Developing IT Services for the Faculty of Mathematics, Computing and Technology http://mct.open.ac.uk/IT-DEV-BLOG.nsf/en-usFri, 26 Apr 2013 03:55:51 PM +0100 Fri, 26 Apr 2013 03:55:51 PM +0100 David Clover Quick Survey Requirement met using XPages
I vaguely remember finding that it didn't turn out to be quite as easy to implement as I'd hoped, but it has moved on since then I'm sure. OpenNTF is a superbly useful source of ideas and contacts.]]>
I vaguely remember finding that it didn't turn out to be quite as easy to implement as I'd hoped, but it has moved on since then I'm sure. OpenNTF is a superbly useful source of ideas and contacts.]]> http://mct.open.ac.uk/IT-DEV-BLOG.nsf/dx/quick-survey-requirement-met-using-xpages.htm?opendocument&comments#26042013155551MCSKHY.htm Fri, 26 Apr 2013 03:10:04 PM +0100 Sean Cull Quick Survey Requirement met using XPages
{ Link }]]>
{ Link }]]> http://mct.open.ac.uk/IT-DEV-BLOG.nsf/dx/quick-survey-requirement-met-using-xpages.htm?opendocument&comments#04262013031004PMMCSJMC.htm Sat, 29 Dec 2012 12:06:31 +0100 David Clover Windows 8 experiments Start W 8' utility. This allows me to regard the 'Modern' Start Menu as an adjunct to be looked at now and then, and greatly increases the ease of use.

Windows 8 has some very good new features, so it's going to be an interesting expedition now I have made it usable again!]]> Start W 8' utility. This allows me to regard the 'Modern' Start Menu as an adjunct to be looked at now and then, and greatly increases the ease of use.

Windows 8 has some very good new features, so it's going to be an interesting expedition now I have made it usable again!]]> http://mct.open.ac.uk/IT-DEV-BLOG.nsf/dx/windows-8-experiments.htm?opendocument&comments#29122012120631DCLG7S.htm Tue, 27 Nov 2012 15:36:02 +0100 David Clover Windows 8 experiments Windows 8 RT 'Surface' model.

There's a very sensible review of the issues around it by MG Siegler at the TC Website and another by Brian Madden.

This is not a model (Windows RT) we can yet recommend for our Open University students because you can't install our software. There are also some question marks about its ability to handle material delivered by Flash and Java. For example, the BBC website does not deliver 'iPlayer' content on the RT device, though the ITV player does work, as does Youtube.

It is possible that the Intel-powered 'Surface' model (to be released in January 2013) may be more usable as a replacement for a laptop. Much will depend on the technical performance of the device at that time.



One thing is very evident and needs to be made clear particularly to students and intending students. Despite appearances, This is not a full Microsoft 'Windows' platform. This initial release of Windows 'Surface' appears to share some features with the desktop version of Windows (including the 'Desktop' itself) But it is not possible to install software designed for Intel platforms on it, and on the test machine there appear to be some problems with the Flash and Java implementations which mean that some services don't appear to work properly (though some do).



There is a possibility that with the release of this 'Windows RT 'Surface' model near Christmas, we will be seeing students and potential students looking to use it for study. Some OU web-based activities may work, but probably not all.



A new model, 'Surface' for Windows 8 Pro, which claims to offer the 'full' Windows 8 experience will be released in January 2013. This version is more likely to support the installation and running of OU Windows-based software - but again, it will be necessary to test this thoroughly.]]> Windows 8 RT 'Surface' model.

There's a very sensible review of the issues around it by MG Siegler at the TC Website and another by Brian Madden.

This is not a model (Windows RT) we can yet recommend for our Open University students because you can't install our software. There are also some question marks about its ability to handle material delivered by Flash and Java. For example, the BBC website does not deliver 'iPlayer' content on the RT device, though the ITV player does work, as does Youtube.

It is possible that the Intel-powered 'Surface' model (to be released in January 2013) may be more usable as a replacement for a laptop. Much will depend on the technical performance of the device at that time.



One thing is very evident and needs to be made clear particularly to students and intending students. Despite appearances, This is not a full Microsoft 'Windows' platform. This initial release of Windows 'Surface' appears to share some features with the desktop version of Windows (including the 'Desktop' itself) But it is not possible to install software designed for Intel platforms on it, and on the test machine there appear to be some problems with the Flash and Java implementations which mean that some services don't appear to work properly (though some do).



