the iPadHole

That’s the question many of us are asking after Apple has moved a step closer to declaring the major changes that it has made to its iOS software. It’s this software that is used for both iPhones and iPads; hence naturally millions of users world over are keeping an eye on any bit of news regarding this. And according to recent reports there are talks of iPad Updates being sent to different devices directly, without having to go through the present process of downloading them to iTunes first. Will it work, time will tell.

The reason there’s some speculation and doubt about this piece of news is the fact that to carry iPad Updates over the air, Apple would have to get into deals with carriers all over the world. It would be necessary if Apple intends to push some heavy updates over mobile networks that can often be fragile and weak. And it would be interesting to see how that works out although Apple does have another option of letting users download updates from Wi-Fi networks. And given that some updates can run up to a few hundred megabytes, it would make practical sense.

Apple might find it a task to get into deals with carriers and convince them to let users download updates as unmetered downloads. Otherwise users will find their monthly plans going haywire only for downloads. 3G seems to be already flooded with music and app downloads; hence it doesn’t seem like Apple will think 3G when it comes to iPad updates. So can users get their updates without resorting to downloads from iTunes? If Apple manages to strike a brilliant deal with one of the carriers or uses Wi-Fi networks, why not? It has pulled out many tricks out of its bag in the past.

Who doesn’t like to go out and have a few beers, especially when they are in midst of their friends? Now all you beer lovers and iPhone users have an app that will tell you all about different kinds of beers in the country and everything you want to know about them. Brewski Me 10.1 is a new app that has been developed by Rocksauce studios and the design comes from Brewski Me. In this piece of iPhone news you will get acquainted with this cool app and know why it’s become a rage with users already.

One reason for its popularity is because it works for beginners and those who can call themselves beer connoisseurs, equally well. It keeps a track of your favorite beers and the ones that are on your list of must-tries. At the same time you will know about what your friends have been drinking recently and you might get some tips from them.

You can do all this through this exciting iPhone App, which has an extensive database of beers from all over the country. If you want to know about a particular kind of beer; one you have heard of or the one your friends were talking about the previous night, you can do a detailed search about it using this app.

Once you have all the information you would like to know you can add it to your list of favorites or put it in the queue of names you want to try out in the near future. You can also review it and find beers that are similar to your chosen ones. If it’s something you want to share with your friends, you can check in the information through Twitter or Facebook and ensure that you are never drinking alone.

Let’s face it; you just cannot do without your iPhone. And you are not the only one; all iPhone users will vouch for the fact that they feel out of sync with their surroundings if they forget to carry it with them. Nothing feels the same and you feel like you are at a major disadvantage. You want to kick yourself for leaving your phone in the office drawer or at home, but you are a lot more upset when your iPhone’s in your hand but you cannot use it because you forgot to charge it. That’s a true panic situation that many of us wake up to every morning.

But now you have to option of ensuring that you and your iPhone stay in charge at all times thanks to chargers that double up as alarm clocks as well. These super sleek gadgets have become increasingly popular today because you can have them next to your bed and it’s a cool looking piece that adds a touch of elegance to your bedroom. But its real purpose is to make sure your iPhone won’t run out of juice in the morning and you won’t forget to slip your iPhone into it before going to bed.

This charger, which is quite in vogue today, also acts as a neat looking alarm clock, so that you can give the old alarm clock in your bedroom a rest. Get something that’s funky, new age and highly functional. Moreover since it’s made of solid walnut, it’s also long lasting and it is quite reasonably priced as well. Given that you would have made sure you always stay in charge of things, it’s a small price to pay.

Any machine is incomplete without its accessories to complement it, and the same is true for the iPad.The iPad accessories play an important role in providing the iPad user a complete and comprehensive package, as the iPad experience would have been imperfect and unfinished without these cool iPad accessories. These iPad accessories allow the user to utilize the full potential of their iPad, thus providing them with the best user experience – the iPad would remain as just another tablet without the iPad accessories, and thus these iPad accessories provide it with distinct and unique characteristics, thus making it distinguishable and deemed.

iPad accessories serve to make your device smarter and more functional, apart from adding the desired style quotient. Some of the most useful and efficient iPad accessories include the iPad Smart Cover, iPad Camera Connection Kit, wireless keyboard, USB Power Adapter, VGA Adapter, Earphones with Mic and Remote, and lot more.

For example, The iPad Smart Cover serves as much more than just a case, and aids in controlling the basic functions of the iPad like waking and sleeping, apart from serving as a steady stand for the device while you are reading, typing or watching a movie on it. The Smart Cover is available in different colors, and one can choose accordingly. Also, iPad Camera Connection Kit is one of the most useful iPad accessories, as it can be used to import pictures from a device in a matter of minutes, with the help of a USB Cable or an SD card. These pictures are stored in different format options, thus proving to a useful accessory. Thus pepping up your iPad device with cool iPad accessories can be a great idea, as these make the device more user-friendly and functional.

