The iPad 2 may have only just arrived, but I’ve spent enough time with the device to get a good sense of what it’s still missing. In the spirit of the post-PC era, here are three experiences I’d like to see introduced with the next iPad. Read more »
Apple just released iOS 4.3.2 for iOS devices. The update includes various bug fixes and improvements, including the resolution of the FaceTime random image capture bug, and an a fix for problems some international users were having connecting to 3G networks on the iPad. Read more »
Opinions on the new BlackBerry PlayBook tablet vary in small ways, but many reviewers agree that the device is lacking some features and functions, making it appear unfinished. But a few reviews are forward thinking; the tablet wars won’t be won or lost on today’s products. Read more »
RIM will launch its much vaunted and eagerly awaited Blackberry PlayBook on April 19. In this review, I take a look at the 7-inch tablet and how it stacks up against its rivals, the iPad and the Honeycomb Android family of tablets. Read more »
Last year, Apple introduced a sleeper agent that, while better than its predecessor, still wasn’t fully active. That agent was the Apple TV, and it wasn’t until the recent release of iOS 4.3 and the expanded availability of AirPlay that its true potential became apparent. Read more »
Adobe is demoing an update to its Flash Media Server at NAB that will enable publishers to stream not just to Flash-enabled web browsers, but also to devices like Samsung TVs, the Motorola Xoom tablet and Atrix smartphone and Apple iOS devices like the iPad. Read more »
Cloud computing, a surge of smartphone growth and increased wireless connectivity have created an ideal environment for the introduction of the media tablet — a consumer-grade device best suited to leisure-based computing activities such as gaming and social networking. This report forecasts the media tablet market, which is expected to grow at a 54 percent compound annual growth rate over the next five years. We forecast revenues and regional growth, including China’s growing importance in the market, and provide a competitive analysis of tablets from Cisco, Research in Motion, Apple, HP and others. Additional companies in this report include Samsung, Dell, Microsoft and Motorola. For a full list of companies, and to read the full report, sign up for a free trial. Read more at GigaOM Pro »
Despite speculation from reputable sources, 2011 appears to indeed be the year of the iPad 2, not the iPad 2.5, and almost certainly not an iPad 3. But, as Apple has demonstrated in the past, just because something doesn’t add up doesn’t mean it won’t happen. Read more »
Apple could be ready to upend the living room market in a truly revolutionary way. Analyst Peter Misek thinks Apple is just about ready to launch a new cloud-based video streaming service that could go well beyond what Apple TV already offers. Read more »
Anyone can have a good idea for a new app. For both developers and non-developers alike, the App Store has a selection of design tools for the iPad that each play a unique role in the process of evolving a good idea into a great one. Read more »
Apple is catching a few fish with vinegar, if the slow but steady stream of magazine publishers who’ve opted to accept the company’s new in-app subscription rules is any indication. Monday Bloomberg’s Businessweek joined the growing coalition of those willing to accept Apple’s prickly terms. Read more »
Research firm Gartner published its tablet forecast through 2015, saying that Apple will continue to rule the roost. That may be so, but there are some key problems with such a forecast because the tablet wars are only beginning; it’s too early to call this race. Read more »
Apple is aware of the Verizon iPad 2′s roaming issues, which we reported last week. The company is “investigating” the issue, according to an official statement, and it may already be hard at work on a fix according to leaked information regarding iOS 4.3.2. Read more »
Adobe today unveiled Photoshop Touch, a new SDK that will allow Adobe and third-party mobile apps to interact with the desktop version of Photoshop CS5 in real time. It looks poised to shake up how we think about the relationship between tablets and computers. Read more »
From Rupert Murdoch’s The Daily to the New York Times and the Wall Street Journal, it seems more and more newspapers are turning to tablets in an effort to capture a fraction of our daily attention. As this graphic illustrates, iPad is well on its way. Read more »
A new survey conducted by Google-owned mobile ad company AdMob breaks down how people are using their tablets, which at least so far, in most cases means the iPad. The survey’s nearly 1,500 respondents revealed some interesting trends regarding tablet usage. Read more »
What is usually the first thing everyone that gets a new iPad wants to know? Which apps to get. But there are still some cool things that you can do with your iPad, even without buying a single app. Here are 10 good examples. Read more »
Many people use the iPad to replace a physical library of paper books, mostly because it’s very convenient to do so. But is it also better for the environment? A recent report considers the ecological effects of e-books in general, and specifically addresses the iPad’s impact. Read more »
Acer’s answer to the iPad 2 will cost $449 and is now available for pre-order from Best Buy in the U.S. Hardware specifications are only part of the equation, and Honeycomb has room for improvement, but this pricing gives consumers a reason to consider the A500. Read more »
