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  • New iPad Hitting US And Nine Other Countries March 16

    Apple continues its domination of the tablet market with the release of the new iPad on Friday.

    Only announced last week at Apple’s iPad event, the new iPad is already promising to be a game changer. The device will be available at Apple stores and the Apple online store at 8 a.m. local time in the US, Australia, Canada, France, Germany, Hong Kong, Japan, Singapore, Switzerland and the UK. Not one to leave out US territories, Apple will be launching the device on the same day in Puerto Rico and the US Virgin Islands.

    As we extensively covered with the announcement of the new iPad last week, the new iPad features a new and impressive Retina display, and the new A5X chip with quad core graphics that will power the next generation of iPad gaming. It also features a 5 megapixel iSight camera that can capture beautiful photos and 1080p HD video. More impressive is that it retains the 10-hour battery life of its predecessor.

    New iPad Hitting US March 16

    The new iPad also supports 4G LTE for amazingly fast network speeds over mobile connections. This functionality is only available in the US and Canada. Everywhere else will have to keep on using 3G.

    As far as pricing is concerned, prospective buyers will have to pony up $499 for the 16GB Wi-Fi model, $599 for the 32GB model and $699 for the 64GB model. If you want speedy 4G LTE support, expect to spend a whole lot more with the 16GB model going for $629, the 32GB modle going for $729 and the 64GB model going for $829.

    If you have some kind of aversion to the Apple store, online or brick and mortar, you will be able to obtain the new iPad from select Apple retailers like Best Buy, Radio Shack, Sam’s Club, Target and Walmart.

    With the launch of the new iPad, the iPad 2 is dropping in price to $399 for the base model. This should make it slightly more affordable for more people to get into tablet computing.

    The rest of the developed world (i.e. rest of Europe and Mexico) will be able to get their mits on the new iPad starting on March 23.

    On a side note, if you plan on pre-ordering from the Apple online store, just know that the initial allotment is sold out. You’re going to have to wait till March 19 if you want to get your hands on it. Of course, you could always try braving the lines at traditional retail stores on Friday.

    If you want to know more about the new iPad, check out previous coverage over the last week.

  • Samsung To Supply Displays For iPad Mini, Says Exec

    Samsung To Supply Displays For iPad Mini, Says Exec

    The iPad Mini is one of those perennial rumors that never seems to go anywhere. Ever since the launch of the original iPad in 2010 people have been speculating that Apple would launch a second, smaller iPad, with a display somewhere around seven inches. Steve Jobs vehemently denied that a 7-inch iPad was workable, and criticized Apple’s competitors for making tablets in that size.

    In the months since Jobs’ death, however, rumors of an iPad Mini have been resurfacing with more frequency. In December we reported on rumors that Apple was purchasing 7.85-inch displays from a variety of manufacturers, including LG. Last month there were reports that Apple had an iPad Mini design in the testing phase. Two weeks ago there was another report that Apple was sending samples of a 7.85-inch display to various manufacturers. Most recently, there were reports that Apple was distancing itself from Samsung by getting the displays for the iPad Mini from AU Optronics.

    Now, however, an executive from Samsung has contradicted that last report. Despite Apple’s ongoing patent war with Samsung over several of the latter’s smartphone and tablet designs, Samsung remains a major supplier of certain components for Apple’s devices. Specifically, Samsung is the sole supplier of retina display panels for the new iPad. The executive, who wished to remain anonymous, bragged to the Korea Times about Samsung’s position in Apple’s supply chain. He said that Apple’s contract with Samsung was approaching $11 billion, and that “Apple’s top management still believes Samsung is the only parts maker in the world ideally-positioned to meat all of the critical conditions.”

    In the midst of talking about how much Apple depends on Samsung, he let slip a little detail that may confirm the rumors about the iPad Mini. In addition to all the components Apple currently gets from Samsung, he said that Samsung would be supplying LCD displays for a new, smaller iPad. He apparently did not go into any further detail about the characteristics of such a device, however.