There is a possibility that with the release of this 'Windows RT 'Surface' model near Christmas, we will be seeing students and potential students looking to use it for study. Some OU web-based activities may work, but probably not all.



A new model, 'Surface' for Windows 8 Pro, which claims to offer the 'full' Windows 8 experience will be released in January 2013. This version is more likely to support the installation and running of OU Windows-based software - but again, it will be necessary to test this thoroughly.]]> http://mct.open.ac.uk/IT-DEV-BLOG.nsf/dx/windows-8-experiments.htm?opendocument&comments#27112012153602DCLLB5.htm Fri, 25 Nov 2011 04:11:16 PM +0100 David Clover Extending websites into DRUPAL technology - single sourcing data http://mct.open.ac.uk/IT-DEV-BLOG.nsf/dx/extending-websites-into-drupal-technology.htm?opendocument&comments#25112011161116MCSLZ4.htm Fri, 25 Nov 2011 04:01:21 PM +0100 Tony Hirst Extending websites into DRUPAL technology - single sourcing data http://mct.open.ac.uk/IT-DEV-BLOG.nsf/dx/extending-websites-into-drupal-technology.htm?opendocument&comments#11252011040121PMMCSLSW.htm Wed, 12 Oct 2011 11:53:01 PM +0100 David Clover IBM Domino/Notes/XWork 8.5.3 is here http://mct.open.ac.uk/IT-DEV-BLOG.nsf/dx/ibm-dominonotesxwork-8.5.3-is-here.htm?opendocument&comments#10122011115301PMMCSUU7.htm Thu, 28 Jul 2011 04:01:43 AM +0100 Tablet Android Honeycomb Terbaik Murah Living with an iPad http://mct.open.ac.uk/IT-DEV-BLOG.nsf/dx/living-with-an-ipad.htm?opendocument&comments#07282011040143AMMCS6PW.htm Tue, 19 Jul 2011 08:50:25 PM +0100 Penny Stocks MCT Research Website released
John]]>
John]]> http://mct.open.ac.uk/IT-DEV-BLOG.nsf/dx/mct-research-website-released.htm?opendocument&comments#07192011085025PMMCSRA3.htm Mon, 23 May 2011 02:37:00 PM +0100 Jeffery Lay Living with an iPad
That's true - the tutor marking system is internally OU-written software that requires Windows, though it has been modified to work on Mac OS too, within some limitations.

> and, even if there were, sync software such as Documents to Go won't seem to allow you to add balloon comments to the script (though it shows them on imported scripts).

If the tutor marking system will accept annotated PDF files, software such as GoodReader would be ideal - it allows full PDF annotation including lines, boxes, circles, arrows, attached balloon notes, and so on. The files can be downloaded from - and uploaded to - many document sharing services or file shares, including iDisk, DropBox, and mail attachments. Would that help?]]>
That's true - the tutor marking system is internally OU-written software that requires Windows, though it has been modified to work on Mac OS too, within some limitations.

> and, even if there were, sync software such as Documents to Go won't seem to allow you to add balloon comments to the script (though it shows them on imported scripts).

If the tutor marking system will accept annotated PDF files, software such as GoodReader would be ideal - it allows full PDF annotation including lines, boxes, circles, arrows, attached balloon notes, and so on. The files can be downloaded from - and uploaded to - many document sharing services or file shares, including iDisk, DropBox, and mail attachments. Would that help?]]> http://mct.open.ac.uk/IT-DEV-BLOG.nsf/dx/living-with-an-ipad.htm?opendocument&comments#23052011143700MCSHYP.htm Mon, 23 May 2011 10:19:57 AM +0100 David Houpt Living with an iPad
Well, I am an AL and have been looking at the iPad as a possible tool for doing my part-time job while out of the UK (being semi retired I like to travel but that's another story).

It seems fine for most tasks save assessing TMAs. There is no eTMA monitoring software that will work on it and, even if there were, sync software such as Documents to Go won't seem to allow you to add balloon comments to the script (though it shows them on imported scripts).

So... fine for most things - but not for marking.

