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Mac software deals for this Thanksgiving weekend
We're on the lookout for great deals this Thanksgiving weekend! Mike Schramm has already put up two posts on iOS apps which are on sale, and I've got a few Mac software deals to tell you about. The first one is Soulver, which is an app I've had my eye on since Marco Arment mentioned it on Build & Analyze. Soulver lets you do all sorts of mathematical calculations using words as well as numbers. Speaking as someone who isn't very good with numbers, I love Soulver because it lets me calculate things the way I think. It does conversions, currencies, file sizes (bytes to gigabytes), and yes, it can even calculate tips. To really get sense of how it works, watch the video. Soulver for Mac is on sale for $12 (50% off). The iPhone version is $1 (75% off) and the iPad version is $2 (66% off). This deal is only good the 24th and 25th. Mariner Software is offering a deal through Saturday on Paperless for Mac for $30 (40% off the usual price of $50) through their online store. Check their site for details on what scanners it works with. DEVONtechnologies is offering 25% off their apps DEVONthink, DEVONagent, and DEVONnote. Note that this deal doesn't start until Friday and ends Monday. These are great apps for searching for and storing information. Marked, from our own Brett Terpstra, is on sale starting Black Friday (and going through Sunday) as well, at 50% off. It's a terrific Markdown tool for previewing your work from any text editor. Speaking of Brett, if you look closely you can spot him in the team picture over at the AgileBits site (he worked there once upon a time). The company is offering a 50% off discount on all its products through 11/30, including the indispensable 1Password -- if you get it through the Mac App Store, you'll be upgraded for free to the forthcoming version 4. And, just in time for Advent, the premium version of Glo Bible is available for $35. If you order through their website they are offering a free movie on DVD, as well as 3 DVDs worth of content which allows you to use most of the Glo Bible off-line. They won't even charge you for shipping. You can download the "lite" version of the app for free and try it out first. Have you spotted any great Mac deals? If so, let us know in the comments! (Just a reminder, we have comment moderation turned on to stop the flood of spam comments we were getting, so your comments might not be visible right away, especially on Thursday!)
Engadget's holiday gift guide 2011: accessories
Welcome to the Engadget Holiday Gift Guide! We're well aware of the heartbreaking difficulties surrounding the seasonal shopping experience, so we're here to help you sort out this year's tech treasures. Below is today's bevy of curated picks, and you can head back to the Gift Guide hub to see the rest of the product guides as they're added throughout the holiday season. As any technophile will tell you, accessories make the getup when it comes to complementing your favorite gadgets. Whether you're decking out a smartphone, computer, tablet, gaming system or just looking for some good old-fashioned holiday kicks, we're here to help you pick from our favorite accessories of 2011. Jump past the break to find out which ones made the "Nice" list.
Thanksgiving app sales: More Gameloft titles, Dark Meadow, and Steam sale underway
Here are even more Thanksgiving/Black Friday app sales popping up on the App Store: Gameloft has a few more titles on sale than I mentioned yesterday -- here's the full list. Retro RPG Companions for iPad is down to $3.99. The official Peterson Birds of North America app is down to 30% off, at $9.99. Steam has started up its official holiday sale, featuring huge discounts on all kinds of downloadable games for the Mac. Portal 2 for just over $10 is a great place to start (if you don't have it already), but there will be great games in there all week long. Boy, if you've ever wanted an EA Mobile game, now's the time to buy it -- almost all of the company's games are down to 99 cents. Reckless Racing, Simcity Deluxe, and Need for Speed: Hot Pursuit are standouts, but there's a lot of good choices in there. Pangea Software is having a Black Friday 99 cents sale as well, with Enigmo 2 and Nanosaur 2 as two to check out. Tactical Soldier: Undead Rising is down to $1.99, and Heroes of Kalevala is that same price on iPad, only 99 cents on iPhone. Wayforward's great Shantae: Risky's Revenge is usually $4.99 with an in-app purchase, but this week it's only a buck. Firemint's titles are on sale, but I think we all already own those. Playfirst's Hotel, Wedding, and Parking Dash titles are lowered to 99 cents on iPhone and $2.99 on the iPad. Dark Meadow is just a buck -- highly recommended if you don't have it yet and don't mind some scares. Kairosoft's Hot Springs Story and Pocket Academy are both down to just $1.99. Telltale has a whole bunch of iOS games on sale, including Puzzle Agent 1 and 2, and all of the Back to the Future, Hector: Badge of Carnage, and Tales of Monkey Island games for iPad. Each episode is $2.99, which could make for a fun Thanksgiving weekend if you buy the whole set. Spinlight Studio has a whole line of colorful childrens' education apps, and all of them are on sale this weekend. All of the Sage Board games apps, including Tigris and Euphrates, Ra, and Puerto Rico, are on sale, from $1.99 to $4.99. Flickr HD is just 99 cents, which is the cheapest price the app has ever been. DebtMinder is half off at $.99. And I think that's all ... for today (isn't that enough?!). There's really no need to fight store lines for video games when you can get all these great titles for pennies each on the App Store. Be sure to keep an eye on our Deals category for even more deals all weekend and holiday season long!
