Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays

I would like to wish everyone who may read this site a Merry Christmas and hope you have a Happy Holiday.  I look forward to improving what I do with Total iPad in 2013 and I hope you will come back and visit me next year. Be safe.

 

Christopher

How to enable AirPlay

Want to mirror your iPad screen onto your television using an AppleTV? This is a quick little iPad tip video showing you how to setup AirPlay on your iPad.

1. Double press your Home Button


2. Swipe from left to right


3. Tap circle with triangle


4. Select AppleTV


5. Turn Mirroring = ON

Activision has their best mobile titles on sale in the App Store

Who doesn't love holiday sales? Right now you can grab some of the best iOS games in App Store from Acitvision.


Wipeout - $0.99  -  App Store Link: <Wipeout - Activision Publishing, Inc.


Guitar Hero - $1.99 -  App Store Link: <Guitar Hero - Activision Publishing, Inc.


Call of Duty: Black Ops Zombies: $2.99  -  App Store Link: Call of Duty: Black Ops Zombies - Activision Publishing, Inc.


Call of Duty: Zombies: $1.99  -  App Store Link: Call of Duty: Zombies HD - Activision Publishing, Inc.


Activision Anthology: $1.99 per game bundle or $4.99 for full 45-game collection - App Store Link: Activision Anthology - Activision Publishing, Inc.


Pitfall! – Free! - App Store Link:   PITFALL!™ - Activision Publishing, Inc.


We have previously reviewed Wipeout and Pitfall, be sure to check out the reviews of the games as well.

Need For Speed: Most Wanted

NFS: Most Wanted in another street racer in the NFS series. This is a terrific iOS game that takes advantage of the accelerometer in the iPad and allows you to use your iPad like a steering wheel. Using the iPad as a steering wheel really brings this game to life, not only that but the excellent graphics and game play make for an overall wonderful user experience.

The controls of the game are fantastic, as mentioned above you steer with the iPad but you also have a few additional features such as swiping up on the iPad to use your nitro boost and hold down on the right side of the screen to go into a drift slide when taking sharp corners.



You can login to your Origin account and challenge your friends and earn extra game rewards in doing so. If you do not have an Origin account I would highly recommend you create an account to take full advantage of the game.

NFS: MW also features several In-App Purchases but they are not necessary to enjoy this beautiful game.

The graphics are incredible and are almost console like. The reflections on the road, the side of the cars, the details of the vehicles are second to none.

This is a must have game on the iPad. Currently EA is having a holiday sale and Need For Speed: Most Wanted is only $0.99 in the App Store. Normally this game is $6.99 so if you think this is something you may enjoy playing on your iPad then now is the time to purchase it.

GO FROM ZERO TO MOST WANTED:
• Choose and customize over 40 unique cars
• Race the way you want! By popular demand you can now touch or tilt to steer
• Use Mods to enhance your car and get ahead of the pack in style
• Experience the action with mind-blowing graphics and intense full-car damage
• Earn Speed Points to unlock new cars

Download NFS: Most Wanted in the App Store:
Need for Speed™ Most Wanted - Electronic Arts

Snapguide now available on the iPad

Snapguide, the popular iPhone how-to guide app launched this morning on the iPad. Snapguide is a very popular iPhone application that Apple has been promoting heavily in the App Store. I am a huge Snapguide fan and I am glad it is now a native iPad app. The iPhone is nice for uploading guides but the iPad will be better for consumption of said guides.

Snapguide is a simple, beautiful way to share and view step-by-step how to guides. Discover new things to cook, build, wear, play and more. Create your own guides and share what you love making with your friends on Twitter, Facebook and more. Discuss your interests with other people who share your passions.

You can download Snapguide free in the App Store:
Snapguide - Heavy Bits, Inc

[caption id="attachment_3610" align="aligncenter" width="300"] Snapguide[/caption]

Tumblr updated for the iPad

Finally, I have been waiting so patiently for the last year or so, Tumblr was finally updated to support the iPad. Wow, it was worth the wait. What a beautiful application on the iPad. Tumblr is one of my favorite social sites / personal blogging platforms. I have been using Tumblr for a little over 2 years now and love it. Great place to share thoughts, videos, images, links etc.

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You can download the Tumblr Application free in the App Store:
Tumblr - Tumblr

My favorite apps of 2012

Last night, Jennifer and I discussed our favorite applications for 2012. I picked 2 iOS applications both of which were iPad and she picked 2 android applications. The 2 iPad applications I picked were Photoshop Touch and vjay. I plan on doing a brief review of Photoshop Touch in the next couple of days as I feel it is easily the best photo/image editing application available on the iPad at the moment.

Christopher's Applications:
Adobe Photoshop Touch - Adobe
vjay - algoriddim (iPad)
vjay for iPhone - algoriddim (iPhone)

Jennifer's Applications:
Glympse
Falcon

This podcast was recorded for APPvice which is a podcast about nothing but applications. Check it out sometime. APPvice is not iOS only and we also discuss some of our favorite desktop applications as well.

Google+ iPad Community

If you are on Google+ please feel free to join my iPad community. I have really enjoyed the Google+ experience even though I am not the biggest Google advocate. If you are not on Google+ then you should really consider joining, and once you do join be sure to join the iPad community.

iPad Community

Tweetbot is now on sale

Tweetbot, the fantastic Twitter client and my favorite way to experience Twitter on my iPad is now on sale in the App Store for only $0.99.