Best regards

David]]>
Well, I am an AL and have been looking at the iPad as a possible tool for doing my part-time job while out of the UK (being semi retired I like to travel but that's another story).

It seems fine for most tasks save assessing TMAs. There is no eTMA monitoring software that will work on it and, even if there were, sync software such as Documents to Go won't seem to allow you to add balloon comments to the script (though it shows them on imported scripts).

So... fine for most things - but not for marking.

Best regards

David]]> http://mct.open.ac.uk/IT-DEV-BLOG.nsf/dx/living-with-an-ipad.htm?opendocument&comments#23052011101957MCSCY2.htm Sat, 16 Apr 2011 01:33:37 PM +0100 used cars for sale The Virtual Choir
Back to music, this was indeed an extremely remarkable experiment in online collaboration which brought people together across different time zones and cultures.]]>
Back to music, this was indeed an extremely remarkable experiment in online collaboration which brought people together across different time zones and cultures.]]> http://mct.open.ac.uk/IT-DEV-BLOG.nsf/dx/the-virtual-choir.htm?opendocument&comments#04162011013337PMMCSGR3.htm Mon, 14 Mar 2011 04:17:36 PM +0100 stuart brown Linking Data with SPARQL
Glad you're finding data.open.ac.uk useful. If you or any of your team want to have a chat about what we have done (and are continuing to do) let me know.

Of course if you have any data that you would like to contribute that would be even better!

Cheers,

Stuart]]>
Glad you're finding data.open.ac.uk useful. If you or any of your team want to have a chat about what we have done (and are continuing to do) let me know.

Of course if you have any data that you would like to contribute that would be even better!

Cheers,

Stuart]]> http://mct.open.ac.uk/IT-DEV-BLOG.nsf/dx/linking-data-with-sparql.htm?opendocument&comments#03142011041736PMMCSM53.htm Thu, 23 Dec 2010 04:55:32 PM +0100 David Clover The Virtual Choir
{ Link }

has logged 19,712 hits - putting it into the 'Featured' category.]]>
{ Link }

has logged 19,712 hits - putting it into the 'Featured' category.]]> http://mct.open.ac.uk/IT-DEV-BLOG.nsf/dx/the-virtual-choir.htm?opendocument&comments#12232010045532PMMCSMUR.htm Tue, 19 Oct 2010 01:56:27 PM +0100 Vipin Faculty Website and Apps inventory
That looks good, I am assuming your team has spent considerable time on this project.Was this done purely in house or did you take assistance from any partner / vendor.

Regards

N.Vipin]]>
That looks good, I am assuming your team has spent considerable time on this project.Was this done purely in house or did you take assistance from any partner / vendor.

Regards

N.Vipin]]> http://mct.open.ac.uk/IT-DEV-BLOG.nsf/dx/faculty-website-and-apps-inventory.htm?opendocument&comments#10192010015627PMMCSH7C.htm Mon, 23 Aug 2010 10:28:57 AM +0100 Jeffery Lay Living with an iPad
It's true - there are limitations. However, few of them are without reason, and there are indeed workarounds for most - not all - of them.

>The main one is the lack of Flash and Java Runtime Environment for Apple policy reasons in its troubled relationship with Adobe

This isn't due to trouble with Adobe as such. Adobe have yet to deliver a viable version of Flash on anything smaller than a netbook. Their much-vaunted Flash player for mobile devices is two years behind schedule, doesn't work on many phones or sites, and when it does work the experience varies from adequate to abysmal. This is from a Flash supporter: { Link } That said, though, I agree that with the iPad's meatier processor it might work better. But battery life is one of the iPad's strong points, and Flash cripples battery life on all devices, including laptops. My netbook, for example, configured to run Mac OS 10.5: Used purely for browsing with Flash disabled: 4 hours' life. Browsing approximately the same sites (this wasn't an intentional test) with ClickToFlash disabled, so Flash was running: 2.5 hours.

> and support for HTML5 as a substitute that don't at this stage seem that convincing. They do restrict the experience significantly as you just can't help finding apps on the web that are driven by Flash and Java, and that isn't going to change in a long time even if Apple thinks it should.

That's arguable. HTML is in its infancy, but already YouTube and Vimeo - the two biggest video sites on the Web - offer HTML alternatives. Indeed, Vimeo now uses HTML *in preference* to Flash, and they say it's a better solution that works on more devices with better performance and greater flexibility. Numerous other sites are following suit. HTML5 is starting to kill Flash off as far as video is concerned.

