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Tag: ipad

  • Crazy Taxi Out Now For iOS, Coming To Android Soon

    Sega redefined the teaser earlier this week with an 11 second trailer that only told us that Crazy Taxi was coming to iOS. The teaser also indicated that the original soundtrack from the arcade, which included tracks from The Offspring and Bad Religion, would remain intact. Both of those appear to be the case now that the game is actually out.

    Sega announced today that Crazy Taxi is now available for all iOS devices. Players can now take to the street as the world’s best/worst cab driver on iPhone, iPad and iPod Touch. It’s also available in all territories except for Asia, but it will be arriving there shortly.

    Here’s the launch trailer for the iOS version. Thankfully, it’s longer than the original teaser.

    It seems that Sega actually ported the Dreamcast version of Crazy Taxi instead of the arcade original. It’s only a good thing as the Dreamcast version included a number of mini-games that extended the gameplay experience beyond the basic game.

    In even better news, Sega announced that the game is coming to Android soon. Sega has traditionally been one of the better developers in the Android space, so Crazy Taxi should see a near perfect conversion on the platform.

    You can snag Crazy Taxi for your iOS device right now for only $4.99.

  • Analysts Predict PC Shipments To Fall For First Time Since 2001

    How long ago did you buy a PC? Are you planning on picking one up anytime soon? If not, you’re probably joining the growing number of people who are moving to mobile devices instead of upgrading that old Windows XP desktop you bought in 2003. The movement from PC to mobile has been felt in the industry for quite a while, but it might make a visible dent in the market this year.

    According to IHS iSuppli, shipments of PCs are on track to fall this year. The last time that happened was in 2001 alongside the infamous dot-com bust. This year’s potential drop won’t be attributed to a bust, but to the unprecedented growth of an entirely new industry.

    So what happened to the PC industry this year that led to this? One word – Ultrabooks. Intel hyped the new slim laptops earlier this year as the savior of the PC, but they have consistently failed to deliver. I would attribute it to the high price that Intel refuses to budge on, but you could also argue that the comparatively low price of tablets got most of the sales.

    There is hope that 2013 will see a turnaround, but only due to semantics. The new Windows tablets hitting the market will technically count as PCs since they will be running a version of the Windows 8 operating system. Analysts expect Microsoft and OEMs to sell 53 million tablets in 2015. In that same year, analysts expect Apple to sell through 350 million iPads.

    Contrary to doom and gloom reports, the PC is not going to die anytime soon. There are still a number of useful applications that only PCs can reliably accomplish. For instance, you won’t be seeing tablets take over the workplace. The only place that you’ll see PCs fall behind over the next few years is the admittedly large consumer and student markets where tablets are deemed far more convenient for general tasks such as email and entertainment consumption.

    [h/t: CNN Money]

  • iPad Mini Not Particularly Desired, Shows Survey

    New survey data released from TechBargains shows that the iPad Mini might not be as big of a hit as some analysts have predicted.

    According to the survey, only 18% of survey respondents planned to purchase the iPad Mini, which is expected to launch late this month or in early November. Half of the people surveyed were not interested in purchasing the device at all.

    The people most likely to purchase the iPad Mini are owners of the original iPad. 27% of them said they would purchase the mini-tablet, while only 16% of Kindle Fire owners and those who don’t own a tablet are planning on purchasing one.

    “Given Apple’s recent success it would be easy to assume that all new Apple products will be wildly popular,” said Yung Trang, president and editor-in-chief of TechBargains. “Our survey results indicate that theory is no longer the case. According to our survey respondents, the so called iPad Mini will not be highly coveted because consumers are questioning the necessity of a smaller iPad, especially if they own an iPad or an iPhone.”

    The survey also asked people what features they most desire for the iPad Mini. Popular features include a USB port (dream on), a retina display, a memory card slot, and better speakers.

    Last month, a different TechBargains survey showed that, before its release, the demand for the iPhone 5 was as high or even higher than for prefious iPhone models. That survey also showed that an alarming percentage of Android smartphone owners actually want an iPhone.

