iBooks Bugs And How to Configure
Dec 31, 2010 iPad apps, ipad review
Problem with iBooks disappearing from your iBookshelf, or getting a configuration error telling you have to restore your iPhone or iPad and reinstall iBooks? You’re not alone. We’ll go over the bug and try to troubleshoot after the break!
Disappearing iBooks
iBooks seems to be… well, a little quirkier when it comes to errors than its older iTunes and App Store cousins. Sometimes when it launches you can watch your iBookshelf populate with titles only to see one or more disappear right before your eyes. (We’ve had readers report a dozen or more disappearing). Luckily, you can redownload your previously purchased iBooks:
- Tap Store, top right
- Tap Purchases, bottom left
- Tap redownload for any iBooks that have disappeared
It’s a pain but it’s better than music, movies, or TV Shows where there are no re-downloads.
If you’re near your Mac or Windows PC, you can also just re-sync and that might fix it, though I’ve had to redownload some even after sync.
iBooks configuration error
This one is even more galling. You tap to open a book and start reading but instead get an error messages saying “There is a problem with the configuration of your iPhone [or iPad]. Please restore with iTunes and reinstall iBooks.”
Restoring in iTunes is a nuclear option and Apple shouldn’t be so quick to recommend it. In my experience, the following work in most cases:
- Exit iBooks
- Double click the Home Button
- Tap and hold iBooks in the Fast App Switcher dock to put it into Jiggly Mode
- Tap the X in the corner to Force Quit iBooks
- Click the Home to exit back to the Home Screen
- Relaunch iBooks
Others have recommended restarting your iPhone, iPod touch, or iPad, or syncing to iTunes on your Mac or Windows PC. Restoring your device should be a last resort.
Few users are saying that this only affects devices with multiple iTunes accounts on them, or Jailbroken devices, but there’s no clear pattern we can determine so I think it’s most likely just a bug. Hopefully Apple fixes it soon. They invented iTunes, dagnabit. Managing digital downloads should be a cakewalk for them by now.
Tags: ibooks, iPad apps, ipad apps news, ipad problems
PlayBook vs iPad the browser speed test
Nov 17, 2010 ipad review, News
Today RIM posted a video of their PlayBook vs. Apple’s iPad to demonstrate the browsing ability and speeds the PlayBook has to offer. The results are interesting but seemingly skewed as well.
There were three different tests RIM used to compare the browers on the two devices. They went head-to-head in raw web-site rendering, Acid3, and Java.
To start out they are both directed towards UEFA.com and then CBS.com. The PlayBook clearly finishing loading and rendering both web-sites faster than the iPad. The CBS site however has flash content on it and obviously will not fully load on the iPad.
On the Acid3 test both devices managed to score 100/100 but RIM boasts that the iPad has an HTML error during this test.
The funny thing about these tests are that the iPad is over 6 months old compared to the PlayBook not even being out yet for sale. Also an interesting note is the fact the PlayBook is running on QNX which is Adobe Flash and AIR programs so naturally it will run flash sites as compared to the iPad not having flash capabilities.
It will be far more interesting to see the 2nd generation iPad pitted versus the PlayBook as the two devices will be on a much more level playing field. Do you think this test has any validity given the fact the iPad is real and the PlayBook is still technically vaporware or do you think this is Apple’s chance to step up their game and blow the PlayBook out of the water?
Check out the video after the break!
Tags: ipad, ipad comparision, Tablet from RIM
Apple’s new iPad TV Ad over the AIR
Sep 9, 2010 ipad review, News
Apple introduced a new iPad commercial tonight during primetime programming. The new TV ad continued Apple’s familiar “iPad is” theme and showcased a number of uses for the iPad. After each app was shown, it was followed by a one word definition describing what the “iPad is” Medical, Live, Musical, Work, Play, Memories, Social, Magazines and Historic.
This is the third iPad commercial from Apple and follows the earlier “What is iPad?” and “iPad is Delicious” TV ads.
Tags: apple news, ipad cool news, ipad news
iPad : The Pros and Cons
Apr 6, 2010 ipad review
With the release of iPad there are many positive as well as negative aspects coming in ,lets have a look at them
Pros – the good ipad 
- Larger screen allows much more functionality and flexibility than iphone
- Sleek design available in Silver and black
- An excellent e-Book reader
- Runs all iPhone apps (around 150,000+ apps)
- Is a must buy for web surfers , social networking freaks , heavy email users , video addicts , music lovers and book worms .
- iPad is very fast and responsive , and the software makes it very easy to navigate through various options .
- iPad is thinner and lighter than most of the netbooks and notebooks
- 9.7” bright screen with Fingerprint-resistant Oleophobic coating
- The In built speakers sound well and it also carries a tiny mic placed within the device
- Pretty spacious on-screen keyboard with both landscape and portrait mode availability
- Web Browser works fast and is easy to use
- Reading the news on iPad was the “best implementation of the newspaper”- (WSJ) Mossberg said.
- By tapping a button in Settings, you can order up a month of unlimited cellular Internet service for $30
- Apple has more than 3500 iPad specific apps
Cons - why not to buy the iPad 
- Lack of physical keyboard
- Pogue says iPad is basically a gigantic iPod
- No webcam integrated on board, you have to purchase a $29 iPad camera connection kit, which lets you connect a USB camera or import photos via an SD card.
- No USB ports
- No Assisted GPS in iPad’s Wifi models ( even a 700$ model lacks GPS )
- No Multi-tasking
- No headphones with device
- Not comfortable for writing long documents , Pogue says: “When the iPad is upright, typing on the on-screen keyboard is a horrible experience; when the iPad is turned 90 degrees, the keyboard is just barely usable (because it’s bigger). A $70 keyboard dock will be available in April, but then you’re carting around two pieces.”
- Non expandable memory
- No stand for the hefty device
- Need to use two hands to use iPad until you get your $39 stand
- Low iBooks collection with iPad around 60,000 , whereas Kindle has 400,000 ebooks
- Email app lacks auto sorting , folder creation and group addressing
- No tabbed browsing in safari still apple doesn’t approve Opera Mini on the App store
- Wide screen view cuts off the background image or adds black bars when the device is turned
- Fingerprint-resistant Oleophobic coating is a big excuse to screen guards banned by apple , and as the screen turns off , each finger print mark can be traced
- Cannot read well in the Sunlight due to its glossy coating
- Device stops functioning at temperature above 35° C and below 0° C , and goes in so called cool down mode
- Baig: “Many people will still need a more traditional computer. You can’t edit video on an iPad. And the virtual onscreen keyboard that pops up when needed is fine for e-mails or scribbling notes, but I wouldn’t want to regularly write articles using it. “
- You will have to buy into the iTunes ecosystem, of course, to watch movies, read e-books and sync up the apps.
Tags: ipad, ipad comparision, ipad negative, ipad news, ipad positive, ipad problems, ipad pros and cons, ipad review
