Pre-orders for the iPad started this morning bright and early at 5:30 AM, Pacific time. This is just for the United States — for those across seas, iPad sales won’t begin until late April. Both Wi-Fi and Wi-Fi + 3G models are available now at the Apple store. Apple iPad accessories are also available for order — keyboard dock, dock, power adapter, case, headphones, etc…
After just two hours at sale, MacRumors tells us Victor Castroll from Fortune reported an estimated “51,000 orders in two hours.” Insane, but definitely not a shock. In 2007 when the iPhone first came out, Engadget says 270,000 units sold in the first 30 hours of sales. Could the iPad beat those numbers?
If you are still trying to weigh out the cons and pros of getting an iPad, I came upon two articles arguing each side. Dan Frommer at Business Insider “Just Ordered an iPad: Here’s Why.” And SmartMoney takes a hard look at whether or not you should pre-order an iPad. Note that Apple only allows a two per customer pre-order limit.
I’m going to come right out and say it. The Oscars were boring last night! Steve Martin and Alec Baldwin are two hilarious talents, but last night… I was not amused. Where did Neil Patrick Harris go the rest of the night? That made no sense at all. Just because Hugh Jackman did a successful number last year doesn’t mean you should repeat it — especially if the singer is not also going to be the host the rest of the night! What happened, Academy?!
Well, all is not lost I suppose. I’ve got a blog post out of it! While sort of paying attention to the Oscars last night, my friend Alex screamed out, “What?! They have a 3D TV now?!” Yep, it’s true. According to Gizmodo, Best Buy will be rolling out a couple Samsung LED 3D HDTVs on March 21st.
It’s not uncommon that airports have free wi-fi. It’s also not that uncommon that your flight has (possibly not free) wi-fi now. I’ve even frequented a commuter van pool that had wi-fi for us to continue working while traveling up and down the canyon — a way of encouraging more time to work or a nice gesture allowing you to escape work sooner (hmm… you be the judge). What’s next?
Well, according to the China Post, 1,000 taxis in Taipei will soon be offering Internet services. By March 9th, VMAX Telecom Co., one of six WiMAX licensed operators in Taiwan, will launch the service through taxis installed with WiMAX technology. “For the first time ever, taxis will be equipped with WiMAX technology to offer passengers wireless access to the Internet,” said a VMAX spokesperson. The service will be free for the initial trial period to assess whether the service will make any money long-term. As passengers use the Internet services provided during their ride, they will also be polled.
VMAX Telecom predicts the 1,000 equipped taxis will poll a minimum of 15,000 people a day. The capital city of Taipei is home to over 2.5 million people — that’s more than 10x the population of Salt Lake metro. It’s also home to a widely used bus system, train system (including the fairly new MRT) and subway system. I think it’s fair to say that Taipei is a metropolitan city where taxis are utilized fairly often. Actually, I think there was a day when I was in town and commuted in four separate taxis, all during lunch time! But, I wonder just how much the Internet can be utilized during a short car ride though…
Apple’s press event wrapped up not too many hours ago announcing the official release of its tablet device: the iPad! Before Business Insider, Gizmodo, Engadget or any other tech blogs got a hold of the rumors, could you believe that MadTV was the first? Check out the 2006 episode below. Be forewarned that this is not a clip for the conservative viewer…
Okay, tell me that ad won’t run through your head every time you hear “iPad” from now on?! iPad is a HORRIBLE name!! But the product itself is pretty snazzy, I admit.
Yesterday morning, Apple announced an event for January 27th. “Come see our latest creation.” Held by invite only in San Francisco, news outlets are unanimous: Apple will be unveiling their anticipated tablet device. iSlate? iPad? (Please don’t call it the “iPad”; that’s a horrible name!) Whatever you want to call it, that’s what everyone is predicting and WSJ totally called it.
Fox News talked to a source at Apple who hints that the tablet may just be the icing on the cake. Fox reports “the event will likely focus on three projects: the tablet device, iPhone 4, and a new round of iLife 2010 software.” Since Google has been making so many news waves lately, I can see Apple using this press event as a way of gaining back some ground. iPhone 4, eh? I’m intrigued.
Gizmodo has an “exhaustive” guide to all things Apple tablet, if you need a refresher about what’s been said. They are also running a contest to win one!
The Wall Street Journal reports the unveiling of the much talked about Apple tablet later this month. The Business Insider says that will all take place at the Yerba Buena Center for the Arts in San Francisco on January 27th.