Where it's not yet a viable replacement is for other interactive stuff, and that's mainly due to the lack of a decent IDE for HTML5. This is where Adobe could make a killing: Release something with the ease-of-use of programming Flash, but with HTML5 output. Win-win. But they're more concerned with maintaining their proprietary closed system - Flash - and accusing Apple of being closed in the same way (which is at least half true, but neither useful nor constructive).

>You can just about tolerate that on a phone, but not on a pad which has to substitute for a regular computer sometimes.

"Has to"? It's not intended to. It's sold as a device that fits between a laptop and a phone. It may be able to fulfil many people's laptop requirements, but that's because an awful lot of people have bought laptops when actually all they needed was a web browser and email client. This is where the netbook market formed - people didn't need the power of an expensive laptop and eventually realised this. The iPad is making a killing there: ASUS, maker of the Eee, has drastically reduced its netbook part orders for the next quarter, and stated that it's due to the iPad.

The iPad is aimed mainly at these people who didn't need all that power, but did have a number of specific tasks they wanted to be able to do without lugging around a laptop - bear in mind how much of a pain most laptops are to carry around in real-world use!

>The Safari web browser implementation is very good indeed, but whether Apple likes it or not, a lot of web-delivered material is available only with those two tools, and whilst some are covered by separate apps, Box.net is a fine example and BBC News,

Those two are both good, yes.

> a lot are not which makes certain types of rich content (including some of our own Open University material) inaccessible to Pad users. Android smartphones and upcoming tablets do support these tools and that gives it a substantial technical edge which may be why it's currently moving ahead in numbers worldwide. It's also way cheaper to buy.

That's not entirely fair. Only the latest Android phones support Flash, and then with a lot of caveats. However, you're right about Java. Problem is, the Java user experience is often poor. It *can* be good - and there are some good examples out there - but it often isn't. It also completely ignores any hardware-specific features such as multi-touch, the accelerometer, the ambient light sensor, etc. unless custom drivers are written. Apple's response, which is dogmatic but practical, is that if you're going to have to write custom software anyway, why not write it with the tools that are optimised for this purpose, rather than asking Apple to write custom drivers for what they see as an inferior setup. There are counter-arguments to this, it's not an open-and-shut case, but they do have a point.

> Although a 'Pad' computer is just that, and the iPad doesn't claim to be a replacement desktop, another major frustration for someone who writes a lot is the lack of a proper keyboard, cursor and backspace key

Not an issue. You can use any Bluetooth keyboard with the iPad - I've got one in my office if you want to try - or a laser projection keyboard (Blaine's got one) or, if you have the camera kit that gives it a USB slot, even a USB keyboard. There's also a Dock with a built-in keyboard, though I actually don't think this is particularly good since you can't use it with any kind of protective case.

> (and indeed a mouse)

But a mouse is meaningless in a multitouch environment. It's no more useful to you than a steering wheel would be for controlling your email client - it just doesn't work using that metaphor. There is no pointer, so you don't need pointer control. If you want a pointer, you're looking for a specific thing, not a solution to most people's needs, and as such you shouldn't be using a device designed to work a different way. This is analogous to complaining about your car because it doesn't work on water, when in actual fact what you wanted was a boat.

> for the production of material like the entry I'm writing now. I'm actually using an inexpensive mini Linux-based ASUS machine with a full (though small) keyboard to type this and then I'll email it and paste it to the blog later and edit it using the RDP client to my Windows 7 desktop. A Bluetooth keyboard (Apple can provide one with a dock) and mouse would be a really useful adjunct to raise productivity. The lack of a cursor key or rocker device (as I have on my very old HP iPaq PDA) is a real annoyance.

Again, you're looking for a specific device because you're familiar with it, not because it's better. If you really need cursor keys (which you probably would when writing large amounts), you can use a keyboard, but you probably rarely need them since you can simply touch the screen to move the cursor. There's a spreadsheet on the iPad, for example… you don't need to use clunky cursor keys to move cells, you just touch the cell you want and it works. And besides, on the occasions when you need the cursor keys, the keyboard option is there - it's just that you're not forced to carry it around all the time when you *don't* want it, which is to my mind a better setup. Let people carry what they do want, don't force them to carry what they don't.

