Ideally the iPad 2 should improve upon the first generation’s hardware, but also add new functionality to the software that will make the iPad the ultimate go-to device at home and in an office setting. Remember this is a compilation of rumors as well as a list of things based on my experience with the iPad that I think would make the iPad the ultimate tablet.

Hardware

The new iPad is expected to boast a lot of hardware features found in competing tablets and the iPhone 4.

Built-in Camera

The most wished for feature is a front-facing camera that would enable the iPad to function as a FaceTime device, this means you can make video phone calls to other devices with similar functionality, even other Macs. The FaceTime feature has been widely popular with iPhone and iPod Touch users, bringing it to the iPad would bring FaceTime to millions of potential iPad buyers.

USB/Memory Card Reader

The second most wished for feature is the inclusion of a USB port and a memory card reader. Currently users who wish to upload or view images from their camera’s on their iPad rely on a dongle that attaches to the dock connector on the iPad and allows users to access and transfers those images to the iPad. This of course is a pain because it requires the purchase of yet another accessory and it is something that other tablets already include. The key decision for Apple will be whether or not to allow the memory card reader to be used as expandable memory that is accessible by other applications. If it’s just to read pictures off camera’s, well that’s an improvement, I guess.

Retina Display

The adoption by developers and the praise of Apple’s Retina display in the iPhone 4 is sure to bring the same display to the iPad, users expect the same level of detail and quality on the new iPads. This of course would require developers to update their applications with higher resolution images to match the display’s higher resolution.

Size

There’s talk of the iPad being offered in two sizes, the 9.7-inch iPad we are all accustomed to and a 7-inch size that would bring the iPad closer in size to the Kindle and other eBook reader devices. There’s also a lot of debate among iPad users regarding display size, some like the larger screen which makes it a viewing pleasure while watching movies, others prefer the smaller form factor that can be held with one hand. I personally like the larger size for the screen, but the smaller size is appealing, I really like how I can wrap my hand around the Samsung Tab. It would be nice if the iPad were thinner and lighter, the current iPad weighs in at 1.5 lb. and it’s thickest point is .5 inches, a tad thinner would increase its appeal to those seeking the ultimate portabile machine.

Gyroscope à la iPhone 4

The first generation sports an accelerometer much like other iOS devices, however the iPhone 4 is the first with a three-axis gyroscope that opens the door to some fun games and applications that use this added sensor, rumor has it that the second generation iPad will also sport this new sensor.

So far it looks like there will be a few hardware upgrades that will make an upgrade to the second generation iPad worthwhile, but where Apple has the most opportunity is in the software, let’s look at some items that may make it into the next generation of the iPad or iOS5.

Software (iOS 5)

User-accessible Folder Structure

One of things that is really lacking in iOS 4 is the ability to access the systems folder structure, specifically documents, images, and other file types. For example if I wanted to upload a picture to a website from Safari, I cannot select an image by browsing to a directory on the iPad, instead I have to rely on an App that allows me to upload images to certain websites. Another example is file sharing among apps, rather than using a button from one app to open a file in another, I would love the ability to tap on File > Open or just give me a scaled down version of Finder.

Multiple User Accounts

I would lose count if I attempted to keep track of the number of emails that I receive asking if there is a way to have multiple users on one iPad. The answer of course is no. This is a big bummer for families who purchase the iPad hoping to share it for light email and internet usage. The biggest concern here is security and privacy, imagine handing your two-year old kid the iPad with the corporate email account tied to it…not a pretty sight. Issues like this and more can be resolved if Apple implemented a user login that would enable specific features, apps, and accounts for each individual.

Camera Roll Video Streaming

I think AirPlay is probably one of the best features introduced in the latest version of iOS, it is also one of the most used by my family to share pictures with the Apple TV, however one of its biggest shortcomings is that it does not support video playback of movies stored in the Camera Roll, in other words videos shot with your iPhone will not play stream with AirPlay, I hope that with the inclusion of a camera on the iPad this problem will be resolved.

Break the iTunes Ball & Chain

The tech world is embracing the cloud and Apple’s latest moves to revamp MobileMe signal that the company is also moving in that direction, but why not use this opportunity to build an infrastructure that will support iTunes-like syncing without the need of a computer for the iPad. This would break the requirement to own a computer in order to use an iPad.

