24 September 2023 | 12:42 pm

Experimental iPad Configurations

Before I dive into the discussion of my ongoing experimentation with iPad modularity I think it would be helpful to provide a description of the physical space and context of my iPad use.

I work from a 200 sq ft tiny house which I share with 2 dogs and a cat. Over the past 15 years most of my work time is either in this small space or outside on a porch. In the house only about 30% of my work is at a desk, mostly it's done reclining on a futon. Those may seem like simple options but as I live on my own I have the freedom to reconfigure the small space fairly often. And even more so, within the space, I reconfigure the iPad arrangement constantly. This, in fact, is why I've come to love the iPad so much.

With a traditional laptop or desktop I have a screen or screens, keyboard, mouse and/or trackpad as the base configuration. But at a minimum the traditional computer must have the keyboard and pointing device. And of course with a laptop that keyboard and trackpad are not removable which is why I sold my MacBook Pro in 2017. Using it actually frustrated me because I came to dislike the fact that the keyboard was permanent.

I still marvel at the fact that the iPad, in its base configuration, seems like such a simple object. Just a rectangle of glass and aluminum. And though I can use it in this simple form I rarely do. The iPad is the core building block which, in my case, is always being used with at least one other component.

A 13" iPad Pro is not heavy but compared to its smaller counterparts it's less a hand held tablet device. Yes, it can be held in the hand and it can be used in portrait mode. But for me, the most likely, most natural pattern of use and function is in landscape mode, standing up on its own with the addition of a stand of some sort. But often with no keyboard. So, yes, still very much a tablet, just not a hand held tablet.

The delight of this device and form factor is best described in terms of nearly unlimited depth of variation and experimentation. This happens in two ways. The arrangement of the device in physical space as well as my interactions with the device via screen or a variation of input devices.

I'll note the possibility that my experiments are, perhaps, sometimes a bit off the wall but I enjoy trying out arrangements with keyboards and accessories that were not necessarily intended. I also enjoy customizing my space. So, for example, in my tiny house I often add and rearrange shelving near desks, my futon, and anywhere I might work or lounge with the iPad. This means that walls get shelving for the purpose of a standing desk. Other walls just get shelves solely for holding an iPad near a desk or extra display.

I should note too that because I've added an inner wall of reclaimed, rustic wood I don't hesitate to move planks of wood to accommodate shelving or anchors for shelves. It's a freedom others in more conventional housing may not have.

In some ways I treat the interior of the house as one of my reconfigurable building blocks that I arrange to suite my current comfort, thoughts and needs for a workspace. I move around a lot for a change of view and posture.

Let's have a look.

Starting off with the first iPad in the Keyboard Dock.

A first generation iPad is docked to the Apple Keyboard Dock for iPad. It's sitting on a wood plank table in front of a bowl of apples and near a window showing a view of trees and grass in the near distance. — My first generation iPad docked to the Apple Keyboard Dock for iPad. I'd already discovered the Gusto app and was using the iPad to edit website code and upload html/css files via the apps built in ftp. I loved that app!

An iPad sits on a wood shelf that is attached to a large dobsonian telescope base which is below the bottom of photo, not visible. The wood plank is held up with a pipe. So that it is at standing level. The telescope is at an angle away from the iPad. — The iPad, Sky Safari and Numbers are helpful for finding objects in the night sky and then recording details of observations

An iPad sits in a stand placed on two books near a window and on an old wood plank shelf or desk. In front of the books is a keyboard. A soft warm light out of frame on the left side. Plants are visible to the left and right of the window and iPad. — An iPad, stand, keyboard and a window. Perfect for an afternoon of work.

A plank of wood serves as an improvised lap desk. An iPad sits to the right, a blue coffee mug to the left and a keyboard in front. — A simple plank of wood serves as a light weight and sturdy improvised lap desk.

