Log In | Register
Skip to main content
Topic: iPod/iPhone/iPad articles -- off topic (Read 2 times) previous topic - next topic
0 Members and 1 Guest are viewing this topic.
iPod/iPhone/iPad articles -- off topic
Yahoo Message Number: 110286
I've posted a series of three articles about the new Apple iPad tablet, the iPhone, and the iPod Touch (a "pocket tablet") on the Skylarking website:

http://www.andybaird.com/travels/skylarking/>
 In the article "My shirt-pocket computer," I describe a "day in the life" scenario, illustrating the many ways in which I put my iPod Touch to use. And in "A few of my favorite things," I go into detail about the applications I've found most useful. If you own an iPhone or iPod Touch, you may find some tips you can use in these two articles.

Andy Baird http://www.andybaird.com/travels/
Andy Baird
2021 Ford Ranger towing 2019 Airstream 19CB
Previously: 1985 LD Twin/King "Gertie"; 2003 LD Midbath "Skylark"
Re: iPod/iPhone/iPad articles -- off topic
Reply #1 –
Yahoo Message Number: 110288
Quote
I've posted a series of three articles about the new Apple iPad tablet, the iPhone, and the iPod Touch (a "pocket tablet") on the Skylarking website:
Excellent articles, Andy! I also sent them on to folks who aren't on this group, but who I think will find the information useful.

Sharon N.
Crossville, TN
Re: iPod/iPhone/iPad articles -- off topic
Reply #2 –
Yahoo Message Number: 110307
Quote
 
 I've posted a series of three articles about the new Apple iPad tablet, the iPhone, and the iPod Touch (a "pocket tablet") on the Skylarking website:

Excellent articles, Andy! I also sent them on to folks who aren't on this group, but who I think will find the information useful.
Good article. I'm not clear on the docking station vs the USB cable. Does the iPOD touch not sync if you use the USB cable? I don't get what the advantage is.

Thanks, Richard
Re: iPod/iPhone/iPad articles -- off topic
Reply #3 –
Yahoo Message Number: 110309
Quote
 
 I've posted a series of three articles about the new Apple iPad tablet, the iPhone, and the iPod Touch (a "pocket tablet") on the Skylarking website:

Excellent articles, Andy! I also sent them on to folks who aren't on this group, but who I think will find the information useful.
Good article. I'm not clear on the docking station vs the USB cable. Does the iPOD touch not sync if you use the USB cable? I don't get what the advantage is.

Thanks, Richard
Re: iPod/iPhone/iPad articles -- off topic
Reply #4 –
Yahoo Message Number: 110314
"I'm not clear on the docking station vs the USB cable."
 They work exactly the same: sync, charge batteries, and so on. It's just that the docking station lets you drop iPod or iPhone onto its cradle instead of fumbling with a cable, and it holds the device upright. (It also has an audio/video output jack on the back, so if you want to connect it to a TV set or audio system, you can.) No big deal, but the convenience was worth $15 to me.
 The Belkin docking station I recommended works with all iPods that have a docking connector, by the way--that's all recent models except for the diminutive Shuffles.

Andy Baird http://www.andybaird.com/travels/
Andy Baird
2021 Ford Ranger towing 2019 Airstream 19CB
Previously: 1985 LD Twin/King "Gertie"; 2003 LD Midbath "Skylark"
Re: iPod/iPhone/iPad articles -- off topic
Reply #5 –
Yahoo Message Number: 110318
Oh Andy, you are a devil. I have been putting off getting an iTouch because I have a Nano, which I like because it is skinnier. But now I have to have an iTouch.

Is 8g really enough for all that?

