First Apple, then Microsoft, now Google

 

First Apple, then Microsoft, now Google…

Google has quietly opened its first “Google store” in London this morning. The store, which at this point only sells Chromebooks and and accessories, is actually a 285 square foot store within a store, as it’s situated inside of the Tottenham Court Road PC World.

According to a report from the London Evening Standard, this “low-key experiment” could be a sign of bigger things to come for Google in the retail space if successful. Google UK’s head of consumer marketing Arvind Desikan has this to say:

“It is our first foray into physical retail. This is a new channel for us and it’s still very, very early days. It’s something Google is going to play with and see where it leads.”

Based on research showing roughly 80 percent of laptops are sold through brick and mortar retail shops, Google’s betting Chromezone will be the best place to sell their Chromebooks:

“We found anecdotally that when people tried the device and played with it, that made a huge difference to their understanding of what the Chromebook is all about. People will be able to go in and have a play with the devices. We want to see whether people understand what this device is all about and monitor their reaction when they try it out.”

 

 

Google plans to open up another Chromezone retail shop in Essex on October 7 and more to follow as part of the pilot project. According to a Google spokeswoman, those shops will be designed in the same “Googley” spirit as the new London PC World store."

 

(Via 9 to 5 Mac.)

Happy 10th birthday, iPod classic. Now it’s time to die!

 

So, the iPod classic…

Today brought us the news of the removal of the iPod click wheel games from the iTunes Store. Even casual observers ask themselves whether that’s another clue of the beleaguered music player heading to the technology graveyard. Last week, reports indicated that both the iPod classic and the nano are heading out to pasture. The current sixth-generation iPod classic has certainly seen better days. It was last refreshed two years ago and Apple had totally ignored it with last Fall’s redesign of the iPod family. They didn’t even bother upgrading the classic to Toshiba’s latest 1.8-inch 220GB hard drive so it could carry 55,000 songs in your pocket.

Worse, iPod sales as a whole have been declining due to some cannibalization from the iPhone and because everyone has an iPod now (see chart below). More than anything, the click wheel-based iPod is a dinosaur, a relic from the past. Apple launched its first iPod on October 23, 2001. It featured a 5GB hard-drive that held ‘a thousand songs in your pocket’ (surely you remember that tagline?) and came enclosed in the signature snow-white casing.

Everyone from Bono Vox to teenagers drooled over its sexy metal back which caught grease and scratches all too easily, literally as soon as you picked it up or laid it on a table. Ten years later, the iPod’s once revolutionary click wheel is so last century and we aren’t lusting after the design neither. It’s OK to be sad. You probably have fond memories of the iPod classic – we do. And you likely don’t want to see it discontinued.

Be that as it may, the fact is the iPod classic doesn’t fit in anymore. It can’t live in an iCloud world. Heck, it’s not even an iOS device. We’re living in a post-PC world where all-flash storage takes center stage in ultra-portable gadgets. Would Apple really do away with its most spacious music player? Read on…

 

You bet! Remember, this is a company that hadn’t blinked retiring the iPod mini at the height of its popularity to replace it with the iPod nano. What’s stopping them from discontinuing a hard-drive based iPod? It’s pretty inevitable at this stage of the game. So, which product might fill the void in the above-100GB storage range? Given that 9to5Mac heard from manufacturing sources that Apple has been researching 64GB versions of the new iPhone, it’s quite plausible that a 128GB iPod touch is in the works. A 128GB all-flash iPod touch would be a perfect replacement for the aging 160GB hard drive-based iPod classic.

To be perfectly honest, some people probably hate the idea of paying more for the 128GB iPod touch if all they need is a big enough hard drive to carry their music library in their pocket rather than run App Store apps. And with that in mind, it’s also easily conceivable that the iPod shuffle and the iPod nano may fall prey of the iCloud/post-PC world, too – perhaps morphing into wearable/iWatches. If anything, Bluetooth 4.0 technology holds huge potential to breathe new life into those tiny iPod designs. What’s your call? Is it a high time for iPod classic to head out to pasture? Share your opinion with the 9to5 crowd in the comment section below.

"

 

(Via 9 to 5 Mac.)

Apple Releases iTunes 10.5 Beta 9

 

Hey developers! Get downloading! Apple has just released iTunes 10.5 Beta 9, which is needed to use iTunes Match. The download is 103MB.

With a new version of iTunes out, could a fresh beta of iOS 5 be far behind… maybe even the GM?

Release notes after the jump:

iTunes 10.5 Beta 9 Release Notes

iTunes 10.5 beta 9 includes several performance enhancements and bug fixes, and is a required update for all subscribers to iTunes Match beta.

Your iCloud libraries will be deleted at the end of this beta.

Backup regularly and do not delete the music you add to iCloud from your computer.

Apple may periodically delete all iCloud libraries during the beta period. This will require you to scan, match, and upload songs again. Also note that some of the features and optimizations of iTunes Match may not be available during this beta.

