Tag: ipad

Does The New iPad’s Dictation Feature Send Private Data To Apple?

Apple released their new iPad last week, drawing huge crowds (as usual). The new iPad sports several noteworthy new features, including a retina display, 4G LTE connectivity, and a much-improved camera. One expected feature that was not added to the new iPad was Siri. Instead, new iPad owners get Dictation, which allows users to speak to their iPad and have their speech turned into text.

Reviews of the dictation feature have been mostly positive. That is to say, it works about as well as dictation on the iPhone 4S (which often works better than Siri, surprisingly). Some are wondering, however, whether the new iPad’s dictation feature may have a darker side. Now, this isn’t the kind of darker side where your iPad goes berserk and kills you, but it is a potentially significant concern, even so. The concern is what the iPad does with private data like your contacts.

You may be wondering why it matters. Of course the dictation feature (and Siri, on the iPhone 4S) can access contacts. How else would Siri know what to do when you say “Call Mom”? The same goes for dictation: you can dictate email and text contacts, too. But that’s okay, right? Because those features need access to that data in order to function, right? Yes, they do. The problem, though, comes from what your device does with that data. You see, dictation is not handled directly by your iPad (nor Siri requests by your iPhone). Your device records what you say and uploads it to Apple’s servers, where your request is processed and either rendered as text (with dictation) or responded to (by Siri). To make this process smoother, your iPad also uploads certain data – including contacts and familial relationships (which are user-defined) – to Apple’s servers.

While you might be tempted to get upset about this, it’s actually not as bad as it might seem. Yes, Apple collects certain kinds of information from your device – not limited to contacts – but unlike some (e.g., Path and Twitter), Apple is pretty up-front about the fact that dictation (and Siri) requires certain kinds of data to be stored on Apple’s servers. Dictation has to be turned on manually before it can be used, immediately below the button that turns dictation on is a link to more information:

So basically, dictation only gathers the data it does to make using the feature easier. The data it gathers is kept separate from any other information Apple has about you. What’s more, if you’re still uncomfortable with the idea of dictation storing your data, disabling the feature deletes all your user data from Apple’s servers.

What do you think? Is the fact that dictation stores some of your contact information a privacy concern? Is it not really a big deal? Sound off in the comments.

March 19, 2012
New iPad Speed, Camera Compared to iPad 2 [Videos]

We just looked at a drop test comparison between the new iPad and the iPad 2. The new one is more durable (it’s also heavier). Now, let’s see how they stack up on speed.

Being faster was supposed to be one of the big selling points of the new version (in addition to the retina display, camera, etc.). It looks like they’re pretty close on speed, however. If the new one is faster, it appears to only be slightly so – to the point where it would be practically unnoticeable.

Redmond Pie put out this speed comparison video:

This might make you think harder about which one you want to purchase (assuming you actually do intend to purchase one). Apple did drop the price of the lighter-weight iPad 2 to $399 for the 16GB WiFi-only model and $529 for the 3G version.

They also compared the cameras in a nice split screen format:

Again, based on the video, I’m not sure the new one is so much better, it’s worth the extra money, for the average consumer. For professional photographers, actual cameras are more likely to be the instruments of choice. Of course, the price on the new iPad is sure to come down as soon as they put the next one out.

View all of our iPad coverage here.

March 17, 2012
New iPad More Durable Than iPad 2?

GizmoSlip has put out a couple of videos drop testing the new iPad and the iPad 2. The iPad 2 failed the three foot drop (on its corner), while the new iPad survived a four foot drop on its back and one on its corner. It did still fail the four foot drop face down.

Here’s the iPad 2:

Here’s the new iPad:

Of course the new one is noticeably heavier, and less comfortable to hold, so there’s that.

The GizmoSlip guys also did one with a Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1, and it survived 3 feet on the corner, but they moved up to five feet, which broke it, leaving them (and us) wondering if it would’ve survived four feet. They point out that the plastic absorbs the impact better than the iPad’s aluminum.

View all of our iPad coverage here.

March 17, 2012
The New iPad Has Already Been Jailbroken

Hot on the heels of yesterday’s news that an iPad 2 running iOS 5.1 had been jailbroken, there is news today that the new iPad has already been jailbroken as well.

Earlier today a post on the Dev Team blog confirmed that the same exploit that allowed the iPad 2 to be jailbroken would also allow the new iPad to be jailbroken.

Later in the day self-described iPhone hacker Musclenerd posted the following on his Twitter account:

@MuscleNerd
MuscleNerdjailbroken iPad3: http://t.co/tbCIdvhN http://t.co/lxR1zcFo (Just a first step, still lots of work to do! No ETA!) 3 hours ago via web · Reply · Retweet · Favorite · powered by @socialditto

The pictures he tweeted show a new iPad that has been jailbroken and is running Cydia (the jailbreak app store). Check them out below:

Though, as Musclenerd points out, there is still a lot of work to be done, the developments of the last two days are extremely promising. Those who are eager to jailbreak their new iPads (or any other iOS device running iOS 5.1) shouldn’t have long to wait.

Are you looking forward to jailbreaking your new iPad? What about your other iOS 5.1 device? Let us know in the comments.