  • iPad Mini Rumor: Images Of Device Leak Via Twitter

    The iPad Mini is officially Apple’s worst kept secret. It’s actually kind of amazing that Apple is able to pretend the tablet doesn’t exist after all the leaks and information coming out of China. Apple is reportedly sending invites for the iPad Mini launch event tomorrow, but some pictures showed up on the Internet today to once again confirm that the iPad Mini is real, and it’s coming soon.

    9to5Mac Researcher Sonny Dickson has been busy this morning on Twitter. He’s been posting numerous pictures of the iPad Mini that show off the backplate in incredible detail with a close up of the Lightning connector port. Check ’em out:

    He also posted a few images of the device via Instagram. Check them out if you want to see the new Lighting connector dock on the iPad Mini. Unfortunately, it appears that Dickson was only able to snag the back panel, just like everyone else. Unlike the iPhone 5, I don’t think we’re going to see a fully assembled iPad Mini until the event.

    [h/t: CNET]

  • iPad Mini Rumor: Apple Has Ordered 10 Million Units For The Holiday Season

    Are you excited for the iPad Mini? A survey from last month suggests that you are. Apple thinks you’ll be excited for it as well. The company has reportedly taken out a massive order of iPad Minis just in time for the holidays.

    According to the Wall Street Journal, Apple has ordered 10 million iPad Minis to be delivered in Q4. The invite to the iPad Mini event is reportedly going out this week so we’re on track for a November release if the WSJ’s report is to be believed. That puts Apple in the enviable position of having two major hardware launches right before the holidays.

    Of course, the iPad Mini is still an untested concept. Under Steve Jobs, the iPad Mini was not even a thing as he was famously against smaller tablets. It’s the Tim Cook show now, however, and the report reaffirms the company’s confidence that they can compete with Amazon and Google in the 7-inch tablet space.

    Unfortunately, we still don’t have a price or official specs, but we do have unverified rumors. The latest rumors are saying that the iPad Mini will feature a 7.85-inch display and the specs of an iPad 2. That, of course, means no retina display. That may be for the best as Apple is reportedly targeting the lower end of the market with the iPad Mini. Its price will have to be $300 or less to compete with the cheaper tablets offered by Google and Amazon.

    Just like the iPhone 5, the rumors will most assuredly ramp up as we approach the date of the iPad Mini reveal. We’ll continue to be on the lookout for the latest rumors as we head into the highly competitive holiday season. We might even hear news of other companies preemptively announcing cheaper tablets to combat their fears of the ever imposing figure of the iPad Mini.

  • Apple Celebrates The Life Of Steve Jobs On The Anniversary Of His Death

    Time moves rather quickly when you stop to think about it. It’s hard to imagine that it’s already been one year since the passing of Steve Jobs. Even with his passing, it’s been business as usual at Apple as the company released the new iPad and iPhone 5 this year to stellar reviews and sales. Even so, Apple has taken time out to honor the life and achievements of its most famous founder.

    People who visit the Apple Web site today will be greeted with a video memorial that celebrates the life of Steve Jobs. It covers all the major achievements of Jobs’ life including the launch of the iMac, the iPod, and the iPhone.

    Current CEO Tim Cook also shared his personal tribute to the Apple co-founder:

    Steve’s passing one year ago was a sad and difficult time for all of us. I hope that everyone will reflect on his extraordinary life and the many ways he made the world a better place.

    One of the greatest gifts Steve gave to the world is Apple. No company has ever inspired such creativity or set such high standards for itself. Our values originated from Steve and his spirit will forever be the foundation of Apple. We share the great privilege and responsibility of carrying his legacy into the future.

    I’m incredibly proud of the work we are doing, delivering products that our customers love and dreaming up new ones that will delight them down the road. It’s a wonderful tribute to Steve’s memory and everything he stood for. – Tim

    Apple is celebrating the life of Steve Jobs today, but others have been looking back on his achievements for the past week. In fact, a futurist talk from Jobs that was thought to have been lost was recently uncovered and shared with the world this week. Even if it’s a little creepy, a Chinese company has also paid tribute with a wax replica of Jobs.