Holiday Gift Guide: Accessories for all
Welcome to TUAW's 2011 Holiday Gift Guide! We're here to help you choose the best gifts this holiday season, and once you've received your gifts we'll tell you what apps and accessories we think are best for your new Apple gear. Stay tuned every weekday from now until the end of the year for our picks and helpful guides and check our Gift Guide hub to see our guides as they become available. For even more holiday fun, check out sister site Engadget's gift guide. Let's be honest -- while you might plunk down the cash for a MacBook Air or iPad for your loved ones, you're probably not going to go all out on a brand new device for your co-workers and acquaintances. But that doesn't mean you can't still support the various Macheads in your life -- no matter how many Apple devices someone might have, there are many more accessories for those various devices lining the shelves at Best Buy. Cases, plug-ins, covers, and stick-ons, oh my! Let us take you on a quick tour through the Mac accessory landscape, and help you find some really great recommendations of all different prices for all of the Apple devices in your life. Even if there isn't a Mac fanatic around you who needs some of this stuff, no worries. Just bookmark this page, and come back after the holidays, whenever you yourself have unwrapped that big package "designed in California" that's sitting underneath your tree this year. The PlugBug Perhaps the hottest Mac-cessory this year, the PlugBug turned all kinds of heads when TwelveSouth finally released it earlier this month. Yes, it's just a charger, but no, it's not just a charger -- it's a super useful and well-designed accessory that already works with those cords you got in the Apple box. You can charge both a MacBook (or Air or Pro) and a USB device like an iPhone or iPad from just one outlet, and all you need to pack in your bag is the usual cords and this little red adapter. It's a great, smart device that adds just a little bit of color to an already very Apple way of thinking. ($34.99 from TwelveSouth) The iCade There were a few arcade cabinets for the iPad out this year, but the original iCade by ThinkGeek and Ion Audio. It originally started up as an April Fool's joke, and then was made real: An actual miniature arcade cabinet, complete with buttons and a joystick, that you can plug your iPad in to play arcade games on. The list of compatible titles is long and growing, so anyone in the house who loves playing old-school games on the iPad will really enjoy this one.($79.99 by ThinkGeek) TenOne's Fling and Fling mini for iPad and iPhone Again, there have been some very similar competitors pop up in this space, but when it comes to attaching a physical joystick to Apple's touch screens, the Fling is the original and the best. It's suprisingly simple, but feels and works great, especially on games where you'd normally use a virtual joystick, but it provides the tactile feedback that Apple's no buttons policy just can't match. Go ahead and buy a two-pack -- you'll need them both. (Two-pack is $29.95 for the iPad, $24.95 for the iPhone at TenOne Design) Keyboard covers by KB Covers Whether you're typing on a MacBook or a wireless Apple keyboard, a good keyboard cover can keep things clean and make your keyboard last longer and work better, no matter what your fingers have been touching lately. And KB Covers are the best we've seen -- not only are they made of a nice tough, stretchy plastic, but they're extremely useful, providing easy visual access to custom shortcuts for almost any app or International keyboard layout you'd ever want. No matter what Mac or keyboard model you have, or what you're doing with it (from editing in Avid to playing World of Warcraft), there's a KB Cover for you or your gift-getter. (Various prices, at KB Covers) The Peel The Peel system can be complicated, so it's not necessarily for everybody. But for just the right person on your gift list, it might be perfect. The Peel consists of both a "fruit" unit that sits on your home entertainment system and plugs into your television, and then an app that runs on your iOS device, and can be used to not only control your A/V setup, but also find various shows and things to watch according to your tastes. We didn't think the Peel would work as your usual remote, unfortunately, but for the right gadgethead interested in using an iOS device to make their TV watching experience a little better, it would be a great gift. ($99 at Peel) A case! Yes, there will undoubtedly be a lot of iPhones and iPads sold this year, and odds are that everyone who gets a new one under their tree will also need to find an excellent case for it. Many times, this tends to be a very personal choice, so you might want to think twice about getting a case for some one, or at least remember to be gracious when you find out it's not exactly what they wanted. But still, there are plenty of great cases out there, from cases that make your device look like a book, to something you can use with a little more functionality as an actual wallet. Cases can be as individual as the people who buy them, so be a little careful as to which one you pick out, but the right choice for the right person can be a terrific and memorable gift. (Various) Remote-controlled fun Sure, functionality can be important, but sometimes you just want to have a little bit of remote fun with your Mac. How about a remote-controlled USB missle launcher that can even be activated over the Internet? One of those Ar.Drone quadricopters that can be controlled with your iOS device? Or you can even be the first to nab a Sphero, a little remote-controlled ball that's arriving just in time for Christmas later on this year. There's lots of kooky fun to be had with your Apple devices -- sure, it may not be too practical, but if you've already got all of the power Apple has put into these machines, why not put a little bit of it to work in real life? (Various) A hard drive Finally, we'll leave you with a choice that's a little more practical than those toys: Even with the advent of iCloud, the one thing any Mac user will always love getting is more hard drive space. With all of the apps coming out all of the time, and lots and lots of content being made and edited, anyone with a Mac or even an iPhone or iPad could probably use a few more gigabytes (or even terabytes) in their lives. Western Digital has released a few excellent standalone hard drives meant for Mac this year, but especially during Black Friday and the holiday season afterwards, Best Buy or any of the other big box electronics stores are usually running some great deals on external hard drives, so you can easily pick one up for around $50 or even under that some times. If you want to go a little more fancy, you can check out the Iomega Mac Companion, meant specifically to work with a Mac as a high-capacity backup drive. But whatever kind of storage you choose, there's no question that the Mac fan in your life will appreciate the extra digital storage space. Happy holidays! Here's hoping you find just the right gift for the Mac lover in your life this year!
Kindle Fire vs iPad: How to decide
If there's any real comparison to be made between Apples and orange, it's the iPad and Kindle Fire use cases. After having spent a couple of weeks with Kindle, there's much to be said for the device. I'm quite fond of mine, frankly. But to paraphrase the late Sen. Bentsen, I know iPad, I served with iPad, and the Kindle Fire is not the iPad. As we enter into the holiday shopping season, a lot of people are asking me: should I buy a Kindle Fire or an iPad? Here's a run-down to help explain how you can make that choice, and you can also watch TUAW TV Live at 5 PM ET today (or later when the video is embedded) to see Steve Sande and me talk about this very topic. At just under $200, the Kindle Fire offers many of the same surface features the iPad does: a small mobile device powered by a touch screen interface. However, the Kindle Fire functions primarily as an Amazon multimedia consumption device. An accessory to the Amazon Prime service, the Fire offers a huge library of streaming movies and TV shows, tight integration with your Amazon Cloud music account and your Kindle ebook library. If you are a big Amazon customer and you subscribe to Prime, you'll love the way you can seamlessly access this media. The Fire's wins include its size, portability, low cost factor, and streaming media integration. I can easily put my Fire in my purse (not my backpack, my purse) and pull it out to read books using a significantly bigger screen than my iPhone. The drawbacks are these. First, there's no 3G on offer for the Fire. You can only consume streaming TV and movies when you're located at a Wi-Fi hotspot. Although you can purchase and download video, music, apps, and books the Fire goes "network dark" (so to speak), away from those hotspots you can only enjoy the material stored locally on the device. Second, the apps and book reader are acceptable but they are not compelling reasons to purchase the device. The apps aren't as good as those you find on the iPhone or iPad, and the book reader isn't as good as the eInk rendering you get on traditional Kindles. The screen is shiny, no getting around that. That eInk and size factor is the big win for traditional Kindles. If you want to read books outside with a screen that remains readable despite sun glare, you're not going to do better than a standard Kindle. What you don't get includes apps, video, full web browsing and so forth, items brought to the table by the Kindle Fire. Then there's the iPad. The most expensive of this bunch, it does everything well but it does it with a shiny screen and a larger form factor. My knee jerk response when it comes to the iPad is this: if you don't have one and you don't know why you need one, just go and buy one. In a couple of weeks, you'll know why this is the best mobile device in your life ever. (You'll want to pick up an iPhone a few weeks after that. The iPad is a gateway drug.) The iPad excels at many things: movie watching, game playing, book reading, checking in at work, editing documents, downloading apps, etc. If the current iPad 2 entry price is too high for you, go ahead and buy a second-hand original iPad for about the same cost as a Kindle Fire. That doesn't mean I don't recommend the original or Fire Kindles. I do. Their price points are insanely good, and the hardware fits well into your life for either book reading (eInk) or Prime customer enhancement (Fire). If you're parenting a bookworm, consider a traditional Kindle. If you want to watch streaming videos at the gym (with local Wi-Fi), pick up a Fire. What I'm saying though, is neither one replaces the iPad -- and neither should. Life with both iPad and Kindle is great if you can swing the costs.