March 16, 2012
The New iPad: What Reviewers Are Saying

Now that the new iPad has been available for about eight hours (in the eastern US, anyway), reviews of Apple’s latest magical tablet are starting to roll in, and they’re largely very positive.

At present I don’t have an iPad of my own to review – my trip to the Apple Store this morning was, alas, for information and not to make a purchase – but those who have gotten up close and personal with the new iPad seem to be pretty impressed. Read on to see what some of them are saying.

The Retina Display

Everybody loves the retina display. That shouldn’t come as a surprise to anyone. When the retina display debuted with the iPhone 4 in 2010, it wowed critics and users alike. Personally, I thought it couldn’t really be that much of an improvement. Then I got my own iPhone 4 and yeah, it really was that much of an improvement. The same goes for the new iPad. Cult of Mac calls the retina display “something to behold,” and says that the colors on the new iPad’s screen are “beautiful without being lurid.” The image below (courtesy of Cult of Mac) shows the two side-by-side:

David Pogue of The New York Times points out that the iPad’s retina display is the “sharpest ever on a mobile device” (though technically the iPhone 4 and 4S have a slightly higher pixel density), and says that HD movies and retina display-optimized apps look “jaw-droppingly good.”

The Camera

We’ve already talked about the iPad’s new, massively upgraded iSight camera. The iPad 2’s camera set the bar almost painfully low, so the new iPad didn’t have far to go to beat it.That being so, the new iPad’s camera is not just a massive improvement over its predecessor, it appears to be a solid competitor to the cameras found in many mobile phones. At 5 megapixels it is roughly the equal of the camera in the iPhone 4, though it falls well short of the 8 megapixel camera in the iPhone 4S.

Jason Snell of Macworld tested the new iPad’s camera and found it to be “the best camera of any tablet device,” and similar in image quality to the iPhone 4S and Asus Transformer Prime. Additionally, it beat not only the iPad 2 (no great accomplishment), but also Samsung’s Galaxy Tab 10.1. Check out the comparison below:

4G LTE

This is the other major feature of the new iPad. With the new iPad, Apple finally joins the 4G revolution. What’s more, by launching a 4G iPad now, Apple has all but confirmed we’ll be seeing a 4G iPhone later this year. Sprint, Verizon and AT&T both have 4G LTE networks, and are expanding them all the time. T-Mobile has announced a 4G network of their own, as well.

Unfortunately, 4G LTE technology in smartphones has tended to be a bit power-hungry. The trade-off for the blazing fast data speeds attainable over 4G is usually a shorter battery life. Except Apple has managed to get around that problem and give the new iPad a battery life equal to that of the iPad 2 (it’s worth pointing out that people marveled at the iPad 2’s battery life when it came out a year ago).

As David Pogue points out, the addition of 4G improves almost every aspect of the mobile internet experience. Improved video playback, faster app downloads, and better tethering (on Verizon’s network only, for now). And yet that increase in speed doesn’t translate to a loss in battery life. Pogue managed to get 9 hours of use out of his new iPad’s battery.

What They Didn’t Like

That being said, not everything about the iPad met with reviewers’ approval. One of the big complaints deals with non-HD video and apps that haven’t been updated for retina display yet. John Gruber of Daring Fireball calls these apps “passable, but annoying.” Web sites and images in iBooks suffer a similar fate. When placed on the super-sharp display of the new iPad, they wind up looking “slightly blurry.” He concludes that “the iPad display is so good that it shows, like no device before it, just how crummy most images on the web are.”

There’s also the fact that you can’t make FaceTime calls over 4G. We talked about this earlier in the week, and some of the reviewers are expressing their annoyance. MG Siegler of
TechCrunch

Another problem is storage space. The images required to give an app retina display-quality graphics must, as you might expect, be extremely high-resolution. That means the image files have to be bigger, which means that apps optimized for retina display have to be larger than those that aren’t. That, in turn, means that apps will take up more space on your iPad than they used to, even if you don’t have a new iPad. As Jason Snell of Macworld points out, this increase in space is something that can come back to bite users who buy a 16 GB iPad thinking that they won’t need more space.

FInally, as Cult of Mac points out, keeping the same battery life as the iPad 2 in the face of battery-killing technologies like 4G and the retina display comes with its own trade-off: the new iPad takes longer to charge than its predecessor.

The Bottom Line

Despite these few complaints, the reviews of the new iPad are overwhelmingly positive. Jason Snell says that “on nearly every front, the third-generation iPad is markedly better than its predecessor.” David Pogue calls it “better-looking, better integrated and more consistently designed than any of its rivals.” Cult of Mac calls it “the best iPad yet,” and, more importantly, “the most futuristic iPad to date” (emphasis theirs).

All in all, it seems like Apple’s new iPad is already a big hit. What do you think of it? Are there any pros or cons that we missed? Sound off in the comments.

March 16, 2012
Track New IPad Sales in Real Time

So, I’ve heard this new iPad thing isn’t generating much hype. You really think anyone is going to buy it?

That was sarcasm. The new iPad has been touted as the greatest consumer tech product of the year by bloggers, Twitter tweeters and Apple fanciers since January. They are travelling in droves to pick up the HD iPad.