An iPad Pro being used with an aluminum Brydge keyboard. The iPad is oriented flat to the Brydge keyboard and being held vertically straight up such that the keyboard is serving to elevate the iPad off of a person's lap to eye level as they recline. A left hand is seen balancing the iPad. The screen displays the Reeder app for RSS. — Experimenting with the Brydge keyboard which had hinges that allowed the iPad to tip all the way flat if on a desk. Not that I'd use it on a desk that way but when held in my lap and straight up it was easly balanced and the iPad was elevated to eye level as I reclined. Really comfortable and sturdy.

A desk near a wood plank wall with various shelves. An iPad is in a stand on the desk near a keyboard. A second iPad sits on a shelf at eye level behind the desk — Many hours were spent in this cozy corner! I constantly tinkered with the shelf configuration.

A view of a room. To the right, in the corner is a desk, an iPad and keyboard. To the lower left is a larger iPad Pro in a stand sitting on a white shelf with a keyboard. A dog is sitting on a bench to the right of the photo. — A broader view of the cabin. Directly below the camera a beanbag resting against a wood plank room divider. I'd built an adjustable shelf to the left that swiveled. I colud plop down on the bean bag and move the iPad into a comfortable working position.

A small plywood box shelf is sitting on a table in the shade outside. Sitting on the table is a white keyboard that has a tablet slot holding an iPad. It's pushed up an inch inside the box shelf. Sitting up on top of the box is a larger iPad. The arrangement is being used as a sort of dual screen productivity set-up with the bottom iPad holding reference text which is being used to design a document on the iPad on the top of the shelf using the Pages application. — In nice weather I often work outside at a table. I used this set-up for a few months and it worked pretty well with iPad Air 2 displaying reference text which is being used to design a document on the iPad on the top of the shelf using Pages.

An iPad Pro in a Smart Keyboard Folio is arranged in a sort of A-Frame and is resting on a large wood block elevating it to eye height. The arrangement is an a metal table sitting on a porch. A keyboard sits in front of it. — This was a useful experiment with the iPad Pro in a Smart Keyboard Folio arranged in a sort of A-Frame and elevated to eye height.

Flipping iPad Pro in a Smart Keyboard Folio upside down creates an angle that is optimal for using the Pencil with Affinity Designer, in this case working on a web graphic. Looks funny, works verry well!

An iPad Pro in a Smart Keyboard Folio is in a backwards A-Frame and resting on outstretched legs that are propped up on a table. A keyboard sits in front of the iPad Pro — Again using iPad Pro in a Smart Keyboard Folio in an A-Frame position resting on outstretched legs that are propped up on a table. Comfortable and functional as a variation from the usual.

An iPad Pro is in a stand on a desk sitting to the lower left of an attached external monitor resting on a shelf. A smaller iPad sits to the lower right of the monitor. — Using mirrored external display support for writing. Not as functional as the proper external desplay support we have now but was still useful for larger, eye level text.

An iPad in a stand is low and angled for use with an Apple Pencil. A monitor on a shelf can be seen in the background and is mirroring the iPad display. — An excellent angle for using the Apple Pencil. Heavy, sturdy stands like this are a fantastic addition to an iPad set-up, cost is usually less than $20. I've avoided the newer stands that have the magnetic attachments as I expect that they'll become useless with the next iPad design. The sturdy stand I have now will likely continue to accomodate future iPads.

An iPad Pro in stand sitting to the right of a monitor with a keyboard and trackpad sitting in front on a desk. The app Textastic is being used on the monitor to edit a website. — Using textastic to manage and update websites using the less functional mirroring to external display in iPadOS 15. Ah! The good old days of 2021

A standing desk has been improvised with a home built shelf on a desk. On the top shelf is a display attached to a Mac Mini. An iPad in a stand is to the right of the monitor. A keyboard and trackpad are on a second shelf below the top. Below that on the desk sits a smaller iPad. — An improvised standing desk. When I finally replaced my 2012 Mac Mini with an M1 which I expect to be the last Mac I'll purchase. It's used as a file server but at the time of photo Affinity Publisher for iPad was not yet available so I relied on the Mac for those projects and used the iPad to view reference text. Worked great with Universal Control!

