Whats on My iPhone

Get Past the Hype: Go for the $499 iPad Model

by Bakari Chavanu Feb 02, 2010

Now that we’ve all had a few days to digest the hoopla and hype of the iPad, it might be a good idea to take a deep breath and really consider if the iPad is indeed the missing link device between our iPhone/iPod touches and our desktop or laptop computers?

In the near twenty years that I’ve been a dedicated Mac user, I don’t think I’ve ever purchased the first generation of any piece of Apple hardware. Part of the reason was that the price tags were beyond my budget, but the other reason was that I typically knew that the second and third generations would be better and often less expensive.

So what about the iPad? Well it seems there’s a first time for everything. Here are a list of reasons off the top of my head why I don’t plan to wait, followed by a list of reasons I’m going to only purchase the $499 model.

A Stylish Laptop
First off, the iPad is pretty much a larger size iPod touch. Though I don’t use the touch anymore, I primarily use my iPhone as a mini, mini, laptop. There are days when I never receive or make a phone call with my iPhone, but there’s never a day that I don’t check email, surf the web, view videos or listen to podcasts on the device. I’ve even read several Kindle books on the iPhone, finding the backlit screen a pleasure for bedtime reading.

But as much as I like portability of the iPhone, I must say there are many times I wanted to view stuff on a larger screen. The iPad of course serves that purpose. It’s 9.5″ screen brings the portability of a laptop without the weight of an attached keyboard. I’ve yet to replace my old PowerBook with a MacBook or MacBook Pro, so the iPad fulfills my laptop needs in that area as well.

Unfortunately however, the iPad probably won’t replace my iPhone, but it will surely diminish my use of it as a mini laptop.

Portfolio
For business purposes, as a photographer, the iPad and its photo displaying application are going to make for a sweet portfolio to woo potential clients. It’s also going to make a great family album that my wife will especially like. Because the iPad will include, among its accessories, a camera connection kit for importing photos and videos, and because of the multimedia applications built for it, such as Keynote, the iPad may well be the best tax write-off the year.

iBook
As stated before, I think I’m going to enjoy reading ebooks on the iPad. Sure, I’m a little concerned about the weight of the device and the brightness of the screen for reading. But having read several ebooks on the Kindle for the iPhone, I’m already hooked into ebooks. I’m hoping however, that the iBook application will have many if not all the features of the Kindle for the iPhone, including a black background and white letters for night reading and the ability to annotate text. I also of course want to be able to sync books and pages read between my iPad and the iPhone reader.

Why the $499 Model

Save Your Money
If you’ve been a long-time Mac user, and if you have seen a few Steve Jobs keynote presentations, you should know that all the while he’s doing his sales pitch on the first generation of a piece of hardware, the plans are already in the works for the second generation model.

The iPad 2 will include larger memory, a webcam, and maybe even some flash capability. Also, Apple definitely will need to build in multitasking for both the iPad and the iPhone/iPod touch so that users don’t have to constantly open and close applications.

16 Gigs of Memory: Enough!
Any Mac power user should know that nearly all media content can be wirelessly accessed these days. iTunes music, photos, videos, documents, and other files can be easily accessed “in the clouds,” as they say. There’s little reason to put your entire iTunes library or ten movies on an iPad. With the ability to connect an external drive and SuperDrive for DVDs and CDs, there’s little reason to carry huge media files on the tablet. I’ve yet to fill up the 8gigs of my iPhone, because I have plenty of ways to access my music and videos in the cloud. In fact, just recently I started using AirVideo, an iPhone app that allows me to wirelessly play nearly all designated videos stored on my Mac Pro, over WiFi.  So there’s little reason to pony-up for the 64gig device, unless you do lots of traveling and need that type of storage.

3G Data Plans
I also don’t plan on getting the 3G model, mainly because I already have the iPhone. Unless AT&T cuts me a sweet deal as an existing customer, it’s a pure waste of money to pay for 3G service on both devices.