Initial reviews have been favorable, but lets face it, if you are going to get up extra early on a weekday to spend $500 dollars on a tech gadget, you would probably already have assumptions about how awesome it is too.

But how well is it actually doing. We need some real numbers here.

If you are curious how the iPad is selling on the market right now, you need look no further than ad-network Chitika, who has created a new iPad tracker. The app is using tracking of websites that display their advertising to determine how many are viewed from a New iPad.

“But,” you say, “what if people aren’t going to websites with Chiticka advertising? What if they aren’t using the web at all? What if my head explodes trying contemplate all the possible things that can go wrong with this kind of tracking system?”

I agree, there are many holes in this methodology, but right now, until Apple gives us some hard numbers, it’s all we’ve got.

This is what Chitika’s stats look like. They are currently comparing the percentage of new iPads vs. iPad 1 and 2.

“What if I want to know the total number of New iPads being sold, compared to the number of iPads that are already out there?”

I don’t know, deal with it.

The percentage reported in the pie chart represents the most recent recorded hour of iPad traffic. The percentages are simply the count of each particular group (iPad 1&2, “The new iPad”) divided by a total count of all iPad traffic observed.

The line chart highlights adoption rate by hour. For each hour, the methodology is the same as in the pie chart, except shown in a time series. For example, if “The new iPad” impressions made up 5% of all iPad impressions on March 17th at midnight, and 6% at March 18th at midnight, the chart would highlight this growth (and show all of the hours in between).

Note: These figures are from a screen cap. They are continually changing as more iPads are being sold and used. Check Chitika’s website for current data.

March 16, 2012
iPad 2 Trade-ins Up To $320 From Apple
Now that the New iPad (or “iPad 3” called by some) has now been released to the public today (March 16, 2012), existing iPad users are left with one question: “What do I do with my old iPad?” Some have already placed their existing iPads on popular internet-buying websites like eBay and Craigslist; however, if you want to go through a more recycling-based route, iPad’s maker Apple provides existing iPad users with a method to do this and rewarding you for it.

On Apple‘s website, users can choose the Reuse & Recycle page and select their iPad 2 from the iPad options provided (shown below).

After the user has chosen the exact model of iPad 2 that they currently own, a series of questions will appear asking the user about the current state and condition of their iPad 2. This is to help Apple determine the criteria of what to owe the user. Some of the questions that the user will encounter have been provided below:
- Does the iPad work properly?
- Does the iPad fully charge?
- Are there any cracks or damage to either the display or case?
- Has the iPad been water damaged?
Depending on the specific model of your iPad, the figures provided below reflect what Apple will pay pertaining to your recycled iPad 2 with no flaws (provided by cnet):
- iPad 2 Wi-Fi (16GB) – $205
- iPad 2 Wi-Fi + 3G (16GB) – $250
- iPad 2 Wi-Fi (32GB) – $245
- iPad 2 Wi-Fi + 3G (32GB) – $280
- iPad 2 Wi-Fi (64GB) – $275
- iPad 2 Wi-Fi + 3G (64GB) – $320
Gift cards are available for highly defective or non-functional iPad 2s; however, $50 will be paid for cracked or water-damaged iPad 2s with 16GB Wi-Fi.

Are these reasonable reimbursement prices from Apple for the iPad 2? Please be sure to leave your feedback below in this post’s comments section.
March 16, 2012
iPad 4G Users Can Keep Their Old Unlimited Data Plans

When Apple unveiled the original iPad all the way back in 2010, it was only available on one network – AT&T – and the 3G-capable version only had two data plan options: $14.99 for 250MB of data, or $29.99 for unlimited. For some users 250MB of data was enough. Others, however, wondered why they should pay $15 for 250MB of data when for only $30 they could have all of it. Those users chose the unlimited plan.

Within a month of the iPad’s launch, AT&T had dropped the unlimited data plan as an option. Those who had it were allowed to keep it, but new users had to choose from one of AT&T’s new tiered plans. Unlimited data was no more.

Fast forward two years to the launch of the new iPad. Since nixing the unlimited plan, AT&T has allowed customers who signed up for it to keep it through all their upgrades (in fact, I’m still sporting the unlimited iPhone data plan that came with my iPhone 3G in 2008). But the new iPad is different: it’s a 4G device, and the unlimited data plans were 3G plans. That raises a big question: can those happy few who have managed to hang on to their unlimited data plan for two years keep it when they switch to 4G?

According to AT&T, the answer is yes. There is little information on just how many people still have the old unlimited iPad data plan, but those that do get to keep it even when they make the jump to 4G. AT&T will not take it away from them.

Well, AT&T won’t offficially take it away, anyway. AT&T has had a somewhat rocky relationship with unlimited data customers in recent months. Last fall they started throttling the connection speed of users with unlimited data plans after they hit around 2GB of data in a month. This, they argued, was to protect the overall 3G network from the “top 5%” of customers who were supposedly hogging all the bandwidth for everyone else. Despite losing a small claims lawsuit in late February over the practice, AT&T officially announced at the beginning of this month that unlimited data plan users who go over 3GB of data in a month (which, coincidentally, is the highest tiered plan AT&T offers) could expect to have their connection speed throttled.

