Over the past year, I‘ve been receptive to the siren call of the newest iPads. I almost bought an iPad Air but I managed to resist, telling myself that new iPad Pro models would be released soon. About a month ago, Apple did just that.

They were released amidst a pandemic. Hence, I resisted a little longer; after all, I’m not exactly going anywhere.

Nevertheless, a few days ago I relented. “Fine, Apple, you win. I’ll buy your damn iPad Pro”, I murmured to myself with a smile.

Sadly, I’m a maximizer and tend to overthink large purchases such as this. So the question shifted from “should I get an iPad?” to “which one?”. iPad Pro 11” or 12.9”?

iPad Pro 11″ vs 12.9″

Both the iPad Pro 11” and its larger 12.9” counterpart have a raison d’être, as I’ll illustrate in a moment. So deciding which iPad Pro to buy was anything but trivial for me. Mind you, we are admittedly well past first world problem territory, but figuring out which one to buy was still a tough decision to mull over. You might be struggling to decide between the 11″ and the 12.9″ version yourself.

One is not clearly better than the other. It’s all a matter of your needs and usage and, at least for me, both have a lot of appeal.

Still, I made my choice and ordered one this morning, along with a second-generation Apple Pencil and an OtterBox Symmetry Series 360 Case. Once the “world resumes”, I might order a Magic Keyboard case too but for now, I’m home 24/7 and my Bluetooth wireless keyboard (a Logitech K380) will more than accommodate my needs.

Without further delay, I’m going to list the advantages of the iPad Pro 11”, those of the iPad Pro 12.9”, how they fare for my use cases, and finally which one I bought.

Why buy the iPad Pro 11″

• It works well as a second device. If you already have a laptop, the 11” complements it nicely.
• It’s very portable.
• When used as a tablet, it’s lighter and more comfortable to hold. It can even be held with one hand.
• Highly relevant to my case, but it fits in my existing satchel (a Tumi Organizer Travel Tote) that I absolutely love.
• It’s cheaper than the 12.9” model and its accessories are cheaper as well.
• It’s a better device for “regular” books that are not textbooks or technical in nature. In my case, acquiring this device would enable me to sell my existing BOOX Nova Pro 7.8 E-Reader. Though I like that e-reader, so maybe this point is not exactly a pro.

Why buy the iPad Pro 12.9″

• Its large screen is a beauty to behold.
• In split-screen mode, it allows showing two iPad sized apps rather than two oversized iPhone windows like the 11” version does.
• With the Magic Keyboard case, it can act as a replacement for my personal laptop if it were to die.
• It’s better at multitasking and productivity in general thanks to its larger screen. There are few apps that don’t benefit from the extra room (Instagram, I’m looking at you).
• It’s better at creative tasks. Drawing, photo editing, video editing, all benefit from the extra space.
• It’s easier on the eyes, particularly if your vision isn’t perfect.
• It has a full-sized keyboard should you decide to buy a keyboard case. The keyboard cases for the 11″ tend to have smaller keys and/or cramp their keys to fit in the limited amount of space.
• It can show programming and mathematics books in full size since the screen is not much smaller than the equivalent paper versions of the same books.
• In landscape mode, it offers enough space to take notes and read a book at the same time.
• There aren’t any cheap(er) iPad models in the same size range, unlike the 11″ which has comparatively sized cheaper alternatives in the iPad Air and even the basic iPad model. How is this a pro? It’s not a pro, per se, but it weighed massively on my decision making. If I invest a lot of money in getting an iPad Pro 12.9″ now, I can always buy a smaller second device for cheap, should I need a more portable tablet on the go. I could even opt for an iPad Mini at that point. However, if I were to buy an iPad Pro 11″ now and realize later on that I need a larger screen, I will be out of luck, as there are no affordable giant iPads. So I’d have to buy a second iPad Pro or deal with the hassle of selling my existing one and then buying the larger version.

My iPad use cases

Let’s briefly talk about the most common use cases for me. These are not very novel uses, so I expect many readers will have similar scenarios and needs.

Watching movies in bed: Provided you have a case propping it up, the iPad Pro 12.9″ is the better option here thanks to its larger screen. Mind you, the different aspect ratio between the two devices means that the advantage is not as pronounced as you might imagine.

