During the Academy Awards on Sunday night, Apple aired a new iPad TV ad called, ‘Hollywood’. The new ad focuses entirely on movies, movie production, and also shows clips from popular American movies such as Back to the Future, Apollo 13, Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom.

‘Hollywood’ is structured the same way as the last set of ads that were released for the iPad, called ‘Alive’ and ‘Together’. The new ad scheme showcases some of the over 300,000 apps available for the iPad, with ‘Hollywood’ using the words ‘Lights’, ‘Camera’, and ‘Action’ to describe the apps.

Some apps shown in the ad include, Apple’s iMovie for iOS, the iTunes Store, Polaroid, Apple Maps, and Bad Robot Production’s Action Movie FX. Interestingly, Bad Robot Productions is a film and television production company owned by American producer and director, J. J. Abrams.

{Via MacRumors}

During Apple’s media event in San Jose this past Tuesday, the company announced a new 13 inch MacBook Pro with Retina Display. Alongside the arrival of the Retina Display, Apple has also eliminated the optical drive and slimmed down the device, also including flash storage instead of a traditional hard drive.

On Wednesday, Apple posted the first television ad for the device, called “Colors” on the company website as well as the company’s YouTube account. The ad was originally shown off during the Apple media event, and showed off some of the apps that can be run on the device, including Mail, Final Cut Pro, Aperture, and iTunes. The ad begins with a hand moving quickly through the apps, and working on different projects. The narrator then reads:

Introducing the new 13″ MacBook Pro.

With the stunning Retina display.

For the pro in all of us.

It’s finally here! On Tuesday, Apple introduced the iPad mini during a media event at the California Theatre in San Jose, California. The iPad Mini has been a rumor around the web for several months now, and several weeks prior to announcement, parts began to leak. The iPad Mini is only 7.2-mm thin, down from the full sized iPad’s 9.4 mm and sports a 7.9 inch screen.

This is a drastic reduction from Apple’s full sized iPad, which sports a 9.7 inch Retina Display. The iPad mini, although much lighter and thinner resembles more an iPhone then an iPad and houses the same internals as the 4th generation iPod touch, including the 5MP iSight Camera for images and video, as well as the FaceTime HD camera for video calls, and the A5 chip. 4G LTE will also be available on the Cellular model of the mini.

The iPad mini also has the same resolution as the iPad 2 at 1024 by 768 pixels and weighs only 0.68 pounds, half the weight of a full sized iPad. Even with these lower than full sized specs, Apple is introducing a thinner, lighter, and powerful product to the tablet market, which has recently seen an increase in 6-8 inch devices. Amazon’s Kindle has dominated the e-reader market, and Apple is getting a leg-up by introducing a product that, when paired with iBooks can compete directly.

It is yet unknown whether the iPad mini will cannibalize sales of the iPod touch, which carries the same technical specs and now has a 4 inch screen. The iPad mini is priced at $329, as predicted for a base WiFi model and adds on another $130 for WiFi+Cellular. It will be available for Pe-Order on October 26 and will go on sale on November 02.

{Image Credit: Fox News}

Apple released the Smart Cover with the iPad 2 early last year and since then the cover has become a model for numerous third party accessory makers who have developed their own versions. However, according to a patent application put out by the United States Patent & Trademark Office, it appears that Apple is looking to take the technology in the Smart Cover one step further.

Since then publicizing of the patent, speculation on the web suggests that a new Smart Cover with a flexible AMOLED display, and even solar panels and a keyboard may be part of Apple’s upgrade to the cover. The touchscreen display on the cover is expected to display information such as emails, messages, and calendar events.The patent suggests that the inner cover would double as a keyboard and could house other technology such as a solar panel and the outer edge would have the ability to control other media such as music with pause and play controls.

According to Apple’s explanation in the patent, the Multi-Touch display in the cover “greatly enhances the overall functionality of the tablet device”. Considering that the current Smart Cover connects to the iPad via magnets, the Smart Cover in the patent would likely have to have some form of inductive charging to power the display and pull up information.

The patent lists the inventor of the tech as Fletcher Rothkopf, currently a product manager at Apple but has also dealt with design and iPod engineering. With this new Smart Cover, Apple can very well revolutionize what cases can do on a device and instead of being just a protective covering and an afterthought, can actually assist in the functionality of the device itself.

{via 9to5Mac}

Reports of Apple Inc. (AAPL) releasing an “iPad Mini” in October have been around for quite some time, and since last year, more and more news sources are confirming that this release is most likely going to happen. The latest report from Bloomberg, also confirms the likelihood that Apple’s iPad Mini is slated for announcement in October, and will be shipping by the end of the year .