So, the moral of the story is this: if you’re still rocking a vintage 2010 unlimited iPad data plan, you do get to keep it. But if you actually try to make good on the “unlimited” part, AT&T is likely to throttle your connection. In effect, “unlimited” doesn’t actually mean “unlimited.” It means “about 3GB.”

Do you still have an unlimited data plan? Will you carry it over to your new iPad, or go for a different plan? Let us know what in the comments.

March 16, 2012
The Best Apps for the New IPad Retina Display

The new iPad officially went on sale today, and if the long lines outside electronics stores are any indication, sales should be huge.

Unfortunately, not ever app on the market is iPad retina display ready. Apple has upgraded theirs, but that’s to be expected. Some third party apps have not been lucky enough to get things ready for the release. Others plan to capitalize on the new technology by being the first out the door with HD graphics.

@mrgan
Neven MrganA friendly request: don’t freak out at non-retinized iPad apps coming out this week. It’s a lot of damn work. 1 day ago via Twitterrific · Reply · Retweet · Favorite · powered by @socialditto

Updating all of your apps graphics to keep up the new technology has proved to be a daunting task for most developers.

Here are some of the best HD apps out there right now. Expect many more to roll out in the next coming weeks.

Apple

You can’t go wrong with the official Apple apps, they were made specifically for the new iPad:

iPhoto
There’s so much power built into iPhoto for iOS, you need to touch it to believe it. Using only your fingers, you can make a blue sky bluer. A landscape greener. Or a smile brighter. From the moment you touch the screen, the way you see things will never be the same.

GarageBand
Whether you’re a musical prodigy or just love creating your own walls of sound, GarageBand for iOS gives you all the tools you need to lay down fresh tracks, have a jam session with friends, and record music anywhere you go.

Social

Twitter
Follow your interests like never before.

Facebook
See your friends pics in high def.

AIM for iPad
Instant messenger.

Business and Productivity

Evernote
The popular note taker and planner will feature crisp fonts.

Trulia
This real estate app will feature HD photos of your listings.

StockTouch
Watch the market unfold in high def.

Games

Infinity Blade II:

Mass Effect Infiltrator:
EA has updated the game for the retina display

Sky Gamblers Air Supremacy

Here is a full list of Apps that currently support the HD display:

ABC Player
AIM for iPad
Another Monster at the End of This Book
Art Authority
Barefoot World Atlas
Calcbot
The Daily
Day One
Diamond Dash
Dwellable
The Early Edition 2
Echofon
Evernote
Evernote Peek
Flight Control Rocket
Foosball HD
Galaxy on Fire 2 HD
Grace
Incredibooth
Infinity Blade II
iStopMotion for iPad
Joining Hands
Kindle
Labyrinth 2 HD
Martha Stewart Cookies
Mass Effect Infiltrator
Mint
MLS MatchDay 2012
Modern Combat 3
NBA GameTime
NYTimes for iPad
Order & Chaos Online
Quotes Folder
Readability
Real Racing 2 HD
Redfin
Reeder for iPad
SketchBook Pro for iPad
Skitch
Sky Gamblers: Air Supremacy
Solar Walk
Soundcloud
Star Walk for iPad
StockTouch
TouchGrind BMX
Trulia
Tweetbot for iPad
Twitter
Twitterrific
Vimeo
Facebook
Flipboard
Roambi Analytics
Roambi Flow
Wired

March 16, 2012
The New iPad: iFixit Breaks It Down, Literally

After waiting in line in the wee hours of the morning for your brand new iPad, what’s the first thing you do with it? Do you download some new apps with amazing retina display graphics? Do you take some photos or some video with the drastically upgraded new iSight camera? Do you take it apart and see what’s inside?

Wait… take it apart? Who in the world would buy a new iPad just to take it apart? Apparently the people at iFixit.com would. Thanks to an associate in Australia, they got their hands on a new iPad hours before anyone else in the world, and the first thing they did was crack it open to see what it’s made of. And right after that, they tweeted about it:

@iFixit
iFixitThe first legit-purchased, legit-owned iPad 3 is now also the first legit-opened iPad… in the world. http://t.co/q5tTF5oZ 1 day ago via Tweetie for Mac · Reply · Retweet · Favorite · powered by @socialditto

After they tweeted about it, they posted a whole slew of pictures and a video. Check out the video below.

And now the pictures. Warning, if you’re a gadget lover with a weak stomach, some of these are a bit graphic. You might want to look away.

So there you have it. That’s what the inside of a new iPad looks like. If those graphic images didn’t slake your thirst for iPad carnage, you can check out the rest of iFixit’s teardown, where there are more photos and step-by-step instructions should you wish to take your own iPad apart (though you probably shouldn’t).

Now all that’s left to ask is, Will It Blend? The iPad 2 did…

March 16, 2012
iPad Goes On Sale, Draws Crowds Around The World

If there’s one thing that’s consistent about the release of any new Apple product, it’s lines. Apple’s iOS devices are hugely popular, and whether you think they’re amazing and magical, or you think the Apple fanboys are just drinking Steve Jobs’ kool-aid, you have to admit that their ability to draw a crowd is impressive.

Today’s release of the third-generation iPad is no different. The new iPad hit stores in nine countries today, just nine days after being unveiled at a special media event last Wednesday. As usual, hundreds of people lined up outside Apple’s retail stores hoping to get their hands on the new iPad.