    Assuming this report is genuine, this is the best confirmation yet of an iPad Mini. Even so, the iPad Mini has looked like a sure thing in the past, and never materialized. That being so, a wait-and-see approach is still probably best.

    In the meantime, there’s also Steve Jobs’ famous proclamation that 10 inches was the lower limit for a tablet, because anything smaller would sacrifice quality of experience. Jobs made the statement during an Apple earnings call in 2010. A YouTube video with Jobs’ thoughts on the matter can be seen below. Check it out, then let us know what you think about these latest rumors in the comments.

  • Apple Stores Opening Early Friday For New iPad

    With the release of the new iPad just days away Apple’s retail stores are busy making preparations for the launch. Apple stores around the country are scheduled to open at 8 AM (instead of the customary 9 AM) on Friday to accommodate the increased store traffic for the launch.

    While Apple has not specifically confirmed the expanded store hours, 9to5Mac has published an image reportedly forwarded to them by “a friend in retail.” Check it out below:

    iPad 3 Launch

    Sources also indicate that Apple’s retail employees will be working through the night on Thursday, and that staff presence in the store will be drastically increased on Friday. Retail staff who work during the extra time will also reportedly be getting a 10% bump in their pay.

    New iOS devices have historically generated huge demand at launch. Packed stores and huge lines are not at all uncommon when Apple releases a new iPad or iPhone. With the pre-order stock of the new iPad running out in just two days and shipping times currently at 2-3 weeks, there are bound to be huge numbers of people trying their luck at Apple’s retail stores on Friday morning. And Friday afternoon. And all through the weekend. In fact, if the iPad 2’s launch is any indication, it may be a few weeks before supply fully catches up with demand for the new iPad.

    What do you think? Will you be in line on Friday morning? Did you pre-order? Or will you let the furor die down a bit before getting yours? Let us know in the comments.

  • New iPad In High Demand In The Business World

    With just three days left until Apple’s new iPad becomes available in stores, the tablet is already seeing an unprecedented level of demand. Apple’s initial stock of pre-order devices was depleted just two days after the new iPad was unveiled last Wednesday. Late last week delivery times shipped from March 16th to the 19th. Now those who order the new iPad will have to wait 2-3 weeks, according to the latest information from Apple’s website.

    iPad Price Chart

    Now it looks like consumers won’t be the only ones standing in line for the new iPad. A recent study released by ChangeWave shows that demand for the iPad in the business world is reaching an all-time high. A survey of 1,604 IT buyers showed that the iPad far outstrips the competition when it comes to planned tablet purchases by businesses.

    According to the survey, nearly a quarter (22%) of respondents said that they planned to purchase tablets for their employees in the second quarter of 2012. Of those who plan to make such purchases, a remarkable 84% said that they planned to purchase iPads. That’s a 7-point increase from November of 2011, when 77% said they planned to buy iPads.

    Planned iPad Buying By Businesses

    With the iPad in such a strong position, there’s not much left over for other tablet makers. The study found that while Apple gained, everybody else lost. Just 8% of respondents said they intended to buy Samsung tablets, down from 10% in November. Amazon and HP each dropped a single point – from 7% to 6% and from 5% to 4%, respectively. RIM, which once reigned supreme in the mobile business market, was near the bottom of the pile. Just 3% of respondents said they planned to purchase BlackBerry PlayBook tablets, compared to 5% in November.

    iPad vs. Other Tablets

    Apple has been making big strides in the business world in recent months. In early February news came to light that energy giant Halliburton was planning to switch to Apple’s iOS platform from BlackBerry. Just a few days later there were reports that the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) was planning to do the same. Then, just two weeks ago, the ATF became the latest organization to make the switch to iOS.

    Is your business planning on buying the new iPad? Will you be switching from any other platform? Let us know in the comments.

  • New iPad Making Its Way Into The Wild, Gets First Unboxing Video

    Late last week we brought you news that Apple had already begun shipping their latest iPad to customers. Those who pre-ordered the new iPad were getting shipment notifications that showed a scheduled delivery date of March 16th, though UPS tracking numbers showed the tablets still sitting in China awaiting transport to their destination.