The new model will have a screen that’s 7 inches to 8 inches diagonally, less than the current 9.7-inch version, said the people, who asked not to be identified because Apple hasn’t made its plans public. The product, which Apple may announce by October, won’t have the high-definition screen featured on the iPad that was released in March, one of the people said.

The report also suggests that AAPL was in talks to develop a smaller iPad, since the introduction of the first generation even with Steve Jobs saying that a screen that small wasn’t ideal for users to enjoy their media. It makes sense for Apple to introduce an iPad Mini, because of the company’s history in improving on products offered by the competition, as well as producing products that consumers genuinely enjoy.

The report goes on to mention that the iPad Mini will likely have the same amount of pixels as the iPad before the Retina Display was introduced. This would put the resolution at 1024×768 pixels and would avoid the fragmentation of apps that Apple makes sure to avoid in all of its products. Apple is likely treading very carefully with the launch of the iPad Mini to make sure that they get this perfect.

An iPad Mini has the potential to affect the sales of the iPod touch if it is not priced properly. However, it appears to be almost certain that a smaller iPad will make an appearance later this October, even The Wall Street Journal reported that there is indeed an iPad Mini in the works. The iPad Mini is proposed for an October launch, the same timeframe as the next generation iPhone 5 and the public release of iOS 6.

{via MacRumors, Image Credit: iLounge}

Apple introduced the iPad 2 early last year, and with it, the Smart Cover. The Smart Cover was an accessory for the iPad that covered the screen, could be converted into a stand and automatically woke the iPad from sleep mode when opened. During the Apple’s 2012 WWDC conference, the Smart Cover was silently updated and added to the Apple Online Store.

The Smart Case is an updated version of Apple’s Smart Cover, and adds a polyurethane hardshell on the back for protection. It is available in the same six colors of the original Smart Covers (Light Gray, Dark Gray, Blue, Green, Pink, and a special (PRODUCT) RED edition. The Smart Case can be engraved for free when purchased.

The Smart Case adds a nice sense of style, and adds protection to what was otherwise the reason for a lot of broken iPad screens. The Smart Case is currently on sale in the Apple Online Store for $49.00, roughly $20-$30 cheaper than the Smart Cover and is eligible for gift wrapping and engraving.

Earlier this month, Apple launched the new iPad in over 30 new countries and is now looking to continue to add to its list of countries. Apple is bringing the new iPad to Guam and the Philippines on May 29. Apple did not make an official announcement for the addition of the two countries and instead silently updated its Where to Buy page, allowing users to select their country of purchase.

Under Guam and the Philippines, a message indicates that it will be released there on May 29. Asia is one of Apple’s new emerging markets and is a large part of Apple’s quarterly revenue, with new Retail Stores opening in China, Japan, and Authorized Resellers in other countries.

The new iPad, in Guam and the Philippines will be available via Authorized Resellers as well as Apple’s Online Store and the cell carrier in the region, Global Telecom. The new iPad launched earlier this year, in March and has sold over 30 million units, and continues to sell as the most popular tablet computer in the market.

{via AppleInsider}

The FAA issued iPads for pilots to use as replacements for paper charts and has received positive feedback from pilots and other flight crew suggesting that it is a viable replacement. Now, the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration is planning to expand the usage of the iPad during flights and even for its employees. The administration is also planning to create its own App Store to accompany the new widespread adoption. According to a report from AvWeb, 1,100 FAA employees use the iPad, and with the expansion, that number will increase, with mechanics and lawyers receiving most of the units.

The FAA allows employees to do basic actions on the iPad, such as checking email, and sending messages, however, does not allow access to FAA networks. This may be because of the iPhone’s and iPad’s numerous unstable security measures, which have been criticized in the past. If the FAA builds their own App Store, they would be able to tailor their services for their employees and would be able to extract far more usage out of the iPads, and make them viable replacements for a notebook computer. Tailored apps would include aeronautical maps and charts which are consistently used during flights by pilots, who must be able to access information quickly and efficiently.

The FAA’s manager of Architecture and Applied Technology pegged a timeframe for 2014, where employees will be able to request an iPad as a replacement for a laptop computer. Last December, American Airlines became the first airlines to fully adopt the iPad as a replacement as an electronic flight bag. The iPad is very lightweight and could advance to become an integral part of the FAA if they remove a rule banning the use of electronics during take-off and landing.

{via AppleInsider — Image Credit: 9to5Mac}

Many tablets have been introduced in the market from companies looking to create the “iPad killer”. Top contenders include the Motorola Xoom and Kindle Fire, which failed to follow through with the original hype that it created upon release.

On Tuesday, following Apple’s announcement of their 4th quarter earnings for 2011, an analyst during the earnings call, asked Apple CEO Tim Cook if the iPad was impacted by lower priced tablets. Cook, as a reply, noted that Apple sold a record 15.4 million iPads and that Apple doesn’t consider “limited function tablets and e-readers to be in the same category as the iPad”.

