The problem with many web sites and apps (which really are the same thing) is that they were initially designed for mouse-based navigation. While you can create touch-friendly web sites, data-driven native apps that access the cloud via Google’s published APIs are much more responsive and provide a better overall experience Here’s a list of some of the best native apps created by third-party developers that leverage Google services on the iPad.

Reeder. As far as RSS readers go, Silvio Rizzi’s Reeder for iPad is quite possibly the best on the iPad. The layout is brilliant, and the Mr. Miyagi “swipe-on, swipe-off” method of changing the read status of an item is perfect. Full integration with Google Reader, iOS and Mac apps, and a wide variety of sharing options make this a must-have.

GV Connect. Google Voice comes in handy on the iPad, especially for managing your contacts, listening to your voicemail, and sending text messages. With Andreas Amann’s GV Connect you can do all that and more.  With another app called Talkatone, you can even place voice calls using your iPad.

GeeTaskPro. There are definitely more sophisticated task managers out there, but when it comes using Google’s to-do list, Memengo’s GeeTaskPro app has everything you need. With offline task management and support for task hierarchies, this app beats the mobile web version hands down.

QuickOffice. Working with Google Docs on the iPad via Safari is possible, but awkward. And if your network connection isn’t up to par, you can be in for a world of hurt. Document solutions like QuickOffice Connect Mobile Suite for iPad offer offline editing of documents pulled from your Google Docs collection.

Web Albums. Web Albums is what MobileMe Gallery should be. With its ability to cache photos for offline viewing, Scott Sykora’s Web Albums for iPad accesses Google’s Picasa online photo service, and is a great way to share and view your photos.

All of the solutions above provide an interface tailored to the iPad, and also allow you to cache information locally for access when the device isn’t connected to the Internet.  As the battle for users shifts from devices to the cloud, Google’s head start on Apple may erode as their browser-based strategy leaves many missing the native app experience.  Thankfully, third-party developers like the ones mentioned here understand the true value that the iPad and Google’s services have to offer when combined.

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I readily admit that I haven’t put in much time with Google’s web-based iPad Docs editor, but part of the reason for that was that I just couldn’t do many of the things that I do using Google Docs-linked iPad text editing apps like PlainText and Writer. An all-Google solution is appealing in that I don’t have to update my documents after the fact  if I want the most current version to be available from wherever I happen to be, but even with a more robust feature set, can Google Docs on the web work as your only iPad document-editing solution?

The desktop version brings font and alignment changing, bulleted and numbered lists and adding links, among other things. If you’ve ever used Google Docs on a computer, you’ll be familiar with everything, as it’s the exact same web app. The full Google spreadsheet editor is also now available in addition to the mobile client, which allows you to insert formulas from the formula bar.

Whereas Google’s mobile Docs editors are little more than glorified note-takers, the desktop editor at least offers you useful tools that go beyond simple data entry. But it does so in a layout that isn’t optimized for the iPad in the way that native apps or even iPad-specific web apps are. In portrait mode, things look too small to be very usable, and every time I actually start editing, the first line of my document gets pushed up under the margin ruler at the top of the input field. Arrow keys on the Bluetooth keyboard (something I think is a must for knocking out any serious writing on the iPad) don’t work for navigating within the document, either.

I’m glad Google’s turned on editing for Docs on the iPad, because I wanted it desperately when I first got the Apple tablet. But native apps have come out that allow me to interact with my Google Docs, and I haven’t looked back. Now I can make small changes right in Docs itself, but ultimately, this is yet another release from Google that I can live quite comfortably without.

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All you have to do to access the new editing feature is point your mobile browser at http://docs.google.com. After sign in, you can then choose from a list of your available documents and press the new Edit button to switch from viewing mode to the mobile editor.

The new editor allows you to collaborate on the go using shared documents, and even broadcast notes live to people who have viewing access for your docs. Theoretically, you could use it as a private live-blogging tool from any event.

This is a great feature, and one I’ve been looking forward to since getting an iPhone. Bringing Google Docs to iOS devices should really help the search giant take away a few more customers from Microsoft’s share of the productivity software pie.

My own tests reveal that the update hasn’t been pushed out to my location yet, but Google does say the roll-out will take time. Check out the video below for a preview of how mobile editing works, and let us know if the new feature is live in your area in the comments.

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For me, the Dell was the obvious choice for this project for a few reasons:

1. Boing Boing has a chart that indicates which pieces of hardware work on netbooks with OS X installed.
2. Gizmodo provides a thorough tutorial on how to set it all up.
3. I heard there was an active and helpful forum.

