Engadget http://www.engadget.com Engadget http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.engadget.com/media/feedlogo.gif Engadget http://www.engadget.com en-us Copyright 2012 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/<![CDATA[iCade Core coming to a tiny arcade near you in June]]>http://www.engadget.com/2012/04/24/icade-core-coming-to-a-tiny-arcade-near-you-in-june/http://www.engadget.com/2012/04/24/icade-core-coming-to-a-tiny-arcade-near-you-in-june/http://www.engadget.com/2012/04/24/icade-core-coming-to-a-tiny-arcade-near-you-in-june/#comments Image

Bummed that you won't be making it out to E3 this year? Well, at least you'll be able to console yourself with your very own tiny iPad arcade. According to Ion, the iCade Core, the latest in the company's line of nostalgia-inducing Bluetooth tablet controllers, will be shipping to UK customers in mid-June for ￡49.99 ($81) a pop. The iCade Mobile will be hitting right around the same time for the same price. Now you'll finally be able to experience Pac-Man the way it was meant to played: on a tablet attached to an oversized joystick.

iCade Core coming to a tiny arcade near you in June originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 24 Apr 2012 11:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>accessoryappleapple ipadapple tabletAppleIpadAppleTabletbluetoothicadeicade coreIcadeCoreipadminiposttabletvideo gameVideoGameTue, 24 Apr 2012 11:57:00 EST<![CDATA[Visualized: the iPad that never was, complete with camera and wireless]]>http://www.engadget.com/2010/10/12/visualized-the-ipad-that-never-was-complete-with-camera-and-wi/http://www.engadget.com/2010/10/12/visualized-the-ipad-that-never-was-complete-with-camera-and-wi/http://www.engadget.com/2010/10/12/visualized-the-ipad-that-never-was-complete-with-camera-and-wi/#comments If you're an Apple lover, you've probably heard of the Newton PDA, and there are probably even PenLite enthusiasts among the hardcore, but this is a tablet we've never seen: the Apple Vademecum. Marcin Wichary of the Computer History Museum (and Google Pac-Man fame) somehow got a hold of two piecemeal prototypes to take some fantastic shots, showing off their transparent construction, ribbon cables, and in this case an ancient webcam and integrated Ricochet wireless modem. Wichary claims the project was started in 1994 at Apple's Advanced Technology Group with touchscreen -- not pen-based -- computing in mind, and would have used a special MacOS designed for tablets rather than an extension of Newton. May it rest in piece.

[Thanks, Nikolai]

Visualized: the iPad that never was, complete with camera and wireless originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 12 Oct 2010 01:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Appleapple tabletApple VademecumAppleTabletAppleVademecumcomputer history museumComputerHistoryMuseumhistoryiPadMarcin WicharyMarcinWicharyprototypetablettablet pcTabletPcVademecumvisualizedTue, 12 Oct 2010 01:01:00 EST<![CDATA[Apple iPad charging woes: USB hubs, non-Macs and weak ports not rejuvenating]]>http://www.engadget.com/2010/04/03/apple-ipad-charging-woes-usb-hubs-non-macs-and-weak-ports-not/http://www.engadget.com/2010/04/03/apple-ipad-charging-woes-usb-hubs-non-macs-and-weak-ports-not/http://www.engadget.com/2010/04/03/apple-ipad-charging-woes-usb-hubs-non-macs-and-weak-ports-not/#comments Heads-up, iPad owners (or to-be owners, as it were) -- the same devices you currently use to juice up your iPod touch or iPhone may not work on your fancy new tablet. Consumer Reports, TUAW and our own Chris Ziegler have confirmed that their powered USB hubs wouldn't charge the iPad, and we're even seeing reports that some Wintel rigs won't either. The only sure bets right now are Apple computers and your nearby AC outlet, leaving iPad owners with fewer options when it comes to topping off that battery when away from your abode. We're pretty certain this all boils down to the iPad requiring more power than most powered USB ports are designed to give, but it's still something to keep in mind. So, any of you early adopters finding that your own powered USB hub or non-Mac does rejuvenate the iPad? Let us know in comments below.

Update: Macworld has a nice explaination of the whole situation. Looks like tablets just require more power to charge than smartphones -- who woulda thunk it?

Update 2: And now Apple has come right out with a support article -- head on over to see what it recommends.

Apple iPad charging woes: USB hubs, non-Macs and weak ports not rejuvenating originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 03 Apr 2010 15:14:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>appleapple ipadapple tabletAppleIpadAppleTabletchargechargerchargingipadissueproblemslatetablettablet pcTabletPcusbusb hubusb powerUsbHubUsbPowerSat, 03 Apr 2010 15:14:00 EST<![CDATA[Apple iPad review]]>http://www.engadget.com/2010/04/03/apple-ipad-review/http://www.engadget.com/2010/04/03/apple-ipad-review/http://www.engadget.com/2010/04/03/apple-ipad-review/#commentsipad review, apple ipad review, apple Finally, the Apple iPad review. The name iPad is a killing word -- more than a product -- it's a statement, an idea, and potentially a prime mover in the world of consumer electronics. Before iPad it was called the Apple Tablet, the Slate, Canvas, and a handful of other guesses -- but what was little more than rumor and speculation for nearly ten years is now very much a reality. Announced on January 27th to a middling response, Apple has been readying itself for what could be the most significant product launch in its history; the making (or breaking) of an entirely new class of computer for the company. The iPad is something in between its monumental iPhone and wildly successful MacBook line -- a usurper to the netbook throne, and possibly a sign of things to come for the entire personal computer market... if Apple delivers on its promises. And those are some big promises; the company has been tossing around words like "magical" and "revolutionary" to describe what many have dismissed as nothing more than a larger version of its iPod touch. But is that all there is to this device? Is the hope that Apple promises for this new computing experience nothing more than marketing fluff and strategic hyperbole? Or is this a different beast altogether -- a true sign that change has come to the world of the PC? We have the definitive answers to those questions (and many more) right here, so read on for our full review of the Apple iPad!

Gallery: Apple iPad unboxing and hands-on

Continue reading Apple iPad review

Apple iPad review originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 03 Apr 2010 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Appleapple ipadapple ipad reviewapple slateapple tabletAppleIpadAppleIpadReviewAppleSlateAppleTabletipadipad reviewIpadReviewreviewslatetablettablet pcTabletPctouchscreenvideoSat, 03 Apr 2010 09:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Leaked image says iPad lands at Best Buy... on launch day]]>http://www.engadget.com/2010/03/27/leaked-image-says-ipad-lands-at-best-buy-on-launch-day/http://www.engadget.com/2010/03/27/leaked-image-says-ipad-lands-at-best-buy-on-launch-day/http://www.engadget.com/2010/03/27/leaked-image-says-ipad-lands-at-best-buy-on-launch-day/#comments We'd heard buzzing for some time now around the internet that Apple planned to sell its iPad in more than just its own stores, and usually the name Best Buy was mentioned in the same breath... but now we've got some photographic evidence. The above shot comes from what looks to be an internal memo from the big box retailer, not only stating that the stores will be getting the iPad, but that they'll be getting the iPad on launch day. Now, there's no way for us to confirm that is 100 percent the real deal, but we speculated this could be coming back in mid-February, and there's lots of corroborating evidence to suggest this is no joke (such as COO Tim Cook explicitly mentioning the device would be sold at Best Buy) -- we just didn't expect to see it day one. We're digging for more info on this story, so stay tuned.

Update: Best Buy's iPad playbook is certainly looking legit at this point. Our tipster sent us another two screenshots (they're after the break) showing off BB's new retail display which includes the iPad. Interestingly, they also tell us that the iPads are set to be delivered to stores on the night of April 2nd, and that quantities will be limited to about five of each model on launch. TUAW has also just published more of the playbook if you want to head over there and check it out.

Continue reading Leaked image says iPad lands at Best Buy... on launch day

Leaked image says iPad lands at Best Buy... on launch day originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 27 Mar 2010 12:35:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>appleapple ipadapple tabletAppleIpadAppleTabletapril 3rdApril3rdbest buyBestBuybreaking newsBreakingNewsipadlaunch dayLaunchDayleakrumorrumorsslateslatepcspeculationtablettabletpcSat, 27 Mar 2010 12:35:00 EST<![CDATA[Survey finds people eager to 'work on the go' with iPad, we wonder what line of 'work' they're in]]>http://www.engadget.com/2010/03/24/survey-finds-people-eager-to-work-on-the-go-with-ipad-we-wond/http://www.engadget.com/2010/03/24/survey-finds-people-eager-to-work-on-the-go-with-ipad-we-wond/http://www.engadget.com/2010/03/24/survey-finds-people-eager-to-work-on-the-go-with-ipad-we-wond/#comments So, give this a listen -- a survey from the lairs of Sybase has found that among smartphone-owning respondents, some 52.3 percent of them "would use a tablet device such as the Apple iPad is for working on the go." We fully understand that this phrase leaves open the possibility of using tablets not Designed in Cupertino, but the mere fact that it's highlighted gave us pause. We're still trying to figure out how exactly Apple's forthcoming tablet is going to fit between our daily laptop and workhorse-of-a-smartphone, and without a major overhaul of the iPhone OS, we definitely can't visualize ourselves using it for "work." 'Course, maybe they're into something that doesn't require the use of multiple applications at once, and maybe the dearth of a real keyboard isn't much of a productivity killer, but we're just not sold on the iPad being a bona fide work machine as-is. So, what say you? Are you one of those 52.3 percenters? Or do you relate more with the vocal minority?