    Others may share stories or pay tribute to Jobs today, but Apple sure has the classiest tribute of them all. I’m sure Jobs would be pleased with its simplicity and matter of fact nature. It’s already been a year since his passing, but the effect Jobs had on the tech world will be felt for quite some time.

  • Google Maps Street View Comes To Mobile Browser So iOS Users Have Access

    Google announced today that it has added its Street View feature to Google Maps from the mobile browser. This means that iOS users who lost their beloved Maps app in favor of Apple’s newer, much criticized rendition, can once again use the feature. It also means users of other non-iOS devices can also use the feature from the mobile web, without necessarily having to use the Google Maps app.

    “Starting today, use Street View on your mobile browser to check out a new shop across town or get a feel for the ambiance at a restaurant before you arrive,” says Google Maps product manager Amanda Leicht. “To use Street View on your mobile browser simply go to maps.google.com and search for a location. Then click the ‘pegman’ icon at the bottom right of your screen to access Street View. And to view still more helpful imagery, such as a photos shared by users or interior panoramas, visit the business’ Google+ Local page.”

    Mobile Street View

    “Also, transit, driving, biking and walking directions continue to be available on your mobile browser to help you help guide you to your destination,” she adds.

    Google suggests that iOS device users save a bookmark for Google Maps to their home screen. While, Google doesn’t specifically mention the quality of Apple Maps, the idea here is that you can just as easily access Google Maps as you can Apple Maps, which many will no doubt to (if they haven’t already).

  • iPad Mini Is Reportedly In Full Production

    The iPad Mini is supposedly going to be revealed this month. A rumor points to Apple sending out press invites for the iPad Mini event on October 10. The device will then be revealed on October 17. The latest rumor seems to suggest that the iPad Mini will be ready for millions of eager shoppers this holiday season.

    The Wall Street Journal reports that the iPad Mini is now being manufactured on a mass scale across China. It was already suspected that Foxconn would be manufacturing the device, but there was no concrete proof until now. Those familiar with the situation said that iPad Mini will feature a lower resolution screen that’s currently being produced AU Optronics and LG.

    Ever since the iPhone 5 was released, all of the attention has turned to the iPad Mini. Apple’s latest phone did incredibly well, but it did miss some investor’s expectations. The iPad Mini is something that could go above and beyond everybody’s expectations. It’s expected to launch at a lower price point to appeal to the tablet market that’s currently cornered by Amazon and Google.

    If the device is already in full production, we can expect a launch by the end of October or early November. They should also be able to have plenty of iPad Minis available at launch to avoid delays in shipments. A constant supply of the rumored device could help Apple win the holiday season as Amazon and Google are ramping up their efforts to market the Kindle Fire HD and Nexus 7 respectively.

    We got our first really good look at the iPad Mini yesterday, but the device is still just a rumor. Steve Jobs famously said that a tablet under 10-inches was no longer a tablet. It’s the Tim Cook show now and things are different. The iPad Mini will be the first true test of what an Apple without Steve Jobs can do. The iPad Mini is most assuredly real, but will it resonate with consumers like previous iOS devices? A recent survey seems to indicate that it will.

  • iPad Mini Rumor: High Quality Pictures Of The Device Have Surfaced

    A survey from last month found that Apple fans were hoping the iPad Mini would launch alongside the iPhone 5. The iPhone 5 launched with the usual aplomb, but we still haven’t heard a thing about the iPad Mini. There are some rumors that invites for an event will go out next week. That’s all well and good, but only actual pictures of the device can satiate the Apple fan’s curiosity. Well, those pictures are now here.