The iPad is certainly different to any other device. The fact that all the manufacturers are rushing to make clone devices or "iPad killers" suggests that it's different in ways that are positive - or at least saleable - to a large number of users. But by the time they've caught up with V1.0 of the iPad, there'll be a V2.0, and so on. Apple seem to be one of only a few companies in the tech hardware sector who actually innovate in more than a narrow niche. There are downsides too - it's by no means perfect, and the whole DRM and lockdown issue is a thorny one. But never has the old Apple motto "think different" been as well applied as with the iPad and iPhone. The iPhone changed the entire phone marketplace, and the iPad looks like it's starting to do the same with the low-end computing market. I'm really glad that there is competition from Android and other devices, since this competition forces both sides to kep improving, and the consumer wins whatever happens, but I do wish that every other company wouldn't focus on copying Apple, and would instead come up with something new and interesting of their own. Palm had some interesting ideas with WebOS, but they're being slow in following up, and they are falling behind again. HP might make something interesting with the WebOS tablet they're working on, but if it's just another iPad clone, it'll be a waste of time.

I'll doubtless be accused of being an Apple apologist here, but really I'm not. I'm enthusiastic only because I simply find their stuff has advantages for the way I want to work, and I find the ease of work - the reduced friction between me and what I actually want to do - is a breath of fresh air, and a source of joy. When they screw up - which they occasionally do, e.g. the Mighty Mouse's flawed design - I'm equally damning of them, I just restrict the complaints - and the praise - to the devices which earn them.

>The 'magnifying glass' concept borrowed from the iPhone is OK but frustratingly fiddly when you just want to inch back or forward a couple of letters or words. There's enough room on the device for one after all and it is an expensive device.

Then perhaps it isn't the device for you, but it's still not a weakness… Apple believe that the benefits of not including a keyboard (which would immediately massively increase the size and weight of the device, unless you want one of the horrible little "tappy" keyboards that you really can't touch-type much on) and using an onscreen one by default, but supporting external options, outweigh the downsides of that choice. I agree. I also think it's a good idea to have the choice when you do need it.

> But all that said, and when taken on its own terms, it's a very good (though indeed very expensive)

I certainly wouldn't argue it's cheap, but given what it offers, I don't think it's "very" expensive. Models start at £429. This is comparable to the cheapest of laptops, it's true, but if you've ever used one of those cheap laptops you've got more tolerance for poor design and implementation than I have. It's more expensive than many netbooks, which are what it's most often compared to, but then netbooks are inherently compromise devices, and so it's only fair to compare them as such. You've got a MUCH better IPS screen, HD video playback, bluetooth, top notch sound quality, a multi-touch screen, and a device that can be so many things (not always the best at all of them, but at least good at them all, e.g. the Kindle's a better eBook reader but can't do anything else) with an extremely coherent and secure OS, a very active software development community, tens of thousands of applications, and a completely new interface paradigm which means that when you use the iPad for any given function, the iPad itself almost melts away and *becomes* the task you're doing. This is the advantage of the minimal design… watching a video on my netbook (apart from the poor video performance some netbooks have) was always compromised by the ugly surround and poor speakers and the keyboard in the way, and so on. Watching a video on the iPad, it's simply a video in my hands. The iPad has become its purpose and gets out of my way. Ditto with reading. Ditto web browsing, gaming, and so on. For creative tasks, which require more interaction, it's not *as* smooth, but it still works well.

The netbooks can generally do more, as they can run full desktop OSs. But there are also many more compromises. I have a fairly good netbook, which I have configured to run both the Mac OS (which I prefer) and Windows 7. Performance is actually not too bad on either OS. But it's heavier, bulkier, and less convenient than the iPad, and since I bought mine, I have only used the netbook to get my data off it and on to the new device.

> tool for people on the road, and I'll not be returning it till the end of next week when I plan to use nothing else when I'm away on a trip. I've even installed a piano app on it which may come in very handy.

