Archive for April, 2011
April 12th, 2011 at 9:00 AM EST | by inu846W
Can you connect to 3G now?
Last week, some people reported experiencing connectivity issues with their iPad 2 3Gs using the Verizon network. In the grand scheme of things, the number of users having this type of problem is very small. But it was big enough for an Apple spokesperson to address it.
All Things Digital received a message from Apple stating, “We are aware that a small number of iPad 2 customers have experienced connectivity issues with the Verizon 3G network and we are investigating it.”
A few weeks ago we reported about an issue some people were having with FaceTime on their iPad 2. The video conferencing feature would sometimes freeze up on the user. Some remedied the problem by simply restarting the iPad, or by performing a complete restore of iOS.
BGR sees solutions for both problems, and an issue with WebKit, coming in the next iOS update. iOS 4.3.2 should be available “in the next week or so.”
Read the rest of this entry »
comment on this story | Comments Off on Fixes for Verizon iPad 2 3G Issue and FaceTime Freezing Coming in iOS 4.3.2
April 11th, 2011 at 9:10 AM EST | by inu846W
Last week we reported about a rumored dispute between Apple and Best Buy over the retail chain’s supposed policy to hold onto its iPad 2 stock after daily sales quotas were met for each day. It turns out there was no love lost between Apple and Best Buy at all. But Best Best is holding on to some of its iPad 2 inventory as part of an upcoming promotion, which there are no details for as of this time.
BGR received a message from Best Buy detailing the situation.
“Best Buy continues to receive iPad 2 inventory from Apple on a regular basis. As we’ve said previously, we are fulfilling customer reservations first. Our stores have been asked to temporarily hold non-reserved iPad 2 inventory for an upcoming promotion. This is a customary practice for us when there are supply constraints. Best Buy enjoys a great partnership with Apple, and we’re delighted by customer response to iPad 2.”
comment on this story | read comments (1)
April 8th, 2011 at 1:17 PM EST | by
It’s like owning your own comic book store. For kids.
When I was younger I’d stroll into my local comic book store and peruse the merchandise one page at a time. I read a lot of Batman comics, but also Spiderman and Superman, and X-men…most of my heroes were men. But it would have been nice to have had access to a comic book store in my own home. A place where my imagination could roam free through space, time, and Gotham City. Now, with the iKids Comics app for the iPad that childhood wish has sort of come true. Now if only I were still 8 years old.
When you open iKids Comics, you’re immediately met with a playful welcome screen that promises “an amazing journey filled with wonder, comedy, and adventure!” The next screen explains what you’d discover if you skipped the welcome screen altogether: That on your “bookshelf” are 12 graphic novels for you to peruse, which, in totality, offer over two thousand pages worth of content. That’s a lot. You then learn that you get one book, Ed’s Terrestrials, in all of it’s 90 page glory for FREE! But, if you’re like me, you immediately think “what about the 2,000 pages you told me about earlier? Do I have to pay for those?” The answer is yes. Sort of. You get to sample 20 pages of every other graphic novel on your bookshelf, which the app is quick to point out is over 220 more pages of free fun.
And that’s a decent amount of free content. Plus, if you enjoy a book you can purchase the rest of it from within the app for only $1.99. Although I couldn’t get this function to work properly, I’m sure it’ll be sorted out soon. The comics themselves are relatively entertaining. I know they weren’t written for someone my age, but, they have their own style and are drawn just as well as any of the cartoons on Cartoon Network or Nick Toons. That doesn’t mean they’re particularly funny, but, they could be, maybe, if you were eight.
Read the rest of this entry »
comment on this story | read comments (3)
April 8th, 2011 at 11:00 AM EST | by inu846W
CrunchGear posted a rumor yesterday about a Best Buy iPad 2 sales policy that had the retail chain telling customers their iPad 2 stocks were sold out. The truth, the rumor suggested, was they some Best Buy stores did in fact have iPad 2s available but were holding them back because they had already met their iPad 2 sales quota for the day.
A reader who works at Best Buy just told us that there’s been a bit of a misunderstanding between the electronics retailer and Apple. Apparently, Best Buy was holding off on selling the iPad 2s it had in stock, telling customers there weren’t any when in fact they had just reached their quota of sales for the day.
This supposedly sent Apple’s Chief Operating Officer, Tim Cook, into a tizzy and he was reported to be helping with negotiations to resolve the matter.
TUAW also received a tip that iPad 2 sales were ordered by Apple to be put on hold at Best Buy.
But it seems this rumor may haven been proven to be untrue. The original tipster that gave details to CrunchGear received this email from Tim Cook:
SL,
My understanding is most of their stores sold all of their initial supply on the first night of the launch and the balance were out by the following day. I am not aware of any units being held.
Tim
From Tim Cook’s own words, he is not aware of Best Buy holding back any iPad 2s.
comment on this story | read comments (1)
April 7th, 2011 at 11:07 AM EST | by inu846W
It can be a little annoying when you’re playing a game while using your fingers or thumbs to control the action and movement. Your digits can also get in the way of watching a video or movie when using the player controls or when scrolling through a screen.
Apple has recently applied for a new patent which shows adding visual indicators and touch-sensitive buttons to the iPad’s bezel for an added “secondary display”. The new patent features are also included in future iPhone versions(shown in image above). Adding these touch-sensitive areas would enhance the user experience and help users navigate through apps and anything else viewable on the iPad.
The patent application is called “Electronic Devices with a Primary Display and a Selectively Illuminated Secondary Display” and notes the current method of displaying a virtual button within the viewable screen showing where to press for further action occupies space that can be used more for content and less for buttons.
Read the rest of this entry »
comment on this story | Comments Off on Future iPad Models May Include Buttons and Indicators on Bezel
April 7th, 2011 at 10:24 AM EST | by inu846W
Modmyi.com has received images and information that suggests Toys R’ Us will sell iPad 2 this May. A tip given to the site by a Toys R’ Us employee says an iPad 2 launch at the popular retail chain for kid toys is “imminent”. There had been speculation in the past about the store selling the iPad at some point, but this is the first concrete evidence provided.
The image above shows shows a presentation of the iPad 2 at a store meeting, likely to familiarize employees with the device.
The image below shows a fact sheet for the iPad 2 given to Toys R’ Us employees.
Apple continues branching out the iPad 2 to retail chains across the country. So far, stores that carry iPad 2 include Best Buy, Target, Walmart, Sam’s Club, Verizon, AT&T, Radio Shack, and Apple stores. You can only purchase iPad online through apple.com or att.com. Check out “Buy iPad 2” page for more information and real-time inventory links.
comment on this story | Comments Off on iPad 2 May Be On Sale at Toys R’ Us Soon
Loading ...