If you do not already own Tweetbot go ahead and download it now:
Tweetbot for Twitter (iPad edition) - Tapbots

EA Games on sale

Right now in the App Store you can grab FIFA '13 for $0.99.



Link: http://j.mp/VReYDn


You can also take advantage of some of the other great EA titles which are also on sale for both the iPad and iPhone. Games are up to 90% off currently during this holiday sale. I believe EA does this every year, I know they did something similar last year. Anyway, there are some great titles to be had!

Happy Holidays! Get this game for less in the EA Big Holiday Sale. Over 55 games on the App Store are up to 90% OFF. It’s #31 on EA’s Holiday Play List.

iTunes - 12 Days of Christmas

Be sure to grab this today, it is well worth the freebies.

You and your friends can download a fantastic selection of songs, music videos, apps, books and TV episodes for free. Each download will only be available for 24 hours. Get our 12 Days of Christmas app to make sure you don’t miss out.

Don’t have an iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch? Don’t worry. Come back December 26 to download gifts from your computer.

Download from the iOS App Store.


Update: The link is for Canadian iTunes store. (Also available in the UK - Europe)

Clash of Clans - Strategies

Clash of Clans has easily become one of my all-time favorite iOS games. Before I played Clash of Clans I was mostly playing Kingdom Rush and Strategery on a daily basis. Both of those games are different types of games compared with Clash of Clans but I enjoyed myself immensely when playing both of them. I have not played either game in over a month, it is mostly Clash of Clans and I have mixed in some GTA: Vice City along the way.

This video is mostly about the strategies that I use when attacking opponents. My strategy may not work for you but you can always try and see if it helps any. Everyone has a different way of playing, attacking, setting up defenses, etc. These are just my tactics and what I have found the most success in doing.

One the offense side of things I always check for 2 things:

1. Do they have barracks or workshops tucked in the corners of the map?


2. Do they have any reinforcements in their clan castle?

If normally check for reinforcements first by placing either 1 goblin or 1 warrior close to the clan castle. If they have reinforcements then I will find a spot on the map which is away from all other defenses, normally a corner and I will set a couple of warriors there to draw the reinforcements away from the other defenses. Once I get them in the corner I will launch a few more warriors and archers to defeat the reinforcements. It is much easier to defeat the reinforcements away from the other defenses.

Once the reinforcements are defeated I will then focus on a point of attack on their walls. I will try to find the weakest spot or if I am farming I will look for a spot that I might be able to use wall breakers on so I can unleash my goblins.

My usual offense for farming gold and elixir:

• 80-100: goblins


• 10-20: archers


• 10: warriors


• 5-8: wallbreakers


• 5-8: giants

That is my basic attack setup, also I only attack players that I know I can raid for all their lucky charms. Sometimes it takes me 10-15 tries before finding the perfect village to raid = lots of gold/elixir and a weak defense. It is always worth it in the long run.

Be sure to check out my other Clash of Clan video: Clan of Clans Review

Check out Simon's Clash of Clans strategies: CoC

Total iPad changes

I get a lot of traffic on Total iPad, sometimes as a result of all that traffic it causes the site to go down. Last night the site was down for an 1 hour and 45 minutes. I have decided to try SuperCacher on Total iPad to see if it helps with future downtimes. I am really hoping this improves the sites performance so that I can keep my current hosting plan and I will not need to buy a much more expensive plan.

You may have also noticed a few advertisements in the sidebars, I really hate advertisements but the cost of keeping up with this site have started to get expensive each month. I have to pay for hosting, Blip.tv, Vimeo, software for the videos, and more. I just bought a new camera and some other video equipment in hopes of creating higher quality video reviews of products. That set me back around $2000. So I have the advertisements in the sidebar hoping it will help generate a little extra revenue to help offset some of these cost each month as well as allow me to get better hardware to create better videos. I thought of just putting a donation button in the sidebar but asking for money is not in my nature, so instead of asking for money I figured advertisements would suffice for a while.

Instead of advertisements I thought of maybe a "Shop Amazon" affiliate link, where you could click the link and it takes you to Amazon and anything you buy I would earn a small credit. I may try that for a couple of months and see how well it works. Instead of cluttering the site with advertisements I could just create an Amazon shop page with a link at the top or bottom and the site would remain clean. If I end up going that route and you want to help me then you could use the links if you planned on buying something on Amazon. It would be greatly appreciated. I do have a couple of Amazon links already on the site, I was doing this as a test to see how well they would do, so far they are much better than the other affiliate links.

Total iPad is a hobby for me, something I do for enjoyment. I love talking about the iPad, I love posting video reviews of products and applications, tips and tricks videos, etc. I love helping people who are having issues with their iPad, as always if you have a problem you can send me message an @ message on Twitter or send me an email and I will be more the glad to help.

Last but not least, the weekly Total iPad show is over with. It is not that I do not enjoy doing it but I have some current family health issues that I am dealing with and I honestly don't have the time to do it each week. Just to be honest I am not in the right frame of mind for it. I think taking a break from it is the best thing to do at the moment, but it might be something I decide I want to continue at a later date. I will however continue to do my video reviews and I am going to try to post more iPad related opinions and news links on Total iPad in the future.