Wozniak at the Head of the Line

For several years now Apple co-founder Steve Wozniak has been first in line for new iOS devices when they launch, and this year he was again at his customary spot. He used Foursquare to check in at a mall in Century City, California last night at 9:39 Pacific time.

I’m at Westfield Century City (Century City, CA) w/ 7 others 4sq.com/z2fnH9

— Steve Wozniak (@stevewoz) March 16, 2012

Whatstrending.com caught up with The Woz and talked to him for a few minutes. It turns out that he was not actually first in line this time around. He was second in line; his wife was first. Check out the video below:

While the line behind The Woz was not very long, many places saw much larger crowds. Check out some videos below:

Toronto, Canada:

Birningham, UK:

London, UK:

München, Germany:

Sydney, Australia:

Tokyo, Japan:

New York, USA:

Apple Employees Are Excited Too

Apple’s fans aren’t the only ones who are excited about the new iPad’s launch, either. iMore got a look at how employees at Apple’s retail stores got themselves ready for the launch of a new iPad at the Lincoln Road Apple Store in Miami, Florida:

Were you one of the people standing in line for a new iPad this morning? How long were you in line? What was it like? Let us know in the comments.

March 16, 2012
New iPad Hits Stores, Twitter Reacts

Apple’s latest iPad arrived in stores today, drawing crowds in each of the nine countries where it’s currently available. While last year’s iPad 2 launch suffered from severe shortages, leading many to have to wait in line several days in a row, Apple appears to have learned from it’s mistake. Apple’s retail stores appear to have plenty of the new tablets in stock at the moment, while online orders are currently showing a backlog of 2-3 weeks.

As you might expect, the new iPad’s launch has been a major topic of discussion on Twitter. Check out what some people are saying:

Best Buy’s CEO took to Twitter to remind people that the Apple Store was not the only place to get your hands on Apple’s new tablet.

@BBYCEO
CEO of Best BuyWe are excited to launch the new iPad at Best Buy today! 35 minutes ago via web ·  Reply ·  Retweet ·  Favorite · powered by @socialditto

Others decided that waiting in line was not their thing:

@nicolaymusic
NicolayI’m all about Apple products like the next guy, but lining up for hours and hours for a new iPad? No, thanks. 1 hour ago via TweetDeck ·  Reply ·  Retweet ·  Favorite · powered by @socialditto

@strobist
David HobbyLine at Apple? No thanks. Just walked right up to the counter at Verizon in Snowden Sq. and bought an iPad. Just. Walked. Right. Up. 2 hours ago via Echofon ·  Reply ·  Retweet ·  Favorite · powered by @socialditto

@jirfy
Jeffrey LuWas planning to pop by an #Apple Store today. Alas, I forgot that I wasn’t the only one interested in the new #iPad. 4 minutes ago via Twitter for iPhone ·  Reply ·  Retweet ·  Favorite · powered by @socialditto

Some were just happy to get their hands on the new iPad:

@Ihnatko
Andy IhnatkoIt’s not even 9 o’clock and I have both an iPad 3 and a bakery muffin. It’s been a good morning. 2 hours ago via Tweetbot for iOS ·  Reply ·  Retweet ·  Favorite · powered by @socialditto

And others are still saving up for theirs:

@ErikVeland
Erik VelandGoing to bed with a good wine and a good iPad*. *Not great iPad, can’t afford that yet. 1 hour ago via Twitter for Mac ·  Reply ·  Retweet ·  Favorite · powered by @socialditto

Some used the new iPad’s launch to draw attention elsewhere. One person used it as an opportunity to advocate for improving the working conditions of those who build Apple’s devices:

@ShelbyKnox
ShelbyKnoxHere at the Apple iPad release in #NYC representing 250,000 @change members demanding Apple make an ethical product. #ethicaliphone 2 hours ago via HootSuite ·  Reply ·  Retweet ·  Favorite · powered by @socialditto

Motorola, meanwhile, paid to get an advertisement for their own tablet at the top of Twitter’s search results for the iPad:

@Motorola
Motorola MobilityLucky for you, Motorola XYBOARD 10.1 w/ Wi-Fi tablet is spill proof. Get it now with FREE 2-day shipping: http://t.co/wHbPRE99 15 hours ago via web ·  Reply ·  Retweet ·  Favorite · powered by @socialditto

Many people skipped the lines by pre-ordering their iPad. While this was definitely the easiest option, it looks like delivery drivers are in for a long day:

@steffanwilliams
Steffan WilliamsDelivery guy: “iPad is it buddy? I’m fed up of seeing them…” 2 hours ago via Twitter for Mac ·  Reply ·  Retweet ·  Favorite · powered by @socialditto

And lest we forget, the new iPad isn’t the only new product arriving in Apple’s stores today:

@joewilcox
Joe WilcoxI’m No. 121 here in line outside Apple Store San Diego. Waiting for Apple TV not iPad. 3 minutes ago via Twitter for iPhone ·  Reply ·  Retweet ·  Favorite · powered by @socialditto

Finally, Apple insider Jim Dalrymple took to Twitter to promote the new iPad and poke a little fun at Starbucks:

@jdalrymple
Jim DalrympleIf you don’t have a new iPad on order, go get one. It’ll cost you about the same amount as a Starbucks coffee. 12 minutes ago via Twitter for Mac ·  Reply ·  Retweet ·  Favorite · powered by @socialditto

March 16, 2012
New iPad Available Today, Plenty In Stock At Apple Stores

Apple’s newest iPad hit stores around the world this morning, drawing huge crowds to Apple’s retail stores. Unlike last time, however, Apple seems to have had plenty of stock to meet demand. As expected, Apple opened their retal stores an hour earlier than usual to accommodate the launch. After the initial crowds thinned out, though, many stores still had stock left over.

