From Apple’s U.S. Store website:

Come back to the Apple Online Store (or any Retail Store starting at 8 a.m.) for a special one-day-only holiday shopping event. You’ll find dozens of great iPad, iPod, and Mac gifts for everyone on your list. Mark your calendars now.

Though the company has been offering Black Friday discounts for several years now, Apple has extended what has been traditionally an American holiday to other countries, too, following the lead of many other retailers such as Amazon. Silicon Republic reports that Apple’s Irish online site is displaying the same ad. Exploring other international Apple Stores reveals it can also be found in the UK and Italy, but we’re not seeing the ad in Asian-based stores at this time.

Now, before you start camping outside your local store or sitting in front of your computer for hours in anticipation (prices are usually the same whether shopping online or in-store), it should be noted that Apple’s Black Friday discounts are usually much smaller than what you may be used to from Best Buy or other retailers. But, this is also one of the only annual sales that Apple provides, so if you’re looking to order your technology straight from Cupertino, this could be as good as it gets.

Though we haven’t seen details on this year’s deal yet, 2009 boasted various discounts such $11 to $41 off iPod models, $21 off Apple TV, $101 off some computer models, and discounts on other Apple and third-party accessories.

However, if you’re willing to purchase from another retailer, drop by Apple Insider on Black Friday for their pricing matrix that lists each Apple product’s price and discounts by retailer. Keep your eye on MacMall and OWC, too, to name just a few places that traditionally provide some Mac-related bargains. And be sure to let us know in the comments where else you might be able to snag a great deal.

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UPDATE: Literally as we published this post, Orange’s press office got back to us with confirmation of forthcoming subsidized plans and sent us this press release. Specific pricing isn’t mentioned, nor is a solid timeline, but it does make reference to “more affordable prices when purchased with a data service plan” for iPad Wi-Fi + 3G models arriving sometime in “the coming months.”

As we gear up for Black Friday discount deals, it looks like hopeful iPad shoppers might soon be getting an unusual price-break of their own, at least in the U.K. British site MarketingWeek is reporting that Orange and T-Mobile wireless ISP parent company Everything Everywhere has said it will announce plans today to offer the tablet device at a discount in exchange for a long-term contract.

The subsidized iPad (3G version) is expected to be available for around £200 (just under $320 at current exchange rates) for customers that are willing to sign an 18-24 month contract. An unsubsidized Wi-Fi + 3G iPad currently starts at £529 (~$844 U.S.). Orange and T-Mobile were both contacted for further comment, but neither company returned our inquiries in time for publication.

This move from full-price to subsidized discounts would mirror the iPhone’s pricing history. As you may remember, Apple’s first mobile device was originally offered with a hefty price tag, then discounted before being offered at an even lower price thanks to a subsidy from AT&T.

9to5Mac points out that O2, a competing UK mobile company, recently started offering a deal with Xbox/Playstation 3 models, so the iPad subsidy may be a move from Everything Everywhere to provide a similar deal of its own to attract new customers.

Could this contract-based discount also make its way to the U.S.? Unfortunately, we’re not currently hearing any news of the subsidy being on this side of the pond. But competition is heating up as wireless ISPs fight to offer the growing base of tablet customers their mobile data plans. Verizon and AT&T are now both vying for iPad data plan customers. If Apple allows it, there’s no reason why both wouldn’t jump at the chance to lock customers in to longer term plans here on this side of the pond, too. There’s already a price war being waged for Galaxy Tab customers. One focused on the iPad could soon follow.

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Taiwanese tech industry publication DigiTimes has identified Ibiden, Tripod Technology, and TTM Technologies as part suppliers for the next iPad. DigiTimes goes on to report that four additional suppliers are to be added in February 2011, when iPad shipments will increase for a speculated April release. All three of the identified companies are circuit board manufacturers. As Metro.co.uk points out, this report parallels earlier rumors that iPad touchscreen component manufacturers are also working toward an early 2011 release.

In terms of design, Wedge Partner’s Brian Blair (via Digital Daily) claims Apple is developing a “World iPad” based on Qualcomm’s multimode CDMA-GSM chips, news sure to please Verizon users. Blair suggest Apple is planning to build approximately 48 million iPads in 2011. He describes the new iPad as “thinner than the existing model and [...] essentially made from one piece of metal with no pins needed [...] it requires a new type of manufacturing process as a result.”

IBTimes reports additional clues about design changes could come from an Apple patent for a technology using carbon fiber material that’s lighter than the current aluminum used in Apple notebooks and the iPad. The patent, labeled “Reinforced Device Housing,” describes “a skin formed from the first material separately from the frame and bonded to the frame; wherein the skin is formed from multiple layers of the first material; and a portion of the skin covers at least a wall of the frame.”