Enjoy this info graphic of the new SuperCacher I will be using, feel free to comment as well:




Created by SiteGround Web Hosting

Vinyl Tap update coming soon..

Looks like a nice update to one of my favorite music applications is coming soon.

There will be some new features, including colored vinyl. I hope you'll enjoy the update, which will be out on the app store as soon as we can get it there.

Checkout a couple of the screenshots:





 

 

Not sure what Vinyl Tap is? Check out my review here: http://totalipad.com/app/vinyl-tap-for-ipad-review/

Give the gift of Apps this holiday season

Now you can gift iTunes credit and applications right from the iPad. This feature was removed and recently added back to iOS devices just in time for the holiday season. You can also choose a date in advance to send the App or iTunes Credit, so if you buy today your gift can get delivered on Christmas if you choose December 25th as the day you want the recipient to receive the gift.

This is a great feature and I am really happy Apple has decided to add it back into the iOS App Store. I always send my daughter applications and it is much easier to send these applications right from the iPad vs. having to open iTunes on my computer and send the app.

YOU DON’T KNOW JACK LANDS IN THE APP STORE TODAY

“In May, we launched the Facebook version of YOU DON’T KNOW JACK looking to combine the party-atmosphere of console and PC gaming to the asynchronous social gaming space where people could play wherever they want,” said Harry Gottlieb, founder of Jellyvision Games and inventor of YOU DON’T KNOW JACK. “After six months of tweaking the Facebook game, we’re ready for the small screen, starting with iPhone, iPad and iPod Touch.”

YOU DON’T KNOW JACK on Facebook, six months past launch, has been received with great critical acclaim and won the “Best Social Game” category for the 2012 SPIKE TV Video Game Awards last week. The iOS version will have persistent play with users of the Facebook version and all key functionality remains the same between apps.

Players of the mobile version can choose to play in guest mode or via Facebook Connect, the latter of which brings party-style play to mobile in three important ways. First, players are automatically matched against their Facebook friends who have already played that specific episode, either on iOS or Facebook. Second, a player is provided a direct option to challenge other Facebook friends at the end of every episode. And third, all players may share results, brag and taunt friends through Facebook, bringing the same fun experienced during a game of YDKJ on the couch into the gameplay experience.

YOU DON’T KNOW JACK will constantly produce new content that engages players with questions on current pop culture and news players are discussing on Facebook, tying gameplay into the social experience more than any previous game.

Players on iOS will access the same content as those using the Facebook version. Cookie Masterson, the game’s popular and sassy host is back, as is the game’s core structure, with outrageous questions that range from Mozart to Psy. The game will be free-to-play with free games provided frequently. Users can also win free games through achievements, and multi-token packs are available for purchase.

This new version of YOU DON’T KNOW JACK represents Jellyvision Games’ latest in a history of innovations within the interactive trivia space. When YOU DON’T KNOW JACK first launched in 1995, it was the first game to truly immerse the user into a fully interactive game show experience, making players feel like the game’s host was talking directly to them. The company also created Who Wants To Be A Millionaire for PC, which at the time was the fastest-selling PC game in history, and the TV game show Smush, which aired on the USA Network. To date, the YOU DON’T KNOW JACK franchise has sold more than 5 million units and generated $100 million in revenue with versions for CD-ROM, consoles, iOS and tabletop.

You can download You Don't Know Jack for free:
YOU DON’T KNOW JACK - Jellyvision Games, Inc. (iPad)
YOU DON’T KNOW JACK - Jellyvision Games, Inc. (iPhone / iPod Touch)

Enigma for iPad mini

The Enigma is a flexi-folding folio case for the iPad mini. The flexi-folding aspect is almost an origami like design where you bend the front cover back and fold the cover so that you can stand the iPad up. You can prop up the iPad in both portrait and landscape positions. The Enigma comes in 3 colors for you to choose from: black, blue, and pink.



The Enigma is crafted of 3 different materials: the back is a hard plastic, the front is a rubber, and the inside is a microfiber material. The Enigma will offer almost total protection of your iPad from scratches. The top of the iPad mini will still remain exposed though as the entire section of the Enigma is one giant cutout versus a cutout for each individual button/hole.

The front cover of the Enigma is pretty awesome with the exception of one small detail. It does not include the magnets that will wake/sleep your iPad mini. That is my only negative about the case, I really wish Cygnett would have included that feature when they launched the product. Even though it is a negative it is not a deal breaker. I would still highly recommend the Enigma to anyone with an iPad mini who is looking for simple protection of their device. The Enigma will not offer much protection from drops, it is more designed to protect your iPad from scratches and bruises.

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Getting the iPad mini into the Enigma is really easy, the mini just snaps into place in the 4 corners of the case. Once it is snapped into the 4 corners it feels really sturdy while in the Enigma. I never once have felt like the iPad mini will slide out of the case, it is designed well and will do a great job of protecting my iPad mini.

All of the buttons and ports line up perfectly, as I mentioned above the top of the Enigma is one giant cutout, same with the bottom of the Enigma. The speakers and lighting connector port have one cutout for both holes on the bottom of the iPad mini. The volume rockers and mute/lock switch are the same, one cutout for all three buttons. The camera hole on the back of the Enigma is a perfect cutout and leaves enough space around the camera so when you take a picture you do not get any interference with the case itself.