The Apple Store in Lexington, Kentucky’s Fayette Mall, for example, had plenty of iPads left long after the initial rush had subsided. Within half an hour of opening at 8, the store looked like this:

A store associate told me that while she did not know how many iPads they had received, they still had plenty left in stock. I asked the store manager how many he received, but he (very politely) declined to answer on the grounds that he was not allowed to give those details to the press.

Of course, Apple’s retail stores aren’t the only place to get iPads. Several of Apple’s other retail partners – including Best Buy, as CEO Brian Dunn pointed out on Twitter this morning:

@BBYCEO
CEO of Best BuyWe are excited to launch the new iPad at Best Buy today! 35 minutes ago via web · Reply · Retweet · Favorite · powered by @socialditto

You can also get 4G iPads at AT&T and Verizon retail stores.

Plenty of other retailers are working to cash in on the new iPad’s launch. GameStop broadened its product lineup a few months ago and started selling used iOS devices, including iPads. Of course, many people are looking to sell their old iPad to pay for their new one. Knowing that, GameStop is making every effort to make sure people know they can sell their old iPad at their local GameStop on their way to pick up a new iPad from the Apple Store. I spotted this man standing alongside a busy street near the mall where the Lexington, Kentucky Apple Store is located.

Kinda makes you grateful for your job, doesn’t it?

With supply apparently ahead of demand (for the moment, anyway), it looks like a brick-and-mortar retail store is the best place to get your new iPad today. While crowds dwindle at Apple’s retail stores, their online store is still showing shipping dates of 2-3 weeks. The in-store supplies aren’t going to last forever, though. So if you want an iPad today, the best thing to do is get out to your local Apple Store as soon as possible.

Were you one of the people standing in line this morning? Did you pre-order your new iPad? Or are you going to wait and upgrade after demand dies down a little? Let us know in the comments.

Lead Image Credit: Digital Trends.

March 16, 2012
Kindle App For iPad Gets Retina Display Makeover

Amazon has updated their popular Kindle app for iOS devices today, the company has announced. The new update brings several update that make the Kindle app more like the Kindle Fire tablet, and adds retina display support for the new iPad, which releases tomorrow.

Retina display optimization includes much-improved graphics with sharper fonts and sharper, brighter cover art for books in users’ library. The app also adds some features from Amazon’s popular Kindle Fire tablet including a redesigned library interface. The new app also includes the ability to switch easily between content stored on their device and content stored in the cloud.

Kindle for iPad users also have access to Amazon’s touch-optimized Kindle Store, which they access from their Safari browser. The Kindle app also includes several features Amazon has launched in recent months, including the ability to open PDFs from Safari or the Mail app, as well as send them to the cloud.

The Kindle app is a universal iOS app and is, as always, a free download from the iOS App Store. Check out some screenshots below, then let us know what you think in the comments.

March 15, 2012
Untethered iOS 5.1 Jailbreak Coming Soon?

If there’s one rule that everyone who jailbreaks their iPhone or iPad knows, it’s this: do not update your iOS when Apple releases a new version. Though legally required to tolerate jailbreaking, Apple is not a fan of the practice, and has a habit of closing the exploits used to jailbreak iOS with every new release. The latest version, iOS 5.1, is no different. In fact, not only did Apple fix the exploits used to jailbreak iOS 5.0.1, they even went so far as to acknowledge pod2g and the “2012 iOS Jailbreak Dream Team” in their list of security fixes for iOS 5.1.

Another Waiting Game?

Considering how long it took for jailbreak developers to crack iOS 5.0.1 on A5 devices (the iPhone 4S and iPad 2), many worried that iOS 5.1 would be similarly hard to jailbreak. Now it looks like the wait may not be as long this time around. There was some cause to hope last week when a tethered jailbreak (i.e., requiring the phone to be re-jailbroken with every reboot) was announced. Even better, though jailbreak developer Stefan Esser, aka I0n1c, posted the following tweet early this afternoon:

@i0n1c
Stefan EsserA few pictures http://t.co/fWe7WP0t http://t.co/rEuVBZ5H http://t.co/QlWTPyS1 3 hours ago via web · Reply · Retweet · Favorite · powered by @socialditto

The pictures in question appear to show an iPad 2 running an untethered jailbreak. Check out the images below:

Even better, Esser seems confident that a jailbreak for the new iPad, due out tomorrow, would not take long to jailbreak. Early this morning he tweeted the following:

@i0n1c
Stefan EsserAnyway so maybe the iPad 3 will not be jailbroken tomorrow, but on Monday or whenever I get my iPad 3. 10 hours ago via web · Reply · Retweet · Favorite · powered by @socialditto

Bold words, considering the trouble that iOS 5.0.1 gave jailbreak devs on A5 devices. Assuming Esser can follow through, though, we may see an untethered jailbreak for iOS 5.1 as soon as next week. For those of us who are already tired of seeing the notification badge on our iOS Settings app icon, it can’t come soon enough.