Cook also noted that ecosystem for the iPad is “in a class by itself”. Tim Cook may have a point as it proves true during sales, where customers seem to gravitate towards product that offer a more solidified user experience, simplifying email, web, and desktop computer integration seamlessly, all of which iOS does very well.

We strongly believe in optimizing applications from day one to take advantage of the larger canvas. There are only a few hundred apps designed for the competition, versus more than 170,000 apps designed specifically for iPad. People who want an iPad won’t settle for a limited function tablet.

However, Cook wasn’t the only person praising the iPad. A number of executives from the Cupertino company have said that tablets are going to overtake the PC market in units and according to IDC, tablets outsold desktop PC’s last quarter on a unit basis in the United States. Following his statements about the iPad, Cook also mentioned that Apple will “continue to innovate like crazy” and will compete with any tablet out in the market.

Apple is consistently leading the smart phone and tablet market, guided by Steve Jobs’ quote from famous hockey player Wayne Gretzky, “Skate to where the puck is going to be, not where it has been”. Apple’s advanced intuition of the trends helps them to adjust their new product lines to the ever shifting technology market.

Apple is expected to announce the iPad 3 sometime between February and March, with a new A6 chip, higher resolution screen, and better cameras.

Apple recently posted a new iPad 2 TV ad “We’ll Always” that follows the same theme as in previous advertisements. Just like the ad titled “Now” and “If You Asked” the advert doesn’t highlight any hardware features but, focuses on user experience.

We’ll never stop sharing our memories or getting lost in a good book. We’ll always cook dinner and cheer for our favorite team. We’ll still go to meetings, make home movies, and learn new things. But how we do all this will never be the same.

Apple’s TV ads are very different from its competitors who have been heavily marketing hardware features like cameras, flash support and the processor speed. iPad 2 has been leading the way in the tablet market and if we consider the sales figures then it seems that the iPad continues to be the number one choice for customers worldwide.

Samsung, HP, Motorola and BlackBerry all have tablets available in the market but have found it hard to see the success Apple has had with the iPad.

Considering the fact that tablet computers have become successful after the release of iPad, Apple’s strategy to highlight all the things you can do with an iPad conveys just the right message to potential customers.

Apps mentioned in the ad include: iBooks, The Photo Cookbook, MLB, Fuze Meeting HD, iMovie and Alphabet Fun.

Check out the ad below and let us know what you think.

Digitimes recently reported that Apple is looking to add a second manufacturer for its tablet computer in order to meet demand for the rumoured iPad 3 / HD, this fall. Media outlets across the web have been abuzz about a rumoured iPad 3 to be released this fall, although many are led to believe that such an early release is very “un-Apple like”.

Digitimes is confirming this claim of another tablet to be released in 2011 by mentioning that Apple is bringing a second manufacturer on board.

The latest market rumors also indicated that the new iPad may be named iPad 2 plus and will be thinner than its predecessors yet with upgraded display.

The new iPads will be launched at the end of the third quarter or early in the fourth quarter, noted the sources. Total shipments of iPad tablet PCs are expected to top 13 million units in the third quarter, estimated the sources.

Digitimes goes on to say that Pegatron may be the latest company to receive rights to iPad manufacturing and may be working closely with Apple in order to release the iPad 3 on time. Pegatron currently manufactures the iPhone 4 and may also receive the iPhone 5 come next year.

In the past, Apple has struggled to keep up with consumer demand and has extended shipping times in several cases. Adding on a second manufacturer may ease pressure on Apple to produced more iPad and iPhone units and may decrease shipping times drastically.

Does this affect you? Will you buy an iPad 3 if Apple releases one this fall?

{via TiPb}

Apple has given all the stores a list of serial numbers to scan, if it’s a match we were told to set aside and ship back to Apple, these are only for Verizon ipads. This was to be done on Monday and continue to scan all shipments thru June 11. I had over one hundred to send back.

Another Apple Store employee has also mentioned that the issue actually derived from Verizon, after they accidentally duplicated Mobile Equipment Identifiers (MEIDs), issuing on the bad batch MEIDs that had been previously used on other Verizon iPads.

When users with iPads carrying duplicate MEIDs attempt to set up cellular data accounts, the system sees their devices as having already been set up. This issue can be fixed with a simple removal of one MEID and a double check to make sure everything is operating, however, Apple will feel the brunt of the recall, as they have felt in the past.

Apple is now stopping the sales of the affected iPad 2, and recalling those already in trasnit to customers, possibly scaling back the ship date from the current 1-2 weeks. The Cupertino based company has yet to make any formal public statement about this issue but has told to The Wall Street Journal this issue is “extremely small”.