An iPad Pro in a Logitech Combo Touch keyboard for iPad is propped up over a tri-angle foam lap desk as a strange but effective angle for typing which holds the iPad at eye level. — Yep, this is a bit riduculous! I was gifted this tri-angle foam lap desk. I didn't expect I'd use it but this is actually a very stable arrangement when I'm reclining on the futon. The Logitech Combo Touch keyboard at this angle is fairly comfortale.

An iPad Pro is resting in a sturdy metal stand with a Logitech keyboard below it. To the right is a mouse. These are all resting an a lap desk which is sitting on a shelf next to a wood plank wall. — My trusty, sturdy metal stand, iPad Pro snug in the Logitech case. These lap desks usually come with a foam bottom but I often flip it to put the foam on top. Much more comfortable for my wrists to rest on but the foam is still pretty solid and sturdy enough to put the stand on. I've usually got a pillow between the lapdesk and my lap to elevate it all up a bit.

23 September 2023 | 6:16 pm

A wheelbarrow of dark colored sand, gravel and rocks sits in a dry creekbed

I'm not doing the Micro.blog September photoblogging challenge but thought I'd share a photo for today's Date in the life. For the past 22 days I've been working on our gravel road. Moving 5-8 wheelbarrow loads a day from our dry creek bed to fix a few washed out sections. 100+ loads total, 2+ hours of daily exercise, about 1,100 cal burned as a workout. I like getting actual, needed work done as a workout. Several more sections to fix, another few weeks of exercise. The road actually looks messier because now its a mixed up conglomeration of the original, uniform gray road gravel but with lots of dirt, sand and creek gravel all mixed in. In the process of digging out the shoulders to resurface the burried gravel, adding the creek materials I've raised the whole section of road an inch or two while also lowering the shoulders for better drainage.

Obviously working with just hand tools takes far longer than using a tractor or other motorized equipment but I need the daily exercise anyway. 2 hours a day spent listening to music and working out in the woods to fix a problem makes sense. With two hours a day through September, October and perhaps a week or so into November I should have it done before the ground starts to freeze.

Over the past 3-5 years we've been getting more intense, 7+" rainfall events each year. With each such event more excess gravel is left in the creek while more of the road gravel is washed off the road. Going forward I'll have to spend more time maintaining it but the work now should result in a more stable road and also better divert the excess water during storms. The goal is to have more water shed off the road rather than flow along it.

20 September 2023 | 5:56 pm

Pages and Publisher on the iPad Compared Pt 2

This story is available as a pdf download.

For the first few years of my switch to the iPad I relied heavily on Apple’s Pages app for many of my document layout projects. It’s a fairly powerful app and in most cases was easily capable in creating the newsletters and annual reports I often create for clients. When clients needed printers marks, bleed or other features I fell back to Adobe Indesign, then, later, Affinity Publisher, both on the Mac. In the fall of 2022 Serif released Affinity Publisher for iPad and that’s now my go to for all of my design and layout work. There are only two exceptions! First, projects for clients that require delivery of a Word or Pages file. Second, projects that require delivery of an ePub. Though this hasn’t come up for me yet it’s worth noting that Publisher does not yet support export to ePub but Pages does.

I continue to recommend Pages for people that need a more general use word processor and layout application. It’s a fantastic application that Apple is likely to support for many years to come.

Why Affinity Publisher?

Simply put Publisher offers nearly everything I need and want for designing documents on the iPad. No app is perfect but Publisher is excellent and a real pleasure to use.