    Now, however, it seems that at least one of the new iPads has made its way into the wild before Friday’s release. Vietnamese site Tinhte.vn has gotten their hands on a 16GB WiFi + 4G iPad, and have kindly posted an unboxing video to YouTube. The video shows several important details of the iPad, including its retina display, improved camera, and 4G capability (in the form of a settings toggle that can be used to turn 4G on and off).

    The video is, unsurprisingly, in Vietnamese. That means that those of us not fortunate enough to speak Vietnamese will have to settle for watching the unboxing without knowing what’s being said. Check out the video below.

    Fortunately, the good folks at Tinhte.vn did not stop with the video. They also downloaded and ran GeekBench, an app designed to quickly provide performance benchmarks on a variety of devices, on the new iPad. The GeekBench data revealed several important details about the iPad. For one thing, the A5X processor runs at 1.00 GHz. For another, the new iPad does, in fact, have 1 GB of RAM, as expected. You can read their post and see screenshots of the GeekBench report here (Google Translation)

  • Wi-Fi Only – Hold The Apples Please!

    In a recent poll of prospective tablet buyers a significant percentage of respondents, over 18%, said they planned on buying a tablet not manufactured by Apple. This is surprising given the buzz around the New iPad, and the $100 price cut on iPad 2.

    I am sure cost could be a factor in this decision. There’s some great stuff coming out from other manufacturers recently, and even more slated to be released sometime this year. Amazon and Asus are coming out with a competitor for the Kindle Fire, Amazon has plans to release a couple of new tablets, and Sony just released a tablet which features dual screens. So there are some viable options out there with more on the way. In fact, the Sony dual screen is selling for $399 if you get a data plan, which makes it the same price as the iPad 2 factoring in the recent price drop.

    From the same poll mentioned above comes another interesting figure. Over 60% of new iPad buyers say they’ll be forgoing the available 3G/4G connection in favor of the wi-fi only models. Very interesting! Makes good economic sense though, especially considering the price of data plans and the increased availability of wi-fi networks. This is something to consider if your contemplating an iPad.

    When I first purchased a laptop, I thought I would take it everywhere, but I soon realized I didn’t need it everywhere, just at home and in the office. I know it’s a different animal, but it is something to consider before spending any extra money, especially if you already have a smartphone. Regardless, the wi-fi only model is a cost saver and they seem to be growing in popularity.

    The technology just keeps getting better and the costs just get more friendly, especially if you don’t need the latest and greatest. I am curious what readers already have, smart phones, tablets, ect., and what are they planning on buying? I can’t believe how affordable some of this technology has become.

    The economy is still struggling and it’s obvious people aren’t hesitant to sacrifice on technology, but we’re all finding ways to cut corners here and there and non-Apple and no data plans are certainly viable solutions. Get the gadgets skip the frills.

  • Apple Stock Hits Record $552 Per Share

    Apple’s stock price surged yesterday to close at a record high $552 per share. At the same time, the company’s market capitalization exceeded $514 billion. Several months ago Apple passed Exxon Mobil to become the most valuable company in the world. Apple’s $514.67 billion market capitalization extends the company’s lead over Exxon to more than $100 billion. Exxon’s stock closed yesterday at $85.55 per share, and the company’s market capitalization is currently $403.22 billion.

    Apple has gained over $14 billion in market capitalization in just two weeks. The company passed the $500 billion mark at the end of February, with a stock price of $542 per share. At the time, rumors of the forthcoming iPad were thought to be partially fueling the increase. With the new iPad unveiled last week and set to be available on Friday, Apple’s stock has continued its remarkable rise.

    This all follows a record year for Apple. In the last quarter of 2011 the company generated revenues of $46.33 billion. Revenues from the iPhone made up over half that – and even exceeded Microsoft’s total revenue. With the release of the latest iPad just days away and the next iPhone coming later this year (and maybe an iTV?), it’s a safe bet that Apple will continue posting these kinds of records.