So I’m not going to waste money purchasing the higher end $699 or $829 model. I’ll get the $499 model with the keyboard, and if I really like and use the device I’ll upgrade to the second generation tablet.

Also, I’m not sure what Apple plans to do for the iPhone 4.0, but it doesn’t look like I’ll need to upgrade to 3GS or to 4 anytime soon, after I get the iPad.

So what are your plans for the iPad? Where does it fit in the Mac hardware you already own? Or are you going to pass on it all together?

Upcoming CD Release Dates

16 February Tuesday

Album Preview: Jennifer Lopez – ‘Love?’

If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it. Jennifer Lopez sticks to her hitmaking formula on her seventh studio album Love? While it’s not due until April, Rap-Up.com was one of the first media outlets to hear nine tracks from the superstar’s dance floor-ready project, four months prior to its release. J.Lo’s first album since becoming a mother features contributions from heavy hitters including Danja, Rodney “Darkchild” Jerkins, The Neptunes (“Fresh Out the Oven”), Stargate (“Story of My Life”), Tricky Stewart and The-Dream (“Louboutins”), and Wynter Gordon.

The follow-up to 2007’s Brave is scheduled for release around the same time as Lopez’s romantic comedy The Back-Up Plan, in theaters April 16. As the title implies, the album is a love roller coaster, taking you through the ups and downs of a relationship. Some of the tracks we previewed were not final mixes and may change between now and release, and more songs will be added. Check out our exclusive track-by-track breakdown.

1. “Everybody’s Girl”
Produced by Mike Caren, Written by Wynter Gordon

It’s hard having a private life when you’re one of the most famous entertainers in the world. J.Lo questions whether her man is capable of loving her under the intense glare of the spotlight. “Can you love somebody when they’re everybody’s girl?” she asks over the slick uptempo production, while the hook repeats: “Can you love, can you love, can you love a girl?” One of the standout tracks, this could easily be a single.

2. “What Is Love”
Produced by D’Mile, Written by Wynter Gordon

A version of this song leaked online earlier this year. The latest version has been mixed and hits harder with added drums. There is a “What Is Love (Part 2)” produced by Jean Baptiste that may or may not make the album.

3. “Starting Over”
Produced by Danja, Written by Wynter Gordon

Jenny from the Block describes the hardships of getting back in the game after a breakup. “I’m afraid of starting over,” she sings over Danja’s fast-paced, galloping beat, while admitting she’s “still in love” with the man she left. “It’s like my whole existence he holds in his hands.”

4. “This Cannot Be Love”
Produced by Rodney “Darkchild” Jerkins

The beginning sounds like the chords from another Darkchild joint, Brandy and Monica’s duet “The Boy Is Mine.” It quickly picks up the pace with an electro-pop beat and speedy hook (“This cannot be love, this can’t be love, this can’t be love,” she repeats). J.Lo wonders whether true love exists. “How could something that felt so right turn so wrong? … I need to know right now,” she demands. The production gets more aggressive towards the end.

5. “One Love”
Produced by D’Mile, Written by A-Plus

“Took a shot with a bad boy from the block,” she croons on the leaked track. It won’t take long for listeners to make the connection to Sean “Diddy” Combs. “Mr. Wrong, he plays his part,” she says of her former music mogul boyfriend. But J.Lo is on to the next one, in search for that one true love of a lifetime. She counts her famous lovers by the numbers, #3 being Ben Affleck (“Came and swept me off my feet/ Went nowhere, but kept the ring/ Once again I’m lonely”) and her current husband Marc Anthony (“#4, you sang to me, but I’m not sure … Made me want to try once more and I couldn’t say no.”)

6. “Keeper”
Produced by Danja, Written by Britney Bereal and Luke Boyd

After much searching, J.Lo finally finds Mr. Right. The beat is somewhat reminiscent of T.I.’s “Hell of a Life,” which Danja also produced. “You give me so much love, you keep it locked down,” she sings on the bouncy hook. “It doesn’t matter what they tell me … That boy’s a keeper.” One of our favorites. Danja contributed another track called “Love and War” that was not played.

