iPad 3 to House a 3D Display?

by Cody on May 5, 2011

3D has been quite a popular technology lately. First we saw it in theaters, then it made its way into our homes. More recently, it’s been finding its way into our portable electronic devices.

The Nintendo 3DS led the way with their glasses-free 3D implementation. HTC has also been showing off their latest smartphones, capable of capturing and viewing in 3 dimensions. Heck, even RIM has been touting their PlayBook’s ability to output 3D graphics.

While Apple has yet to add 3D to any of their products, the rumor mill is certainly turning on the topic. RCR Wireless is reporting that they are hearing from a “Hollywood insider” that Apple’s next tablet is already in advanced planning stages, and very much 3D. The source is quoted by the website, saying:

“The fact that the iPad 3 is 3D is a dead cert”

She claims that major film studios are currently running around like “blue arsed flies” trying to get their 3D content in order, in time for the launch of Apple’s next tablet. Music industry insiders have been dropping tidbits about Apple’s future cloud service, so it’s no secret that folks in the entertainment business hear exclusive information from the Cupertino company.

If Apple is really going to include 3D technology in their next tablet, I hope it’s glasses-free via head-tracking technology. I personally don’t see why you’d want 3D graphics in your iPad, I’d rather see something closer to retina display.

I’ve also read rumors that Apple has been experimenting with layered E-Ink displays, you’d think that’d make more sense in a tablet than a 3D display(especially with Amazon building a tablet). I guess we’ll just have to wait and see what Steve Jobs and company have up their sleeves.

What do you think?

 

iPad holds 82% of the U.S. Tablet Market

by Cody on May 5, 2011

Remember back when Apple announced the original iPod? Though there were portable MP3 players available before it, there was something about Apple’s design that attracted consumers. Apple has since held a firm grip on the portable media player market, and it looks like their iPad is destined for the same fate.

When Apple’s original tablet launched in early 2010, there were certainly mixed reviews. But it seems as though the consumers outnumbered the critics, as the Cupertino company’s first entry in the tablet market flourished.

Their second model was even more successful. Folks gathered all around the world to wait in line for a chance to buy the iPad 2. In fact, just yesterday I was at my local Apple Store and asked a clerk what their iPad 2 stock looked like. He mentioned that they get them nearly everyday, but there is generally a line outside and they sell out quickly. A line, 2 months after it was released?

Having known all of the previous, it didn’t shock me too much when I saw a report from the Nielsen company on AppleInsider today. The survey of tablet owners found that the iPad currently has an 82% market share of tablets in the U.S. The closest competitor was the Samsung Galaxy Tab with a 4% market share.

The questionnaire also determined that half of the iPad users owned a 3G model, and half of all tablet users didn’t share their tablet with anyone else. I thought it was interesting that nearly 80% of the users reported using their tablets for actions which they would have previously used a computer for. I guess that’s why companies like Acer are so nervous.

Although we’ve played devil’s advocate on the blog from time to time, we are certainly fans of our iPads. Apple didn’t sacrafice design, battery, and reliability for 4G, and they didn’t risk size for things like USB ports. But with a commanding lead in the tablet market, in the U.S. anyways, the Cupertino company is obviously doing something right.

What do you think?

 

Apple Reportedly Hires THX Founder

by Cody on May 4, 2011

Tech sites are buzzing today in response to an interesting tweet this morning by known tech guru Leo Laporte. The former spokesman for Tech T.V. told the Twitter world that he had heard on “good authority” that Apple has hired Tomlinson Holman to head up the company’s audio projects.

For folks who aren’t familiar with Holman’s work, just check out any THX-certified movie or stereo system. The audio pioneer developed the technology back in the early 1980′s while working at Lucasfilms. He also engineered the world’s first 10.2 surround sound system.

What could Apple want with an audio specialist of this caliber? One theory is that Apple has brought Tomlinson on board to help work on their rumored TV device. Apple’s motto has always been to make technology easier for the everyday person, what if they were looking to do that with home theatre?

Imagine a mid-sized T.V. set (24″-37″) with new LED technology and state-of-the art sound. Combine this with current Apple TV amenities like AirPlay and you have a pretty interesting concept.

Although Apple hasn’t commented on the hiring of the Lucasfilm expert, it wouldn’t be the first time they hired  a high profile employee. Apple recently hired PR executives from Activision and Nintendo, fueling speculation that they are looking to bump up their share of the gaming market. With all of these new talented editions added to their roster, it’ll be interesting to see what the Cupertino company comes up with next.

What do you think?

 

iOS 4.3.3 Just Went Live, Jailbreakers Stand Down

by Cody on May 4, 2011

If you’ve been living in a cave the last few weeks, you may have missed all of the controversy involving Apple’s iOS. A research team uncovered a hidden file deep within Apple’s mobile operating system, that kept a record of users’ travels. When they broke this information to the public, a lot of curious folks turned to Apple for answers.

