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IDC: Android tablets will overtake iPad by 2015, despite everything
They're not center-stage right now, but Android tablets are still predicted to overtake the iPad within the next three years, according to IDC. The forecasters noted that Apple's worldwide share of the tablet market is shrinking with each new lower-priced Android competitor. Even as iPad sales continued to grow in 2011, surging 50 percent between Q3 and Q4, its market share fell during the same period, from 61.5 to 54.7 percent. That gives the iOS slate a weaker lead going into 2012 than suggested by earlier figures. Of course, the iPad remains an individual starlet in front of a troupe of Google dancers, so Apple's position as the upper-most vendor isn't under threat. In fact, IDC predicts it will remain the market leader in terms of revenue beyond 2016, which ought to put some fire in Amazon's belly.
Apple, AT&T sued over iPad data plan change
When the iPad was first announced, Steve Jobs seemed very proud of the data plans his company had negotiated for the 3G model. The top-of-the-line plan featured unlimited data for for US$30 per month. A few weeks later, on June 2nd, that plan was replaced with 2GB of data for $25 per month. Customers were not happy. Today, a class action lawsuit has been filed against Apple and AT&T, claiming fraud and misrepresentation. Specifically, the plaintiffs in the nationwide suit alllege that both Apple and AT&T "deceptively promoted" that they could switch, month by month, between the unlimited plan and the 250MB plan. Now customers who opt for the unlimited plan cannot switch back to a limited plan. The whole thing smells like the old bait-and-switch, enjoyed by plaid-wearing used car salesmen everywhere. Good luck to all involved. [Via MacDailyNews]
Unlimited data option disappears from iPads, AT&T tells grandfathered customers not to worry
Even though AT&T's $30 unlimited data plan technically went the way of the dodo back on June 7, the company had assured 3G iPad owners that they'd be entitled to one last hurrah -- buy an iPad prior to the 7th and you'd be allowed to grandfather into the old plan, even if you didn't receive your purchase by the deadline. Problem is, the unlimited plan option finally disappeared off AT&T-connected iPads for the first time today, leaving some of these eligible folks who haven't yet signed up for 3G data in the lurch. Not to worry, though: AT&T says that everyone who's eligible "will be able to select the unlimited plan" and that "details will follow." In other words, we don't know how this is going to work yet, but at least the carrier's aware of the issue. Stay tuned.
iFixit gets iPad 3G on day one, immediately destroys it
Unsurprisingly, the chaps over at iFixit have already torn their brand new 3G iPad to shreds. There isn't anything insanely shocking in there (no visible "magic," though there is some fragmentary evidence of a "revolution"), but it's still a pretty interesting sight to behold. So, what's going on in there? Well, for starters, the 3G iPad has five antennas, including one that appears to take up the whole of the LCD frame, and one inside the Apple logo; it's also got the same baseband processor as both the WiFi iPad and the iPhone 3GS. There are plenty more tidbits to glean from the teardown, if you're into that sort of thing, so hit the source link if you're so inclined.
Apple names April 30th, 5PM as date and time for 3G iPad retail launch
There was a bit of confusion with Apple's online store update yesterday as to when the 3G version of its iPad will actually make its retail debut. Let that fog of ignorance be no more, as Cupertino has today named April 30th, a Friday, as the day the WiFi + 3G slate will arrive in stores. In American stores, that is, don't get all excited if you live outside the 50 states. That's also the date when early (read: before yesterday) pre-orders will be fulfilled. Deliveries for those were promised for "late April," though clearly this date has more of the late and less of the April to it.
Jobs confirms Wi-Fi, 3G iPad launch via email
Steve Jobs has emailed a European customer to apologize for the iPad's delay and confirm the company's shipping plans. 9to5 Mac reports on emails sent by two European customers to Steve Jobs asking about the iPad's international release. The first message read, "Will there also be 3G models of the iPad released worldwide on the end of may or only the Wi-Fi models? Would be nice to know. Can't wait." Steve's response was, "Both models will be released at the end of May. Sorry for the delay." Steve's response to the second email, which asked essentially the same question, was a tidy little, "Yes." International iPad shipments have been delayed by one month as Apple struggles to keep up with what its calling unexpected demand. Pre-orders will begin on May 10th. This email from Jobs is the first official confirmation that the Wi-Fi and 3G models will ship simultaneously. This is the second time this week that we've heard about personal emails from Jobs reaching customers. We wonder if they were "Sent from [his] iPad." [Via MacNN]
First 3G iPad sighted in the wild, Steve Wozniak plays it cool by riding a Segway (video)
Loyal reader Parth Dhebar is keeping us updated on happenings in the San Jose Valley Fair Apple Store this morning, and earlier laptop signings from the Woz have escalated into an impromptu Segway demo courtesy of the eccentric Apple Inc founder. Where he got the personal transporter from, we don't know, why he's riding it around and doing his best Paul Blart impersonation is not important, what matters is that we've got video of Steve Wozniak on a Segway and it's right after the break. We're also told an iPad has emerged out of the ether for the Woz-man and his fellow early bird queuers to have a tantalizing play around with -- presumably thanks to Apple Store employees treating their patriarch like they should. The perks of being in the right place at the right time, eh? [Thanks, Parth] Update: That's a 3G iPad old Steve is playing around with! Look at the plastic up top. We'll do our usual digging to try and find out how that wily superhero managed to get his mitts on a device that's a good few weeks away from release. Update 2: We've got video of the 3G iPad running Netflix. An Apple engineer apparently walked through the queue with it, it didn't come out of Steve's magical trenchcoat pocket. Update 3: Interested in seeing Woz grab his iPad, sign a few hundred others, and then ride off into the sunset on his Segway? Gallery's just below. %Gallery-89696%