7. “Beautiful”
Produced by Mike Caren, Written by Chris Sernel

A guitar-driven ballad that sounds like it was made for a movie. In fact, it may be used during the end credits for The Back-Up Plan. “Some days I feel beautiful, just not today,” she sings on the Ryan Tedder-esque production.

“Louboutins,” the first single helmed by Tricky Stewart and The-Dream, as well as the Pitbull-assisted, Neptunes-produced buzz record “Fresh Out the Oven” will also be on the album.

–D.L.

The Sea ~ Corinne Bailey Rae

2 of 3 people found the following review helpful: “I DONT WANT TO GIVE YOU UP, BUT I DONT WANT TO HOLD YOU UP”, January 27, 2010 I wish I was writing reviews for Amazon back in 2006. That’s when Corrine Bailey Rae gave us her outstanding self-titled debut album. That album would have definitely received the prestigious 5-star on my scale. She was new, fresh and had a soft voice that glided over the entire album. Her sound was more India.Aire than Alicia Keys. Her homegrown style was reminiscent of a young Joni Mitchell. Then tragedy hit with the death of her husband. I knew it would be a long time before I heard a new Corrine song again. But then she jumps back in the studio a year later working on her next album. The buzz was that this was going to be a more emotional album.(Which is perfect since her first album lacked a lot of emotion.) Now, Corrine Bailey Rae is back with “The Sea”. Corrine’s first album had that sunny day, holding hands, walking through the grass barefoot kind of feel to it. “The Sea” is more therapeutic. She has totally abanded her bubblegum style with rock themed songs like “Paper Dolls”. “The Blackest Lily” is another fast paced song that sounds like it should have had Cyndi Lauper singing the hook. (And I think I heard auto-tune at the end.) The problem is that Corrine’s voice is not made for that genre. She doesn’t have the voice of a Erykah Badu so she gets lost behind the rhythm. Besides those couple setbacks the album is very good. Her poetic lyrics impress me on “Closer, I Do It All Again & Diving For Hearts” Mid tempo songs like “Feels Like The First Time & Paris Nights/New York Mornings” have a good groove. There’s a different vibe with her ballads, they are all depressing like on “Love’s On The Way & I Would Like To Call It Beauty”. And the title track is good but it ends the album on a very sad note. What is there not to like about Corrine Bailey Rae. She’s smooth, classy and not bad to look at. She’s like a young Sade. Her first album was her introduction to the world. Now “The Sea” is her testimonial album. She’s the type of person who will not care if her album goes triple platinum. As long as people understand her message and see how she felt. For some people writing is the best cure for heartbreak. It helps them get over grieving. Though not as good as her first album, Corrine Bailey Rae has shown that she has moved on from the grieving process and has begun to heal. D THRILL reviewed:

9 DVD ~ Elijah Wood

0 of 1 people found the following review helpful: Extraordinary animation but no story to speak of, January 19, 2010 What a disappointment! This movie was amazing to look at and contains some great dystopian images, but there was just no story. Visually it reminded me quite a bit of FALLOUT 3, though much more sophisticated. There was never a time when I didn’t enjoy looking at what was on screen. But no story! As others have noted, it starts in media res, with things well underway and with minimal exposition. There was insufficient explanation about who the bad guys were and why they were doing what they were doing, or even what it was that they wanted to do. The basic themes of the film were unclear and simply didn’t make much sense. The narrative was as weak as one can imagine. And to top everything off, it wasn’t clear what it was that the apparent heroes needed to do to resolve the crisis. It was as if 99% of the effort in the film was put into visuals and 1% on story and exposition. This really is not a film that I can recommend. Being about machines and dystopia put the film directly in my area of interest, but I can honestly say that there was not a moment during the film where I was truly entertained. Heck, I’m not sure there was a single moment that I wasn’t borderline bored. Robert Moore reviewed:

Crazy Heart [Blu-ray] DVD ~ Jeff Bridges

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful: An absolutely brilliant movie anchored by a great star performance, January 24, 2010 CRAZY HEART is one of the finest movies that I have seen in the past year and will almost definitely win Jeff Bridges his first Oscar. Even in a year where Bridges had strong competition, I think he would take home the award. Over the course of forty years Bridges has been one of the most reliable actors in America, putting together a string of extraordinary performances. He has not gained quite the star stature of a DeNiro or Pacino, despite appearing in as many interesting roles as either. But he has one the one hand abjured the kinds of roles that would make him more of a box office sensation and on the other refused to play the same kind of role twice. There is no “typical” Jeff Bridges role. Here he plays a closed-to-burned-out country singer, an old school performer along the lines of a Waylon Jennings or Guy Clark, and he does it convincingly. In fact, the last time I saw an actor portray an old, burned out country singer so well was Robert Duvall in TENDER MERCIES. And as Jeff Bridges will in CRAZY HEART, Duvall an actor for Best Actor. Although the strongest thing in CRAZY HEART is Jeff Bridges’s performance, it is far from the only fine thing in it. The songs are amazing (and the film will definitely take home one or two Oscars for music) and all sound like classics you should have known from the past, but don’t be cause they were written by Stephen Bruton and T-Bone Burnett, who also produced the album. Jeff Bridges does a very credible job performing the songs, as does Colin Farrell as hot country performer Tommy Sweet. Maggie Gyllenhaal has always been fascinating to me. Sometimes she is amazing and is quite cute. Other times she is bland and fairly plain looking. But in this film she was quietly compelling in a very difficult role and was quite fetching. Her role was difficult for the same reason that Ginger Rogers’s roles with Fred Astaire were so tough. No, it isn’t the old quip about her doing the same thing that Fred did only in high hills and backwards. Fred’s dancing was on a completely different plane than Ginger’s, but where she excelled was making the audience believe that she found Fred so appealing. Now, Bad Barton (Bridges’s character) is not a very sexy or appealing guy. Well, to be honest, he is repulsive. But Gyllenhaal makes us believe he has qualities that a woman might find appealing. We don’t see it in Bad; we see it in Gyllenhaal’s face. This is why she should also get an Oscar nomination. The cinematography is up to the standards of the music and acting and the writing should definitely snag an Oscar nomination. This is simply a flat out great movie. I think the Oscar can pretty much be handed over to AVATAR this year, but if there is a dark horse that might sneak in and steal it, it might well be CRAZY HEART. This is a rare, special film that I think anyone who loves movies — as opposed to blockbuster special effects flicks — will adore. I have no explanation for the two previous reviews. I don’t think either makes any sense whatsoever or will be the reaction of the vast majority of viewers. Certainly the film is getting great, great reviews and has won a shelf full of awards, mainly for Best Actor, Best Music, and Best Song. I think this is one of those beautiful, moving films that people will enjoy and treasure. And it is definitely my favorite film made in 2009 (though I have not yet seen AVATAR, though I’ve seen all the other award contenders from the past year). Trust me, if you love movies and love great acting, you will love this movie. Robert Moore reviewed:

