iPad

Apple Offers iPad for Conspicuous Consumption
January 29, 2013

Apple announced a 128-GB version of the fourth-generation iPad with Retina Display on Tuesday. This latest version of Apple's popular tablet computer, which doubles the capacity of the previous top-end model, is now available with WiFi as well as WiFi-plus-4G service. While Apple has been pushing its products further into the cloud, the new iPad seems to be targeting more down-to-earth usage.

Apple Stock Tanks Despite Record-Busting Sales
January 24, 2013

Apple's stock fell after the company released its most recent quarterly report, despite record revenue, iPad and iPhone sales. It posted $13.1 billion, or $13.81 per share, in net income for its first fiscal quarter on revenue of $54.5 billion. Net income was flat compared with the same period a year earlier, but revenue was up 18 percent from the $46.3 billion it earned in the year-ago quarter.

Dutch Court: Apple Can't Corner the Rounded-Corner Market
January 16, 2013

A Dutch court ruled this week that Samsung's Galaxy tablets do not infringe on certain Apple design patents relating to the iPad. Apple alleged that Samsung copied the rounded edges of its iPad to create the design on the Galaxy Tab 10.1, Galaxy Tab 8.9 and Galaxy Tab 7.7. The Apple case hinged on the principle of Community Design, an intellectual property right in the European Union.

Snapguide Makes Creating a How-To a Snap
January 14, 2013

In late December, Snapguide updated its iOS app to include iPad optimization, joining the previous iPhone and website versions that somehow slipped my notice. Or maybe I did notice them months ago but walked away disinterested, which happens. I don't remember -- but now I'm interested. Apple highlighted Snapguide as a "What's Hot" selection in the iPad section of the App Store.

The Coolest Cartoon Video App You've Never Noticed: ToonCamera
January 02, 2013

ToonCamera is an app that's been flirting with stardom in the iTunes App Store: I've seen it rise as high as the No. 8 paid app in the Photo & Video category, as well as claw into the Top 100 paid apps in the store. Along the way, it's boasted a high 4 or 4.5 star user review rating. ToonCamera is an iPhone or iPad app that applies a real-time cartoonish filter to photos and videos.

Next iPad Mini Likely to Have Retina Display
December 21, 2012

While Apple is keeping its cards close to the vest about what the next iPad mini will look like, few will be surprised if it has a Retina display. It's a very likely move for the next generation mini, according to Ross Rubin, principal analyst at Reticle Research. "The iPad mini really stands out as one of the few Apple products in its modern lines not to have a Retina display," he said.

Apple Pushes Out WiFi Fix for iOS 6
December 19, 2012

Apple on Tuesday began pushing a fix to a WiFi bug in iOS 6 that targets the iPhone 5 and iPad mini. Apple has released very little information about the fix. Its support site simply describes the 6.0.2 update as "fixes a bug that could impact WiFi." This latest fix for iOS 6 is the second since the software was released in September.

Walmart Cuts Apple Device Prices to the Core
December 17, 2012

Walmart is breaking out the price hatchet and aiming it at some of Apple's most popular products in an effort to attract holiday shoppers looking for a last-minute deal. The retailer announced it will be carrying a handful of Apple mobile devices, including the recently released iPhone 5, at reduced prices. The 16GB iPhone 5, normally $189, will be available with a two-year contract for $127.

Burst of Loyalty Could Sew Up US Market for Samsung
December 12, 2012

Apple may get more mindshare from consumers, but Samsung currently holds the lead when it comes to market share. The connected device market, which includes PCs, tablets and smartphones, grew 27.1 percent year-over-year in the third quarter of 2012. In that time Samsung maintained the top position with 21.8 percent market share based on shipments.