    Fan site UkrainianiPhone got their hands on the rumored iPad Mini and photographed the back panel for all the world to see. Here’s what you’ll be getting if you decide to pick up the black iPad Mini once it launhces:

    iPad Mini Rumors

    A picture of the backplate is nice, but is there anything else? Thankfully tt.mop (via nowhereelse.fr) has pictures of the actual device in stunning clarity. Here are some of the more interesting shots of the device.

    iPad Mini Rumors

    iPad Mini Rumors

    iPad Mini Rumors

    As you can see, the iPad Mini is turning out to be quite the charmer. The slightly larger display size of 7.85-inches definitely helps it stand out among the other 7-inch tablets on the market. Of course, a slightly larger screen doesn’t mean anything until we get to see what the display is actually capable of. Invites for the iPad Mini should be going out on October 10, and we’ll find out soon after if all the hype was worth it.

    For more on the iPad Mini, check out our extensive coverage.

  • 22% of U.S. Adults Own a Tablet Device

    The iPad ushered in the new age of tablet computing in the spring of 2010. In the two-and-a-half years since, the market for tablets has exploded, as if people were just waiting for such a device to offered. There are currently no signs that this trend is going to slow.

    In fact, the Pew Research Center’s Project for Excellence in Journalism today released new statistics showing that 22% of U.S. adults own a tablet device, up from 11% in July 2011. Of course, back in 2011, Apple’s iPad was still almost the only game in town. Pew’s numbers show that the iPad represented 81% of the tablet market in 2011, with Android tablets making up only 15% of the rest.

    This year, the full effects of Amazon’s Kindle Fire and the rise of the 7-inch tablet market can be seen. The iPad now only makes up 52% of the tablet market, while Android devices make up the other 48%. Kindle Fires (which run on a version of the Android operating system) make up 21% of the market alone. Pew states that 68% of tablet-owning adults purchased their tablet in the past year.

    It’s clear that as enthusiastic as consumers were for the iPad, many were waiting on a lower-priced tablet. Apple will attempt to enter (and will likely dominate) the 7-inch tablet market later this year with the iPad Mini. It will face more competition than it ever has, though. Amazon recently announced its updated Kindle Fire lineup, and Google is rumored to be launching a $99 tablet before the end of the year.

    Even in the 10-inch tablet market Apple will be facing new competition. With the release of Microsoft’s new hybrid tablet/desktop Windows 8 operating system, manufacturers such as Samsung and HP have announced tablet devices for every niche, including enterprise.

  • iPad Mini Event Invitations Due October 10th [RUMOR]

    They’re coming. We know they’re coming, and we know most of the details, yet Apple continues to tease us with their tight-lipped policy about commenting on leaks. As if Apple’s success hasn’t turned a quarter of the tech press into an Apple leak machine, searching desperately through shipping orders of Chinese Manufacturers. Still, the rumors and leaks keep coming about the iPad mini.

    Today’s latest rumor about the upcoming iPad Mini is that the invitations to the device’s big announcement event are to be mailed out on October 10th. The rumor comes from CNN Money, which cites an unnamed “major Apple investor” who has heard the rumor from multiple other unnamed sources. Based on this prediction CNN estimates that October 17th will be the day of the announcement, and that iPad Minis will hit Apple stores in early November.

    Even if this rumor turns out to be based on nothing in reality, it’s likely to be close to the truth. There isn’t much time left before the holiday shopping season begins, and an announcement in the next five to six weeks is all but certain.

    Though it had always been Apple’s contention that the iPad is the perfect size for a tablet device, the success of Amazon’s Kindle Fire tablets and Google’s Nexus 7 have proven that people also want something smaller and less expensive. Apple’s brand will certainly give the iPad Mini a large chunk of the 7-inch tablet market, but it might not dominate it the way the iPad does the 10-inch market.

    Whether Apple will have enough of the tablets to cover demand is another factor to consider when speculating on the iPad Mini’s potential success. The hype from the iPhone 5 launch has not even died down yet, and some people still can’t get their hands on one. Another huge product launch right before Christmas could drive Apple fans to desperation.

  • Netflix Brings “Just For Kids” Section To iPad

    Netflix has been pushing its “Just for Kids” section on stationary platforms like game consoles and PCs for a while now. It’s a great way for parents to let their children run free on Netflix without worry. The only downside is that the section has only been available on the devices that parents also use frequently. Now kids can start watching their favorite Netflix programs on everybody’s favorite tablet.

