Pilots in the U.S. Air Force are switching from 20 to 40-pound bags of paper manuals and charts to Apple iPads, and the Air Force says the switch will save them $5.7 million each year.

The big bags of printed paper include flight manuals, weather, maps, and navigation charts, and big books filled with technical data.

The Air Force is paying $9 million for 18,000 iPads purchased from Apple at a bulk discount. According to Electronista, pilots will be using 32-GB Wi-Fi iPads purchased for $520 each.

Previously the Air Force was paying $5 Million per year to print all the manuals. That cost goes away along with about $750,000 in fuel savings due to weight reductions. Previously there was a 20 to 40 pound flight bag per crew member so a plane like the C-5 military aircraft is reducing weight by up to 490 pounds.

The roll out of the new “electronic flight bags” follows extensive testing at the Little Rock Air Force Base. Crews at the base tested several different tablet types and brands and found iPad to provide the best set of features at the lowest cost to the military.

Pilots interviewed about the new electronic system in the video below report saving time and effort when accessing information. Rather than having to pull out different books and finding information, and then switching to paper maps, they can now quickly move from one kind of data to another with just the touch of a button.

Apple iPad Will Save The US Air Force $5.7 Million Per Year is a post from: The Inquisitr

US Cellular will finally begin carrying an assortment of Apple iPad and Apple iPhone devices in late 2013.

At this time, the mobile carrier has not revealed which devices it will offer or what subscription plans will go along with those devices.

If the plan to sell Apple devices occurs in 2013, it is likely US Cellular will gain access to the Apple iPhone 5S, the fifth-generation iPad and the second-generation iPad mini, all of which will debut before the end of the year.

There is even the slight possibility that Apple will deliver the iWatch in time for a US Cellular debut. The iWatch however has been talked about in very little detail.

US Cellular currently operates in 26 states and provides service for 5.8 million subscribers as of the end of 2012. The cellular network is currently working to deploy its own 4G LTE network. With Apple devices featuring high-speed data, the move couldn’t come at a better time for US Cellular.

The move could be big for US Cellular. After Sprint Wireless finally signed a deal with Apple, it witnessed an increase is subscribers. Even T-Mobile finally began offering the Apple iPhone 5. US Cellular could ultimately offer a pricing plan like T-Mobile’s no-contract pricing structure. The T-Mobile iPhone 5 costs more than double the cost of an iPhone 5 with a 2-year contract plan.

Numerous regional carriers have noticed the potential of the Apple product lines and have adopted the technology for their smaller user bases.

Do you think the Apple iPhone 5S and Apple iPad mini will ultimately help US Cellular grab a bigger piece of the cellular market?

US Cellular To Start Carrying Apple Products In Late 2013 is a post from: The Inquisitr

The Apple iPad tablet has once again taken  the top spot for consumer satisfaction. The team at J.D. Power and Associates ranked the iPad at the top of its 2013 US Tablet Satisfaction Study.

J.D. Power spoke with 1,857 tablet owners who owned their devices for less than one year. Apple devices finished on top of the survey for both tablets and smartphones.

The win for Apple is the second year in a row for its tablet category win. J.D. Power and Associates started the survey after tablet sales skyrocketed, thanks in large part to the Apple iPad tablet line.

The Apple iPad scored 836 out of a possible 1,000. That score was just good enough to edge out the Amazon Kindle Fire, which scored a 829 out of 1,000.

Both the iPad and Kindle Fire scored well above the industry average of 822. Following behind the top device were Samsung (822), Asus (818), and Acer (784).

Each of the tablets in the J.D. Power And Associates tablet survey were combined to determine the best tablet. The survey’s factors included performance, ease of operations, styling, design, features, and cost. J.D. Power ranked overall performance at the top of its list.

The Apple ipad also scored at the top of the J.D. Power’s Circle Ratings. Apple scored a five on the industry-best rating; other manufacturers scored three or less.

The study also found that tablet owners who share their devices with other users are significantly more happy with their tablet purchases.

J.D. Power and Associates also discovered that tablet owners tend to surf the internet more on their tablets than their smartphones.