[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
Re: iPod/iPhone/iPad articles -- off topic
Reply #6 –
Yahoo Message Number: 110320
"Is 8g really enough for all that?"
 Depends on what you want to do with it. If you want  to put ALL your music on the iPod Touch, you should buy one that's big enough to hold it. Open iTunes (a free download for PCs or Macs, if you don't already have it), choose "Music" in the column at left, and look at the bottom of the window to see how much space your music collection needs. In my case it says "6922 songs, 18.4 days, 26.91 GB", so to hold all my music, I'd need a 32GB iPod.
 But i already have all my music stored on a 60GB iPod. I wanted the iPod Touch primarily to use as a handheld tablet computer, and for that, 8GB was plenty big. Here's how it shapes up:

107 applications (plus the 16 built-in ones): 1.51 GB 20 hours of audio (262 songs, just to give me something to listen to): 1.55 GB Feature film "Bringing Up Baby" (1938, Cary Grant/Katherine Hepburn): 1.1 GB 1,472 photos: 0.96 GB Misc. other files: 0.52 GB

Unused space: 1.43 GB
 For my purposes, that's a comfortable margin. If I needed more room, I could always delete the movie--I put it on there as an experiment, but I don't expect to watch it on a regular basis. ;-) Again, I'm not trying to store my whole music library on this device.
 At $184, the 8GB model http://tinyurl.com/yagzdk7> is a bargain if your primary purpose is to use it as a handheld tablet computer, as I do. If you want room for more music or video, the 32GB http://tinyurl.com/yls953z> or 64GB http://tinyurl.com/y9hcntq> models may be more your style.
 One more suggestion: the iPod Touch comes without a case, and you'll want one to protect it. Stretchy silicone-rubber cases that snap over the iPod are fairly popular, and I tried a couple of those, but I wasn't crazy about them... the rubber made for a good grip, but also made it hard to pull the iPod out of my pocket. And I needed to add a clear screen protector, since the rubber case doesn't cover the screen. I ended up with this $7 leather case:

http://tinyurl.com/y8z4pja>
 It has a flap that protects the screen and can be held either open or closed by its magnetic catches. Good protection, good grip, and all the controls are still accessible. I'm very happy with it.

Andy Baird http://www.andybaird.com/travels/
Andy Baird
2021 Ford Ranger towing 2019 Airstream 19CB
Previously: 1985 LD Twin/King "Gertie"; 2003 LD Midbath "Skylark"
Re: iPod/iPhone/iPad articles -- off topic
Reply #7 –
Yahoo Message Number: 110329
I've posted a series of three articles about the new Apple iPad tablet, the iPhone, and the iPod Touch (a "pocket tablet") on the Skylarking website:
 Very nicely covered Andy. I may have to get an iTouch afterall. Does it all work the same with a PC? Anything different for us non-Mac folks?

--Pleinguy
 http://ww.landscapesartstudio.com/
Pleinguy : Full-Timer
2004 Twin-King "Tardis"
PleinAirJourney.com
Re: iPod/iPhone/iPad articles -- off topic
Reply #8 –
Yahoo Message Number: 110332
"Does it all work the same with a PC? Anything different for us non-Mac folks?"
 I haven't tested it on Windows, but since the iPod's connection to your computer is primarily via iTunes, which is the same on Mac and PC, everything should work the same. Apple has supported iPods on Windows PCs for almost a decade now, so the technology is pretty well established.

Andy Baird http://www.andybaird.com/travels/
Andy Baird
2021 Ford Ranger towing 2019 Airstream 19CB
Previously: 1985 LD Twin/King "Gertie"; 2003 LD Midbath "Skylark"
Re: iPod/iPhone/iPad articles -- off topic
Reply #9 –
Yahoo Message Number: 110336
Quote

 I've posted a series of three articles about the new Apple iPad tablet, the iPhone, and the iPod Touch (a "pocket tablet") on the Skylarking website:
 Very nicely covered Andy. I may have to get an iTouch afterall. Does it all work the same with a PC? Anything different for us non-Mac folks?