{via MacRumors}

The iPad 2 was a far more ambitious product revision than many expected Apple to release so early in 2011 (myself included). Which has in turn cast some doubt on whether Apple will shift its product release schedule for their iconic tablet to the end of each year, as many expected, which would have resulted in an iPad 3 for Christmas. A Christmas tablet launch each year for such a hot consumer product has to be an attractive proposition for Apple. It is simply a matter of how they might pull it off. Something which seems unlikely based on information we have today.

It is also very clear that Apple is looking at an ambitious display technology upgrade for future iOS devices. One possibility is a hybrid e-ink and LCD display, which we talked about here at Touch Reviews a few days ago.

Another possibility is that Apple might be shifting its display technology to AMOLED. But this would mean that Apple would be very reliant on Samsung for its display components – something they are said to be trying to move away from as Samsung becomes more of a competitor in key markets with Apple. i.e. Tablets and smart-phones. AMOLED displays could also actually mean a drop in overall resolution in Apple’s displays – and certainly some loss of quality. Currently Apple’s LCD panels (which rely on technologies designed to improve clarity and viewing angles) still perform better, and offer better resolution, in real world use than comparable AMOLED panels – despite being based on an older technology.

The final, most likely option in our opinion, is that Apple is investing serious R&D and money into increasing the yields of ultra-high resolution LCD panels. Panels that are still similar to those found in the iPad 2 and iPhone 4 – but with a pixel resolution over the entire size of the much larger tablet panels, which would rival the iPhone 4’s Retina Display pixel per inch metric.

If we are to see any iPad revision out of Apple this year, taking all the events in Asia into account in recent weeks, and the state of display technology manufacture and R&D, it is very likely that it will simply be a product specification bump (much like we expected at the beginning of this year). So basically expect more Flash memory for any 2011 iPad update.

Overall the general consensus seems to be that the “iPad 3″ will most likely hit Apple Stores in early 2011. Mimicking the product cycle of its previous two siblings.

What’s you guess? Will Apple prove us all wrong again, and up the ante with a revolutionary iPad 3 for Christmas? Or will it be next year when we see Apple’s next serious tablet upgrade?
Have your say in the comments…

With Apple’s devices “Buyer’s Remorse” typically accounts for 1 or 2% of sales. And in line with that it appears that around 2% of iPad purchasers have returned their iPads for various reasons after purchase.

With the Samsung Galaxy Tab however, that figure is a whopping 16%. It hovered at around 13% through November of last year, but shows signs of accelerating now we are in the New Year, and stands at 16% for January of 2011.

Reasons for this could be many and varied. But most likely are because the Android experience on Samsung’s flagship tablet is not sufficiently iPad like to make the experience enjoyable; as many reviewers have found. Or perhaps people are simply returning Tab’s expecting more and better from the iPad 2.

Either way, Google and Samsung need to take a long hard look at both the Android OS and their tablets and figure out fast what is not making it such a run away success like the iPad. To be fair Google already admit that Android as it stands now is not designed for tablets, but they don’t seem to be pushing out a tablet OS as fast as they need to…

Samsung Returns? Is it Android’s fault? Or the Samsung Galaxy Tab itself? Let us know your thoughts in the comments…

A number of Apple blogs recently  reported that US chain Best Buy’s web store listed three new Apple iPad SKUS for a short while with all 3 being currently unreleased hardware.

The erroneous entries were all lists as “APPLE COMPUTER INC. – APPLE IPAD SKU WIFI” with two priced $599 and the other weighing in at $699. No other details were given other than shipping dates of ‘coming soon’.

It’s obviously unclear as to whether these new SKUs represent unreleased Apple iPads or if the company’s notoriously poor stock system was playing tricks on us all. Bearing that in mind, it wouldn’t be the first time Best Buy has listed an item that has later been released by the Cupertino outfit. Back in 2009 the updated MacBooks were found on Best Buy’s website days before they were officially announced.

{via MacRumors}

If you have a little bit of geek in you then you probably can’t help but be excited about Disney’s upcoming sequel “Tron Legacy”. As part of the advertising push for its debut this Friday, Disney have partnered with Apple (NASDAQ:AAPL) and used its iAd service to produce a rather beautiful Tron iAd for the iPad.

The Tron iAd has about 10 minutes of video footage, the ability to email a friend from within the ad itself, and some beautifully crafted menus and pages to what is simply a digital movie trailer at the end of the day. Some people have noted, rightly so, that this advert that runs within other apps, actually offers more content than some of the apps do themselves.

In many ways this promotion gels well with Virgin’s new iPad magazine, launched earlier this month, which also featured interactive Tron promotional material, interviews and profiles.

If this is the future of digital advertising and publishing then I am in.