Apple Inc. sued companies it said are selling unauthorized electronic accessories such as chargers, speakers and cables for the iPod music player, iPhone and iPad tablet computer.

“Many are of inferior quality and reliability, raising significant concerns over compatibility with and damage to Apple’s products,” Apple said in the complaint, citing a user comment that a charger from one of the companies drained his iPod rather than replenishing the battery.

Apple said it has a program called “Made for iPod” under which manufacturers can get a license to sell accessories for the devices. The unauthorized products are infringing as many as 10 patents and violating Apple’s trademarks, the Cupertino, California-based companies said in the filing.

The complaint, filed July 22 in federal court in San Francisco, identifies six sellers based in California and one in Washington and said Apple could name as many as 20 additional companies. Calls or e-mails to five of the named companies weren’t immediately returned and contact information for two companies couldn’t be obtained.

Apple sold 3.27 million iPads, 8.4 million iPhones and 9.41 million iPods in the quarter ended June 26, the company said in its third-quarter earnings report on July 20.

In November, Apple sued a California company it said was selling knockoff power adapters for the MacBook laptop computer. The company agreed to a court order that it stop selling the products.

The case is Apple Inc. v. eForCity Corp., 10-3216, U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California (San Francisco).

Source: iPad News – Bloomberg.com

The iPhone 4 makes its debut in Canada on Friday, giving Canadians the ability to choose from three carriers and to buy the device unlocked directly from Apple. It won’t be cheap: the unlocked 16GB iPhone 4 will retail for $659 (CAD) or about $640 (USD), while the 32GB version will go for $779 (CAD) or $756 (USD). Apple is also selling an unlocked 8GB iPhone 3GS for a cool $549 (CAD) or $532 (USD), according to the CBC.

By comparison, the contract-free, but still locked, price for the iPhone 4 in the United States is $599 (16GB) and $699 (32GB). Considering Canada’s proximity to the United States, I wonder if many Americans might consider heading to Canada for future iPhone purchases instead of buying a subsidized and locked device from AT&T.

Canada is not the only country to get the unlocked iPhone 4; 16 other countries will have stores full of unlocked iPhones beginning Friday. Customers in the United Kingdom and France currently enjoy the privilege of buying unlocked Apple iPhones.

Reasons to Unlock

T-Mobile doesn’t support the iPhone 4′s new micro-SIM card at the moment, so unless you want to try cutting down a regular-sized SIM to micro-SIM size, increased carrier choice in the U.S. isn’t a reason to switch. But an unlocked iPhone can be a boon for international travelers. An unlocked iPhone means you don’t have to worry about exorbitant roaming and data fees, and you can avoid AT&T’s World Traveler service that offers international calling plans for about $6 per month and international data access for $25-200 (20MB-200MB) per month. Rather than pay the extra fees, you could pop out your iPhone 4′s micro-SIM, pick up a micro-SIM card at your destination country, and you’re ready to go.

There are other ways to get your hands on an unlocked iPhone, such as software unlocking tools. But if you’re queasy about tinkering with iPhone firmware, it doesn’t get much easier than a day trip across the border.

Source: iPhone 4 News – PCWorld.com

Apple was hit with a new lawsuit on July 23 that alleges the iPad overheats too quickly and stops working in sunlight and hot weather conditions. The case was filed in Federal Court in Oakland, California, and is seeking class action status, according to Bloomberg.

The suit claims Apple’s iPad “overheats so quickly under common weather conditions,” and fails to “live up to the reasonable consumer’s expectations created by Apple.”

Apple’s iPad is a multimedia tablet device with a 9.7-inch multi-touch display. The tablet runs the same operating system as the iPhone and iPod touch, and is capable of running most of the same apps, too. It includes built-in Wi-Fi networking support, Bluetooth support, can play videos and music, includes an ebook reader app, and more.

Along with class action status, the lawsuit is asking for unspecified damages. Apple has not commented on the pending case.

Source: iPad News – MacObserver.com

Amazon’s Kindle e-reader is a terrific device, but a lot of people, myself included, figured that once Apple’s iPad came out, the poor little Kindle would be toast. The first thing I did at the iPad introduction event was snap a few pictures of a shiny new iPad right next to my Kindle. They came out looking like those pictures where a regular person is standing next to a movie star.

But guess what? Yes, it’s true that the iPad has been a smash hit, selling 3.3 million units in just a few months. But Amazon claims its plucky little Kindle is doing pretty well, too. Amazon won’t give out sales figures, but Forrester Research, a market-analysis firm, reckons Amazon will sell 3.5 million Kindles in the United States this year, bringing its total number in U.S. readers’ hands to 6 million by the end of 2010.

Amazon claims Kindle sales have actually gone up since the iPad came out, partly because Amazon slashed the price of the device from $259 to $189. That price cut caused the growth rate of Kindle sales to triple. “I think what people are seeing is that we are focused on building an uncompromised reading experience, and customers love that,” says Steven Kessel, who helps run the Kindle business at Amazon.