Survey finds people eager to 'work on the go' with iPad, we wonder what line of 'work' they're in originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 24 Mar 2010 17:21:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>appleapple ipadapple tabletAppleIpadAppleTabletctiactia 2010Ctia2010ipadiphone osIphoneOsmultitaskingproductivitysurveySybasetablettablet pcTabletPcworkworkingWed, 24 Mar 2010 17:21:00 EST<![CDATA[Dead iPad battery? Never mind replacing it, Apple just sends another iPad for $99]]>http://www.engadget.com/2010/03/13/dead-ipad-battery-never-mind-replacing-it-apple-just-sends-ano/http://www.engadget.com/2010/03/13/dead-ipad-battery-never-mind-replacing-it-apple-just-sends-ano/http://www.engadget.com/2010/03/13/dead-ipad-battery-never-mind-replacing-it-apple-just-sends-ano/#comments Whoa, Nelly! Isn't this something? Apple has just posted details on its iPad battery replacement service, which is really not a battery replacement service at all. Check out the company's opening line:
"If your iPad requires service due to the battery's diminished ability to hold an electrical charge, Apple will replace your iPad for a service fee."
Now, let's compare that to the verbiage found in the iPhone's battery replacement program details:
"If your iPhone requires service only because the battery's ability to hold an electrical charge has diminished, Apple will service your iPhone for a service fee."
We can see the puzzled look on your face from here, and we're sharing in the same disbelief. Apple is actually saying that it won't bother cracking open your withered iPad, replacing the battery and sending it back your way; instead, you'll pay $105.95 (including shipping) for a completely different iPad, which certainly has its pros and cons. On one hand, you're getting a new (or potentially refurbished, actually) iPad in around "one week," but on the other, you'll be waving goodbye to every morsel of personal data on the device that you send in -- unless you backup beforehand, of course. Here's Apple's take on answering "will the data on my iPad be preserved?"
"No. You will receive a replacement iPad that will not contain any of your personal data. Before you submit your iPad for service, it is important to sync your iPad with iTunes to back up your contacts, calendars, email account settings, bookmarks, apps, etc. Apple is not responsible for the loss of information when servicing your iPad."
Lovely, don'tcha think? Head on past the break for the full text.

[Thanks, David]

Continue reading Dead iPad battery? Never mind replacing it, Apple just sends another iPad for $99

Dead iPad battery? Never mind replacing it, Apple just sends another iPad for $99 originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 13 Mar 2010 13:24:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>accessoryappleapple ipadapple tabletAppleIpadAppleTabletbatteryipadipad accessoriesipad batteryIpadAccessoriesIpadBatteryreplacementserviceslatetablettablet pcTabletPcwarrantySat, 13 Mar 2010 13:24:00 EST<![CDATA[Entelligence: Lessons from the iPad launch]]>http://www.engadget.com/2010/01/31/entelligence-lessons-from-the-ipad-launch/http://www.engadget.com/2010/01/31/entelligence-lessons-from-the-ipad-launch/http://www.engadget.com/2010/01/31/entelligence-lessons-from-the-ipad-launch/#comments
Entelligence is a column by technology strategist and author Michael Gartenberg, a man whose desire for a delicious cup of coffee and a quality New York bagel is dwarfed only by his passion for tech. In these articles, he'll explore where our industry is and where it's going -- on both micro and macro levels -- with the unique wit and insight only he can provide.

It was quite the week for Apple, first with its best-ever earnings and then the launch of the iPad. While Apple didn't create this category of device, it did answer the fundamental question of why this form factor needs to exist. The meta lesson is that the story told is as important as the hardware, software and services being sold -- and while everyone may not be convinced, I do think Apple will win over the majority of a skeptical audience with high expectations. But there's also four important lessons that Apple taught the market this week, as it enters a space that's been mostly a failure.

1. Define what your product does. The first thing Apple did was answer that question immediately and then define what the product needed to do. Apple explained what capabilities need to be in the this class of device and then went on to show how each of those features not only worked but were optimized for the iPad. That's something we've seen lacking in this category to date.

2. Leverage what you've done before. I believe the iPad is likely to do well with consumers as it leverages Apple's previous successes with the iPod and the iPhone. At the base level, that's compatibility and synchronization with iTunes as well as backward compatibility with existing applications. That's important -- as a user I can use my existing content library and my application collection. It also means that iPad has 140,000-plus applications at launch. But it's more than that. Apple is not only leveraging its ecosystem of devices and software, it's leveraging the lessons it spent a decade teaching consumers. Apple taught its market about MP3 players, digital music, smartphones, capacitive multitouch screens and mobile apps. It can now go directly to selling the form factor, as well as new features such as productivity and e-books.

Continue reading Entelligence: Lessons from the iPad launch

Entelligence: Lessons from the iPad launch originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 31 Jan 2010 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>appleapple ipadapple tabletAppleIpadAppleTabletcolumncolumnsentelligenceipadtabletSun, 31 Jan 2010 17:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Sony's John Koller: Apple's entrance into gaming market drives consumers to PSP]]>http://www.engadget.com/2010/01/31/sonys-john-koller-apples-entrance-into-gaming-market-drives-c/http://www.engadget.com/2010/01/31/sonys-john-koller-apples-entrance-into-gaming-market-drives-c/http://www.engadget.com/2010/01/31/sonys-john-koller-apples-entrance-into-gaming-market-drives-c/#comments Um, okay? Just days after Apple introduced its exceedingly underwhelming iPad while simultaneously attempting to convince that masses that said product was the portable gaming device they had been waiting their whole lives for, Sony's own hardware marketing honcho has come forward and extolled Cupertino's decision to finally make the gaming leap. In a recent interview, John stated the following:
"Apple's entrance into the portable gaming space has been a net positive for Sony. When people want a deeper, richer console, they start playing on a PSP."
While we can't seem to shake the suspicion that Mr. Koller is drawing links that probably don't exist (at least fully) in reality, research firm NPD does show that sales of the PSP have "nearly tripled since the iPhone went on sale in June 2007." Of course, it's not like the PSP has gained functionality, become the home of more than a few killer titles and spawned a UMD-less sibling since the heydays of '07, but hey -- who are we to question the suit?

Sony's John Koller: Apple's entrance into gaming market drives consumers to PSP originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 31 Jan 2010 15:17:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Appleapple tabletAppleTabletgaminghandheldhandheld gamingHandheldGamingipadislateJohn KollerJohnKollerplaystationplaystation portablePlaystationPortablepspScott ForstallScottForstallsonySun, 31 Jan 2010 15:17:00 EST<![CDATA[Switched On: Tabula rasa]]>http://www.engadget.com/2010/01/30/switched-on-tabula-rasa/http://www.engadget.com/2010/01/30/switched-on-tabula-rasa/http://www.engadget.com/2010/01/30/switched-on-tabula-rasa/#commentsEach week Ross Rubin contributes Switched On, a column about consumer technology.
When Apple introduced the iPod in 2001 -- some 250 million units ago, as Steve Jobs noted -- it began with a laser-like focus on digital music. Swap out a hard drive and FireWire port for a cassette collection, and the product was clearly the reinvention of the Walkman. The first Switched On in 2004 pondered the iPod photo as a stepping stone to video. And by 2007, the iPhone and iPod touch had become capable of playing a broad array of content and would soon be able to extend their capabilities dramatically via apps.

Nonetheless, while the iPhone and iPod touch were nearly as close cousins as the 3G and non-3G flavors of the iPad, they were each rooted firmly in the existing categories of smartphones and MP3 players and positioned against products in that space. Despite its limited app support, nobody thinks of the Zune HD as a handheld tablet; it's a digital media player that competes against the iPod touch.

Continue reading Switched On: Tabula rasa

Switched On: Tabula rasa originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 30 Jan 2010 17:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>appleapple ipadapple tabletAppleIpadAppleTabletcolumncolumnsipadswitched onSwitchedOntabletSat, 30 Jan 2010 17:15:00 EST<![CDATA[Confirmed: iPhone OS 3.2 has support for video calling, file downloads, and SMS (update: handwriting keyboard?)]]>http://www.engadget.com/2010/01/29/confirmed-iphone-os-3-2-has-support-for-video-calling-file-dow/http://www.engadget.com/2010/01/29/confirmed-iphone-os-3-2-has-support-for-video-calling-file-dow/http://www.engadget.com/2010/01/29/confirmed-iphone-os-3-2-has-support-for-video-calling-file-dow/#comments The iPad may not have a camera in its current incarnation, but Apple's at least laying the foundation for one: we just confirmed with extremely trusted sources that iPhone OS 3.2 contains rudimentary support for video calling, which could explain that mysterious space at the top of the device in our leaked pics. We're told that there are hooks to accept and decline a video conference, flip a video feed (which suggests a front-facing camera) and -- most importantly -- run the video call in either full screen mode or in just a portion of the screen. That means you'll be able to chat and do other things at the same time, which could mean there's at least some type of multitasking going on here.

We can also confirm that iPhone OS 3.2 supports file downloads and local storage in the browser, which means you'll be able to pull files off the web and use them in other apps, and there's at least the beginnings of SMS support buried within the code -- a fact we were able to verify with noted iPhone jailbreaker chpwn, who sent in the above screenshot from a hacked-up copy of the iPad simulator. (The simulator always says "iPhone simulator" in the menu bar, but that's the iPad.) chpwn also tells us he's found some inklings of actual phone support, there's a spellchecker, and that both the new landscape orientation for the homescreen and keyboard support appear to be destined for the iPhone itself when 3.2 comes out.

We're not sure what any of this means at this point, or if any of it will ever be implemented, but we're definitely starting to get the impression that Apple didn't tell us everything there is to know about the iPad on Wednesday -- and we're even more curious to find out what iPhone OS 4.0 will look like when it arrives.

P.S.- chpwn was also able to port iPhone multitasking hacks ProSwitcher and Backgrounder to the iPad simulator, which is certainly going to be useful if an iPad jailbreak exploit is eventually discovered. Check out a shot of it going in the gallery below, along with some other settings panels the coder dug up.