  • AT&T Bringing 4G LTE To Eleven More Markets Soon

    AT&T Bringing 4G LTE To Eleven More Markets Soon

    AT&T has announce plans to expand its 4G LTE wireless network into eleven more markets over the next few months, the company announced today. The rollouts are scheduled to take begin in April and continue into early summer.

    With their 4G LTE network AT&T promises customers faster data transfer speeds and more efficient use of wireless spectrum. The expanded 4G network will also allow customers to take better advantage of their 4G-capable smartphones and tablets, including the HTC One X Samsung’s Galaxy Note smartphone/tablet hybrid, and Apple’s new iPad.

    Though newer and smaller than Verizon’s 4G LTE network, AT&T’s network takes a unique approach to 4G connectivity. AT&T employs a dual-layer technology with an HSPA+ (i.e., enhanced 3G) network deployed alongside the 4G LTE network. The HSPA+ network covers a larger area, alleviating the sudden drop in data transfer speed when a user travels from the 4G coverage area to a 3G coverage area. The dual-layering also allows users whose phones are compatible with HSPA+ but not 4G LTE (like the iPhone 4S) to take partial advantage of the upgraded network.

    Here’s the full list of new 4G LTE markets:

  • Naples, Florida
  • Lafayette, Indiana
  • Muncie, Indiana
  • Bryan-College Station, Texas
  • Akron, Ohio
  • Bloomington, Indiana
  • Staten Island, New York
  • Canton, Ohio
  • Cleveland, Ohio
  • St. Louis, Missouri
  • New Orleans, Louisiana
  • Baton Rouge, Louisiana

    • Are you in one of the new 4G LTE markets? Do you have a 4G-capable phone? Will you be getting a new 4G-capable iPad? Let us know in the comments.

  • SXSW: Play iPad Games With Your Cat

    There are a host of multiplayer games for the iPad that has players going up against an opponent on the same screen. These games can get pretty competitive, but I bet they can’t hold a candle to the most crafty opponent of them all – the common house cat.

    Friskies was at SXSW to show off You vs. Cat which has a human competing against a cat in a sort of air hockey style game on the iPad. The latest game is just one in a long line of games on the iPad and Android tablets targeted at our feline friends. The difference in You vs. Cat is that this is the first game that has a human competing against the cat.

    The previous games in the series: Party Mix-Up, Tasty Treasures Hunt and Cat Fishing, are solo affairs that have cats trying to bat away various on screen treats and fish. You can check out a video of these games below. They are all available for free alongside the newer games at the Games for Cats Web site.

    You vs. Cat will be available later this week. Remind me to download it so I can challenge my housemates’s cats to a few rounds. Their intellect outsmarts me every day as I try to keep them out of my room, but this way I can challenge them on an equal playing field – video games.

    As an aside, if you were concerned over the durability of the iPad’s screen, the Games for Cats Web site says that the iPad screen takes no damage from their cats’ claws. You may want to clip your cats’ claws as a precaution if they are really sharp though.

    [Source: ABC News]

  • Conan Rips on the New IPad HD Display

    Conan Rips on the New IPad HD Display

    When you watch the new iPad commercial you are transported to a world where people are using their “magical pane of glass” in real world applications across the globe. The new iPad blends in seamlessly with their personal and professional life, as they work on automobiles or share in story time with their young children…

    But Conan knows what you’ll really be using your new iPad for. Not viewing professionally taken HD pictures on the retina display or sharing magical family moments with the HD video camera. Most of us will be watching the same stupid YouTube videos we’ve been watching, only this time a little more clearly…

    What else would you be watching on the new iPad?

    When you’re done viewing “guy gets hit the groin” videos check out the Team Coco app on your new iPad. “It’s better than you”…

    (image)@ConanOBrien
    Conan O’Brien    I found the iPad 3 announcement especially disappointing because I’m still standing in line for my iPad 2.(image) 2 days ago via web ·  Reply ·  Retweet ·  Favorite · powered by @socialditto

    (image)@TeamCoco
    Team Coco    Tonight, #Conan shows off the amazing New #iPad retina display. Truly breathtaking! http://t.co/wk8oS7fl(image) 3 days ago via Twitter for Mac ·  Reply ·  Retweet ·  Favorite · powered by @socialditto

  • Lung Powered iPhone Charger Released

    Lung Powered iPhone Charger Released

    Joco Paulo Lammoglia, an inventor from Rio De Janeiro, Brazil, has recently unveiled his new AIRE concept – a system that converts air flow harnessed from breathing into energy that can be used to charge devices like smartphones and mp3 players.

