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Tech: iphone vs ipad

13 Jan 12 - 10:04 AM (#3289953)
Subject: Tech: iphone vs ipad
From: AllisonA(Animaterra)

I don't have many techie friends to ask, and I do use my gadgets for all sorts of music-related things, so may I please use this forum to ask a few questions?

We are die-hard Mac users, so please don't bother telling me to go for PCs and related tablets. We haven't had iphones up to now because AT&T doesn't and won't service our rural area, and we had already signed contracts on smartphones when Verizon joined the iphone team. Now our smartphone contract is about to expire, and we are looking at our options. The smartphones have been very good, but they simply do not want to talk to our Mac. Syncing music is a joke, to get photos on to our computers we have to email them to ourselves (with spotty success) and forget about any other audio apps- they don't exist, at least, not in a way we can use them to coordinate with our computer.

So we will probably end our relationship with US Cellular and join the Verizon ranks. Hunt wants an iphone and that's that. But I have a bunch of issues that make it seem sensible to get a "stupid phone" with limited functions (I want it for making phone calls, that's all) and I would then get a 3G or 4G ipad (after a few pretty good-paying gigs in the near future!).

Part of this stems from the fact that when our laptops died last year, we got one reconditioned iMac that has more room and sits upstairs on a desk in our office. So now I have limited mobility with the computer, and would like an ipad for pdfs, emails on the road, storing the music and audio files I'm currently working on, recent photos, etc. I see it as functioning like a briefcase: my file cabinets and most of my cds, music, etc. are in the office upstairs, but when I'm going somewhere or meeting with a student, going to a rehearsal, traveling, etc., I bring what I need in a briefcase (ipad).
So the big question is, what's wrong with that thought? Would I miss having all those functions on a phone? I already carry a totebag instead of a purse, and use it as a shopping bag and general carryall, so the iphone would go in there (with a good case, of course).
(I should mention that my aging eyes have trouble reading a screen the size of a cracker)!
What else would I miss?
What are the advantages of an iphone over an ipad, and vice versa?

Thanks for your thoughts. The only friends I have with ipads have the minimalist ones and only use them for storage of pdf files and calendar. I need to hear from gadget junkies who can give me a bigger picture, so to speak!

13 Jan 12 - 11:48 AM (#3290029)
Subject: RE: Tech: iphone vs ipad
From: Mark Clark

OK, here's my approach.

I picked up an iPad (I) a couple of years ago and love it. I bought a 64 GB Wi-Fi only model because I normally have access to Wi-Fi and didn't want to run out of storage. Because I knew I'd want Internet access sometimes when Wi-Fi wasn't available, I eventually opted for a "My-Fi" mobile hotspot from Virgin Mobile. This device uses the Sprint network. The advantage, to me, of the My-Fi device is that I don't need a monthly subscription. I can let the account sit dormant and only feed it some money when I know I'm going to be traveling where there is no Wi-Fi access. I only need to feed the kitty a couple of times a year so this works really well for me.

I stayed away from the iPhone because it was AT&T only and, like you, our area is poorly served by AT&T. I've been a long time Verizon customer because it doesn't matter where I go. I can be in the mountains of east Tennessee or some rural Iowa location and still have great service. But after my experience with the iPad, I knew I'd eventually have to have an iPhone. So when Verizon offered the iPhone 4, I picked up a 32 GB model.

I love both of my iOS devices and would be very reluctant to give up either of them. My music (MP3) goes on my iPhone so it's with me all the time. I also use some apps like the Peterson strobe tuner app. I never have to worry about finding a tuner. The Peterson strobe app is as good as Peterson's other high-end tuners and I use it often.

The iPad is where I keep videos and sheet music. Even after two years my iPad is slightly under half full. Had I purchased a 32 GB iPad it would now be too full since you need to leave some working memory open.

There are some wonderful iOS apps for musicians. Many of them run on both the iPad and iPhone but most are more useful on the iPad. I've picked up a few that I haven't wound up using very much but here is a list of the apps I use most:
  • RealB - Chord charts from The Real Book. You can add chord charts from the Internet or build your own for any song you want. Runs on both the iPhone and iPad.

  • iGigBook - An absolutely terrific PDF reader for musical scores. I have nearly twenty (PDF) music books in this app totaling some seven thousand song charts. This app has nearly forty built in indexes for a great many common fake books such as Real Book 6th Edition, Classical Fake Book, The Ultimate Fake Book, The European Real Book, and many more. I believe you can also create your own index for other music books available in PDF form. The indexes make it supremely useful. You can search for any tune in your library and it finds every version in all your PDF books. You just pick the one you want and it's there for the sight reading. You can also add your own PDFs so if you make your own teaching materials you can take these with you and pull them up for students. The app also lets you store set lists for gigs. At the gig, just pull up the set list and your sheet music is already in order for you. By the way, the IK Media folks make an iPad rack that attaches to a microphone stand.

  • Tunebook - This app lets you maintain a library of tunes in ABC format, very useful for Mudcatters and most trad players. The scores look nice and the editor is just a touch away should you need any changes. This app will play the tune for you too.