Engadget's holiday gift guide 2011: bags and cases
Welcome to the Engadget Holiday Gift Guide! We're well aware of the heartbreaking difficulties surrounding the seasonal shopping experience, so we're here to help you sort out this year's tech treasures. Below is today's bevy of curated picks, and you can head back to the Gift Guide hub to see the rest of the product guides as they're added throughout the holiday season. Santa may be able to toss a few thousand laptops in his bright red sack with nary a scratch to be seen -- but you sure can't. You'll want to keep those goods sparkly and new for as long as possible, and that's what today's gift selections are all about - getting your tech from A to B in the safest, most stylish way possible. There's plenty of choice for transporting your goodies, ranging from the bland to the bizarre, from rucksacks to courier bags, silicone to silk -- there is literally something for everyone. Finding a one-size-fits-all solution is going to be nigh-on impossible, but we're hopeful that what we've got here will be just the ticket to re-wrap what you just unboxed.
Thanksgiving app sales: Frogger Free, iBlast Moki 2, lots more
Every day this week, we'll be spotlighting some major app sales on the Store, because all week long for Thanksgiving, devs everywhere are putting up their apps for discounted prices. Come get some great cheap apps! The beautiful Lemmings-a-like Spirits for iPhone is down to just 99 cents. This is a must buy: iBlast Moki 2 HD is on sale for just a buck. One of the best games of the year, for the change you've got in your couch? Yes please. I really wish the deck-building card game Dominion was out on iOS, but it's not yet, and until then we have Battle of Gundabad, which is also a buck today. All of Huaxu's games are going free during the holiday this week, including Castles Conqueror, Crystal Soul, and Crystal Dash. And it's not really a holiday sale until Sega gets involved -- they've got a bunch of games on sale, including Gunstar Heroes, the Streets of Rage and Super Monkey Ball games, and all of the Sonic the Hedgehog titles. To celebrate the 30th anniversary of Frogger, Konami has released a game called Frogger Free, featuring new content, new modes, and the same old game that you already love. I don't know how holiday-related this is, but hey, it's a free classic game -- what more do you need? Enjoy! Stay tuned to our holiday gift guide all this week -- we'll have lots more sales to report, I'm sure.
Engadget's holiday gift guide 2011: smartphones
Welcome to the Engadget Holiday Gift Guide! We're well aware of the heartbreaking difficulties surrounding the seasonal shopping experience, so we're here to help you sort out this year's tech treasures. Below is today's bevy of curated picks, and you can head back to the Gift Guide hub to see the rest of the product guides as they're added throughout the holiday season. Jack Frost nipping at your phone and you need a new one? We know it can be difficult to decide on a smartphone to add to your holiday wish list, but if you're going to be hitting up all of the New Year's Eve parties, you don't want to be using something that's too embarrassing to take out of your pocket. This season offers a lot of tempting options: Ice Cream Sandwich, Windows Phone Mango and iPhone 4S are all worth drinking a lot of eggnog over. Unfortunately, there are so many tantalizing possibilities that we aren't able to include every single handset, but we've whittled it down to a mere nine devices that we think even Old Man Winter would enjoy. Join us after the break to help ring in the holiday cheer.Note: Prices are subject to change. Amazon, for instance, is holding a week-long holiday sale (from November 21st to 28th) in which almost every smartphone is a penny.
The Grablet: A comfortable and versatile iPad accessory (Updated)
Are you fed up with uncomfortable and stiff cases that are designed to let you hold your iPad with one hand while you do work? Would you like to have a way to hold that iPad securely but still use your Smart Cover? How about being able to hang your iPad from the back of a car seat, or use it as a kneeboard? Normally you'd buy a number of iPad cases to do all of these things, but the Grablet (US$39.99) can do just about everything on its own. Design You'll notice that in the headline for this post, I didn't call the Grablet an iPad case. That's because it's really not a case; instead, it's an accessory for holding the iPad in a number of ways. If you're looking for a protective case, then this is not the product for you. If, on the other hand, you want a versatile way to hold, strap, or hang your iPad to something, you're going to love the Grablet. The Grablet securely snaps onto your iPad, but is easy to take off as well. It comes in a dozen colors, so regardless of what your personal favorite hue is, you're probably going to find something that's close to what you want. %Gallery-140010% I won't go into all of the details of how to the Grablet can be used, as there's a video at the end of this post that does a much better job of that. Let it suffice to say that it is as versatile and easy to set up as the video indicates. [We've covered one-handed cases from TKO and Sleeve360 before, for comparison's sake.] Functionality For $40, this is probably one of the most functional iPad accessories I've tested to date. Want to hang your iPad on the wall? Don't spend a hundred bucks or more on one of the mounting kits out there. Just put a hook on the wall, slap the Grablet on the back of your iPad, add the hand wrap with the metal ring, and slip it onto the hook. Done. Likewise, you could spend a lot more for an in-car mount that has a single use. Here, you just loosen the straps a bit, slip the Grablet and iPad over your car headrest, and then cinch the straps again. The Grablet is also the most comfortable way I've found to hold an iPad with one hand. As I mentioned in the intro to this review, I've had it with full cases that put stiff plastic and Velcro together to make a really uncomfortable hand strap. The Grablet, at least for me, was adjustable enough to let me Conclusion I'm giving the Grablet a double thumbs-up! This is a great idea for a holiday gift as well, so if you know an iPad owner who has whined about not being able to comfortably hold onto their tablet, you've got the perfect answer. Update: The wonderful folks at Grablet have offered TUAW readers a 10% discount on the accessory. Use coupon code GRABLET14 at checkout to get your discount.
