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iPad mini now outselling iPad 4, 100M Apple tablets predicted for 2013

Christian Zibreg ∙ December 14, 2012

When I come to think of it, technology buyers often times are an unpredictable bunch. Seven out of each ten told iDB they would never buy a non-Retina iPad mini, lots of folks appeared disappointed post-announcement and more than half told us they would never buy and iPad mini. Heck, even kids haven’t fallen for Apple’s advertising blitz as they want full-size iPads for Christmas.

Fast forward to today, when NPD DisplaySearch estimates the iPad mini is now outselling its bigger brother as Apple doubles display panel orders with LG Display and AU Optronics to more than twelve million units, up from the previous estimate of six million holiday units...

Google+ holiday treats: better photo experience, conversation cards, more fluid UI

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated August 26, 2017

With over a hundred million active users, Google+ is, as Eric Schmidt put it, "a viable competitor to Facebook" and its nearly one billion users. This morning, the search firm is issuing new iOS and Android builds that enable a bunch of holiday treats. On the iOS side, you can now swipe through photo albums inline or tap once to see the photos full screen. New conversation cards are also available for highlighting specific content, from longer snippets to bigger photos to comments that slide in beneath each post...

Patent Race: China ahead in filings, but US leads active inventions

Ed Sutherland ∙ December 14, 2012

As we head into 2013, patents - along with the legal fight to enforce and protect them - is becoming a larger part of tech companies. Just ask Apple and Samsung. Where should we look for the next patent to appear? A good bet is China, which in 2011 filed for more than 500,000 technology related patents in 2011, topping the United States. According to the United Nations, China applied for 526,412 patents last year, more than the US with 500,000 and Japan's more than 300,000 applications...

Has Google just won the iOS maps war?

Ed Sutherland ∙ Updated January 28, 2019

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KEz1sSKCpIc

While most people consider the return of Google Maps to Apple's App Store an all-around positive, one observer sees the move as a 'mixed blessing' for club Cupertino. Not only is the familiar mapping application once again available, but the Android maker Google may now overshadow Apple's own efforts to make a difference in the increasingly competitive mobile mapping arena. As we reported yesterday, the new Google Maps for iOS is the top free app for the iPhone.

Indeed, Google admits the iOS app - which adds turn-by-turn directions - is superior to the Android version from a design standpoint. But for Google, returning to iOS means it also reconnects with iPhone users and a wealth of data...

Apple rolls out iPhone 5 in 33 new countries, here are launch videos

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated April 18, 2016

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X6FiR76k7Yw

Following an important debut in China yesterday, Apple on Friday rolled out the iPhone 5 to an additional 33 countries. In addition to the 1.33 billion people market of China, the device is now available in Albania, Antigua and Barbuda, Armenia, Bahamas, Bahrain, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Costa Rica, Cyprus, Ecuador, Grenada, Indonesia, Israel, Jamaica, Jordan, Kuwait, Macedonia Malaysia, Moldova, Montenegro, Panama, Paraguay, Philippines, Qatar, Russia, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, Taiwan, Turkey, United Arab Emirates and Venezuela. Go past the fold for nice launch clips from around the world...

Twelve South announces new iPad mini BookBook case

Cody Lee ∙ Updated April 14, 2018

The BookBook case line is perhaps one of the most popular on the market. Twelve South makes them for a number of Apple products including MacBooks, iPads and iPhones. And, as the name suggests, they all sport a similar leather-bound book design.

Last month, Twelve South updated its iPhone BookBook case to support the new iPhone 5. And this week, it's released a version of it for the iPad mini...

Apple said to be working on high resolution iPad mini displays

Cody Lee ∙ December 14, 2012

To me, it seems like a no-brainer that Apple will address the low-resolution display in the iPad mini by its next-generation. After all, the tablet's lack of a Retina display has seemingly been the only complaint amidst otherwise extremely positive reviews.

But no-brainer or not, it's always nice to hear reports that help back up gut feelings. And the latest one comes out of Taiwan, where a familiar publication has it on good authority that Apple is talking to its suppliers about high-res iPad mini panels...

Buffer launches new iOS and web apps making social media truly timeless

Oliver Haslam ∙ December 14, 2012

Buffer has lived on the App Store for twelve months now, after being a web-only affair until then. A year after its iOS debut, the folks at Buffer have given the service an overhaul, giving the iOS app a fresh lick of paint in the process.

Originally born as a way of scheduling Tweets for publishing at a later date or time, Buffer has now expanded its scope to take in more of the social media landscape. Both Facebook and LinkedIn are now present in Buffer's list of supported networks, and the newly redesigned iOS and web apps are gorgeous (and they weren't too bad before).

If you've ever needed to schedule a tweet, Facebook update or LinkedIn post, then you'll want to check out Buffer now even more than before...

AT&T adds 7 more cities to its LTE network

Cody Lee ∙ December 14, 2012

Following T-Mobile's lead, AT&T has just expanded its high-speed network to 7 new markets. Earlier this week, the carrier launched LTE in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania, Nashua, New Hampshire, and Grand Rapids, Michigan. And now it's available in Reno, Nevada and a handful of other cities...

Chrome updated with key background audio feature

Cody Lee ∙ December 14, 2012

Google released a nice little update for Chrome yesterday, bringing the app to version 23.0.1271.96 (yeah, I know right). The update only brings two changes to the popular iOS web browser: a fix for a character encoding bug, and the added ability to listen to audio playing from within the app while it's in the background...

The Daily Recap – Dec 13, 2012 edition

Jeff Benjamin ∙ December 13, 2012

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qTsYGun6l0M

Welcome to The Daily Recap for December 13th, 2012. Watch our video for a quick look at some of the top stories from the day in less than two minutes. If you missed out on any of today's big news, this is a great way for you to get caught up fast.

For your convenience, you'll also find links to all of the stories listed in today's recap inside...

Looks like it’s gonna be a very Merry Apple Christmas indeed

Ed Sutherland ∙ Updated April 18, 2016

Despite a blitz of advertising and promotions, consumers across the globe are choosing Apple products during the run up to Christmas. After interviewing more than seventy shoppers in ten cities, Reuters reports consumers are not swayed either by Wall Street concerns or Madison Avenue come-ons. Instead, in shopping malls in the US, Europe and Asia, the key is Apple's simplicity.

Samsung - Apple's chief rival - is gaining no converts in shopping malls. Only in Singapore and Bangalore, India did Reuters find consumers picking Samsung products over the iPhone or iPad. In Mexico, despite having a mall covered with ads and displays promoting the South Korean firm's products, the iPad mini is selling like hotcakes...