As many of you already know, I have a nice collection of AKG mics that I use to record my guitar amps, drums and vocals in my studio. However, I also have one of these Audio-Technica USB mics that sounds … Continued
iPad
∞ Jason Snell's review of the HP TouchPad
I have to admit, I’m kind of rooting for HP, the TouchPad, and the webOS. Apple needs strong competitors in the tablet market to help push things forward, and I think companies with control of both hardware and software are … Continued
∞ ITC postpones Kodak v. Apple and RIM decision
The ITC has surprisingly given notice that the target date for the decision has been extended by one week. It’s now June 30, 2011. This could either be due to a delay on the ITC’s part or a way for … Continued
∞ Apple set to sell more than 14 million iPads in third quarter
Sales of Apple’s iPad 2 tablet are set to explode in the third quarter according to Hong Kong-based research firm CLSA. Citing LCD sales data from DisplaySearch, the firm thinks Apple will unload 14.4 million iPad 2 tablets in the … Continued
∞ iOS users spend more time on Wi-Fi than Android users
In other words, iPhone users consume almost half of their content via WiFi and Android users consume more than three quarters of theirs over cellular networks. In tablets, the difference is even more pronounced: 91.9 percent of iPad data traffic … Continued
∞ RIM slashes PlayBook sales targets
It just keeps getting worse for RIM, but when you rush a product to market that isn’t finished, you have to expect a backlash.
∞ Apple awarded patent for mutiltouch interface
Apple has been awarded a new patent that could spell trouble for almost all of its smartphone competitors.
∞ Will publishers go with OnSwipe instead of native apps?
In a nutshell, Co-Founder and CEO Jason Baptiste’s pitch to publishers is that while apps are good for some things — games, specific actions such as listening to music, etc. — for content-related purposes they aren’t ideal, for either the … Continued
∞ RIM has to rearchitect entire system to get email on PlayBook
RIM co-CEO Jim Balsille publicly stated that email was not a core component that its customers wanted on the PlayBook. We all knew that was hogwash, but now the real reason has come out.
∞ RIM's mismanagement fallout begins as layoff notices go out
Not even a week after RIM reported disappointing financial results, the company started handing out layoff notices to some workers.
∞ iOS 5 Safari faster than IE or Android
Apple’s mobile Safari Web browser may not have always done well against the competition, but the addition of the Nitro JavaScript engine certainly helped speed things up. According to new tests, the version of mobile Safari that will come with … Continued
∞ Omni Group: Why they only develop for Apple and not Windows or Android
One of the most respected developers in the Apple community is Ken Case from the Omni Group. If you’ve wondered why some developers only make apps for Apple, Case has the answer for you.
∞ iOS 5 in an iPad classroom
With the announcement of iOS 5 at WWDC earlier this month, people got a view of what they can expect from Apple’s new mobile operating system. Features like AirPlay and iCloud have appealed to many, but Matthew Panzarino looked to … Continued
∞ Check your blood pressure with your iOS device
Withings on Monday announced the U.S. availability of its Connected Blood Pressure Monitor for iOS devices, including iPhone, iPad and iPod touch. It costs $129.
∞ New York Post Web site blocks iPad users
The New York Post has gone from showing iPad users visiting its Web site an ad promoting its iPad app to blocking access altogether.
∞ Apple debuts 'Now' iPad 2 commercial
Apple’s commercials are special. They make you think, understand, and connect with their devices like no other company can do. The newest television ad is no different. Dubbed “Now,” the new ad talks about all of the things that we … Continued
∞ Apple adds more Samsung devices to lawsuit
Apple amended its complaint against Samsung, adding new devices it contends are infringing on its patents. Apple called Samsung’s attempt to get access to unreleased iOS devices as an “attempt to harass” and said those devices were irrelevant to this … Continued
∞ Gruber, Arment and honesty in publishing
Daring Fireball’s John Gruber and Instapaper founder Marco Arment took two prominent Web sites to task for recent articles they wrote. My interpretation of their critiques come down to one thing — honesty in publishing. Having a difference of opinion … Continued
∞ RIM co-CEOs praise themselves as the company burns around them
It’s hard to tell how executives will react after delivering poor quarterly results, but praising themselves probably isn’t the first thing that comes to mind.