--Pleinguy
 http://ww.landscapesartstudio.com/
I have one and it works fine with PC and windows OS.
Best feature I like about it on the road is not having to carry a laptop all over the place to get your email when the park you are in does not have WI-FI. That's pretty often for us since we like COE parks.
I have the 8GB version which is more than adequate as Andy has indicated.
Re: iPod/iPhone/iPad articles -- (iTouch)
Reply #10 –
Yahoo Message Number: 110340
If you download the little Skype application to your iTouch, then whenever you get a wifi signal, you can telephone either:

1.  another Skype user for free or  
2.  any telephone - for just a few cents a minute (you just use a prepaid account, if I remember, set up via the Skype application)

You use these little earbuds with a microphone on the cord.
 We used my son, Charles', iTouch to call home from Europe all the time.  Very handy and inexpensive!
 Of course, you can always use a laptop with Skype on it, but the iTouch was much easier because as you know, when you travel, finding wifi can be a challenge - wifi is not always conveniently available within your RV.

Hope that helps, Tessa in TX
Re: iPod/iPhone/iPad articles
Reply #11 –
Yahoo Message Number: 110343
"[iPod Touch] was much easier because as you know, when you travel, finding wifi can be a challenge - wifi is not always conveniently available within your RV."
 Right--you can walk around with the iPod Touch looking for a Wi-Fi signal (I use the 99-cent WifiTrak app to make that easy). It's possible to do that with a laptop, but it's very awkward compared to doing it with a pocket-sized device.
 That said, it's not hard to get a Wi-Fi signal into your rig. If you're using a USB cell modem or aircard, as most folks do nowadays, a Cradlepoint CTR500 EVDO Router (http://tinyurl.com/ykb75sd>) can act as a bridge between the cellular phone network and any Wi-Fi devices you may have, giving you a local Wi-Fi hotspot.
 Slightly larger than a pack of cards, the CTR500 has a place to plug in your USB cell modem or aircard. It makes the connection to the internet, and then securely shares that connection via Wi-Fi with any devices that happen to be in the vicinity. If you have one aircard and two laptops, or a laptop and an iPod Touch, this is a great way to give everybody internet access on a single account. And the CTR-500 runs on 12V! :-)
 (Cradlepoint makes several similar devices, but the CTR500 is best suited for RVers. And competing devices from Kyocera and others have generally been rated as less reliable than the Cradlepoint products by reviewers.)
 But there's an even slicker way to do this: MiFi (http://tinyurl.com/ycm8vya>). It's a slim, two-ounce battery-powered device the size of a business card that includes a cell modem and Wi-Fi router all in one pocket-sized package. Turn it on, and you have your own portable Wi-Fi hotspot!
 Which device is best? Well, if you already have a cell modem or aircard, the Cradlepoint CTR500 works with it, so no changes in your contract are necessary. MiFi, on the other hand, requires a separate contract with your cell phone provider. As with many such things, you can get a MiFi for free with a two-year contract... but if you already have a cell modem or aircard that came with a contract, you'll need to talk with your phone company about what's involved in switching to MiFi. (Verizon does sell and support MiFi.)
 The important thing is that if there's a digital cell phone signal available, either of these devices will give you a Wi-Fi network inside your RV. I use the CTR500 myself, but am thinking of switching to MiFi when my Verizon contract is up for renewal.

Andy Baird http://www.andybaird.com/travels/
Andy Baird
2021 Ford Ranger towing 2019 Airstream 19CB
Previously: 1985 LD Twin/King "Gertie"; 2003 LD Midbath "Skylark"
Re: iPod/iPhone/iPad articles
Reply #12 –
Yahoo Message Number: 110345
Quote
But there's an even slicker way to do this: MiFi (http://tinyurl.com/ycm8vya>). It's a slim, two-ounce battery-powered device the size of a business card that includes a cell modem and Wi-Fi router all in one pocket-sized package. Turn it on, and you have your own portable Wi-Fi hotspot!
I looked into Mifi a while back.
As I understand it, and I may very well be wrong, the disadvantage of MiFi vs a wireless router is that there is no way to connect MiFi to an external antenna and cell phone booster like you can easily do with your Wireless modem/AirCard (assuming an external antenna port on the card).
 Depending on your location that may be a limiting factor in using MiFi.

ed
Re: iPod/iPhone/iPad articles
Reply #13 –
Yahoo Message Number: 110346
The other thing my recent research turned up on the 3G Store, was a router ready for 4G. The MBR 1000. PLUS, you get a free CTR-350 as part of the deal.
 http://3gstore.com/index.php?main_page=index&cPath=35

I've purchased stuff from the 3G Store in the past. They have excellent phone support. Very nice, if like me, you just might need some handholding during the setup process.

