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Post by Priapulus on Mar 11, 2014 13:13:05 GMT -5
I bought an iPhone and it has revolutionized my life. I keep all my contacts, email, web links, appointments on it. For computers I've always had a Microsoft Windows machine. Microsoft Outlook is suppose to synchronize with my phone; but since it is Microsoft it is neither simple, reliable, stable nor trustworthy. However, I've found Apple stuff to be completely reliable synchronizing with other Apple gear.
At first I was going to buy an Apple Mini to replace my HTPC, and do all my email on; an iPhone is too small and tedious to do any extended emailing. Then I thought an even better idea would be an iPad. It could talk to my Apple TV and Airstation via WIFI, and be used as a remote control. I have some questions; perhaps someone knows?
1) How easy is it to type (or voice dictate) longer emails on the iPad?
2) Does the iPad have a music player that can pickup mp3 files from a computer harddrive and send them to the Apple Airport? My phone does that now, but is a bit tedious with the small screen.
3) Does the iPad have a movie player that can pickup files from a computer harddrive and send them to the Apple TV?
Perhaps I should just get an OPPO, Xbox or something else for movies and music; also long as the iPad does a good job with email... |
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jlafrenz
Global Moderator 
I don't want to jump in, unless this music's thumping
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Post by jlafrenz on Mar 11, 2014 13:32:28 GMT -5
I couldn't tell you about dictating emails, but the Apple TV should be able to access the files on your networked computer using Home Share. This is very simple to setup. You can then use your phone as a remote. For video, if you can see it on your phone, you can mirror to the Apple TV. Are the videos ones that were purchased via the Apple Store or other ones that have been downloaded etc...? If they are through the Apple Store you will can access them via the Apple TV.
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Post by Topend on Mar 11, 2014 14:48:25 GMT -5
Get a keyboard for the iPad.
Dave.
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Post by Priapulus on Mar 11, 2014 15:42:57 GMT -5
> Get a keyboard for the iPad.
Right now I do email on my HTPC, with the big screen TV and wireless mouse and keyboard. It works well, except for the Macrosloth inconsynchronicity. Perhaps I will just go with the Apple Mini. My movies are from many sources; none from Apple, so I'll need a third party player. But all my music is Apple friendly, mp3 or Apple lossless.
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Post by thevinoman on Mar 11, 2014 16:12:30 GMT -5
Yep, highly recommend a keyboard for the iPad. There's no sensory feedback from the touchscreen, and you'll find it very odd and annoying if you are used to using a normal keyboard, IMHO...
iPad can do virtually everything an iPhone can do. Be aware though, that the newer iPads have a different connector than models previous to the iPhone 5.
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Post by garbulky on Mar 11, 2014 16:14:30 GMT -5
I bought an iPhone and it has revolutionized my life. I keep all my contacts, email, web links, appointments on it. For computers I've always had a Microsoft Windows machine. Microsoft Outlook is suppose to synchronize with my phone; but since it is Microsoft it is neither simple, reliable, stable nor trustworthy. However, I've found Apple stuff to be completely reliable synchronizing with other Apple gear.
At first I was going to buy an Apple Mini to replace my HTPC, and do all my email on; an iPhone is too small and tedious to do any extended emailing. Then I thought an even better idea would be an iPad. It could talk to my Apple TV and Airstation via WIFI, and be used as a remote control. I have some questions; perhaps someone knows?
1) How easy is it to type (or voice dictate) longer emails on the iPad?
2) Does the iPad have a music player that can pickup mp3 files from a computer harddrive and send them to the Apple Airport? My phone does that now, but is a bit tedious with the small screen.
3) Does the iPad have a movie player that can pickup files from a computer harddrive and send them to the Apple TV?