Update: We just got another tip from iPhone jailbreak dev Ryan Petrich, confirming that there's a spell checker with multiple dictionaries and user-added entries (huzzah!), much richer text support for apps, the ability to selectively draw to external displays (using the VGA or component adapters, we'd imagine), location-aware ads in Maps and possibly other programs that use the Maps API, file upload ability in Safari, a modifiable cut / copy / paste menu, and, most interestingly, prototype support for a "handwriting keyboard." Maybe we'll see some stylus action on this thing after all. Peep Ryan's take after the break.

Gallery: Confirmed: iPhone OS 3.2 has support for video calling, file downloads, and SMS

Continue reading Confirmed: iPhone OS 3.2 has support for video calling, file downloads, and SMS (update: handwriting keyboard?)

Confirmed: iPhone OS 3.2 has support for video calling, file downloads, and SMS (update: handwriting keyboard?) originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 29 Jan 2010 20:46:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>appleapple tabletAppleTabletdownloadsexclusiveipadipad osipad os 3.2IpadOsIpadOs3.2iphone osiphone os 3.2IphoneOsIphoneOs3.2smstabletvideo callingvideo chatvideo conferencingVideoCallingVideoChatVideoConferencingFri, 29 Jan 2010 20:46:00 EST<![CDATA[Apple iPad: The definitive guide (so far)]]>http://www.engadget.com/2010/01/29/apple-ipad-the-definitive-guide-so-far/http://www.engadget.com/2010/01/29/apple-ipad-the-definitive-guide-so-far/http://www.engadget.com/2010/01/29/apple-ipad-the-definitive-guide-so-far/#comments By now you've probably read more on Apple's iPad then you ever dreamed possible. In the last few days we've covered a lot of angles on the tablet and compiled a lot of data. Still, we felt that we hadn't given you clear hands-on impressions and collected the myriad details about the device in one, easy-to-reach place. So we've decided to bundle all of that info into a single feature, joining our first-hand encounters with the iPad together with all of the data and details you should be aware of -- including specs, plans, release schedules, pics, and video. So read on for everything we know (so far) about Cupertino's first tablet!

Gallery: The Apple iPad

Continue reading Apple iPad: The definitive guide (so far)

Apple iPad: The definitive guide (so far) originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 29 Jan 2010 17:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>appleapple ipadapple tabletAppleIpadAppleTabletfeatureshands onhands-onHandsOnimpressionsipadlatest creationLatestCreationslatetabletFri, 29 Jan 2010 17:28:00 EST<![CDATA[Steve Jobs compares iPad battery life to Kindle's: 'You're not going to read for 10 hours' (video)]]>http://www.engadget.com/2010/01/29/steve-jobs-compares-ipad-battery-life-to-kindles-youre-not-g/http://www.engadget.com/2010/01/29/steve-jobs-compares-ipad-battery-life-to-kindles-youre-not-g/http://www.engadget.com/2010/01/29/steve-jobs-compares-ipad-battery-life-to-kindles-youre-not-g/#comments Hey, remember back when Steve Jobs said "people don't read anymore" when discussing why the Kindle would be a failure? Heh, funny story: turns out Apple just released a device called the iPad and, at its unveiling, spent an awful lot of time showing off what a great reader it is. However, when comparing it to Kindle (as we did here) you have to think about that battery life figure: 10 hours vs. seven days. When Walt Mossberg caught Jobs after the unveiling for a little gonzo-style interview he asked about this, and Jobs said "you're not going to read for 10 hours...you just end up pluggin' it in." So, Steve now concedes that people do read, but apparently they don't do it for long without coming close to a power receptacle. When asked about price differentials between books on the devices, rumored to be as much as $5 more than on Kindle, Jobs somewhat reluctantly states that "publishers are actually withholding books from Amazon because they're not happy," and that "the prices will be the same" -- but doesn't indicate whether Amazon's prices will be going up or that rumored $14.99 price point is going down. It's all in the video after the break, including plenty of face time with Walt.

Continue reading Steve Jobs compares iPad battery life to Kindle's: 'You're not going to read for 10 hours' (video)

Steve Jobs compares iPad battery life to Kindle's: 'You're not going to read for 10 hours' (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 29 Jan 2010 09:09:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>amazon kindleAmazonKindleappleapple ipadapple tabletAppleIpadAppleTabletbatterybattery lifeBatteryLifee-inke-readeripadkindlesteve jobsSteveJobstabletwalt mossbergWaltMossbergFri, 29 Jan 2010 09:09:00 EST<![CDATA[Adobe on Flash and the iPad: 'Apple is continuing to impose restrictions on their devices']]>http://www.engadget.com/2010/01/28/adobe-on-flash-and-the-ipad-apple-is-continuing-to-impose-rest/http://www.engadget.com/2010/01/28/adobe-on-flash-and-the-ipad-apple-is-continuing-to-impose-rest/http://www.engadget.com/2010/01/28/adobe-on-flash-and-the-ipad-apple-is-continuing-to-impose-rest/#comments Adobe's been trying to get Flash on the iPhone with zero success since Steve Jobs first held the thing in the air in 2007, and it looks like the tension is only going to grow as the iPhone OS moves onto the iPad. We noticed that the iPad doesn't have Flash support almost immediately when Jobs was demoing the browser, and the Adobe Flash Platform blog picked right up on it, saying:

It looks like Apple is continuing to impose restrictions on their devices that limit both content publishers and consumers. Unlike many other ebook readers using the ePub file format, consumers will not be able to access ePub content with Apple's DRM technology on devices made by other manufacturers. And without Flash support, iPad users will not be able to access the full range of web content, including over 70% of games and 75% of video on the web.

If I want to use the iPad to connect to Disney, Hulu, Miniclip, Farmville, ESPN, Kongregate, or JibJab -- not to mention the millions of other sites on the web -- I'll be out of luck.

Yep, that sounds about right -- and Adobe goes on to point out that the Open Screen Project is bringing Flash to all sorts of other devices. Considering the Nokia N900 runs Flash 9 extremely well on a 600MHz ARM Cortex A8-based TI OMAP 3 processor (and the Palm Pre, which uses the same chip, will be able to run Flash 10.1 when webOS 1.4 comes out) we don't see any reason other than politics that the iPad can't do it on that fancy new 1GHz dual-core Cortex A9-based A4 chip. Turns out people might think "the best way to experience the web" might involve a little Hulu, you know?

Adobe on Flash and the iPad: 'Apple is continuing to impose restrictions on their devices' originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 28 Jan 2010 15:34:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>adobeadobe flashAdobeFlashappleapple tabletAppleTabletflashipadtabletThu, 28 Jan 2010 15:34:00 EST<![CDATA[Apple and Fujitsu inevitably caught up in iPad trademark dispute]]>http://www.engadget.com/2010/01/28/apple-and-fujitsu-inevitably-caught-up-in-ipad-trademark-dispute/http://www.engadget.com/2010/01/28/apple-and-fujitsu-inevitably-caught-up-in-ipad-trademark-dispute/http://www.engadget.com/2010/01/28/apple-and-fujitsu-inevitably-caught-up-in-ipad-trademark-dispute/#comments Well, here we go again. Apple might have stolen all the headlines yesterday with the iPad, but as we've already noted, that name has been in dispute since September -- and it doesn't look like Fujitsu, which has been selling its own iPad since 2002, is going to back down. "It's our understanding that the name is ours," Fujitsu PR director Masahiro Yamane told the New York Times. Maybe, but it's not quite that simple. Here's the deal: Fujitsu applied for the "iPad" mark in 2003, specifically covering handheld devices used in retail. (The Fujitsu iPad is a $2,000 Windows CE point-of-sale device.) Along the way, the application got bogged down because a company called Mag-Tek had already registered IPAD for its line of PIN-entry keypads, and Fujitsu's application was listed as "abandoned" in April of 2009. The notice of abandonment apparently woke someone at Fujitsu up, because the company then asked the Trademark Office to re-open the application, arguing that Mag-Tek's IPAD had nothing to do with the Fujitsu iPad. The USPTO agreed, re-opened the application, and the process continued until September, when the iPad application was published so other trademark holders could oppose registration. That's when Apple signaled that it wasn't so happy about things -- and filed its own "iPad" trademark application using a shell company called "IP Application Development."

Phew -- still with us? That leaves us at now, with Mag-Tek selling the IPAD under a valid, registered trademark, Fujitsu selling an iPad with a pending trademark application, and Apple sucking all the air out of the room with the launch of the iPad and no US trademark at all. We'll be honest: we'd always simply discounted rumors Apple would call it the iPad, because this is kind of a mess. Apple can't just take "iPad" from Fujitsu because it really wants the name -- it's likely going to have to argue that "iPad" is confusingly similar to "iPod," while still trying to register "iPad" on its own and telling the Trademark Office that it won't be confusing to people looking for the Mag-Tek device, or the Siemens "iPad" motor trademark, or potentially even Coconut Grove's trademarked iPad bras. Of course, all these problems can be solved with the direct application of cash and some nice ambient media attention, so it's likely we'll see some friendly joint PR from Apple and Fujitsu along with an agreement to share the name sometime before Apple's formal opposition is due on February 28. That's pretty much what happened when Apple bit the "iPhone" name from Cisco, anyway. But still -- why can't Apple ever learn to have these conversations ahead of time?

Apple and Fujitsu inevitably caught up in iPad trademark dispute originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 28 Jan 2010 14:47:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>appleapple tabletAppleTabletcoconut groveCoconutGrovefujitsuipadlegalmag-tektablettrademarkThu, 28 Jan 2010 14:47:00 EST<![CDATA[Apple iPad launch day roundup: everything you need to know]]>http://www.engadget.com/2010/01/28/apple-ipad-launch-day-roundup-everything-you-need-to-know/http://www.engadget.com/2010/01/28/apple-ipad-launch-day-roundup-everything-you-need-to-know/http://www.engadget.com/2010/01/28/apple-ipad-launch-day-roundup-everything-you-need-to-know/#comments
The long rumored (and we mean long rumored) Apple tablet has finally arrived. Is the iPad as "magical" as the company hopes? Perhaps not, but there is a lot to this story beyond the obvious: A4 chip? Micro SIM? What's the deal with Flash? Since we know you're looking for the straight dope on the big reveal, and since this is what Engadget does best, we've thoughtfully compiled the last twenty-four hours worth of coverage in something we like to call a "list." Now sit back, put your feet up, and take it all in.


