Introducing iOS Viewers – View your current tab in Safari on the iPhone or the iPad.

Having been frustrated with checking my iPhone and iPad for any new site I create many times in the past, I set out trying to think of an easier way to do it. With serendipity this morning just as I was pondering I saw a blog post detailing how to create an Automator iPhone webkit simulator application and realised how this could be the solution to my problems. I followed the tutorial and then modified things for my own needs.

I like to keep things as simple and easy to use as possible so I decided that each one would be easy to differentiate across orientation and device. As I had already created a new Automator app, something I had little experience, I decided that I would make some pretty icons. I’ve never created icons before so I was really enjoying the idea of the challenge. After creating an icon that had the some dimensions and look as an iPhone I decided I wanted something more standardised and thus set on creating these hybrid icon/devices you see.

If you have any feedback, be sure to let me know as a comment. Reports are coming back saying it’s Lion only. Sorry.

This is available for everyone to download and enjoy. Please share the blog post URL, not the download URL though.

Me & My iPad: Was it worth it?

My first thoughts of the iPad were merely of Apple over-hype. I thought it was on over-priced and over-sized iPod Touch. After some time I eventually realized that there was a few ways it could make me money, and would eventually pay for itself.

One of my greatest luxuries I partake in is spending many hours in the bath. I sometimes chatted to friends on my laptop outside the bath, but the logistics prove to be complicated and literally painful. When my waterproof case arrives, I’ll be able to wireframe, blog and write. Where better to solve the problems that a website may face when you have a completely clear mind in the bath.

I spend extra money to live in Central London but I do not get to see it enough due to work. Now I have the iPad I can go to the park. Not only is this an enjoyable experience but it is very pro-creative.

Another productive experience is to compartmentalized. Keeping chat and email on my iPad means i don’t get distracted and lose my concentration.

I enjoy the Kindle/iBooks application but i would suggest it is easier to read on the Kindle than on the iPad. If that is your main reason for considering purchasing your iPad, then the price, battery, free 3G and such should sway you to the Kindle.

One hidden fee of the iPad is the applications. I have paid over $400 extra in apps trying to get the iPad to a more functional state.

So in conclusion:
The iPad is a great device. A bit limited and a lot of sparkle, but ultimately for the right person it can be a useful appliance. However, at the price I would not say it is fully worth it for your average home user.