Casual browsing in bed: If you are casually consuming content in bed, laying on your side or on your back, the 11″ iPad Pro is definitely more comfortable to use.

Casual browsing on the couch: The 11″ iPad is easier on your hands and the 12.9″ one is easier on your eyes. Since you can use your lap to help you balance the 12.9″ iPad, I think this is a draw.

Being productive on the couch: Following the same logic as the point above, this is either a draw or it favors the 12.9″ model, depending on your workflow.

Being productive at a desk: This isn’t even close. The iPad Pro 12.9″ takes the cake.

Traveling for business: Pandemic permitting, when travel resumes, I will most likely take my iPad with me. I think the 11″ is a better option on the plane and the 12.9″ will offer a better experience once you reach your destination (e.g., in your hotel room). So I’d say it’s a draw.

Having it on me everywhere I go: Conversely, the iPad Pro 11″ wins this one. You technically can bring the 12.9″ version everywhere too, but I bet in practice most people will be more likely to do so with the 11″ one.

Using it in waiting rooms or as I wait in the car: Both can be used for this purpose, but especially in waiting rooms, the 11″ one is a little more socially acceptable.

Casual consumption at a coffee shop or the library: For the same conspicuity reason, I think that for casual browsing and consumption at a coffee shop or the library, I’d prefer the more manageable 11″ version which is also less likely to stick out.

Productivity at a coffee shop or the library: The 12.9″ version with a keyboard (case or Bluetooth) is without a doubt the more “laptop replacement” of the two. For coding, blogging, journaling, etc. it’s definitely a better option and the 12.9″ size is not prohibitive to transport places.

Drawing: There are exceptions, but most artists seem to like the larger canvas offered by the 12.9″.

Editing photos and videos: Without a doubt, the 12.9″ is the best option here.

Reading and annotating technical books: I think that the 11″ is a better device to read novels on, but for the kind of technical books and papers I read (mostly programming and mathematics PDFs), the 12.9″ is large enough to offer a readable font without zooming in.

Taking notes: This might be a personal preference, but unless you are taking notes standing up, the iPad Pro 12.9″ with so much breathing room offers the advantage here.

Which iPad did I buy?

You probably guessed by now, but I couldn’t ignore all the advantages of the 12.9″ iPad Pro, so that’s what I ordered. The point about being able to buy a cheaper 10-11″ iPad if I really need something portable helped me seal the deal.

I went with the 256 GB Wi-Fi model since the difference from the 128 GB wasn’t huge price-wise. The 128 GB iPad configuration is fine as well for most people, but I wanted to somewhat future-proof it and avoid having to be too space-conscious in my use of it.

I really look forward to receiving it and talking more about apps, my usage of them, and the setup I’ll use to maximize its usefulness for productivity/coding.

Do you have an iPad Pro or are you contemplating getting one? If so, which version?

The post iPad Pro 11″ vs 12.9″: Which One Should You Buy? appeared first on Programming Zen.

I’m not saying never again to owning an iPad. The newer, fancy models with the pencil cast a certain spell on me.

Still, I reached a point where gadgets are only added to my collection if they get used. So I’ll only get an iPad if I can find a workflow that makes it a necessity.

In doing so, I fear a seed was planted. I started asking myself what said workflow might look like.

What is an iPad useful for?

iPads tend to be great consumption devices. They are lightweight and easy to transport. Fast, thanks to great specs and tight integration with the operating system. Their battery life lasts for most of the day. If you are watching videos, casual browsing, or playing games they are quite convenient.

I don’t hate consumption, but I’m trying to focus more on production than consumption in my life. So the iPad doesn’t hold great appeal when solely considered as a consumption device.

In recent times, I have seen people use them to be more productive, however. Doctors and medical students appear to be quite fond of domain-specific apps as well as its note-taking capabilities. Digital artists create great paintings and drawings on them. Musicians and even photographers/videographers are increasingly using the iPad, particularly the Pro line, on the go.

Could the iPad be a great option for programming as well?

My ideal use case

Before we discuss how one might configure an iPad for programming, I’d like to point out that my primary use would be reading technical PDFs, annotating them, and taking notes. If you are only interested in programming, laptops are a superior choice.

Still, you are there sitting at the library or a coffee shop. You’re reading a programming book, jotting down notes. It’s only natural to want to write code to validate and experiment with what you’re learning.