The “first material” is a type similar to carbon fiber reinforced plastic (CFRP) that, while lighter, tends to break or crack on corners, which Apple plans to remedy by complex layering techniques. So, if you agree with many that think that the iPad’s 1.5 pound frame feels a little bulky, this could be a move in a lighter direction. Unfortunately, this probably isn’t as reliable as the supplier information, given how many patents Apple files annually.

Other iPad rumors from around the tech world include the addition of front and back-facing cameras for use with FaceTime, three-axis gyroscope for games, a Cortex-A9 chip CPU, a mini-USB port, and more memory. Some sites are also predicting a 7-inch model to bridge the gap between the iPhone/iPod touch and the current large iPad screen, though Steve Jobs recently went on the record against that idea. Check out our two posts on the subject for more.

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UPDATE: Woz now says he was misquoted by De Telegraaf, and offers direct clarification of his statements over at Engadget. He says he never meant to suggest that Android was better than iOS, just that it seemed to possibly be on track to overtake Apple’s OS in terms of market share “based on what [he's] read.”

Steve Wozniak, Apple co-founder and worldwide technology celebrity, predicts that Android will dominate iOS before long. Wozniak, speaking to the Dutch newspaper De Telegraaf, shared his thoughts on various topics in his usual candid manner, but the Android/iOS war was front and center throughout.

First, Wozniak revealed that, as many speculated at the time, Apple was working on a phone product as early as 2004 (well before the iPhone’s 2007 release). The product, developed with the help of a popular Japanese electronics company, wasn’t game-changing enough for Apple’s high standards. According to Wozniak (in translation from TechCrunch):

Apple was satisfied with the quality of the smartphone but wanted something it could amaze the world with. When Apple releases products, they need to be groundbreaking. Companies should hold off on entering markets until they have a seriously compelling product to offer. Products like that need to be be [sic] developed in isolation from the rest of the company, and it requires developers to steer clear from paths already traveled.

Wozniak then moves on to discussing iPhone/iOS and Android in terms of user experience. He’s clearly still siding with the iPhone here, and says, “the iPhone has very few weak points. There are no serious complaints or issues. When it comes to quality, the iPhone leads the way. Apple has shown the world what direction we’re going.”

While Wozniak still feels the iPhone is the superior product on the market, he also acknowledges it’s not for everyone, due to the closed nature of the operating system and iTunes dependency. He appreciates the broader range of options that Android affords users.

Wozniak sees the relationship between iOS and Android as similar to that between Mac and Windows, respectively. In light of that comparison, Wozniak acknowledges the problems in consistency, quality, and user satisfaction that Android faces, but thinks they’ll be overcome to match and eventually dominate iOS as Windows did the computer market.

The faith Wozniak seems to have in Google being able remedy its shortcomings (and the inferred lack of faith in Apple to do the same) probably won’t be too well-received by Steve Jobs as the Google/Apple battle continues to heat up. But at least when the “wonderful wizard of Woz” speaks, he never disappoints.

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“When you’re out and about, your phone probably isn’t always in front of you [...] We want to make sure you see important tweets even when you’re not looking at Twitter at the moment,” states Twitter’s blog. Anytime that someone is talking to you or about you on Twitter, you’ll immediately see the notification, and be able to launch the app right from the dialog box that appears.

Additionally, thanks to the update, users can take advantage of improved display of shortened URLs, additional Retina graphic updates, and the option to enable geotagging. Also, iPad users won’t want to miss the update’s improvements for their tablet device. Inline media display, management of saved searches, and improvements to the user interface combine to give you yet another reason to leave your poor outdated laptop on the shelf.

On a side note, several users have reported that there were actually two separate updates to the app that occurred yesterday. Perhaps Twitter caught a bug or two early and resolved those issues, thanks to a little preferential App Store treatment that Apple affords to the most popular services.

The updated Twitter App is available for free download from the App Store.

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Paved With Good Intentions

Wu, a professor of copyright law at Columbia University, writes about business “in the way that writers have traditionally written about war,” in his own words. His work focuses on the ways that power permeates commerce, sustaining some firms while destroying others.

Wu takes aim at companies like ABC, NBC, AT&T and Google, that started as firms focused on serving the public, but turned to “evil” when they began to suppress technologies that could possibly interfere with their market dominance.

When asked which company is the most threatening, Wu has a ready answer: “Right now, I’d have to say Apple… Steve Jobs has the charisma, vision, and instincts of every great information emperor. The man who helped create the personal computer 40 years ago is probably the leading candidate to help exterminate it. His vision has an undeniable appeal, but he wants too much control.”

Data, Packaged and Sold

The iTunes Store, founded in April 2003, was perhaps Apple’s first major foray into changing the way we receive data. Over time, it became the foremost means for acquiring digital music legally, and changed the face of the industry forever. The Beatles coming onboard is one of the final dominoes to fall in Apple’s effort to provide access to the entirety of popular music.