    It was announced this morning that Netflix’ “Just for Kids” section is now available on the iPad. All your child’s favorite TV shows and movies will be available at their fingertips. No longer will your child be a nuisance when you’re wanting to use the TV. They can plop down and start watching whatever cartoons kids watch these days.

    Some parents will be left out of the “Just for Kids” section for now. It’s only available on the iPad 2 and the new iPad. Netflix says that the section will be coming to the original iPad and Android tablets at a later date. By Android tablets, I’m going to assume they mean the Kindle Fire and Fire HD. After that, it will come to more open Android tablets like the Nexus 7 and Galaxy Tab. They could surprise overly cautious parents everywhere, however, by releasing it on all other devices at once.

    As an aside, the above video uses Johnny Test as an example of kid friendly entertainment. Do your kid a favor and expose them to the far superior Dexter’s Laboratory before they’re able to formulate egregious opinions.

  • Apple iPad Accounts For 98% of Tablet Web Browsing, Report Says

    As popular as Amazon’s Kindle Fire tablets are, it seems that customers who use the tablets are not often using them to browse the web.

    Onswipe, a company that specializes in creating touch-screen experiences for the web, today released the results of a new study that looked at what tablet devices people were using to access their websites. The unsurprising result is that the iPad is the tablet most people were using. What is unexpected is the scale of the iPad’s dominance: the device accounted for 98.1% of Onswipe’s unique impressions.

    The study looked at Onswipe’s web data from September 13th to September 20th. The company announced on its blog that the data covered 29.5 million unique impressions from 1200 different sites. “The iPad is clearly a browsing device,” said Jason Baptiste, Onswipe CEO.

    The runners-up for web-browsing tablets are the Samsung Galaxy Tab with 1.53%, the Motorola Xoom with .21%, the Amazon Kindle Fire with .11%, and the Asus Tablets (presumably the Nexus 7) with .06%.

    So, if the iPad is for web browsing, what are people using the other tablets for? One thing to consider is the sheer number of iPads that have been sold. Apple set the standard for the tablet industry the same way it did with smartphones, and iPad sales outnumber other tablets by millions. Still, that alone might not account for such a dominant representation on the above graph.

    Another possibility is that smaller tablets, such as the Galaxy Tab, the Kindle Fire, and the Nexus 7, are being used for the consumption of content other than the web. Amazon, in particular, has created its Kindle Fire tablets to be perfect at pushing content (books, streaming video, apps) straight from Amazon’s ecosystem.

    It also has to be considered that Onswipe’s websites might appeal more to iPad users for some reason. With 1200 websites and 29 million impressions included in the study, though, it probably gives a good overview of tablet web browsing as of this year.

    (via Apple Insider; Image courtesy Onswipe)

  • The Next iPhone May Be Made By Robots

    The Next iPhone May Be Made By Robots

    Human workers are awful. All they do is write scathing undercover reports on working conditions and instigate riots at the factory. What’s a company like Foxconn to do?

    A report from the 21st Century Business Herald says that Foxconn may be ramping up its process of replacing human workers with robots. The company reportedly had 10,000 robots last year and is hoping to have 300,000 robots working in its factories this year. All of this is leading to the company’s ultimate plan to have 1 million robots working by 2014.

    The process of replacing human workers with robots is reportedly taking longer than expected though. The company hasn’t yet reached the 300,000 mark this year, and the report says that they’ve only been able to reach one-tenth of that amount so far. The robots that have been introduced to the assembly line are being used for simple processes in iPhone and iPad production. More complicated jobs still require the dexterity of human hands.

    The switch to robot labor has come at a time when Foxconn has been forced to start paying its workers more. Due to FLA audits and riots, Foxconn has agreed to raise the wages of its human workers. With robot workers, Foxconn would not only save money on wages, as the company could save even more money on not having to pay for food, housing or other amenities.

    It’s tough to say if Foxconn will be able to replace 1 million workers with robots in two years. It’s unlikely, but it could have a devastating effect on the economy if it comes to pass. Foxconn already employs a little over a million workers in mainland China. Many people are actually moving away from the country to the cities to work at these factories. Replacing them could increase the number of poor and homeless in China’s urban centers.