    The AIRE, which won a reddot Design “best of” award in 2011, uses air displacement (wind) to power a device. Air flow turns tiny turbines, which is then converted into electrical energy. It can be used while exercising, or while the user is asleep, offering a 24-hour renewable energy source, which Lammoglia asserts can cut down on ones carbon footprint.

    Lammoglia sheds some light on his AIRE concept:

    “I hope to bring the concept into production and reduce the carbon footprint. It can be used indoors or outdoors, while you’re sleeping, walking, running or even reading a book. Besides saving energy and helping environmental preservation, it also encourages physical exercise. Though many of our modern gadgets offer benefits, they tend to use a high amount of electrical energy. Harnessing energy from human activities and transforming it into electricity is possible and is a great solution.”

    The information on the AIRE doesn’t state whether or not an iPhone would charge faster if the user is running, instead of sleeping – which might explain the “encourages physical exercise” comment. It also isn’t clear whether or not the device can charge the New iPad.

  • Khan Academy Increases Access to a World-Class Education with Free iPad App

    The Khan Academy is a not-for-profit organization with the goal of changing education for the better by providing a free world-class education to anyone anywhere. The founder of the organization, Salman Khan, was born and raised in New Orleans, Louisiana. After earning three degrees from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (a BS in mathematics, a BS in electrical engineering and computer science, and an MS in electrical engineering and computer science), he pursued an MBA from Harvard Business School. In 2004, he began tutoring his cousin Nadia in mathematics using Yahoo!’s Doodle notepad. When other relatives and friends continued to ask him for help, he decided it would be more practical to distribute the tutorials on YouTube. This is why Khan decided to create his academy and now he is releasing an app that will make it easier for people to retrieve and process educational materials.

    The Khan Academy iPad app allows users to view Khan Academy’s complete library of over 2,700 videos. The library covers an array of educational topics in the humanities, arts, math, history, and science.

    This free app will help me address my lapses in learning and brush up on trigonometry and learn more about the French and Indian War. This app can also help students prepare for the SAT.

    The iPad app contains downloadable videos and many have subtitles that make them easier to skim through. Once users have an account their progress while logged in is tracked and they can get credit for watching videos and monitor their achievements.

    The application will also feature exercises in the near future.

    While this app is most likely to be used by students, teachers and other individuals involved with formal education settings, the app is also being used heavily by self-directed learners who want to strengthen their areas of weakness.

    The Khan academy is continuing to grow and build its portfolio of corporate employees which now includes former Google employee, Craig Silverstein. Silverstein created some of the company’s original IT components, which were critical in supporting the search engine’s growth. As you can see from some of the talks he’s given, he’s been involved with some of Google’s more educational endeavors.

  • Samsung Blasts iPad, Praises Galaxy Note 10.1 In Press Email

    Apple’s announcement of their latest iPad on Wednesday prompted a variety of reactions from members of the media, techies, consumers, and more. While most people seem to think Apple’s newest creation is pretty cool, some were a little disappointed. Some dislike the name, others were underwhelmed by the list of features. Most took to Twitter or their blogs or whatever other media were at their disposal to express their displeasure.

    It turns out that Samsung wasn’t terribly impressed by the new iPad either, and chose a… unique way to express how underwhelming they found it. They emailed the press. After the event they sent an email to various members of the press with a grid comparing Apple’s new iPad to the forthcoming Galaxy Note 10.1. Check out the image below and pay attention to which features Samsung chose to highlight in the grid:

    Galaxy Note 10.1 vs. The New iPad

    Notice a theme? Of the seven tasks listed on the grid, only two unique features are actually discussed: the S-Pen (stylus) and the ability to have two apps open at the same time (provided the apps are optimized for it). Now, the ability to have two apps open at once is pretty neat, and the stylus is potentially pretty handy, Samsung is pretty plainly trying to do a lot with only two features.