If you find a need it doesn't currently fulfil, do email me. I'm more familiar with the app store, and may be able to recommend solutions. For example, you mentioned a piano app - I presume that was the free "Virtuoso". But you might also be interested in Voice Band, which lets you use your voice to hum or sing a song, and then turns that voice into the instrument you select and lets you overlay multiple tracks to create complex multilayered music (a complete example is at { Link } ). Or you might be interested in something which uses the multitouch screen in a way no laptop or netbook can, like this: { Link }

At the end of the day, the iPad like any device has strengths and weaknesses, and it's not for everyone, and that's the way it should be. You have several valid points... but some of them are already addressed, or are justifiable compromises with solutions, and if I can help with those, I will.

Personally, I'm very happy with my iPad, and I'd like to help other people achieve the same level of satisfaction, whatever device they're using! :-)]]>
It's true - there are limitations. However, few of them are without reason, and there are indeed workarounds for most - not all - of them.

>The main one is the lack of Flash and Java Runtime Environment for Apple policy reasons in its troubled relationship with Adobe

This isn't due to trouble with Adobe as such. Adobe have yet to deliver a viable version of Flash on anything smaller than a netbook. Their much-vaunted Flash player for mobile devices is two years behind schedule, doesn't work on many phones or sites, and when it does work the experience varies from adequate to abysmal. This is from a Flash supporter: { Link } That said, though, I agree that with the iPad's meatier processor it might work better. But battery life is one of the iPad's strong points, and Flash cripples battery life on all devices, including laptops. My netbook, for example, configured to run Mac OS 10.5: Used purely for browsing with Flash disabled: 4 hours' life. Browsing approximately the same sites (this wasn't an intentional test) with ClickToFlash disabled, so Flash was running: 2.5 hours.

> and support for HTML5 as a substitute that don't at this stage seem that convincing. They do restrict the experience significantly as you just can't help finding apps on the web that are driven by Flash and Java, and that isn't going to change in a long time even if Apple thinks it should.

That's arguable. HTML is in its infancy, but already YouTube and Vimeo - the two biggest video sites on the Web - offer HTML alternatives. Indeed, Vimeo now uses HTML *in preference* to Flash, and they say it's a better solution that works on more devices with better performance and greater flexibility. Numerous other sites are following suit. HTML5 is starting to kill Flash off as far as video is concerned.

Where it's not yet a viable replacement is for other interactive stuff, and that's mainly due to the lack of a decent IDE for HTML5. This is where Adobe could make a killing: Release something with the ease-of-use of programming Flash, but with HTML5 output. Win-win. But they're more concerned with maintaining their proprietary closed system - Flash - and accusing Apple of being closed in the same way (which is at least half true, but neither useful nor constructive).

>You can just about tolerate that on a phone, but not on a pad which has to substitute for a regular computer sometimes.

"Has to"? It's not intended to. It's sold as a device that fits between a laptop and a phone. It may be able to fulfil many people's laptop requirements, but that's because an awful lot of people have bought laptops when actually all they needed was a web browser and email client. This is where the netbook market formed - people didn't need the power of an expensive laptop and eventually realised this. The iPad is making a killing there: ASUS, maker of the Eee, has drastically reduced its netbook part orders for the next quarter, and stated that it's due to the iPad.

The iPad is aimed mainly at these people who didn't need all that power, but did have a number of specific tasks they wanted to be able to do without lugging around a laptop - bear in mind how much of a pain most laptops are to carry around in real-world use!

>The Safari web browser implementation is very good indeed, but whether Apple likes it or not, a lot of web-delivered material is available only with those two tools, and whilst some are covered by separate apps, Box.net is a fine example and BBC News,

Those two are both good, yes.

> a lot are not which makes certain types of rich content (including some of our own Open University material) inaccessible to Pad users. Android smartphones and upcoming tablets do support these tools and that gives it a substantial technical edge which may be why it's currently moving ahead in numbers worldwide. It's also way cheaper to buy.

That's not entirely fair. Only the latest Android phones support Flash, and then with a lot of caveats. However, you're right about Java. Problem is, the Java user experience is often poor. It *can* be good - and there are some good examples out there - but it often isn't. It also completely ignores any hardware-specific features such as multi-touch, the accelerometer, the ambient light sensor, etc. unless custom drivers are written. Apple's response, which is dogmatic but practical, is that if you're going to have to write custom software anyway, why not write it with the tools that are optimised for this purpose, rather than asking Apple to write custom drivers for what they see as an inferior setup. There are counter-arguments to this, it's not an open-and-shut case, but they do have a point.