Kessel says people have realized that the iPad might be good for a lot of things, but isn’t really the best device for sustained reading over several hours. It’s too heavy, for one thing—about a pound and a half compared with 10 ounces for the Kindle, which can be held in one hand, like a paperback. As Kessel puts it, in a bit of an understatement, “The Kindle and the iPad are very different products.”

Another problem is that the iPad’s bright LCD screen can be tiring on your eyes compared with Kindle’s black-and-white “electronic paper.” The Kindle’s screen also works better in bright sunlight. Kindle has better battery life—it can run up to two weeks on a charge, if you keep the wireless switched off. That compares with 10 hours for an iPad. Plus, with Kindle you have no contract and no monthly fee, and you have wireless access in 100 countries—a nice feature for travelers.

Book readers have noticed. Last month Amazon sold nearly twice as many Kindle books as it did hardcover books—180 Kindle books for every 100 hardcovers. Over the past three months the ratio has been 143 Kindle books for every 100 hardcovers. And for the first half of 2010, Amazon says it has sold three times as many Kindle books as in the first half of 2009.

Sure, the iPad has a book-reader application, and Apple runs its own online bookstore. But Amazon has a much bigger selection—630,000 e-books, versus “tens of thousands” at Apple. The Kindle app runs on iPads, BlackBerry, and Android devices, so you can read your books wherever you want; with Apple you’re locked into Apple devices.

The good news, according to Forrester, is that by 2015 nearly 30 million people in the United States will own e-reader devices, up from 3.7 million at the end of 2009. The bad news for Amazon is that Forrester predicts tablet computers like the iPad are going to zoom past e-readers so quickly that by 2015 twice as many people will own tablets as e-readers. Forrester analyst James McQuivey says e-reader makers like Amazon need to expand in two directions—up and down. On the low end, they need to roll out e-readers at a $99 price point. On the high end, they must push in-to the tablet PC space with iPad-like devices that also deliver video, music, games—and books. An Amazon spokesman says the company won’t make a tablet computer.

Last fall I interviewed Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos. This was before Apple officially announced the iPad, but everyone suspected it was coming. Bezos said Amazon wouldn’t view an Apple tablet as a threat to Kindle but rather as a companion, like the iPhone. “We’ll embrace it,” he said. “Wherever you want to read, we’re going to support you.”

I suggested to Bezos that maybe Amazon didn’t care about selling Kindle machines, that maybe the device wasn’t important. He said that wasn’t the case, but that “our goal with the Kindle device is separate from the Kindle bookstore.” Bezos insisted there is a market for “a purpose-built reading device,” as he calls it. “It’s not a Swiss Army knife. It’s not going to do a bunch of different things. We believe reading deserves a dedicated device.” So far, at least, it looks like he’s right.

Source: iPad News NewsWeek.com

Major publishers have slowly been rolling out their visions of how an analog magazine should look and work in a digital world full of iPads. Flipboard, on the other hand, is a new type of digital publication for the iPad that wants to meld your news and social worlds into a sort of personalized magazine.

Flipboard collects news, Twitter updates, and Facebook posts into a unique, animated magazine-style layout. Some preset news feeds and a Twitter “daily photo” stream introduce you to the concept, and you are prompted to add your Twitter and Facebook credentials so you stay on top of your own social networks and share interesting things you find with your friends.

You can also choose from a handful of built-in news sources like the Wall Street Journal and GigaOM’s tech blogs. Flipboard displays sources as tiles on a magazine-like table of contents page. When you tap a source, fluid animations will roll out stories, headlines, and photos across the page to remind you that this is most certainly not your grandparent’s magazine.

If you run to try out Flipboard right away Wednesday morning, you should know that quite a lot of buzz is swirling around it, so some features may stutter or hang. This is an unfortunate reality of Web services that get temporarily overwhelmed, but things should settle down soon.

Flipboard is available for free now in the App Store and requires an iPad running iOS 3.2 or later.

Source: iPad News PCWorld.com

A few weeks ago I wrote about an innovative app that lets you power your electric guitar via the iPhone or the iPod Touch. Now the AmpliTube has gone big with a version optimized for the larger iPad.

The app starts at free for limited use, or $19.99 for a full range of sounds (fuzz, distortion, wah-wah, clean) but you’ll also have to spring for an additional piece of hardware, the $39.99 iRig (which comes with the $19.99 version of the app.). It’s with the iRig that you get to plug your guitar into the headphone jack of the iPhone, to power it up. For additional sound, you plug a speaker into the iRig as well. The iRig is sold at at http://www.amplitube.com/irig or Guitar Center stores.

For the iPad version, no new effects or sounds have been added–but they’ll be easier to read, as they’re now much bigger.

Source: iPad News USAToday.com