Unfortunately for RIM shareholders, that’s exactly what happened last night. After announcing weaker than expected shipments of BlackBerrys, weak PlayBook shipments, poor financials, and a lower outlook for next quarter, co-CEOs Jim Balsillie and Mike Lazaridis praised their leadership of the company, according to quotes from the call posted on AllThingsD.
“Mike and I would like to address some of the concerns that have been expressed surrounding the executive management structure at RIM and, specifically, the joint nature of our leadership,” said Balsillie. “Mike and I have been partners in this business for almost 20 years, and during that time RIM has grown to $20 billion in annual revenue. We are currently approaching the tail end of a significant transition in our business, that, frankly, few companies would have survived. But we have. And I believe, and I think Mike would agree, that neither of us could have taken RIM this far alone.”
∞ RIM needs to shut up and get a new CEO
It is a sad day for many employees of RIM. During the company’s disastrous first quarter results, they learned some workers would be laid off. But it’s not the workers that are responsible for this mess.
I first came out against RIM back in February when the company was the darling of the media and the PlayBook was the device expected to kill the iPad. At that time, I wrote a story called “RIM needs to shut up and ship,” chastising the company for announcing three generations of PlayBooks before they even shipped one.
RIM co-CEO Jim Balsillie said, “I think the PlayBook redefines what a tablet should do.”
Ultimately, RIM released a device that doesn’t even have email or calendaring. This from the company that made its mark in the mobile arena based on secure email. What’s even worse is the response that RIM’s CEO had to the lack of basic features.
∞ RIM implodes: announces layoffs, 500,000 PlayBooks shipped
According to the company’s results, net income for the quarter was $695 million, or $1.33 per share diluted, compared with net income of $934 million, or $1.78 per share diluted, in the prior quarter and net income of $769 million, or $1.38 per share diluted, in the same quarter last year.
∞ Apple sued for violating iBooks trademark
Apple is being sued for violating another “i” trademark — this time its for iBooks.
The lawsuit is being brought by publisher John T. Colby, who purchased the rights to “ibooks” in 2006 and 2007, according to AppleInsider. The company is said to have published over 1,000 books using the name.
∞ Deathsmiles iPhone game conversion adds new content
Japanese game developer Cave is known for making frentically-paced and gorgeous-looking “bullet hell” shooters. Nowhere is this more evident than in Deathsmiles, a “Gothic Lolita”-themed shooter that’s headed to the iPhone. The forthcoming iPhone version will get a new character … Continued
∞ iPad 3 rumors in 2011 persist
Rumors of an iPad 3 release started early in 2011, even before the iPad 2 was released. Taiwan’s Economic Daily continued the speculation on Tuesday.
According to the report, the iPad 3 is scheduled to be launched in the fourth quarter of 2011. One interesting note is that the image resolution is reportedly 5-6 times higher than the iPad 2.
I have no specific knowledge of an iPad 3 release this year, but I did write about it in February and why it may make sense for Apple. Here are a few excerpts from that story that I think are still relevant.
∞ Only 7% of iOS developers are Mac developers too
Analyst Gene Munster surveyed 45 Apple developers at last week’s WWDC to find out how many developed on other platforms. While the number of developers he spoke with is quite small (considering there were 5,000 registered for the event), there … Continued
∞ PlayBook is the 'herpes of tablets'
RIM may want people to compare its PlayBook tablet to the iPad, but journalists have a less complimentary comparison for the device.
While I was attending WWDC last week, CNN said the PlayBook was the “herpes of tablets.” Apparently the news organization was trying to return the PlayBook to RIM and got no response.
∞ Download this now: Galaga 30th Collection for iOS
Drop what you’re doing, fire up the App Store and download Galaga 30th Collection. It doesn’t matter if you’re using an iPhone, iPod touch or iPad. What’s more, it’s free.
∞ Apple finally unveils iCloud and iTunes Match
After first acknowledging last week that it was launching a service called iCloud, Apple on Monday took the wraps off, during a two-hour keynote presentation kicking off this week’s Worldwide Developer Conference (WWDC) in San Francisco. iCloud is expected to … Continued
∞ iOS 5 comes this fall loaded with new features, and untethered
Apple on Monday introduced iOS 5, which will be released this fall A beta version is now in the hands of iOS developers. The software has more than 200 new features, and is less tethered than ever from the constraints … Continued
∞ Gruber, ice water, hell, and Windows 8
Here’s a lesson for people that want to write for a living or even for a hobby — if you are going to quote somebody to make your point, make sure they actually said what you claim they do. Time … Continued