About Subscribing

iTunes Match beta is available to iOS developers in the United States.

• iTunes Match beta is available as an automatically renewing subscription for $24.99 per year. You may cancel at any time from your Account settings.

• You can subscribe to iTunes Match using iTunes 10.5 beta 9 on your Mac. iTunes Match is not available with iTunes for Windows at this time. You cannot subscribe to
iTunes Match from your iOS device.

• You can access your iCloud library on your iPhone, iPad, iPod touch with iOS 5 beta, or your other computers with iTunes 10.5 beta 9.

• Once subscribed, you can add up to 25,000 songs to iCloud, and iTunes purchases do not count against this limit. iTunes Match will not add your apps, books, movies, TV shows, ringtones, and audiobooks to your iCloud library. These items can continue to be synced to your iOS device with iTunes. iTunes LPs and iTunes Extras are also unsupported.

• iTunes Match includes limits to how you may access your iCloud library:

- You can use iTunes Match on up to 10 computers and iOS devices, up to five of which can be computers authorized with your Apple ID.

- You can only associate computers and devices with a different Apple ID once every 90 days.

Getting Started

To subscribe to iTunes Match:

1. Install iTunes 10.5 beta 9 on your Mac

2. Open iTunes and choose Turn On iTunes Match from the Store menu

3. Click the Subscribe for $24.99 button and follow the onscreen instructions. Once
complete, your Music library will include songs on your computer and in iCloud.


Once iTunes has completed matching your music with the iTunes Store, you may begin accessing your iCloud library:

• From your iOS device:

1. Tap Settings > Music > turn iTunes Match ON.
This will disable syncing music with iTunes.

2. Press the Home button and tap Music.

• From your other computers:

1. Install iTunes 10.5 beta 9 on your other Macs

2. Open iTunes and choose Store > Sign In. Sign in using the same Apple ID you used
to subscribe to iTunes Match.

3. Choose Store > Turn On iTunes Match

4. Click the Add This Computer button

5. Once complete, your Music library will include songs on your computer and in
iCloud.

Known Issues

• The scan & match feature is not yet complete.

- Some songs may not match (even if they is available in the iTunes Store) and will be uploaded to iCloud.

- Other songs may match to a different version of the same song on the iTunes Store.

• You can only add music to iCloud from one computer at a time.

• After updating to iOS 5 beta 7, your music may fail to play. If this happens, turn off iTunes Match in Settings > Music, then turn it back on.

"

 

(Via Cult of Mac.)

Samsung offers Apple a secret deal in Australia

 

According to the Wall Street Journal, Samsung has offered Apple a secret deal to sort out the mess surrounding the Galaxy Tab 10.1 tablet launch in Australia. The report has it that Samsung proposed a cunning solution that would allow them to release the device in the country next week. Apple’s legal counsel Stephen Burley allegedly told Justice Annabelle Bennett that Samsung’s ‘inconvenience would be diminished and we would be comforted’ if the deal was accepted.

What incentive Samsung might have in store for Apple in exchange for releasing its tablet in Australia as early as next week is anyone’s guess. I asked patent expert Florian Mueller, who runs the FOSSPatents blog, about this. He responded on Twitter that Samsung ‘might promise not to infringe certain patents, make a payment, and perhaps also procedural concessions’.

 

As you know, Apple is seeking a ban on the Galaxy Tab 10.1 sales in Australia, arguing its Korean rival will launch the device on the market ‘with the velocity of a fire hose’, which will take away iPad 2 sales so quickly that buyers may be ‘seduced’ from the iOS platform. The iPhone maker sold an estimated 500,000 iPads in Australia. The full hearing (which won’t affect other Samsung tablets) is expected later this year and Justice Bennett is expected to rule on a temporary injunction related to the Galaxy Tab 10.1 device next week.

"

 

(Via 9 to 5 Mac.)

When Will Apple’s Next iPhone Keynote Be Happening in Your Country?

 

On October 4th 10 am PST, Apple will finally unveil the next iPhone, putting an end to months of rumors and speculation. At this time, we don’t know if the event will be streamed live, but you can always count on us to report every bit of information about the announcement.

If you’re not in the US, do you know what time the keynote will start in your city and country? We make it easy for you…(...)"

Click on the following regions of the world to find out what time 10 am PST is for you:

• Africa
• North America
• South America
• Europe
• Asia
• Australia/Pacific

Bonus: a countdown to the event!

 

(Via iDownloadBlog.com.)

AT&T Starts Threatening Heavy Data Users With Throttling

 

Following AT&T’s announcement back in July that confirmed it would begin throttling heavy data users, the carrier has today begun sending SMS messages to those who are being a little too greedy to warn them that their speeds will be reduced.

The new policy isn’t actually due to take affect until tomorrow, however, a message uploaded to Reddit confirms that SMS messages are being sent out one day early. Only the top 5% of data users are being targeted, and the carrier hopes that by throttling speeds, users will consume less data.

