Monday, March 23, 2015

iPad owners like screen, dislike lack of Flash

iPad owners like screen, dislike lack of Flash
The top feature respondents liked is the screen.ChangeWaveA second ChangeWave survey to measure future demand for the iPad, showed the iPad's rise as an e-reader."Among e-Reader owners the Amazon Kindle (62%) remains the leader by a wide margin, but we note that the Apple iPad...is already registering a 16% share of the e-Reader market just weeks after its initial release," ChangeWave said in its survey to measure future demand for the iPad. Ipad is rising quickly as an e-reader.ChangeWave ResearchOverall satisfaction with the iPad was high."The vast majority of owners believe the iPad is delivering on its promises--with three-in-four (74%) saying they're 'Very Satisfied' with their new tablet, and another 17% say they're 'Somewhat Satisfied.'"These ratings are nearly identical to the Apple iPhone, according to ChangeWave.The surveys were done in May by ChangeWave.One survey queried 3,174 consumers to measure future demand for the iPad, and a second survey of 153 new iPad owners asked about their impressions of the new tablet device.


iPad Mini, anyone- Apple sets Oct. 23 event

iPad Mini, anyone? Apple sets Oct. 23 event
The tagline of the invite is "We've got a little more to show you," and the invitation shows the top of Apple's logo.Apple is holding the event at the California Theatre in San Jose, Calif., just a block away from the courtroom where its major trial with Samsung took place. The invitation confirmsa report from AllThingsDigital last week, which claimed the event date would be October 23. Since before its very first model of the iPad came out, Apple has been rumored to be working on a smaller version. But expectations that the company would double down on its iPad line have increased, especially after competitors like Amazon and Google began to put out smaller tablets that were a third of the price and brought in critical acclaim.Related storiesiPad Mini: What we expectTop 5 iPad Mini competitorsApple iPad Mini: The ultimate rumor roundupRecently we saw leaked photos, supposedly of the finished product. And ahead of that there was an e-mail thread between some of Apple's top executives discussing the viability of a 7-inch model, unearthed during the Apple v. Samsung trial in August.Along with an iPad Mini, Apple is rumored to be introducing a 13-inch model of its Retina Display MacBook Pro, as well as updated Mac Minis. CNET will be at the October 23 Apple event to bring you live coverage. Find it here:CNET's live coverage of Apple's event next Tuesday


iPad Mini with LTE arrives on November 23, reports say

iPad Mini with LTE arrives on November 23, reports say
Apple's iPad Mini with LTE is arriving a bit later than expected.Customers who started preordering the device as soon as they could today are reporting on Twitter that Apple is promising a November 23 arrival date on standard shipping. According to 9to5 Mac, which was first to report on the news, expedited shipping will get the iPad Mini with LTE to customers on November 21.Apple announced the 7.9-inch slate earlier this week. At that time, the company said that the LTE version would ship "a couple of weeks" after the Wi-Fi-only model's November 2 launch date. Customers had hoped that this meant the device would be available around the middle of November.Apple is only sharing availability dates with customers after they order an iPad Mini through its Web site. Prior to purchase, Apple's site only says that the LTE model, which will run on Sprint, Verizon, and AT&T networks, will ship in "mid-November."In addition to some odd LTE shipping dates, Apple's store shows that the Wi-Fi-only White iPad Mini's initial supply has sold out, leaving customers who order now to wait two weeks to get their hands on the device.CNET has contacted Apple for comment on the iPad Mini's availability. We will update this story when we have more information.This content is rated TV-MA, and is for viewers 18 years or older. Are you of age?YesNoSorry, you are not old enough to view this content.Play


iPad Mini to debut in September, says analyst

iPad Mini to debut in September, says analyst
Apple's alleged iPad Mini could see the light of day before the end of September, says KGI Securities analyst Ming-Chi Kuo.In a report released yesterday and covered by MacRumors, Kuo said he expects the new iPhone to debut in September, possibly near the start of the month. The iPad Mini will then follow closely as a second act.Assuming an iPad Mini does pop up in September, the analyst is anticpating heavy demand. He's already projecting unit sales of 1.8 million just for the few short weeks marking the end of the calendar third quarter. And in the fourth quarter, the new iPad could grab sales as high as 13 million, surpassing those of its bigger brother.Kuo is also eyeing changes to the 9.7-inch iPad, namely some internal modifications to resolve thermal issues and to cut costs. Those changes are expected in the third quarter but won't be noticed by consumers.With a new iPhone and possible iPad Mini on the way, the analyst is predicting a blockbuster fourth-quarter for Apple. For the final quarter of the year, Kuo is looking for iPhone sales to surpass 55 million and total iPad sales to reach almost 34 million.Apple reports its June quarter results later today, which CNET will cover live.