The Enigma does not any bulk or much extra weight to the iPad mini. The Enigma for the most part is a super thin, light weight way to protect your iPad from the rigors of daily usage.

The Enigma retails for $39.99 and can be purchased directly from Cygnett.

Check out my other Cygnett iPad mini reviews:

Workmate by Cygnett
FlexiGel by Cygnett


Problems viewing the video review? Check out the video on my YouTube channel.

Splash and Style Come Together In New Wipeout Update

Activision and The Blast Furnace’s Wipeout, the smash hit iOS game based on the hit ABC television show, has been updated with new content with its latest title update. Today’s free update comes packed with new accessories and features to make Wipeout even more fun.

Customize your favorite contestants: Helen, Russell and Aaron with new costumes including: Pirate, Superhero and Football outfits. The new Amaze-O-Helmet lets you walk right through obstacles, and the Slo-Mo Helmet has been improved so that only the obstacles slow down around you as you blaze through the course! Helmets also now have improved indicators showing a full charge when ready to use. Compare character stats with friends with a revised character interface and enhanced course intros and outros. The Game Center has been improved; posting your most epic Wipeout moments to Facebook is even easier!

If you are not sure what Wipeout is, you can check out my review of the game: http://totalipad.com/wipeout/

Wipeout is available for the iPhone, iPad and iPod Touch for only $1.99 in the iOS App Store:
Wipeout - Activision Publishing, Inc. (iPad)

Wipeout - Activision Publishing, Inc. (iPhone/iPod Touch)



[box type='info']
Wipeout now fully supports the iPhone 5 which makes wiping out look even better on the big screen.[/box]

Tim Cook critiquing competing tablets from Samsung and Microsoft

Tim Cook talking about tablets from the competition.

What I see, for me, is that some of these are confusing, multiple OSes with multiple UIs [user interfaces]. They steer away from simplicity. We think the customer wants all the clutter removed. We want the customer to be at the center of everything. I think when you start toggling back and forth between OSes and UIs, etc., I don’t think that’s what customers are looking for. I think that customers want tablet-optimized apps. You know, we have 275,000-plus apps that have been optimized for the tablet. If you just stretch out a smartphone app on a tablet, it’s an awful experience. It’s not what customers want. I think it’s another reason that usage is so low on these other tablets.

I don’t doubt that there will be units sold in other tablets. It’s happening today. It will happen in the future. But what I strongly believe is that many people that are doing so might feel good initially if they pay a low price, but will bring it home and start to use it, and they’re no longer satisfied. That good feeling is gone. And those people don’t repeat purchases.

Let me give you an example of this. I was thinking about this the other day. Look at netbooks. Many people thought netbooks were the coolest thing ever. Many companies hyped them. In fact, the sales boomed, and then what happened? They crashed, because they were awful! They were flimsy products with crappy, cramped keyboards. They were underpowered. They were just awful.

So we never went into that category. We never put any time into it. A great product doesn’t mean an expensive product. It means a fair price. The iPad mini is all the way down to $329. This isn’t an expensive product. So when we can do great products and achieve a great price, we feel great. But what we wouldn’t do is say, “We’ve got to have something for this price, and then let’s see what we can do for it.” That’s not how we think. We think about the product and making a great product that we want to use. When we can do that and achieve another price point, that’s great. But our customers have a high expectation, and we’re not going to try to pass off something—we would never do that. That’s not how we think.

You can read the entire article on Mashable.

YouTube now iPad ready

Yesterday Google updated a few of their iOS applications including Gmail and YouTube. YouTube is now finally a native iPad application, sporting a new logo and Google+ like feel to the application. I have really missed having a nice native YouTube application on my iPad as I have been using iOS 6 for quite a few months now, since the summer time when it was in beta. It is nice to have YouTube back on my homescreen where it belongs.





YouTube is a free application and you can download it in the iOS App Store:
YouTube - Google, Inc.

Figure by Propellerhead

Figure is a universal iOS application that will run on the iPad, iPhone, and iPod Touch. Figure is $0.99 in the iOS App Store and easily worth every penny for music lovers. Even if you are not a music lover then you should honestly download this app as it is really fun to play with.

I bought this App back in March I believe or sometime around then and when it first launched there was not much you could do with the app then. But, the developers have recently added the export to iTunes feature, you can now open your creations in a limited number of other applications, you can sync via Bluetooth with other iOS devices, and just last week the app was updated to support the iPhone 5 and the iPad. This is one of those apps that you show to people who say the iPad is a consumption only device. Let your creativeness shine through on your iPad.

Download Figure from the iOS App Store:

Figure for iPad

Figure for iPhone / iPod Touch

 

Be sure to follow me online elsewhere..

I would love to have any of my fellow readers follow or friend me on any of my most used social sites. My new YouTube channel desperately needs some subscribers and the videos sure could use a few 'Thumbs Up', my Tumblr is my personal spot on the Internet and I don't always post the most family friendly stuff on there so be forewarned. My Twitter is is about the same as my Tumblr, it is not iPad related at least not my personal Twitter account, I post anything from games I am playing, music I am listening to, or the mood I am in currently. The Total iPad Twitter and Facebook pages are just that, most of what I post on there are things that I post from here. Every now and then I will Tweet interesting iPad related things on the Twitter page but for the most part it is just an easy way to read Total iPad without actually having to visit Total iPad.

