Monthly Archives: June 2013

by Esther P., Resident Techster
 
With the iPad all the rage as few as 3 years ago, when it was first introduced, the fact that it's now being overshadowed by the iPad Mini shows just how fast technology—and consumer preferences—are changing.
 

iPad Use Drives Demand

 
For most of us, time spent on a tablet like the iPad consists largely of surfing the web, checking email, and using apps. Since none of these require a lot of typing or screen space, the smaller the better. iPad Minis are popular mainly because of their size. The size difference between the iPad and the iPad Mini is only a few inches and a fraction of a pound, but it's enough to tip the balances in favor of the iPad Mini when it comes to popularity. A 7.9" screen is just easier to slip in a purse or backpack than a 9.7" screen. The Mini is also lighter and slimmer, which makes it pretty convenient for travel or just carrying with you wherever you go.

That's a word I really love.  Crafted.  It lends to what Kari and I are all about. When your really thinking about what drives you, motivates you to get up and look through new designs and products I'm finding I can't get this awesome word out of my head!

Terms like 'handmade', 'designed', 'curated' are all great descriptions that we both have used in the past to describe our products.  But c'mon!  Crafted.  I mean, that says it all about what drives us and where we want Pad & Quill to go.  We love crafting the old with the new and we think when you do, something really amazing comes out on the other side.

Some examples you ask?  Sure!

We love crafting old with new regarding materials.  When we pick a material, we really think it through and drive our vendors crazy.  I assure you I've had some serious eye rolling because I don't pick the standard material, it has to be just right.

by Esther P.
 
Funny how easy it is to take electricity for granted until you lose it. Don’t get me wrong. I love storms. Heart-attack thunder cracks and drenching rain give me an adrenaline rush. In fact, I’m not even opposed to having the power go out for a few hours. But after 3 days without power and no electricity in sight for a few more days, it’s got me thinking about how I can make the battery power on my smartphone last as long as possible. At a time when everything else feels disconnected, a phone that works feels like my one connection with the outside world.
 
The one thing you’ll hear people complain about most when it comes to the iPhone is battery life. If you’re a smartphone-aholic, you might not even be able to go 12 hours without recharging. Fortunately, there are ways you can save power and make your iPhone battery last longer between charges--especially when you know you won’t be able to get to

Got a new Kindle Paperwhite? It's packed with features and options to help you personalize the device, but some of them are not as obvious. Here are a few tips and tricks for you to get the most out of your Kindle.
 

1. Save the battery.

 
Is the battery draining too fast on your Kindle Paperwhite? Turn off the wireless by switching it to Airplane mode when you don't need it. Just go to Settings and turn on Airplane Mode.
 

2. Remove recommended content.

 
Don't need suggestions from Amazon for books you might like? Remove it from your home screen by going to Menu > Settings > Device Options > Personalize Your Kindle > Recommended Content.
 

3. Take screenshots.

 
Wish you could save a page or image on your Kindle? You can. Just tap opposite corners of the Kindle screen at the same time. Either top left / bottom right or top right / bottom left combinations will work for taking

Why haul around a bulky DSLR when you can get photos just as fancy-looking with your iPhone 4S or iPhone 5? Although the camera features on older iPhone models are lacking in quality, the newer iPhone models are making up for lost time with image quality that no one will guess came from your iPhone. Here are a few quick tips we picked up on using the camera on your iPhone.
 

1. Think camera, not iPhone.

 
Hold the phone like a camera. That means two hands, not one. Two hands make for a steady shot. The most important thing to remember if you want to take good photos with your iPhone is to hold it still. You shake the phone, you'll end up with a blurry picture every time. If possible, steady your arm, hand, or camera on something solid for an even steadier shot.
 

2. Zoom with your body.

 
Yes, there's a zoom feature on your iPhone. But if you want a higher quality image, we recommend "zooming" with your feet. Get

Summer is officially underway, and sadly, I am already underwater.  I’ve typically hit my summer groove a few days before the urchins take their last exam, but this year the final exams were more herculean then usual and we were sprinting and stumbling right up to the final day.

I plotted math education and reeducation with a friend over coffee and deduced that with a little effort my one child might actually graduate from high school and therefore from my basement after all.

Rowing season began with a two-hour practice and ended with the consumption of a large pizza, half a pound of grapes and a pint of chocolate milk.  Hence, Feed My Starving Children takes on a whole new meaning.

In the Pad and Quill household, after we pay the employees and Uncle Sam, the vendors and the merchants, the mortgage broker and the guy who keeps the lights on, but before we buy clothes or dinner out, we give.  I swallow my

Rumors about a brand new operating system for Apple devices were confirmed yesterday when Apple unveiled the new iOS 7 at the Worldwide Developers Conference in San Francisco. The new software upgrade will make older Apple devices seem like new and put Apple back in the running with its competitors. Apple fans have long complained that the iOS needed a refresh in order to keep up with the rapid advance in technology and design.
 

iOS 7 Design Upgrade

 
As Tim Cook announced it, "The iOS 7 is the biggest change to iOS since the introduction of iPhone." The new iOS 7 interface is simple and clean, with an elegant design and flat icons, rather than the skeumorphic design that Apple is known for currently.
 
The iPhone 4 and newer models, iPad 2 and newer, iPad Mini, and 5th generation iPod Touch will all be available with the new iOS 7 starting in the fall of 2013. A beta version is available for developers to experiment with and work

A naked iPad Mini is a beauty, but it's also asking for trouble somewhere down the line. Coffee spills, scratches from your pet's claws, and accidental drops can easily turn your pristine iPad Mini into a not-so-pristine tablet. Before that happens, we recommend protecting your new device with an iPad Mini case. Here are some tips on how to find the best iPad Mini case for you.
 

Lightweight, Not Bulky

 
The biggest reason most people love the iPad Mini is that it's so light and thin. The smaller tablet size makes it easy to carry around and use almost anywhere. Your iPad Mini case should be lightweight and slim for everyday use. If you need more protection than that, consider getting a bag as well as a case. Then tuck the iPad with its case inside the bag for heavy-duty protection.

With Apple's Worldwide Developers Conference coming up next week, rumor has it that one of the product launches announced at the conference will be a new MacBook Air model.
 
Signs like dwindling stock often point to an imminent product refresh of an Apple product, and the MacBook Air is no exception to this trend. Retail stock for the 13.3-inch MacBook Air with 1.8GHz processor is scarce, although Best Buy is reported to have available inventory still in stock.
 

Improved Processor

 
Although Apple never reveals too many details before the actual launch, insiders believe that the new MacBook Air will feature the next-generation Haswell processor from Intel.
 
Unveiled for the first time in late May, Intel's Haswell processor boasts a 50 percent power savings over previous generation processors. The improved efficiency allows for slimmer profiling and longer battery life—especially as improved graphics such as