The liveblog
Impressions / hands-on coverage
Product announcements
In-depth / details

Apple iPad launch day roundup: everything you need to know originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 28 Jan 2010 11:22:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>appleapple ipadapple tabletappleipadAppleTabletipadlatestcreationround upround-upRoundUptabletThu, 28 Jan 2010 11:22:00 EST<![CDATA[Apple's iPad keyboard dock, case and other accessories get the hands-on treatment]]>http://www.engadget.com/2010/01/28/apples-ipad-keyboard-dock-case-and-other-accessories-get-hands/http://www.engadget.com/2010/01/28/apples-ipad-keyboard-dock-case-and-other-accessories-get-hands/http://www.engadget.com/2010/01/28/apples-ipad-keyboard-dock-case-and-other-accessories-get-hands/#comments
 Apple didn't give us a great amount of time with its newly unveiled iPad today, and as you've likely seen, we spent the bulk of our allotment touching the unit itself. Lost in the proverbial shuffle were a number of the unit's launch accessories, including the admittedly intriguing keyboard dock ($69), case ($39), iPad Dock Connector to VGA adapter ($29) and camera connection kit ($29). Each of these doodads seem to look and feel exactly as you'd expect 'em to, though we're still baffled by Apple's decision to make you pay extra for access to the world's most widely accepted connector. We're also somewhat appalled (but not surprised) by the $39 price tag purportedly attached to the stripped-down case, and while the $69 MSRP on the keyboard dock is apt to cause some grumbling, at least there are a few iPad-specific keys on there to make it (marginally) worth your while. Dig in below for more on each.

Read - iPad keyboard dock hands-on
Read - iPad case hands-on
Read - iPad Dock Connector to VGA adapter hands-on
Read - iPad camera connection kit hands-on

Apple's iPad keyboard dock, case and other accessories get the hands-on treatment originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 28 Jan 2010 00:22:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>accessoriesaccessoryAppleapple tabletAppleTabletcameracamera connection kitcamera connectorCameraConnectionKitCameraConnectorcasedockdock connectorDockConnectordonglehands-onipadipad accessoriesipad accessoryipad caseiPad keyboardiPad keyboard dockIpadAccessoriesIpadAccessoryIpadCaseIpadKeyboardIpadKeyboardDockislatekeyboardkitslatetabletusbThu, 28 Jan 2010 00:22:00 EST<![CDATA[Editorial: Engadget on the Apple iPad]]>http://www.engadget.com/2010/01/27/editorial-engadget-on-the-ipad/http://www.engadget.com/2010/01/27/editorial-engadget-on-the-ipad/http://www.engadget.com/2010/01/27/editorial-engadget-on-the-ipad/#comments As you can probably imagine, Engadget HQ has been boiling over with heated discussion of Apple's new iPad today. Love it or hate it (and a lot of you seem to hate it), it's hard not to see it as a pretty bold statement of what Apple thinks general-purpose computing should look like in the future: a giant iPhone. As you can imagine, that's a provocative vision, and it's simply not possible to try and condense the opinions of the staff into one Grand Unified Theory of the iPad -- so we're going to do what we did for the Kindle DX and the Droid, and let everyone speak for themselves. Let's kick it off with the three people who've actually seen and used this thing: Josh, Ross, and Joystiq's Chris Grant.

Continue reading Editorial: Engadget on the Apple iPad

Editorial: Engadget on the Apple iPad originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 27 Jan 2010 22:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>appleapple ipadapple tabletappleipadAppleTableteditorialipadlatestcreationtabletWed, 27 Jan 2010 22:31:00 EST<![CDATA[Apple iPad tech specs: rumor vs. reality scorecard]]>http://www.engadget.com/2010/01/27/apple-ipad-tech-specs-rumor-vs-reality-scorecard/http://www.engadget.com/2010/01/27/apple-ipad-tech-specs-rumor-vs-reality-scorecard/http://www.engadget.com/2010/01/27/apple-ipad-tech-specs-rumor-vs-reality-scorecard/#comments
Remember that history of Apple tablet rumors we concocted for you just the other day? Well, we're here to take score now, folks. As you can see from the handy (and magical) chart below, Taiwan Economic News came pretty close to nailing the iPad's specs back September: built-in HSDPA, custom P.A. Semi system on a chip (with the fancy new name Apple A4), 9.6-inch size, February unveiling, and hey -- they were pretty close on that $799 - $999 pricing too. And while iLounge was wrong about some things, they certainly hit this one out of the park: "It's a big iPhone, but it's not a big iPhone." We're going to let you dig into the chart here for yourselves to see who got what right -- and who was terribly, terribly wrong.

Here are just a few of the no-shows today, however -- no camera, no multitasking, no phone, no Verizon, no iPhone OS 4.0, and no Flash anywhere to be seen. There were also no MacBook Pro spec bumps in sight, and no iLife to be found. Well, let's just try to be happy with what we did get, okay? The chart is after the break.

Continue reading Apple iPad tech specs: rumor vs. reality scorecard

Filed under:

Apple iPad tech specs: rumor vs. reality scorecard originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 27 Jan 2010 17:10:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>appleapple ipadapple tabletappleipadAppleTabletipadlatest creationLatestCreationscorecardtablettablet pcTabletPcWed, 27 Jan 2010 17:10:00 EST<![CDATA[The Apple iPad: starting at $499]]>http://www.engadget.com/2010/01/27/the-apple-ipad/http://www.engadget.com/2010/01/27/the-apple-ipad/http://www.engadget.com/2010/01/27/the-apple-ipad/#comments After nearly a decade of rumors and speculation, Apple's finally unveiled the iPad. It's a half-inch thick and weighs just 1.5 pounds, with a 9.7-inch capacitive touchscreen IPS LCD display, and it's running a custom 1GHz Apple "A4" chip developed by the P.A. Semi team, with a 10-hour battery life and a month of standby. It'll come in 16, 32, and 64GB sizes, and it's got the expected connectivity: very little. There's a 30-pin Dock connector, a speaker, a microphone, Bluetooth, 802.11n WiFi and optional 3G, as well as an accelerometer and a compass. There's also a keyboard dock, which connects underneath in the portrait orientation, support for up to 1024x768 VGA out and 480p composite out through new dock adapter cables, and a camera attachment kit that lets you import photos from your camera over USB or directly through an SD reader. The device is managed by iTunes, just like the iPhone -- you sync everything over to your Mac. As expected, it can run iPhone apps -- either pixel-for-pixel in a window, or pixel-doubled fullscreen -- but developers can also target the new screen size using the updated iPhone OS SDK, which is available today. The 3G version runs on AT&T and comes with new data plans: 250MB for $14.99 and an unlimited plan for $29.99 a month contract-free. Activations are handled on the iPad, so you can activate and cancel whenever you want. Every iPad is unlocked and comes with a GSM "micro-SIM," so you can use it abroad, but there aren't any international deals in place right now -- Steve says they'll be back "this summer" with news on that front.

It starts at $499 for 16GB, 32GB for $599, and $699 64GB. Adding 3G costs a $130 per model, so the most expensive model (64GB / 3G) is $829. The WiFi-only model will ship in 60 days, and the 3G models will come in 90.

Hey, check out our first hands-on right here, and here's all our additional coverage:

 Live from the Apple 'latest creation' event
iPad powered by custom 1GHz Apple A4 chip
iPad can run all iPhone apps unmodified, new iPhone SDK out today lets developers tweak apps for iPad use
Apple's iPad keeping Adobe Flash away from your couch
Apple reveals iBookstore and app for the iPad
Apple announces iWork for iPad
Apple iPad 3G service plans on AT&T, $30 for unlimited data
iPad has optional keyboard dock, camera connection kit and Apple-designed case
iPad vs. iPhone... fight!
Apple iPad first hands-on!
iPad vs. iPhone: what does 3G cost you?

Gallery: The Apple iPad


Gallery: The Apple iPad introduction


Gallery: Apple iPad accessories

Continue reading The Apple iPad: starting at $499

The Apple iPad: starting at $499 originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 27 Jan 2010 14:19:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>appleapple eventapple ipadapple tabletAppleEventappleipadAppleTabletbreaking newsBreakingNewseventipadislateitabletlatestcreationspecial eventSpecialEventtabletWed, 27 Jan 2010 14:19:00 EST<![CDATA[Apple reveals iBook Store and app for the iPad]]>http://www.engadget.com/2010/01/27/apple-reveals-ibooks-store-and-app-for-the-ipad/http://www.engadget.com/2010/01/27/apple-reveals-ibooks-store-and-app-for-the-ipad/http://www.engadget.com/2010/01/27/apple-reveals-ibooks-store-and-app-for-the-ipad/#comments Put this down as something else rumored that's come to fruition today. Apple's just announced iBooks, an e-reader app and bookstore (called iBookstore) for the iPad, using the ePub format. We're seeing prices around $12.99 to $14.99 so far... looks pretty slick! We're sure Jeff Bezos and Co. are none too pleased to see this one, but we'll have to see for ourselves what reading's like on a non-E Ink screen. There's a gallery after the break.

Be sure to hit up our hands-on right here!

Continue reading Apple reveals iBook Store and app for the iPad

Apple reveals iBook Store and app for the iPad originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 27 Jan 2010 13:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>appleapple ipadapple tabletappleipadAppleTabletbreaking newsBreakingNewse booke bookse readere readerse-booke-bookse-readerE-readersebooksepubibooksibookstoreipadlatest creationLatestCreationmedia partnershipMediaPartnershipreadersreadingtabletWed, 27 Jan 2010 13:57:00 EST<![CDATA[Live from the Apple 'latest creation' event]]>http://www.engadget.com/2010/01/27/live-from-the-apple-tablet-latest-creation-event/http://www.engadget.com/2010/01/27/live-from-the-apple-tablet-latest-creation-event/http://www.engadget.com/2010/01/27/live-from-the-apple-tablet-latest-creation-event/#comments
Will the Apple tablet finally, really be unveiled? We're at the Yerba Buena Center in San Francisco (see above) patiently waiting to get inside and get this thing underway! Keep reading after the break for the minute by minute coverage!