My YouTube
My Tumblr
My Twitter
Total iPad Twitter Page
Total iPad Facebook Page

Next up I will be reviewing the Cygnett Enigma for the iPad mini. I hope to have it up in the next couple of days. In the meantime checkout a pictures from the gallery of the Enigma.

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The iPad mini

I finally decided to post a short review on the iPad mini. No, I do not own an iPad mini yet but I bought one for my daughter for her birthday and have been using her mini for a couple of weeks now. I do plan on getting a cellular version of the mini after the holidays. I love the lightness of the mini, the thinness, the design, the feel, the look, the sound. I love everything about the mini except the lack of retina. Of course that is the same thing anyone else who has reviewed the mini has stated and like all those "anyone else's" after a few days of using the mini you do not really notice the lack of retina.

Everything about the mini makes it a joy to own. I ended up getting my daughter the 32GB Wi-FI only version and only opted for the 32GB because I know she will be watching a lot of movies on it. The one thing about watching movies on the mini is the improved quality of the speakers. With my big iPad sometimes I have to grab my EarPods because the speakers are not loud enough. You do not have this problem with the mini as the iPad mini sports stereo sound. Sure you will only be able to take advantage of stereo sound if you are watching in portrait mode but the speakers are really that much louder and do not sound muffled when you have it propped up using the Smart Case or another iPad mini case with a built-in stand.

Should you buy an iPad mini if you already have a bigger iPad?

If you own a third-generation iPad and you mostly use your iPad when you are at home whether it is on the couch or in bed then you probably do not need the iPad mini. Unless the weight and the size of the larger iPad is uncomfortable to hold when you are reading on it. If those things do not bother you then you should be perfectly set with the big iPad you have now.

If you are someone who takes your iPad everywhere with you, you know when you go out to a coffee shop or on vacation, then I would highly recommend grabbing an iPad mini because it is that much more portable. It does fit right in a jacket pocket, if you watch my video review you will see me actually demonstrate this.

I can honestly say without a doubt in my mind, if the iPad mini had a retina display then I would sell my larger iPad and get a mini as long as it stayed the same thickness and weight. That is probably the reason the iPad mini doesn't have retina though. Retina would require a larger battery which would make it heavier and mostly likely thicker.

The iPad mini will make a great Christmas gift for the wife, husband, or kids. If you are thinking of getting a friend or family member an iOS device then I would put the mini at the top of that list!

Be sure to check out some of my iPad mini case reviews:

FlexiGel for iPad mini

Workmate for iPad mini

Video review of Workmate from Cygnett

This is the video review of the Cygnett Workmate for the iPad mini. I had a problem with my Blip.tv account yesterday and couldn't upload it with the written review. Be sure to check out all my other Cygnett case reviews for not only the iPad mini but also the big iPad.

Cygnett Workmate for iPad mini

The Cygnett Workmate is a dual shock-absorbing case that will give your iPad mini double the protection. The Workmate is constructed of 2 different materials, a harder plastic and a soft rubber that offers the most protection from any accidental drops and dings that your iPad mini might incur. The workmate is impact resistance and also features raised edges so that when you lay your iPad mini face down the screen of your iPad mini is raised off of the surface you have it laying on.

The Workmate only offers rear and side protection but coupled with a nice clear screen protector your iPad mini will be in good hands. Maybe bad hands if you actually drop it! Don't drop it. But if you are unsure if the Workmate is up to the task for any accidental drops then check out this video that Cygnett recorded showing the iPad mini surviving a drop test.



The Workmate easily slides over your iPad mini and "snaps" into place with ease. Putting the Workmate on the mini is very simple and removing it is just as simple! All the ports and buttons will line-up nicely and I had no problem whatsoever accessing any of the buttons such as the volume rocker or any of the ports such as the Lighting connector on the bottom of the iPad mini. The speaker grills have a nice cut-out that line up perfectly with the speakers built-in to the iPad mini.

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The Workmate does add some slight bulk to the mini but that should be expected as this type of case is built for ultimate damage control. It does not really add much extra weight to the iPad mini though, just a tad bit of thickness. Overall I don't think you will notice the thickness that is added to the iPad mini. It will also add some extra grip to the iPad mini, as with most iThings, they are always slippery feeling but with the Workmate on your iPad mini you will have an extra added grip on your device.

PROS:

• Offers double protection


• Adds grip to the iPad mini


• Dual-shock absorbent


• Easy to slide on and remove


• Impact Resistance

CONS:

• Slight thickness added to iPad mini


• No front screen protection

Overall this is another fine product from Cygnett, I highly recommend the Workmate as I feel it will probably do the best job of protecting your iPad mini from most accidental drops. As with all the Cygnett iPad products I have reviewed this comes with a lifetime manufactures guarantee as well as a 2 year warranty.

You can purchase the Workmate from Cygnett for only $39.99

Be sure to check out my review of the Cygnet FlexiGel iPad mini case.

Is the iPad 4 twice as fast as the iPad 3?