Are you hoping for an iOS 5.1 jailbreak? Will you jailbreak your new iPad once there’s a jailbreak available? Let us know in the comments.

March 15, 2012
New iPad Already A Hit With MLB Scouts, Coaches

Another year is already nearly a quarter gone, and with the arrival of March comes something that sports fans everywhere have been eagerly awaiting all winter: Baseball (March what? Basket-who?). At the beginning of March the players, coaches, and staff of Major League Baseball reported to their Spring Training facilities in either Florida or Arizona to prepare for the 2012 season.

Part of that preparation includes scouting. Players and coaches spend hours upon hours reading statistics and watching video of opposing teams trying to find ways to beat them in the coming season. This batter has trouble with fastballs that are high and inside, that pitcher twitches his left eyebrow just so before throwing a curve ball. Watching video is crucial to a team’s preparation, and this year it looks like MLB teams are about to get a new tool in their scouting toolbox: Apple’s new iPad.

It seems that MLB coaches, scouts, and players are eager to get their hands on the new iPad. They hope its retina display and HD video capabilities will improve scouting by allowing them to see small details – like the aforementioned eyebrow twitch – more clearly. Rob Coughlin, manager of video scouting for the Cincinnati Reds, told USA Today that he hoped the iPad’s HD video capabilities would allow him to see things like a pitcher’s grip on the ball, as well as minute details of his mechanics.

Despite letting advances in replay technology like those used in the NFL pass by, the MLB has always relied heavily on video technology, and has generally been quick to embrace advances in that technology. Many teams, the Reds included, are installing HD video cameras around their stadium in order to collect high-quality video of players in action. The iPad provides a platform for scouts to watch that video in a highly portable format, making it easier to bring important scouting data on road trips.

The MLB has also been quicker than other professional sports leagues to embrace mobile technology as a way of bringing games to the fans. Last month they released this year’s version of MLB At Bat for iOS and Android. This year’s app is free, with the option to purchase a subscription to live audio feeds of every major league game. They also offer MLB.TV, a service that allows subscribers to watch out-of-market baseball games live on their mobile devices or on a variety of devices that connect to their TV (Xbox 360, Apple TV, Roku, etc.).

The new iPad was announced last week at a special media event put on by Apple. It hits stores tomorrow. Those who pre-ordered within the first two days should also get their iPads tomorrow, while those who ordered last Friday or later will have a longer wait.

March 15, 2012
Apple Stock Continues To Skyrocket, Touches $600 Per Share

Apple’s stock price has been in the news several times recently thanks to a dramatic surge in the past few weeks. Just two weeks ago Apple was trading at nearly $550 per share and hit a remarkable $500 million in market capitalization (the combined price of all tradable shares). The announcement and impending release of the third-generation iPad has fueled a dramatic increase since then. Just yesterday Apple’s stock price hit $582 per share, a new all-time record for the company.

Of course, as the old saying goes, records are made to be broken. Apple’s stock price has continued to rise since yesterday, and at the start of trading this morning actually hit $600 per share. It has fallen somewhat since that initial high, but not very far. As of this writing Apple’s stock is trading at $593.15 per share. The surge since yesterday has also been enough to add a further $10 billion to Apple’s market cap, which is now sitting at $552.44 billion. This makes Apple the most valuable company in the world, with a market cap now nearly $150 billion higher than that of second-place Exxon-Mobil.

With the new iPad (and a new Apple TV) releasing to the public tomorrow, a new iPhone coming either this summer or this fall, it’s not likely that Apple’s remarkable upward momentum will slow anytime soon.

How long can Apple stay at the top? Will you be buying Apple stock any time soon? Let us know in the comments.

March 15, 2012
New iPad: No FaceTime Over 4G LTE

The ever-expanding 4G LTE networks run by Verizon and AT&T offer enormous advantages to those whose devices are 4G-capable. On a good day, a 4G connection is comparable to your home wi-fi network in terms of speed. To the delight of many, Apple has included this technology in their third-generation iPad. Those who are eagerly awaiting their new iPad (which hits stores tomorrow) are no doubt eager to test out their fast new 4G connection on some of their favorite activities: surfing the web, watching movies on Netflix, playing music from Pandora, and making video calls with FaceTime.

Well, those who want to use their 4G iPad for FaceTime are, it seems, out of luck. The Verge is reporting this morning that the new iPad has the same restrictions that FaceTime came with all the way back in 2010, when Steve Jobs introduced it alongside the iPhone 4. If you want to use FaceTime on your new iPad, you still have to be connected to a wi-fi network.