Ed
Re: iPod/iPhone/iPad articles
Reply #14 –
Yahoo Message Number: 110347
"there is no way to connect MiFi to an external antenna and cell phone booster like you can easily do with your Wireless modem/AirCard..."
 Not with a hardwired connection. But the Wilson Universal Connector (http://tinyurl.com/ykt4fyf>) has made that unnecessary with all cellular devices. You just stick the patch on the end of the Wilson cable to your phone, aircard, or whatever.
 I've been using one of these for years with phones and USB cell modems, and it works as well as a hardwired connection with none of the risks (connector damage, static discharge, etc.). In fact, by putting my cell phone next to my cellular modem, I've been able to use it to boosted signal to both devices at once!  You can't do that with a hardwired connection. :-)

Andy Baird http://www.andybaird.com/travels/
Andy Baird
2021 Ford Ranger towing 2019 Airstream 19CB
Previously: 1985 LD Twin/King "Gertie"; 2003 LD Midbath "Skylark"
Re: iPod/iPhone/iPad articles
Reply #15 –
Yahoo Message Number: 110349
I forgot to add that MiFi does have one drawback with respect to antennas: while you can add a boosted cell signal from an external antenna/amp setup, as I explained, there's no way to connect an external Wi-Fi antenna to MiFi. That limits its range to about 30', but that shouldn't be a problem for the kinds of uses this is likely to be put to. The Cradlepoint CTR500 can drive an external Wi-Fi antenna, if you really want to make your hotspot available to the entire campground. ;-)
 3GStore.com is indeed a good outfit. Unfortunately, due to a contractual squabble with Verizon, they're not permitted to sell Verizon equipment. The fault is entirely Verizon's, but at least for now, you can't buy a Verizon-commissioned MiFi from the 3GStore.

Andy Baird http://www.andybaird.com/travels/
Andy Baird
2021 Ford Ranger towing 2019 Airstream 19CB
Previously: 1985 LD Twin/King "Gertie"; 2003 LD Midbath "Skylark"
Re: iPod/iPhone/iPad articles
Reply #16 –
Yahoo Message Number: 110354
Quote
"there is no way to connect MiFi to an external antenna and cell phone booster like you can easily do with your Wireless modem/AirCard..."
 Not with a hardwired connection. But the Wilson Universal Connector () has made that unnecessary with all cellular devices. You just stick the patch on the end of the Wilson cable to your phone, aircard, or whatever.
Thank you, Andy. I'm reviewing my internet options. I'll factor in your ideas. ed
Re: iPod/iPhone/iPad articles -- off topic
Reply #17 –
Yahoo Message Number: 110364
Best feature I like about it on the road is not having to carry a laptop all over the place to get your email when the park you are in does not have WI-FI.
===================== Doesn't the iPod work off wifi? Without it, how do you get your email?

Anne Johnson

Lovely (fixin' to get ready to start raining, AGAIN) La Verne, CA
 
Re: iPod/iPhone/iPad articles -- off topic
Reply #18 –
Yahoo Message Number: 110373
"Doesn't the iPod work off wifi? Without it, how do you get your email?"
 I think what Tessa meant (as I suggested in my reply) was that when you're looking for a Wi-Fi hotspot in a strange town, it's a lot easier to find one by carrying an iPod Touch in your hand than by walking around with an open laptop computer.
 Of course, as I mentioned in a later message, there's also MiFi, which gives you a Wi-Fi hotspot in your pocket as long as you're in range of a cell tower. With MiFi, you can use an iPod almost as if it were an iPhone... but you can use Verizon, instead of being stuck with AT&T. :-)

Andy Baird http://www.andybaird.com/travels/
Andy Baird
2021 Ford Ranger towing 2019 Airstream 19CB
Previously: 1985 LD Twin/King "Gertie"; 2003 LD Midbath "Skylark"