Continue reading Live from the Apple 'latest creation' event

Live from the Apple 'latest creation' event originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 27 Jan 2010 12:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>appleapple ipadapple islateapple itabletapple slateAppleIpadAppleIslateAppleItabletAppleSlateAppleTabletipadislateitabletlatest creationLatestCreationliveblognewtonsteve jobsSteveJobsWed, 27 Jan 2010 12:40:00 EST<![CDATA[Is this the Apple tablet? (update: new images)]]>http://www.engadget.com/2010/01/27/is-this-the-apple-tablet/http://www.engadget.com/2010/01/27/is-this-the-apple-tablet/http://www.engadget.com/2010/01/27/is-this-the-apple-tablet/#comments Okay, we obviously can't confirm this, but we just got two very interesting images of what certainly looks like a prototype Apple tablet, or what could be the tablet bolted down to a table. It's big -- really big -- and it's running what clearly looks like an iPhone app, although we've never seen an iPhone app with that interface or at that resolution before. We also see a WiFi icon and a cell service indicator, although tragically there's no carrier listed. As far as fakes go, this is as convincing as it gets, so either this is the real deal or someone deserves a hearty congratulations.

On a totally separate note, we also received a tip claiming to have some specs -- we can't verify any of this either, but we're told that the device will have a 10-inch screen and look like a larger iPhone with a MacBook-like aluminum back, and that pricing will run $800 on contract with Verizon and $1000 without when it arrives in March. We're also told that the official name remains a secret and that Apple employees are still calling it by the codename of "K48" -- a name we last heard in May from the same source that pegged the iPhone 3GS exactly. This source also tells us that the iPhone will be coming to Verizon as well and that we'll see iLife '10 tomorrow, but there won't be any MacBook updates. A relatively safe set of predictions -- which is why we sort of believe them.

Just 13 hours to go -- we'll find out if any of this is the real deal soon enough.

Update: Based on some rough measurements, that screen does appear to be between 9- and 10-inches diagonal. Additionally, it looks as though there could be a front-facing camera on the opposite side of the home button (up top in these photos) due to that cutout section, though the images are really too grainy to know for certain.

Update 2: Our source has shared another photograph, this time showing an iPhone resting on the tablet for comparison. Check it out after the break (bigger image for inspection available in the gallery).

Update 3: Gizmodo managed to snag some images of what appears to be the back of the tablet from Chinese forum WeiPhone before they were mysteriously yanked. WeiPhone is the same forum that leaked the K48 name way back when, so who knows -- the image shows what could be RF testing, but one of them feels kind of render-y to us. Check 'em all in the gallery!

Gallery: Is this the Apple tablet?

Continue reading Is this the Apple tablet? (update: new images)

Filed under: , ,

Is this the Apple tablet? (update: new images) originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 27 Jan 2010 10:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>appleapple tabletAppleTabletbreaking newsBreakingNewsexclusiveilifeilife 10Ilife10ipadiphonek48rumorrumorstabletverizonWed, 27 Jan 2010 10:29:00 EST<![CDATA[Our live coverage of the Apple 'latest creation' event starts tomorrow at 10:00AM PT / 1:00PM ET]]>http://www.engadget.com/2010/01/26/our-live-coverage-of-the-apple-tablet-latest-creation-event-starts-tomorrow/http://www.engadget.com/2010/01/26/our-live-coverage-of-the-apple-tablet-latest-creation-event-starts-tomorrow/http://www.engadget.com/2010/01/26/our-live-coverage-of-the-apple-tablet-latest-creation-event-starts-tomorrow/#commentsapple tablet, islate, tablet, apple event, latest creation Unless you've been living under a rock, you know that Apple is supposedly set to introduce a tablet device (AKA the Apple Tablet, iSlate, etc.) at its latest event that will change the lives of every man, woman, and child on the planet. Sure, it could just be a fresh version of iLife and an 8GB iPhone 3GS, but we kinda doubt that. If you know what's best for you, you'll tune in for our minute-by-minute, live coverage of the event. There won't be a better seat in the house... well, except for wherever Steve Jobs is sitting.

The show gets going on Wednesday, January 27th at 10AM PT.

You can follow updates on Twitter or Facebook as well.

Here's the URL where you should park your browser, and below are starting times around the globe:

08:00AM - Hawaii
10:00AM - Pacific
11:00AM - Mountain
12:00PM - Central
01:00PM - Eastern
06:00PM - London
07:00PM - Paris
09:00PM - Moscow
03:00AM - Tokyo (January 28th)

Our live coverage of the Apple 'latest creation' event starts tomorrow at 10:00AM PT / 1:00PM ET originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 26 Jan 2010 22:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>appleapple eventapple tabletAppleEventAppleTableteventipadislateitabletlatest creationLatestCreationsteve jobsSteveJobsTue, 26 Jan 2010 22:20:00 EST<![CDATA[Poll: So... what's the Apple tablet going to be called?]]>http://www.engadget.com/2010/01/26/so-whats-the-apple-tablet-going-to-be-called/http://www.engadget.com/2010/01/26/so-whats-the-apple-tablet-going-to-be-called/http://www.engadget.com/2010/01/26/so-whats-the-apple-tablet-going-to-be-called/#comments Okay, we're pretty sure Apple's going to announce a tablet tomorrow, and now we're pretty sure it'll be running some version of the iPhone OS. (Thanks, McGraw-Hill CEO Terry McGraw!) But the one thing we don't have any inkling about -- even after nearly 10 years of rumors -- is what this thing is going to be called. Sure, there are some trademark applications floating around, and even some crowd favorites, but arguably the single biggest surprise coming tomorrow is what Steve Jobs has decided to officially name his mythical tablet. Honestly, we have no idea -- so we're putting it to you. Let's run down the main contenders:
  • iTablet: The most obvious name, but Amtek's had the US trademark since 2006 and has been selling the various actual devices like the iTablet T221 (pictured above) under the brand for a while. Of course, trademark issues have clouded Apple product launches before, so anything's possible.
  • iSlate: Popped up in some trademark and domain name filings a while back and then applied for in the US by a shady company called Slate Computing, LLC that only seems to exist on paper. The registration can't be granted until the USPTO receives an example of the name being used in commerce, and that hasn't happened yet.
  • iPad: The least likely, and only because Apple's had the most to directly do with it. Fujitsu sold a Windows CE-based iPad retail handheld for a few years, but let the trademark application lapse until June of this year. When the USPTO published the application for review by other mark holders, Apple stepped in and filed an opposition, presumably because "iPad" sounds too much like "iPod." That's the only real claim Apple has, as far as we can see -- it can't just oppose the registration because Steve wants to call it the "iPad" really bad. And if he does, all he's got to do is pay Fujitsu some of the billions in cash Apple has lying around -- so why tip his hand with the USPTO filing?
  • Slate: The NYT's Bill Keller referred to it as "the impending Apple slate." Maybe he meant it as a proper noun?
  • Canvas: Panic's Cabel Sasser tweeted this after the paint-spattered "latest creation" invite went out. It's certainly nice, but there's no evidence that it's real at all.
  • Tablet: The Apple Tablet. Might as well at this point, right?
So -- what's it going to be?

View Poll

Poll: So... what's the Apple tablet going to be called? originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 26 Jan 2010 20:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>appleapple tabletAppleTabletlatestcreationpolltabletTue, 26 Jan 2010 20:30:00 EST<![CDATA[McGraw-Hill's CEO confirms Apple tablet, debuting tomorrow]]>http://www.engadget.com/2010/01/26/mcgraw-hills-ceo-confirms-apple-tablet-debuting-tomorrow/http://www.engadget.com/2010/01/26/mcgraw-hills-ceo-confirms-apple-tablet-debuting-tomorrow/http://www.engadget.com/2010/01/26/mcgraw-hills-ceo-confirms-apple-tablet-debuting-tomorrow/#comments Color us (not) surprised, but Apple is definitely launching a tablet tomorrow. At least, according to the CEO of one of the planet's most noted book publishers. In a recent interview on CNBC, Terry McGraw (head honcho of McGraw-Hill, naturally), very openly admitted that books from his company would be coming to an Apple tablet "tomorrow," and he also confirmed that his company has "worked with Apple for quite awhile." As he dug the hole deeper, we also learned that the "tablet will be based on the iPhone operating system," and he noted that said books would be "transferable." We're assuming an updated iPhone OS is also in the works, one that presumably supports textbooks in the way that the mythical tablet might. Obviously we're not taking any of this as gospel until Stevie J confirms or denies it on stage tomorrow -- for all we know, Mr. McGraw may have just seen something speculative -- but it's not too often you see a CEO blow this much pointed smoke. Peek the full quote after the break along with the interview clip.

Continue reading McGraw-Hill's CEO confirms Apple tablet, debuting tomorrow

McGraw-Hill's CEO confirms Apple tablet, debuting tomorrow originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 26 Jan 2010 17:16:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>appleapple slateapple tabletAppleSlateAppleTabletbreaking newsBreakingNewsipadislateleakMcGraw-HillrumorslatetabletTue, 26 Jan 2010 17:16:00 EST<![CDATA[The Apple Tablet: a complete history, supposedly]]>http://www.engadget.com/2010/01/26/the-apple-tablet-a-complete-history-supposedly/http://www.engadget.com/2010/01/26/the-apple-tablet-a-complete-history-supposedly/http://www.engadget.com/2010/01/26/the-apple-tablet-a-complete-history-supposedly/#comments It's no secret to us (or our readers) that Apple's products tend to generate what some might consider insane amounts of interest for weeks, months, and even years before they're launched or even announced. Whether you love the company or hate its guts, you can't deny that Apple is particularly prone to being fodder for the rumor mill. It comes in all forms: leaked photos (be they real, fake, or merely imaginative fan creations), analyst speculation based on "what if" scenarios for investors, "insider" reports from Asian supply chains, and a fair amount of conjecture via the press, both mainstream and blog alike. Here at Engadget, we've always been pretty proud of our ability to decode fact from fiction, and we try not to add too much noise to the echo chamber in which the gadget world seems to sometimes live. That said, we do cover plenty of rumors -- and the Apple Tablet (in its many rumored form factors) may just be the biggest and most twisted of them all.

