Apple will reportedly reveal two iPad 3 models during the Macworld/iWorld expo scheduled for January 26-28, 2012, in San Francisco. Sources claim that both will offer the same 9.7-inch QXGA screen (1536 x 2048), but one will feature a 5MP camera lens while the other will sport a larger 8MP lens. Both will provide dual LED light bars to strengthen the brightness of the screens.
According to sources at Apple’s supply chain partners, via Digitimes, the iPad 2 will also join the two newer models during the show. It will supposedly represent the entry-level tablet in Apple’s iPad line, followed by the 5MP iPad 3 (mid-range) and 8MP iPad 3 (high-end). It will also reportedly compete directly with Amazon’s Kindle Fire, thus indicating that Apple could introduce a cheaper, 8 GB version to better compete with the Kindle Fire’s $199 pricetag.
Sources also claim that Sharp has signed on to provide the majority of the iPad 3 display panels, with Samsung and LG Display picking up the slack. Minebea, the company which provides backlight units (BLUs) to Sharp, has also entered Apple’s supply chain for the new iPads. Outside the display, according to reports, Samsung will provide both the quad-core A6 processor and the CMOS image sensor (CIS) for the 5MP lens, whereas Sony will serve as the CIS supplier for the 8MP lens. The iPad 2 will presumably retain the current dual-core A5 SoC.
Apple unveiled the iPad 2 on March 2, 2011, and then began selling the device online and in retail shops on March 11. The original iPad was first introduced back on January 27, but didn’t release the tablet until April. More than 15 million iPad units were sold by the time the sequel hit retail shops the following year March.
If you fly as an American Airlines premium passenger, you’ll get to play with a Galaxy Tab. If you actually fly the plane, though, you’ll have to make do with an iPad. According to ZDNet, the carrier has already won FAA approval to use iPads “as electronic chart and digital flight manual readers,” making it the world’s first airline to be totally tablet friendly. A source close to the situation tells ZDNet that AA “will begin iPad operations on B-777 aircraft” before expanding to other planes, and that both first and second generation devices have been cleared for cockpit use. An AA pilot, meanwhile, tells TechCrunch that the company’s tablets will feature JeppTC (a flight chart app available in the App Store), and that all onboard slates will be required to fly with an extra battery. The program, slated to kick off this Friday, could also offer substantial savings in paper and fuel costs. According to Seattle Pi’s estimates, a single iPad would replace some 35 pounds of paper per year, translating to approximately $1.2 million in saved fuel costs. Insiders say United and Delta are pursuing similar initiatives, with the latter reportedly looking for an Android-specific solution, though at the moment, only American Airlines has won the FAA’s seal of approval.
Apple prides itself on its brand value. But in China, the technology giant may be forced to sell their iPad tablets under a new moniker. The world’s largest technology company lost an ongoing court battle to use their iPad trademark, after claiming that a Chinese company was infringing on the name with their own product.
The patent court in Shenzen, China ruled in favour of Proview Technology, who had previously trademarked the name ‘iPad’ in 2000. Proview sued Apple for 10 billion yuan ($1.6 billion) in October for copyright infringement; likely spurred by its 400 million yuan ($64 million) debt.
Apple had purchased rights to the trademark from Proview’s global parent company last year. But the Chinese judiciary clearly did not share the same sentiments.
It has been suggested that Chinese patent law is deliberately designed to favour Chinese based companies, in efforts to proect Chinese intellectual property. This has resulted in Chinese versions of Western brands being protected by patent law, such as Weibo in place of Twitter, and Baidu in place of Google.
China is currently the world’s largest smartphone market, after overtaking the U.S. earlier this year. For Apple, not being able to use one of its universally synonymous brand names will be an unfortunate blow to the company.
Apple did not comment on the ruling.
One question Apple faces is whether it will buy the rights from Proview once more? Or, if the case is upheld, will Apple choose to market the iPad under a different name?
If the idea of pinching, zooming and tapping on your iPad is far less appealing than kneading, sprinkling and cutting, then the Domino’s Pizza Hero iPad app may just be right up your alley. Putting aspiring pizza makers to the test, the game challenges players to assemble a pie as quickly as possible for points. Once you’ve passed levels one through five, affectionately nicknamed “Pizza School,” other players will get a chance to rate your performance — ultimately making or breaking your pizza career. If concocting virtual pies was enough to make you hungry, fear not famished souls as the app lets you order the real deal direct from your iPad — now that’s amore.
When Apple announced the iPhone 4S in October of this year, many were disappointed that the phone was just a follow-on to the iPhone 4 and not a completely new device. Apple has done this before, with the iPhone 3G and the iPhone 3GS, and it looks like this trend of releasing an updated version of last year’s device is spreading to other Apple products.
According to a report in Digitimes, while Apple’s newest iPad will hit the market in March of next year, this won’t be the ‘real’ iPad 3. Instead, the iPad we see early in 2012 will be an updated iPad 2. The website cites supply chain sources that say the ‘real’ iPad 3 won’t be launched until the third quarter of 2012, at the earliest.