> Although a 'Pad' computer is just that, and the iPad doesn't claim to be a replacement desktop, another major frustration for someone who writes a lot is the lack of a proper keyboard, cursor and backspace key

Not an issue. You can use any Bluetooth keyboard with the iPad - I've got one in my office if you want to try - or a laser projection keyboard (Blaine's got one) or, if you have the camera kit that gives it a USB slot, even a USB keyboard. There's also a Dock with a built-in keyboard, though I actually don't think this is particularly good since you can't use it with any kind of protective case.

> (and indeed a mouse)

But a mouse is meaningless in a multitouch environment. It's no more useful to you than a steering wheel would be for controlling your email client - it just doesn't work using that metaphor. There is no pointer, so you don't need pointer control. If you want a pointer, you're looking for a specific thing, not a solution to most people's needs, and as such you shouldn't be using a device designed to work a different way. This is analogous to complaining about your car because it doesn't work on water, when in actual fact what you wanted was a boat.

> for the production of material like the entry I'm writing now. I'm actually using an inexpensive mini Linux-based ASUS machine with a full (though small) keyboard to type this and then I'll email it and paste it to the blog later and edit it using the RDP client to my Windows 7 desktop. A Bluetooth keyboard (Apple can provide one with a dock) and mouse would be a really useful adjunct to raise productivity. The lack of a cursor key or rocker device (as I have on my very old HP iPaq PDA) is a real annoyance.

Again, you're looking for a specific device because you're familiar with it, not because it's better. If you really need cursor keys (which you probably would when writing large amounts), you can use a keyboard, but you probably rarely need them since you can simply touch the screen to move the cursor. There's a spreadsheet on the iPad, for example… you don't need to use clunky cursor keys to move cells, you just touch the cell you want and it works. And besides, on the occasions when you need the cursor keys, the keyboard option is there - it's just that you're not forced to carry it around all the time when you *don't* want it, which is to my mind a better setup. Let people carry what they do want, don't force them to carry what they don't.

The iPad is certainly different to any other device. The fact that all the manufacturers are rushing to make clone devices or "iPad killers" suggests that it's different in ways that are positive - or at least saleable - to a large number of users. But by the time they've caught up with V1.0 of the iPad, there'll be a V2.0, and so on. Apple seem to be one of only a few companies in the tech hardware sector who actually innovate in more than a narrow niche. There are downsides too - it's by no means perfect, and the whole DRM and lockdown issue is a thorny one. But never has the old Apple motto "think different" been as well applied as with the iPad and iPhone. The iPhone changed the entire phone marketplace, and the iPad looks like it's starting to do the same with the low-end computing market. I'm really glad that there is competition from Android and other devices, since this competition forces both sides to kep improving, and the consumer wins whatever happens, but I do wish that every other company wouldn't focus on copying Apple, and would instead come up with something new and interesting of their own. Palm had some interesting ideas with WebOS, but they're being slow in following up, and they are falling behind again. HP might make something interesting with the WebOS tablet they're working on, but if it's just another iPad clone, it'll be a waste of time.

I'll doubtless be accused of being an Apple apologist here, but really I'm not. I'm enthusiastic only because I simply find their stuff has advantages for the way I want to work, and I find the ease of work - the reduced friction between me and what I actually want to do - is a breath of fresh air, and a source of joy. When they screw up - which they occasionally do, e.g. the Mighty Mouse's flawed design - I'm equally damning of them, I just restrict the complaints - and the praise - to the devices which earn them.

>The 'magnifying glass' concept borrowed from the iPhone is OK but frustratingly fiddly when you just want to inch back or forward a couple of letters or words. There's enough room on the device for one after all and it is an expensive device.

Then perhaps it isn't the device for you, but it's still not a weakness… Apple believe that the benefits of not including a keyboard (which would immediately massively increase the size and weight of the device, unless you want one of the horrible little "tappy" keyboards that you really can't touch-type much on) and using an onscreen one by default, but supporting external options, outweigh the downsides of that choice. I agree. I also think it's a good idea to have the choice when you do need it.