In short yes! And this video will prove it: http://goo.gl/EFneS

In the long version of what I have to say: yes!

And here’s why: After just two days and very little usage on the iPad 4, it is very evident to me I have a new iPad in my hands with a speedier processor. For the conspiracy theorists out there, the video is nice to have, but that could have easily been altered.

The long of why I upgraded

It should be noted that I was very skeptical about the potential performance boost out of an iPad 4 when compared to an iPad 3. I’ve had my iPad 3 since early August. Then when Apple announced an iPad 4 in September, I think it was my district manager who told me of the announcement, I look at him Seinfeld style and pushed him on the shoulder like Elaine did so well and said, “No way! Get out!”

I wasn’t that shocked or “taken aback” by the announcement. I wasn’t mad that I had just purchased an iPad 3. I was just floored by how Apple stepped up and flew the middle finger in the face of macrumors.com and all the crystal ball hags out there.

I had been waiting for a new iPhone to come out for about a year. I mean, the 4S came out at the beginning of my wait, but I wasn’t too keen on moving from Android to iOS for my phone on the platform and frame of an already one year old phone. I wanted a new experience from Apple, so I waited with my HTC EVO patiently; very patently, indeed, did I wait. Then, in early August, I dropped my EVO on the ground and shattered the glass. Believe it or not, the phone still worked great and really didn’t look bad until you powered it down and then it was horrific looking. Everybody told me, “Go to the Jewelry Care Center at the mall, he’ll fix it.” I would always respond, “No thank, I’m waiting for my new iPhone 5 to pop out of Cupertino!” It took almost 50 days from the time I broke my phone until the announcement and then another five weeks or so before I was able to find an iPhone 5.

But, I was patient.

What made me impatient is when my wife went to her recently deceased grandmother’s home in Virginia, 500 miles away, and for some reason we couldn’t call each other. We could call anybody else, just not each other. When she got home, I forced the matter! We bought two iPhone 5’s on day one of her being home! Period.

The cable

I hate cables. I was a trucker for 17 years and I am used to wires, but I still have a hatred for charging cables. Essentially, I purchased an iPad 4 so I could have the same connecter as the iPhone 5 - that sounds so freak’n stupid doesn’t it? I must admit, these are “First World Problems” like I’ve never seen. We could start memes on this reason for buying an iPad 4, but it is the truth. I didn’t buy the iPad 4 for any other reason than cable parity with the iPhone 5.

The Speed Difference

Something happened last night. I noticed on the iPad how much more snappy that new A6 processor is from the A5. I think processor parity might be a good reason to go from the 3 to the 4, as well. I had noticed on the iPad 3 where the Retina, my guess, was slowing the machine down in certain instances. Maybe that’s an oversimplification of the matter, but in the iPad 4 there is no hesitation whatsoever. The A6 does make a difference. From everything like browsing with Safari, to opening and scrolling in G+, FlipBoard, ect., ect., the A6 makes a considerable difference. The difference isn’t just in opening apps. I don’t mind waiting another .5 second or 1 second to open an app. But, I’m talking about the “in app experience.” I honestly thought that Apple was full of marketing bunk when I read the “double your speed over the A5” babble! However, they are for real about it!

So, in the long and short, if you do like I did and sell off your iPad 3 to a friend who must not have the best and newest shiny thing for a $100 hit, I believe in my heart of hearts it’s worth the price of admission to upgrade from the 3 to the 4. My hit was really more than that, because I did go from a 16 GB 3 to a 32 GB 4, but you get the picture.

This post was sent in by Wilson Hines.

Littlest Pet Shop

GameLoft released a new Littlest Pet Shop game this past week for both iOS and Android. On the iOS side of things LPS is available for the iPad, iPad mini, iPhone, and iPod Touch. It is free to download and is available in the iOS App Store.

This game does rely heavily on In-App Purchases. If you have smaller children playing this game you may want to disable In-App Purchases on  your iPad or iOS device. If you are unsure how to disable In-App Purchases I have a tutorial video on how to do so, you can check out that tutorial video HERE.

You can download Littlest Pet Shop in the App Store:
Littlest Pet Shop - Gameloft (iPad / iPad mini)
Littlest Pet Shop - Gameloft (iPhone / iPod Touch)

Disable In App Purchases

A quick video tip on disabling In-App Purchases on your iPad. This is really useful if you have small children who use your iPad and they know your iTunes password. So far I have been lucky with my daughter not actually purchasing anything on my iTunes account. Never hurts to set in-app purchases to off so you don't have to worry about it. You can always turn them back on if you need them enabled.

FlexiGel for iPad mini

FlexiGel is a soft, durable, protective flexi-case for the iPad mini made by Cygnett. The FlexiGel will help protect your iPad mini from scratches as well as offering some impact resistance if you were to drop your iPad mini. The FlexiGel only covers the back of the iPad mini so in theory you screen is still left unprotected and you might want to consider purchasing an iPad mini screen protector. The FlexiGel is raised a tad on the front of the case so if you lay the iPad mini face down on a table or desk it will not scratch the screen as the screen is slightly lifted off of the flat surface it is laying on.

The FlexiGel easily slides over the 4 corners of the iPad mini and all the buttons and ports have cut-outs with the exception of the power button and the volume rocker. The power button and volume rocker have soft buttons overlaying the actual button when you have the FlexiGel on your iPad mini. I tested this case with my earbuds and my Lighting cable and had no problem accessing the ports while using the FlexiGel.

