Tag Archives: iPad

Astropad Slate turns your iPad into a no-screen Mac drawing tablet

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Apple has been pushing the iPads, particularly the iPad Pros, as the next wave of computing, practically replacing laptops for some of the common computing tasks, including content creation. Despite the rich variety of apps for these slates, however, there are still some software and work that can only be done on more powerful computers like Macs and MacBooks. And despite how Apple’s computers have long been loved by designers and artists, the company itself has made no tools to support these use cases, such as drawing tablets or even specialized controllers. That does leave the market wide open for manufacturers like Wacom and its drawing tables, but it also forces people to buy these products when they have a perfectly capable iPad with an Apple Pencil. That’s where Astropad’s latest product comes in, bridging the divide between Macs and iPads once again, but with a curious twist.

Designer: Astropad

In a nutshell, Astropad Slate is an app that lets you remotely control a Mac using an iPad, Pro or otherwise. You can connect using Wi-Fi, a USB cable, or even Peer-to-Peer networking. Although an Apple Pencil would be nice, it isn’t exactly a requirement. With just your fingers, you can already control the Mac as if you were using a gigantic touchpad. That includes supporting gestures like pinching or two-finger scroll.

The Slate app really shines, however, when you involve an Apple Pencil, which is supported by most iPads nowadays. With this precise tool, you can not only hover over the user interface on the Mac, you can also turn handwritten scribbles into text, practically replacing the keyboard. Of course, creators, designers, and artists are more likely to utilize the app’s ability to turn the iPad into a drawing tablet, but one without a screen.

This would be similar to the older and cheaper drawing slates that some artists prefer for their distraction-free experience. It does, however, take a bit of getting used to because you won’t be looking at where your hand is going, unlike the analog pen and paper experience. That does help you focus more on what’s happening on screen and, at least for some, offers a more ergonomic position since you won’t be craning your neck downward.

For those that prefer a more “conventional” display tablet experience, Astropad does have its Studio that turns the iPad into something like a Wacom Cintiq and even has compatibility with Windows PCs. For all that power, however, Astropad Studio requires a $79.99 annual subscription, while this simpler Astropad Slate is a one-time $19.99 purchase only.

The post Astropad Slate turns your iPad into a no-screen Mac drawing tablet first appeared on Yanko Design.

12.9-inch iPad Air renders suggest a cheaper way to go Pro

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When Apple launched the iPad Pro, it tried to justify its existence with a slogan that questioned what computers really are these days. It pushed forward the thought of the iPad Pro as a laptop replacement, which made sense for an iPad with the largest display available of its kind. Although smaller models eventually launched, it was only the iPad Pro that could boast having the largest screen among Apple’s tablets, but that might no longer be the case soon. Leaked information suggests that Apple will be mixing things up a bit and might introduce a 12.9-inch iPad Air that could add more choice for consumers but also make its message a little bit more confusing as well.

Designer: Apple (via 91mobiles)

Putting the largest iPad under the “Pro” model makes perfect sense considering what it empowers users to accomplish. With that much screen real estate, multi-tasking with two apps side-by-side is not only easy but even comfortable, while having a large digital canvas frees creators to do their best work. The size also implies having bigger or better hardware capabilities, and indeed, the 12.9-inch iPad Pro always has the latest and greatest that Apple has to offer on any iPad.

Unofficial CAD schematics, however, herald the coming of a 12.9-inch iPad Air, a family of tablets better known for their accessible price tags and, more often than not, more modest specs. The renders don’t come with any launch date, which means it could happen this year or never at all. Leaks never carry 100% accuracy, but the mere idea that Apple will be launching what will be the largest iPad Air is quite curious and could spark even more interest in the iPad line.

For all intents and purposes, this 12.9-inch iPad Air is a stretched-out regular iPad Air, and all the design cues of the current model are evident. There are thick bezels, at least compared to the iPad Pro of the same size, and a single camera. That camera, however, is also the only place where the 12.9-inch design diverges, using a pill-shaped island to enclose both the camera and LED flash instead of a single circle for the lens itself.

This 12.9-inch iPad Air could be Apple’s attempt to offer an extra-large iPad without the bells and whistles that make the 12.9-inch iPad Pro quite expensive. It’s the same strategy it is using with the iPhone Plus models, which isn’t exactly raking in sales. It does give consumers more choices, but considering how the iPad Air is already a watered-down iPad Pro in terms of many features, including Apple Pencil support, it does weaken the appeal of the iPad Pro line by having what is practically a cheaper iPad Pro.

The post 12.9-inch iPad Air renders suggest a cheaper way to go Pro first appeared on Yanko Design.