R&B domination. Radio was flooded with electro-styled and rock-infused hits from everyone ranging from Beyonce all the way to Owl City. And let's not forget the two biggest pop stars of the year: Black Eyed Peas and Lady Gaga. The pop supergroup logged a staggering 26 weeks on top of the Billboard Hot 100, while Gaga became the first artist ever to have four straight #1 hits on the U.S. charts. Oh, and Madonna realized why she became the Queen of Pop, dumping the hip-hop for the highly danceable "Celebration". Order has been restored.

3. Eminem - Sure, he got overshadowed by Susan Boyle this past week, but Eminem's achievements this year are nothing to sneeze at. The rapper, after four-year absence, returned to the game with Relapse, which sold over 600,000 copies its first week. He also scored his first #1 single in seven years, successfully humiliated Mariah Carey after the "Obsessed" debacle, and stole Drake's spotlight on "Forever". And he's not done yet, dropping the re-release of his album later this month. Not too shabby, Shady.

2. Whitney Houston - It may not be as crystal-clear as it used to be, but "The Voice" still had the pipes to show the little girls how its done. Whitney, after a tumultuous seven years that left her drugged, divorced, and embarrassed beyond belief, dusted herself off and reclaimed her title as diva with her album I Look To You, which sold 300,000 copies its first week. She helped Oprah get her best ratings in years with a shocking tell-all interview, and she received the International Artist at this year's American Music Awards. Crack may be wack, but Whitney sure as hell isn't.

1. Michael Jackson - The King of Pop's world-shaking death opened his timeless music to a whole new wave of fans. The Gloved One sold over four million albums since his June passing, making him the best-selling artist of the year, again. After years of his craft being overshadowed by crazy, Michael Jackson is back to being known as the best pop music artist in history

Brandon's Best Of.... Girls Aloud!

I LOVE turning people onto music!

My new awesome friend Sabrina recently revealed to me via text that she has never heard of British girl group Girls Aloud. I, being one of the biggest GA fans here in States, felt it was my duty as a fan and blogger to open her eyes to their brilliant music.

So, she inspired my latest post series, "Brandon's Best Of..." where I choose the choice songs from a specific artist. This time is clearly Girls Aloud:

1. Call The Shots (Tangled Up, 2007) - If there was ever a song to start off a list like this with, it has to be this one. "Call The Shots" is arguably one of the best pop songs released on either side of the pond in the last five years. It's glitzy, slow-burning electro groove is perfection, and the chorus is damn near impossible to resist. Throw in five beautiful girls with five great, distinctive voices, and you've got a smash that has been played more times on my iPod than I can possibly count.



2. Something Kinda Oooh (Sound of Girls Aloud: The Greatest Hits, 2006) - Who doesn't love a bit of mindless fun? That's what the girls had in mind with this instant 2006 hit. The lyrics make little to no sense, but it's pretty hard to not sing along with the electrified chorus. If you're not singing, you're probably dancing to its fast paced, buzzing, synth-drenched bassline. The rocker edge the song has makes it even cooler, and an easy dancefloor-filler.



3. The Promise (Out of Control, 2008) - In a daring move, GA dropped their trademark club thumpers for a little 60s throwback, a trend repeatedly by virtually every British artist last year. Still, the girls made the style their own, with an extremely high production value that drew comparisons to the Spectorian era of music. Then, of course, there is their bread and butter; the catchy chorus. Once you hear it, you'll need a hammer to knock the "promise I made, promise I made" lyric from your head.



4. Biology (Chemistry, 2005) - It's multi-song structure turned Girls Aloud into more than a reality TV group. How about pop innovators? The combination of different styles, genres, and even decades on one track was beyond the possibilities of a manufactured pop group. It's fun but fuddling lyrics just added to the aura of Girls Aloud. If you don't believe Girls Aloud are true artists, check this song out and come back to me.



5. The Loving Kind (Out of Control, 2008) - I'm not going to lie; I lost my mind when I first heard this song. A clear follow-up to "Call The Shots", "The Loving Kind" was a one-of-a-kind collaboration between mega-producers Xenomania and the Pet Shop Boys. The result was a beautiful combination of melancholic lyrics and optimistic disco production. Unfortunately, the public didn't get the brilliance of this song, causing it to stall at #10 on the charts.



6. Sound of the Underground (Sound of the Underground, 2002) - To the surprise of many new GA listeners, their first single was a dazzling pop gem. Instead, it was a dirty, gritty, angsty, pop/rock track about music that bothered the neighbors. Looking back seven years from its release, it may not be one of their best, but it does set a tone for the rest of their pop-busting career, and a must for GA newbies.



7. Whole Lotta History (Chemistry, 2006) - The girls rarely delved into ballads, and when they did, it came off a bit saccharine (see "See The Day"). This single, however, hit the right notes overall. It's sad and hopeful at the same time, thanks to some curious lyrics and extremely rich production.



8. Sexy! No No No... (Tangled Up, 2007) - If "The Loving Kind" is the sister of "Call The Shots", than this single is the ADD child of "Something Kinda Oooh". It's a rampant romp with electropop/rock beats and buzzes, and no chorus. That's right. These girls have the audacity to make a brilliant pop thrasher, with no chorus. No need to worry, though; the "no no no" hook is so catchy you barely notice.



9. Wake Me Up (What Will The Neighbours Say, 2005) - An interesting tidbit of information; Franz Ferdinand were actually inspired by this song. The electropop is shoved into the background as the guitar riffs takes the forefront on this dirty and dangerous single. The girls bathe in the feminist rebellion of this song, as they move into a new (and better direction) after this song.