AT&T’s initial announcement read:

Starting October 1, smartphone customers with unlimited data plans may experience reduced speeds once their usage in a billing cycle reaches the level that puts them among the top 5 percent of heaviest data users.  These customers can still use unlimited data and their speeds will be restored with the start of the next billing cycle.  Before you are affected, we will provide multiple notices, including a grace period.

The plan will ensure that the heaviest users get the slowest data rates, while those who are more careful with theirs can enjoy the fastest speeds.

It’s unclear how much data you need to consume to make it into the top 5%, however, according to 9to5 Mac, the user who got the test message above had consumed a whopping 11GB!

"

 

(Via Cult of Mac.)

Apple is Working On a New Drive that Combines HDDs and SSDs [Report]

 

Apple is working on a new type of drive that combines the best aspects of both traditional platter-based and flash storage. According to a recent patent published by the U.S. Patent & Trademark Office, Apple has some innovate ideas up its sleeve for a SSD/HDD combo drive.

From Patently Apple:

‘On September 29, 2011, the US Patent & Trademark Office published a patent application from Apple that reveals a next generation Hybrid Drive that includes both a hard drive and Flash. Intel will be pushing their Smart Response hybrid drive systems for consumer systems in 2012 and Apple’s patent would indicate that they intend to have their own solution for future hardware. Uniquely Apple’s twist to this drive is that it will handle different types of storage media based on an environmental state of the hybrid drive. If the drive undergoes temperature, vibration or acceleration variances that could cause the hard drive to temporarily fail, the system would save the volatile data to the Flash drive.’

If the system detects a possible compromise on the HDD part of the drive, data will be automatically reallocated to the SSD (kind of like how RAID technology works now, only smarter). Platter drives are much more susceptible to physical shocks, magnetization and extreme temperatures, so a modern SSD would offer an added layer of assurance and speed to the whole process.

Apple’s upcoming drives will be very smart and efficient. Being able to predict harmful circumstances will result in less drive failure and better performance overall.

Intel’s Smart Response hybrid drives will hopefully push Apple to get these new drives out on the market sooner rather than later. As SSDs go down in price, it will become financially easier to implement larger amounts of flash storage.

Be on the look out for these hybrid drives from Apple in 2012.

"

 

(Via Cult of Mac.)

How to get your old iPhone ready for the kids

 

Thinking about getting a new iPhone  and not sure what to do with the old one? Why not give it to the kids? Basically, what you’re really doing is turning the iPhone into an iPod touch that’s kid-friendly, which is a great way to put old tech to constructive use.

Resetting the iPhone

Whenever you hand over an iPhone to someone else, it’s always a good idea to remove all data from the device and reset it back to its original state. There are two ways to reset your iPhone. The first is to restore your iPhone through iTunes. I’ve found that resetting the iPhone from the General Settings menu on the device itself is much faster, and cleaner. But before you perform this operation, be absolutely sure that you have synced and backed up your device one last time to ensure that you have everything from your iPhone that you want to keep. Once you’ve done that, here’s how to erase the iPhone’s content:

1. Launch the Settings app on the iPhone.
2. From General, select Reset (its at the bottom of the list).
3. Click on Erase All Content and Settings.
4. Click on Erase iPhone and confirm.

This will return the iPhone back to its initial state. At this point you’ll need to activate your iPhone again by connecting it to iTunes (once iOS 5 arrives, you can skip this step). Be sure not to restore the iPhone when you connect it to iTunes again for the first time. Once activated, your iPhone will be initialized for use by its new user.

Which Apple ID to sync with iTunes

You can most certainly use one iTunes account on all of your iOS devices if you like. This will allow you to install all of the games and apps you’ve already purchased onto your child’s device without having to re-purchase them. Then you can set up a separate mail account on the device specifically for your child. You may want to consider setting up a specific MobileMe account to for the device so you can find the iPhone, should they lose it. They probably will lose it, after all.

Control App Store spending

Keeping tabs on the in-app purchase habits of your kids on an iOS device can be challenging if you don’t know how.  There are several different ways one can manage their family’s iTunes spending, like creating a an iTunes account without a credit card or establishing iTunes allowances through Apple’s gift card program. The most effective way is by controlling things directly on the device.  By enabling Restrictions, you can stop rampant spending before it starts.

1. In your device’s Settings app, go to General > Restrictions.
2. Tap ‘Enable Restrictions’ and enter a passcode. Write it down somewhere so you won’t forget.
3. Disable the options you’re concerned about and adjust the content settings to your needs (e.g. turn off ‘iTunes,’ ‘Installing Apps’ and ‘In-App Purchases’).

Get a rugged case

For younger kids, I would recommend getting a protective case like the OtterBox Defender ($49.99) or the OtterBox Impact ($19.99). Don’t expect them to be bullet proof, but OtterBox has a good reputation and does offer a high level of protection. A good alternative to the OtterBox is Ballistic’s Hard Core ($29.99) case.