The secret file was just a programming glitch, but the public has a tendency to be really concerned about their personal privacy. In the wake of the discovery, Apple decided to patch the bug in a new firmware update, which just went live a few minutes ago.

Original iPad owners who are jailbroken and iPad 2 owners that hope to jailbreak in the future should avoid upgrading to the new firmware. As with any new software update, Apple could have patched the exploit that the current jailbreak is using, and you could be stuck with stock iOS for a while.

Although a jailbreak for the iPad 2 has not been released yet, owners of Apple’s latest tablet are encouraged to stay away from the new software as well.  There are members of the Chronic Dev team and others that currently have jailbroken iPad 2s, the exploit is just not ready for the masses. Updating your firmware could disqualify you from the possibility of a future jailbreak.

iOS 4.3.3 was specifically released to erase the file that was recording locations. While I don’t think we’ll see any surprises in this update, I would still recommend holding off until we have official word from the community that it’s safe. We’ll keep you updated.

Are you more worried about Apple’s location bug or your jailbreak?

 

New iPad 2 Commercial

by Cody on May 4, 2011

About a month ago, we brought you Apple’s first official TV ad for their latest tablet. Although the new iPad certainly hasn’t needed any assistance from their marketing team, the commercial was really well done. It basically laid out the Cupertino company’s formula for making electronic products for the masses, which is focusing on the user experience and not so much on the technology behind it.

It looks like Apple’s ad agencies have done it again. In their follow up 30 second spot for the iPad 2, Apple repeatedly completes the sentence, “If you asked…” The two most interesting lines come at the end of the commercial when the voiceover reads, “If you asked a child, she might call it magic. And if you asked us, we’d say it’s just getting started.”

Although I’m not sure that there’s anyone in the world capable of imagining what Apple will come up with next, the last line of the advertisement certainly makes you think. The iPad is still very early in its life, imagine what it will look like in 5 years. Just look at the current iPod line and how much it has changed since Steve Jobs unveiled the original model back in 2001.

What do you think the iPad will look like in 5 years?

 

Amazon Looking to Compete Head to Head with Apple's iPad?

by Cody on May 3, 2011

You might not have seen this one coming. Amazon has been a long-time competitor of Apple’s popular tablet, but never on even grounds. While Amazon was first to market with their Kindle device, Apple showed up with a product that was almost as portable and had way more functionality.

Amazon’s Kindle currently sits as a black and white, e-ink reading device. The different models don’t get more expensive than $200 bucks, with the Special Offers edition coming in at $114. Although Apple’s tablet contains a book store, the 2 devices don’t compete in any other features. The Kindle’s main function is to read books and the iPad can… (where do I start?)

DigiTimes reported yesterday that Amazon is ready to take on Apple’s popular slate with a full fledge Tablet PC all their own. According to their sources, Taiwan-based notebook maker Quanta Computer has recently received OEM orders from Amazon for an iPad 2 competitor.

Quanta Computer is currently the tablet OEM parter for RIM and their PlayBook, so they certainly have the means to produce a worthy iPad opponent. Upstream component makers expect Amazon’s mystery device to be available as early as the 2nd half of 2011 and initially ship between 700,000 and 800,00 units.

While the sources point out that Amazon’s Kindle is still selling strong, apparently the eBook reader isn’t too popular outside the U.S. and parts of Europe. They go on to say that Amazon is planning to cut the price of the Kindle to attract consumer demand, and then push a tablet out to meet the iPad 2 head on.

Since they will be arriving almost 2 years late to the party, Amazon better have something really special up their sleeves.

What do you think? Are you interested in an Amazon tablet?

 

Apple and Time Finally Reach iPad Agreement

by Cody on May 2, 2011

The iPad was expected to be a new medium for publishers in the print business to reach their customers, but so far it has yet to catch on. Disagreements between Apple and major publishers on digital subscription terms have seriously crippled the device’s potential.

The Cupertino company actually caused quite a stir in the magazine industry last February when they announced the conditions of their in app subscription policy.

Apple would reap 30% of the profits generated from in app subscriptions of an App Store application. They also required that publishers beat or match the prices of their subscriptions offered outside of the app.

One publication called these terms “economically untenable.” In fact, the U.S. Federal Trade Commission is currently investigating Apple’s policies on their App Store subscription services.

Negativity aside, Apple achieved a breakthrough last month when Bloomberg stated that they would be launching a $2.99 monthly subscription service for their Bloomberg BusinessWeek application.

Since Bloomberg signed on, a lot of eyes have been on Time Inc., to see what their next move in the digital world would be. According to the Wall Street Journal, the country’s largest magazine publisher has reached an epic deal with Apple.