As you can see there are a slew of new features that are expected in the second generation iPad, but there are also a lot of items that present an opportunity for the iPad to be an even better device. What are your expectations and what items would you like to see in the next generation iPad?

Nemo Documents is a small Windows (XP through 7 & Linux) application that works alongside the built-in Windows search engine to give you a visual representation of the files stored on your computer. This visual representation is more like a calendar view that allows you to see when documents were created and edited. The application also does a good job of filtering the files displayed on the calendar by file type and location to make it easier to locate.

Once installed the application will pull data from Windows Desktop Search to put together the index it uses for its calendar views. When that’s ready all you have to do is launch the Nemo Documents window and navigate the calendar to find your files.

You can change the calendar’s view to display dates by List, Day, Week, Month, and Year. I’ve found that the Week view is best when trying to locate files.

You will notice that the pane on the right has three sections, Types, Folders, and Labels.

In the Types section you will be able to filter the items on the calendar by file type, so if you wish to only locate documents, click on the Documents file type and the calendar will only display Documents and file types associated with the Documents filter. You can change what file types are included in each of the file type filters by modifying the settings.

In the Folders section you can filter by specific locations on your computer, for example if you know that the file you are looking for is on a server you can narrow your view to only files stored on the server. Did I mention you can search documents from your Google Docs account with Nemo Documents? More on that later.

Lastly, the Labels filter allows to set labels for specific files that allows those files to be found in at a later time using these filters.

To modify the filters above you will need to visit setting in Nemo Documents, here’s how.

1. Open the Notification Area, right-click on the Nemo Documents icon and select Settings from the list.

When the Settings window opens you will see three tabs, Folders, File Types, and Google. In the Folders Tab you will be able to add directories that Nemo Documents will index. In the File Types directory you can change which file types are associated with Documents, PDF’s, etc. The Google tab allows you enter your Google account information so that Nemo Documents can include your Google Docs in its index.

One of the things that I like best about Nemo Documents and one of the features that has the most potential is the file previews.

The latest version of Nemo Documents provides thumbnail views of image files which makes it real easy to locate a file without having to actually open it. However the preview feature is not available for Office documents and other files types, which in my opinion would make this a killer app.

Despite Nemo Documents Beta label, it appears to be very stable and feature rich, this is definitely one of those applications to keep your eyes on. It makes it easy to find and organize files on your computer and it does so without taxing performance on your computer. There are several things which I think the developer needs to include prior to launch and those items include the ability to index Office Live and Zoho Docs much like it does for Google Docs and the extension of previews to other file types.

Other than that, Nemo Documents is a great way to augment Windows built-in search engine to make it easier to find the files you are searching for.

Check out Nemo Documents yourself by downloading a free copy from the Nemo Docs website.

Have you used this application before? Let us know what you think in the comments section below.

Feel free to share your thoughts on the Chrome Web Store and your experience with these web apps thus far.

Amazon Windowshop

If you’re looking to spend some money and want to do some window shopping without leaving your home then you’ve got to give Windowshop from Amazon a try. Originally released for the iPad, Windowshop allows you to discover new items in Amazon’s extensive inventory just by clicking on specific categories (columns). Windowshop will also display relevant items based on previous purchases and recently viewed items (recent purchases supported if you are signed in).

The application makes browsing Amazon’s extensive catalog simple yet entertaining and what the heck, it’s free.

Install Windowshop.

SlideRocket

I’ve been a huge fan of SlideRocket despite similar offerings from Google Docs and recently Office 2010. One of my favorite features from this app and service is that you are able to track user engagement. This helps you determine the effectiveness of webinars and other informational slide shows that are viewed by customers. This of course allows you to make better decisions about the content, layout, and design of your slideshows so that you can ultimately tweak its effectiveness.

Other than the analytics and a couple of snazzy design elements, SlideRocket is essentially the same as Google Docs and PowerPoint 2010. Google Docs and PowerPoint Web allow you to collaborate on a slideshow real-time, PowerPoint 2010 allows users to run webcasts for free, so for now the real advantage for SlideRocket is the analytics, which in it of itself is a very powerful tool.

Install SlideRocket.

The New York Times

This is probably one of my favorite apps thus far. I am a huge fan of the Wall Street Journal on the iPad for its simplicity and of course great content. The New York Times Chrome app brings the design and ease of use element to the browser (no iPad required and no subscription for now). The digital newspaper is easy to navigate and ads placement is unobtrusive. You can sign in to your New York Times account to customize the experience and share articles via social networks.