USPTO Strikes Blow to Apple's Prized Multitouch Patent
December 10, 2012

The U.S. Patent and Trademark Office has preliminarily invalidated 20 of the claims in the so-called "Steve Jobs" patent, the second such blow dealt to Apple's IP portfolio in recent months. The Jobs moniker refers to the Apple founder's listing as the chief inventor. The patent protects the technology used in the touchscreen interface on Apple's iOS devices.

For Apple, Repairability Rules Don't Apply
December 06, 2012

Apple is frequently taken to task for its design choices, many of which revolve around the battery. For years, the naysayers were irritated that Apple's iPods and iPhones, for example, didn't have user-replaceable batteries. Worse yet, you couldn't swap in a new battery while on the go if you ran out of juice. Then Apple took away the removable batteries in its MacBook line, favoring instead to glue them in.

iTunes 11: I Want to Be More Impressed Than I Am
December 03, 2012

After the iTunes 11 delivery delay, I was hoping Apple was working through a seriously complicated redesign that would vastly improve my iTunes experience. Instead, we got iTunes 11, which looks like a huge improvement, but -- if anyone out in the world is at least somewhat like me -- is just a marginal improvement with some pretty shininess built into it.

iTunes 11 Introduces Powered-Up MiniPlayer
November 30, 2012

Apple released a new version of iTunes for Windows and OS X on Thursday, revamping the software's interface, refreshing the look of its store, and enhancing integration with cloud services. It was the software's first major overhaul since September 2010. In user libraries, Apple has abandoned the spreadsheet look in favor of a graphical layout consisting of thumbnails of all media content in the collection.

iPad Owns Black Friday Mobile Shoppers
November 28, 2012

Apple's retail stores were bustling with shoppers this Black Friday, but this year, its iPad tablet won the day as the favorite mobile device for online shoppers to use while buying other things. Mobile shopping overall was on the rise this year, according to a report from IBM.

Xbox SmartGlass: Not Quite the One, But Worth a Date or Two
November 26, 2012

I've been watching Microsoft's Xbox 360 transformation from online gaming console to living room media center for years, so when Microsoft's Xbox SmartGlass app showed up earlier this month, I had to give it a whirl. My personal Xbox 360 use is fairly limited to playing a few games here and there as well as assisting small children as they attempt to play games.

iOS App Turns the Dyle on Mobile TV
November 20, 2012

For more than half the nation, live broadcast television can now be in the palm of their hands. A new accessory for the iPhone, iPod Touch and iPad allows the devices to receive live broadcast TV feeds through a free service offered by Dyle Mobile TV in 35 markets covering 55 percent of the U.S. population. The EyeTV Mobile accessory costs $99.95 and is made by Elgato.

Apple, Microsoft and Google Play High-Stakes Musical Chairs
November 05, 2012

The last decade seemed to be about the decline of Microsoft, the dominance of Apple, and the emergence of Google. This decade, Microsoft seems to be trending up, Apple looks increasingly at risk, and Google looks more and more like the Microsoft of 10 years ago. It is almost as if the companies have shuffled and changed chairs.

Court Orders Apple to Revise Cheeky Apology
November 02, 2012

The British court that ordered Apple to post a statement declaring that Samsung didn't infringe on its designs isn't happy with the way the order was carried out. Apple posted a statement to its UK website, but it was apparently not what the three-judge appeals panel had in mind.

Elevating Ive Is the Smartest Move Cook's Made Yet
November 01, 2012

When Apple announced its executive shakeup this week, there was plenty of news to chew on and make you wonder what happened behind the scenes and why. At the top of the attention list, Scott Forstall, the iOS software group leader, was fired by Apple CEO Tim Cook. What? The head of the operating system of the most wildly acclaimed smartphone of all time -- let go?

Google Plants Voice Assistant Flag on Siri's Turf
October 31, 2012

Google revamped its search application for iOS this week, adding an enhanced version of voice search technology that could compete with Apple's voice assistant Siri. Voice Search is an extension of Google's core search engine that now provides contextual, intuitive, spoken results for voice queries and Web searches on Apple's mobile OS.