March 10, 2011
We are about 24 hours away from the release of the iPad 2 and a view reviews are already starting to show up. You might think that the reviews would be short and to the point, but Macworld’s Jason Snell and Daring Fireball’s John Gruber both did very in-depth reviews of the device. Both worth a read, especially if you’re wondering if you should buy one.
It is a refinement of the original iPad — an impressive one, in several ways, considering that it arrives just 11 months after the original. But it is in no way a radical or significant departure from last year’s model. The fact is, Apple got it right with the iPad 1 in almost every way, and the iPad 2 reflects that. If you didn’t like the original iPad, you’re not going to like the iPad 2. If you liked the original iPad, you’re going to like the iPad 2 even better.
The iPad 2 [Daring Fireball]
For Apple’s competitors in the tablet-device market, the iPad 2 is a bucket of water to the face. After more than a year of struggling to catch up to the original iPad, here’s a new model that addresses many of the iPad’s deficiencies, dramatically improves its speed, and doesn’t cede any ground on price, features, or battery life. The iPad 2 raises the bar Apple set a year ago—and it’s time for the rest of the industry to scramble again to catch up.
Review: The iPad 2 [Macworld]
MLB.com CEO Bob Bowman spoke to Business Insider about the difference between selling software on the App Store and the Android Market. Bowman’s message to Google: be more like Apple.
“I think some sort of curation process would make a lot more content publishers put content that’s valuable on the device,” he says.
Bowman also believes Android phone owners are less likely to pay for apps than iPhone users. He estimated that app sales are 5-to-1 in favor of Apple over Google, despite more Android phones now in owners’ hands than iPhones.
Google Should Run The Android App Store More Like Apple’s, Says MLB.com CEO [Business Insider]
Originally scheduled to be released on Friday, Apple on Thursday released two new apps for iPad, GarageBand and iMovie. (more…)
International Data Corp. (IDC) reports that 10.1 million “media tablets” shipped in the fourth calendar quarter of 2011. Apple’s share of that pie dropped from 93 percent in the previous quarter to 73 percent, according to the report, but IDC says that Apple still has a “strong leadership position” in the media tablet market that it will retain throughout 2011. (more…)
Apple CEO Steve Jobs made Forbes’ list of the world’s richest people, released on Thursday. (more…)
Apple’s iPad 2 will not be available in stores until 5:00 pm PT on Friday, but the company said on Thursday that it will start selling it online much earlier. (more…)
I’ve spent the past month with a loaner Verizon iPhone 4, and it’s been great: call quality is a bit clearer, fewer calls have been dropped, and the Personal Hotpsot feature has been a life saver. But I’m not planning on switching from AT&T any time soon. (more…)
Apple may have to eat crow, if Guinness World Records has anything to say about it. (more…)
March 9, 2011
I love reading success stories. I had an opportunity to read one such story yesterday, but let’s be clear, one developer making money on Android doesn’t make it a better platform than Apple’s iOS, nor does it mean the end of iOS. (more…)
Apple’s Safari Web browser was hacked within five seconds of visiting a specially crafted Web site. (more…)
You probably know Michael Tsai from his Mac application, SpamSieve, the best independent spam application for the Mac. However, today, Michael is writing about his experience with iPhone Text Editors. He looks at six different apps and many of the most important features.
An iPhone app is essential; an iPad version would be a nice extra. It was very important to me to be able to search across multiple files on the iPhone, pick a matching file, and then jump between the results within that file. Simplenote was the only app I found that could do this, so that’s what I’m using now.
Comparing iPhone Text Editors [Michael Tsai]
It’s like shooting fish in a barrel around here some days. (more…)
GarageBand for iPad hasn’t been released yet, but it’s already one of the most talked about new apps from Apple. (more…)
Apple has released Safari 5.0.4, an update to its Web browser for Mac OS X and Windows. The new version is available for download through the Software Update system preference and through Apple’s Web site. (more…)
In addition to releasing iOS 4.3 on Wednesday, Apple also released Apple TV 4.3, a new version of the software for its home entertainment device. (more…)
Apple on Wednesday released iOS 4.3, the promised update to its mobile operating system. (more…)
Twitter on Wednesday updated its iPhone app, fixing a feature included in last week’s update, called the QuickBar. (more…)
If I were to give a stupid award, today’s would easily go to the Wall Street Journal’s Brett Arends for his latest iPad article. (more…)
HP seems to be taking a page from Apple’s playbook, but even extending it further, if recent comments from the company’s CEO are any indication. (more…)
March 8, 2011
Apple on Tuesday updated its iTunes software, which improves support for iOS 4.3. (more…)
Home audio peripheral maker Pioneer on Tuesday announced the release of its VSX-1021-K A/V receiver – the first of eight Pioneer receivers coming out this year with support for AirPlay, Apple’s streaming audio technology highlighted in iTunes and on iOS devices. The VSX-1021-K costs $549. (more…)
BioWare and Electronic Arts (EA) on Tuesday announced the release of Dragon Age II for multiple platforms, including Mac OS X. It costs $60. (more…)
Avatron Software on Tuesday announced the release of Air Display for Mac, which turns your Mac into a secondary wireless monitor for another Mac or a PC. The software is available through the Mac App Store and costs $19.99. (more…)
Rovi on Tuesday announced the release of Roxio Toast 11, a new version of its disc burning and media management software for the Mac. Available in Titanium and Pro editions, Toast 11 is priced at $99.99 and $149.99 respectively. Upgrades are available from the previous versions. (more…)
Reports have been circulating that iOS 4.3 would be released today, but that’s not going to happen. (more…)
Sometimes an app gets updated, and despite the developers best intentions (at least we hope), it goes terribly wrong. That’s what happened with the latest Twitter for iPhone release. With the addition of the QuickBar, Twitter for iPhone lost a lot of users with one app update and caused a weekend of hatred.
That is, until version 3.3 was released last week. Changes in this version have users howling, particularly a new feature called the QuickBar, a black bar across the top of your timeline showing one of the current trending topics. The bar is semi-translucent, and sits on top of updates. In some cases, it may show a sponsored topic, which means you’re looking at an ad.
When good apps go bad: Twitter for iPhone 3.3 [TechBlog]
The iPad 2 will go on sale in a few days and you may be wondering which model you should get. There are lots of options to choose from and choices to consider when making a purchase including 3G or Wi-Fi only, black or white, and AT&T or Verizon. Instapaper founder Marco Arment takes you through his thoughts on all of these issues and more.
Should you get an iPad 2?If you want an iPad but don’t already have one: Probably. You can argue that there might be another one coming out within the next 8-12 months… but that’s always going to be the case. And unlike a lot of other electronics, the price of any given Apple product will probably never change over its lifespan. Therefore, the best time to buy an Apple product is right when it’s released or updated.
Which iPad 2 should I get? [Marco.org]
March 7, 2011
Adobe is answering its Flash critics and will offer designers and developers a way to convert their Flash content to HTML5. (more…)
When Apple unveiled the iPad 2, the company said it would be available on March 11. Until now, the time was not confirmed. (more…)
Google overtook RIM and Apple in January, capturing the top spot for mobile operating system market share. (more…)