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The FlexiGel retails for only $19.99 and it comes highly recommended to help protect your iPad mini from bumps and scratches. The FlexiGel comes in 2 colors: Blue and Black.

Pros:

• Impact Resistant


• Raised Edges


• Easy to slide on/off


• Manufacturers lifetime guarantee


• 2 year warranty

Cons:

• No front screen protection

For more information about the FlexiGel: http://us.cygnett.com/ipad/blue-flexigel.html
Warranty: http://us.cygnett.com/lifetime

Be Back Soon

If you are a reader of Total iPad please hang in there with me, I am dealing with some personal family issues and I should be back to maintaining the site as soon as possible. I have not abandoned Total iPad, I have more to say than ever.

 

Sincerely,
Christopher

 

Posted with Blogsy

Angry Birds Star Wars

Today Rovio launched Angry Birds Star Wars for the iPad, iPhone, iPod Touch and OS X. Angry Birds Star Wars is the same gameplay as the other Angry Birds games but with a Star Wars twist to it. You play as the birds who represent "The Force" and go to battle against those same Bad Piggies who are on "The Dark Side". If you are a fan of either Star Wars or Angry Birds then this is a must have game.

The price of Angry Birds varies depending on the platform you are purchasing it for:

iPhone/iPod Touch - $0.99
iPad - $2.99
Mac OS X - $4.99

Angry Birds Star Wars also features a couple of In-App purchases, you can opt for Jedi Training which will run you $1.99 or you can purchase the "Big Eagle" which is cleverly disguised as the Millennium Falcon. The Millennium Falcon can be used to finish a level if you find the level to be hard to defeat. The Millennium Falcon In-App purchases range from $1.99 - $19.99 depending how many you want to purchase. The $19.99 version will include some bonus "Millennium Falcon" that can be used during gameplay.

You can purchase Angry Birds Star Wars in the iOS or OS X App Store:
iPad
iPhone
OS X

Clash of Clans

Clash of Clans is a brilliant "RTS/Time Management" style game. Clash of Clans is a universal iOS application that will run on your iPad, iPhone, and iPod Touch. It is a free download in the App Store but relies heavily on In-App Purchases. IAP are not required but honestly to enjoy the game you will need to purchase gem packs in order to find the game enjoyable or it will take you forever to build your kingdom.

I first learned about Clash of Clans by watching some videos posted on YouTube by Simon Tay. Simon also has some terrific CoC tutorials for offensive and defensive strategies, I highly recommend you check out those videos before diving into CoC.

Overall the gameplay is fantastic, I love these types of games and I used to play an online Flash based game called Evony, Clash of Clans is the first game that comes close to the fun that Evony offered. If you enjoy these types of games I highly recommend you check it out and the fact that it is free to download means it cost you nothing but a few moments of your time.

FEATURES:

• Free to Play


• Build your village into a undefeatable fortress


• Battle with players worldwide and take their Victory Points


• Join together with other players to form the ultimate Clan


• 10 unique units with multiple levels of upgrades


• Defend your village with Cannons, Towers, Mortars, Bombs, Traps and Walls


• Fight against the Goblin King in an epic campaign through the realm

You can download Clash of Clans free in the App Store:

Clash of Clans - Supercell (iPad)
Clash of Clans - Supercell (iPhone)



You can Like Clash of Clans on Facebook
More information on the Developers Website

First look at the iPad mini

Some of the things that struck me as odd:

• The smaller 5W charging block


• Headphone jack on the top


• No retina of course

 

 

iPad mini DROP TEST + WorkMate

In a world-first, Cygnett's Industrial Designer, Shannon Brown, has drop-tested the iPad mini with and without the WorkMate shock-absorbing case.

The heavy-duty WorkMate comprises a two-part construction- a silicone, spark-etched chassis, with interior ridges to disperse point of impact shocks and proud non-slip 'feet'; and a strong polycarbonate shell, with a rubberised coating for an easy-grip, matte finish.

For more info, please visit http://www.cygnett.com/project_workmate

Episode 33 - Belated mini

On this show we discuss the 2 new iPad's, the mini and the 4th generation iPad. Both of which we will probably not be buying, we talk about why and why a new iPad 6 months later makes sense but totally pisses us off.

iPad mini
iPad 4th Generation

NEW RSS FEED.


I will be moving the Total iPad feed in the coming months. If you are subscribed to the current feed please re-subscribe using the link above to the new feed. Sorry for the inconvenience, this is only for the actual Total iPad site feed, the podcast feed will stay the same.

Thanks,
Christopher


Follow Total iPad on Twitter @TotaliPad.
Like Total iPad on Facebook.

LeviSync

A really cool stand that attaches your iPad to your iMac. But that is not all, look at all the additional features this offers for both your iMac and your iPad. More USB ports, play audio through your iMac from your iPad and don't even get me started on how this will organize your desk.



The LeviSync comes with a pretty price tag of $179. For someone like me though who hates a cluttered desk this would be a welcomed purchase. I have not yet ordered it, I only recently discovered this on a post on Google+, also I want to reach out to the company and ask about the new iMac. I plan on updating my current iMac in December so before buying I want to make sure it will work with the new thinner iMac. But if you do not plan on updating anytime soon and you like this, you can find out more info about the LeviSync on the LeviSync website.

