Tata, ol'RAM and Hello, KNN iPad!

Saying goodbye to my old RAM. It has been a decent 6 years working with you. Teehee.

Testing an app which I've bought today for my new, and first iOS device, iPad Mini - Blogsy.

There are a few gripes I'm having for the passed few days since I've gotten this iPad Mini. From fishy credit card security on no easy to get refund from faulty app, to pretty much all the forced limitations I am starting to discovered first hands. Appaling, really. I just had an enormous "RIP-OFF" slapped onto my forehead since day one.

As this is the first App purchased on this device, I'm finding the payment security questionable. I've been checking my card transaction closely. Not quite tally at the moment. It has been 7 days since iTunes charged me for a pre-authentication fee when I first set up the account on this device. No refund. Very much unlike Google Play Store - all transactions have been (fast) responsive and tally.

A quick Google search on "iTunes charged me one dollar without refund", the public feedbacks found weren't good at all. In the meantime, I will continue to monitor the account closely while searching for a safer alternative to use this KNN-of-an-iTunes. Also noted that pre-authentication charges were RIPPED on 7 March and 9 March. BEFORE I purchased my first app on 14 March.

I've discovered (after 8 days and nights of intensive searching and testing apps for intended purposes) I needed 2-4 apps on iOS to do what ONE Android app can do. Even that comes with limitations and/or a roundabout workflow.

I've spent weeks researching the known limitations on iOS before taking another week to finally forced myself to purchase one in the local store. It wasn't an easy decision at all. When everything I've researched on, flashes a gigantic, neon sign above my head - blinking RIP OFF!

Now, you're wondering why in the world would I even spend a single cent on this, let alone a chunk of big dough for an inferior hardwares and sandboxed Eco compared to all my current devices (with best $ tally needs and hardwares given). Mind you, I was preparing to add a 7-8 inches into my portable world BEFORE my MacBook died on me. I was preparing to bring in a Nexus 7 32GB WiFi!

Casing and Screen Protector for Nexus 7 have arrived. Ordered about a month ago from dealextreme.com

Alas, my MacBook went beep-beep-beep and blank screen. Yes. Most likely the RAM has cheeboomboom. It is about time. 6 years old but still a-okay on other working parts. In fact, since Android 3.0, I've not touched my MacBook unless I'm using its iMovie.

Unfortunately, no signs of developer with credibility in video editing app on Android for the passed 4 years. No concrete news of any upcoming either. I've already decided to drop MacBook for just its iMovie usage while I travel about. Then came iPad Mini, cheapest of its kind, portability I've been searching. So, I'm getting this for ONE actual working usage, editing movie on the go from my pocket camcorder. Apps for this kind in iOS App Store is superb! Other than that, it performs pale in comparison with all my other portable devices - based on my usage needs. Ah yes, even photo editing apps are cheaper/free on Android vs iOS. I get FULL Pixlr Express on Android for free. Not on iOS. I get good DOF app for USD0.99 vs one which works closely like that on iOS for USD2.99. The list goes on.

The arrangement is such, I will let Kenneth has this device when I don't need to edit video. He is in short of a tablet and looking at the way he uses his current devices, an iPad Mini is good enough. At least I don't feel too shit-out for paying this exorbitant fee on inferior device, and oh, at least now I can say, first hand, how iOS is for me. Don't say I won't know till I try ha. When we settled in, I will be building a power work station at home from scratch. I like hunting for parts and build my own desktop. Will pass this iPad Mini to him and get my Nexus 7 to fill in the current void in my list of portables.

Worth mentioning though, app like Apps Gone Free is really useful in iOS. I see a sliver of hope in iOS app Eco. Also, app like Invoice2Go is 90% bug-free, compared to 70% bug-free on Android. Google+ is a whole lot better on Android. When you've used it on both platforms, you'll understood what I meant.

As for my extreme video NEEDS, I am still depending on my Android tablet for ease of search-download before using FTP to transfers some to iPad Mini (when I am out and about for a short while). Found an app that plays my multi-format of videos well. Check out MoliPlayer!

Final Note

I'm a shrewd at this. I'm not expecting others are with their gadgets. For every cent paid, I wanna stretch out its usage and won't take just because as an answer. For me, I don't treat gadgets as a luxury items. It has to be a tools. Maximum usefulness is what maketh a tool. Anything less will be just a luxury item. Till date, luxury items to me are precious stones and exotic cars. Gadgets are NOT. Gadgets are my GTD tools while spending hours traveling, checking in to new hotels almost daily and my huge consumption of video feeds OTG.