Perhaps I should just get an OPPO, Xbox or something else for movies and music; also long as the iPad does a good job with email... should be able to help you. His original setup with an ipad as a remote streaming to an airport express and computer was very useable. |
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Post by Boomzilla on Mar 11, 2014 17:14:46 GMT -5
1) How easy is it to type (or voice dictate) longer emails on the iPad? My friend does ALL his emailing, typing, and searching using voice recognition via Google. It works fine. 2) Does the iPad have a music player that can pickup mp3 files from a computer harddrive and send them to the Apple Airport? My phone does that now, but is a bit tedious with the small screen. Yes. 3) Does the iPad have a movie player that can pickup files from a computer harddrive and send them to the Apple TV? Yes. Perhaps I should just get an OPPO, Xbox or something else for movies and music; also long as the iPad does a good job with email... I ran iTunes on my Mac and controlled it via my iPad. The data streamed via DLNA over ethernet to my Oppo player where it was converted & sent to the stereo. Worked fine. I currently run JRiver on my PC and control it via my iPad. The data streamed via DLNA over ethernet to my Oppo player where it is converted & sent to the stereo. Works fine. If you have a DAC instead of an Oppo, then use an Apple Airport Express (or Apple TV). Works fine. Boomzilla |
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Post by garbulky on Mar 11, 2014 17:46:20 GMT -5
1) How easy is it to type (or voice dictate) longer emails on the iPad? My friend does ALL his emailing, typing, and searching using voice recognition via Google. It works fine. Out of curiosity. How do you do that? (The typing and emailing voice recognition) Is it an app? |
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Post by Boomzilla on Mar 11, 2014 18:19:15 GMT -5
He uses a Samsung phone with voice to text built in.
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Post by AudioHTIT on Mar 11, 2014 23:48:26 GMT -5
If you have an iPhone you can test the voice recognition now (it's part of iOS and not the device). My dad is 91 years old and hates computers, but he will now dictate an email to me on the iPad I gave him.
I can type pretty well and fairly fast with the onscreen iPad keyboard, but if you do want an external keyboard you might check out the ClamCase.
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hemster
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...still listening... still watching
Posts: 51,920
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Post by hemster on Mar 12, 2014 1:39:44 GMT -5
If you have an iPhone you can test the voice recognition now (it's part of iOS and not the device). My dad is 91 years old and hates computers, but he will now dictate an email to me on the iPad I gave him. I can type pretty well and fairly fast with the onscreen iPad keyboard, but if you do want an external keyboard you might check out the ClamCase. Albeit not a regular Apple user, I get frustrated when I use my daughter's iPhone. Finger-pecking to type is so annoying. I've been spoilt by my Samsung using Swype. Why can't someone port it or develop it for iOS? |
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Post by garbulky on Mar 12, 2014 1:49:20 GMT -5
If you have an iPhone you can test the voice recognition now (it's part of iOS and not the device). My dad is 91 years old and hates computers, but he will now dictate an email to me on the iPad I gave him. I can type pretty well and fairly fast with the onscreen iPad keyboard, but if you do want an external keyboard you might check out the ClamCase. Is it only for those iphones that do siri? Because we have the iphone 4 (no siri) and can't make it do anything on voice other than play music. |
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Post by AudioHTIT on Mar 12, 2014 9:32:56 GMT -5
If you have an iPhone you can test the voice recognition now (it's part of iOS and not the device). My dad is 91 years old and hates computers, but he will now dictate an email to me on the iPad I gave him. I can type pretty well and fairly fast with the onscreen iPad keyboard, but if you do want an external keyboard you might check out the ClamCase. Is it only for those iphones that do siri? Because we have the iphone 4 (no siri) and can't make it do anything on voice other than play music. I guess you're right, looks like Siri started with the iPhone 4S and iPad 3. I jumped from the 3GS to the 5 and have had it for a while (also iPad 3 since it came out). I'll correct my statement "with the right iPhone you can test voice recognition now". That said if you're contract is over you can upgrade pretty cheap, I got the $200 iPhone 5 and sold my 3GS for $125 on Craigslist, my wife got the $100 iPhone 5 and I sold her iPhone 3 for $100. |
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Post by AudioHTIT on Mar 12, 2014 9:41:58 GMT -5
If you have an iPhone you can test the voice recognition now (it's part of iOS and not the device). My dad is 91 years old and hates computers, but he will now dictate an email to me on the iPad I gave him. I can type pretty well and fairly fast with the onscreen iPad keyboard, but if you do want an external keyboard you might check out the ClamCase. Albeit not a regular Apple user, I get frustrated when I use my daughter's iPhone. Finger-pecking to type is so annoying. I've been spoilt by my Samsung using Swype. Why can't someone port it or develop it for iOS? I'll agree I don't use the iPhone often for long emails (but do on the iPad). While I'm decent with the phone's keyboard in landscape, I'm certainly not as fast as 'the young people' (then again I type complete words and sentences). As for Swype I guess ignorance is bliss, I'm not familiar with it. I think at any given time each OS will have desirable features missing in others, but over time the majors (iOS, Android, Windows) will step up to what the market demands. Edit: To the OP, I also have a Mac Mini at the center of my Apple ecosystem, I download high res music there, sync and backup my devices, stream Netflix, etc. |
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