Apple's been kicking around the idea of a tablet since at least... oh, 1983. From real, physical prototypes to out-there ideas such as the Knowledge Navigator -- the company (who did not, alas, invent the idea of a tablet PC) has, somewhat unsurprisingly, seen fit to investigate the possibility for almost as long as it's been around. For one reason or another, though, they've never actually produced a device which saw the light of retail day (well, besides the Newton). Perhaps that's part of the fascination that Apple fans have with the product -- it's been rumored so long, and seemed on the verge of actual arrival so many times that it's become a Holy Grail of sorts for the tech community.

Evidence that any tablet actually existed or would come to retail, however, has always been slim at best. In the entire lifespan of Engadget, not one viable photo of a real-looking prototype has ever emerged, and not one source within Apple itself has ever really hinted that it was at work on such a product. Oh sure, there have been dozens -- possibly hundreds -- of people "familiar with the matter," but almost no one who would or could go on record to talk about the tablet, and in the end, it's always seemed like a non-starter. The Apple Tablet rumor started in earnest around 2002 -- before Engadget was even around. By the time we arrived to the party, the idea that Apple might be working on a tablet or slate PC was pretty firmly entrenched into the psyche of the avid gadget geek, but again, perilously little evidence existed to support the idea, or shall we say... the hope?

And here we are, in January of 2010, on the verge of yet another expiration date for the rumored launch of an Apple Tablet (though let's be honest -- this thing is starting to feel pretty real). We thought now might be as good a time as any to take a look back -- back through the rumor timeline of one of the gadget world's longest-standing, and seemingly best-loved unicorns. Join us for the ride, won't you?

Continue reading The Apple Tablet: a complete history, supposedly

The Apple Tablet: a complete history, supposedly originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 26 Jan 2010 10:05:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>app storeappleapple eventapple islateapple itabletapple rumorapple rumorsAppleEventAppleIslateAppleItabletAppleRumorAppleRumorsappletabletAppStorecanvas bagCanvasBageventipadislateislate.comitablet t221ItabletT221jonathan iveJonathanIvelatest creationLatestCreationnewton peripheralsNewtonPeripheralsrumorrumorsslateslate pcSlatePcspeculationsteve jobsSteveJobstablettablet pcTabletPcTue, 26 Jan 2010 10:05:00 EST<![CDATA[Apple rumor roundup: 'the day before' edition]]>http://www.engadget.com/2010/01/26/apple-rumor-roundup-the-day-before-edition/http://www.engadget.com/2010/01/26/apple-rumor-roundup-the-day-before-edition/http://www.engadget.com/2010/01/26/apple-rumor-roundup-the-day-before-edition/#comments We'll just come right out and say it: we couldn't possibly be happier to see that January 27, 2010 is tomorrow. Shortly after 10AM on the left coast, Stevie J himself will finally put a hush to the rumors that have been swirling constantly over the past fortnight or so (and we'll be there live to cover it). Till then, however, we've got one more round of scuttlebutt to serve up. Kicking things off is a New York Times report that explains in some level of detail what exactly the supposed Apple tablet will feature in terms of specifications. To quote: "It will run all the applications of the iPhone and iPod Touch, have a persistent wireless connection over 3G cellphone networks and Wi-Fi, and will be built with a 10-inch color display, allowing newspapers, magazines and book publishers to deliver their products with an eye to the design that had grabbed readers in print." We shall see.

Moving on, we've got even more whispers that publishers -- with the NYT mentioned specifically -- around the globe have been getting wind of this thing as the suits in Cupertino attempt to nail down content deals. Broadcast Engineering even has a piece that straight-up states that Apple was "was in New York City last week showing the tablet to media companies as a new way to sell books, newspapers and other reading material through its iTunes online store." Still not convinced? NetbookNews has an apparently ongoing article about the authenticity / non-authenticity of a Media Markt tweet that "accidentally" leaked a supposed €899 price point for the device, while Hot Hardware switches things up and reports that AT&T will lose its iPhone exclusivity during tomorrow's event. Oh, and the very first hands-on review of the Apple tablet is also live (courtesy of Mosspuppet), while yet another hotly contested image has arisen to perch atop these very words. Phew.

Apple rumor roundup: 'the day before' edition originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 26 Jan 2010 09:11:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>appleapple tabletapple tablet rumorAppleTabletAppleTabletRumorcreativeipadiphoneiphone 3giphone 3gsIphone3gIphone3gsislatelatest creationLatestCreationmacos xOsXrumorrumor roundupRumorRoundupslateslate pcSlatePctablettablet pcTabletPcverizonTue, 26 Jan 2010 09:11:00 EST<![CDATA[Our live coverage of the Apple 'latest creation' event starts Wednesday, January 27th]]>http://www.engadget.com/2010/01/25/our-live-coverage-of-the-apple-tablet-latest-creation-event-starts-wednesday/http://www.engadget.com/2010/01/25/our-live-coverage-of-the-apple-tablet-latest-creation-event-starts-wednesday/http://www.engadget.com/2010/01/25/our-live-coverage-of-the-apple-tablet-latest-creation-event-starts-wednesday/#commentsapple tablet, islate, tablet, apple event, latest creation Unless you've been living under a rock, you know that Apple is supposedly set to introduce a tablet device (AKA the Apple Tablet, iSlate, etc.) at its latest event that will change the lives of every man, woman, and child on the planet. Sure, it could just be a fresh version of iLife and an 8GB iPhone 3GS, but we kinda doubt that. If you know what's best for you, you'll tune in for our minute-by-minute, live coverage of the event. There won't be a better seat in the house... well, except for wherever Steve Jobs is sitting.

The show gets going on Wednesday, January 27th at 10AM PT.

Here's the URL where you should park your browser, and below are starting times around the globe:

08:00AM - Hawaii
10:00AM - Pacific
11:00AM - Mountain
12:00PM - Central
01:00PM - Eastern
06:00PM - London
07:00PM - Paris
09:00PM - Moscow
03:00AM - Tokyo (January 28th)

Our live coverage of the Apple 'latest creation' event starts Wednesday, January 27th originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 25 Jan 2010 12:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>appleapple eventapple tabletAppleEventAppleTabletipadislateitabletsteve jobsSteveJobsMon, 25 Jan 2010 12:15:00 EST<![CDATA[Frog Design outs the Apple tablet that could have been... in 1983]]>http://www.engadget.com/2010/01/24/frog-design-outs-the-apple-tablet-that-could-have-been-in-198/http://www.engadget.com/2010/01/24/frog-design-outs-the-apple-tablet-that-could-have-been-in-198/http://www.engadget.com/2010/01/24/frog-design-outs-the-apple-tablet-that-could-have-been-in-198/#comments
We don't know about you, but back in 1983 we were still playing in the mud with sticks and learning how to read. Frog Design, on the other hand, well, they were busy creating zany gadget prototypes. The company -- which helped create such august products as the Apple IIc (which was unleashed in 1984) -- also worked on a tablet pc for Apple around that same time, and its recently let slip some photos of what might have been. The tablet you see in the photos (there's another after the break) was called Bashful, and it's a pretty slim character considering its birth date, boasting a full physical keyboard and stylus to boot. Several prototypes of this little lover were made, including one with a disk drive and even one with a phone. So that means, by our count, Apple's been mulling this whole tablet deal for... twenty-six years. Hit the source link for even more photos.

Continue reading Frog Design outs the Apple tablet that could have been... in 1983

Frog Design outs the Apple tablet that could have been... in 1983 originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 24 Jan 2010 08:51:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>appleapple tabletAppleTabletbashfulprototypeprototypestablettablet pcTabletPcSun, 24 Jan 2010 08:51:00 EST<![CDATA[Apple Tablet rumor roundup: publishers and carriers edition]]>http://www.engadget.com/2010/01/22/apple-tablet-rumor-roundup-publishers-and-carriers-edition/http://www.engadget.com/2010/01/22/apple-tablet-rumor-roundup-publishers-and-carriers-edition/http://www.engadget.com/2010/01/22/apple-tablet-rumor-roundup-publishers-and-carriers-edition/#comments This day simply wouldn't be a day between January 18, 2010 and January 27, 2010 without a new gaggle of Apple Tablet rumors to sift through, and while we're gritting our teeth as we skim every word, we've the latest and greatest most far-fetched rounded up here for your perusal.

The rumor: The Apple Tablet will "strike a familiar chord with owners of the original iPhone, with similarities in industrial design trickling all the way down to the handset's button and connectivity components."
Our take: Honestly, we can believe this one. Apple has had a great deal of success with the iPhone, and we've already seen the "tablet PC" as it's known today take a nosedive. Apple Insider is saying that the device may look a lot like a "first-generation iPhone that's met its match with a rolling pin," and while we've obviously no inside way to confirm nor deny, we can get why Apple would stick close to a design that it knows will work. Oh, and be sure to peek two more clearly fake mockups after the break.

The rumor: New York Times Arthur Sulzberger, Jr. won't be at Apple keynote next week.
Our take: So? Just because the head honcho from The Times is planning to be in Davos, Switzerland next week while Apple unveils its tablet doesn't mean that Jobs can't showcase the device's ability to video chat across oceans in front of the masses... if Apple even has a deal with any publisher. If Apple really is reaching out to publishers for content deals, you can bet your bottom dollar the NYT is listening. And be honest -- if you had the option of being in Davos or some convention center in San Francisco, which would you pick?