Before I dig in to everything I like about the app I’m going to tackle the one current problem I have with the app: It’s not yet optimized for Stage Manager and external display support. Serif states that they do not support Stage Manager. But in truth it actually works pretty well with Stage manager. What it does not do is support the many different resizing options of a supported Stage Manager app. But I can use it as a floating window and have other windows under or on top of it. Where this is most useful is having Files and an app like Notes or Word with text sent by a client. This allows me to easily refer to those other apps for text or images in the Files app for adding to the document.

A screenshot of a Publisher app window in Stage Manager on iPad. Behind the window are several background app windows with text and files. — With Stage Manager Affinity Publisher can be placed over other windows for easy access to files and needed text.

What does not work is using Publisher on an external display. While I can technically put it on an external display and use it but the right side toolbar disappears making the app nearly useless. So, for now, if I want extra space for files and reference notes/text I can connect to an external display and keep those other windows there while I work with Publisher on the iPad screen. And really, that’s an excellent experience. I don’t need to have the Publisher on the larger screen.

Okay, with that out of the way, let’s jump into the good stuff!

Before Affinity Publisher there was InDesign

I started with InDesign with the first version back around 1999. I used it fairly regularly until 2019 when Affinity Publisher for Mac was released at which point I transitioned entirely to Affinity apps. I used Publisher on the Mac alongside of Pages on the iPad to cover all of my document design work. Not long after releasing Publisher for Mac, Serif announced that they would eventually bring it to the iPad and three years later they delivered.

Screenshot of the top left of Publisher app showing the 3 Personas used in the Studio Link feature

The three Personas of Studio Link

As with all of the Affinity apps on the iPad (and in sharp contrast to Adobe), these apps are the full versions. It’s worth noting too that Publisher is best used with the other two Affinity apps, Photo and Designer installed. Publisher has a feature called Studio Link which, assuming the other two apps are installed, allows the user to simply change “Persona” from Publisher to Photo or Designer. It’s seamless and there’s no launching of another app. Rather, the Publisher interface changes to the toolbars of the other app. So, for example, when I recently needed to edit a photo provided by a client I just tapped the photo to select the image and then tapped to the Photo Persona to edit the photo. When finished I tapped back to Publisher to carry on with the layout. The same can be done when creating or editing more complicated vector objects by tapping over to Designer Persona.

Okay, time to dig into some of the comparison points between Affinity Publisher And Apple’s Pages.

Cost

While Pages is free, Publisher for iPad is $20. It’s a one time purchase rather than a subscription. But really, to take full advantage, the other two Affinity Apps should be purchased as well, same price. So $60. There’s a bundle price for a Universal license for all apps, all platforms (Mac, Windows, iPad) of around $165.

Modularity

This is big. As mentioned earlier, with Studio Link and all three apps installed, I have a design and layout tool that has, thus far, seemed unlimited. There are many features I’ve not used yet. Publisher alone is a very powerful program, add into it the features of the other two apps and, well, I suspect there are many features I will never use. This is a good thing. It just means that the apps cover a very expansive set of methods, use cases and so on for many different users and scenarios.

Screenshot the word vector on a curved line

Vectors and Text

A part of what’s so impressive about Publisher is that while I can tap into the other two apps as needed Publisher itself has a very impressive toolset on it’s own. This is especially true of the text and vector tool sets which allows for the creation of elements like complex curves, shapes, and text on curves. Perhaps I’m designing a brochure that includes a map for a park and trail with various points of interest. I can easily do this within Publisher. If I reach the limits of what Publisher can do then I just change over to the Designer Persona.

Page-based Layers

Screenshot of Publisher window with the layers panel open on the right side showing many layers and objects — The layers panel.

While Pages allows for layering of objects, a large document with many objects can get unwieldy to manage as there’s no indicator of where objects/layers are in relation to one another. Publisher has page-by-page layers all of which are visible in the layers sidebar - much easier to keep track of everything!

