iPad

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Fragmentation? Here’s your iOS platform matrix

Christian Zibreg ∙ August 14, 2012

A developer took it upon himself to create a handy chart with all of Apple's iOS devices, their key hardware characteristics and iOS software builds running. Even a brief glance reveals very little fragmentation as approximately 70 percent of all iOS devices in the wild are shown running iOS 5, the latest public version of Apple's mobile operating system.

The upcoming iOS 6 is already on five percent of devices in the wild and iOS 4 is still found on approximately ten percent of devices. On the hardware front, both the third-generation iPod touch/iPhone and newer plus all iPad models run on the ARMv7 application processor.

This makes software optimization much easier than on the Android platform, where a variety of form factors, hardware configurations and device models contribute to high fragmentation....

Apple shipped nearly 7 out of every 10 tablets in Q2

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated June 13, 2016

Joining Strategy Analytics and IDC, research firm IHS iSuppli today published findings of its second-quarter tablet research. No surprises here, Apple's iPad remain the tablet to beat as Apple grew its tablet market share from 58.0 percent in the year-ago quarter to 69.9 percent in the second quarter of this year.

It's the highest number since the first quarter of last year, when Apple had a 70 percent share. Making Apple's surge even more noteworthy is the fact that a year ago Apple had fewer competitors in the marketplace...

Why haven’t we seen many leaked iPad mini parts?

Cody Lee ∙ August 13, 2012

If we were doing a scavenger hunt for iPhone 5 parts, we'd be nearly done by now. We'd have the back cover, front panel, motherboard, and a slew of other components for the handset.

But the recent ramp up in iPhone 5 leaks has some folks wondering, why are there so few iPad mini parts floating around? Apple is still expected to unveil both products next month, right?

Apple licensed its prized design patents to Microsoft with an “anti-cloning” agreement

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated January 25, 2016

A surprising revelation from the Apple v. Samsung litigation as Apple patent licensing director Boris Teksler took the stand today to testify before a San Jose court, revealing that Apple licensed its design patents to Microsoft, but with an "anti-cloning agreement" to prevent copying of the iPhone and iPad.

To make this matter more interesting, we're talking about essentially the same design patents that Apple is asserting against Samsung in the high-stake trial...

Report: new dock connector has improved transfer rates, is orientation independent

Christian Zibreg ∙ August 13, 2012

As you know, Apple is planning to deploy a much smaller dock connector with MagSafe-like functionality across all future iOS devices this fall. And contrary to Reuters calling for a 19-pin design, purported photos from two days ago show fewer pins and noticeably smaller design compared to your regular USB connector.

And now, a new report sheds more light on the features the new I/O will provide, including faster data transfer and orientation independence...

Again, why you should never buy an iPad in a parking lot

Cody Lee ∙ Updated October 11, 2018

Craigslist is arguably one of the web's most popular destinations for folks looking to buy stuff at a bargain. A virtual garage sale of sorts, one can find anything from furniture to exercise equipment.

Of course, you can also find electronics on Craigslist — Apple products even. But as we've said before, you should always be wary of buying Apple gear in a parking lot. And again, here's why...

An iPad user reviews the Nexus 7

Sébastien Page ∙ August 11, 2012

A review for an Android device is probably the last thing you'd expect to read on iDB. For those of you who are paying attention though, you probably noticed Jeff's review of the device a couple weeks ago, and now that I've been using the Nexus 7 for a about two weeks myself, I'd like to share my thoughts with you.

Of course iDB is an Apple-focused blog. Of course we are biased towards the iPad and just about everything iOS, but when a device like the Nexus 7 comes out, we feel that we owe it to ourselves and to our readers to have a look at it. After all, it's good to have a point of comparison, especially if we are going to look down on Android as we often do here.

Now that we have the housekeeping stuff out of the way, let's dig into this brief and honest review of the Nexus 7. Does it live up to the hype? Is Android better than iOS? Can the Nexus 7 replace my iPad? A few questions and more that will be answered in the next paragraphs…

Smarter Stand makes your Smart Cover smarter

Cody Lee ∙ August 10, 2012

If you have an iPad, and a Smart Cover for that iPad, then that makes you the perfect candidate for the Smarter Stand. The tiny accessory, composed of 2 clips, promises to turn your Smart Cover into a full-featured iPad stand.

Wish your Smart Cover was more sturdy when propping up your iPad? Smarter Stand can help with that. Wish your Smart Cover offered a wider range of viewing angles? Smarter stand can help with that too. And here's how it works...

EA’s Back to School promotion knocks 80% off popular iOS titles

Cody Lee ∙ Updated October 10, 2018

Looking for something to do this weekend? Beat the heat by spending your long Saturday, or lazy Sunday, afternoon indoors playing video games on your iPhone or iPad.

And if you don't have any cool games to play, EA has you covered. The studio has taken up to 80% off some of its most popular iOS titles as part of its Back to School promotion...

Surprise, a lot of folks get confused between Apple and Samsung products

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated January 25, 2016

Seriously, do you know anyone who in their right mind would mistaken a Samsung phone for an iPhone? Anyone? If your answer is a resounding 'no', congrats - you're officially a geek, just like yours truly.

Now, Apple's been arguing from the onset that the extent of alleged copying of its industrial design exhibited in Samsung's work introduces a strong likelihood of customer confusion between the two brands.

While gadget lovers whose morning routine includes skimming through tech news cannot grasp how anyone could possibly mistaken a gadget with the Samsung logo for one with a bitten apple on it, to those outside the tech circles - you know, the general public, average consumers and Joes Schmucks of this world - the similarities are painfully obvious.

Specifically, one in two thought they saw an iPhone when presented with an image depicting a Samsung phone...

Next-gen MacBook could wirelessly charge 2013 iPhones, iPads

Christian Zibreg ∙ August 10, 2012

Chip giant Intel is working on a new technology for its 2013 Ultrabook portable platform that is said to incorporate wireless charging between notebooks and mobile devices, per a new report out of Asia based on sources from the upstream supply chain.

As MacBooks use Intel's chips, Apple could adopt this upcoming technology from Intel to enable wireless charging between future MacBooks and your iPhone, iPad or iPod touch...

Confidential Apple, Samsung sales data revealed in court documents

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated April 18, 2016

The Apple v. Samsung case is a peep show of sorts, a pornographic public showing of the two technology giant's closely kept secrets to the extent that we have for the first time been allowed to examine a bunch of early device prototypes, read internal communication about Apple's engineering process, including tidbits like Apple's 'kitchen' brainstorming, and laugh over such mundane things as stickers on court exhibits.

And now, a very important and confidential piece of information has also been publicized, Apple's and Samsung's sales numbers...