More after the break... if you dare.

Continue reading Apple Tablet rumor roundup: publishers and carriers edition

Apple Tablet rumor roundup: publishers and carriers edition originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 22 Jan 2010 10:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>AppleApple tabletAppleTabletattbooksdesigne book readere readere-booke-book readerE-bookReadere-readerEBookReaderEReaderipadiphoneislateMcGraw-Hillpublisherrumorrumor roundupRumorRoundupslatetablettimesverizonFri, 22 Jan 2010 10:59:00 EST<![CDATA[WSJ: Apple tablet to have books, games, music, TV, will make sandwiches]]>http://www.engadget.com/2010/01/20/wsj-apple-tablet-to-have-books-games-music-tv-will-make-san/http://www.engadget.com/2010/01/20/wsj-apple-tablet-to-have-books-games-music-tv-will-make-san/http://www.engadget.com/2010/01/20/wsj-apple-tablet-to-have-books-games-music-tv-will-make-san/#commentsThe Wall Street Journal just laid out a doozy of an Apple tablet rumor piece, all from anonymous sources, "people familiar with the matter," and the like. There's a lot to go through, so without further ado:
  • The tablet will come with a virtual keyboard -- kind of a no-brainer if it's gonna be a keyboard-less tablet and not, say, another laptop.
  • Apple's been talking with The New York Times, Conde Nast, and HarperCollins / News Corp. over how they could collaborate. When asked, NYT Chairman Arthur Sulzberger would only say "stay tuned."
  • Electronic Arts has been working closely to prep games for the tablet. We know of a number of gaming journalists who've gotten invites to next week's event, and given Apple's heavy games push over the past year or so, this wouldn't surprise us in the least.
  • A reaffirmation of earlier murmurings about potentially swapping Google for Bing as the default search engine. Maps, too!
  • Those TV subscription rumors? Apparently the gang in Cupertino have been pitching a "best of TV" service that would package the best four to six shows per channel.
  • A web-based version of iTunes, tentatively called iTunes.com and potentially launching in June, for buying music outside of the dedicated app. Additionally, there'd be a new initiative "to populate as many webs ites as possible with 'buy' buttons, integrating iTunes transactions into activities like listening to internet radio and surfing review web sites." No mention if music will be downloaded or streamed from the cloud, but we can definitely see how Apple's recent Lala acquisition would play into this in the future -- in fact, we've already seen it start to bear fruit.
  • Here's a weird one: Apple has supposedly designed the tablet "so that it is intuitive to share." One such experiment is virtual sticky notes that launch for the intended recipient by facial recognition via built-in camera.
If nothing else, we're really looking forward to next week putting a large clamp on the torrent of tablet rumors that have have propagated the internet for the last few months.

WSJ: Apple tablet to have books, games, music, TV, will make sandwiches originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 20 Jan 2010 23:54:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>appleapple tabletAppleTabletbingharpercollinsnew york timesNewYorkTimesrumorrumorstabletWed, 20 Jan 2010 23:54:00 EST<![CDATA[Analysts debate P.A. Semi's role in forthcoming Apple wares]]>http://www.engadget.com/2010/01/20/analysts-debate-pa-semis-role-in-forthcoming-apple-wares/http://www.engadget.com/2010/01/20/analysts-debate-pa-semis-role-in-forthcoming-apple-wares/http://www.engadget.com/2010/01/20/analysts-debate-pa-semis-role-in-forthcoming-apple-wares/#commentsIt's easy to forget that Apple snapped up P.A. Semi for a song way back when, but now that we're just days, hours and seconds away from Apple's expected tablet reveal, a new wave of processor-related conjecture is hitting the fan. Richard Doherty, director of technology consulting firm Envisioneering Group, has come forward with some exceedingly detailed rumors on said tablet, a touchscreen MacBook and an OS X-based unicorn that lives in the cloud. As the story goes, Apple's pickup of P.A. Semi was primarily an effort to acquire a huge pool of engineering talent to use for its own internal designs, and now Doherty is saying that "before the year is out, Apple will have the most powerful, lowest-cost SoC in the industry." According to him, there's nothing from "ARM licensees or Intel that could challenge the power-per-watt, the power-per-buck, the power-per-cubic-millimeter of size," and he anticipates that four new products are in the pipeline from Cupertino. Need details? How's about a touchscreen iMac, an "iPod touch on steroids" with a 5-inch display, and "two different versions of media pads in the 7- to 9-inch (screen size) area." Alright Dick, you just put your reputation on the line -- here's hoping you've got your story straight.

Update: Looks like UBS Investment Research has been hearing something similar. According to it, the forthcoming tablet "will be powered by a processor designed by P.A. Semi and built by Samsung."

Analysts debate P.A. Semi's role in forthcoming Apple wares originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 20 Jan 2010 09:19:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>analystappleapple tabletAppleTabletarmchipcpuEnvisioneering GroupEnvisioneeringGroupHon HaiHonHaiipodipod touchIpodTouchislatemacpa semiPaSemiprocessorRichard DohertyRichardDohertyrumorsamsungtablettablet pcTabletPcWed, 20 Jan 2010 09:19:00 EST<![CDATA[Apple Tablet rumor roundup: summer 2010 edition]]>http://www.engadget.com/2010/01/20/apple-rumor-roundup-summer-2010-edition/http://www.engadget.com/2010/01/20/apple-rumor-roundup-summer-2010-edition/http://www.engadget.com/2010/01/20/apple-rumor-roundup-summer-2010-edition/#commentsBefore we get into the rumors, here's a fact: unless the Apple Tablet cures cancer, global warming and obesity in one fell swoop, there'll be plenty of disappointed faces leaving the Yerba Buena theater next Wednesday. The hype is that overpowering. But hey, that doesn't mean we are not curious to know what it will actually do, so let's get to the latest batch of uncorroborated scuttlebutt.

The Rumor: The Mac Observer believes these are legitimate photos of a 10-inch glass front for Apple's new machine. Coming from a "trusted source," the pictures seem to confirm a 10-inch screen size and an iPhone-inspired design (which includes an earphone hole!). In the pic to the side, you can see it resting atop a unibody MacBook Pro's keyboard for a sense of scale.
Our Take: Naturally taken in the worst possible light and suffering from a strong dose of noise and noise-reducing blur, the photos are close to impossible to verify. Their claim for legitimacy is also not helped by the blatant appearance of a scaled-up iPhone front plate -- something we could mock up ourselves if we had the patience.

The Rumor: Actual retail units of the fabled world-changing device won't be available until June. AppleInsider reports some analyst noise indicating that battery life and durability issues could delay the tablet's release until the middle of this year. Moreover, on the authority of "supply chain sources," it has been described as a "super iPod touch," with a suggestion it might have an ARM-based core inside.
Our Take: It's well known that the original iPhone followed a similar launch pattern of a January announcement and a June release, but Apple must be equally aware of how disappointing to its fans (and shareholders, more importantly) a paper launch would be. ARM internals seem logical, particularly since the iPhone already runs such hardware, and NVIDIA's Tegra 2 platform -- driven by a dual-core Cortex A9 chip -- has made some lofty promises about what can be done with the architecture.

The Rumor: The Guardian, via 9to5Mac, informs us that Apple has been in talks with UK mobile carriers about bringing its famine destroyer to the Queen's backyard in subsidized form. We're told it'll be bundled with mobile broadband contracts -- in much the same fashion as netbooks are treated currently -- but there'll be no exclusivity deals on the table so Orange, O2 and Vodafone are all in the running. There's also pretty firm word that the iWonder won't be making its UK debut until "later in the spring."
Our Take: Mobile broadband takeup is only going to grow in the UK and netbook bundles seem to have been popular so far, so it seems like a no-brainer to try and capitalize on this burgeoning market. As pointed out in The Guardian, behind the scenes talks don't always turn into real world deals, but at this point we'd be surprised if Apple wasn't talking to carriers about subsidies.

Well, we wanted photos and we got 'em -- in the signature grainy style that all pre-announcement hardware seems to appear. The latter two rumors have some intriguing synergy, though: both point toward availability coming significantly later than the announcement, and both seem to steer away from integrated 3G connectivity. We really can't wait to know -- if only to stop this speculative madness.

Apple Tablet rumor roundup: summer 2010 edition originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 20 Jan 2010 05:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>appleapple tabletAppleTabletkaufman brosKaufmanBrosrumorrumor roundupRumorRounduprumorstablettablet pcTabletPcWed, 20 Jan 2010 05:57:00 EST<![CDATA[Next week's Apple event to be iLife / iPhone OS 4.0 / tablet trifecta?]]>http://www.engadget.com/2010/01/18/next-weeks-apple-event-to-be-ilife-iphone-os-4-0-tablet-tri/http://www.engadget.com/2010/01/18/next-weeks-apple-event-to-be-ilife-iphone-os-4-0-tablet-tri/http://www.engadget.com/2010/01/18/next-weeks-apple-event-to-be-ilife-iphone-os-4-0-tablet-tri/#commentsWe're realistically no closer to knowing the outcome of next week's Apple event than we were a week, a year, or a decade ago, but rumors are obviously congealing around the mythical tablet that users, fans, and media have all but willed into existence recently -- and our buddy Clayton Morris says that's indeed a part of the story. Morris reports having spoken with a source at Apple this morning -- prior to the company's invites going out, interestingly -- who said that the event would focus on a new version of iLife, iPhone OS 4.0, and naturally, the tablet.