Couples Retreat [Blu-ray] DVD ~ Vince Vaughn

1 of 2 people found the following review helpful: Not too bad and not too good, January 18, 2010 This is a moderately entertaining comedy. The truth is that we are currently at one of the low points in film history for comedies in general and romantic comedies in particular (not that I’m saying that this is in any sense a romantic comedy — it isn’t) and by today’s standards, this isn’t all that bad. So while this isn’t all that great, by today’s standards it is actually a tad above average. The plot is simple. A married couple with relationship problems gets a group rate for both them and three of their couple friends to go along with them (which makes no sense internally, because it is repeated several times that the resort has a long waiting list — who the heck would have a group discount when you have a long waiting list?). The cast has some people I like, in particular Jason Bateman and Kristen Bell) as well as some people that I don’t mind, though it also features Vince Vaughan, who I never like, and Jon Favreau, who I sometimes like and sometimes don’t. And can I just add that Kristin Davis looks spectacular? The film has some decent moments, but not enough of them. The film has too many moments that drag and it has a central premise that leads to conclusions that you pretty much anticipated twenty minutes after it starts. The writing simply isn’t that strong. But like I said, by today’s standards the film is better than average. I’ve wondered about this lately. I think a lot of it is the influence of Jud Apatow on recent film comedy. I enjoyed his two TV series, but his films have been remarkably bland, but have come to dominate the shape of current film comedy. So current film comedy is suffering by an endless string of weak imitations of the Apatow Combine. But I think there is also a staggering lack of creativity at the moment. There are no great comedy directors, no great comedy writers, and no great comedy actors. Not too long ago we had people like Meg Ryan and Tom Hanks (before he shifted to dramatic roles) making lots of good comedies. But there are also some inexplicable group lapses in taste. How else can anyone explain how people like Wil Ferrell and Seth Rogen became stars? One thing is for sure: if in fifty years someone does a list of the one hundred great comedies of all time, few and more probably none will come from today. We are living in the comedic dark ages. So, is this a good movie? No. Is it a bad movie? No. Is it better than average by today’s standards? Yes. And until Hollywood learns to make decent film comedies again films like this will help fill the void. Robert Moore reviewed:

Solid Set of Standards & Classic Pop Songs, October 9, 2009

The old-time saying “if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it” may apply to traditional pop crooner Michael Buble. Indeed, Michael Buble’s albums have remained conservative, maintaining the sanctity of classic standards and pop songs. 2009’s follow-up 2007’s extremely successful Call Me Irresponsible does maintain a sense of classicism that has come to define Buble, but there are some risks taken this go around. Sure, he doesn’t ruin or over interpret the classics, but as far as arrangements, orchestrations, and vocal nuances, Buble keeps the classics ‘fresh’ while also keeping them ‘classic.’ The album isn’t perfect, but it is consistent and bodes well to keep Buble’s career afloat. Buble never compromises himself on this album.

Opening with “Cry Me A River”, instantly, one hears that Buble wishes to exploit a slightly more adventurous side without ‘rocking the boat’ too much. The orchestrations here are different but brilliant and add just the right amount of change without ruining the sanctity of the classic standard. Buble, as always sounds top-rate as a vocalist.

“All of Me” scales down the experimentation of “Cry Me A River”, seeking to balance between ‘innovation’ and ‘classicism’. While the performance is another ‘home-run’ for Buble, it doesn’t trump the excellent, cutting-edge “Cry Me A River”. “Georgia on My Mind”, on the other hand, finds Michael Buble at his very best, bringing new, pitch-perfect nuance to the classic that helped to shape Ray Charles’ career. “Crazy Love”, the title track continues a hot streak for Buble.

Perhaps most unique is “Haven’t Met You Yet”, which most likely will received mixed reactions from Buble fans. Personally, I think it is a departure for Buble and lays well, though it doesn’t necessarily trump Buble’s beautiful interpretations of standards and classic pop songs. Good, but no my favorite. “All I Do Is Dream of You” continues to differentiate from previous Buble album. It does so convincingly, given a soulful-sound that hearkens the 1950s.

“Hold On” proves to be a clear valedictory performance on Crazy Love, finding Buble at his most sensitive and best. The acoustic guitar here at the forefront gives this track more a modern pop tinge as opposed to hearkening back to classic pop. The strings are beautiful orchestrated here.