It is worth noting that the memory footprint (at run time) of the iAd on the iPad is a little large, and has apparently caused a few iPads to crash.

Let us know in the comments what you think of the first iPad iAd once you’ve seen it.

Gallery

{via Business Insider}

Oprah’s gushing over the iPad is embarrassing to hear, even for a hardcore Mac geek like myself. Despite agreeing with her basic opinions.

“From our very first moment together, I knew it had stolen my heart”, Oprah joked, “Words cannot describe what I feel for this magnificent, magnificent device. I really think it’s the best invention of the century so far.”

She was holding an iPad 3G at the time.

Oh, and did I mention that she had also just launched her own digital version of “O, The Oprah Magazine” on Apple’s revolutionary device (View in iTunes). A digital copy of “O” will set you back $3.99 for the December issue, and apparently the cover is animated with Oprah herself unveiling the issue. Oh, goodie!

Not a bad days work for the richest lady in media in the US. She’s probably guaranteed another few million dollars for her bulging corporate coffers this week alone in digital sales via Apple’s iTunes.

Oprah is supposed to be recommending other people’s software, e-books and e-magazines in coming weeks. So the iPad may be a regular fixture on her show. But so far her focus seems to be on free advertising for her own media products and Apple…

Are you going to buy Oprah’s iPad Magazine? Is this what you bought an iPad for? Have your say in the comments…

After a stuttering release throughout many countries over the last few weeks, Samsung’s Android-based tablet is finally starting to gain some momentum among new tablet buyers. With new tablets starting to appear from the likes of Toshiba and Lenovo, Samsung will undoubtedly be hoping sales don’t slow too much, especially with Apple expected to announce the successor to the original iPad in early 2011.

Since its release earlier this year, Apple’s iPad has stormed to a 95% tablet market share, but the majority of its life has been spent as the only real consumer-orientated machine. Hopefully the influx of Android hardware plus the upcoming BlackBerry PlayBook will push Apple forward with its own devices.

Front-facing camera and retina-display please Mr. Jobs!

iPad 2

As we get closer to the first anniversary of the iPad’s release, it’s inevitable that rumors surrounding the second-generation device will begin to surface, with many guessing how the iPad 2 update will look, what it will be made from, and what it will do. Here’s Touch Reviews roundup of some of the rumors so far, and what we can expect from the upcoming update for Apple’s (NASDAQ:AAPL) iPad.

Cameras

With Facetime now on the Mac, the iPhone, and the iPod Touch, the iPad’s beginning to feel a little left out. I’m guessing out of all the rumors so far, this one’s probably one of the most likely to become a reality. Facetime, of course, means a front-facing camera, however, some reports have also suggested that the device may also include a 5-megapixel camera on the rear.

I’m not sure the latter is all that likely; although it would be handy at times, how many people are going to pull out their iPad to take a few snaps? I know that many rival tablet devices have a camera on the rear, however, Apple doesn’t often do something just because competitors are doing it.

GSM-CDMA Radio

A recent report from AppleInsider talks about the predictions of Wedge Partner analyst Brian Blair, who says that the next-gen iPad will be a “world mode” device with both GSM and CDMA radios. The chip would mean that one iPad model would be compatible with various wireless carriers using different wireless technology. The device has recently been made available through carriers AT&T and Verizon, however, because the 3G model isn’t compatible with Verizon’s CDMA network, a mobile hotspot device is needed to allow for a connection over Wi-Fi.

I’d say a GSM-CDMA chip isn’t too unlikely – many would-be iPad users may be put off by the thought of having to carry around a mobile hotspot accessory to use data from the carrier of their choice.

Thinner, Lighter Design

Analyst Brian Blair who predicts the rumor above also indicated that the next iPad will be thinner and made from one piece of metal, with a similar manufacturing process to that of the unibody aluminum MacBooks.

Now this one seems very likely. Apple always strives to improve upon its products, and often that means thinner, lighter, streamlined designs. Many critics already complain that the device is too heavy and too bulky, and I’m sure it’s safe to say Apple has been hard at work to make it the most desirable tablet on the market.

However, it’s unlikely that we’ll see an iPad with a smaller screen – Steve Jobs already quashed rumors of a 7-inch device  during a quarterly earnings conference call, saying, “The reason we [won’t] make a 7-inch tablet isn’t because we don’t want to hit that price point, it’s because we think the screen is too small to express the software.”

Better Availability

When the current iPad was first released it sold out in many stores incredibly quickly, and countless users went home empty handed having to wait until more stock was available. With “iPad 2,” this may not be the case.

A report says that there will be several suppliers for the new iPad allowing Apple to “ramp up” shipments of the device upon its release. Three companies are rumored to have already received certification from Apple and will begin shipping parts for the device in December.