Starting Monday, subscribers of Sports Illustrated, Time, and Fortune magazine will be able to access the iPad editions for free. The app will have an authentication process to determine if the user is a subscriber or not.

Time has still not reached a deal for selling digital subscriptions to the iPad editions of their magazines. Much like the TV networks’ disputes over TWC’s iPad app, it seems as though many major magazine publishers are having difficulties figuring out how to exist in the digital realm.

It’ll be interesting to see what the print media industry looks like in 5 years.

What do you think?

 

GeoHot to Help with iPad 2 Jailbreak?

by Cody on May 1, 2011

If you don’t recognize the name GeoHot, you must be new around here. The infamous electronics expert first garnered public attention when he traded his ground-breaking, unlocked iPhone for a brand new Nissan 350z. Did I mention he was 17 years old at the time?

Since then, the New Jersey native has been in and out of the jailbreak scene, more recently grabbing headlines for dismantling Sony’s PS3 system. The electronics giant took the young hacker to court over his PS3 exploit, and since then, GeoHot has been laying relatively low.

Chronic Dev team member, p0sixninja, is hoping he doesn’t stay gone for long. The talented iDevice hacker has recently tweeted, “Damn, this one of the slowest progressing jailbreaks ever. I think I kinda miss geohot a bit.”

It seems that p0sixninja and other jailbreakers are having a tough time with the iPad 2′s A5 processor and associated bootrom. Apparently p0sixninja feels like GeoHot could be of some help, as he publicly challenged him in a race to see “who could dump the iPad 2 boot rom” the fastest. GeoHot has reportedly accepted.

p0six mentions that having a worthy opponent might motivate him to work harder, let’s hope he’s right. We are now venturing into the 3rd month since Apple launched its latest tablet, and there still doesn’t seem to be an official iPad 2 jailbreak in sight. As always, we will keep you updated on the latest iPad 2 jailbreak news.

 

How to Spot a Failbreaker

by Cody on Apr 30, 2011

For those who haven’t been keeping up with the latest iPad 2 jailbreak news, let me bring you up to speed. Last week there was an unknown Twitter user proclaiming that he had created an iPad 2 jailbreak. He uploaded videos and pictures of what seemed to be an iPad 2 running Cydia.

He built up close to 1000 Twitter followers, and even had media outlets (including us) mentioning his work on Apple’s tablet. Although we maintained a certain level of skepticism, a part of us wanted to believe the photos and the videos were real.

Some people got so wrapped up in their beliefs, that they blindly downloaded an unknown EXE file from the hacker. He claimed that this was the iPad 2 jailbreak everyone was waiting for. Luckily, it was nothing more than a simple app designed to error out. It could have easily been something much more malicious.

For folks who are looking for help to dismiss future fakes, the Chronic Dev Team have posted a video on their GreenPois0n website that educates the average joe on how to spot a fake video of a jailbreak.

The Chronic Dev Team’s GreenPois0n software has been a staple in the jailbreak community for the last few years. They are currently working on a real iPad 2 jailbreak, but have stated as recently as last week that it is no where close to being done.

While the fake jailbreak from last week can be written off as a bad prank, the next time folks may not be so lucky. We encourage you to check back here for the latest information on an official iPad 2 jailbreak.

 

Foxconn Employees Arrested for Leaking iPad 2 Information

by Cody on Apr 28, 2011

Have you ever wondered how case designers and analysts always seem to know information about Apple products before they hit masses? It seems like every solid piece of evidence we get about upcoming devices are from accessory makers or market analysts that have sources inside Apple’s supply chain.

Being one of these “tipsters” could make for a really good side job, as long as you are compensated well and you don’t get caught. Well, it looks like a couple of Foxconn employees missed the memo, as they were recently arrested on related charges.

For those who don’t know, Foxconn manufactures electronics and components for many large tech companies including HP, Sony, and obviously, Apple. Many of the company’s iDevices are constructed at Foxconn’s factory in Shenzhen, China. You may recall all the negative attention the plant received last year after a string of work-related employee suicides.

Digitimes has translated a report from Chinese-langague sznews.com that tells the latest story. Apparently several online retailers in China had iPad 2 protective cases available to sell, well before the device was announced. This led Foxconn to believe that there were employees leaking information on Apple’s latest tablet, and they reported it to the police.

After a brief investigation, local law enforcement arrested three suspects on December 26th of last year. Since then, the police have gathered enough evidence to officially charge the three former Foxconn employees for violating the company’s trade secrets. The charges were filed at the end of last month, and the three defendants are currently awaiting trial.

Since Apple thrives on the secrecy of upcoming products, I can assume they are looking to prosecute to the full extent of the law. The fact that a Foxconn employee reportedly committed suicide 2 years ago after losing an iPhone, suggests that most folks would rather not cross the Cupertino company.

What do you think?

 
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