We know from neuroscience studies that the act of taking notes by hand is superior to typing them when it comes to retaining the information. For programming related material, however, I’d say that writing actual code is just as important.

You could bring both a laptop and an iPad but it becomes quite inconvenient at that point.

So for me, the ideal scenario would be an iPad that allows me to read technical books, annotate them/take notes, and program on it.

It already excels at the first two tasks, but can the iPad work for programming? The screen, in landscape mode, is certainly big enough. If you opt for the 12.9″ model, it’s essentially no different than my current MacBook Pro. Spec-wise, it might even be as fast, if not faster.

So it’s really a matter of software. These babies should be called iFortKnox. They are quite locked down.

A possible iPad setup for programming

If you search for them, you’ll find the occasional IDE for iOS. Pythonista for iOS, for example, will mostly work if you’re writing Python scripts.

Unfortunately, there isn’t an equivalent for Elixir and Phoenix, which I tend to favor these days. Plus, I like to use Git as a mechanism to share code between different laptops.

VNC is not a great option either, in my experience. You’ll face quite a bit of lag and the smaller screen of the iPad doesn’t lend itself too well to showing a whole computer desktop.

It seems to me that the best approach is to have the development environment on a remote machine and use the iPad as a client.

Amusingly, dedicated services like C9 by Amazon do not support mobile browsers that well. Though, with the upcoming iPad OS defaulting Safari to a full browser, it’s possible that these will become a viable option.

Based on my research, the most promising alternative is running a cheap remote box on DigitalOcean or similar provider, and connecting via a mosh-shell like Blink Shell. That appears to work really well even with spotty connections.

It would mean using a terminal-based editor. It’s not for everybody, but even though I tend to use Visual Studio Code these days, I would have zero problems with using Vim for this purpose. (Hello Vim, my old friend, I’ve come to type with you again.)

This caveat aside, I really don’t see a downside to this workflow. I get all the benefits the iPad brings plus the ability to actually do real programming (with a cover keyboard, of course).

The new iPad Pros are rumored to come out soon. They might be announced in less than two weeks. So I’m going to sit tight on this one but I’m eagerly waiting.

What about you? Do you have an iPad? Do you use it for programming? Is your workflow different than the one I propose here? Let me know in the comments below.

The post Programming on an iPad appeared first on Programming Zen.

Here’s why: ever since I discovered the BrydgeAir keyboard, I wanted to get ahold of one. The gold keyboard would match perfectly with my iPad, almost transforming it into a tiny touchscreen laptop designed by Apple. Unfortunately it’s not available yet and — particularly for Canadians — it looks like it might take a month or more before it will ship. [1]

So I got a little impatient, did my research, and bought a Logitech Type+. I hoped it would suck so that I could tell myself, “OK, you tried it, but it sucks. Let’s just return it and wait until the BrydgeAir becomes available”. Fortunately or unfortunately, such wasn’t the case.

The Logitech Type+ acts as both a protective case for the iPad and as a bluetooth keyboard.

As a case it’s fantastic. The materials are sturdy and well made. Fit and finish are perfect. You can tell that this cover would allow the iPad to take quite a beating before any damage would be likely to occur.

The case, which also embeds a keyboard, is fairly lightweight considering the materials employed, but it definitely adds some weight to your iPad.

The cover is “smart” in the sense that closing it will put the tablet to sleep, and opening it will wake the tablet up.

The design allows the case to fold in on itself in a way that covers the keyboard when using the iPad in tablet mode (A in figure). The keyboard is automatically disabled in such a mode, so there is no need to turn the keyboard on or off.

Turn the cover in landscape mode and you’ll be able to magnetically snap the iPad in place (B in figure, of course). The iPad is securely in place and lays on a rigid base which can be used on your lap if needed. The magnetic connection is strong enough to carry the iPad around with just one hand on the base of the keyboard, but I wouldn’t tempt my luck too much.

The keys are nicely spaced and are very easy to type on. I had absolutely zero fatigue writing entire posts on it. The somewhat concave key shape and slightly rough surface make it very nice to type on. Your fingers never slide by accident. The extra iPad buttons are genuinely useful and often save you from reaching out to touch the screen.