This one’s a no-brainer. The current iPad was a nightmare to get hold of for many when it was first released, especially for those of us in the U.K. Apple will surely work hard to ensure there are more of the 2nd-gen devices to go around next time.

Carbon Fibre Housing

One rumor suggests that the next iPad will not be made from aluminum, and that instead, the device will sport an ultra-strong carbon fibre housing. Cult of Mac recently reported on a new patent application for a “Reinforced Device Housing” filed by Apple that details “an outer casing for an electronic device composed of “layered fiber-in-matrix type material,” i.e. carbon fiber re-inforced polymer.”

It’s not clear whether the carbon fibre housing is indeed for the iPad, however, the illustration on the patent looks very much like the rear shell of Apple’s tablet.

A carbon fibre iPad certainly sounds very desirable, but I’m not sure it’s all that likely just yet – maybe later on down the line.

Retina Display

Now that many of us are used to the luxury of a Retina display in our iPhones and iPod Touches, we’re anticipating a nice large Retina display in the next iPad. Slash Gear reported back in October on the prospect of this one, and I’d like to think we can expect this with the new device next year.

As an iPhone 4 user, switching to the iPad can often be a little disappointing when I stare at its slightly ugly display – it’s just seems outdated now – and I for one am keeping my fingers crossed for a Retina display iPad next year.

Bigger Storage

Another typical Apple move for new devices is often increased storage, and many reports have claimed the iPad will be available with larger storage options next time around. The new MacBook Airs have also fueled this rumor, as they use the same flash storage chips found in their tablet siblings.

Apple is already using 128GB flash chips in its new MacBook Airs, so it wouldn’t be too much trouble to stick them in the iPad. This is another rumor that I’d say we can safely expect.

What Do You Want?

So there’s a few of the features that are rumored to be introduced in the second-generation iPad. I’m keeping my fingers crossed for a Retina display and a thinner, lighter design – these are high up on my wish-list for iPad 2, and will be deciding factors when I’m thinking about whether or not to upgrade.

We’d love to hear what you want from Apple’s next tablet device. Please leave us a comment and let us know!

Included in the initial launch in France and the UK are L’Oréal, Renault, Louis Vuitton, Nespresso, Perrier, Unilever, Citi, Evian, LG Display, AB InBev, Turkish Airlines and Absolute Radio.

Germany will get iAd in January.

Many developers who have been wishing to leverage Apple’s iAd network in more countries should be happy.

Apple’s advertisers certainly seem happy about it all if L’Oréal are anything to go by:

As the world leader in the beauty business, L’Oréal aims to create the most meaningful connections between its brands and its customers, so iAd was a natural choice,” said Marc Menesguen, L’Oréal’s Head of strategic marketing. “We’re thrilled by the quality, the interactivity and the depth of iAd’s user experience, giving us an unparalleled opportunity to reach and serve the most engaged and discerning customers at the digital forefront of beauty, hence our choice of Lancôme to lead our iAd campaign.

And those of us that try to avoid ads as much as possible can all heave a huge sigh of frustration and apprehension!

Here is Apple’s full Press Release in full…

Apple’s iAd Coming to Europe in December

Revolutionary Mobile Advertising Network Will Launch in Europe with L’Oréal, Renault, Louis Vuitton, Nespresso, Perrier & Unilever

CUPERTINO, California—November 18, 2010—Apple® today announced it will expand its revolutionary iAd℠ mobile advertising network to the UK and France this December, with Germany to follow in January. iAd will launch in Europe with iAds from L’Oréal, Renault, Louis Vuitton, Nespresso, Perrier, Unilever, Citi, Evian, LG Display, AB InBev, Turkish Airlines and Absolute Radio. Since its US launch in July, iAd has emerged as a powerful new way for advertisers to reach millions of iPhone® and iPod touch® users right in their favorite apps, while providing a significant new revenue stream for developers. iAd has signed on over half of the top 25 leading US national advertisers in just four months,* with a projected 21 percent share of US mobile display advertising revenue for 2010 according to research firm IDC.**

“We’re thrilled to add leading global brands to the iAd Network in Europe and create even more great opportunities for developers,” said Andy Miller, Apple’s vice president of iAd. “In just four months, we’ve doubled the number of advertisers on the network and thousands of developers now have a valuable new source of revenue.”

“As the world leader in the beauty business, L’Oréal aims to create the most meaningful connections between its brands and its customers, so iAd was a natural choice,” said Marc Menesguen, L’Oréal’s Head of strategic marketing. “We’re thrilled by the quality, the interactivity and the depth of iAd’s user experience, giving us an unparalleled opportunity to reach and serve the most engaged and discerning customers at the digital forefront of beauty, hence our choice of Lancôme to lead our iAd campaign.”

iAd, which is built into iOS 4, lets users stay within their current app while engaging with an ad, even while watching a video, playing a game or using in-ad purchase to download an app or buy iTunes® content. With user engagement times averaging more than 60 seconds per visit, iAds combine the narrative quality of TV ads with the interactivity of digital for something entirely new.

