2024-12-19
Federico is rediscovering the joy of using the iPad
Note: This was originally written as a comment in a thread at the Mac Power Users forum which is, as the name would indicate,a community of Apple nerds.
Federico Viticci is back on the iPad and wants everyone to know. Le sigh. I've mostly stopped reading MacStories in recent years because it started to feel too centered on his back and forth between Mac and iPad. Sort of a weird "I built my content creator brand on using the iPad but now I have doubts" which actually worked out well for him as he played to the conflict and drama as a sort of story arc. At least, that's the way it's felt to me for a few years. And good for him as it seems he's mostly made that work.
But as a reader I wasn't there for that. I'm interested in useful explorations about using the iPad. It's experiments with iPad modularity, useful iPad apps and discussion of workflows and use cases that keep my attention. But his current article is one that digs into what it means to use the iPad as a tool in a larger toolbox and I enjoyed it.
The weird thing about the debate about the iPad as a computer and tool for working is the ridiculous idea that we only have one device, one tool. It's just silly and always has been. In 2024 there are billions of humans using billions of computing devices. Phone, tablet, laptop, desktop or something else, chances are, most here use a mix of devices for different tasks, different workflows. If your brain can only handle managing or learning one device, well, okay. I know plenty of folks that just get by with an iPhone or other smart phone. There are some that get everything done in a browser on a Chromebook.
I've complained many times that tech conversation and coverage is lopsided in that it's dominated by the voices of a handful of podcaster/YouTuber pundits and techfluencers. And in the case of the iPad that has meant that certain use cases get talked to death while many are never discussed at all. It leads to an incomplete understanding of what's possible and what's useful and this has certainly been true of the iPad discussion.
If you're a Mac user and you need to scan documents you don't freak out that the Mac does not have a built in document scanner. You use a separate scanner or an iPhone with a scanner app. Need to print? You use a printer. If you're using a Mac Mini you'll need a keyboard, mouse, screen and maybe a web cam. Oh, and let's not forget, if you're using a Mac and want to get on the internet, you'll need to tether to an iPhone or use an internet service with an external modem.
You see where this is going. The Mac also needs additional hardware to be a complete and useful solution. And that's okay, we don't need to dwell on it. We just accept it and move on to finding the additional hardware needed. No need for debate. In the real world most of use use a mix of tools depending on our jobs, tasks, etc.
Even podcasters don't just use a Mac! They use external microphones and likely quite a few other devices attached to their Mac. I'm not a podcaster but I've been interviewed for a few and in those cases I just used my iPad for the call and (gasp!) my iPhone to record my local audio. A simple version of what Federico outlined in his article as his podcasting solution. It's okay to use secondary devices and tools to get the job done. I thought this all along and wondered why it was an issue for him. I used an iPhone, he's using a microphone with a USB box that records the audio onto an SD card. I'm glad he got it sorted.
He goes on to explain a variety of other things he's doing such as capturing video for YouTube versions of his podcasts. In all of this he's using various improvements and features of iPadOs that have been added in recent years. For example, he has no problem using the Files app for transferring large files from external drives to his iPad for uploading. I appreciate that Federico highlights the improved Files app and support for UVC.
It's a given that previous versions of iPadOS were more limited just as previous versions of the iPad hardware were more limited. An M1, M2 or M4 iPad Pro with iPadOS 18 is far more capable than a 2018 iPad Pro with iPadOS 15. After several years of near constant complaint, it's refreshing to see him acknowledging, even celebrating, the improvements introduced to the iPad. Watching him explore new options and solutions makes for a far more interesting and empowering conversations. He's obviously having a lot of fun sharing his rediscovery of the delight in using the iPad.
Welcome back Federico.
I don't have comments but I love email or you can find me on Mastodon.
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