    Besides, Foxconn is missing the major point here. What if the robots start a riot? Tear gas and nightsticks won’t work on them. They might even enlist their noodle slicing brethren to start stabbing everything in sight.

    [h/t: The Next Web]

  • iOS 6 Is Now Available For Download

    iOS 6 Is Now Available For Download

    iOS users can now download the long-awaited iOS 6, which adds over 200 new features to Apple’s operating system.

    The big ones Apple has been pushing include new Maps, Siri improvements, Facebook integration, shared photos streams, Passbook, FaceTime over cell networks as well as WiFi, new calling features, a redesigned mail offering, Safari improvements and more accessibility features. Here’s the big feature rundown. Here’s Apple’s “What’s New” page.

    As of today, you don’t need an iPhone 5 to get a brand new iPhone experience. While the iOS comes in time for the September 21 iPhone 5 shipping date, it is also available for the following devices: iPhone 3GS, iPhone 4, iPhone 4S, iPod Touch (4th and 5th generation), iPad 2 and The New iPad.

    You can learn a lot more about iOS 6 by perusing our various articles on it here.

    Let us know what you think of the OS in the comments.

  • Twitter Launches New iOS, Android Apps Alongside New Profiles

    Twitter Launches New iOS, Android Apps Alongside New Profiles

    Twitter has just announced a major redesign of user profile pages to include an all new header photo that sits at the top of the page. The new photo is now where a user’s handle, information, and profile pic resides. Twitter says that this new emphasis on a large header photo will help users better express themselves across multiple devices.

    Of course, the new profile pages can’t just exist on the web, so Twitter has also announced updates to their iPhone, Android, and iPad apps.

    The updates to the iPhone and Android apps are pretty basic. Of course, the update gives each device the new profiles with the header photo. Remember, if you upload a header photo from any device (web included), it will stay uniform across all devices. Other than some general polishes and fixes, the only other major improvement to the iPhone/Android apps involves photos as well. Now, scrollable photo streams will appears on profile pages (just under a user’s most recent tweets) and event pages.

    The Twitter for iPad app seems to have received the biggest update, as Twitter says they’ve “rebuilt the app from the group up to make it fast, beautiful, and easy to use.” I wouldn’t go so far as to say the old Twitter for iPad app was unusable, but it definitely needed some love and care.

    Twitter has made browsing media in your timeline much simpler, as you can now expand tweets with one click. Click on the photo, video, or article link again to see it in fullscreen mode. They’ve also added the Discover tab, so you can “read news stories that are popular within your network, see which Tweets and accounts are favorited and followed by the people you know, see what topics are trending, and find great new accounts to follow.”

    And of course, the iPad app now includes the header photo. The photo encompasses the entire width of the screen, and it gives a truly beautiful look to the profile. In fact, the iPad is where the new profile looks the most impressive.

    You can download the updates apps from the App Store and Google Play right now.

  • Microsoft Hints That Surface Won’t Be $199

    Microsoft Hints That Surface Won’t Be $199

    Microsoft’s Surface tablet is a real work of art. I’m not one to get excited about mobile computing, but the Surface is the first tablet that made me want to get into mobile computing. The integrated cover/keyboard had a lot to do with that, but I’ve also been excited over the rumored $199 price point. It appears that I, and many others, may have gotten our hopes up.

    Microsoft CEO and celebrated chair thrower Steve Ballmer recently talked to the Seattle Times about a number of topics, but the Surface did come up early on in the conversation. Ballmer was asked if the Surface would compete with the iPad on features, price, or both. His response, while illuminating, doesn’t inspire that much confidence.

    I think most people would tell you that the iPad is not a superexpensive device. … (When) people offer cheaper, they do less. They look less good, they’re chintzier, they’re cheaper.

    If you say to somebody, would you use one of the 7-inch tablets, would somebody ever use a Kindle (Kindle Fire, $199) to do their homework? The answer is no; you never would. It’s just not a good enough product. It doesn’t mean you might not read a book on it….