CanvasPop's Instagram prints: Art from your iPhone
See those nice art prints on the wall in the image above? They were all taken using Instagram on an iPhone, and then printed on canvas by CanvasPop. The canvas prints are a wonderful personalized gift idea, and come ready for hanging on your wall. The introductory pricing for the Instagram prints is pretty nice, too -- a 12" x 12" print sells for US$29.95, while the 20" x 20" is a big bargain at $59.95. If you have an Instagram photo or three that you're particularly proud of, then CanvasPop turns them into works of art that are the ultimate in personalized gift-giving. %Gallery-140028% I have one of their prints, which is an Instagram photo of the Blue Yeti microphone that I use for TUAW TV Live and the Daily Update. As you can see from the photos in the gallery, these prints are high quality, featuring a canvas wrap over a wood frame. There's a braided hanging wire on the back, and it works well for hanging the print over a few nails or a picture hook. Canvaspop even puts little clear silicone bumpers on the bottom back of the print to complete the professional touches. By the way, if you don't use Instagram, the folks at CanvasPop can take any of your other digital photos -- iPhone or not -- and do the same nice treatment for your other images. If your budget (or your display space) isn't right-sized for large prints, on the other hand, you can get a lovely micro-magnetic version of your Instagram photos via Stickygram. $14.99 gets you a pack of nine magnets for your fridge or other metal surface. The company is running a 'Print My Feed' contest this month, where one winner will get his or her entire Instagram feed made into magnets. Time to get a bigger refrigerator!
Booq Folio for iPad 2: Leather luxury, Smart Cover functionality
Booq makes incredibly nice accessories for Apple products -- we've reviewed some like the Booq Boa Push bag and talked about others like the Booqpad Agenda before. Now the new Booq Folio for iPad 2 (US$39.95) has arrived, and it appears to be a real value. Read on for a review of this new leather iPad 2 folio. Design Most folio cases have a similar design -- they look like a leather notebook and have a way of holding the iPad or iPad 2 in the right side. You open the cover of the notebook, and there's your nicely protected iPad. The Booq Folio is no exception to this design meme, except it's a bit more stylish than some of the folios I've reviewed. The Folio cradles your iPad 2 in leather in one of four finishes: Arctic Ice (white), Blue Storm (dark blue), Lava Rock (black), and Red Tide (red). The front of the case is emblazoned with a silver button embossed with the Booq logo, and there's horizontal stitching across the front that provides a nice visual counterpoint. %Gallery-140023% That cover is also useful, as it has magnets in all the right places to act as a Smart Cover surrogate. The Booq Folio offers much more protection than Apple's leather Smart Covers, which sell for much, much more -- $69.95. Functionality The Booq Folio works very well. It's quite easy to slide an iPad 2 into and out of the case, and the magnets function as advertised for turning your device on and off. The leather that holds the iPad 2 in place is nicely done -- some folio cases I've reviewed before have had crooked or bulging leather straps, while the Booq Folio has flat and precise leather pieces to cradle the iPad 2. Since this is an iPad 2 case, there is a hole in the back for the camera to peek out of. The straps give plenty of access to all of the buttons and ports on the iPad 2, but without sacrificing protection of your device. One other feature that I like is that the case has two long rubber strips on the "open" side of the case that allow you to flip the case over and use it as a stand for watching movies on your iPad 2. Conclusion Booq makes very nice products, and the Folio for iPad 2 is no exception. If you're thinking about buying an Apple Smart Cover, think again -- for less than a dollar more than the Apple cover, you can get a nice leather folio instead. This would make a perfect Christmas present for the iPad 2 owner on your list, so keep it in mind while you're doing your holiday shopping.
Holiday Gift Guide: Buying an iPhone
Welcome to TUAW's 2011 Holiday Gift Guide! We're here to help you choose the best gifts this holiday season, and once you've received your gifts we'll tell you what apps and accessories we think are best for your new Apple gear. Stay tuned every weekday from now until the end of the year for our picks and helpful guides and check our Gift Guide hub to see our guides as they become available. For even more holiday fun, check out sister site Engadget's gift guide. Two years ago, my best friend bought his wife an iPhone 3GS for Christmas. She totally wasn't expecting it. When she opened the package and saw what was inside, she went crazy with glee. Two years later she still has that phone, and it's become an indispensable tool. People refer to a lot of things as "the gift that keeps on giving," but it's especially true of the iPhone. Even the iPhone's basic functions via Apple's pre-installed apps can vastly expand the things you're able to accomplish while on the go; once you factor in all the apps on the App Store, the iPhone turns into a full-fledged, powerful, portable computer that quite literally fits in your pocket. Before I get into discussing which iPhone may be right for that special person in your life, there are a couple things to keep in mind before you decide to give an iPhone as a gift. Contracts I called the iPhone "a gift that keeps on giving" earlier, but it's also a gift that keeps on taking. You may think you're doing someone a favor when you give them a US$199 iPhone 4S (and they'll probably think so, too), but that lovely gadget also comes with a significant monthly expense attached to it in the form of a carrier plan. The cheapest possible (on-contract) iPhone plans in the US, according to the rate plan info on Apple's site: AT&T: $54.99 Sprint: $79.99 Verizon: $59.99 You might be able to tailor a cheaper pre-pay plan through one of these carriers if you buy an unlocked iPhone instead, but no matter how you look at it, the iPhone is going to incur a monthly expense. This may not be a big deal to you if you're giving the iPhone to your spouse or one of your children, but buying an iPhone for one of your friends or someone outside your immediate family is kind of like buying them a pet: it's not just a one-time gift, but an ongoing and expensive obligation. Buying an on-contract iPhone also makes it a bit tougher to keep it a surprise, unless you're planning on paying the monthly plan fees yourself. If you're buying an iPhone for someone outside your immediate family and you want to keep it under wraps, the best option is probably going to be buying one of the unlocked, contract-free models -- but keep in mind that those iPhones are significantly more expensive than they are when subsidized through a carrier. Carriers The carrier situation in the US is more involved than in most other countries due to the differing technologies US telcos use. Depending on which model of iPhone you're looking at giving, this could considerably affect your options. Apple currently offers four iPhone models, but the carrier compatibility situation is quite complex in the States: iPhone 3GS: AT&T only iPhone 4: GSM version (AT&T only) iPhone 4: CDMA version (Sprint or Verizon only) iPhone 4S: Technically universally compatible, but all models are locked to their specific carrier when sold -- even the "unlocked" iPhone 4S will only work on AT&T Different carriers also offer markedly different quality of service depending on where you are. AT&T is notorious for having terrible service in some parts of the US, so if your gift iPhone is going to someone who lives in an area with little to no AT&T coverage, Verizon or Sprint may be a better