Apple also spearheaded the rise of the app. Downloading apps is now commonplace, thanks largely to iOS. More and more, we don’t go to our favorite website to view that snippet of news or buy that hot product, we instead use apps designed for the purpose that wall off access to the rest of the web, and often charge us for the privilege of doing so.

While there are many other app stores in existence with other companies, with the success of the iOS App Store and the coming Mac App Store, Apple is positioned to remain a dominating force in the arena of intermediation between information and audiences. While this serves as a great opportunity for many technology creators, how long will Apple retain its position of trust in its current curatorial role?

Rotten to the Core?

When asked about the possibility of Jobs leaving Apple before long, which could happen due to health and increasing age, Wu states, “I think it may not matter…the mark of Steve Jobs is firmly placed on that firm, that it will continue long after he passes from leadership.” His core values may indeed remain, though I doubt his personality-based idiosyncrasies will carry on.

Whether or not we agree with Wu’s opinions, his assertion that Apple isn’t our little darling from Cupertino anymore is a reality that must be grappled with.

What do you think? Does Apple have too much control over how information is distributed? If so, what’s the best way to go about limiting its power?

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Novelty or Lasting Value?

Though the researchers originally thought the iPad might be passed off as a flashy device that held little long-term value, 77.6 percent of the users found their iPad usage went up after their initial “honeymoon” period. So, the iPad probably won’t end up in your return pile shortly along with oddly-colored sweaters.

PC Replacement?

When it comes to function, 28.9 percent of users say that the iPad has replaced their primary computer. In a related question, users were asked which device they used most frequently. The iPad was found to be used most often by those surveyed: 31.8 percent of the time. Laptop usage, at 31 percent, fell just under, with the desktop further back still at 22.1 percent, and smartphone usage coming in last at 15.2 percent.

Taken together, the numbers make a strong case for the iPad’s ability to meet the basic computing needs of a large group of users. As the iPad gains even more ground on its notebook competition through hardware and software upgrades, we could see that number grow significantly.

Kindle and iBooks

The iPad is also used as an e-reader; 74.5 percent of those surveyed read books on their iPad. But, though the iPad is a popular book device, 50 percent of users who read on their iPads chose the Kindle app as their preferred reading app. Only 42.4 percent chose iBooks first. Amazon is clearly winning the e-book war by being platform-agnostic.

Daily Usage

On average, around 74.8 percent of iPad users spend between one and five hours a day on their tablet device; 15.3 percent spend less than an hour; and 9.8 percent spend five or more hours per day.

Web browsing occupies 37.7 percent of the time spent on the iPad, followed by 23.6 percent of time spent on email, Facebook, and other communication apps. The lowest category, at only 10.2 percent, was spent playing games. Users clearly value the iPad for its usefulness as a web and communication tool first and foremost.

iPad App Habits

The survey found that 56.1 percent have downloaded 20 or more apps. Most have downloaded around 10 paid apps (52.3 percent having downloaded 6-20 paid apps). So while free apps account for a majority of downloads, paid apps are by no means being ignored.

Yet, of all of the downloading, whether it be paid or free, most people use 10 apps or less on a regular basis, leaving half or more of their apps ignored shortly after download. In fact, the most commonly used app is one you don’t even download: Safari. The built-in browser remains the iPad’s killer app.

Taking in the News

When viewing news on the iPad, the majority (at 37 percent) preferred the iPad’s web browser, while those using news apps came in a close second at 34.7 percent. In last place, we find using a newsreader app such as Flipboard or Reeder with 28.3 percent. So, if you’re ready to leave behind the newspaper, the iPad offers many viable alternatives.

iPad to MacBook Air

Only 4.2 percent of iPad users surveyed have purchased the new MacBook Air. Of that small number, 95.8 percent say it hasn’t decreased their iPad usage. Also, 76.1 percent of those surveyed felt that the iPad and MacBook Air weren’t competing devices. Obviously, Apple is still doing a great job of convincing us that each of its devices has a very specific purpose, even among devices that scratch the same portability itch.

All data considered, the survey reveals that the iPad is making inroads on the role traditionally filled by notebook PCs, and it’s replacing a selection of lower-tech devices, too, like print books and newspapers. Developers, take note: People seem happiest using their devices for browsing the web and connecting with one another. Combine those elements in just the right mix, and you could have a top-selling app on your hands.

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As the holidays approach, many customers turn to websites like Amazon for guidance on what to buy for that special someone who wants a gadget fix. But, as Business Insider points out, it looks like the Apple TV isn’t being featured by the online shopping giant, despite steady demand since its release. As the Insider notes, the Apple TV might in fact “actually be ranked somewhere in the top 20.” Efforts to contact Amazon for comment have so far not produced a response.