Advertisers can learn more at advertising.apple.com. Developers who join the iAd Network can easily incorporate a variety of advertising formats into their apps. Developers will receive an industry standard 60 percent of the iAd Network revenue, which is paid via iTunes Connect. Developers can visit developer.apple.com/iad to join the iAd Network or to learn more about the iAd platform.

* Advertising Age “100 Leading National Advertisers” rankings for 2009 by spend, June 20, 2010.

** US mobile display advertising 2010 forecast, published by BusinessWeek.com, September 26, 2010.

Apple designs Macs, the best personal computers in the world, along with OS X, iLife, iWork, and professional software. Apple leads the digital music revolution with its iPods and iTunes online store. Apple is reinventing the mobile phone with its revolutionary iPhone and App Store, and has recently introduced its magical iPad which is defining the future of mobile media and computing devices.

How do you feel about more ads coming to your favourite mobile OS? Have your say in the comments…

DSG International, the group responsible for UK chain PC World, amongst others, has so many Folios returned by unhappy customers that they’ve jacked the 10″ tablet’s price up to a whopping £999 ($1612) in order to DISCOURAGE sales. Considering the original price was just £350 ($560), it’s fairly clear they REALLY don’t want to sell any of Toshiba’s Folio. Coming just days after the hardware’s official launch. Ouch!

A post over on Engadget highlights issues such as an unusually poor screen, lack of Android market and general poor build-quality.

Be sure to check out Engadget’s video below, and ask yourself this question: what happens if someone DOES spend a grand on it!?

Have you bought or used a Toshiba Folio 100? How did you find it? Let us know in the comments!

When BlackBerry announced its business class tablet called the PlayBook, one of the stand-out points was the shear power the little 7″ device was supposed to be packing. I say supposed, as nobody had actually seen one up close and personal. Until now.

Over on BlackBerry’s YouTube channel, there’s an interesting video comparing the PlayBook’s webpage rendering speed and accuracy with that of Apple’s iPad. Various sites are tested, and both machines have had their caches cleared beforehand. The results are quite stunning.

In all speed tests, the little tablet could outpace the iPad pretty comprehensively, with pages nearly completing their loading on the PlayBook before the iPad has really gotten going. But that’s not the only test the video shows. Next up, BlackBerry show off how the adidas.com website displays on both tablets, with the PlayBook loading a fully Flash-enabled page with the iPad kicking out an error, along with a poorly formatted web 1.0-looking affair. Interesting stuff indeed.

To really drive the point home, the web standards’ ACID3 test is also performed. Perhaps predictably by this point, the iPad once again comes in 2nd, with the test not displaying 100% pixel perfect rendering. PlayBook suffers no such problems.

So what is the reason behind the stellar performance from PlayBook? Well, there’s that 1GHz dual-core CPU for starters, and when married to the 1GB of onboard RAM, the hardware performance of BlackBerry’s answer to the iPad and Galaxy Tab really could be the hardware platform of choice for more CPU-intensive apps and users.

So there we have it. Finally some real hands-on video of real-world use of the BlackBerry PlayBook, even if it is in the hands of a BlackBerry engineer.

Time for iPad 2 methinks!

BlackBerry PlayBook and iPad Comparison: Web Fidelity

modulR iPad Starter Kit

Just like my iPhone I like my iPad to not only look good but to also be protected. I currently have the Otterbox Impact for my iPhone 4 which offers me a combination of protection while not making it as bulky as the Otterbox Defender case. However for my iPad I’m still using the Apple case which not only protects the iPad but also allows you to use it as a stand and elevates it a little to enable easier typing.

However, it does have shortcomings too. It marks easily and is not easy to keep clean, while the stand is a little flimsy and will easily be knocked of if touched or on an eleven surface. So, needless to say I’ve been looking for a replacement and final, today, it has arrived. The modulR Starter Kit which for $99 includes a case (with a detachable cover), stand and a wall mount. Each of these items use a system that enables the iPad case to interlock with the other two items.

The packing of all three items is very nice, brightly colored with good photo’s and graphics. It would certainly look good on a store shelf although at present it’s only currently available via www.modulR.com. It’s well designed and fits each item snuggly so that the items are stored securely during transit.

As the wall mount and the stand require the case to be fitted to work, the first item I looked at the modulR case and cover in it’s only available color at present, that of Graphite.