    Of course, the grid also includes other features of the Galaxy Note. It is thinner (by 0.5mm) and lighter (by 0.15lbs) than the iPad. The microSD card slot and USB port are features that many iPad users have been wanting. Those, however, aren’t the focus of the comparison. Of course, those features are fairly common to Android-based tablets, while the dual app and S-Pen features are more unique to the Galaxy Note 10.1

    What do you think of Samsung’s grid? Would you buy a Galaxy Note 10.1 instead of an iPad? Does the grid influence you one way or another? Let us know in the comments.

  • New iPad For Sprint Release May Be On The Way

    The new iPad may be coming to Sprint, so if you’ve been on Sprint and have been wanting the device since it was unveiled on Wednesday, I hope you haven’t already voided your contract.

    Engadget, citing an anonymous source, is showing what is reportedly a look at Best Buy’s inventory database, which shows: “Sprint iPad New” a whole bunch of times.

    It certainly make sense for Sprint to get the device, given its big LTE plans and the device’s LTE capabilities. Sprint’s LTE network isn’t expected until the summer though, so perhaps waiting is a smart move.

    Mashable’s Peter Pachal speculated a couple days ago that Sprint’s absence from the iPad launch could also be related to Sprint users already experiencing connectivity issues with their iPhones, noting that Sprint still offers unlimited data plans. I wonder if that will end soon.

    “You use your iPad a lot, so you want it with you wherever you go,” Apple says. “The new iPad offers the most comprehensive support for networks around the world. It’s designed with cellular antennas that access a larger frequency spectrum. That means you can get online almost anywhere you are — whether you’re on AT&T or Verizon. You can even pop in a local SIM card to get a connection when you’re traveling.”

    “The new iPad supports fast cellular networks the world over — up to 4G LTE.2 So you can browse the web, stream content, or download a movie at blazing-fast speeds,” the company says. “It also works on GSM/UMTS worldwide network technologies including HSPA+ and DC-HSDPA — the fastest 3G networks out there. You’ll see downlink speeds up to 42 Mbps with DC-HSDPA and up to 21.1 Mbps with HSPA+.”

    View all of our iPad coverage here.

  • All New iPad Pre-Orders Now Sold Out

    If you wanted to get your brand new new iPad (that’s never going to get less awkward) by launch date on March 16th, it appears that you’re out of luck. All models of the new tablet now show a delayed shipping date of March 19th.

    Less that 24 hours after Apple announced the device, some models had already pushed the date back to March 19th. The most popular models, by that measure, were the white 16 GB 4G model on AT&T and the white 64 GB 4G model on AT&T.

    Now, every single new iPad model at the Apple online store is delayed. Check it out for yourself:

    For those of you who had the presence of mind to go ahead and pre-order your new iPad, they should arrive on your doorstep on March 16th. Today we learned that the devices have already started shipping, as pre-orderers began to receive notifications and tracking numbers.

    So if you have to have the Retina display, A5X chip, and 4G LTE on Friday, March 16th, you’re going to have to go stand in line at the Apple Store. Good luck with that, however. I like my iPad very much but…..no.

  • iPad Predecessor Concept – From 1968! [video]

    If you’ve ever even heard of object-oriented programming, you owe a debt to Alan Kay. He was one of the fathers of that idea, and he named it. If you’ve ever used a Mac or Windows computer with overlapping “window” graphical user interface, same thing. That was his idea.

    Alan Kay could read fluently when he was three, had read over 150 books by the first grade, and was a professional jazz guitarist before jumping into programming and design full-time.

    Kay’s influence on and work in computer programming is well-documented and lauded. But, given the burgeoning popularity of tablets, and particularly the iPad, there is one particular design of Kay’s that bears another look.