“Heartache Tonight” contrasts the slow, sensitive nature of “Hold On”, solidly, though it is the Sharon Jones and Dap-Kings feature on “Baby (You’ve Got What It Takes)” that steals the show. Funky and just overall sensational, “Baby” is certainly like nothing else from previous Michael Buble albums. “At This Moment” finds Michael Buble among the bluesiest I’ve ever heard. Produced by the phenomenal pop producer David Foster, it is a showstopping performance by all means.

The album closes strongly with “Stardust” and “Whatever It Takes (feat.Ron Sexsmith)”. Neither tracks captivate the way that “Cry Me A River”, “Georgia” or some of the ‘best of the best do’, but both are solid and above par.

While ‘Crazy Love’ isn’t revolutionary pop per say, it does find the crooner extending his scope slightly, which is a positive thing. 4 stars.

Let the Truth Be Told ~ Laura Izibor

29 of 30 people found the following review helpful: A very promising debut from the Irish soulstress., June 16, 2009 Dubbed ‘the soul of Ireland’, the stunningly beautiful Laura Izibor (born Dublin, Ireland) is an Irish R&B Singer. Her hit single “Shine” was the lead track of the movie Nanny Diaries. She is also famous for her song “From My Heart to Yours” featured as an episode opener on Grey’s Anatomy. Her music has been included on the Hilary Swank film “P.S. I Love You”, the hit and more recently “Seven Pounds” (Will Smith). As well as performing numerous sold-out shows in Ireland, Laura has opened for luminaries such as Angie Stone, James Brown, The Roots, Estelle, Jamie Cullum and Al Green. She spent four years in a diverse range of cities like New York, Philadelphia, Atlanta, and Dublin among them, crafting her debut album, writing and arranging the songs herself and resisting the urge to hook up with any bigname collaborators. “It’s a sincere record”, she says. “I didn’t want to be anybody’s protégé. It’s very tempting to put in the reinforcements, but for my debut album I wanted it to be 100% from me”. In the US, music bible “Rolling Stone” tipped her as one of the hottest “Artists To Watch” alongside Aussie Daniel Merriweather’s “Love & War”. Drawing stylistic comparisons to seminal soul singers such as Candi Staton, Roberta Flack, and Aretha Franklin, “Let The Truth Be Told” anchors itself firmly in classic R ‘n’ B, and has all the hallmarks of a soul classic — beautifully produced, the lush arrangements only serve to complement a magnificent vocal performance. Written and co-produced by the 21 year-old Laura herself, “Let The Truth Be Told” is a fitting display of a formidable talent at work. The album is a melodic journey of soul. Peaceful and easy to listen and sing along to, this should be a consideration for any fans of the likes of Corinne Bailey Rae or Alicia Keys. It showcases ten soulful, heart wrenching, well crafted songs which fly by leaving you wanting more. They will leave you wondering where you’ve heard it before, however. From the breezy sunshine pop of “Shine” to the hip-poppy “From My Heart to Yours” which possess a certain summery charm, to the dreamy love lament “If Tonight Is My Last” and the gospel-infused “Mmm”, it’s Laura’s incredible ear for melody and feel for a groove that sparkles. The album is layered with the rich sounds of vintage soul mixed with a modern freshness that’s all Laura’s own. Comparisons to Alicia Keys and Roberta Flack are encouraged by the piano on which Izibor wrings out every emotive note. Like Aretha and Roberta, Laura is as comfortable being tender on “If Tonight Is My Last” and bluesy on “Don’t Stay”, as she is going all feisty on “Perfect World” or mixing in some mellow gospel on “Mmm”. The latter track is a stripped-back, piano led-number with gospel overtones and gorgeous central vocal. It’s hard to believe that Izibor is from Ireland: her sound is so polished that you could swear she was from the US. However, pop parallels aside, Laura Izibor possesses enough skill and substance to become a major new name in R&B. She certainly has the voice, even if her biggest challenge will be finding her own 2009 looks set to be an incredible year for Laura. My highligts: “Shine”, “Mmm” and “Don’t Stay”. Expect big things… Love & War amazon critic reviewed: