The main appeal of the high-resolution Retina display of the new iPad to voracious readers is the improved text viewing. We go hands on with the major reader apps that are now Retina-capable — the Kindle app, iBooks, Comixology and Zinio — to see which adapted … Read More »
Apple’s iPad still the tablet market leader in terms of sales, despite gains by the Kindle Fire, and a recent survey of tablet user satisfaction suggests it’s well-poised to stay ahead. Setting the standards for tablet-buyer expectations will help Apple continue to lead the pack. Read More »
Apple is the king of the PC heap, so long as you consider the iPad among those devices. Research firm Canalys does, and its most recent look at PC sales, focusing on the fourth quarter of 2011, shows the PC market growing with the iPad included. Read More »
Apple’s iPad sold 15.4 million units during the final calendar quarter of 2011, representing a 111-percent year-over-year increase in tablet sales. Android tablets may have gained market share during the same period, but it’s PC makers that should fear that growth. Read More »
It’s time to start placing bets as to how many iPads Apple will sell in 2012. Sterne Agee’s Shaw Wu is starting things off with an estimate of 48 million, he said Wednesday morning. Wu says that number could end up being “conservative,” and I agree. Read More »
Apple might not have as impressive a year in 2012 in terms of iPad growth as it did in 2011, according to some early predictions. Numbers from DisplaySearch on Friday indicate 9.7-inch flat panel shipments for iPads are expected to hit around 65 million in 2012. Read More »
Amazon has now broken out its touch-friendly shopping experience for the iPad from its Kindle Cloud Reader product, in an effort to make it easier for everyone to buy books from the Kindle Store, and quickly read those purchases in Amazon’s native iPad Kindle app. Read More »
According to reports circulating Monday, Apple could be hosting a special media event in January. The event won’t be about Apple’s next iPad if reports are correct, however. Instead, Apple will be talking directly to the publishing industry, and the time for that talk is ripe. Read More »
Apple’s plans for a 7-inch iPad are a very hot topic heading into the new year, but they may not bear any tangible fruit for consumers in 2012. A Wedge Partners analyst doesn’t think it’s in the cards. Instead, Apple might offer a cheaper iPad 2. Read More »
Amazon updated its Kindle software for the iPad and iPhone/iPod touch on Tuesday, introducing new features that ensure its app stays on the top of the e-reader pile, even now that it has its own tablet platform available in the Kindle Fire. Read More »
Apple may have reason to welcome, not fear, the growing popularity of the Amazon Kindle Fire. According to J.P. Morgan analyst Mark Moskowitz in a note late last week, the Kindle could encourage, not take away from, Apple’s own iPad sales. Read More »
As much as I’m tied into Apple’s ecosystem for hardware and apps, my e-book loyalty lies with Amazon. Luckily, Amazon’s design choices and pricing strategies, as revealed Wednesday with its latest Kindle line, mean I can have my cake and eat it, too. Read More »
More Must Reads
Amazon’s Kindle Fire is now a known quantity, thanks to details from Amazon executives. 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. Read More »
Early details about a forthcoming Amazon tablet indicate it could have a potential success on its hands. Many have been quick to label it the first legitimate iPad challenger. But should Amazon have tablet success, it doesn’t mean Apple will sell fewer iPads. Read More »
Apple no longer allows e-book sellers to link out to their stores, which is likely why Amazon introduced a new web-based app that works outside of Apple’s official software distribution channel on Wednesday. Here’s a look at the new Kindle Cloud Reader, and its integrated store. Read More »
Steve Jobs first showed off the iPad on stage using a chair and crossing one leg across the other to provide a decent platform from which to use it. Surely we can do better. So says the PadPivot, a new stand with all the right moves. Read More »
Apple’s new rule preventing e-book apps from linking to outside storefronts appears to be in effect. Developers are pushing out updates to their apps that bring them in-line, and Google Books is just gone. But what will Amazon do, and how will it affect iOS? Read More »
While you’re outdoors this summer, you may want to share your music with those around you. There are lots of portable boom boxes, but here are a few unusual ways to turn your iPod or iPod touch into a music machine to share with friends. Read More »
Back in February, Apple announced its in-app subscription API, and it provided an ultimatum that would force developers that sell content for use within their apps to also do so via in-app purchase, or face expulsion. Kindle seemed on the chopping block, but now Apple has … Read More »
Mothers are getting more and more tech savvy. It is more than a little likely that flowers, candy and a trip to the spa will soon be replaced by apps, digital media, and pre-paid online services. Here are some gift ideas along those lines. Read More »
Apple introduced three new ads for the iPhone that focus on key competitive advantages the iOS platform provides. Or, two of them focus on competitive advantages, and the last talks about iBooks and the iBookstore, which may be a sign of trouble to come. Read More »
Amazon’s Kindle app got an update overnight, bringing some useful new features. But what’s more noteworthy is what it didn’t bring, in light of the recent rejection of Sony’s Reader application, and the introduction just this morning of a new in-app subscription system for iOS. Read More »
About a month after I bought my iPad, one thing became clear to me: I’d no longer be buying paper books. Sure enough, almost a year later I’ve only bought a couple physical tomes. But is it wise to go all-in on the future of e-books? Read More »
The iPad seems well-designed for magazines, but Apple has had trouble working out a subscription model with publishers that works for all concerned. Might Jeff Bezos have stolen away the revenue potential represented by periodicals with Amazon’s latest move? Read More »
It’s not all war and competition between tech giants Google and Apple. Sometimes the companies can come together, and the winner each time that happens is invariably the consumer. Today Google brings Google Goggles to the iPhone. Try saying that five times fast. Read More »
A recent survey quoted by Marketing and Research Resources Inc. found that more than 40 percent of respondents said they now read more on their e-readers than in print. They buy more books, too — more than 3 times more, according to Amazon sales data. Read More »
Amazon has announced a new Kindle. The new device is pretty awesome, both in features and price. It’s important that we declare both devices as winners and set some things straight for anyone calling iPad a Kindle killer or the other way around. Read More »
The number of “enhanced e-books” is currently few and far between, but this is quickly changing, as is our perception of the book itself. The world of publishing can expect some interesting times as authors look to new ways of expressing themselves. Read More »
Now that all the commercial e-book distributors have made their iPad apps available, it’s time for an overview of how each app performs, along with their pluses and minuses. So, here’s how I found each app to hold up. Read More »
The idea of reading on mobile devices is not new. Devices like the Amazon Kindle and the Sony eReader have been around for a while, but with the buzz surrounding iBooks sparking more interest, are digital books worth it? Read More »
Amazon got the ball rolling with the Kindle after years of stagnation in the market. Apple is going toe to toe with them with the launch of the iBookstore. So when I have an iPad in hand I’m going to be faced with a choice, use … Read More »
It may not be ready in time for the launch of the iPad, but Amazon wants you to know that its Kindle app will be worth the wait. That’s why it’s created a special preview page of the upcoming software, dubbed “Kindle Apps … Read More »
It’s been teased for a fairly long time now, but Amazon finally released its Kindle companion software for Mac, as of yesterday. To date, the Kindle application has only been available for Windows machines, which has made it slightly harder for Mac users to … Read More »
One of the main reasons I like buying e-books for my Kindle instead of physical ones is the price advantage. Yes, portability is nice, and I don’t have to line my apartment walls with bookshelves just to hold everything, but I still do value the book … Read More »
Despite Amazon’s knee-jerk banishment and reinstatement of its books following a price increase of its books, publisher Macmillan isn’t the only one looking to introduce a new, more lucrative pricing structure. HarperCollins is also eager for renegotiation, and now, Hachette Book Group has also … Read More »
Amazon went on the offensive over the weekend in a brief battle with publisher Macmillan, pulling the publisher’s physical and digital titles on Friday from Amazon.com and the Kindle Store. By late Sunday, Macmillan was back and Amazon was beaten. While this is a victory for … Read More »
I have heard it said, “If you can’t compete, sue.” Of course, I’m sure that’s not the case with Nokia’s recent complaint against Apple. Sure, it could have started litigation back in 2007 when the iPhone was first launched, but I guess the almost-three-year-delay was just … Read More »
The Apple tablet, when (and if) released, will be a multimedia device. There’s little to no question about that. It’ll play video and music, allow you to browse photos and web content, and play games. But that simplistic definition of what it does doesn’t actually capture … Read More »
The effect of Apple’s still speculative tablet on the electronics industry continues to amaze me. Not only has it prompted countless computer makers to join the fray and release their own slate devices, but now it’s affecting e-book pricing policies over at the biggest player in … Read More »
Yhe Apple tablet isn’t going to be a tablet computer at all, really, according to the Quick PWN blog. If you believe Quick PWN contributor Hans’ inside sources, the Apple iSlate, as he maintains it will indeed be called, is more aimed at … Read More »
Over at our sister site GigaOM, Om takes a look at the rising trend of e-book sales on the iPhone/iPod touch platform. According to a survey by San Francisco mobile tech analytics firm Flurry, one in five apps launched during the month … Read More »
The competition is really heating up in the e-reader market. Hot on the heels of Barnes & Noble’s newly-released Nook reader, Amazon last week announced its Kindle branded e-book reader software for the PC. With it, users will be able to read their electronic books … Read More »
In his latest article for the Chicago Sun Times, Mac-afficianado and supergeek Andy Ihnatko discusses LongBox, an iTunes-like comic book online store and screen reader. If you’re into graphic novels, you’ll likely want to know more about this service, which promises to bring … Read More »
Like some of you, I’m quite the “Apple purist.” I’m not a fan of fancy cases that junk up my Macs. I don’t like skins for my iPods and those plastic snap cases for my laptop. We all know that Apple designs beautiful products, so we … Read More »
Amazon has been making moves left and right lately. Since the launch of the Kindle 2 in late February of this year, they’ve rolled out a number of interesting developments, including the release of the Kindle for iPhone app, … Read More »
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