iPad Mini mock-up pics emerge

iPad Mini mock-up pics emerge
Alleged mock-ups of Apple's iPad Mini emerged today, courtesy of French Web site Nowhereelse.fr.The photos show a mock-up of the iPad Mini, with a white front, held in various angles. Another photo shows the cases of the larger and smaller iPad stacked with an iPhone 4S and what appears to be the case for the longer iPhone 5. The photos, which Nowhereelse.fr spotted from Chinese site Dgtle.com, are apparently intended to showcase iPad Mini accessories. It's unclear whether these mock-ups represent the actual iPad Mini, and Apple has declined to comment to CNET.The French blog previously posted alleged pictures of the iPhone 5.While much of the excitement over Apple has to do with this week's expected iPhone 5 unveiling, many believe the company will come back shortly with an iPad Mini announcement. A smaller version of the iPad, which presumably would cost less, would help widen Apple's lead in the tablet market, and expand its potential customer base looking for a more affordable product. Google and its Nexus 7 and Amazon and its Kindle Fire HD have already fired their shots, and both have been received positively.Correction at 6:52 a.m. PT: The initial story incorrectly said the photos were of the iPad Mini. The photos actually show a mock-up of the tablet.


iPad Mini may only come in Wi-Fi version, report says

iPad Mini may only come in Wi-Fi version, report says
Apple's forthcoming iPad Mini may only sport a Wi-Fi connection, according to the Guardian.The Guardian, citing unnamed industry sources, also said there would be a revised version of its larger iPad that would sport the Lightning dock connector and run on the 4G LTE network run by U.K. Everything Everywhere.The report is just the latest leak on the smaller version of the iPad, which is widely believed to be revealed at an event next week. Invitations for the event are expected to come out some time in the next few days. Apple declined to comment to CNET. Earlier today, a 9to5Mac engineer tweeted several pictures purportedly showing the new iPadstacked up against its larger brother.The iPad Mini, expected to be both smaller and more affordable, does a lot to expand the market for tablets and would pose a significant risk to competitors such as Google's Nexus 7 and Amazon's Kindle Fire HD.The lack of a cellular connection means Apple can build the iPad Mini at a lower cost. Both Google and Amazon omitted a 3G or 4G connection from their smaller tablets. This content is rated TV-MA, and is for viewers 18 years or older. Are you of age?YesNoSorry, you are not old enough to view this content.Play


Selling songs as iPhone apps

Selling songs as iPhone apps
In addition to selling its songs on iTunes in the normal fashion, PUSA has just released a $2.99 application for the iPhone and iPod Touch that will let you stream songs from four albums (the ones whose rights are owned by the band), plus assorted other flotsam (live tracks, demos, whatever). The application was built by Melodeo, whose vice president of business development is none other than PUSA's Dave Dederer. The songs are streamed, not downloaded, which means that you need a live Internet connection to hear them. In other words, imagine Pandora or Slacker, but focused on one band and with no restrictions on song order or skipping. The trick with this kind of compilation is clearing the rights--radio station compilations, for example, would probably be impossible because so many licensees would have to be contacted. But I think that this could be a very interesting way for bands to earn a little bit of money from music to which they have exclusive rights. Imagine your favorite band releasing an application with demos and outtakes from its latest album, on the same day the album itself goes live to iTunes and other download sites. Imagine it releasing concert recordings the day after a concert takes place. Record labels could also benefit--Melodeo is apparently already working on a compilation for a Seattle-area label. Perhaps this is the digital replacement for the old SubPop singles club?


Rep. Eshoo on truth in 4G advertising (podcast)

Rep. Eshoo on truth in 4G advertising (podcast)
As reported by CNET News, Rep. Anna Eshoo (D-Calif.), who represents parts of Silicon Valley, has introduced the "Next Generation Wireless Disclosure Act," which would require cellular carriers that offer 4G data services to provide consumers with accurate information about the minimum speed and reliability of the service. In an interview, she said "consumers are really confused about what 4G really is," adding that "wireless companies right now throw around terms like 'lightning fast' and 'supercharged,' but their claims when examined closely don't always match up with reality."She said that the bill would "provide consumers with the information that they need to make a smart purchase including pricing, minimum speeds and reliability."As CNET's Marguerite Reardon wrote in November, "There is no question that wireless operators are playing fast and loose with their marketing claims."In a statement, CTIA Vice President Jot Carpenter said, "We are concerned that the bill proposes to add a new layer of regulation to a new and exciting set of services, while ignoring the fact that wireless is an inherently complex and dynamic environment in which network speeds can vary depending on a wide variety of factors."Listen nowYour browser does not support the audio element.Subscribe now:iTunes (audio) |RSS (audio)