Apple is said to be in the process of bringing on Rob Saunders and Nick Grange, two top gaming industry PR execs, according to reports. If true, this could signal a move by Apple to play to its strengths in the ongoing mobile wars. Read more »
Microsoft introduced its new dedicated Bing iPad search application Thursday, and my first impression is that it offers more useful features than Google’s iOS app in a better package. Yet while it may outclass the competition, I also doubt I’ll ever use it again. Read more »
Apple may be working on hybrid displays that have all the benefits of e-ink and LCD with none of the downsides, and interactive bezels for iOS devices. That’s according to two newly published patents that provide glimpses behind Apple’s aluminum and glass curtain. Read more »
Speaking at a event yesterday in Santa Clara, CA, Apple co-founder Steve Wozniak said that the “iPad is for the normal people of the world,” not necessarily the tech savvy crowd he was addressing. Wozniak’s statement has the ring of truth, but is it really accurate? Read more »
Consumer Reports has released its rundown of the top 10 tablets, and while it says there’s some competition brewing, Apple still wins in terms of both quality and price. Consumer Reports does a good job of pointing to little details that illustrate why that is. Read more »
The U.S. Patent and Trademark Office published a new patent that describes a system by which Spaces, Apple’s system for operating multiple independent desktops on one computer, might be brought to the iPad. Could this be a preview of the merger of iOS and OS X? Read more »
While Apple announcing Flash for iOS or a 7-inch iPad might make for humorous copy on April Fools’ Day, truth can be just as entertaining. Here’s a look at some of the more off-the-mark statements made recently about Apple’s ongoing tablet success. Read more »
Today marks the 35th birthday of Apple, and though the company has undergone many changes, in terms of its fortunes and its business focus, it’s still a leader when it comes to innovation. Can we expect that to continue for another 35 years? Read more »
Nintendo has released the 3DS, the next generation of its mobile gaming console and successor to the immensely popular DS, at an interesting time for mobile gaming, adding 3-D capability, better graphics and a 3-D camera to the proven dual-screen format of the Nintendo DS. Read more »
News-reading app maker Zite has been threatened by a group of traditional media outlets who allege it’s guilty of copyright infringement for reformatting their content. Instead of sending legal threats, those publishers should try to learn what Zite is offering readers that they aren’t. Read more »
Thursday is opening day for the Major League Baseball season, and a new update for the MLB.com At Bat app has arrived just in time. New features abound, including the ability to watch all out-of-market games live on your device free for the month of April. Read more »
The iPad 2 is still hard to get, both in the U.S. and in other countries where it has launched internationally. Luckily for would-be buyers, Apple is taking steps to boost its existing supply chain, so that more iPads can reach more people. Read more »
Folders seem to be the most underused part of iOS 4.2 (or earlier for the iPhone). I’m simply amazed whenever I see someone’s home screen littered with single icons. Here’s how to get started with folders, and some tips for how best to use them. Read more »
The iPad 2′s new HD mirroring ability is one of the device’s real killer features, in my opinion, but one user found that it can be made even more useful by removing the requirement of a tethered cable connection, and streaming the mirrored feed wirelessly. Read more »
When is an iPad not an iPad? When it’s a TV screen. Nowadays, programmers need to adapt to the new world of distribution not by creating more windows, rights and licenses, but by embracing a view of digital distribution across a broad ecosystem of devices. Read more »
While the Nintendo 3DS didn’t generate the kind of hype Apple product launches normally see did when it debuted in the U.S. on Sunday, by all accounts it’s still doing very well. But can it compete with iOS devices? No, nor should it try. Read more »
Between prior purchases and poor self-restraint, I now have an e-book library several hundred titles strong on my iPad, and it’s growing constantly. Built-in sorting isn’t cutting it. Thankfully, user-manageable Collections in iBooks adds some much needed depth to iPad e-book organization. Read more »
The workplace, and especially the virtual workplace of the distributed office, will inevitably see more and more workers embracing the “bring-your-own-device” model of enterprise hardware management. But there’s also another new trend that companies who use distributed teams should prepare for: the era of bring-your-own-apps. Read more »
If you’re looking for the right stylus to use with your iPad, a new Kickstarter project might have the best option available — and at the best price, too, since what you end up paying is ultimately up to you thanks to an unusual funding decision. Read more »
Apple just pushed out iOS 4.3.1 for iPhone (GSM), iPad, iPad 2 and iPod touch devices. The minor update brings a number of welcome bug fixes, including a resolution for image flicker some where experiencing when connecting the new Digital AV Adapter to televisions. Read more »
If you’re still looking to grab an iPad cheap, there’s a new option that will get you one cheaper than pretty much any other, including buying used. Verizon is offering first-generation iPads starting at $299 to clear out remaining stock, according to various reports. Read more »