  • OnSong - This is a lyrics and chords app. You enter the lyrics with the chords embedded wherever the changes properly occur. When the page is displayed, you get the lyrics with the chords placed above the lyrics in the correct spot so it's easy to sing the lyrics and to play the chords without one interfering with the other.

  • unrealBook - Another PDF reader with musician features. Easy to add your own PDF files from iMac apps like TablEdit, Mup, and MuseScore.

  • MuseScore Viewer - I just picked up this free app and haven't used it much yet but will probably be using it quite a bit. Even though I have a copy of Sibelius on my MacBook Pro, I much prefer using the free MuseScore app for making engraved music scores. The iPad app isn't an editor but displays scores developed using MuseScore.

  • MultiTrack DAW - This is a dandy digital audio workstation (DAW) for making multi-track recordings. You might not want to use it for professionally released recordings but with the right mic setup, you could. It's great for arranging, rehearsing, field recording, etc. and it runs on both the iPad and iPhone.

There are hundreds if not thousands of great music apps for iPad and iPhone. We should probably begin a moderated thread here where users can discuss the iOS music apps they use and share tips. The apps you choose will depend on whether you are a teacher, performer, recording artist, or jammer. Many people are all of those at times. But I really think you'll need both an iPad and an iPhone if you plan to use them for music. And if you have an iPhone and an Internet connected Mac, you may not want to spend the extra money for 3G/4G capability on your iPad.

I'll try to remember to monitor this thread if you have other questions.

      - Mark

13 Jan 12 - 12:24 PM (#3290051)
Subject: RE: Tech: iphone vs ipad
From: GUEST,olddude

I have both but I find that the ipad is what I use most often because of the skype app and my books

13 Jan 12 - 12:27 PM (#3290053)
Subject: RE: Tech: iphone vs ipad
From: GUEST,olddude

I can use my iphone as a hot spot for my ipad also . However, if you spend more time calling folks the iphone would be better. I love the ipad for the apps

13 Jan 12 - 01:08 PM (#3290070)
Subject: RE: Tech: iphone vs ipad
From: John MacKenzie

I have Skype on my iPhone Dan

13 Jan 12 - 02:14 PM (#3290111)
Subject: RE: Tech: iphone vs ipad
From: Mark Clark

My iPad is the original model which has no camera so I can't use it for Skype. I do use Skype on my iPhone and MacBook Pro. I use my iPad for reading books (Nook, Kindle & others) reading news and magazines, watching Netflix streaming offerings, and much more.

My iPhone is handy for comparison shopping. I can scan a bar code in a store and see if the item is available nearby at a lower price. Also shopping lists. GroceryIQ syncs lists so my sweetie can add something to our grocery list on her iPod Touch and I'll see that on my list automatically so I can pick up the item when I in a store.

Also the Verizion iPhone can include VZ Navigator which is a great GPS system we've used many times. That can save your butt in a strange city.

There are as many great uses for these devices as there are developers who write apps. They are constantly becoming more useful to me and, as I indicated above, I use them in different ways. I wouldn't want to be without either my iPad or my iPhone.

      - Mark

13 Jan 12 - 03:27 PM (#3290160)
Subject: RE: Tech: iphone vs ipad
From: AllisonA(Animaterra)

Great responses- keep them coming!

I am starting to think that my idea is sound- cheap phone, and ipad with internet. I can only think of a few places I wouldn't take it with me (like my daily hike in the woods) and those are places I wouldn't be texting and only bring the phone in case I fall and break my leg or something.

But I'm still ready to be talked out of it, if need be. Let's hear some cons (anyone?).

14 Jan 12 - 01:39 AM (#3290397)
Subject: RE: Tech: iphone vs ipad
From: Dave Swan

I agree with the above posts.

I'll add that I really like the Otterbox case I have for the iPad. It keeps the iPad from sliding all over he place, protects it when it falls, and holds it at good angles for reading or glancing.

14 Jan 12 - 05:30 PM (#3290689)
Subject: RE: Tech: iphone vs ipad
From: EBarnacle

Cameras are not required for Skype, Mark. I began using it long before I had the bandwidth to allow a camera.

14 Jan 12 - 08:32 PM (#3290728)
Subject: RE: Tech: iphone vs ipad
From: Den

I have both too but I think your idea of putting more money into the iPad is probably a sound one. You'll love it. I think its the most fun piece of hardware I have ever invested in. I love the Garage Band app its an amazing piece of technology for the unbelievable price of $4.99. I recently flew from the west coast of Canada to the east coast and along the way composed and recorded a piece of music I am really very proud of. I use Garage Band on my iPad to quickly record all my rough ideas and then transfer them to Logic Pro on my iMac.

14 Jan 12 - 11:49 PM (#3290770)
Subject: RE: Tech: iphone vs ipad
From: EBarnacle

Get the most flexible unit you can afford, with the most RAM and biggest hard drive you can get.

Avoid a flash memory drive simply because it is more vulnerable than the real thing.

For that matter, avoid the cloud to maintain as much control of your content as possible.