choice. Check each carrier's coverage map first before you decide which one to go with; if you give someone an iPhone that's locked to AT&T, but AT&T doesn't offer coverage in their area, you might as well have bought them an iPod touch instead. The three US carriers also have specific strengths to consider. While AT&T is the only one that supports simultaneous voice and data traffic (and also somewhat higher 3G network speeds, assuming you have coverage), Verizon's overall network coverage and reliability is considered top-notch. Sprint's data plans or support may also draw you in, especially if your intended recipient already has a phone on Sprint; the company is advertising heavily that it has the only "true unlimited" data plan for the iPhone, with no 2GB cap or overage fees. The carrier situation outside the US usually isn't quite so byzantine, because almost all other countries use the GSM standard instead of CDMA. The only specific carrier recommendations I can make for countries outside the US apply to Australia and New Zealand. For both countries my recommendation is the same: avoid Vodafone if at all possible. My experiences with Vodafone's networks in both nations have been almost universally terrible. Your best bet for sussing out the ideal carrier for you is to ask neighbors or coworkers who already have iPhones (and who commute/hang out in the same general area as you) how they feel about their carrier of choice. With that out of the way, let's look at which model of iPhone fits your gift-giving mood. Super-low budget: iPhone 3GS The iPhone 3GS is available at a very attractive price: free from Apple and nearly free ($1) from AT&T, but both incur a two-year contract. It might therefore look like a great option for a particularly budget-minded gift-giver, and in fact if you're looking at giving an iPhone as a Christmas gift to your teenager, this might be a good choice. The iPhone 3GS is old, though -- more than two years out of date. It lacks many features that owners of more modern iPhones have come to take for granted, like the Retina Display, faster processors, and much-improved cameras (including the forward-facing camera for FaceTime or Skype use). It's also only available on AT&T in the States, so if you wanted to go with Verizon or Sprint, you're out of luck. It also comes in only one capacity: 8 GB. That's going to be quite cramped for even light users; between apps, music, photos, videos, and other data, 8 GB just doesn't count for as much as it used to. The iPhone 3GS is quite far behind at this point in terms of its feature set, and it's unlikely Apple will continue to support the device with iOS updates for the same length of time that it will support more current iPhones. Although the iPhone 3GS is still a decent iPhone, I wouldn't recommend giving one as a gift unless your budget absolutely cannot handle giving an iPhone 4 instead. Low budget: iPhone 4 For just $99 more than the iPhone 3GS, you can get last year's flagship iPhone, the iPhone 4. Check out all the improvements that $99 gets you: More powerful processor, leading to better overall performance (especially in games) Much higher quality Retina Display Improved battery life Much better camera (5 vs. 3 megapixels in the iPhone 3GS) with an LED flash and improved video recording quality Front-facing camera for FaceTime Noise-cancelling microphone Compatibility with Verizon and Sprint (CDMA models only) The iPhone 4 is still a great phone, and it should offer plenty of power for most users with only one exception: like the iPhone 3GS, the iPhone 4 now comes only in an 8 GB capacity. That may feel even more cramped on the iPhone 4, because the pictures and videos it takes have much larger file sizes than on the iPhone 3GS. The iPhone 3GS is a decent iPhone, but the iPhone 4 simply blows it away no matter how you look at it. It's also a more attractively-designed phone, and Apple is likely to continue issuing software updates for the iPhone 4 for longer than for the iPhone 3GS. I know if I was receiving an iPhone as a gift, I would much rather receive an iPhone 4 than an iPhone 3GS. That's likely to be true of just about everyone. Higher budget: iPhone 4S (16 or 32 GB) Here we hit another $100-200 price jump (depending on which capacity you choose), but again that rise in price nets you some great improvements over the iPhone 4: Much more powerful processor -- up to twice as fast as the iPhone 4 for some applications Improved camera (8 vs. 5 megapixels in the iPhone 4) with face detection, 1080p video recording, and video stabilization Higher data capacity (16 or 32 GB versus 8 GB on the iPhone 4) Improved antenna (faster download speeds, better signal quality) Siri voice assistant The iPhone 4S will easily outperform the iPhone 4 at any processor-intensive task, especially gaming. Its camera is much improved, too, especially in low light situations; in fact, the iPhone 4S is arguably a great replacement for a low- to mid-budget point-and-shoot camera. The higher capacity the iPhone 4S offers over the iPhone 4 will also allow its user to store more music, photos, and apps on the device. 16 GB will probably be enough for light users -- people with small music libraries, not many photos, and only a handful of apps -- but it might start to feel cramped after awhile, especially if the user starts taking lots of videos with the built-in camera. A 32 GB iPhone 4S may be a better choice if the person using it has a lot of media; if this isn't their first iPhone, the person you're giving it to may already have lots of apps, too. [iTunes Match users can spend less time worrying about how to fit a music library on to the portable device. –Ed.] Let's be frank, though: Siri is the biggest selling point for the iPhone 4S. It may or may not come to Apple's other devices eventually, but for now the iPhone 4S is the only device that offers Apple's revolutionary new voice-driven interface. As corny as talking to your phone may seem at first, Siri is the kind of feature that seems perfectly natural (maybe even necessary) after using it for awhile. Money is no object: iPhone 4S (64 GB) Even with a two-year contract, the biggest, baddest iPhone on the block is going to set you back almost $400. The unlocked, contract-free version is an even more staggering $849 -- $20 more than an iPad 2 Wi-Fi + 3G model with the same storage capacity. Though the 64 GB iPhone 4S offers no other improvements over the smaller capacity iPhone 4S models, the higher capacity is definitely going to come in handy for "power users" with huge music libraries, hundreds of apps, thousands of photos, or any combination of those items. The 64 GB iPhone 4S is Apple's first iPhone to come in that capacity, and that's the model I snagged for myself. It holds all of my music (well, all the stuff I actually listen to anyway), almost 200 apps, over five hours of videos, and it still has enough space left over that I can take hundreds of photos or an hour of high-def video without worrying about deleting things first. That having been said, once you get into this pricing territory you have to start wondering whether an iPad 2 might not be a better gift instead. Though it's larger and less portable than an iPhone, it's also available without a contract commitment to any carrier. A 64 GB Wi-Fi-only iPad costs $300 more than the on-contract 64 GB iPhone 4S, but that bigger $300 initial outlay also saves you over $1300 in carrier fees over the course of two years. There's an iPhone for every budget now, from the free iPhone 3GS all the way up to the credit-card-slaying 64 GB iPhone 4S. As you go up the ladder the feature set expands along with the price, but the 16 or 32 GB iPhone 4S is probably going to be the sweet spot for most users. Regardless of which iPhone you give this holiday season, the person who receives it will almost certainly be very excited -- so long as he or she can afford the monthly service costs.
Thanksgiving app sales: Com2Us titles, Puzzle Quest 2, Infinity Blade on sale already
We've already seen a few app sales already this month, but companies are now starting the windup to the big Black Friday holiday, and things are going to get chaotic. Starting this weekend, and rolling on through the Christmas holiday (and even up to New Year's), new iPhones and iPads are going to be making their way as gifts into lots of consumers' hands, and that means that app developers everywhere are going to be fighting tooth and claw to get their apps installed on those new units. That makes it much more important to get into lists like the Top 50 paid and free apps. When Apple "freezes" the store for developers over the holiday, what's on those lists stays there, so there's even more incentive to sell. We're aiming to track app sales as much as possible -- stay tuned this week and all holiday season long to our holiday gift guide to see what's dropping and on sale now. In the meantime, here's what's already on sale this week: Hand-drawn adventure game The Train has dropped all of its episodes down to 99 cents. Developer Com2Us has put lots of its iOS titles on sale for a buck, including Homerun Battle 3D, Inotia 3, and Tower Defense: Lost Earth. Gameloft is also underway with a sale, including Eternal Legacy, the Gameloft Action Pack, and lots more for a buck as well. Infinity Blade is down to $2.99, both for Black Friday and because its sequel will be out on Thursday of this week. Konami's charming Gesundheit is down to just 99 cents, as is Pro Evolution Soccer 2011. The really fascinating action RPG title Fara is also just a buck. Namco Bandai is planning some big sales for later this week, but Puzzle Quest 2 is already discounted to $2.99. Breaking Art's Morning Motivation is down to $1.99 from $5.99, which will help with those post-Thanksgiving crises of gym dedication. The Comixology app has all 12 of the old Marvel Secret Wars comics on sale for just 99 cents each. Perfect time to catch up on some classic comics. Mortal Skies 2 is completely free today as well -- it's a pretty well-done shmup for iOS. The Wave Ride-esque Riptide GP is still on sale for a buck from last weekend. Stay tuned -- we'll probably end up doing a post a day this week about all of the various sales starting up on the App Store, so come back every day to see what a dollar can get you for great software on your iOS device.
Engadget's holiday gift guide 2011: e-readers
Welcome to the Engadget Holiday Gift Guide! We're well aware of the heartbreaking difficulties surrounding the seasonal shopping experience, so we're here to help you sort out this year's tech treasures. Below is today's bevy of curated picks, and you can head back to the Gift Guide hub to see the rest of the product guides as they're added throughout the holiday season. The e-reader space is really -- if you'll pardon the expression -- heating up just in time for the holiday season. Industry leader Amazon dropped the gauntlet yet again, with the introduction of three new devices, including the entry-level fourth generation Kindle (which starts at an enticing $79 for the ad-supported version) and the Kindle Fire, which is helping to further blur the lines between the e-reader and tablet worlds. Not to be outdone, Barnes & Noble, Kobo and Sony are also offering up impressive new devices for the holiday season. All in all, there's never been a more exciting time to give the gift of reading.
Germanmade handmade wood and leather g.2 iPad-Case for iPad 2
Most premium iPad cases are pretty similar. Some are bags, some flips cases, some sleeves -- Germanmade has done something a bit different with their book-style case. Construction and design Made from leather stretched over veneer, the case has a uniquely organic feel. From the outside it looks just like a leather-bound book. The sides resemble mottled pages, with the hardback cover completing the look. Both the wood veneer and surface cover material are exquisitely finished, giving a genuinely luxury feel. The inside of the case is finished in natural wood and an inlay color of your choice, in this case white. It's put together really well too, feeling pretty solid all round, yet reasonably light for the size and amount of material used. While I wouldn't want to drop the iPad in the case, it's likely to be held pretty well; although the case itself is likely to come off pretty knackered from a fall of any decent height. Use The case fits the iPad 2 very well, holding it securely in place with small rubber friction pads in the corners. The front flap is held in place by a thin strip of black elastic that reminds me of those gorgeous moleskine notebooks. In the lid are the required magnets to shut off the iPad 2 upon closing -- a nice touch. The wood of the case is shaped to give you access to all that the iPad does without taking it out of the case. Cut outs allow access to the side switch and volume rocker, dock connector port, headphones and power button; there's even a shaped cut out for the speaker on the back of the iPad 2, which projects the sound forward. There's no access to the back camera, but taking the iPad in and out of the case is a breeze thanks to thumb-sized cutouts for leverage The case also has two tricks up its sleeve. The first is that the front flap can be folded around the back to create a landscape support for typing. It provides just enough of an angle to make using the keyboard just that little bit easier on your wrists like Apple's Smart Cover does. The second trick is a vertical stand. Cut into the wood at the bottom left edge of the case are two grooves that you can place the naked iPad in, propping it up vertically in either landscape or portrait orientation. It's extremely stable and makes a nice desktop stand as long as you've got enough room for it. The case comes in two space variants. One of them just takes the iPad; the other is a little thicker and takes the iPad as well as an iPhone, a pen and a pad of paper, which are hidden behind the iPad in the case. It makes an excellent alternative to a small briefcase for light office duties and keeps everything nice and secure. %Gallery-139917% Verdict If you're looking for something a bit different, something sophisticated that doesn't look out of place on a desk full of books, then the Germanmade series of iPad and iPad 2 cases are just the ticket. They're not the most portable of protection for your tablet, but looking like a book you can just carry them on their own, without fear of them being pinched. They're available in both iPad and iPad 2 flavors, with and without the spaces for the iPhone and bits. They're well finished, hand made, and available in a plethora of different finishes and colors. They command a price that's well above average for iPad cases, but the unique styling and quality handmade fit and finish certainly set it apart from the rest. Be sure to check out the gallery above for some close-ups of the individual features. Germanmade cases can be had for between US$100 and $160 plus shipping depending on model and cover material.