> But all that said, and when taken on its own terms, it's a very good (though indeed very expensive)

I certainly wouldn't argue it's cheap, but given what it offers, I don't think it's "very" expensive. Models start at £429. This is comparable to the cheapest of laptops, it's true, but if you've ever used one of those cheap laptops you've got more tolerance for poor design and implementation than I have. It's more expensive than many netbooks, which are what it's most often compared to, but then netbooks are inherently compromise devices, and so it's only fair to compare them as such. You've got a MUCH better IPS screen, HD video playback, bluetooth, top notch sound quality, a multi-touch screen, and a device that can be so many things (not always the best at all of them, but at least good at them all, e.g. the Kindle's a better eBook reader but can't do anything else) with an extremely coherent and secure OS, a very active software development community, tens of thousands of applications, and a completely new interface paradigm which means that when you use the iPad for any given function, the iPad itself almost melts away and *becomes* the task you're doing. This is the advantage of the minimal design… watching a video on my netbook (apart from the poor video performance some netbooks have) was always compromised by the ugly surround and poor speakers and the keyboard in the way, and so on. Watching a video on the iPad, it's simply a video in my hands. The iPad has become its purpose and gets out of my way. Ditto with reading. Ditto web browsing, gaming, and so on. For creative tasks, which require more interaction, it's not *as* smooth, but it still works well.

The netbooks can generally do more, as they can run full desktop OSs. But there are also many more compromises. I have a fairly good netbook, which I have configured to run both the Mac OS (which I prefer) and Windows 7. Performance is actually not too bad on either OS. But it's heavier, bulkier, and less convenient than the iPad, and since I bought mine, I have only used the netbook to get my data off it and on to the new device.

> tool for people on the road, and I'll not be returning it till the end of next week when I plan to use nothing else when I'm away on a trip. I've even installed a piano app on it which may come in very handy.

If you find a need it doesn't currently fulfil, do email me. I'm more familiar with the app store, and may be able to recommend solutions. For example, you mentioned a piano app - I presume that was the free "Virtuoso". But you might also be interested in Voice Band, which lets you use your voice to hum or sing a song, and then turns that voice into the instrument you select and lets you overlay multiple tracks to create complex multilayered music (a complete example is at { Link } ). Or you might be interested in something which uses the multitouch screen in a way no laptop or netbook can, like this: { Link }

At the end of the day, the iPad like any device has strengths and weaknesses, and it's not for everyone, and that's the way it should be. You have several valid points... but some of them are already addressed, or are justifiable compromises with solutions, and if I can help with those, I will.

Personally, I'm very happy with my iPad, and I'd like to help other people achieve the same level of satisfaction, whatever device they're using! :-)]]> http://mct.open.ac.uk/IT-DEV-BLOG.nsf/dx/living-with-an-ipad.htm?opendocument&comments#23082010102857MCSD5N.htm Tue, 6 Jul 2010 03:35:05 PM +0100 David Clover Exchanging large files - not by email
Use of the service is restricted to members of the MCT Faculty with a logon account - although users from other Faculties can be added to the Access Control List on request.]]>
Use of the service is restricted to members of the MCT Faculty with a logon account - although users from other Faculties can be added to the Access Control List on request.]]> http://mct.open.ac.uk/IT-DEV-BLOG.nsf/dx/exchanging-large-files-not-by-email.htm?opendocument&comments#06072010153505MCSK4Y.htm Mon, 5 Jul 2010 10:23:11 AM +0100 Andrew Open University becomes a Microsoft Academy Link }

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Andrew]]> http://mct.open.ac.uk/IT-DEV-BLOG.nsf/dx/open-university-becomes-a-microsoft-academy.htm?opendocument&comments#07052010102311AMMCSD22.htm Fri, 2 Jul 2010 10:41:28 AM +0100 Patrick Wong Exchanging large files - not by email
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Patrick]]> http://mct.open.ac.uk/IT-DEV-BLOG.nsf/dx/exchanging-large-files-not-by-email.htm?opendocument&comments#02072010104128MCSDDG.htm Tue, 22 Jun 2010 04:20:55 PM +0100 David Clover Working with Research paper data using ORO and XML http://mct.open.ac.uk/IT-DEV-BLOG.nsf/dx/working-with-research-paper-data-using-oro-and-xml.htm?opendocument&comments#22062010162055MCSKZM.htm