    In 1968, Kay designed something he called the Dynabook. It was a tablet computer that featured:

  • a thin, light profile
  • a stylus for drawing
  • wireless network access
  • a flatscreen display
  • a keyboard
  • rechargeable batteries
  • would cost less than $500

    • The Dynabook was conceived as an educational tool, and thus was considered a “children’s computer”.

    Take a look at the video below. This is Kay talking about his concept in a 2002 Japanese documentary. The prototype he holds up is made out of cardboard.

  • New iPads Have Already Started Shipping

    New iPads Have Already Started Shipping

    The dust has barely settled from Apple’s announcement of the new iPad on Wednesday, and already those who pre-ordered the new tablet are receiving notifications – and even UPS tracking numbers – indicating that their iPad has left Apple’s warehouses and is on its way to them.

    The new iPad has been available for pre-order since shortly after Apple’s media event ended on Wednesday afternoon, and is scheduled to arrive in stores next Friday, March 16th. Those who pre-ordered were promised that they would receive it on the same day. Now it looks like some of the tablets are already making their way to their future owners. According to separate reports from AppleInsider and Engadget, some people are already starting to get shipment notifications from Apple saying that the tablets have shipped and promising a delivery date of March 16th. According to the UPS tracking numbers that some customers are getting, the tablets are apparently still in China at the moment. AppleInsider posted the following picture from a customer who had received his shipment notice:

    iPad already shipping

    This year’s iPad launch is the biggest single-day launch in Apple’s history, as the new iPad will be available in twelve countries, including the U.S., Canada, the U.K., Hong Kong, Singapore, France, and Germany.

    The new iPad is available for pre-order from Apple’s online store now. Most models are still currently showing a delivery date of March 16th, however the 64GB 4G model through AT&T (in both black and white) is showing a delay. That model ships by March 19th.

    Of course, the fact that the new iPad is already shipping doesn’t mean you should expect to get it early. Shipping companies have historically been extremely careful with this, and though your new iPad may be sitting in your nearest UPS hub by the middle of next week, they’ll hold onto it until Friday.

    Did you pre-order a new iPad? Have you gotten a shipping address yet? Let us know in the comments.

  • New iPad Keynote Condensed To Ninety Seconds

    New iPad Keynote Condensed To Ninety Seconds

    There’s been a lot of coverage of Apple’s latest iPad in the last two days. If you haven’t been paying close attention, it could be difficult to get a good handle on what’s being said about the new iPad. Of course, you could start with one of the basic overviews of the new iPad. Or maybe you could watch Apple’s video of the yesterday’s keynote.

    Of course, the keynote is nearly an hour and a half long. Let’s face it, who has that kind of time in the middle of a weekday afternoon? So what’s a person to do? Well, the good folks at Cult of Mac have put together a condensed version of the keynote for your viewing pleasure. Of course, the video is a bit short on details, but it manages to fit the high points of Apple’s 85-minute presentation into a 90-second video. Check it out below, then let us know what you think in the comments.

  • Mobile Hotspot For iPad Coming To Verizon, Not AT&T

    One of the biggest features of the new iPad unveiled yesterday by Apple is its inclusion of 4G LTE technology. Along with 4G capability, Apple announced that the new iPad would be getting the same mobile hotspot technology that was Apple began including in its iPhones with 2010’s iPhone 4. Of course, not every carrier allows customers to use their phones as mobile hotspots, so Apple was quick to point out that the feature was dependent on carrier support.

    That, of course, raised the big question: will Verizon and AT&T support mobile hotspot with the 4G iPad? The answer appears to be yes and no, respectively. Customers who use their 4G iPads on Verizon’s network will have mobile hotspot capability as part of their data plans, while AT&T customers will not.

    When asked this morning via Twitter whether AT&T would offer tethering for the new iPad, an AT&T spokesperson replied that they would not.

    In response to a follow-up inquiry by 9to5Mac another AT&T spokesperson said that AT&T was working with Apple to make the mobile hotspot available to 4G iPad users, but that it would not be offered when the iPad launches next week. I sent a request for more information to AT&T, asking for a little more information on a possible timeline, but have not yet received a response.