Loosely speaking, you can see how these would all tie together pretty nicely: the seemingly "creative" theme of Apple's invite rolls into a new version of iLife, and the announcement of a tablet could have implications for how a suite of artsy tools gets used. Rumblings that the tablet is underpinned by a new version of iPhone OS have gone back months, so that would give Apple impetus to tease it at the same time the tablet's shown off -- sans new iPhone hardware, possibly, which the company has done before. It's also possible that Apple will open source its entire catalog of software and shut down, buy an island nation, or do nothing at all -- but in fairness, there's an awful lot of logic to what Clayton's saying here. We'll know soon enough.

Next week's Apple event to be iLife / iPhone OS 4.0 / tablet trifecta? originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 18 Jan 2010 16:47:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>appleapple eventapple tabletAppleEventAppleTableteventilifeilife 2010Ilife2010iphoneiphone osiphone os 4iphone os 4.0IphoneOsIphoneOs4IphoneOs4.0rumortabletMon, 18 Jan 2010 16:47:00 EST<![CDATA[It's on: Apple holding January 27th event to show off its 'latest creation']]>http://www.engadget.com/2010/01/18/its-on-apple-holding-january-27th-event-to-show-off-its-lates/http://www.engadget.com/2010/01/18/its-on-apple-holding-january-27th-event-to-show-off-its-lates/http://www.engadget.com/2010/01/18/its-on-apple-holding-january-27th-event-to-show-off-its-lates/#comments Yes folks -- the rumors are true. Apple is holding an event on January 27th to show off something the company is calling their "latest creation." Hair standing on end? Good. The proceedings will take place at the Yerba Buena Center for the Arts Theater in San Francisco, and will get underway at 10AM Pacific. We'll be there live -- as usual -- covering every little second of the action... so get ready!

Update: We're not ones for wild speculation, but the inclusion of splatter paint and the use of the word "creation" could suggest that if we do see the long-rumored Tablet at this event, the focus could be slanted towards art, music, and movie-making. Maybe we'll finally figure out what the point of an Apple tablet is! On the other hand, that might just be a bit of wild speculation. Feel free to generate your own kooky concepts in comments -- we promise not to judge you.

If you'd like to read (or re-read) a slew of Apple Tablet rumor coverage, click here.

It's on: Apple holding January 27th event to show off its 'latest creation' originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 18 Jan 2010 12:06:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>appleapple eventapple tabletAppleEventAppleTabletbreaking newsBreakingNewstabletMon, 18 Jan 2010 12:06:00 EST<![CDATA[New York Times to begin charging for access... something something, Apple Tablet]]>http://www.engadget.com/2010/01/17/new-york-times-to-begin-charging-for-access-something-somethi/http://www.engadget.com/2010/01/17/new-york-times-to-begin-charging-for-access-something-somethi/http://www.engadget.com/2010/01/17/new-york-times-to-begin-charging-for-access-something-somethi/#comments Is it a stretch of logic, or purely logical? You be the one to judge. New York Magazine is reporting from what seems to be pretty solid word that the New York Times will start charging online readers for its content. That's all well and interesting for a media hound, but there's additional word that the announcement of this in "a matter of weeks" might coincide with the rumored January 27th Apple launch. You know, the tablet thing. We already know (or are pretty sure) that Apple has shopped around a theoretical device to content providers, including almost assuredly the New York Times, so it makes "sense." Still, we aren't putting solid money down on a single thing until Steve Jobs pulls this device out of a largish pocket of his and shows it to our face.

New York Times to begin charging for access... something something, Apple Tablet originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 17 Jan 2010 16:10:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>appleapple tabletAppleTabletcontentnew york timesNewYorkTimesny timesNyTimespublisherspublishing dealPublishingDealrumortabletSun, 17 Jan 2010 16:10:00 EST<![CDATA[Apple rumor roundup: iPhone patent 4.0 edition]]>http://www.engadget.com/2010/01/15/apple-rumor-roundup-iphone-patent-4-0-edition/http://www.engadget.com/2010/01/15/apple-rumor-roundup-iphone-patent-4-0-edition/http://www.engadget.com/2010/01/15/apple-rumor-roundup-iphone-patent-4-0-edition/#commentsOn today's edition of the never-ending Apple rumor roundup, we take a quick detour into the murky realm of the United States patent database, topped off with a charming unsourced tip and some delightful analyst conjecture. Let's blaze.

The rumor: A recent Apple patent application for a capacitive touchscreen-specific stylus may or may not mean The Tablet uses a stylus for input.
Our take: We've already promised to eat our hat if Apple puts a removable battery in the iPhone, so what's next? A shoe? We will eat a shoe if Steve Jobs introduces a product that requires the use of a stylus. Besides, this product already exists: it's called the Pogo Stylus, and it's not exactly rocking minds (although we are intrigued by Inklet). Apple likes to file silly broad patent applications and see what it can get away with -- it's never been wise to read too much into them.

The rumor: Another Apple patent application hints that portable DVR functionality is coming to the iPod / iPhone -- you'll be able to grab TV and radio content from cable, satellite, OTA, or using "services" with your portable device and then load that into iTunes. Not only will you be able to connect new iPods to a cable box to record shows -- channel changing and everything -- but Apple's going to release an accessory for older iPods to enable this functionality as well.
Our take: This would be like a dream come true for the consumer, and a crazy heroin nightmare for Apple to actually implement -- can you imagine an iPod with a freaking CableCARD slot? Neither can we. Besides, it's not like Apple to push content sales from anything other than the iTunes Store, and it's especially not like Apple to extend functionality to older iPods when it can just release a newer one in a slightly different metallic finish. Next!

Continue reading Apple rumor roundup: iPhone patent 4.0 edition

Apple rumor roundup: iPhone patent 4.0 edition originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 15 Jan 2010 12:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>appleapple tabletAppleTabletiphoneiphone osiphone os 4.0IphoneOsIphoneOs4.0rumorrumor roundupRumorRounduprumorstabletFri, 15 Jan 2010 12:28:00 EST<![CDATA[Apple rumor roundup: improbable removable battery edition]]>http://www.engadget.com/2010/01/12/apple-rumor-roundup-improbable-removable-battery-edition/http://www.engadget.com/2010/01/12/apple-rumor-roundup-improbable-removable-battery-edition/http://www.engadget.com/2010/01/12/apple-rumor-roundup-improbable-removable-battery-edition/#commentsNow that CES is officially over, it's apparently time for the vague Apple rumor factory to start churning out sketchy reports about tablets, next-gen iPhones, and "vanishing" domain names. Yeah, it's getting silly out there, but judging by our tip box you all can't get enough, so let's do this thing rapid-fire style.

The rumor: The Korea Times, citing unnamed sources at Korea Telecom, says the carrier is planning for a 4G iPhone featuring an OLED display, a front-facing video camera, a fast new dual-core CPU, and a removable battery. General launch is expected in June, but corporate clients will be doing a "litmus test" in April.
Our take: We will eat our hats if Apple puts a removable battery in the iPhone. Plus, Apple doesn't do focus group testing, least of all with enterprise customers. This just seems like wishful thinking -- we could have made up a more convincing rumor while eating a hat.

The rumor: 10.1 OLED and LCD display panels are no longer available anywhere, because Apple has "pre-ordered them all" to secure volume discounts and keep the tablet's price down.
Our take: We certainly saw plenty of new 10.1-inch netbooks and slates at CES, including some multitouch LCD units, and no one was complaining. Also, we saw several larger OLED displays at CES, but they were all too expensive and impractical for shipping products, so that's gotta be one hell of a discount.

The rumor: Apple has mysteriously shut down the FingerWorks website, which means something tablet-related because... well, it must mean something, right?
Our take: Apple bought FingerWorks years ago -- we're surprised this hadn't happened sooner. We bet the hosting contract just ran out. Alternatively, Steve Jobs is trying to send us a message by yanking an obscure touch-related domain just weeks before a highly-anticipated product launch, because he is the master of extremely minor hints about nothing.

All in all, a pretty lame set of rumors -- there's barely anything here for pundits and the mass media to conflate and distort into something bigger. At least give us a poorly-translated French telecom executive speaking off the cuff, you know? Have some dignity.

Continue reading Apple rumor roundup: improbable removable battery edition

Apple rumor roundup: improbable removable battery edition originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 12 Jan 2010 15:21:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>appleapple tabletAppleTabletfingerworkslcdoledrounduprumorrumor roundupRumorRounduptabletTue, 12 Jan 2010 15:21:00 EST<![CDATA[Orange exec confirms existence of Apple Tablet?]]>http://www.engadget.com/2010/01/11/orange-exec-confirms-existence-of-apple-tablet/http://www.engadget.com/2010/01/11/orange-exec-confirms-existence-of-apple-tablet/http://www.engadget.com/2010/01/11/orange-exec-confirms-existence-of-apple-tablet/#comments Yes, we hate to start off a fresh week with more talk of the Apple tablet, but this isn't just another rumor. Stéphane Richard, second in command at Orange, was asked on a Europe 1 radio program about the Apple Tablet. When he was asked whether such a tablet will be announced before the end of the month, he responded "Yes," and when asked whether Orange users would get it, he responded "Sure!" This is of course not a formal confirmation by any means, but he doesn't sound like he's talking in theoreticals, either. You can listen to it yourself at the read link below and let us know what you think below.

Update: We now have the video below courtesy of SlashGear, who aren't quite so convinced that he's referring to the tablet itself, possibly just confirming that others are reporting the tablet will be released next week. Any native speakers care to help us wade through the intricacies of this, the language of love?

Update 2: We've got a full translation after the break of the entire relevant bits, courtesy of bilingual reader Sean Mangar.

Update fin: Orange has issued a statement predictably saying these comments are being taken out of context, that Richard was "merely confirming that he is aware of the speculation surrounding a launch." So, the fun is over folks -- or is it?

[Thanks to everyone who sent this in]

Continue reading Orange exec confirms existence of Apple Tablet?

Orange exec confirms existence of Apple Tablet? originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 11 Jan 2010 08:41:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>appleapple tabletAppleTabletbreaking newsBreakingNewsorangerumortabletMon, 11 Jan 2010 08:41:00 EST