US book chain Barnes & Noble plans to launch new Nook tablets alongside its e-readers in the UK later this year.





They will compete against products from Amazon, Kobo, Sony and others. B&N boasts that its smaller tablet - which features a 7in (17.8cm) screen - is the lightest such device to offer a "high definition" experience. The firm has secured distribution deals with some of the country's leading retailers, but may suffer because its brand is less well known. While B&N and Amazon have decided to enter the UK's tablet market at the same time, they are pursuing different strategies: the former has decided to offer its full line-up from the start, while the latter is selling a more limited range. So, while B&N will offer a 9in (22.9cm) tablet called the Nook HD+ in the UK from mid-November, Amazon has opted to limit sales of its 8.9in Kindle Fire HD to the US for the time being. This may help B&N make inroads into the larger-screened tablet market - the Nook HD+ is £100 cheaper than Apple's 9.7in iPad 2, and £70 below Samsung's 10.1in Galaxy Tab2. Competition is likely to be more fierce in the 7in category where the basic £159 Nook HD, featuring 8GB of storage, will compete against similarly priced offerings from Amazon, Kobo and Elonex as well as Asus's £199 Google-branded Nexus 7 tablet. Curated stores The Nook tablets run on an adapted version of Android 4.0, giving them access to an existing wide range of third-party software. B&N is also offering its own curated magazine, newspaper, book and app stores - and plans to add a video service offering movies and television shows by early 2013. These facilities can also be used on other devices allowing users to share material from the tablets to smartphones and PCs. The decision to restrict which apps can be sold provides the firm with an opportunity to limit malware. However, some owners might be frustrated by the fact they are not offered an opportinity to install material from either the Google Play or Amazon Appstore marketplaces unless they hack the machines.

 The Nook tablets do not display adverts, unlike the Kindle Fire which shows "special offers" when put into lock mode. Distribution deals The tablets build on B&N's earlier announcement that it would sell its full range of black-and-white-screened e-book readers in the UK from early-October. These will include a Simple Touch model featuring a built-in light, allowing it to be used in the dark. While Amazon has announced a device with a similar feature for US shoppers - the Kindle Paperwhite - it has not put the model on sale in the UK. However, Kobo does offer the facility with its new e-reader, the Kobo Glo. With a flood of new devices coming onto the market, the various companies' fortunes may be determined by their High Street distribution deals. While B&N does not operate its own stores in the UK, it will sell its products through Sainsbury's and the bookstore Blackwell's. Kobo's partners include WH Smith and Asda, while Amazon has teamed up with Waterstones, Comet, Ryman, Carphone Warehouse and Tesco. John Lewis, Currys, PC World and Argos will sell all three devices as well as other similar products made by Sony, Archos, Delium and others. "A clearer picture of how the market will be divided up should emerge after this Christmas and the shopping period immediately afterwards," Philip Jones, editor of the Bookseller magazine, told the BBC. "Barnes & Noble is an unknown brand in the UK so it will have to work harder to get where Kobo and Kindle are. "But what is still unknown about the tablets on offer is how big the non-iPad market will become, and whether they will appeal to book-readers. "Although they are being sold through bookstores, the evidence suggests that people don't use tablets to read books to the same extent they do on e-ink devices."













26 September 2012 Last updated at 13:05
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-19723362

A South Korean court has ruled that Apple and Samsung both infringed each other's patents on mobile devices.

The court imposed a limited ban on national sales of products by both companies covered by the ruling. It ruled that US-based Apple had infringed two patents held by Samsung, while the Korean firm had violated one of Apple's patents. The decision comes as a jury in California is deliberating on a patent trial between the two firms in the US. The sales ban will apply to Apple's iPhone3GS, iPhone4 and its tablets the iPad and ipad2. Samsung products affected by the ban include its smartphone models Galaxy SI and SII and its Galaxy Tab and the Galaxy Tab 10.1 tablet PCs. The court ordered Apple to pay 40m won ($35,000; £22,000) in damages to the South Korean rival, while Samsung was told to pay Apple 25m won. The awards are dwarfed by the damages being sought by Apple in its case in California. It is seeking more than $2.5bn (£1.6bn) from Samsung, for allegedly violating its patented designs and features in the iPad and iPhone. 'Differentiated its products' A Samsung spokesperson told the BBC that the court had found the South Korean firm guilty of violating Apple's patent relating to the "bounce back" function. The function lets users know that they have reached the end of a screen that they may be scrolling through on the their devices.

Meanwhile, Apple has been found guilty of violating patents relating to telecom standards held by Samsung, including technology that makes the transfer and transmission of data between devices more efficient. However, the court ruled against Apple's claims that Samsung had copied the designs of its products. "There are lots of external design similarities between the iPhone and Galaxy S, such as rounded corners and large screens... but these similarities had been documented in previous products," a judge at the Seoul Central District Court was quoted as saying by the Reuters news agency. "Given that it's very limited to make big design changes in touch-screen based mobile products in general... and the defendant (Samsung) differentiated its products with three buttons in the front and adopted different designs in camera and [on the] side, the two products have a different look," the judge said.













24 August 2012 Last updated at 06:08
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-19364875

Apple's stores and facilities in Italy could be shut for 30 days because of a row about product warranties.

Italian authorities made the threat because it said Apple was not promoting a standard free two-year warranty. Apple has already been fined for not telling customers about the warranties and could face more financial penalties if it does not comply. Instead of the standard warranty, Apple has been pushing its own paid-for service contract. In late 2011 Apple was fined 900,000 euros (£722,000) for failing to let Italian customers know about the standard two-year free warranty that applies to its products. By contrast, Apple's own care scheme is free for a year but can be extended to two years for a fee. Apple's appeal against the fine was rebuffed by an Italian court in May. However, in a bid to force Apple to pay its fine the country's competition and market authority (AMCG) has threatened further sanctions. In documents explaining its action the AMCG said Apple was being "aggressive" in its tactics of offering its own care scheme. Its actions, said the AMCG, constituted an "unfair practice" that was likely to lead consumers into error. Apple had made some attempts to do a better job of telling customers in its stores and online about the free warranties, said the AMCG, but the changes had not gone far enough. The standard warranty and Apple's own plan, called Apple Care, do not offer the same protection to customers. The standard Italian warranty means firms have to replace a product if it proves defective as soon as it is taken out of the box. By contrast, Apple Care is for problems that occur after the gadget in question has started to be used. If Apple does not comply with Italian law and take more trouble to tell customers about the free warranty, the AMCG said its stores and other operations in Italy would be closed for 30 days. In addition it could face a further fine of 300,000 euros. Apple has 30 days to respond before action is taken. In a statement, Apple said: "We've appealed the recent decision of the court as it was, in our view, based upon an incorrect interpretation of the law. We've introduced a number of measures to address the [Italian authorities'] concerns and we disagree with their latest complaint."










3 July 2012 Last updated at 12:08
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-18688998

Microsoft has unveiled Surface - its own-brand family of tablets.  

The touchscreen computers will be powered by its upcoming Windows 8 system and contain a choice of an Intel or ARM-based processor. It allows the firm to challenge Apple's bestselling iPad with a device that can run standard applications such as its own Office programs and Photoshop. But it puts Microsoft in competition with other manufacturers planning to release tablets designed for Windows 8. The company's chief executive, Steve Ballmer, said he had wanted to give the software "its own companion hardware". The devices have 10.6 inch (26.9cm) displays, built-in kickstands and are housed in magnesium cases - which the company described as the first of their kind. The ARM-based tablets are 9.3mm (0.4 inches) thick - slightly less than the iPad - and run the Windows RT version of the new system. The Verge reported that the chipset will be built by Nvidia. Third-party developers must rewrite programs from scratch to run on the system's Metro interface to work on these devices. The versions using Intel's x86 technology run Windows 8 Pro and are 13.5mm (0.5 inches) thick. These can run Metro and an updated version of the "classic" desktop meaning they can use software designed for earlier editions of Windows, although some programs will need to be updated to be compatible. The specifications mean the Surface tablets have bigger screens than the iPad but are heavier. Pen input A variety of accompanying covers can be attached using built-in magnets. They double as keyboards with trackpads. One version is flat while the other offers keys that can be depressed. The devices are also designed to work with a pen accessory using what the firm dubbed "digital ink". When the stylus is held close to the screen of the tablet it ignores touch-input from the users' hands and "samples" the ink at 600dpi (dots per inch). The ARM-based version will be available with either 32GB (gigabytes) or 64GB of storage. Microsoft said they would be priced at a similar rate to other tablets using the same type of processor built by other firms.

 It added that the Intel-based versions would be offered with either 64GB or 128GB of storage and would have price tags comparable to ultrabook laptops. Different chipsets One tech analyst told the BBC that other hardware makers were likely to feel aggrieved by the news. "Microsoft can offer a competitive price for these specifications as it doesn't need to pay itself a licence for the Windows 8 software which other manufacturers will have to do, and that might make its PC and tablet-making partners unhappy," said Carolina Milanesi, research vice president at the technology consultants Gartner. She added that the firm appeared to have focused on a specific part of the market which wanted a more powerful device than the iPad. "They seem to be be targeting a professional audience," she said. "So they are going head-to-head with Apple within the corporate sector. Price will be key - these devices won't be at the bottom end of the market. They will probably let other manufacturers fight over that space." By contrast the tech research firm Forrester said it thought the focus for ARM-based Surface tablets would be consumers, rather than the enterprise sector. But one of its analysts warned there was a risk customers would shy away if they found it confusing distinguishing between the two types of Windows 8 experience. This will be the first time Microsoft will offer a version of its PC system designed for chips based on ARM's architecture. "Microsoft will be its own worst enemy in this market," blogged Sarah Rotman Epps. "Consumers aren't used to thinking about chipsets. Choice is a key tenet of Windows, but too much choice is overwhelming for consumers. Apple gets this, and limits iPad options to connectivity, storage, and black… or white." ARM's ambitions Despite the potential for confusion, British chip designer ARM said it was "excited" by the news. The firm's designs have already proved popular with smartphone makers, but Microsoft's support for its technology in Windows 8 offers it the potential to expand into a market dominated until now by Intel and AMD. "This represents a significant milestone in Microsoft's journey to expand the support of the Windows operating system and embrace the ARM architecture," said Lance Howarth, the firm's vice president of marketing. "With the Surface for Windows RT announcement we are delighted to see yet another example of this partnership in action which follows on from various Windows RT devices demonstrated at Taiwan's Computex show recently."











19 June 2012 Last updated at 03:23
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-18500954

The Google 7-inch tablet is on the way, according to a fresh report -- the latest in a long line of reports dating back to the beginning of the year. The tablet will hit the market in July, according to a Thursday report from DigiTimes. Shipments -- about 600,000 initially -- are set to begin in June, the Taipei-based publication claimed. Asus is expected to manufacture the device. NPD DisplaySearch analyst Richard Shim told CNET previously that a 7-inch Goggle tablet was in the works, though a June shipment date means that an original projection of an April production run was apparently premature. That said, total production for 2012 of about two million units, cited in today's report, is in keeping with NPD DisplaySearch's original estimate. The tablet's details are not known but there has been speculation about Android 4.0 running on top of a quad-core chip. If Google's 7-inch tablet materializes and a rumored tablet 7.85-inch "iPad Mini" from Apple also surfaces, that would add to a growing collection of smaller tablets from first-tier suppliers. Amazon is already a major force in the 7-inch market segment and Samsung has recently begun selling its 7-inch Galaxy Tab 2.












by Brooke Crothers
May 23, 2012 11:33 PM PDT
http://news.cnet.com/8301-1001_3-57440566-92/google-7-inch-tablet-imminent-says-report/?tag=mncol;editorPicks

Sales of the US firm's notebook computers and other mobile devices were down by 10% over the three months to 4 May, compared with the same period the previous year. It blamed competition from cheap entry-level products in emerging markets, a category it does not participate in. Its shares fell 13% in extended trade. Net income for the first quarter was $635m (£404m), a fall of 33%. Revenue dropped 4% to $14.4bn, with its consumer unit reporting a steeper 12% decline. The company predicted only a small increase in sales over the current period. Although it expected to benefit from falling hard disk prices as suppliers recovered from last year's Thai floods, it warned that the savings would be offset by higher memory and display costs.

Touchscreens However, the firm's founder and chief executive, Michael Dell, told analysts he expected a pick-up in demand when Microsoft released its new system software later in the year. The upgrade features a new Metro user interface - designed for touch gesture controls - which Mr Dell said should prompt users to change their computer. "Unlike other Windows transitions, this is a transition where you generally are going to need a new PC, whether it's a tablet or ultrabook with touch or a notebook with touch or a PC with touch or some derivative hybrid on all the above type of products," Mr Dell was quoted as saying in a conference call transcript provided by financial news site Seeking Alpha. "The product refresh cycle associated with this release of Windows is likely to be very different from other releases, but it's hard to know exactly what that looks like. We're preparing a full complement of products, and we'll be ready with those." Mr Dell added that the new touchscreen products would cost more to produce than their non-touch equivalents, suggesting they should fall within the price bracket Dell targets, rather than the super-low end of the market that it had opted out of. However, he added that it would take longer for the new system to drive business sales.

"Corporations are still adopting Windows 7, so we don't think there'll be a massive adoption of Windows 8 by corporations early on," he said. Competition Dell has already tried to crack the mobile tablet market with its Latitude and Inspiron tablets that run on existing versions of Windows and its Streak tablets that run on Google's Android. However, the market has been dominated by Apple's iPad and Amazon's Kindle Fire. "We see Windows 8 as opportunity for all the PC manufacturers to reclaim the huge ground that they have lost to Apple and some of the other Android tablet makers," Chris Green, technology analyst at Davies Murphy Group Europe, told the BBC. "You can't underestimate how much the sector has hit PC sales. The challenge for Dell is that it will be competing against Acer, Lenovo and others - but the sheer size of the company should act as an advantage."









23 May 2012 Last updated at 11:14
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-18168198

The first wave of Intel-based Windows 8 tablets are expected to land in retail stores in November, a source familiar with device makers' plans told CNET. "The schedule is tight," said the source. "Looking at what Windows is trying to achieve not only with a new OS, but a new OS that needs to run four to five architectures -- three ARM, Intel, and AMD," according to the source. And don't expect just tablets. "More than 50 percent" of the "more than a dozen" designs will be hybrids, aka convertibles, the source said. Those designs combine aspects of a traditional physical keyboard-based laptop and tablet. All the devices described by the source will tap Intel's upcoming "Clover Trail" Atom chip. Clover Trail is Intel's first dual-core Atom design based on its 32-nanometer process technology.

 (The single core version of this chip powers a phone from India-based Lava and is slated for phones from Lenovo, Orange, and Motorola, among others.) Hybrid Windows 8 designs based on the higher-performance Ivy Bridge processor are also expected but the source did not address that market segment specifically. Windows 8, like Windows 7 before it, will be powered by chips from Intel and Advanced Micro Devices and will be able to run older, so-called "legacy" applications. A separate release from Microsoft, Windows RT, will land on devices powered by ARM chip suppliers Nvidia, Qualcomm, and Texas Instruments. RT will not run older Windows applications. The sources added that Intel has a chip called "Bay Trail" in the works -- the company's future 22-nanometer follow-up to Clover Trail. "It is a gigantic performer, with similar battery life to Clover Trail. It will also have a lot of security features built in and Infineon [3G/4G] silicon inside," the source said. Bay Trail would use Intel's own graphics tech, not Imagination's. When that chip will arrive isn't clear yet.











 by Brooke Crothers May 13, 2012 4:27 PM PDT
http://news.cnet.com/8301-1001_3-57433269-92/intel-windows-8-tablets-to-hit-retail-stores-in-november/?tag=mncol;topStories

  A bug report response from Apple suggests that the company is working on multi-user support for iPad. In the bug report submitted to Apple, a developer suggested that the company should add support for multiple users to the iPad. Apple responded to the developer saying: "After further investigation it has been determined that this is a known issue, which is currently being investigated by engineering," reports Apple Insider.

The developer said that they had used Apple's Bug Reporter to request new features several times before, but this was the first time he had ever received a response from the company. Before the original iPad was launched, it was reported that Apple's early development of the tablet focused largely on sharing capabilities, enabling the device to be used by multiple family members, for example. It was also reported that the multi-user function could be activated by facial recognition through a front facing camera. Last week, we reported that Apple has filed a patent covering an advanced new haptic system that could be used in the next-generation iPad. By Ashleigh Allsopp | Macworld UK |







09 May 12
http://www.pcadvisor.co.uk/news/mobile-phone/3356518/apple-investigates-multi-user-support-for-ipad/

The chiefs of Apple and Samsung have agreed to meet in a bid to resolve a patent case between the two in a California court.


This was after a US judge ordered the firms to participate in a settlement conference led by a magistrate judge.

The two companies have sued each other over technology used in smartphones and tablet PCs.

The two firms are fighting patent cases in various other countries as well.

"Samsung and Apple have agreed to participate in a magistrate judge settlement conference," Samsung said in a emailed statement to the BBC.

"This settlement conference will take place within 90 days, with the presence of each party's chief executive officer and general counsel."

'Part of the armoury'
The smartphone and tablet PC segments are among the fastest-growing markets in the technology sector.

Apple had enjoyed an early lead with the launch of its iPhone and iPad devices. However, Samsung has been increasing its hold on the market with the launch of new products including its Galaxy range.

Analysts said that in this potentially lucrative market, the companies had been using patents as a tool to ward off competition.

"In a market that is really fast growing, they have used whatever they possibly can to compete with each other," Andrew Milroy of Frost & Sullivan told the BBC.

"Patents are being used as a part of the armoury."

He said the legal battle between the two companies was not in the interest of the consumers as it might result in sales of products being affected.

"Then arguably, it is the duty of the authorities to play a role in addressing the issue," Mr Milroy added.












18 April 2012 Last updated at 02:57
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-17751806

Ever want to see an iPad being made?
Rob Schmitz, the public radio journalist who exposed Apple commentator Mike Daisey's fabrications regarding working conditions at a Chinese electronics factory, recently got a first-hand look at how the iPad is made.

Schmitz, the bureau chief of Marketplace Shanghai, is only the second Western journalist to have access to the factory floor since Daisey's falsified report about hazardous working conditions suffered by employees at a Foxconn factory in China.

Schmitz has been filing reports for public radio as well as writing a blog on his experience at Foxconn. During one visit, Schmitz took a film crew on a tour of Foxconn's Longhua facility in the city of Shenzhen, where Apple's iPad is produced.

Schmitz's video tour (see below) takes us from construction of the device's motherboard to installation of its touch screen, as well as testing of each unit's gyroscope.
His video also shows people lined up outside the factory, hoping for a chance to get a job, which pays $14 a day to start.










by Steven Musil April 11, 2012 4:23 PM PDT
http://news.cnet.com/8301-13579_3-57412744-37/see-an-ipad-being-built-at-a-foxconn-factory/?tag=mncol;topStories

The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission said today Apple is violating the Australian Consumer Law by misleadingly labeling its new iPad as 4G-capable, and it will try to get a court to impose fines and an injunction against sales.
The commission will apply to the Federal Court in Melbourne for orders tomorrow morning against Apple, it said in a statement:

The ACCC alleges that Apple's recent promotion of the new "iPad with WiFi + 4G" is misleading because it represents to Australian consumers that the product "iPad with WiFi + 4G" can, with a SIM card, connect to a 4G mobile data network in Australia, when this is not the case...
The ACCC is seeking urgent interlocutory relief to ensure consumers are made aware of the correct technical capabilities of this device.
Additionally, the ACCC is seeking final orders including injunctions, pecuniary penalties, corrective advertising, and refunds to consumers affected.


Apple offers two varieties of the third-generation iPad, one with only Wi-Fi networking and one with wireless network service provided through mobile phone networks. In the United States and some other areas, the wireless network can work with the higher speeds of the LTE standard for 4G networking.

In some parts of the world, though, 4G hasn't arrived, so the new iPad works just at slower 3G speeds. In Australia, though, there is 4G service from Telstra--but it uses an 1800MHz frequency band, ZDNet Australia reports. The new iPad's 4G requires 700MHz or 2100MHz for 4G.
"Consumers who have purchased or are considering purchasing an 'iPad with WiFi + 4G' should ensure that they have a proper understanding of the mobile data networks which this iPad can directly access by a SIM card," the ACCC said.
Apple didn't immediately respond to a request for comment.
The Apple store in Australia uses the standard product naming for the 4G-capable model, but the fine print makes mention of using 4G networks only overseas.
"The iPad with Wi-Fi + 4G model can roam worldwide on fast GSM/UMTS networks, including HSPA, HSPA+, and DC-HSDPA. When you travel internationally, you can use a micro-SIM card from a local carrier. You can also connect to the 4G LTE networks of AT&T in the U.S. and Bell, Rogers, and Telus in Canada," the Apple store iPad product page said today.



The iPad product page in Australia offers the "Wi-Fi + 4G" model, but the fine print below it only promises 4G service in other countries.
(Credit: screenshot by Stephen Shankland/CNET)













by Stephen Shankland March 27, 2012 2:17 AM PDT
http://news.cnet.com/8301-30685_3-57405011-264/australian-agency-taking-apple-to-court-over-ipad-4g-label/?tag=mncol;topStories

Numerous reports of new iPads getting unexpectedly toasty have plastered the Web today. CNET Labs ran our own, independent tests, and without too much beating around the bush, here are the results. All measurements were taken on the back of the tablet and all are reported in degrees Fahrenheit.

How we tested
We used Heat Seeker, an infrared gun-style thermometer, useful when measuring heating ducts, car batteries, electrical circuits, etc. We tested both the new iPad and iPad 2, measuring each tablet's temperature at the four back corners, as well as the Apple logo in the middle.
First, we let each tablet cool down for about 20 minutes, then powered them on and took the initial measurements with the screen at full brightness.

Games
Thanks to their high processing power requirements, games are the quickest way to sap your battery and generate heat. After the initial measurement, we played Infinity Blade 2 (arguably, the most graphically impressive iPad game to date) for 15 minutes with Wi-Fi on, before stopping and taking more temperature measurements from the same spots. We then turned off the tablets and let them cool for about 15 minutes before starting them again, adjusting the brightness to 50 percent and playing Infinity Blade 2 for another 15 minutes, taking more measurements after.

Movies
After allowing the iPads to rest for another 15 minutes, we watched a Netflix movie for an additional 15 minutes at full brightness. We used AT&T's 4G network since, in our experience, 4G devices have a tendency to get noticeably warmer than devices running on 3G networks. After 15 minutes of streaming, we took more measurements. After another 15 minutes rest, we started the tablets up again and watched the same movie over Wi-Fi, taking even more measurements after.
So, is your coffee table in danger?!

The higher temperature generated by the new iPad compared with the iPad 2 was noticeable to the touch but not uncomfortably so. The warmest point on the iPad is definitely the corner opposite the speaker. In our initial tests it got up to 94 degrees, but it's important to put that number into perspective.
Ninety-four degrees may sound high, but that's actually less than your normal body temperature. For comparison, the Dell Inspiron 14z's temperature measured 99 degrees after 15 minutes of Netflix streaming.










by Eric Franklin March 20, 2012
http://news.cnet.com/8301-13579_3-57401047-37/ipad-heat-tests-round-one-warmer-but-not-yet-a-problem/

Hours after saying it sold a "record" number number of third-generation iPads this past weekend, Apple has given that record a tally.
Today the company said it has sold 3 million of the devices since launching on Friday in more than a dozen countries. That number does not include preorders of the device, which went live the day the product was announced.

"The new iPad is a blockbuster with three million sold--the strongest iPad launch yet," said Philip Schiller, Apple's senior vice president of worldwide marketing, in a statement.
The news comes on the heels of Apple announcing plans to offer a quarterly dividend to shareholders, as well as a stock repurchasing program. In a call with analysts following the news, Apple CEO Tim Cook dodged a question about how many iPads the company had sold during its initial weekend on sale, saying only that it was "a record weekend."

To put the 3 million metric in perspective, preorders for the iPhone 4S--Apple's most popular product launch to date--topped 1 million units in its first 24 hours on sale, with the device going on to sell more than 4 million units during its launch weekend. That initial figure for iPhone 4S sales also did not include preorders; the company released total sales for the device after the end of the quarter. Apple did not report initial sales of the iPad 2 after the device made its debut last year, but did report launch sales of the first-generation model, which pulled in first-day sales of 300,000 units.
Apple has sold more than 58 million iPads since launching the product in 2010, a metric that includes today's 3 million number. The company sold 15.43 million in its most recently reported fiscal quarter, which ended in December.
Despite the fact that new buyers of Apple's third-generation iPad face a two- to three-week delay on new orders, the tablet launches in 24 additional countries this Friday.
Shares of Apple are trading at $603.79, up $2.70 (or 0.45 percent), in after-hours trading.













by Josh Lowensohn March 19, 2012
http://news.cnet.com/8301-27076_3-57400231-248/apple-3-million-ipads-sold-since-launch/?tag=mncol;topStories

Heat has come up as an issue with previous generations of iPads. So, that's not news. But the new iPad may have, in select cases, its own unique heat problems.
User forum postings (here and here) and a report seem to point to heat as an issue for select users.
The problem area--based on forum links above--seems to be a hot-spot in the corner of the unit.
In the worst case, the iPad shuts down and a message pops up, saying "the iPad needs to cool down," according to a Next Web report (link above).
That seems to be extremely rare, however. And one user who claimed to have the problem was using it in direct sunlight. Let's be clear: that can cause problems for any electronic device.

The third-generation iPad integrates both a larger battery and a faster (and reportedly larger) chip. Those are significant differences from the iPad 2. So, it inevitably gets warm. And like all Apple iOS mobile products it does not have a fan.

Anecdotal reports on launch day have pointed out that the new iPad can get a little toasty.
But this issue has come up with both the iPad 1 (here) and iPad 2 (here). There were reports of the "cool down" message on the iPad 2 also.
Moreover, note that user comments sometimes confuse overheating with the unit just getting warm.
At a suburban Los Angeles Apple store, a staffer confirmed that the new iPad gets warmer than the iPad 2. He attributed that to the battery.
The operating temperature range is listed on the iPad's spec page as 32 degrees to 95 degrees F (0 degrees to 35 degrees C).
Apple representatives did not immediately respond to a request from comment.
Updated at 7:15 p.m. PDT: clarifying "all iPads" to mean previous generations of iPads. In other words, the topic of heat has come up with each previous generation of iPad. And adds comments from staffer at Apple store. Also clarifies that the warm area is "a corner" of the unit instead of a specific corner, as that is not clear at this time.











by Brooke Crothers March 18, 2012 2:01
http://news.cnet.com/8301-13924_3-57399443-64/does-the-new-ipad-have-a-heat-problem/?tag=mncol;topStories

iPad apps as we've known them are about to get super-sized and are now on a collision course with whatever space you thought you had on your iPad--old or new. Early evidence pointing in that direction comes from Apple's own applications, which were all updated last week to coincide with its new tablet, and became considerably larger as a result.
As my colleague Jason Parker detailed earlier this week, Pages--the word processor app in Apple's iOS iWork suite--jumped from 95MB to 269MB, while Numbers--Apple's spreadsheet app--increased from 109MB to 283MB. Yesterday, an extended hands-on with the new tablet from Vietnam-based blog Tinhte came with additional numbers, mainly that iMovie has ballooned from 70MB to 404MB.
Here's the thing though: while it's easy to apply a multiplier onto the size of these apps and guesstimate it for any app that's out there right now, developers CNET spoke to said it's not that clear cut. Like a snowflake, each piece of software is different, and it all comes down to the content that gets packed in. Things like videos, music, and high-quality image and texture assets that are included in applications could be getting upgraded, but not all those things are equal in terms of the impact they have in size.

In the case of the updated iMovie app, it's a big mix of all these components. While things like buttons, knobs, and interface elements have gotten the "Retina" treatment, a big chunk of that size increase can be attributed to media Apple has added within the app. That includes the new trailers feature, which lets people make Hollywood-style movie trailers using footage they've shot.
As part of the new feature (which was picked apart for size by a Reddit commenter), Apple included 17 audio tracks, most about 2 MB in size and running about a minute. That's basically half a music album's worth of data that wasn't there before. Apple also included preview movies a few seconds long--but even these short videos can take between 300KB to 600KB each. There are 20 of them per trailer type, and there are nine types of trailers. All told it's a little more than 100MB of content, which is bigger than the entire app was in its last incarnation.
With Pages, Apple didn't tack on any new whiz-bang feature that's brought on audio or video files. The simple truth of the matter is that it's just a big app, with more than 1,000 image assets that needed Retina-ready counterparts, all of which come in at a bigger size and are an addition to the old ones. Examples like this are where some of the fear about bulging file sizes is warranted, since users on older devices aren't getting the advantage of these higher-resolution components, but will have to download them nonetheless.
Something else to consider is that many potentially bloat-inducing culprits, including standard app buttons and background textures, are pre-installed on the device, so apps often don't need their own. However, some developers create their own icons and buttons, which can add to an app's overall size. That includes the popular, and already updated Tweetbot app for Twitter, which has its own set of icons and visual features it brings along for the ride.
How big can apps get?
One consideration is that Apple has a firm limit on how big apps can be, which is 2GB per Apple's iTunes Connect--the system developers submit their software through. For something like the entry-level, 16GB iPad that works out to about seven applications given the space you're left with right out of the box.

Do any apps even come close to this per app barrier already? Yes, but they're games. EA's FIFA '11 and '12 editions both are more than a 1GB; the larger '11 version is 1.26GB. There's also Epic's Infinity Blade 2, which is 791 MB, and two of Gameloft's Modern Combat titles break the gigabyte barrier.
How big will these particular games get once they've been given a polish for Apple's new device? That remains unclear. Once again it depends largely on how much of that bulk are game assets the need double-sized versions, and if developers come up with any workarounds to make their apps take up less space.
One place to look in the meantime are the applications that have already been updated for the new tablet. Here's a chart of the ones that are not new apps, and how they were affected in the jump:

The one thing you'll notice is that none of these titles went down in size. That shouldn't be too surprising. You'll also notice that apps that are specifically for reading content like Amazon's Kindle reader and the New York Times, as well as writing apps like Evernote and the Day One journal software barely changed. The biggest impact was on graphically rich titles, which were the biggest in size. But even there it comes down to its make-up as seen with the Star Walk app, which went from 122MB to 153MB.
Sizing up
Looking at the iPad apps currently on top of the App Store, they would not come close to becoming 500MB, or even 1GB monsters--even if you were to quintuple their size.
Out of the top 25 iPad apps, 20 are not made by Apple and run the gamut from 1MB, all the way up to 565MB. However most are about 20 to 50MB range, which is big enough to be downloaded over 3G and 4G connections under Apple's restrictions. That includes Angry Birds and its sibling Angry Birds: Seasons, which come in at 14 MB and 15.5MB respectively.

So what do some of the biggest, popular apps have in common? Lots and lots of media. The 565MB behemoth, which has not yet been updated for Apple's upcoming iPad Retina Display, is Where's Waldo, a game that has you zooming in and out of high-resolution image files and will reward you with a video clip when you're finished. Similarly, Fancy Pants, a 268MB app comes with about 40MB worth of music and myriad level files that weigh in at megabytes a piece.
In other apps, the size of this media can be more obvious, like in Grand Theft Auto III--a very full-featured 462.3 MB game that's been ported from home consoles--which has its own radio stations, opening movie, and voice introductions for each mission. Short of the opening clip, these are all things that wouldn't need updating for the screen.
The universal dilemma
Once again, how much of an impact all this will have on iOS device owners depends on the app and how developers choose to go about updating. Though more than anything, any app that undergoes a big size increase is going to be more noticeable if it's universal--apps that have been designed to work on all iOS devices and thus carry things like specialized art for the differing device sizes.

As early reviews have already pointed out, some of the biggest impact will be on iPhone and first and second-generation iPad owners who cannot take advantage of the extra resolution but are paying for it the amount of space they're giving up for apps that include those extra files anyway. That's quite literally going to be a bigger deal for users who opt for, or already own entry-level, 16GB devices--be it a phone or tablet.
Many developers already choose to split the versions of their games separately. But for those who don't it's been a big convenience to end users, and often times a bargain for paid apps since you don't have to buy them twice. That's something developers may now begin to rethink if they want to keep sizes down and that Apple is no doubt keeping a close eye on ahead of it's next model.













by Josh Lowensohn March 15, 2012 5:54 PM PDT
http://news.cnet.com/8301-27076_3-57398378-248/will-retina-ready-ipad-apps-explode-in-size-not-necessarily/?tag=mncol;topStories

Apple's new iPad is beautiful, but it might not be the perfect fit for everyone. Whether it's your first iPad or just another upgrade, everyone can use a little buying advice before breaking out the credit card.



These are the times that try men's souls.
Never has a tablet purchase so vexed the collective nerd consciousness of this great nation. And Apple doesn't make it easy, doe it? Its "new" tablet looks a hell of a lot like the old one, only heavier! It's like Apple is toying with us.
But have no fear. Using a bracing mixture of logic and cheapskate wisdom, I'll walk you though this paralyzing first-world dilemma.

If you've never owned a tablet and you're considering the new iPad for your first fling, think twice. You may be buying more tablet than you need.
Many of the new iPad's updated features are difficult to appreciate as a newcomer. If I showed you an iPad 2 and told you it was the new iPad, there's almost nothing about the device to indicate that I'm lying to you. Without a frame of reference, the iPad 2's screen and graphic performance are dazzling on their own right.
I know this sounds condescending, but the new iPad will be best appreciated by those who are upgrading from a previous model. It's for us poor, strung-out tech junkies who've built up a tolerance for iPad "magic" and need something stronger.

Still, if you're set on getting an iPad, start with the iPad 2. Priced at $399 (or $529 with 3G), it offers all of the same overall features, only ratcheted down to slightly less impressive specs. It's capable of running all of the same software (in theory), it's technically lighter and thinner, and if you ever want to trade up to the new iPad, the resale value of the iPad 2 is one of the best you'll find for any tablet.
Better yet, if you're not completely sold on your first tablet being an iPad, you can save a lot of money buying a competing brand. It was once the case that the tablet market was divided between the iPad and everything else (and everything else pretty much sucked). But today, the iPad has fierce and affordable competitors at the high end, and some surprisingly capable alternatives priced at $199.
Put simply, if you're looking for a tablet that can be used for e-mail, Web browsing, and general amusement, $199 buys a lot these days if you can do without the Apple logo. It won't buy you bragging rights with your friends, but it's a great place to start.

For the upgraders
Here's where things get messy.
If you have a first-generation iPad, it's time to upgrade. After two years of use, you're now at a tipping point where your iPad's internal battery does a less spectacular job holding its charge and the resale value of your particular vintage of iPad starts to plummet. If you sell now, you could make $100 toward your next iPad. If you wait, it'll cost you $100 (plus shipping) to have your vintage iPad's battery replaced. Take the leap.
The choice then becomes iPad 2 or new iPad? Unless you're seriously jonesing for the improved screen, gaming performance, 4G data, or camera quality, the cheapskate in me would tell you to go with the $399 iPad 2. Coming from the first iPad, the iPad 2's slim design, light weight, dual-core processor, and dual cameras provide a substantial upgrade.

But there's a catch. The iPad 2 now only comes in one capacity (16GB). Also consider that the $100 you'll save going with the iPad 2 will also be taken out of the resale price when you go to sell this in the future. Logically, if you have the money to jump from the original iPad to the new iPad, it's a better investment and it also pays a dividend of early-adopter geek cred for the first few months.
For existing iPad 2 owners considering an upgrade, the choice is more difficult. On the plus side, the new iPad's vastly improved screen is stunning for e-books, movies, games, and photos, and the upgraded camera (and iCloud Photo Stream) makes it easy to feed that screen great shots. You also have those 4G models available from AT&T and Verizon, which seemingly offer the first good deal on 4G data we've seen on tablets.

But if you're happy with your iPad 2 and you don't want to part with any money (especially for an iPad that's technically thicker and heavier than your current iPad), there's not much here that dramatically improves the basic capabilities of the device. Unless you count dictation, there's nothing the new iPad does that the iPad 2 doesn't--it just does most things a little better, and one thing (the screen) better than anyone.

But if you're feeling the limitations of your iPad 2 and you'd like a version with more horsepower and more "pretty," you're in a cherry position to upgrade. The average trade-in value for a current iPad 2 is around $200, which knocks a nice chunk off the price of a new iPad. And like I said before, a new iPad will keep its value better than holding on to an iPad 2. Plus you get bragging rights, which are priceless, right?

For the Apple fans
You already ordered one in each color, didn't you?
Seriously, though, is there anything that pleases an Apple fan more than having a first-run feature like a Retina Display that can be shown off with unabashed smugness? This is your moment of glory, folks.
And get to it quick. With Samsung acting as one of the manufacturers of the new iPad's breathtaking display, you know it's just a matter of time before it pops something similar into an Android tablet.
For Android tablet users making the switch
I feel obligated to make this category, but I'm not entirely convinced these people exist. If so, they're mythical and unique, like the Yeti. In my experience, Android users are staunchly loyal (and vocal, if you've read our comments section).
But just in case there are any Yetis reading this who haven't found themselves philosophically polarized into one mobile OS doctrine or another, my advice is to wait. The wave of Android 4.0 (Ice Cream Sandwich) tablets is about to break, and Google's app and media offerings are stronger than ever.
Anyway, if you're going to bail on Android, at least wait until you see what Windows 8 tablets have to offer. I mean, if Android spoke to your nerd heart, I'm sure you already have a soft spot for Windows.
For professionals
In spite of being criticized as a "lean back" device, the iPad has infiltrated the professional world. If you already use an iPad for work and are wondering if the upgrade is worthwhile, here's how I would frame it.
Does the new iPad's high-resolution display give you a professional advantage? If you're a creative professional who routinely shows off a visual portfolio of work to clients, then it's a worthwhile purchase.

Next, consider what impact the 4G data capability may have for you. If you're a jet-setter who travels light, the iPad 4G offers a combination of durability, design, battery life, and wireless data bands that you won't find in other products.
Finally, there are the little touches that may hook professionals, such as Bluetooth 4.0 peripheral support, voice-to-text, and 1080p display mirroring over HDMI (with a $49 adapter).


To 4G or not to 4G?
Here's where I'm a little out of my comfort zone. For the past year, I've been criticizing 4G tablets as a thinly veiled ploy for carriers to rope people into two-year contracts for data coverage they probably don't need.
But the 4G data plans associated with the new iPad are a different story. Just like 3G data on the first two iPads, you pay by the month and there are no contracts to get in the way.
I still groan at the $130 you pay up-front for the privilege of Apple soldering in a wireless modem that probably costs it a few dollars to produce. Still, as ploys go, it feels a little more honest to me than a two-year contract.
So, down to brass tacks. Is it worth the extra $130 for a 4G-capable version of the new iPad?
Well, if you have the extra $130, go for it. Aside from the up-front cost, it's a no-risk feature. You don't even have to activate it unless you're in a pinch and can't find a Wi-Fi connection. Think of it like a security blanket.
But before you take the plunge, it's worth spending some time figuring out if your phone can already act as a 3G/4G hot spot that can be connected to a Wi-Fi-only iPad. Your phone is something you're always likely to have on you, so it may be a better option for your "just in case" cellular data than spending $130 on a feature you may never use. Plus, looking at current resale prices of older iPads, the value of the additional cellular data feature doesn't necessarily add as much to resale value as an investment in capacity.
AT&T or Verizon?
When you go to buy an iPad 4G, don't just blindly choose the model on your existing carrier. The models and capabilities of each carrier's iPad 4G are slightly different, and since you're not tied to a contract, you're free to choose whichever carrier you'd like.
If you're really hoping to make the most of 4G data speeds, be sure check each carrier's coverage map to see if 4G is even offered where you live. Also, check the pricing on each carrier's data plans for the iPad. Currently, AT&T offers the lowest entry-level monthly plan, but pricing may shift over time.
If you plan on taking the new iPad on any globe-trotting adventures, do some research to figure out which carrier's iPad will be most compatible with your travel plans. Fortunately, unlike the iPad 2, both carrier models for the new iPad support worldwide GSM/UMTS networks and include Micro-SIM card slots that can be adapted for foreign networks.
Finally, if the idea of using your new iPad as a cellular hot spot appeals to you, take a moment to make sure the feature is supported by your preferred carrier. At launch, only Verizon is supporting the iPad's new hot-spot feature. Even if AT&T jumps onboard, there's a good chance that each carrier will handle the hot-spot capability differently, and there's always a chance that additional fees could pop up, so do your homework.

For more, see our separate CNET How To on choosing the right carrier for the iPad.
Final thoughts
Here's the spoiler: it really doesn't matter what you do. If you wait another year, the next iPad will only get better. If you buy it and you're unimpressed, there's a good chance that you can make nearly all your money back selling it used. Who knows? If you're lucky, there'll be a shortage and you can turn a profit.
But whatever your thoughts on Apple, the company has not made its billions by disappointing customers. Odds are, you're going to like this thing.









by Donald Bell March 13, 2012 5:45 PM PDT
http://news.cnet.com/8301-13579_3-57395889-37/heres-who-should-buy-the-new-ipad/

Apple has unveiled a new iPad with a high-definition screen.

It said the resolution of the display was 2,048 by 1,536 pixels. The tablet is also powered by a new A5X chip with improved graphics performance.

Chief executive Tim Cook claimed to have "redefined once again the category Apple created".

Apple dominates the market but should face a fresh challenge later this year when tablets running the full Windows 8 system are expected to go on sale.

The new iPad - which is simply called by that name - also features a 5-megapixel camera sensor. It will be able to run on 4G LTE networks where the service is available and can act as a wi-fi hotspot for other devices if carriers allow the function.

It is 9.4mm deep, slightly thicker than the 8.8mm profile of the iPad 2. The basic 16GB model with only wi-fi will cost £399 and the top of the range 64GB model with wi-fi and 4G will cost £659.

Apple's marketing chief Phil Schiller said the tablet has the same 10-hour estimated battery life as the previous model using only wi-fi. That limit shortens by an hour when using 4G.

It is due to go on sale on 16 March in the UK, US, Canada, Germany, France, Switzerland, Hong Kong, Singapore, Australia and Japan.

The previous model will stay on sale at a reduced price, starting at £329. Mr Schiller said that would make it more affordable for schools to buy the machine.

The firm also announced an upgraded TV box which can now handle 1080p video.

Films and TV shows will be sold via its iTunes store in the high-definition format.

Mixed reactions
IMS Research said Apple accounted for 62% of the global tablet market in 2011. Ahead of the press conference it said it expected that share to rise to 70% this year.

Analysts at Gartner said they expected Apple to maintain its lead and increase the volume of tablets sold - but added that the launch did not contain any news to cause them to increase their "bullish" forecasts.

"I'd call the new iPad an evolutionary device with some revolutionary experiences," said research director Michael Gartenberg.

Others expressed disappointment following the news noting that the new device's display did not include haptic touch-feedback technology or access to the iPhone 4S' voice-controlled Siri "intelligent assistant" as rumoured.

"As tablets are increasingly being used for personal media consumption, it is promising to see a better screen resolution," said Fred Huet, managing director of Greenwich Consulting.

"But will this be enough to ensure Apple's competitive lead in the marketplace? No."

However, the new iPad won praise from journalists at Engadget who were among the first to try out the tablet. They noted that the improved screen resolution should lead to improved apps.

"Apple just put an insane amount of real estate in the hands of crafty developers, and frankly, we can't wait to see what they cook up," wrote Darren Murphy.

Apple's shares closed 0.08% higher on Wall Street at $530.69.c









7 March 2012 Last updated at 18:39
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-17292424

Apple's next tablet and Apple TV set-top box will share the same, souped up dual-core chip, a new report says.


Adding to previous chatter, a new report says Apple will unveil a new Apple TV set-top box alongside its next iPad.
In a report this afternoon, The Verge says both devices will get their debut at tomorrow morning's special event and that there's a reason for that: they both use the same chip.
Citing anonymous sources, The Verge says the chip will be the previously rumored (and photographed) "A5X," versus the A6--the latter being the expected quad-core chip and successor to the dual-core A5, currently used in the iPad 2 and iPhone 4S.

Separately, a source told CNET that Apple plans to use a dual-core chip, versus one with four cores.
The Verge's report also mentions that Apple's next tablet will feature more RAM than the iPad 2, include the much-rumored 2048x1526 Retina Display, and support 4G LTE, with Apple offering separate models to support the different standards, as it did with the 3G models of the iPad 2. (Note: this is the second such report today to offer that the next iPad will support 4G LTE networks.)

As for what's new with the Apple TV set-top box, The Verge says it will get support for 1080p (up from the current model's 720p output), a move tied to the AirPlay mirroring feature that works on the iPhone 4S, iPad 2, and presumably the next iPad. Considering that Apple doesn't offer 1080p content through its iTunes Store, the 720p limitation has made sense, but bigger resolutions will be more important, given the much-rumored higher resolution on the tablet, as well as the upcoming Mountain Lion OS X update, which will let Mac users beam their screens to their TV sets.


The Apple TV--which is not to be confused with Apple's much-rumored, and eventually expected, TV set--has been in short supply in recent weeks, with a report from MacRumors last night noting that you can't find one in 98 percent of Apple's retail stores in the United States. Retailers began discounting the product as long ago as November, with Amazon changing the listing to the "2010" model.
Apple is widely expected to take the wraps off the next iPad at its event tomorrow morning, with a new report today claiming that the device will go on sale on March 16. CNET will be there to cover the event live.
CNET Blog Network contributor Brooke Crothers contributed to this report.







by Josh Lowensohn March 6, 2012 12:47 PM PST
http://news.cnet.com/8301-27076_3-57391766-248/new-ipads-apple-tv-boxes-to-share-a5x-chip-report/?tag=mncol;topStories

CNET has learned that Apple's next tablet will be called the iPad HD instead of the iPad 3.
A developer who's previously provided reliable information with respect to things Apple and otherwise tells us the next iPad uses the HD moniker instead of going with "iPad 3."
That matches up well with a report from Gizmodo last week (and an item just posted on VentureBeat) that included an alleged list of upcoming cases from Griffin, listing the product as "iPad HD (3)", as well as corresponding usage reports from an application called Tapatalk that included "iPad HD" among the list of devices using it.

One big remaining question is whether that name is already in use. Apple owns the rights to the iPad name in the U.S. and other countries (though that's being debated in courts in China right now), but have others already beaten it to the punch online?

On the domain front, the answer to that question is yes. The owner of iPadHD.com told CNET earlier today that he registered the domain before the original iPad was announced in 2010. He told us that he's never been contacted by Apple about the domain in the years he's held onto it. That includes the last few weeks.


Separately, iPadHD.biz is already taken, and is currently parked through a domain company that offers a way to bid on the name. And iPadHD.co.uk has been registered since February 26, 2010 (a month after the iPad's unveiling), and is also parked.
Just because some of these names are already taken doesn't mean Apple won't pounce on them after the fact. It did just that with Cisco and the iPhone name after introducing it--a move that led to a legal spat between the two companies, now settled. Apple also picked up iCloud.com from another company to play home to its cloud-based service last year.

Apple has been known to tack simple modifiers onto its product names before, so a name like the iPad HD wouldn't be unprecedented. For instance, in the fifth major version of its iMovie software (part of iLife), Apple added support for 720p and 1080i video, and also dropped the version number in favor of calling it iMovie HD. The second-generation iPhone also simply got a "3G" tacked on the end to denote that it was compatible with third-generation cellular networks.

A report from The Verge last July cited multiple sources as saying the next iPad would be called the "iPad HD" and that Apple would be unveiling it to sit alongside the iPad 2.
Apple is widely expected to take the wraps off the next iPad at its event this Wednesday. CNET will be there to cover the event live. We'll have all the details of our coverage for you tomorrow.







by Josh Lowensohn March 5, 2012 3:11 PM PST
http://news.cnet.com/8301-27076_3-57391022-248/next-ipad-will-be-the-ipad-hd-not-the-ipad-3/?tag=mncol;topStories