    If you look at the bulk of the PC market, it would run between, say, probably $300 to about $700 or $800. That’s the sweet spot.

    I do agree that cheaper tablets look bad, but to discredit the Kindle Fire or Nexus 7 as being cheap is a disservice to the great work those two tablets are doing in the 7-inch arena. Granted, you can’t do homework on those tablets, but you can’t do homework on most tablets. That’s still the specialty of laptops and desktops. It’s a moot point.

    Therein lies the problem that Microsoft is facing with the Surface. They want to price it like a PC. That works for the iPad because it has the software that justifies the price for many loyalists. Microsoft doesn’t have that level of brand loyalty and the software shown off for Surface so far is less than inspiring. It’s great that I can get Office on the Surface, but where are the new entertainment options? Will Surface feature connectivity to the Xbox 360 in a meaningful way? These are the questions that Microsoft will have to answer in the coming month.

    I think we can all give up on a $199 Surface at this point in time, but a $299 Surface wouldn’t be that bad. Here’s hoping Microsoft keeps things cheap instead of trying to market the Surface as being worth the price of a mid-range Intel-based desktop. Competing with the iPad in terms of pricing would be about the worst thing Microsoft could do at this point. They have to undermine Apple’s device somewhere and price is about the only thing they have at this point.

    I expect we’ll get an official price on the Surface later this month. With the tablet launching at the end of October, Microsoft can’t afford to keep things in the dark for much longer. People have to know whether or not they’re going to have the money to put down on the admittedly sleek and beautiful piece of hardware that Microsoft has designed.

  • Apple Event: 17m New iPads Sold, 84m Total

    Apple Event: 17m New iPads Sold, 84m Total

    At their iPhone launch event, Apple just announced that they’ve sold a pretty impressive amount of iPads. According to CEO Tim Cook, Apple has sold 17 million New iPads since its launch in April.

    When you throw those sales into the mix, Apple has sold over 84 million iPads since the first generation was launched.

    And that impressive total has cut into the worldwide market share. According to Cook, their tablet share increased from 62% to 68% year-over-year.

    “To put this in perspective, we sold more iPads than any PC manufacturer sold of their entire lineup,” said Tim Cook.

    And iPads account for 91% of all web traffic from tablets. Pretty astonishing.

    Of course, the iPad is nothing without its apps. Cook says that there are over 250,000 apps tailored for the iPad, and the average iPad owner uses 100 apps.

    When you factor in iPad sales, Apple says they have sold over 400 million iOS device. Quite the milestone.

  • Apple iPad to be Used by American Airlines Pilots

    American Airlines this week became the first airline to receive approval from the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to use Apple iPads “during all phases of flight.” The tablets will be used as an “Electronic Flight Bag” and will be replacing the thick stack of reference manuals that pilots carry in their carry-on kitbag. American estimates that removing the 35-pound kitbag manuals from each flight will save the company $1.2 million on fuel costs annually.

    “This is a very exciting and important milestone for all of us at American Airlines as we work to modernize our processes and best meet the needs of our people,” said John Hale, vice president of flight at American. “With this approval from the FAA, we will be able to use iPad to fully realize the benefits of our Electronic Flight Bag program, including improving the work environment for our pilots, reducing our dependency on paper products and increasing fuel efficiency on our planes. We are equipping our people with the best resources and this will allow our pilots to fly more efficiently.”

    American stated that pilots will use mobile software and data from Jeppesen, which has developed an app that is FAA-approved for use throughout all stages of a flight. The app will provide up-to-date electronic information in an interface that is easier to use than paper manuals.

    “We’re focused on building a new American where technology and innovation are fundamental to the company’s return to industry leadership and exceptional customer service,” said Maya Leibman, American CIO. “The Electronic Flight Bag program is just one more example of the progress we’re making to provide the tools our employees need to deliver operational improvements and leading customer experience. In fact, our Flight Attendants have also been piloting an initiative on handheld tablets, which will give them better information about the customers on their flight and their travel needs. We’ll have more to share on this and other industry-leading technologies in the weeks and months to come.”