Pairing the keyboard to the tablet via Settings -> Bluetooth was quick and surprisingly painless. Moreover that setup process was required only once. After that the keyboard automatically connects to the iPad. There is no visible latency between a keypress and the character appearing on the screen either, which is really nice.

I can’t speak firsthand about battery life because these keyboards last for months and I’ve only owned mine for a few days now. However, Logitech tend to be pretty good at delivering on their declared specs, which would be three months per charge, assuming a daily average of 2 hours of typing, so I’m optimistic.

If I’m willing to split hairs, for the sake of giving it to you straight, I’ll admit that having a backlight, like Zagg has, would have been useful. Likewise there is only one viewing angle when used as a keyboard, unlike some of the other keyboard cases out there, but it’s a very sensible angle I found, so no complaints there.

In summary, the Logitech Type+ just works. It works as a case, and it works as a keyboard. It’s an all-around joy to use. It performs well on hard surface and can also be used on your lap, in a pinch. Thanks to the Type+, I don’t think I’m ever taking my laptop out to a coffee shop again.

In case you are wondering about the whole Logitech Type+ VS Logitech Ultrathin, let me tell you my opinion. Obviously while researching iPad Air 2 keyboards, I came across the Ultrathin which is another popular keyboard case by Logitech. I considered and wondered about which one was better.

I tried them both in the store and was very underwhelmed by the Ultrathin. [2] It felt cheap and plasticky, and typing on it was not nearly as comfortable. It has multiple viewing angles, but somehow manages to make you iPad not feel very secure when in place. I also disliked that it’s more akin to a smart cover, than an actual case, so your iPad back can still get scratched, and receives very little protection in general.

In summary, the Type+ for iPad Air 2 rocks. It makes me question whether I even want the BrydgeAir when it becomes available here in Canada next year. At this point I’m leaning towards no. I genuinely like this keyboard case as it transformed my iPad in the ideal computing device on the go. [3]

The post Logitech Type+ for iPad Air 2 Review appeared first on Programming Zen.

I looked into it and these numbers turn out to be misleading.

iOS apps generate 80% more revenue than Android apps. That is quite different from saying that iOS has 80% market share. Specifically, in Q2 2014, Google Play saw $60M in total revenue, while the iOS AppStore clocked in at $100M. (Source requires registration.)

If we exclude the small impact of alternative Android stores, we are looking at 37.5% and 62.5%, respectively, of their combined market share. No one can deny that it’s still a substantial difference, but it’s definitely more subtle than the often touted 80–20 revenue split. (If we look at downloads, the roles are pretty much reversed with Android devices having 60% of their combined market share of downloads, and iOS devices 40%).

Those numbers are for app revenue. Now let’s look at devices. According to the latest IDC statistics, iOS global device market share is actually quite a bit lower than 20%.

The keyword here however is “global”. Anecdotally, it would be extremely hard to imagine that iPhones have less than a 12% market share in North America, or even the 20% figure I have seen floating around for quite some time now.

The actual OS usage numbers for the North American market show an estimated 51%–42% split in favor of Android, a much less monopolistic picture.

From a developer perspective, these less sensationalistic numbers have a few implications:

1. If you are targeting a North American audience, developing for Android does not give you a big advantage in terms of a reachable user base;
2. iOS still has the edge in terms of revenue, but the frequently heard, “Don’t bother developing for Android”, is absolute nonsense. You can target Android alone and still do extremely well;
3. If you are targeting emerging markets like India, China, Thailand, and Asia in general, Android is a sure bet;
4. It is entirely possible that iOS users have higher incomes on average, but whatever the cause, the numbers seem to indicate that they have a greater willingness to pay for applications;
5. If you are targeting both iOS and Android mobile OSes with your application, taking the strength of both app stores into account, it would make sense to charge for the iOS app while making the Android app available as a free download that relies on ads for its revenue. This of course has the risk of alienating some users who happen to dabble with both operating systems, however they are likely to be a minority so this shouldn’t hold you back, if it’s the road you’d like to embark down.

Personally, I welcome a world where the two major mobile operating systems go head-to-head and converge towards a roughly equivalent market share (at least in North America and Europe). And on that note, having the far off third contender (Microsoft) be less distant certainly wouldn’t hurt matters either.

The post A Few Thoughts on iOS vs Android Market Share appeared first on Programming Zen.