Here are my specs:

• Inspirion 910 Intel Atom Processor N270, 1.6Ghz, 533 Mhz 512k L2 Cache
• Obsidian black color with gloss finish
• 2GB DDR2 533 Mhz, 1 DIMM (purchased from Crucial.com)
• 8.9-inch wide-screen WSVGA TL
• Intel graphics media accelerator (GMA) 950
• 32GB solid-state drive (my first SSD!)
• Wireless 802.11g mini card
• Integrated 1.3 megapixel webcam
• 77WH 6-cell battery
• Bluetooth 2.1 module via USB I/F

The 77WH 6-cell battery was purchased through eBay. It provides both amazing battery life, and it elevates the back of the Mini which gives the keyboard a comfortable slant. I only need to charge it every couple of days.

Installing OS X took a couple hours, but that was mostly spent watching the screen. As soon as it was complete (Apple software updates, too), I installed Google Gears and offline access for Google Apps (Gmail, Calendar, Reader, and Docs). Fortunately, there were no surprises with software downloads or installations. Airport works, and downloads are fast. When I turn off Airport, the Safari 4 beta has no issues switching to offline mode. When I turn it back on, changes sync back to Google. Success!

My goal was to build a browser-focused netbook that would primarily be disconnected from the Internet. The occasional synchronization would allow me to catch up on emails and write more posts for TheAppleBlog.

Now, for the verdict.

Don’t buy a Dell Mini 9 even if you want to use Windows or Ubuntu. Although surprisingly useful and fun to show off (techie people will most likely be impressed when they see a real dock on a Dell), the keyboard is an absolute deal-breaker — OK, not just a deal-breaker, a nightmare. I constantly make typos. Using quotation marks, something I occasionally do while writing, is a challenging task considering the quotation key’s random placement near the space bar. Perhaps with more practice I will learn to be efficient with such a minuscule keyboard, but so far, it doesn’t appear that way.

This was a fun experiment (and an extremely expensive blog post). I feel like it bumped me up a notch or two in terms of Apple user cred. However, if you have the desire to go through with this, just keep in mind that it’s a toy and not a serious business tool.

My recommendation: Check out the HP Mini series since the keyboards are only 7 percent smaller than a full-size. Personally, I’d like to save up for a Macbook Air to experience the ultra-light, ultra-thin Apple. In fact, someone nearby has one on the train, and I’m jealous.

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If you are a heavy user of either Google Bookmarks or Google Docs, you now have a way of searching your content via the OS X built-in Spotlight tool.

Written by Stuart Morgan and available for free (open source, in fact!), this simple application makes a local copy of your files on your machine that are then imported by Spotlight. Precipitate periodically checks in with the “cloud” and updates the local files to reflect any changes. The developer notes that changes may take up to an hour to be visible in local searches.

If a Spotlight search finds an indexed Google Docs file, it will open it up in your browser with the appropriate Google Docs application, so you are always editing the “cloud” copy.

While making a local copy is not ideal, it does facilitate greater integration into your local workflows and fills a niche where you would otherwise have to use the OS X version of Google Desktop Search (or just operate completely online). While I am not a heavy user of either Google Docs or Bookmarks, this solution may just give me more impetus to go that route. Curious/security-minded readers may also like to know that Precipitate stores the cached documents in ~/Library/Caches/Metadata/Precipitate.

If you use or try Precipitate, drop us a note and if you have alternate ways to locate your cloud data from OS X, let other TAB readers know by posting in the comments!

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It is very customizable with:

• Over 90 icons
• Dock
• WiFi icon
• Boot and restore images
• Sliders
• Edge icon
• Vista login/logoff (unlock/lock) sound scheme

You can download it through installer and it is even available for the iPod Touch as well. Alternatively, you can download it here. VistaPerfection 2.0 is free but donations are happily accepted.

Even though I am happy with Mac OS X, Vista does look a lot better than XP, and almost looks at home on the iPhone ;).

[Via Just Another iPhone Blog]

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Then we could take that concept a step further: My father in law was responsible for my [re-]entry into using Apple computers, and thus begins the pyramid scheme structure of referrals. So for every person I refer, I get my bucks/percentage off/points (or whatever) and then he either gets a lesser number of points for being the initial referral link. (Oooo – and then when you get enough points in a year, you get a little Apple Branded SmartCar – think the Wii-mobile form the tv commercials. Those Mary Kay ladies have the right idea! Just for the record, I’m laughing idiotically the farther I take this idea.)

Yeah, I know, this is all just ridiculous. Apple Store employees don’t work on commission in the first place, so why should regular consumers get a piece of the pie in any way/shape/form? I’m just enjoying a fun day dream, so humor me here. However, were this to be a valid program, man, I’d have paid for at least one new Mac for myself by now…

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