    Now that American is working to allow its flight crew to use the latest gadgets during the entire flight, does that mean that passengers might get to enjoy the same luxury? American hasn’t said, but it did announce earlier this year that it will be reevaluating its current stance on passengers using handheld electronics during flights.

  • iPad Mini: Here’s What It Might Look Like In Your Hand

    Despite consumers wanting it to launch this month, the iPad Mini is expected to be unveiled in October.

    Nevertheless, some new alleged leaked photos of the device have surfaced, apparently first published by DGtle, but republished by Nowhereelse.fr. Here’s a look (you can see more at the site):

    iPad Mini Leak

    The device (as well as the iTV) is already in production, according to one analyst.

    According to alleged leaked details, the device will resemble an iPod Touch with smaller bezels and separate buttons for volume control. The thickness is expected to b e around 7.2 to 7.3 mm.

    Here’s a 3D render that emerged last week:

    On Wednesday, Apple is expected to unveil the iPhone 5.

  • Kindle Fire HD Challenges Apple’s Dominance

    Amazon announced a lot of Kindles today at their press event. The Kindle Paperwhite is already looking pretty sweet and the cheaper standard Kindle is much appreciated. Despite all these great new Kindle announcements, the star of the show was the Kindle Fire HD. It’s an impressive device that should have Apple and Google concerned.

    First and foremost, let’s take a look at this things’s specs. The Kindle Fire HD comes in two flavors – 7-inch and 8.9-inch. Both of them will feature 16GB of onboard memory and a TI OMAP4470 processor that Amazon claims is more powerful than the Nvidia Tegra 3 that powers the Nexus 7. The new iPad’s A5X processor is clocked at 1GHz while the OMAP4470 can be clocked up to 1.8GHz. If used effectively, the Fire HD could easily outperform the new iPad.

    Apple’s iPad still holds a few key areas of dominance. Namely, the screen size on the iPad (10-inches) is still bigger than the biggest Kindle Fire HD. The new iPad also features the spectacular retina display that has a max resolution of 2048×1536. The Kindle Fire HD features a resolution of 1920×1200. Both displays are above 1080p, but the iPad is the clear winner here. The Nexus 7’s paltry 1280×800 resolution can’t even compete.

    The price is where things go directly to Amazon’s favor. The 7-inch Kindle Fire HD is priced at a very affordable $199 whereas the 8.9-inch model will retail for $299. The 16GB model of the new iPad is priced at $499. Beyond size and resolution, there’s not much difference between the two devices.

    Amazon sweetened the deal even more with an announcement of a 32GB Kindle Fire HD with 4G LTE connectivity for only $499. The iPad equivalent goes for $729. Even better, Amazon will be offering their own data plan that only costs $50 a year. Apple offers 4G LTE through either AT&T or Verizon. Both carriers aren’t as cheap when it comes to data.

    Is Apple suddenly in trouble with the announcement of new cheaper, and possibly superior, Kindles? Of course not. Apple has the brand recognition and power that drives people to forsake food for a month just to afford a new iPad or iPhone. What Apple should be concerned about is a quote from Amazon’s CEO Jeff Bezos on why they’re able to offer their devices for such a cheap price:

    “We want to make money when people use our devices, not when they buy our devices.”

    That sentence reaffirms Amazon’s commitment to content over everything else. It’s content that drives the Amazon App Store to be more profitable than Google Play. It’s that content that drives people to download Kindle exclusive books more than 100 million times. It’s that commitment to content that had the original Kindle Fire owning 22 percent of the tablet market.

    For their part, Apple has plenty of content as well. The combination of iTunes and the Appstore have been ridiculously profitable for Apple. The real difference is that Amazon has a strong retail background. They know how to best sell content and offer regular discounts and promotions to get content into people’s hands.

    The Kindle Fire HD is a challenge that Amazon is issuing to its competitors. As Bezos said today, the Kindle Fire HD is a “hardware device as a service.” Amazon offers some of the best service in both the physical and digital industries. Combining them into a single product is pretty awe inspiring.