Apple releases iOS 6.0.1

If you are an iPad 2 or iPad 3 then a new update is available. Apple released iOS 6.0.1 for iOS devices that are eligible to be upgraded to iOS 6. It is a relatively small update, it is only 51.9MB. It took me less than 5 minutes to download and update my 3rd generation iPad.

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Toca Tailor for iPad

Toca Tailor is another terrific iPad game from Toca Boca. Toca Tailor is a clothing design game for kids of all ages. The app is easy to use, no learning curve whatsoever, just pick up the iPad and start playing. My daughter not only loves Toca Tailor but she enjoys all the Toca Boca games. If you have younger children and are looking for great games that will be easy for them to play but also give them hours of enjoyment then I encourage you to check out the entire lineup of Toca Boca iPad apps.




KEY FEATURES:

• 4 fun characters to choose from


• Mix, match, rotate and adjust 24 different fabric patterns


• Create your own unique patterns with the camera feature


• Add 24 different clothing details – buttons, bows and much, much more


• Style characters with 30 cool accessories – glasses, moustaches, jewellery


• Use the built-in camera to create your own background for style snapshots


• Easy-to-use, kid-friendly interface with incredible creative possibilities


• Beautiful original graphics


• No rules, stress or time limits – play any way you want


• No third-party advertising


• No in-app purchases

Toca Tailor is only $0.99 in the App Store:


Visit the Toca Boca website.

Pinnacle Studio for iPad

Pinnacle Studio for iPad is a terrific iPad application for editing video on the go. Pinnacle Studio has become my favorite video editing application on my iPad, I have been using Pinnacle Studio for about a month now. Previously Pinnacle Studio was known as Avid Studio. Avido Studio was sold to Corel, the name was changed a ton of new features were added to this awesome application.

You can download it in the App Store for only $7.99:

http://goo.gl/W32gA
Enhance:

• Use Montage templates to create multi-layer 3D animations, transitions, and titles


• Help your story flow using 16 transitions—including high-quality dissolves, fades, and more


• Easily composite video tracks to create layered looks.


• Generate professional-looking motion titles and graphics with full control over text, font, color, size, position, and rotation.


• Create amazing Picture-in-Picture effects with full control over position, size, and rotation


• Pan and zoom on your photos to create high-impact slideshows


• Enjoy full-screen playback

 

Create Soundtracks:

• Use your own audio or choose from the included sound effects


• Trim audio to any length, set levels, and fade audio in or out


• Use the Voiceover feature to add documentary-style narration to your videos and slideshows

You can share your work with YouTube, Facebook, Box.com, your Camera Roll and more..

 

System Requirements:
iOS5
iPad 2 or newer (please note: iPad 1 is not supported with release 2.0)

Visit the Pinnacle Studio website for more info.

Action Movie FX

Action Movie FX is a really cool universal iOS application. Free to download in the App Store. Action Movie FX has been updated quite a few times adding really cool effects to the application. Currently the app features some Call of Duty: Black Ops II effects that you can download for free simply by Tweeting, posting to your Facebook Wall or scanning the CoD:BOII website logo image.

Action Movie FX does feature some In-App Purchases as well, they can be purchased for an additional $0.99 for each effects package. Each package contains 2 additional effects. Don't worry, Action Movie FX does come with several free effects also.

Download it FREE in the App Store:
Action Movie FX - Bad Robot Interactive

He-Man for iPad

He-Man is a very fun slasher/action game for iOS. It is a universal game and will work on the iPad, iPhone, and iPod Touch. You can purchase additional Crystals via In-App Purchases that can be used to buy Power-Ups in the game.

The controls are very easy, left side of the iPad is to move forward or backwards. Right side of the iPad is used to attack, you can also swipe up on the right side of the iPad to perform jumps or special attacks.


He-Man is only $0.99 in the App Store, you can download the game here:

iPad - He-Man: The Most Powerful Game in the Universe™ - Chillingo Ltd

iPhone/iPod Touch - He-Man: The Most Powerful Game in the Universe™ - Chillingo Ltd

Letterpress for iPad

This was my original review of Letterpress, the game seems to have been fixed since I first wrote this:

I have had to completely close the app and relaunch it at least 30x today. Probably more. I did not have this issue with the free version of the game, it was only when I upgraded to the paid version. I am not sure if this is some sort of server issue? Maybe I have too many games going at once? Just a thought. Having more than 2 games is the entire reason I upgraded via the In-App Purchase though, if I can't have more than a few games going at once then maybe a limit needs to be placed on the app? If it is not a server issue then maybe it is a Game Center issue? I have not had a problem with Game Center games before though.

The gameplay is fun, the app is beautifully designed. That is not the issue, the issue is the game is pointless if it cannot connect to Game Center. Seems like it has this problem every 5 minutes. Then when you relaunch the game it takes 3-4 minutes for it to update before you are able to do anything in the game. This is a multiplayer game so if I can't connect to Game Center then I just wasted $0.99!

Issues I am having:

• Constantly have problems connecting..


• Can't create new matches even after paying the $0.99 to upgrade the free version...