Plans to ship the tablet are not planned until March this year though, according to WSJ. A January announcement and a March product release… could Apple be throwing out some headlines to compete with Google in the press? I mean, this announcement reeks the doings of a controlled leak and Google is working with HTC to produce a Chrome OS Tablet, after all. Then there was the recent Google Nexus One announcement and additional product releases for March…
Here are a few gathered bullet points for the Apple tablet:
How are you saying good-bye to 2009 tonight? Sleeping like any other day? Dinner with friends? Clubbing with strangers? Counting down with Dick Clark (or is it Ryan Seacrest now)? Here at SoftwareNewsDaily, we wanted to say farewell by reminiscing our top 10 technology news stories of 2009. When I say “our” top 10 stories, I suppose it’s really more “my” top 10 stories. That’s okay, I don’t mind dominating the office opinion; they’ll agree with me. Counting down to the number one story, here are “our” picks.
There’s a rumor going around that Apple may be demonstrating the long-awaited Apple Tablet on January 26th, during a media event. Nick Bilton, blogger at the New York Times, proclaims 2010 as “the year of the tablet.” An inside source at Apple even told his colleague, “I can’t really say anything, but, let’s just say Steve is extremely happy with the new tablet.”
Business Insider tells us Apple has been telling select developers to begin making apps to support a full screen resolution mobile device. And Boy Genius Report is positive there will be a 7-inch Apple tablet to be announced in January.
Clever detective work led MacRumors.com’s Arnold Kim to find evidence that Apple purchased the domain iSlate.com back in 2007. The name, he predicts, that may be given to the new Apple tablet. Wired.com took to being Sherlock a bit further and found out more about the iSlate trademark — it was registered by a company called Slate Computing, perhaps a dummy corporation for Apple used to throw us off their scent?
The most intriguing Applet tablet rumor? Nick Bilton quotes an ex-Apple employee, “You will be very surprised how you interact with the new tablet.” What could it be?! How will technology freak me out now? Business Insider has 25 guesses.
Google hosted a press event this morning at its Mountain View headquarters to give updates about the Google Chrome OS. If you weren’t able to catch the live stream of Google VP Sundar Pichai and Engineering Director Matthew Papakipos, here’s a light overview.
Google Chrome OS is open-source.
There is no target price set yet.
As a “companion device,” Sundar says, “If you’re a lawyer and you spend your whole day editing docs back and forth, this is not the machine for you. Not yet. “
Chrome OS will print; an innovative solution is in the works for this.
There’s something in the air. Apple is conducive to more suspicious activity pointing to their enrollment in the tablet computer business, a market mostly dominated by PCs. In an ever-evolving environment for mobile technology, it’s about time. Don’t you think?
Student-targeted vehicles, such as the Nissan Versa and Honda Fit, are integrating more and more features to accommodate the on-the-go lifestyle. Typical features now seem to include USB interfaces for your MP3 players and places specifically designed to store your laptop.
Hopeful from the success of laptop use in Australian schools, Microsoft and Toshiba started the Anytime Anywhere Learning Foundation. Other technology companies (take a look at NoteSys) are also encouraging the use of laptops in grade schools.
Well, anyway… Aside from stories that Apple is shopping out this possible tablet in Australia, The Business Insider reports “a source tells us a system integration engineer friend of his at Apple has been ramping up his travels back and forth between China lately.” Back and forth between the US and Asia? The fingers are pointing! It’s also likely that Foxxconn, a Taiwan-based electronics manufacturer with previous ties to Apple, may be producing these tablets. Rumors were reported earlier this month about a tablet device with a 10.6-inch display that focuses on long battery life, Internet connectivity and simple interface hitting the market in the beginning 2010.
Too bad they aren’t rumored to be completed by Christmas. There are plenty of folks ready to fork over more than $800 for this Apple product.
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How are you saying good-bye to 2009 tonight? Sleeping like any other day? Dinner with friends? Clubbing with strangers? Counting down with Dick Clark (or is it Ryan Seacrest now)? Here at SoftwareNewsDaily, we wanted to say farewell by reminiscing our top 10 technology news stories of 2009. When I say “our” top 10 stories, I suppose it’s really more “my” top 10 stories. That’s okay, I don’t mind dominating the office opinion; they’ll agree with me. Counting down to the number one story, here are “our” picks.
