Such a device would be similar to the iPad 2, but include Apple's high-resolution retina display technology found on the iPhone 4 and iPhone 4S by doubling the iPad 3's screen resolution, said analyst Richard Gardner in a research note first reported on by Business Insider and PCMag.
Gardner reportedly said that "several sources" told him that Apple could launch the iPad 3 as early as February, which would put its debut ahead of the first two generations of Apple's tablet.
The first iPad hit stores in April 2010 after being unveiled the month before, and the iPad 2 was unveiled and released in March 2011.
The analyst also said that "there do not appear to be any significant technical hurdles remaining" to prevent the launch of a high-resolution iPad, which contradicts previous reports that fitting such a dense screen into an Apple tablet was one of the reasons Apple iPad 2 maintained the 1024 x 768 resolution of the first iPad.
Both the first iPad and iPad 2 displays have a pixel density of 132 pixels per inch (or ppi).
Apple's iPhone 4 and 4S have what is classified as a retina display, with a resolution of 960 x 640 resolution, and a 326 ppi. Any display with a ppi of 300 or greater is said be so dense that pixels are indistinguishable from each other to the human eye at a distance of about 10 to 12 inches -- and thus, those displays can be dubbed retina displays.
Tablets with higher screen resolution have been released by Apple rivals and more are on the way, but nothing close to a retina display tablet has surfaced yet -- though Samsung has been working on it for months.
Among the most anticipated iPad competitors coming soon is the Asus Eee Pad Transformer Prime, which features a screen resolution of 1280 x 800 pixels.
Gardner also estimated that Apple would sell about 12 million to 13 million iPads in the final three months of this year.
Alaska Airlines has announced it's switching from 25 pounds of hefty paper flight manuals to 1 1/2 pounds of Apple iPad 2s. The only question we have is: why do the rest of us have to shut down our smartphones when you guys have an iPad 2 in the cockpit?
[The answer to that, of course, is that the iPad 2 is probably in flight mode during the flight, as it is pre-loaded with all the software and PDF files necessary for the crew, but we couldn't resist that snarky question. In addition, we're sure they lock down the connectivity anyway, as we wouldn't want the captain and co-pilot playing that Angry Birds game they just downloaded, would we?]
iPads are currently being distributed to all Alaska Airlines pilots. The proces will be complete by mid-June, the airline said. The full roll-out follows a successful iPad trial by 100 line and instructor pilots and Air Line Pilots Association representatives during the past winter and spring.
Alaska Airlines calls the iPads "electronic flight bags."
Here's what Alaska Airlines' press release says about the changes:
The iPads contain an app called GoodReader that is loaded with PDF versions of 41 flight, systems and performance manuals, reference cards, and other materials. The electronic manuals include hyperlinks and color graphics, enabling pilots to find information faster and easier. Updating these reference materials can now be accomplished with one tap on the iPad screen instead of the former, labor-intensive process of replacing individual pages with new ones. The iPad is considered a Class 1 electronic device, meaning it is stowed during takeoff and landing under Federal Aviation Administration regulations.
In conjunction with replacing paper manuals, Alaska Airlines is exploring the replacement of paper aeronautical navigation charts with electronic versions on the iPad, eliminating the need for every pilot to carry their own copy. The two initiatives, dubbed "Bye, Bye, Flight Bag," will save about 2.4 million pieces of paper.
While reducing paper use, it does mean the crew needs to remember one more thing: keeping the flight manuals charged.
Although Android has clearly overtaken iOS in terms of smartphone uptake, it is partially because of the number of handsets and former factors that are available to customers. That also means that no one Android handset can match the iPhone, and that's made even more clear by an analyst's report which indicates that even previous-generation Apple iPad, iPhone 3GS often outsell new Android devices.
Canaccord Genuity technology analyst Michael Walkley stated the obvious in a Monday research note, saying that the iPhone 4 is "by far" the top selling single device at both AT&T and Verizon. However, he added the following:
"Interestingly, our April checks indicated continued strong demand for the iPhone 3GS at AT&T and iPad 1 at Verizon, as these older generation products with reduced prices often outsold new Android products. We believe this highlights Apple's significant competitive advantage, and these older products help Apple offer a tiered pricing strategy at key channels."
For example, while AT&T (Verizon does not have the iPhone 3GS) put the 3GS' price on a diet, slashing it to $49 after the Verizon iPhone was introduced, it apparently helped AT&T not just against the Verizon iPhone, but Android phones as well. Walkley's checks showed that the $49 iPhone 3GS outsold newer phones like the HTC Inspire and Motorola Atrix. [Of course, the Atrix was priced at a steep premium over the iPhone 3GS, so it's not really a fair comparison.]
Walkley also found that the iPad is by far the best selling tablet, which should be of no surprise to anyone. While competing products like Research in Motion's PlayBook or the Motorola Xoom have had "modest sales," a survey by Nielsen earlier this sprin shows that the iPad has an 82 percent market share of tablets in the U.S. Still, remember that it took two years or so for Android to overtake iOS smartphone market share; there's no reason (yet) to believe the same won't happen with tablets.
While we earlier said that there is really not much of a reason for iPad 1 users to update to iPad 2s, as the iPad 2 was more of an incremental update to Apple's tablet device. That said, plenty of end users have re-sold their devices to sites such as Gazelle, and Gazelle has opened up a standalone web store, to take advantage of that.
The Web store opened on Monday, and Gazelle says it's a pilot program. The iPads are, Gazelle says, in "superb cosmetic condition." That means no scratches on the screens, and minimal wear on the cases from "normal handling," meaning light scratches. Each of these iPads comes with all the original accessories, including the original box. As first generation models, the 3G models use AT&T service (iPad 2s can either have AT&T or Verizon service).
Interestingly, while Apple adds a $130 premium to 3G-enabled iPads (both 1 and 2 models), Gazelle isn't doing so. Pricing is as follows:
Apple iPad 16GB WiFi - $329.99
Apple iPad 16GB WiFI + 3G - $379.99
Apple iPad 32GB WiFi - $399.99
Apple iPad 32GB WiFi + 3G - $419.99
Apple iPad 64GB WiFi - $419.99
Apple iPad 64GB WiFi + 3G - $479.99
These prices are a significant savings over the iPad 2 at the same data tiers, but the first generation iPad has a slower processor, and no forward-facing camera, as well as being heavier and more sizable.
If, however, an end user is able to live with the differences (we believe the iPad 3 will be a much improved model, with possibly a doubling of screen resolution to 2048 x 1536), these could be a great bargain.
Gazelle also has an eBay store, which it uses, as well. In a press release announcing the new store, Gazelle said, "Through the pilot, the company hopes to better understand consumer demand for buying high-quality used electronics and develop customer feedback it would use to define a future solution."
Best Buy isn't going to be the only retailer with a supply of iPad 2s on Sunday. Toys 'R Us, which has sold iPods for quite some time, is going to be hopping on the hot "magical" Apple tablet bandwagon.
Toys 'R Us will begin selling the iPad 2 on Sunday, April 17, and it's no secret, either: Toys 'R Us has a shopping page up on the Web. The page lists those locations will that have availability on Sunday, but the quantity will vary from store to store. In the coming weeks and months, iPad 2 supplies for Toys 'R Us locations will increase.
Toys 'R Us will sell both the 16GB and 32GB wi-fi only models, for the normal retail price of $499 and $599, respectively. The 16GB model will be available in both black and white, but for some undisclosed reason the 32GB model will only come in black.
In addition, Apple iPad Smart Covers, in both polyurethane and leather variants, will be sold at Toys 'R Us. The $39 polyurethane models will be available in pink, blue, and green. Reportedly, Toys 'R Us' Times Square flagship store will carry the black and tan leather covers for $69.
The Best Buy and Toys 'R Us iPad 2 events may or may not be a coincidence. In addition to its own stores, as well as Verizon and AT&T stores, Apple has a footprint in several major U.S. retail chains, including Best Buy, Radio Shack, Sam's Club, Target, and Walmart.
So how can an iPad 2 cost this much? Many of us may already have heard about Stuart Hughes, which has shown the world the most expensive iPhone wallet, Gucci diamond belts or the world’s most expensive suit. Now he has launched the iPad 2 Gold History Edition,
which is a standard Apple iPad 2 just that it has 12.5 carats of diamonds and a 24 carat Apple logo from 53 gems
The rear of the iPad 2 is covered in 24 carat gold and the front is made from the oldest rocks in the world, Ammolite, and is over 75 million years old. To make it even more exclusive, this iPad 2 also has a 65-million-year old T-rex dinosaur’s thigh bone which was shaved into the Ammolite then finished off with ultimate jewel.
Only two such devices will be available and the cost for one iPad 2 Gold History Edition is 8.2 million dollars or £5 million, the only thing left for Stuart Hughes now to wait for two buyers for his latest creation.
A 12-year-old Marion, Illinois girl received a lot more than she wished for from Santa, with a Android-based tablet she received containing two porn apps that had already been installed on the device. We can hear Apple CEO Steve Jobs repeating under his breath that "Android is for porn" already.
It's not the first time such an event has occurred, and it won't be the last, either, unless stores ensure they wipe returned smartphones and tablets before putting them back on the shelf.
That's the most likely way the apps got on the device, particularly since the parents bought two of them, one for their 12-year-old and the other for their 15-year-old daughter, and only the 12-year-old, who calls the device her PervPad, had the apps, which were "Boobs! Butts! Babes!" and"Undress Me."
There is quite a bit of technical naivete about what to do, and about the technology involved, in the story, however.
The local news crew (video report below) got a few things wrong, of course. They called the Coby Kyros "similar to the Apple iPad and Amazon Kindle." Oh, really?
The father called the manufacturer of the tablet, Coby, instead of simply going back to the store.
According to the father, Jay Hardin, the TS representative he spoke to told him that they have adult content in their application library as part of "each and every one of these things that they sell." There is no way any TS rep would have told Hardin that unless they were off their meds that day.
Meanwhile, Coby told the local news station, News 3, that there was no pre-programmed software installed by Coby (meaning the porn wasn't put there during production).
Meanwhile, Hardin is certain the original package seals were on the tablets. Even if the theory that the PervPad was pre-owned is true, that's still possible; many times retailers repackage items so well you can't tell the difference.
At any rate, Hardin said he is simply going to exchange the PervPad. There's been no squawking about a lawsuit, but if Hardin decides to go legal with this, it would probably be hard to prove that he didn't plant the apps himself. We aren't saying he did, mind you, but authorities are always very cautious about these types of reports, particularly after the Wendy's Chili / Finger incident.
It was the last edition of Oprah's Favorite Things ever, as this is Oprah Winfrey's final season. This edition was called the Ultimate Edition, and she declared one of the items was her favorite thing "ever," the Apple iPad.
Oprah’s Favorite Things is an annual segment. In the segment, Winfrey shares products with her audience that she feels are "noteworthy or that would make a great gift." Additionally, the audience members present during the taping receive items from that year's list. This year's edition took two episodes to air.
Winfrey said, "From our very first moment together, I knew it had stolen my heart. Cue the angels," after which an iPad was lowered from the ceiling sporting angel's wings.
She added, "Words cannot describe what I feel for this magnificent device. I really think it's the best invention of the century so far. And, I got to tell you, Apple, you've got 90 years to go, so what you're going to do to top this, I don't know."
You can watch Oprah's favorite thing "evah" being unveiled below. The full list of products in the "Ultimate Favorite Things" included:
Day 1:
A Course in Weight Loss: 21 spiritual lessons for surrendering your weight forever, a book by Marianne Williamson
Andre Walker hair care products
Baker's Edge lasagna and brownie trays with Ghiradelli brownie mix
Beecher's "World's Best" macaroni and cheese
Breville panini press from Williams-Sonoma
Decoded, a book by Jay-Z
Elfa Customizable Closet System from The Container Store
Hulu Plus, which earlier this month exited private beta, is now officially out of its preview stage. At the same time, the site announced it was dropping the subscription price from $9.99 to $7.99 monthly.
Additionally, Hulu said that any current subscribers who joined during the preview period, and thus paid $9.99, will receive a credit for the difference applied to their next billing cycle. Although no reason for the price drop was given in Hulu's blog post announcement, it probably has a lot to do with the testing that Netflix is doing with a $7.99 streaming only plan.
Hulu Plus offers customers access to a larger media catalog than Hulu’s free service. Other announcements include Hulu Plus on Roku. Additionally, Hulu said:
Hulu Plus is now available on devices that have an installed base of over 50 million. Today, Hulu Plus launches on Roku. All PlayStation 3 owners with a PlayStation Network account, which is free, can download the Hulu Plus application. In the months to come, Hulu Plus will be coming to Internet-connected Vizio, LG Electronics, and Panasonic Blu-ray players and HDTVs; TiVo Premiere DVRs; the Xbox 360; and Western Digital’s WD TV Live Hub Media Center and WD TV Live Plus Network Media Player, with many more mobile phones, tablets, set-top boxes, and Internet-connected devices to be announced.
We haven’t forgotten about our existing device lineup and applications, either. Over the next week, updates to the Samsung, PlayStation 3, and Apple iPad, iPhone, and iPod touch Hulu Plus apps will be available, bringing a variety of bug fixes and feature and performance enhancements.
A few promos that Hulu announced were:
One week free trials for all new subscribers. In addition, current subscribers who joined during the preview period will receive a credit for one week of Hulu Plus toward their next month’s subscription. This is in addition to the credit mentioned above.
Two free weeks of Hulu Plus for both current subscribers and friends they invite through our referral program. Subscribers can learn more by clicking on the “Referrals” tab on their Hulu profile page.
11 weeks ($20 worth) of free Hulu Plus with the purchase of a Sony BRAVIA connected TV or Blu-ray player through January 31, 2011. (See sony.com/huluplus.)
One free month of Hulu Plus with the purchase of a Roku device through December 15, 2010. (See roku.com/hulu.)
The price drop had earlier been rumored to be as low as $4.99. Although Hulu didn't slash prices that much, the new price will make them more competitive with Netflix.
Of course, all these streaming services keep pushing us toward more broadband use. Meanwhile, it is pretty clear that eventually ISPs will cap customer data usage. It's already happened for some, and it will undoubtedly spread to more. Unfortunately, they can't have it both ways, and something will have to give eventually.
Wal-Mart surely wasn't happy to see its arch-rival Target get the iPad on Oct. 3rd. Wal-Mart, in May, said it was expecting to begin offering the iPad for sale in its U.S. retail stores "later this year," but it hasn't happened ... yet.
It appears that may soon change. Photos, including some of alleged emails obtained by MacRumors point to Wal-Mart offering the magical device as early as next week. Supplies will be short, however, according to the report. The initial stock at Wal-Mart stores will be 5 units of each iPad model (16GB, 32GB, 64GB in both wi-fi-only and 3G-enabled versions) and 10 units each of official Apple iPad accessories.
Strangely, one of the images notes that the rollout begins in week 37 and continues through the end of October, hitting 1,000 stores by the end of that time. Week 37 in the calendar year would have been in mid-September. At any rate, reportedly, an additional 800 stores will be added in Novemenber.
The images also indicate that Wal-Mart won't be discounting the iPad. Those looking for a slight bargain should look at Target: starting Oct. 17th Target's REDcard holders will be able to get 5 percent of virtually everything, and that includes, Target has confirmed, the iPad.
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