Stock it with fun apps

The iPod touch is the new Gameboy, plus a whole lot more. I’ve found that loading up the iPhone with a ton of games and educational titles will provide your kids hours of discovery. Plan on adding apps every so often to keep things interesting. Consider create a specialized folder of ‘New’ apps so your kids can immediately check out your latest addition, or a ‘Favorites’ for perennially popular titles.

"

 

(Via TheAppleBlog – Apple and iOS News, Tips and Reviews.)

The Anatomy of an Apple Rumor [Infographic]

.Shortly after we published our iPhone 5 facts and rumors infographic this morning, PC World came up with a graphic visual interpretation of its own. In this realistic infographic, the website reveals the anatomy of an Apple rumor.

And they’re pretty spot on. But we’ll let you be the judge of that

 

 

"

 

(Via iDownloadBlog.com.)

Brazil's iPad production deal is 'in doubt'

 

Tech product manufacturer Foxconn has been in talks with Brazil to open a factory in that country for some time now, but apparently talks have begun to break down. Reuters now says the proposed US$12 billion deal is 'in doubt' because Brazil lacks skilled labor and isn't meeting Foxconn's expectations for tax breaks.

Foxconn operates factories in several countries, with its most (in)famous operations in Shenzhen, China, where the manufacturer builds products for Apple and most other major tech companies. The proposed factory in Brazil likely would have supplemented iPad and iPhone-building operations in Foxconn's other factories, but the future of the deal is in trouble.

Production was originally supposed to begin at the Brazilian factory in July, was then pushed back to November, and now appears to be postponed indefinitely. For its part, Brazil says Foxconn's demands with regards to tax breaks and other 'special treatment' are 'crazy,' but Brazil's high taxes, poor infrastructure, and lack of skilled workers is likely making Foxconn think twice about initiating major operations in South America.

It's still possible the deal may be salvaged, but government officials do not appear to be hopeful. One official confessed to Reuters that Brazil may 'end up starting with something smaller' than the originally proposed deal.

 

Brazil's iPad production deal is 'in doubt' originally appeared on TUAW - The Unofficial Apple Weblog on Thu, 29 Sep 2011 17:00:00 EST.

Psystar loses appeal against Apple

 

You may remember Psystar from the news of 2008, when Apple filed a suit against them for copyright infringement. Since then, Psystar’s appeal against the 2010 ruling against them has been shot down and this may well be the end of their story. In case you don’t recall, Psystar was making computers that ran OS X and, thusly, were selling ‘Mac clones’. The problem is that part of the license for using OS X is that it be used on Apple hardware only, and so Psystar was pretty clearly trying to sip Apple’s milkshake.

It should come as no surprise that Apple wanted to kibosh Psystar’s attempts to run OS X on their own machines; Apple makes its money from selling hardware, not software, and Psystar’s clones essentially scoop out the part of the process that pays Apple’s rent. Obviously, Apple’s not going to put all that work into R&D for the software so that Psystar can skim off the benefits, and this is why the hammer fell early and fell hard.

In the pre-Jobs era, circa 1997, Apple did license the Mac operating system for a little while and some clones did hit the market. Unfortunately or fortunately (depending on your personal vantage point), Jobs put an end to that with a quickness when he assumed the role of iCEO, and nary a whisper of licensing has been breathed again since.

On a personal note, I wouldn’t call it the most well-conceived business plan I’ve ever heard of. Quite frankly, I have no idea how Psystar thought Apple wouldn’t come after them with guns blazing or (even more baffling) that a court would let them get away with it. I guess they were hoping fortune would favor the brave.

I dunno.

Source: AppleInsider

Macgasm - Mac Tips, Mac News, Mac Everything.

 

iPhone 5: Facts and Rumors

 

 

We love a good infographic, here at iDB. Especially one like this, which sums up everything we’ve heard about the iPhone 5 so far in a simple image.

Facts, rumors, and everything in between, this infographic will help you see the big picture…

click the image for full size

[All Area Codes]

---

'"

 

(Via iDownloadBlog.com.)

Infographic illustrates 10 years of the iPod

 

The 10th anniversary of the iPod's announcement isn't until October 22, but the folks at Most Wanted (part of VoucherCodes.co.uk) came up with a celebratory infographic that was just too good to pass up. It depicts an illustrated history of the iPod since that happy day in 2001, and is reprinted with permission in its entirety here. Enjoy this trip down memory lane!

Source: VoucherCodes.co.uk

Infographic illustrates 10 years of the iPod originally appeared on TUAW - The Unofficial Apple Weblog on Thu, 29 Sep 2011 13:00:00 EST.

iPhone 4S Is Now In Apple’s Inventory System, iPod Touch Price Drops Incoming [Report]

 

According to 9to5Mac, the next iPhone isn’t just popping up in AT&T’s inventory system: it’s in Apple’s too, and it’s confirmed to pack a dual-core A5 SoC.

In addition, the packaging number seemingly confirms the MD239F/A barcode leak of earlier today, with the model number for the 32GB unit being MD234.

9to5Mac also notes something we missed when we posted the barcode earlier today: the IMEI and MEID being together on the iPhone 4S label confirms that the next iPhone is a world phone and can run on GSM+CDMA at the same time.

So it looks pretty much confirmed: the next iPhone is called the iPhone 4S, not the iPhone 5, and so it’s likely not a radical redesign over current models.

Finally, 9to5Mac says that the iPod Touch is likely to see a small price drop next week to at least $199 for the 8GB model to be able to better compete with the new Kindle Fire, down from a $229 price point.

"

 

(Via Cult of Mac.)

Samsung Does Not Copy Apple At All… Sure

 

The back and forth between Samsung and Apple in the courts is getting ridiculous. For months, the two companies have been in the middle of a heated series of ‘copycat’ lawsuits, with Apple originally accusing Samsung’s Galaxy line of infringing on the Cupertino company’s patents and trademarks.

Whether or not Apple is right about all of its claims, it’s hard to deny that Samsung hasn’t received a little ‘inspiration’ from Apple’s products.

Recently, Apple’s own app icons were spotted on display in a Samsung retail store. Other peripherals from Samsung also look to be based off Apple’s designs.

This clever graphic from Reddit takes a look at the similarities between Samsung and Apple.

You get the idea.

"

 

(Via Cult of Mac.)

Apple Quietly Issues a Fix for Flickering Cinema Displays on Thunderbolt Macs

 

If you’ve got a new Thunderbolt-capable Mac and you’ve got it hooked up a 24-inch Cinema Display, you’ve probably encountered a bit of flickering every now and again. I know I have, and so have a number of users on Apple’s discussion forums.

Thankfully, Apple has issued to firmware update to resolve the issue, but it won’t be coming via Software Update.

It’s unclear why Apple has chosen to be so quiet about the update, but to get the fix, you’ll have to download and install it manually.

The latest firmware was posted to Apple’s discussion forums after a number of users went to complain about the issue. Those who have applied the fix, however, report that it does work. Though you may have to reboot your system and display in order for it to function correctly after the update.

Apple’s description of the update reads:

The 24-inch LED Cinema Display Firmware Update addresses an issue that may cause intermittent display flickering. This firmware will only install on the Apple 24-inch LED Cinema Display when it is connected to a Thunderbolt-enabled Mac.

IMPORTANT:

This firmware update may not resolve the flickering issue if a Mini DisplayPort extender cable is used.

NOTE:

Some USB and FireWire devices may prevent firmware updates from installing correctly; disconnect non-essential devices and use only an Apple keyboard and mouse to apply the update.

Have you had flickering issues with your Cinema Display, and did this firmware update fix them for you?

[via MacRumors]

"

 

(Via Cult of Mac.)

Steve Jobs Himself Tried To Talk Some Sense Into Samsung Over Copycat IP… Before Smacking The Sense Into Them

 

Although Samsung continues to supply parts for a range of Apple devices, making Apple the Korean company’s largest customer, the pair don’t seem to have the best relationship these days. They are currently involved in a number of legal spats which has seen Apple accuse Samsung of copying the iPhone and iPad with its Galaxy range of smartphones and tablets, but before the courtroom battles began, Steve Jobs gave Samsung the chance to put things right.

At the Federal Court in Sydney today, Richard Lutton, a senior director at Apple and the company’s patent attorney, revealed that Steve had contacted Samsung back in June 2010 in a bid to settle a patent dispute that has since become a legal issue on four continents.

It seems, however, that not even Steve himself could persuade Samsung ‘do the right thing.’

Bloomberg reports:

Jobs wasn’t involved once the ultimately unsuccessful talks over the Galaxy smartphone began, Richard Lutton, a senior director at Apple and the company’s patent attorney, told Federal Court in Sydney today.

‘Samsung is an important supplier with whom we have a deep relationship,’ Lutton testified in response to questioning by Samsung lawyer David Catterns. ‘We wanted to give them a chance to do the right thing.’

Rather than agreeing to Apple’s request, Samsung did the complete opposite and launched an even bigger range of Galaxy smartphones and tablets — some of which allegedly copy Apple’s iPhone and iPad.

The two companies are now involved in twenty legal proceedings in nine countries around the world, which have seen Samsung’s Galaxy Tab 10.1 pulled from the market in a number of territories.

[via 9to5 Mac]

"

 

(Via Cult of Mac.)

Apple to Stream iPhone Event At London’s Covent Garden Retail Store

 

With Apple holding an iPhone event next Tuesday, 4th of October, the world’s tech press is gearing up for a busy week of announcements and reactions. Apple will be holding its event at its main campus in Cupertino, California, meaning that members of the press living outside the United States are out of luck.

Unless they happen to be in the UK, that is…

MacRumors reports that the Apple Store in London’s Covent Garden (one of the largest Apple stores in the world) has been told to close early this Tuesday. The store will livestream Apple’s iPhone event from California for the UK press to attend. It’s not the first time Apple has streamed a keynote across the pond, but it’s the first time they’ve decided to use one of the company’s stores as a venue.

“Hello Team,

As we begin to start a very exciting quarter in Apple Retail, I am pleased to let you know that our Covent Garden Store will be hosting a keynote streaming event next Tuesday 4th October. This event will be a press only event and currently we have no further details on what will be presented. The store will be closing at 3.30pm to accommodate this.

This is a really exciting event for our store and we are passionate about delivering an outstanding Covent Garden experience.”

Apple clearly believes that whatever its going to announce is important enough to warrant closing one of its busiest stores. Bearing in mind the Covent Garden store usually closes its doors at 9PM, that’s quite a bit of potential customers Apple could be losing. With over $60 billion in the bank, we’re sure Apple can take the hit, though.

 

(Via iDownloadBlog.com.)

Acer: Ultrabooks Will Start Destroying iPad In 2012

 

Acer, the company that saw the iPad devour its Netbook market, is whistling past the graveyard again. This time, the Taiwan-based PC maker forecasts consumers will turn from tablets to Ultrabooks in 2012. Such talk could go into the same category of the Mayan calendar foreshadowing the end of the world.

Ultrabooks, a fledgling category of PCs pushed by Intel designed to compete with the $999 lightweight MacBook Air, will comprise 30 percent of global notebook sales by the end of 2012, according to Acer vice president Scott Lin. Tablets – dominated by the iPad – will be the netbooks’, er, Ultrabooks’, first victim, he tells industry publication DigiTimes.

According to Lin, when notebooks can offer the same features, ‘while still maintaining battery longevity, consumer’s purchasing behavior will reverse as consumers would rather choose a machine that can satisfy their demand for both entertainment and work, instead of carrying a tablet PC and notebook around,’ the publication writes.

Hands up for everyone who carries both their iPad and MacBook around? Not many. The idea of tablets isn’t to replicate the functionality of notebooks, only in a slimmer footprint, but a recognition that consumers have two modes: work and play. Study and study finds people tend to use their iPad in the evening and weekends, times when we are off the clock. This notion that a personal computer needs to be all things to everyone is outdated. Hence, the reason PC makers are scrambling for a reason to exist.

As for Ultrabooks ‘achieving the same features, while maintaining battery longevity,’ this might be a long wait for consumers, as well as Intel, Acer and others. Again, this is why consumers have a phone for communication, a tablet for games and a PC for work. Like everywhere else, this is the age of specialization.

What seals the deal on the DigiTimes article is its reference to a JPMorgan analyst note surmising a 25 percent fall-off in iPad orders is linked to less demand for tablets. A slew of analysts punched hole after hole in this theory.

"

 

(Via Cult of Mac.)

Nearly Half of All Smartphone Users Plan to Buy the iPhone 5 [Report]

 

According to a study by research group InMobi, 41% of smartphone users in the US, Canada and Mexico are willing to buy a smartphone they have never seen. Yesterday Apple announced its next iPhone event to take place this upcoming Tuesday, and everyone is eagerly awaiting what Apple has up its sleeve.

Apparently, enough people have faith in Apple to place their bets on a phone that hasn’t been announced yet. More than 50% of surveyed consumers in the US said that they plan to buy the iPhone 5 within the next 6 months.

1,086 users from an ‘even demographic split’ gave interesting insight into customer expectations for the next gen iPhone. With Apple taking over a year to announce its fifth generation hardware, people are itching to get their hands on the latest toy from Cupertino.

Interestingly, the percentages dropped when consumers were asked about the iPhone 4S.

PaidContent:

‘But if Apple only issues a product update—a 4S version, so to speak—most of these would-be buyers will not materialize. It found that less than 12 percent of UK consumers would purchase the new handset in that case.’

Apple will be ‘draining’ away customers from other smartphone platforms, according to the report. A staggering 55% of Blackberry users in the US plan on upgrading to the iPhone 5. 27% of Android users in the US plan on making the switch.

All eyes are on Apple next week. Stay tuned.

"

 

(Via Cult of Mac.)

Amazon Kindle Fire vs. iPad 2 — An In-Depth Comparison

 

Amazon has just launched its first real tablet called the Amazon Kindle Fire — a 7-inch device that runs Google’s Android OS, selling for just $200. A torrent of speculation in the months prior to its unveiling suggested the device would be the first to really compete with the iPad, so how does it compare to Apple’s iPad 2?

We take an in-depth look at the specifications for the Amazon Kindle Fire vs. the iPad 2 to see whether Amazon’s new device really has what it takes to worry the iPad.

	Amazon Kindle Fire	Apple iPad 2
Display:	7-inch IPS multitouch display (limited to two fingers at once) at 1024 x 600 pixels 169 ppi	9.7-inch IPS multitouch display at 1024×768 pixels 132 ppi
Processor:	800MHz (TBC) dual-core CPU	1GHz dual-core Apple A5 processor
Memory:	1GB internal storage (expandable to 32GB via microSD) RAM TBC	16GB, 32GB or 64GB internal storage 512MB of RAM
Dimensions & Weight:	190 x 120 x 11.4mm14.6 ounces	241.2 x 185.7 x 8.8mm21.3 ounces
Battery:	8 hours reading, 7.5 hours video playback — with Wi-Fi off.	10 hours of W-Fi web browsing, video or music
Camera:	None	0.7-megapixel rear-facing camera 0.2 megapixel front-facing camera
Operating System:	Android with Amazon’s own UI	iOS
Connectivity:	Wi-Fi only	3G Bluetooth 2.1 Wi-Fi 802.11b/g/n
Price:	$199	From $499

Based on those specifications, then, Amazon’s first tablet certainly doesn’t look like the ‘iPad killer’ that it was initially rumored to be, but it’ll certainly be a tasty alternative to some.

Leaving aside the device’s smaller form factor — which some people will prefer — and concentrating solely on its internals, the Kindle Fire isn’t quite as powerful as the iPad 2, with a rumored dual-core 800MHz CPU, compared to the iPad’s dual-core 1GHz chip. Despite that, however, first impressions of the Fire from Amazon’s press conference suggest it’s incredibly snappy.

Unlike the iPad, the Kindle Fire’s web browser, Kindle Silk, is a ‘cloud accelerated mobile browser’ that takes the most CPU-intensive parts of loading a website and processes them on Amazon’s servers — allowing pages to load very quickly. The only time you may notice the slower CPU, then, is when you run power-hungry apps like the latest 3D games.

When it comes to storage, the Kindle’s microSD expansion slot allows it to compete with Apple’s mid-range iPad 2, with the option to add up to 32GB of storage. Without that, however, you’re not going to store a great deal of music, movies and apps on the Kindle Fire’s 8GB of built-in storage. But again, Amazon is again focusing on the cloud, and gives all Kindle Fire owners free cloud storage for all Amazon content.

If you want a tablet that takes pictures, the Kindle Fire will be no use to you, with neither a front- or back-facing camera. Also missing is Bluetooth, a microphone and 3G connectivity. Another downside to many of you will be its battery: it’ll only get 8 hours of life from a single charge, and that’s with Wi-Fi turned off.

If you find the iPad is a little too big and heavy for you, then the Amazon Kindle Fire may just be perfect. At just 7.5-inches, the device will comfortably slip into your bag — or even a large pocket — and you won’t even notice it at just 14.6 ounces.

When it comes to the operating system, the Kindle Fire runs Google Android OS, but Amazon has tweaked it so much that you’d hardly notice it. And in my opinion, it’s a fantastic change. Like Apple, Amazon has focused on the user experience with the Kindle Fire, and so the UI has been optimized to work seamlessly with Amazon’s other products, and again, it’s very snappy.

Because the device runs Android, you have instant access to the hundreds of thousands of Android applications already available, and while that might not be as many as the iPad’s App Store, you’ll certainly get by.

And so we move on to the biggest difference between the two tablets: the price. While the Kindle Fire is missing a few features that will be important to some, it is a staggering $300 cheaper, and so for those who aren’t bothered about Bluetooth and cameras and 3D gaming, the Kindle Fire looks like a very nice tablet. Perfect, in fact, for those who want a small device that performs does the basics — and does them very, very well.

Whether the Kindle Fire will really give the iPad a run for its money, however, looks highly unlikely at this point.

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(Via Cult of Mac.)

More Evidence That Updated iPhone 4 About to Be Unveiled

 

Apple appears to be tweaking its inventory database, making room for two versions of the iPhone 4, as well as a slightly updated iPod touch, multiple reports suggest Wednesday. The reports come on the heels of Apple announcing a media event for October 4, ‘Let’s Talk iPhone.’

The Cupertino, Calif. company has added two new entries in its database for the iPhone 4. The current GSM iPhone 4 carries the inventory codenamed N90, according to the reports. Two entries of N90A recently appeared, which some have interpreted as signs of black and white versions of a slightly-updated 8GB iPhone 4. Further reports of leaked parts destined for the low-end iPhone 4S, codenamed N94, have yet to appear in Apple’s inventory database, reports say.

Speculation on what to expect next Tuesday has centered on whether Apple will unveil two new handsets: the iPhone 5 and the iPhone 4S, or simple one smartphone. The latest reports suggest the tech giant will also unveil a new white iPod touch. Such talk has been spurred by a Tuesday report indicating Apple is ready to retire the iPod shuffle and iPod nano later this year.

