Archive for August, 2011
August 29th, 2011 at 1:27 PM EST | by Oliver VanDervoort
There have been a myriad of companies releasing all kinds of accessories for the iPad and it appears that Logitech finally has leaped into the fray. While there are plenty of accessories with varying degrees of usefulness, one area where a company will be hard pressed to go wrong is with a keyboard. Logitech’s fold-up keyboard for iPad appears as though it is a higher end accessory that has its own stand and charges using a regular USB cable. Best of all the keyboard is made to be able to interact with the iPad’s smart cover without there being any real clashing between the two accessories.
Logitech’s other big new device is certainly useful, though may seem as though iPad users have seen it before. As Mike over at the TUAW blog rightfully points out; the suction cup joystick they have just released looks an awful lot like the same thing that Ten One released with the Fling joystick. Both joysticks are incredibly helpful when playing an app that actually uses a digital joystick because it suction cups right onto the iPad’s screen and allows a user to have a more tactile interface when playing certain games.
Perhaps Logitech believes that their name alone will make people forget that they are basically releasing a product that is already available. Perhaps there simply isn’t much to improve upon in the basic design of the Fling mini joystick. The Logitech joystick is currently selling for $19.95 a piece while the keyboard retails for $130.
comment on this story | Comments Off on Logitech Releases iPad 2 Accessories
August 26th, 2011 at 3:16 PM EST | by Oliver VanDervoort
Has Apple bitten off a little more than it can chew as far as developing the iPad 3? Over the last few days and weeks we have brought you plenty of different reports and rumors about the newest iPad and when it will be released. More recently the underlying stories have been problems with developing the components in time for the planned release. Most stories have talked about how the Retina display that Apple wants included in iPad 3 has lead to moving the release back from later this fall to early 2012, but will another setback in regards to components push back the release further?
The A6 chip is another piece of equipment that is still being worked on and is also expected to be included in the newest iPad and is yet another reason for the release of the iPad 3 being pushed back. Originally reports said that the A6 chip would be done shortly after the start of the New Year but now a new report from CNET says that the faster chip may not be ready for mass production until the second quarter of 2012. The conundrum for Apple now is, do they still want to release an iPad 3 with better resolution but running on an A5 chip or do they want to wait until the A6 chip, which is reportedly going to have four processor cores (double the A5) and using the “3D” chip technology that Intel has recently begun trotting out? It is almost a certainty that at some point there will be an iPad 4 but would the company want to release two different models so close together?
comment on this story | Comments Off on Delays With A6 Chip May Push iPad 3 Launch Back to June 2012
August 26th, 2011 at 9:29 AM EST | by Oliver VanDervoort
Despite being the first tablet of its kind on the market, new projections show that the Apple iPad will still hold the attention of tablet users through at least 2013 and possibly well beyond. A research firm known as IHS iSuppli has recently released updated sales projections of all sorts of tablet computers through 2015 and the company says that the iPad will still dominate the market for another two years at the very least. IHS says that the main reason Apple will continue its stranglehold is because of their innovation but also because the other tablet manufacturers simply cannot put out a product that is as high a quality.
The demand for the Apple iPad has actually grown to the point where the company is now projecting the demand for the iPad this year to reach 44.2 million units. That projection is actually increased by 500,000 over IHS iSuppli’s previous estimates. That 44.2 unit number means that Apple will actually hold far more than the majority of the market as that is 74 percent of all tablets expected to be shipped in 2011. If that percentage does hold true it would actually mean a 10 percent jump in total market share from previous estimates. The new numbers also show that Apple will continue to have the majority of the market one year longer than previous believed as the iPad was originally expected to be knocked off its perch at 2012.
“All the momentum in the media tablet market is with Apple right now,” said Rhoda Alexander, senior manager, tablet and monitor research for IHS. “The competition can’t seem to field a product with the right combination of hardware, marketing, applications and content to match up with the iPad. Furthermore, Apple’s patent litigation is serving to slow or complicate competitors’ entry into some key regional markets. With Apple lapping its competitors, many of whom are still struggling to get out of the starting gate, this remains a one-horse race.”
Read the rest of this entry »
comment on this story | Comments Off on Apple Projected to Hold Tablet Market Lead Until at Least 2013
August 25th, 2011 at 2:31 PM EST | by inu846W
We all know that the iPad can be used for all sorts of fun and entertainment, but the best part about the device is that it can also be used as a tool for education as well as remembrance in some occasions. One of those remembrance situations comes in the form the of soon to be released 9/11 Memorial: Past, Present and Future app that is due to be released on September 1st.
The interactive app offer hundreds of different pictures, stories and even some videos that will document that dark day in America’s history. The best part about the 9/11 Memorial app is that it’s only going to be available on the iPad, so those of us who own the device will have access to something that other tablet owners will not. The app’s developer, Steve Rosenbaum recently told the New York Observer that he just felt that the iPad was the best platform for this particular app.
“The nature of the photographs are so powerful, so to render them in anything but full color seemed wrong to me. And I didn’t want it to be viewed on a phone. I wanted it to be big and glossy.” Rosenbaum said.
Read the rest of this entry »
comment on this story | Comments Off on 9/11 Memorial App Coming Exclusively to iPad
August 25th, 2011 at 9:16 AM EST | by Oliver VanDervoort
As the calendar turns to early fall those iPad users who live on either coast know that we are heading into a dangerous time of the year as far as hurricanes go, especially with Hurricane Irene expected to make landfall this weekend. While some may be content to keep abreast of any hurricane updates through the local news or weather channel the astute Apple user knows there is a pretty good app that will give them all the information they need.
Hurricane HD literally might actually provide more information than most iPad users actually need as the app tends to look an awful lot like something every professional meteorologist might use. There is a map layout that will show where the user is compared to the projected path of an incoming hurricane as well as just how close the storm is to their location.
Read the rest of this entry »
comment on this story | Comments Off on Hurricane HD for iPad Blows Away the Competition
August 24th, 2011 at 7:31 PM EST | by inu846W
Steve Jobs, the man at the forefront of Apple since its inception resigned from his post as company CEO today. Tim Cook will take over as the new CEO, while Jobs will serve in a lesser role as Chairman of the Board.
In a letter to Apple’s Board of Director’s and the Apple community, Jobs writes:
To the Apple Board of Directors and the Apple Community:
I have always said if there ever came a day when I could no longer meet my duties and expectations as Apple’s CEO, I would be the first to let you know. Unfortunately, that day has come.
I hereby resign as CEO of Apple. I would like to serve, if the Board sees fit, as Chairman of the Board, director and Apple employee.
As far as my successor goes, I strongly recommend that we execute our succession plan and name Tim Cook as CEO of Apple.
I believe Apple’s brightest and most innovative days are ahead of it. And I look forward to watching and contributing to its success in a new role.
I have made some of the best friends of my life at Apple, and I thank you all for the many years of being able to work alongside you.
Steve
Jobs has suffered from health problems since 2004 after being diagnosed and treated for pancreatic cancer. Since then he has taken a few more leave of absences, most notably in 2009 for a liver transplant, and most recently since January 2011.
Apple stock is currently down about 5% at $356 dollars per share.
comment on this story | Comments Off on Steve Jobs Resigns as Apple CEO
Loading ...