Nintendo DS lookalike disappears from App Store

Nintendo DS lookalike disappears from App Store
It shouldn't come as a surprise that the DS DoubleSys app was removed from the App Store.It seemed to me that it was just a little too similar to the Nintendo DS.And since it mimics the Nintendo DS' operation, its menu, and even some of its sounds, I can only bet that Nintendo wasn't happy with it.At this point, there's no word if ZM2 Dev, the app's developer, is even aware that the app has been removed from the App Store.The company's Web site still lists it as available in Apple's marketplace.In fact, it's bragging about its sales.ZM2 Dev said its app was the eighth most popular paid music game in the U.S. App Store.It was the 72nd most popular app in the store's Arcade listing.DS DoubleSys is no longer on either of those lists.The disappearance of the app follows a long line of apps that have been rejected or booted from Apple's App Store. Apple initially allowed DS DoubleSys into its App Store.Although it's possible that Apple thought better of it and decided on its own to remove the app, it's more likely that Nintendo played a part. At this point, it's still a mystery: neither ZM2 Dev nor Nintendo immediately responded to requests for comment.Update at 1:53 p.m. PDT: The YouTube video ZM2 Dev used to promote the DS DoubleSys app has been removed from the video site.When users try to play the video, it displays a message that provides more evidence that Nintendo might have been behind the applications removal from the App Store: "This video is no longer available due to a copyright claim by Nintendo of America."(Thanks, mista77.)


Justin Timberlake tops billing of iTunes Festival this year

Justin Timberlake tops billing of iTunes Festival this year
Apple will be beaming Justin Timberlake to your iPhone this fall, when he headlines more than 60 acts at this year's iTunes Festival in London. But you'll need to vie in local media competitions if you want a chance to see him bring "sexy back" in person for free. Related storiesDialed in 110: Lessons for Android (podcast)The 404 Podcast 498: Where Jeff battles the TriadBuzz Out Loud Podcast 1145: China to Google: Suck itNutsie brings iTunes to Android via the cloudThe Real Deal 193: Road Test - CES edition (podcast) Other top performers include Thirty Seconds to Mars, Jack Johnson, and Jessie J.Every night in September, performances can be watched live or on-demand by iOS users around the world on the iPhone, iPad, or iPod Touch, as well as on iTunes on computers or Apple TV. Tickets are free for winners of competitions run by local media partners. So in the U.K., for example, the iTunes Festival app, the iTunes Store, and groups like Channel 4, Global Radio, and Metro will be running contests to give tickets away. In the six years since Apple started streaming performances from its sponsored iTunes Festivals, Sir Paul McCartney and the late Amy Winehouse have been among those who have kicked off the inaugural festivities.


iPhone 3.1 brings Genius changes, ringtones

iPhone 3.1 brings Genius changes, ringtones
Updated at 2:00pm PT with screenshotsAt its special event Wednesday, Apple announced the latest iPhone software update iPhone 3.1. We're still downloading it now, but below you can read the list of changes as provided by Apple. Keep in mind that the ability to save a video from a multimedia message is dependent on MMS going live on September 25.Genius recommendations for ApplicationsSupport for iTunes 9 (Mac and Windows downloads), which offers Genius Mixes, app organization in iTunes, improved syncing options for music, movies, TV shows, podcasts, and photos, iTunes U Content organizationRedeem iTunes Gift cards, codes, and certificates in the App StoreDisplay available iTunes account credits in the App Store and iTunes StoreBrowse and download ringtones wirelessly from the iTunes StoreSave video from mail and multimedia messages into Camera RollOption to "save as new clip" when trimming a video on iPhone 3GSBetter iPhone 3G Wi-Fi performance when Bluetooth is turned onRemotely lock iPhone with a passcode via MobileMeUse Voice Control on iPhone 3GS with Bluetooth headsetsPaste phone numbers into the KeypadOption to use Home button to turn on Accessibility features on iPhone 3GSWarn when visiting fraudulent Web sites in Safari (antiphishing)Improved Exchange calendar syncing and invitation handlingFixes issue that caused some app icons to display incorrectlyWe'll update with more features as we find them. What new features have you found and what is Apple still missing?


How to recover your iTunes account ID

How to recover your iTunes account ID
At the very least, if the songs are DRM-protected and you have not authorized your system to play them, then iTunes will present you with a notice to log in to your account before it will play them.While Apple offers a quick password recovery link in the authorization window, this requires you first enter a valid corresponding Apple ID, so if you have forgotten your iTunes account ID, then you may be at somewhat of a loss for what to enter. However, there is an easy way to look this up using the items you have already purchased.Related storiesDialed in 110: Lessons for Android (podcast)The 404 Podcast 498: Where Jeff battles the TriadBuzz Out Loud Podcast 1145: China to Google: Suck itThe iTunes ID will be in the location of the blue box, when you get information on a previously purchased song or movie.Screenshot by Topher Kessler/CNETAs shown in this Apple knowledgebase article, each song or movie you purchase in iTunes will be tagged with your name and the account used, so you can use this to find your lost account username.To view this information, simply select any song or movie and press Command-I or choose "Get Info" from the File menu. Then in the Summary tab of the window that appears (this should be the default tab), you should see the name and Apple ID listed. Now you can use this Apple ID as the username in the iTunes authorization window, and then retrieve the password as well if necessary.Questions? Comments? Have a fix? Post them below or e-mail us!Be sure to check us out on Twitter and the CNET Mac forums.