WebPad for iPad

So to add even more awesomeness to the iPad, I have discovered a new app called WebPad.  WebPad lets you draw on your iPad, live on someone else's computer screen.  Ok, I realize that doesn't sound that exciting, so let me give you a real life scenario for this:

A customer called me a while back, I had been working on a design for them.  There was a particular detail that I was describing to them.  I had a picture in my head, and I was attempting to put it into words.  Like a lot of customers, they aren't telepathic, so they didn't understand what I was talking about.   If I was talking about this face to face, I would have fired up Adobe Ideas and draw out the sketch for them.  In this case, I didn't have that choice.

Enter WebPad:  With WebPad, I can fire it up, instantly email my customer a link.  Once they click on the link, they see my iPad screen live on their screen!  As I draw, it shows up on their screen.  AMAZING!  Virtual paper.  Watch my demo live below!

Adobe Ideas on the iPad.

I did a lot of presentations at the Kitchen & Bath Industry show this year.  The presentations that I did were at Kraftmaid's Knowledge center.  Kraftmaid is doing a great job at being a leader in technology for design, and that's what a lot of my presentations were about.

If you follow this blog, you may know about my exploits with various bits of technology, in particular, my new iPad.  I got the iPad about six months ago, despite my newfound Android addiction.  Since getting the iPad, I have slotted it into my workflow rather nicely.  In this digital age, I see no reason that we can't go completely paperless.  In part for saving the trees, but also because its so damn convenient to not have to deal with paper.

In my presentations for the iPad I talked about a slew of apps that can make your life so much easier as a designer.  One that I really love and use just about every day is called Adobe Ideas.  This app is a simple, robust drawing app built by the company that made "Photoshop" a verb. Despite the rather nasty spat Apple had with adobe this past year, Adobe Ideas rocks on the iPad!  In the video below you will see how I use this app for taking field measurements, meeting notes, and I even draw ON a picture!

As the KBIS coverage continues throughout the coming weeks, stay tuned for more apps!  In the meantime, go get this app and let me know in the comments how it works for you!

iPad, Motorola Xoom, and the HP TouchPAD

I am currently the owner of an Apple iPad.  I really like it a lot.  I find it a very useful tool at work, and a great entertainment device at home.  Apple had a lot of impressing to do for me to actually say I like another iOS device, after they hobbled my old iPhone 3G.

Even though the app experience is quite wonderful on the iPad, I still think its an incomplete experience.  There isn't any support for Adobe Flash, and probably never will be.  There is also limited interoperability between apps. Files you create in an app on the iPad generally remain within that app, and the files aren't available to other apps on anything other then a very limited basis.  This is a very limiting experience.  We're used to being able to open a file on our computers in any number of apps.

I think that these shortcomings have been largely overlooked because Apple is so far ahead of any other tablet that is out on the market.  Shortly after the iPad burst onto the scene, countless manufacturers have tried to rush something to market.  Most of these tablets have been based on Android.  Google itself has said that Android isn't designed for anything larger then 7 inches.  Of all these 7 inch and smaller tablets the Galaxy Tab is the only one that seemed to have potential.  I used one, and I wasn't impressed.  I couldn't figure out if I was supposed to use it in my lap, or hold it against my face like a giant women repelling phone.

There are two tablets that have been recently announced that I think actually have potential to rock the iPad boat:

The Motorola Xoom

The Xoom is the first tablet to run Google's "Honeycomb" operating system.  This one is specifically designed to run on larger screens.  Incidentally, the screen on this gem is just about the same size as the iPad's, which I think is perfect.  This screamer of a tablet also packs front and rear cameras, and a 3G radio for all the road warriors.  Motorola says that you can upgrade it to 4G as well.

The HP TouchPad

The HP TouchPad looks very intriguing as well.  I thought the Palm Pre was one of the best mobile operating systems out there.  I believe it failed because Palm spent all of there money on this bizarre add campaign.  After they were out of money they couldn't market or develop it anymore.  With HP's deep pockets, and its "play nice attitude" with its sister devices, I think this one has real potential.  WebOS and the Pre were developed by someone who used to work for Apple on the iPod, and it really shows in WebOS devices.

So which one is the best?  As soon as I can get my hands on one and compare it to my iPad, I'll let you know.  If you follow this blog, you'll know that while I love my Apple products, I am not 100% loyal.

3DVia on the iPad

As a recent new owner of an iPad, I have been discovering so many new apps that are useful in my daily life at work.  I am a former iPhone owner, so I am no stranger to iOS, or the App store.

I had no idea that the larger form factor of the iPhone would make such a huge difference in the "app experience"

I have been looking for a way to put Sketchup models on the iPad in 3D, so I can present them to clients without having to drag out the laptop.

There is a company called 3Dvia.  They have a 3D iPad browser that can do just that.  They also have an online 3D repository that their 200,000 members can upload 3D models from a variety of 3D design softwares.

All of these models can be browsed with just a few touches right on your iPhone or iPad, check out the video below:

So now I can take all of my 3D models with me on my iPad!  I use this to show clients current projects, and as a portfolio for my previous work.  Head on over to 3Dvia and check out their mobile apps, pretty cool stuff!

They say a picture is worth a 1000 words, how much is a 3D model worth?

Happy trees with Sketchbook Pro for iPad

So I remember as a kid sometime after Sesame Street, Bob Ross would come on and show the world how to create "Happy little trees" using just a canvas, paint, and some soft spoken words.

As a recent new owner of an iPad, a device hailed by Steve Jobs as "Magical and Revolutionary" I have been rather obsessed with drawing apps for it.  There are many out there.  AutoDesk's Sketchbook Pro really stood out for me because it seems powerful enough for a real artist to use.  I say "seems" because I am about as much as real artist today I was at the age I was watching Bob Ross on TV.

I think this app has great potential for interior designers and artists who want to add that artistic touch to their drawings.  SketchBook Pro has the ability to allow the user to draw over existing photographs.  I could see a designer to use this to color in an elevation or perspective drawing...

So what do you think?  Is this app Bob Ross approved?