Overall I think this is probably one of the best implementations of a digital newspaper online, best of all you get to enjoy offline as well.

Install The New York Times.

Autodesk Homestyler

If you are looking for an example of Chrome’s 3D capabilities this is the app to try out. The AutoDesk Homestyler app allows users to design homes in 3D within the browser. The application allows you use real-world products and brands when putting together your dream kitchen or you can use a preset design available from the apps website. Once you’re done with your design you can save it and share it with family and friends, they can even help you design it if they too have the Homestyler app installed.

The application is very easy to use and allows you to visualize your creation in two and three dimensions. This app is very similar to Sketchup, but specific to home design.

Install Autodesk Homestyler.

What do you think about the Chrome Web Store so far? Will it thrive or will users simply visit the websites without “installing” a bookmark to those same sites?

As you will see in the screenshot tour below, the application is very easy to use and powerful. The latest version of CoRD can be downloaded from SourceForge.

CoRD for Mac Lets You Access Windows Computers Remotely

CoRD version 0.5.4 was used in the screenshots below.

To connect to a Windows computer simply enter the computer’s IP address and hit Return.

Sign in to the computer and you are set. The application allows you to view the remote computer in Windowed mode (default) or full-screen. You can also change the default screen resolution used for the remote desktop window (see below).

To change the resolution, save passwords, and make other changes to the remote connection, click on the remote computer icon on the left pane and click on the i (Inspector) button. When Inspector opens make the adjustments and close the window.

You can also save Quick Connect computers by right-clicking on the computer icon (left pane) and clicking Keep After Disconnect. I’m currently managing three Windows computers on my network using this application and so far the experience has been flawless.

What do you use to connect to your computers remotely?

Mousing over icons like iCal and iTunes provides additional functionality like controlling iTunes from the preview window and viewing upcoming events in iCal (see below).

HyperDock also brings Windows 7 features like Snap which will automatically resize and snap a window to screen edges simply by dragging the window to the edge of the screen. The same applies to maximizing the window by dragging it to the top edge of the screen.

All of these features and more can be configured by using the HyperDock Preference Pane found in System Preferences.

As previously mentioned, HyperDock is currently in Beta and free, but there may be a cost once the application makes it out of beta. If priced reasonably this is a must for anyone running Mac OSX.

Download a copy of HyperDock from the developer (Mac OSX 10.6+ only).

Bulkiness – Although it sports a screen that is 3-inches smaller than the iPad’s, the Samsung Tab feels bulkier. I think this has a lot to do with expectations of depth at different screen sizes and the fact that the iPad’s edges are tapered, which gives users the perception that the iPad is thinner when in fact it’s thicker (by 1.6mm) than the Tab at its thickest point. I do have to concede that the smaller size 7-inch vs. 9.7-inch makes a heck of a difference in terms of portability and the ability to get your hands around the unit.

OK Screen – On paper you would think that the Tab’s higher pixel density would produce stellar results compared to the iPad, but it certainly feels like the screen is mediocre at best. I know Engadget has stated that the screen is great in their hands on, but after playing with Tab and the iPad at the same time, I disagree, but as they say, beauty is in the eye of the beholder.

Speed – This is where I will probably get a lot of flack from Android fans, but the fact is, the Tab’s performance was sluggish. I ran the included task manager thinking I would find a ton of applications running in the background, instead I found only five. Upon closing these applications and launching the browser, the Tab chugged along smoothly. I’ve been running iOS4.2 on my iPad and can say that I have yet to see performance issues related to running multiple apps. As with most Android powered devices, effective application management will determine the experience you will get on the device.

Despite these negative, the Samsung Tab is a great tablet for buyers seeking an iPad alternative. If you are looking for a complete review of the Tab, check out the Engadget review.

The folks at VirtualBoxes.org aim to make it easy to try out any open-source OS by hosting the latest build of all open-source operating systems for FREE. All you have to do is download the image for the distribution you wish to run, register the image using their nifty registertimage tool, and run the virtual machine in VirtualBox. That’s it.

Visit VirtualBoxes.org to download your favorite distribution images and make sure to check out the list of distributions you can download below.

Fedora running on Mac OS.