It wouldn’t be at all surprising if this turns out to be true, after all, it wouldn’t be the first time Apple has put off a full upgrade in favor of minor upgrades to last year’s model. Add to that the fact that the iPad 2 was already a pretty major upgrade from the iPad 1, including a whole new design, and it seems pretty likely. According to the Digitimes report, the iPad 2 upgrade will have a longer battery life and a slightly slimmer design.
Google has finally taken wraps off of its official iOS Gmail app. However, momentarily after being launched, the app was pulled by Google. Google’s confirmed on its blog that the Gmail app contains a bug that breaks notifications, and it’s pulled the app while it fixes it. A new version is promised “soon.”
Anyway, let’s take a look at the app first shall we? The new app offers a number of “time-saving features,” including push notifications for new message alerts, quick message search and email address auto-complete from your Apple device’s address book. The iPad version also offers up a split view, to read messages and check out your inbox at the same time.
On the efficiency side, the Priority Inbox shows your important messages first, and the app also lets you sort messages via labels and stars. Swiping down will refresh the messages and swiping right gives you a quick view of your labels. Gmail will work with devices running iOS 4 and higher.
CNET reports that LG Display and Samsung are continuing to struggle with production of the display planned for the iPad 3 next year, with both companies trying to tackle the challenge of producing the display in volume. Sources have claimed that Apple is planning a 2048 x 1536 display for the device, double that of the current iPad in each dimension.
But whether manufacturers can make them in volumes that Apple demands is the question. “They have production plans for 2,048×1,536 displays. Starting in November. But those are only plans at this point,” said the source, referring to LG and Samsung.
“It’s not a question of making just one. That, of course, can be done. The challenge is making lots of them,” the source said. “This is a quantum leap in pixel density. This hasn’t been done before.”
Some reports had suggested that Apple was hoping to release the iPad 3 late this year, but by August reports were suggesting that the launch had been pushed back to 2012, if it had ever been targeted for 2011 in the first place. Display production was identified as the major stumbling block at the time, but The Wall Street Journal had noted that trial production of the display was planned for October.
Curiously, CNET’s report claims that Apple is also considering a 1600 x 1200 display as a fallback option for the iPad 3 if the higher-resolution display proves to not be ready in time. Such a move would seem to run counter to Apple’s strategy for increasing display resolution, as it would not be a clean multiple of the current 1024 x 768 display and would thus cause issues for developers who have already produced apps for the current iPad models.
When Apple transitioned to the Retina display on the iPhone 4, it doubled each dimension of the previous 480 x 320 display to reach the new 960 x 640 resolution. That exact doubling in each dimension allowed the Retina-capable iPhone 4 to easily display content intended for the original lower-resolution display. Over time, many developers have updated their apps to specifically support the Retina display, providing higher-resolution graphics within their apps.
Surely by now you have seen dozens and dozens of music creating apps for your iOS device, but how about an apparatus that literally transforms your iPad into a musical instrument? Thanks to this innovative Kickstarter project created by Starr Labs, you will be able to live out all of your rock star fantasies!
Dubbed the iTar, this device utilizes a case along with one of Starr Labs’ patented button-based guitar fretboards to transform any iPad into an even greater music making machine. With instruments built for countless famous musicians such as the Chemical Brothers, Pendulum, Linkin Park and even several TV/film studios, Starr Labs definitely knows their way around an electronic music instrument.
With 48 days left to go, Starr Labs has $7,000 worth of contributions towards their $50,000 goal. If you’re interested in getting your hands on one of the first iTars, all you have to do is head on over to the Kickstarter page and pledge a minimum of $200.
Psst. Hey, do you carry a spare Smart Cover around with you? Well, if you’re an unscrupulous sort, you can actually use it to bypass the lock screen of any iPad running iOS 5. This multi-step security hole will let you browse whatever’s running behind the passcode screen, whether that’s email, apps or the homescreen.
To take advantage of the flaw, hold down the power button on the locked device until the power off slider appears, then whip the Smart Cover on, open and tap cancel. Fortunately for iPad owners, the rest of the tablet remains locked-down, but the main problem here is any sensitive information left on-screen.
If you unlock the tablet to the main screen, you won’t be able to open new apps, although anyone feeling particularly nefarious can apparently delete apps from that meticulously arranged home screen. See how it’s done in the video after the break.
Kind of like eating a peanut butter sandwich with no jelly, the most obvious app missing from the iPad has been Facebook — until today. Finally! The New York Times reports that the site has finally confirmed the app’s availability just in time for eager social networkers to like, subscribe and stalk from their slates.
According to software engineer Leon Dubinsky, the app will highlight the multitouch awesomeness of the iPad, something that’s unavailable from the website alone even from a touchscreen device. The folks at FB also added that some of the newly released features will be integrated into the iPhone app as well, making it a win / win for iOS fanatics. Consider it liked.
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