    AT&T’s statement prompted similar questions to Verizon. Reports this morning were conflicted, as different sources appeared to be saying different things. It appears now, though, that Verizon will, in fact, offer mobile hotspot as part of all their 4G tablet data plans. Here’s what a Verizon spokesperson told me via email:

    Verizon Wireless will support the Mobile Hotspot feature on the iPad just as we do on the existing 4G tablets we offer. All of our tablet data plans which range from 1GB for $20 to 10 GB for $80 include this feature so customers do not have to purchase the service separately.

    So there you have it: a Verizon iPad comes with mobile hotspot right out of the box, bundled together with whatever plan you choose. AT&T will apparently offer the feature at some point in the future, but not at the iPad’s launch next week.

    What do you think? Does the mobile hotspot feature make you more inclined to pick Verizon over AT&T? Let us know in the comments.

  • Apple Uses OpenStreetMap In iPhoto For iPad

    As part of yesterday’s iPad event Apple unveiled iPhoto for iOS. The new software, currently available in the iOS App Store, is a powerful photo editing tool for both iPad and iPhone users (provided they’re running iOS 5.1, also released yesterday).

    One of the more interesting things about iPhoto, though, is what Apple didn’t announce. Like its big brother on the Mac, iPhoto for iOS allows users to see the location where a photo was taken on a map. The Mac version of iPhoto gets its map data from Google Maps. In fact, every Apple-made iOS app that uses map data – Find My iPhone, Find My Friends, and the Maps app – all get their data from Google Maps. With iPhoto, though, Apple appears to have quietly made a change. iPhoto for iOS gets its map data from the OpenStreetMap project, a volunteer-based mapping project designed to create free map data.

    The switch was originally noticed by 512 Pixels yesterday. This morning, the OpenStreetMap Foundation themselves posted about the change. Though they welcomed Apple as “the latest to switch to OpenStreetMap,” they also offered a little bit of criticism. It seems that iPhoto for iOS uses map data that’s nearly 2 years old. They also point out that iPhoto is “missing the necessary credit to OpenStreetMap’s contributors.” They are careful to keep the tone upbeat, however, and say that they “look forward to working with Apple to get that on there.”

    Apple has relied on Google for their map data on iOS devices since the launch of the original iPhone in 2007. In the years since, however, the relationship between Apple and Google has grown increasingly strained, thanks to Google’s entrance into the smartphone and tablet market with its Android operating system. Apple has acquired two separate map companies – PlaceBase and C3 Technologies – over the last few years, leading to speculation that Apple would eventually drop Google Maps altogether.

    Whether this switch is the beginning of a bigger move by Apple is still very much in question. Apple released retina display updates to most of their iOS apps today, and those that use map data still rely on Google Maps.

    What do you think? Should Apple ditch Google Maps? Let us know in the comments.

  • Popcornflix Lauches Free Movie Apps for iPad and iPhone

    Popcornflix, a digital movie platform that allows people to watch movies for free at all times, just announced the launch of its iPad and iPhone apps. The apps can be downloaded for free at the iTunes App store. The digital site is available online and on Roku. The power of this service is that it gives cinescapists access to their favorite films and actors through their mobile devices.

    Users can browse and select from over 350 independent and mainstream films and watch them instantly. Their selection is projected to grow to over 1,000 films by the end of 2012 and will add more movies every day.

    The way you can search for movies is very similar to the system used by Netflix; you can search by actor, director, title, and genre; or search through the new arrivals and most popular categories, among others.

    Popcornflix iPhone and iPad apps also allow users to share the apps with friends by posting a link instantly to their Facebook or Twitter account or via an email notice. This will create a personalized list of movie recommendations to help users find films more suited for their demographic.

    Instead of coming attractions, each film will have pre-roll, spot, and banner ads from affiliates that support the platform and make this service free to users.

    The online version of Popcornflix is available in 10 countries, including the US, Canada and the UK. Popcornflix is also available on Roku in the US. The service will expand internationally in the coming months; additional distribution outlets will include web-enabled TVs, DVD players and set-top boxes – virtually everywhere movie viewing platforms are available.