Holiday Gift Guide: Buying an iPad
Whether it's a gift for yourself, a friend, or a loved one, buying your first iPad can be cause for some trepidation. After all, there are a number of combinations of three variables -- network type, carrier, and storage on the device -- that add up to puzzlement for some folks. In this Holiday Gift Guide, I'll give you some advice on how to pick the best iPad model for the lucky recipient on your gift list. The big questions are whether or not you need 3G wireless capabilities, whether or not your 3G iPad should run on a GSM (AT&T in US) or CDMA (Verizon in US) network, how much storage to get, and whether or not to consider purchasing a used iPad. Wi-Fi Only versus Wi-Fi + 3G To really make the best use of your iPad, you're going to need an Internet connection. With the iPad, you have two choices: Wi-Fi (wireless network connectivity) models and Wi-Fi + 3G (adding 3G mobile data connectivity) models. If you ever need Internet connectivity away from Wi-Fi hotspots, buy the Wi-Fi + 3G version of the iPad. You can't add the functionality to the iPad later. In the US, the Wi-Fi + 3G models are about $130 more expensive than their Wi-Fi only counterparts. Some other things to think about -- will you be using your iPad in places where there are no Wi-Fi hotspots? If so, the addition of 3G connectivity is a must. You can also use a tethering solution (Personal Hotspot) or a 3G router like the Sierra Wireless Overdrive or Novatel MiFi to connect an iPad to the Internet, so if you already have an iPhone that is capable of running Personal Hotspot or a 3G/4G router, then maybe a Wi-Fi only device will do the trick for you. Remember that 3G connectivity isn't free, so you will have to purchase a data plan. Be sure to check with your carrier (AT&T or Verizon in the US) on the various plans available, and remember that most iPad data plans are month-to-month and can be turned off during those months you don't need the service. One other thing to consider -- if you have a need to run apps that are location aware, note that the Wi-Fi + 3G iPads contain full Assisted GPS (A-GPS), while the Wi-Fi versions can only determine their position while connected to a Wi-Fi network with a router that has been scanned by a a geolocation service. GSM versus CDMA If you've decided to go with a Wi-Fi iPad, then you can skip this section. With a Wi-Fi + 3G device, you'll need to determine whether you wish to go with a GSM or CDMA network. What this means in the US is AT&T (GSM) versus Verizon (CDMA). For potential iPad owners in the rest of the world, the answer is much more simple, as the GSM cellular network standard is found in most other countries. American iPad owners might want to consider which carrier works best in the locations where they'll be using the iPad most often. For example, in most of the city where I live (Denver, Colorado), AT&T service is pretty good. However, it's atrociously bad in the downtown Denver area, and if I was going to spend a lot of time using the device there, I'd jump on a Verizon CDMA iPad. Storage The next big question -- how much storage capacity do you need? You have three choices at this point in time: 16 GB, 32 GB, and 64 GB. The difference between the 16 GB and 32 GB models is only $100, while the 64 GB model is another $100 over the price of 32 GB model. But how do you figure out which model to get? Here are some questions to ask yourself: How big is your media library? If your library is small and manageable, you may be OK with the 16 GB model. If you already own a music device like an iPod touch, perhaps you'll want to continue using it for listening to music, since iPods are much more portable than your iPad. Also consider using iTunes in the Cloud to reduce your storage requirements. This service, part of iOS 5, makes it simple to listen to your music library by streaming tunes to your device. If you like to watch a lot of video, remember that movies can be from 500 MB to 1 GB in size, so plan accordingly if you wish to carry a lot of them with you. Do you plan on carrying a lot of photos? Digital photos are usually fairly small, but if you carry around a few thousand pictures, you can chew up storage very quickly. I use my iPad to back up photos from my digital camera when I'm on trips, so I find that the 32 GB of storage I have gets filled up rather quickly. Are you going to use your iPad to hold a lot of documents? Some people I know use their iPads as data storage and transfer devices, taking huge amounts of documents with them on the road. If this is a situation you're familiar with, think about getting more storage. How long do you think you'll keep your iPad? Those who think that they'll keep their iPad for a longer period of time may want to pay more for more storage so that they can "grow into" the iPad. For those of us who turn over our iPads every time a new model appears, saving $100-200 in the hopes that a cheaper and more capable version shows up within a year may be a better idea. Used versus New If the iPad is for yourself or a child, you might not care if it's a brand new unit or a used one. Since the iPad has now been out for almost two years, some owners like to move up to newer models and you can get a heck of a deal on used devices. Apple's the best vendor for used iPads. They often make refurbished units available at less than the suggested retail price of new equipment, and the the iPad comes with the original factory warranty. Visit the online Apple Store to find the latest refurb iPad deals. eBay is also a great place to look for used iPads. Be sure to check that the dealer has photos of the exact unit you're bidding on, has a return policy, and has a flawless approval rating. If you buy an iPad from someone local, think about having an Authorized Apple Service Provider check the unit over before you device to buy.
5 apps for Thanksgiving
Whether you're ready for it or not, the holiday season is upon us. One week from today, many of us in the US will be pushing ourselves away from the Thanksgiving dinner table, sated and ready to do some serious shopping on our iPads. To get you ready for the holiday of turkey, football, and giving thanks for what you've got, here are five apps that are sure to get you in the holiday spirit. iCookbook 2.0 Part of the Thanksgiving tradition is cooking up an amazing feast for family and friends. iCookbook (on sale for US$4.99) has recently been updated to version 2.0 and it's now the app to have in the kitchen. This universal app has always had thousands of recipes for you to try out, but it's going to be your cooking buddy from now on. The developers at Publications International recently added voice commands to the iPhone version -- you can now avoid touching your iPad or iPhone screen with those greasy hands by speaking commands to move to the next step of a recipe, start or stop a timer, and more. The app is also awesome for those who may be tired of squinting at recipes, since it now has a "Prepare mode" that provides an enhanced display of a recipe for easy viewing. Have a TV in or near the kitchen? Great, since the app now has AirPlay support as well. If you're not thrilled about having your iOS toy in the messy kitchen while you cook, you can print your recipes to any AirPrint-compatible printer. iCookbook 2.0 provides free updates monthly as well as special recipe packs that are available through in-app purchase. Cocktails HD Sometimes the holidays can be a bit stressful with all of the family dynamics, and you want nothing more at the end (or beginning) of the big get-together than a good stiff drink. That's where Cocktails HD (sale priced at $0.99) comes in handy. It comes loaded with over 600 drink, wine and food recipes, a complete guide to bar tending, and new drinks are added on a regular basis in free updates. The app can also be handy for drinking games (please drink responsibly, though!), with a "random shake" mode that displays random drink recipes with a shake. If you do over-imbibe, do not drive. Instead, use this bonus app -- Taxi Magic (Free) -- to get a ride home or call a taxi for Uncle Bob, who just started dancing the lambada with the Christmas tree. College Football Scoreboard Plus It may be considered a little rude to be eating your Thanksgiving feast in front of the TV, so here's a way that you can keep up on the latest college football scores without committing a social faux pas. College Football Scoreboard Plus ($0.99) gives you up to the minute scores of all the games, schedules of what's coming up next, news about your favorite teams, and even a scrolling ticker of scores. It's perfect for sneaking a peek at what's happening -- just put the iPhone in your lap and keep looking pensive, and they'll just think you're reflecting on the meaning of Thanksgiving. Black Friday by BradsDeals While the guys may be in their tryptophan-induced daze after chowing down on a pound of turkey, the ladies are probably scheming for the Black Friday shopping on November 25. One way to plan on getting the best deals is to use an app like Black Friday (free) by BradsDeals. The app (2010 version shown above) lets you plan out your shopping itinerary by store and product, and includes a ton of Black Friday ads for most major retail chains. Get those deals all lined up for Black Friday, and you'll be ready to get up at 3 AM to start your annual shopping assault. Gratitude Journal The oft-forgotten part of Thanksgiving is the "giving thanks" piece. Regardless of your religion or lack thereof, it's a good time to think about being grateful for what you have and helping those who aren't as fortunate. A few years ago, I did a review of an app called Gratitude Journal Your Positive Thoughts ($0.99). The idea is that each and every day, you just write a short note about what you're grateful for. It doesn't have to be anything incredibly earthshaking -- maybe you're grateful that a friend called you, that you're healthy, or that you ate a really good meal last night. By looking over the good parts of your day, this app can really provide a way to focus on the positives in your life and make you happier. Gratitude Journal also includes nice quotes that will help to keep feeling positive about life in general.