Bleeds, Printers Marks, Guides

A screenshot of Publisher showing the dropdown menu for various options such as Bleeds and guides — Various options such as Bleeds and guides

These are all features considered essential in professional page layout and Publisher has them, Pages does not. Bleeds can be added anytime in the Document Set-up screen. Printers Marks are an option when exporting. Pages has alignment options to help snap objects but does not allow for creating custom guides in a document.

Zoom in, Zoom out

A screenshot of Publisher showing to document pages zoomed out This isn’t anything special in the realm of page layout apps but Pages is limited in what it allows in terms of the level of zoom it offers, even more so if Stage Manager is being used. And it’s a limitation I often bumped into when working on a document.

Publisher allows for zooming as far out or in as desired. I’m not sure if there’s a limit. Very fluid and fast, helpful when working on small details or when wanting to zoom out for wide view of a page.

Visual Effects

Again, this isn’t all that special for page layout applications but Pages lacks most of the options that might be expected. Bevel/Emboss, outline, inner and outer shadows, glow, Gaussian blur are some of the possible effects and of course each effect has a variety of variables that can be adjusted for each.

Built in access to stock photo libraries

Publisher includes built in access to Pixabay and Pexels stock photos libraries. On Pixabay this includes vector images as well. Handy in my use case for infographics when doing annual reports and newsletters.

Vector assets

Add images and vectors to an Assets library for reuse in a document or between documents. While there is a small library of assets included with Designer I often will search Apple’s Pages included vector art and copy those over as needed (bike on left comes from Pages). Or, mentioned above, vectors are available for download via Pixabay. If I can’t find what I want I can make my own.

Font Manager

Affinity also includes it’s own Font Manager. Install a font in Publisher directly via the settings in the app. It’s much easier than going through a third party using the Settings App to download profiles. The benefit of that method is that installed fonts are available system wide. But as I’m doing almost all of my design work in Affinity apps it’s not an issue. Also, install a font in one Affinity app and it’s available in the other two Affinity apps.

Artboards

Publisher has space outside of the document for storing objects. If I’m not sure where something is going or if it’s going to be used I can keep it off to either side of the document. It’s incredibly helpful and not something found on Pages. At this point I consider it a necessity.

Importing IDML and PDF

I’ve had several occasions to use the option to import IDML and pdf files. It’s a time saver and really helpful getting started when a client wants to start with a previous document template. Or, as with a recent annual report, a client provided numerous pdf infographics several of which needed minor edits. I was able to do the editing right in Publisher within the larger document.

Missing features

In direct comparison to Pages there are two missing features that stand out:

Export to ePub.
Charts

There’s no work around for the first but it’s not been a problem for me as I’ve never had the need to export to ePub. In the second case, charts, the work around would be to set-up a table and chart in Apple’s Numbers app and copy paste. It’s not ideal as it’s pasted as in image but it does work.

Conclusion

iPad users are well taken care of in the category of document layout. Pages is very powerful and fairly easy to learn. It is a great app to get started with but it’s not a basic application. Over the past few years, Pages has really matured into an app capable handling many of the projects I’ve needed to do. But when compared to a dedicated document design and layout app like Publisher, Pages does lack some of the options. I’ve not covered all of the differences here but have tried to mention some of the more notable examples.

Some example use cases for Pages:

Small businesses and nonprofits that want to cover their own document creation internally
Students creating reports
Nonprofit and community volunteers that need to creat newsletters, brochures, flyers, or other documents
Creating ePubs

Use cases for Affinity Publisher

Publisher is an advanced app for doing practically any kind of document design project. It takes more time to learn but if you’ve had experience with Adobe applications you’ll likely learn Publisher and the other Affinity apps fairly quickly. The tool set and tool options found in Publisher go far beyond what I’ve covered here.

Document design and layout that can be fully customized with no limits on graphic elements or text
Management of large documents with many layers and assets
Documents intended for printing that requires industry standard output such as printers marks with bleeds.