This restriction (arguably) made a certain amount of sense two years ago when the iPhone 4 debuted. At the time only one carrier – AT&T – had the iPhone or the iPad, and if people started using their iPhone’s for FaceTime calls, it could put a strain on AT&T’s 3G network (which was less robust at the time). Now, though, it seems increasingly passé, especially in light of the proliferation of 4G-enabled smartphones that include mobile hotspot capabilities. Suppose, for example, that you’re a Verizon customer with a Samsung Galaxy Nexus and a 4G iPad. You can’t use your iPad to make FaceTime calls over 4G, but you can use your Galaxy Nexus to create a mobile hotspot, connect your iPad to it, and then make a FaceTime call. It all seems a little ridiculous.

I sent a message to Apple requesting some clarification on this issue. In 2010 Steve Jobs cited AT&T as the reason for keeping FaceTime wi-fi-only. I asked if this was still the case, and what the reasoning for keeping the restriction in place was. As yet they have not responded.

What do you think? Should Apple, AT&T, Verizon, or whoever is responsible allow FaceTime calls over 4G? Do you use FaceTime on your iOS device? Let us know in the comments.

March 15, 2012
Apple Issuing Gift Cards for iPad 2’s

Apple has updated its Reuse and Recycling program to accomodate iPad 2 trade-ins. The program issues Apple Store gift cards in exchange for your old iPhones, iPads and Macs.

The maximum value for an Apple iPad 2 64GB WiFi + 3G model appears to be $320. Here is a rundown of one can expect to get in regards to various models:

Apple iPad 2 16GB WiFi $205
Apple iPad 2 16GB WiFi + 3G $250
Apple iPad 2 32 GB WiFi $245
Apple iPad 2 32GB WiFi + 3G $280
Apple iPad 2 64GB WiFi $275
Apple iPad 2 64GB WiFi + 3G $320

These prices are based on iPads that are like-new – no functional issues, water damage, engraving, scratches, battery problems, missing power cords, etc. Problems affect the price Apple will pay, and the company also takes off for submitting a device that hasn’t had its data wiped.

A few other outlets are offering cash for used iPads, with prices similar to the ones Apple offers – the only significant price difference is offered by Amazon, where a seller can get as much as $300 for a like-new iPad 2 16GB WiFi model, and as much as $460 for a 64GB WiFi + 3G model. Amazon, like Apple, also offers a gift card in return, which is good for users who just want to upgrade to the new iPad.

Apple also does trade-ins for the original iPad, starting at $110 for the 16GB WiFi model, up to $170 for the 64GB WiFi + 3G.

Hat tip to TNW.

March 14, 2012
New iPad Camera Is A Major Upgrade, Photos Confirm

Yesterday we reported on the first unboxing video for Apple’s new iPad. Somehow Vietnamese site Tinhte.vn got their hands on a White 16GB WiFi + 4G several days before the planned release date, and posted some video and images of the device.

Thanks to the video and some benchmark testing they did on the iPad, we learned several interesting things, including the speed of the new A5X processor (1.00 GHz), and the amount of RAM the new iPad would have (1 GB, double that of the iPad 2).

Now it seems that the good folks of Tinhte.vn are giving us even more information about the new iPad. Late yesterday they posted images taken with the new 5 megapixel iSight camera. Since the iPad 2 got a fairly piddly 1 megapixel camera, the new iSight camera represents a significant upgrade. If Tinhte.vn’s images are genuine (and they obviously have a real iPad, so why post fake photos?), then the iSight really is vastly superior to the iPad 2’s camera. Check out some of the images below, then let us know what you think in the comments.

March 14, 2012
Apple iTV Coming By Christmas [RUMOR]

Rumors have been flying in recent months that Apple was working on their own HDTV, usually called the iTV (though that probably won’t be its name). Though attention turned to the new iPad in recent weeks, the rumors have persisted.

Now it looks like the iTV may really be on its way. In a note to investors analyst Peter Misek of Jeffries said that companies in Apple’s supply chain have already begun receiving shipments of the specialty components required to make the displays for an iTV. He said that the iTV should be in full-scale production by either May or June, with a planned release sometime in the fourth quarter of this year. Misek also said that he expects an initial production run of between two and five million units, and a price point of $699. He did not speculate on the size range for the TV. Based on the going rate for HDTVs, though, price point of $699 seems to suggest that the iTV will be on the smaller side, at least for the first generation.

Misek also did not speculate on what Apple would ultimately call the iTV. Given the fact that two separate entertainment companies – one British, one American – are called ITV, it is extremely unlikely that Apple would call their TV the iTV. A variation on the Apple TV name is somewhat more likely, though that could conceivably cause some confusion. Apple announced the third generation of their set-top Apple TV at last week’s iPad event.

Misek also had some thoughts on the latest iPad and the next iPhone (usually called the iPhone 5, but probably just “the new iPhone“). The next iPhone will launch sometime in the third quarter with a 4-4.3-inch screen, A6 processor, and would be a significant redesign. Meanwhile, he called rumors that iPad screen production would not be able to keep up with demand “overblown.”

The new iPad was unveiled last Wednesday at a special media event. The device will be available in stores beginning Friday morning. Those who pre-ordered the new iPad in the first two days after the event should expect delivery on Friday as well. By last Friday shipping dates had slipped to March 19th, and are now showing as “2-3 weeks.”

Would you pay $699 for an HDTV from Apple? What features should an iTV have to distinguish it from the (much cheaper) Apple TV? Tell us what you think in the comments.

March 14, 2012