Toronto Photography Meetup Group

Well... Looks like Apple released new system software today for the iPad. Has anyone downloaded it yet? Ver 4.2

I guess I better go hook up my laptop, and do the new update. Apparently there is new multiple tasking capabilities. Can't wait to see how it works



David

Having used the multitasking on my iPhone for months, I definitely think the iPad will really come to life now. My first gen iPod Touch has felt totally clunky in comparison.

One of the new things s that they changed the screen orientation lock switch to a mute audio control..... Why?!!!!!

Anyhow.. Here is a useful tid bit:

Double tap the home button to bring up the application bar.
Click and hold in the application list and drag your finger to the right.
A new menu will appear with a variety of controls.
The leftmost control is the orientation lock.
You can also set brightness from here, which is a nice addition.

I agree using the orientation button for mute is ridiculous. Overall I am very happy with this new version. It let's me open up more tabs in the browser, the folders are fantastic, the fast switching is nice. Wish they could have released this when it came out...but it's free and doesn't crash so I can't complain too loud!

It's especially dumb, because it doesn't over ride the volume control. If you flick the switch, then adjust the volume, guess what..... There is volume again, even though you flicked the switch!

I wonder which genius at apple came up with this completely ridiculous idea.

Someone who's "smarter" and "knows" better. Taking a look at what's written online it seems the logic is software base. It's easier to code apps for both iphone and ipad now as all the buttons are the same. Who knows...still a pain.

Right... "multi tasking"... One thing I loathe on my iPhone is constantly having to go to the application bar to shut shit down. There's no way to shut down an application when you are done using it other than just going to the home screen, which always defaults to putting it in the background.

I tried it out today --- I thought it was pretty cool that I could be browsing a website, and then switch to my email to send a quick message, and then bounce right back to the page I was surfing. Anyhow... we'll see, and maybe there will be another software upgrade in the near future.

along with a hardware one

Has anyone had trouble with photo editing apps since the OS upgrade? I have trouble with 2. Photoshop express doesn't import photos properly. Now any newly imported photos show up the size of a postage stamp. In my TypeDrawing everything imported post upgrade is oversized and heavily pixelated.

Has anyone else noticed this? I'm using the apple camera kit to get the raw images onto the iPad.

Now that you mentioned it -- I just tried it out, and I have the same results in both PS Express and Photogene --- looks like they removed the RAW support from the ipad for NEF files - and probably other camera models too.

I assume you are attempting to edit RAW files, as it works just fine with my jpegs from the photo library.

The thumbnail / pixelated image you are seeing is the jpeg thumbnail that is embedded in every RAW file.

Buggers! I will have to investigate now.



David

Ok, I have another theory -- perhaps its the applications which actually need to be updated. As when I look at the RAW images in the "PHOTO" app of the ipad -- they look fine on the screen -- no pixelation.

Interestingly - I just spoke to a guy from the Apple store at the Eaton Centre -- and he gave me 2 options -- either make an appointment to talk to a tech at the genius bar, or call the apple care folks. How that fixes the problem is too funny... but I think I'll probably continue to look up the issue online.


D

You were able to do that before "multitasking support". I was certainly able to do that on my iPhone 3GS. I'd go, write my e-mail, go back to Safari, it would start up and all of the pages I had open before would remain open.

Wait.... you couldn't multi-task with this thing out of the box previously?! Seriously?

why does that matter?

I sometimes do more than one thing at once. I'm talented like that.

of course you are. but the update's been made so why complain about something that's been fixed?

I wasn't complaining as I don't have the product to complain about. I was just stunned, kinda literally, that it would be released without that...Here's your new BMW - just don't use reverse yet, it can't.... take heart, there will be a firmware update shortly! Plus it's the mandatory knee jerk reaction to Apple fawning (which is really odd to me - yay Apple fixed a horrible shortcoming- they're awesome!!) - shitting on Apple. Restores balance and rationality to the universe.

They say once you go Mac you never go back. I say they're hypnotizing people!

Ok stop it now -- this conversation has already been had in other forums including our own. The lack of multi-tasking and flash support were the two big beefs with ipad nay sayers before it came out. Been there, done that.

The answer is yes -- RAW functioned just fine in most applications prior to the firmware upgrade. I think the problem is not in the firmware, but rather the actual applications have not been updated yet to support the operation of the new firmware... this is my theory.

that has a term already - brainwashing

Don't underestimate the power of the Geniuses! After all they do hire people without a requirement to know Apple products

Yes... very true! I am pretty sure the problem PAM and I are experiencing is with the app, and not the pad itself. I did a bit more reading on the forums, and we're not the only ones experiencing the same issue.

I understand being frustrated by someone coming in and crapping on what you like, but the Apple fawning is just as frustrating to hear. It seems so baseless to the rest of us... And like I said above, knee jerk reaction - when someone says Apple is fancy and great my knee jerks and say wtf are you on about?! Perhaps a slightly tempered fanaticism would yield less smart ass crap from jerks like myself? I am legitimately interested in hearing about any new tech but my bullshit filter usually gets exhausted quickly when I read about Apple. That's not just around here either, it's almost all Mac people. Over zealous and hyperdefensive....like they have something to convince themselves of...

And FWIW, I grant there are things they do well, for example they rip *nix and the OSS community off like no other (okay Oracle is pretty good at it as well) and it does reflect in their products a bit. That would be something worth fawning about, the greatness of the BSD kernel, but applauding them for completing a product that's been out for months!? C'mon! If you're going to be a beta tester for software you may as well use Linux

All in good fun, if you like the stuff and are happy with it all the power to ya. Carry on and best of luck beta testing.

people usually get paid to test new drugs, don't they? As for being defensive, it's obvious why...they paid a lot of money for their Apple "drug"

It's not as if this is a change in hardware - and not only that, it's not as if multitasking support wasn't indicated as being included in a subsequent software release for the iPad by Apple themselves when iOS 4.2 was announced for the iPhone. Also keep in mind that Apple not only established and PROVED the tablet market by releasing their product when they did, and they have succeeded in establishing a very, very firm foothold in that market for themselves, all this without Flash and (until now) without multitasking.

As to the Apple bashing types, well - I've always said this in these arguments, I don't see the point of 'bashing' the other side - if a product doesn't appeal to you, don't buy it. If it does, then buy it if you're so inclined. Apple has found a market for their products. After almost 30 years of bringing the Macintosh platform to market they are seeing widespread success and it's heartening (having been a customer since March 1984). I just don't understand why certain people feel the need to run Apple down. Just don't buy it! Apple clearly doesn't need, or want your business.

David and Pam. I have and use PS Mobile and Photogene and have no problem editing my files. Canon raw file or jpg's. Maybe just a problem with nikon raw files ???
Tried all my free photo apps like photostamp and such and they all work.

Tim

ANYWAY..... yes David, I think its the apps that failed to keep up. I've been checking for updates. The RAW photos show up beautifully in the iPad photo gallery. When I tried to complain about PS Express in the app store it said I had to have purchased the product in order to comment. Oy! Hopefully it will get fixed soon.

Is it worth to upgrade to the New firmware or stick with the old one....

Yeshwanth

no reason to stick with older firmware unless you have a specific reason to, newer has better features and what not

I really like the upgrade. Multitasking works great. So easy to swing back and forth between surfing, email, music, whatever. Highly recommended. I'll just wait for my editing programs to catch up.