Engadget's holiday gift guide 2011: printers
Welcome to the Engadget Holiday Gift Guide! We're well aware of the heartbreaking difficulties surrounding the seasonal shopping experience, so we're here to help you sort out this year's tech treasures. Below is today's bevy of curated picks, and you can head back to the Gift Guide hub to see the rest of the product guides as they're added throughout the holiday season. Yeah, yeah... we know -- paper is so 20th century. But truth be told, there are still a lot of us that have use for the old-fashioned printed page. Whether you're a student who needs to output seven copies of that term paper, or an aspiring photog looking to cut down on professional printing costs, we have some thoughts on what to look for this holiday season. Perhaps you're ready to take those homemade Christmas cards to the next level? Print them yourself! Who doesn't love an early present? Read on past the break to see just what caught our eye this year.
Holiday Gift Guide: Buying an iPod
There's something to be said for gifting a loved one with the stalwart iPod. Ranging from the no-frills iPod shuffle to the hardy iPod classic to the app-capable iPod touch, here's what you should consider before buying an iPod. How will I use it? It is possible to get a different iPod for any niche of your life. The first thing to consider is whether or not you want the ability to use apps -- essentially, most of the advantages of the iPhone without the phone part (or other extras such as Siri and a better camera.) If so, the iPod touch is automatically your choice. If you're not-so-keen on the apps, then you have three other lines to choose from -- the $US49 iPod shuffle, the iPod nano that starts at $129 and the $249 iPod classic. Here's a description of each of these models and how they can be used. iPod shuffle This is the most basic of the music players, and as such, also has the least capacity. The iPod shuffle lacks any sort of screen, which means while you can have playlists on there, some might consider it to be a hassle to navigate. The shuffle has 2GB of space which will hold several hundred songs and a 15-hour battery life. It's ideal for when you want a hardy little player and don't want to tote your entire library around. Think of this as an introductory music player for a child or an excellent workout companion. If you're wanting a slimmed down iPod for your car, this also is a cheap way to go. iPod nano The current iPod nano is a marriage of the form factor of an iPod shuffle and the touchscreen interface of the iPod touch. These are $129 for 8 GB and $149 for 16 GB. If you're going for a nano, pay the extra $20 and spring for the 16 GB. There's a few more features in here that aren't found on the other iPods, like a built-in FM radio and different clock faces. You also can buy a band and turn the nano into a watch. The nano is integrated with Nike +, so if you're wanting to use that feature for a workout, this is one of the models to consider. This is a good player for someone wanting a more capacity, but a small footprint. iPod classic The granddaddy of iPods is still around and has 160 GB ready for your music for $249. This is the iPod you want if you have a large music library and want to take it all with you. While it can play video, and does a fairly good job at it, the primary goal of this iPod is to handle large chunks of music. It's the only iPod still using a traditional hard drive. All the others are Flash memory. It's also the only member of the iPod family which still uses a click wheel. iPod touch Starting at $199 for 8 GB, in addition to apps, the iPod touch is the iPod you want if you plan to stuff it with a lot of video. It's worth paying the extra $100 for the leap from 8 GB to 32 GB. Those wanting even more capacity can do 64 GB for $399, but I find 32 GB to be the sweet spot between price and capacity here. Should I buy used? What about refurbished? Apple has a number of refurbished units from its more recent lines available, usually the current and the previous generation iPods. This could net a savings from anywhere between $20 to $120 depending on the type and model you choose. All of the refurbished units are certified and include a year of AppleCare with the option to extend it, just like with a new iPod. Don't discount older iPods. There's still a lot of life left in older music players, even if the batteries have gone sour. My 5th generation iPod nano -- the one with the video camera -- now has a permanent home in my car where it's hooked up to the stereo system. I still see the fatboy nanos -- 3rd generation -- still in use. If you prefer the form factor of an older iPod, hit up eBay and see if you can score a good deal.
iPad tops holiday wish list for kids
If the latest survey data from Nielsen is anything to go by, Santa Claus is going to be loaded down with Apple products this year. Nearly half of kids aged 6-12 said they want an iPad this year, while nearly a quarter of kids aged 13 or over said the same thing. Nielsen surveyed a "general population sample" of 3000 to obtain these results, and particularly for kids aged 6-12, the survey makes Apple's predictions of record sales this holiday quarter look more likely than ever. The iPad, iPod touch, and iPhone are the top three products kids 6-12 are interested in buying in the next six months. (While the survey says "interested in buying," considering the age groups involved and the time of year, it probably means something closer to "interested in receiving.") Interestingly, the numbers skew far differently for the 13+ age group. The iPad is still the most in-demand product by a comfortable margin, but the iPhone is in seventh place while the iPod touch is 12th out of 18. One possible explanation could be that quite a few people in this age group already have an iPhone or iPod; that probably also explains why all of the Big Three video game consoles, traditionally very highly-sought items during the holiday season, placed quite far down on the list of in-demand items for both age groups. "Computer" was also a device both age groups were highly interested in buying; though Nielsen's data doesn't differentiate between Windows PCs and Macs, it's hard to imagine that even the most jaded of kids would turn up their nose at a MacBook Air. Based on this survey data, if you're stumped for ideas on what gifts to give your kids this holiday season, it looks like you can't go wrong with an iPad. Over the next several days we'll have holiday gift guides for the iPad, iPod, and iPhone (our gift guide for the Mac is already posted) to help you decide which of these products might be the right gift. [via CNET]