The case has a hard back cover offering maximum protection to the rear of the case and flexible sides that snap the iPad into place. A cut out is also used to allow the Apple logo on the back of the case to show through. It’s a snug fit with no movement of the iPad in the case. All buttons and access points remain fully accessible when the case is on with the sleep button and volume controls being covered buttons which still allow you to use them. Both buttons work well although a slightly hard push is required.

The cover that gives the iPad complete protection when it’s not in use snaps around the top and bottom of the iPad and again feels secure and because of it’s hard nature makes me feel that it will offer me maximum protection when I’m taking it out on the road. Of course because the cover snaps on and off you will need to carry it around separately unlike Apples case, it’s a small price to pay though.

The look, feel and color has a industrial feel to it and so in addition to being very protective while still being stylish. Having said that I would like to see some additional colors available as they already offer for the stand and wall mount.

The case also doesn’t come with a built in stand but it does can as part of the starter pack but again does mean that you would have to carry it around separately.

The stand makes use of the nodes on the back of the case and it slides in effortlessly and yet still feels solid and secure. While the stand only fits using the either of the two horizontal nodes it can be used in portrait mode too. The angle of the stand is fixed and is just under twice the height of the built in stand of the Apple case. I’m actually writing this review while using the stand in ‘keyboard’ mode and both the angle and stability are excellent.

The final piece of the pack is the wall mount, now I haven’t screwed this to my wall yet using the supplied fixtures but the solid metal frame feels very sturdy and this time it uses all four nodes to securely mount the iPad to it. The mount can be fixed to the wall either horizontally or vertically but once fixed in either position neither the mount, or the iPad can be rotated so once you’ve made your decision you will have to stick with it.

While those three pieces of the Starter Kit were the only parts of the kit if you order it now you get the choice of a hand strap used for securely holding the iPad or a shoulder strap for the same $99 making the whole kit excellent value for money. In addition the order took less than a week to arrive and subsequent questions to their support team were replied to efficiently and accurately which is always a great addition to any product.

It’s early days for me but at this point I can highly recommend the modulR case, cover, stand and wall mount and with the hand strap on its way it should keep my iPad in great condition for a long time to come.

Although there aren’t too many details on what the shoot involved, the iPads used were the same models you’d find in the Apple Store today, and it’s believed these will be swapped out with the “iPad 2” in post production.

Despite the absence of the next gen iPad, however, all participants at the shoot still had to sign non-disclosure agreements, promising Apple they would keep their lips sealed. It’s also reported that security at the shoot was very tight.

Is it possible that Apple would be shooting a commercial for the next iPad update so early, with the second generation device not expected until April next year? Could it be that Apple were adamant on using Sims for the production and booked themselves in to his busy schedule early to save disappointment, or could it be that they were simply filming another commercial for current iPad?

If these predictions come true then Apple’s sales will increase 100 percent year over year in 2011 for the iPhone alone.

But other analysts are more cautious. So perhaps picking a middle ground between the figures published by Barron’s quoting Wedge Partner’s analysis, and those of Yair Reiner from Oppenheimer, is a wise choice if you are looking to gauge what will happen in business in 2011. Those more conservative figures place Apple’s sales at about half of that quoted by Barron’s. Even so those figures are still impressive.

A lot will depend on what Android handsets, and tablets hit the market in the coming months. But if the early mixed, and far from stellar, reviews of toys like the Samsung Galaxy Tab are anything to go by, Apple are not really facing an onslaught of competition in the next few months, at least.

The sales figures for 2010 for Apple as it stands right now are sales of just under 40 Million iPhones, which in itself is almost a 100% year on year increase from last year. And sales of 7.4 Million iPads, which was just short of what analysts hoped for, and a way off the 45 – 48 Million being predicted by the most optimistic figures for next year.

Many believe that the iPad 2 will spur even more increased sales for Apple, and with them currently holding 95% of the tablet market they can only really lose market share, but perhaps hope to increase sales overall as the young market for tablets grows globally.

This is why I opined over the weekend that it is crucial for Apple to hit the market earlier than most people might expect with an iPad feature update. Particularly one with more memory and at least one camera.

Anther factor that is spurring Apple’s stellar growth right now is the halo effect that the iPhone, iPod Touch and iPad have had on the Macintosh. And with the recent re-launch of the MacBook Air we are starting to see an evolution of where laptops and mobile devices are going in the future. And how the lines between those devices are going to blur in the future.

The only way is up for Apple right now but they have to be careful that they don’t get complacent in 2011.

Two things are sure for 2011. We can expect more great toys from the world’s tech giant in 2011. The iPad 2 and the iPhone 5 being the most eagerly awaited. And other companies in competing market places are still very decidedly playing catch up.

Do you see Apple consolidating its position next year, or starting to get caught by its competitors? Have your say in the comments..

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