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(Via Cult of Mac.)

Kindle Fire details reveal no iPad competitor

Credit: Amazon.com

Amazon’s Kindle Fire is now a known quantity, thanks to details supplied to Bloomberg ahead of the official announcement at Amazon’s press event Wednesday. The Android-based tablet has an attractive price, but to get there, it cut so many corners it probably won’t make much of a dent in Apple’s market lead.

The Kindle Fire has a seven-inch display, no camera and no microphone. It can only connect to Wi-Fi network; there’s no built-in 3G. It also only carries 8 GB of onboard memory, with no options for memory expansion, in order to help Amazon reach the Fire’s low price point of $199. By comparison, the Barnes & Noble Nook Color costs $249, and the iPad begins at $499.

Amazon’s goal with this device is clearly to offer something cheap that provides enough features and functionality to appeal to the general buying public. The company also hopes that Amazon’s ecosystem of digital goods can help it saw customers; it provides video on demand, e-book and music sales, and it can store much of that content in the cloud.

The problem is that Amazon hasn’t really unveiled much with the Fire besides a fairly barebones delivery method for sales of its digital offerings. Limited storage means Amazon’s cloud services are almost a necessity for buyers, and yet the lack of 3G means that accessing content when you’re away from home will be difficult. The lack of both camera and microphone also mean that people can’t easily use this for taking or sharing mobile photos, or as a phone replacement with VoIP apps. The new Silk browser tech that does much of the processing work on Amazon’s EC2 servers is also interesting, but again severely limited by Wi-Fi-only network access. Amazon also didn’t talk about battery life, and a decision not to talk about it could mean it doesn’t compare favorably to the iPad’s all-day power.

Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos talked a lot about doubt in the media about the original Kindle’s chances at success at today’s press conference, but the Fire is entering a different market on different terms. Bezos is also right to note that Amazon has a strong ecosystem, and that’s been a large part of its success, but that alone won’t make sub-par hardware appealing. Especially considering that Amazon’s streaming media services are generally U.S. only.

A fresh coat of paint on Android will help set the Fire apart, but repackaging an OS that’s already struggling to match Apple’s in terms of tablet success, and then putting it on hardware that’s basically a stripped down PlayBook is not a recipe for a Kindle-killer.

The Kindle Fire could admittedly do well; it’s a very portable device with a smart UI that provides access to an extensive ecosystem, and I fully expect it to give the Nook Color a run for its money, or even bury that device. But what it won’t do is knock the iPad off its pedestal, not when it feels like yet another Android tablet rushed to market in an attempt to stem the tide of users to Apple’s ecosystem.

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(Via TheAppleBlog – Apple and iOS News, Tips and Reviews.)

Apple Could Be Set to Axe the iPod Classic & iPod Shuffle By The End of The Year

 

Looking to replace your aging iPod classic or iPod shuffle? Then it might be best to make a trip to your local Apple store sooner rather than later, because Apple could be about to axe these two devices by the end of this year.

A source for TUAW claims that those iPod lines without touch screens will soon meet their demise, as Apple looks to make that ‘product transition’ that the company mentioned during its last quarterly earnings call:

It seems that the ‘product transition’ Apple mentioned on the last earnings call could very well be within the iPod line. Specifically, if you want to buy an iPod shuffle or iPod classic from Apple, you should do it sooner rather than later. We’ve heard those two iPods are getting the axe this year.

TUAW doesn’t disclose its source, but it does state implicitly that ‘it is NOT an analyst.’ The report mentions that discontinuing the iPod classic and the iPod shuffle seems to make sense, with the shuffle now very similar to the iPod nano — only without the screen — and the classic being left behind as Apple makes its transition to flash-based memory. (The classic still uses a platter-based hard drive.)

There’s also some mention of the iPod touch. You’ll be pleased to hear that this device isn’t expected to die out as well, however, there will be ‘few changes’ to the device in the foreseeable future — apart from the introduction of a white model.

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(Via Cult of Mac.)

iTunes Store to Open Up to Another 10 EU Countries “At Any Time”

 

A Polish newspaper reports that Apple’s iTunes Store is set to open up to another ten countries in the European Union. A launch date for the service is still unknown, but sources have reportedly indicated that it could come ‘at any time.’

Rzeczpospolita [translation] names the Czech Republic, Hungary, and Poland as three of the ten countries to finally get the iTunes Store, while the other seven have not been specified. MacRumors notes that out of the 27 countries in the EU, twelve are yet to get the iTunes Store, including: Bulgaria, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta, Poland, Romania, Slovakia, and Slovenia.

It is rumored that Cyprus and Malta will be the two countries left out of launch, owing to their ‘geographical isolation’ and their smaller populations.

All 27 EU countries have been enjoying Apple’s App Store for some time, but the delay in opening up the music side of things is all due to the licensing of content in each market.

[via MacRumors]

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(Via Cult of Mac.)