So, where’s the proof? Well, stop and take a look at what’s currently listed in just beyond the top 20 (as of this writing): Roku’s XD Streaming Player. Now, skip over to Amazon’s Bestsellers in Digital Media Devices list, a more focused category. Notice anything odd? The same Roku XDS Streaming Player is listed under both the Apple TV and the Boxee Box. Interesting that the number three device has broken the top 20 in the Bestsellers in Electronics list, while the two leaders in the smaller category aren’t even mentioned there.

Apple, at least for now, isn’t banned from Amazon’s Bestseller in Electronics list entirely, due to the presence of various iPhone and iPod models. Also, Boxee’s absence on the list indicates that they’re not the only company getting the rankings shaft right now. Finally, consider that many of the Kindle models (Amazon’s only electronic device) are sitting pretty in the list’s top 10.

When contacted for comment, a Boxee representative said they weren’t sure what was going on, but that D-Link was the partner that dealt primarily with Amazon. D-Link did not provide a comment in time for publication.

It’s difficult in these situations to decipher whether a company is advancing its own interests, subtly blocking another, or if there’s something less nefarious at play. But you have to wonder if Amazon isn’t altering rankings based on the Roku XD’s support for Amazon Video-On-Demand, which isn’t present in either the Apple TV or Boxee Box. Whereas Amazon.com has, in the past, functioned as more of a retailer than a strategist, perhaps this is an example of what happens when its interests as as service provider run up against its role as a distributor of third-party goods.

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Since Jobs mentioned the coming update for the iPad last September, users have been wondering when multi-tasking and other features promised in 4.2 would actually arrive. The new page doesn’t answer that question, but it does provide a more detailed glimpse at what the update will provide.

Let’s talk about some of the new features iOS 4.2 will bring to your iPad that the iPhone already has. You’ll finally be able to switch between apps and play audio content in the background with Multitasking. Folders will allow you to cut down on the number of home screens on your iPad. Finally, Game Center and advanced Mail options (unified inbox, threaded messages) round out the pack.

There are a few new (unreleased for any iOS devices) things to be excited about, too. AirPrint (which, since it’s featured on the new Apple site, obviously isn’t being cancelled, regardless of what some think) will allow you to print mail, photos, and web pages to printers on your wireless network. AirPlay wirelessly streams videos, music, and photos to new models of the Apple TV, and streams music to AirPlay-enabled speakers and receivers or the Airport Express.

Other coming features include finding text within web pages and keyboard/dictionary and accessibility enhancements. With enhanced enterprise support, Apple offers businesses stronger security and device management options, which should help further Apple’s cause in bringing iOS to business IT.

Additionally, iOS 4.2 is being hailed as a performance improvement for 3G users. So, if you rushed to update your older iPhone and are now ready to throw it at the wall for its painfully slow speed, hang on a little bit longer because things could get better.

Various sites are reporting inside sources as mentioning that the update will release sometime this week. The new release of this information suggests it’ll be a few days still before the update arrives, because otherwise Apple wouldn’t have bothered. You may want to watch for the next iTunes update, as it often precedes an iOS update.

UPDATE: As readers have noted, the page itself isn’t new, but the “Coming Soon” tag is. The content of this article has been updated to reflect that.

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The report found that nearly 30 percent of Android users surveyed would rather have an iPhone. Many users indicated that price is the only barrier holding them back. “I think it’s telling that so many Android owners desire, yet don’t own an iPhone, which I believe points to price being the prohibitive factor,” a spokesperson for MyPhoneDeals told PC Pro. Another contributing factor is network choice, though that may change soon with the arrival of a Verizon iPhone.

On the flip side, only 7 percent of iPhone users would consider jumping to the Android side of the fence. “I think the biggest problem Android-based smartphones face is that they’re constantly playing catch-up to the iPhone. Every time Apple does something new the competition follows, which makes the iPhone always seem the most innovative product.” While in fact Apple was actually behind on several major OS features, such as multi-tasking, the unique innovations they do introduce, like the App Store and the Retina Display, have apparently kept them ahead of the game, at least in terms of user perception.

Only 16 percent of those not currently on any platform indicated that they’d seek out an Android phone. Yet 40 percent of smartphones sold during the past quarter were Android devices. Why? Mainly because Android OS runs on a variety of devices, while Apple OS is exclusively on the iPhone. “Android still faces a lack of recognition among consumers, especially women. For example, many consumers may want a HTC Desire HD, yet are unaware that it’s running Android software.”

The bottom line for Apple? Lower prices and freedom of choice when it comes to carrier would draw many Android users into the iOS fold. But Cupertino should act soon, since as users grow used to and invest in a platform (via app purchases), it will become more and more difficult to win them back.

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