List of Available Distributions

GNU/Linux (GNU userland tools running on top of the Linux kernel)

• Archlinux
• CentOS
• Damn Small Linux
• Debian
• DeLi Linux
• Dreamlinux
• Fedora
• Fluxbuntu
• Gentoo
• gNewSense
• gOS
• Kubuntu
• and more…

GNU/OpenSolaris Distributions

• OpenSolaris
• Nexenta
• MILAX
• GNU/FreeBSD
• Debian GNU/kFreeBSD

BSD Distributions

• FreeBSD

Other Distributions

• AROS
• FreeDOS
• Haiku
• MINIX
• ReactOS
• SYLLABLE
• Android-x86

Via OneThingWell.org, screenshot via VirtualBoxes.org

If you have any comments or questions please use the comments form at the end of the guide.

How to Create a Bootable Windows 7 USB Drive

Note: If you are using this application on a Windows XP machine you will need to download and install the .NET Framework v2 and the Microsoft Image Mastering API v2.

1. When you launch the tool you will need to select the location of the ISO file you are burning, click Browse and select the location.

Note: In this example I actually created a bootable USB for Windows Server 2008, I didn’t have a copy of Windows 7 ISO on my laptop.

2. Click Next to proceed.

3. Click the media type you would like to burn the ISO to. USB Device or DVD.

4. Choose the USB Drive from the drop-down. If the USB does not appear click on the double arrows (refresh) button to find the USB drives installed.

Note: You should use a USB Flash drive with 4GB of storage at a minimum.

5. Click on Begin Copying to start the process.

If the USB flash drive contains other files you will be reminded that the USB drive is erased in the process. So if you have any valuable files make sure to copy them from the USB flash drive before proceeding.

6. Click Erase USB Device.

Depending on your computer and the size of the ISO copied you should have a bootable USB flash drive in less than 15 minutes.

Download the Windows 7 USB/DVD Download Tool

You now have a bootable copy of Windows 7 on a USB flash drive. If you know of similar tools that accomplish the same task and more, please post them in the comments form below.

Note: There are reports of issues arising from trying to create 64-bit images on a 32-bit operating system. If you run into this this issue download a copy of bootsec.exe from your Microsoft Store account and save in the directory where the USB/DVD Download tool resides. Keep in mind you can only get the file if you purchased the Windows 7 download from the Microsoft Store.

If you have any comments or questions please use the comments form at the end of the article.

Software used: Image Resizer 2.1.1 running on Windows 7 Ultimate 64-Bit.

How to Resize Images with Image Resizer

Make sure you download (link at the end of the article) and install the application before proceeding.

1. Select an image or group of images and right-click to open the menu.

2. Click on Resize Pictures.

3. The Resize Pictures window will open. Select the size you wish to resize the images to (use the preset or enter a Custom value).

Note: If you enter Custom values the application does not constrain proportions so make sure you get the resize ratios correct.

4. If you click on the Advanced button you will be able to select the following options:

• Make pictures smaller but not larger.
• Resize the original pictures (don’t create copies). Warning: If you choose this option the original images will be overwritten!

5. When you are ready to resize the images click OK.

The resized images will appear along with the originals (if you chose to keep originals). Note that the resized images will use the name of the original image and the preset you used to resize the image.

Download Image Resizer (direct download links) 32-bit or 64-bit.

Check out the how-to and screenshots below to become familiar with this very useful application for your Mac.

AppFresh Overview

Note: When you run AppFresh for the first time you will be asked if you would like to enable support for installing applications. The folks at AppFresh remind us that this is a a work in progress and some features might not be ready for everyone. In other words, use automatic installation support at your own risk. If you decide to use this feature make sure you’ve backed up your Mac.

The application is very easy to use.

A. The pane on the right lists the application by status, type, vendors, and categories set by you.

B. When you click on a category it will list the applications belonging to the selected category. In the screenshot above I selected the applications with an Update Available.

C. When you click on a specific application you will be able to see details about the update.

How to Keep Mac Applications Updated with AppFresh

1. Click on Update Available under Status. Select all of the applications you wish to update.

2. Click on the Update button.

The updates for the applications will automatically download and install. You’re done.

Note: Some applications will require that you locate the update on the publisher’s website. I ran into this scenario with software from TechSmith.

Download AppFresh for Mac.

What do you use to keep applications on your Mac updated? Please use the comments section below.