With an Apple iOS tablet fighting neck-and-neck with the an Android-based tablet it looks as if customers are finally leveling the playing field.

Apple iPad Wins J.D. Power And Associates Tablet Satisfaction Survey is a post from: The Inquisitr

The iPad may rule the roost, but digital toilet paper will never be the wave of the future.

Paper Is Not Dead [Video] is a post from: The Inquisitr

The Apple iPad attempted to steal a little bit of Oscars spotlight on Sunday when the Cupertino, California based company showed off its newest iPad ad.

The commercial features a film-themed homage based around the user interface found on the current generations of Apple’s popular tablet device.

While the ad did a good job of showing off the Apple iPad’s crisp video output and easy to navigate user interface, it did very little to show off any new “wow” factors for buyers.

Apple’s biggest challenge of late has been aligning its products against Samsung devices which offer newer technologies and flashier ad posts.

Apple has been running its Oscars night commercials since 2010. It was in that year that the late-Steve Jobs showed up at the Oscars and launched his company’s newest commercial.

This time around part of Apple’s campaign relied on simply displaying words to users. Those words which flash quickly across the screen include:

“Visionary, makeup, triumph, focus, starlet, romance, score, bold, suspense, director, lights, super, phenomenal, marvelous, and more.”

You know what word was missing from the Apple iPad commercial? “Magical,” one of the first words Steve Jobs ever used to describe the original Apple iPad prior to its release. 

Apple has been facing an uphill battle against its competitors, namely Samsung. Oscars night definitely wasn’t Apple’s night to steal the spotlight as Samsung also worked to secure its own ads for the Academy Awards.

Here is the full Apple iPad Oscars night commercial. Take a view and let us know if you find the iPad commercial to be effective or a dud:

Apple iPad Gets Its Own Oscars Commercial, Touts Movies And Technology is a post from: The Inquisitr

The CDC has released a new iPad app which challenges users to investigate and determine the severity of disease outbreaks.

The app, named Solve the Outbreak, is meant to increase awareness of public health outbreaks.

Users take on the role of a CDC researcher who is investigating claims of increasing disease in a given location. The gamer works in the agency’s Epidemic Intelligence Service.

The app features three outbreak scenarios including “Birthday Party Gone Bad.”

In what might be the coolest part of the game, each of the three scenarios are based on real-life cases EIS officers were confronted with and ultimately solved.

According to the Solve the Outbreak app description:

“Do you quarantine the village? Talk to people who are sick? Ask for more lab results?”

Along the way, the game provides very real health tips and provides definitions of various terms in order to educate the gamer.

In a press release for Solve the Outbreak, Carol Crawford, branch chief of CDC’s Electronic Media Branch, reveals:

“This is a great learning tool for science teachers, teens, young adults, public health enthusiasts and mystery lovers.”

The CDC is already working on future releases that would provide Solve the Outbreak users with new and exciting disease solving puzzles.

With thousands of potential diseases to track and mystery’s to solve in real life, the CDC game could offer hours of analytical fun should the CDC continue releasing new challenges.

Give Solve the Outbreak a try, and let us know what you think of the disease solving iPad app.

CDC iPad App ‘Solve The Outbreak’ Educates And Entertains is a post from: The Inquisitr

So many Apple iPhone and iPad devices are stolen in New York City that the company has partnered with the NYPD to retrieve those lost devices.

The New York Police Department has assembled a dedicated team whose sole mission it is to hunt down stolen Apple devices and identify thieves.

The program works by having NYPD officers retrieve the IMEI of a stolen device from the victim of the theft or via online records. The company then submits the data it collects to Apple headquarters in Cupertino, California.

Once Apple has IMEI information, the company is able to track those devices and hunt down thieves with the help of NYPD staffers.

The program could be helped along even more in late 2013 or early 2014 when a new cross-carrier database is launched.

Speaking about the new theft prevention partnership with Apple, NYPD spokesman Paul Browne says:

“We’re looking for ways to find individuals who have stolen Apple products and return the products to their original owners. It is being done to learn the pattern who is stealing.”

Seventy-four percent of all Apple iDevice’s stolen in New York City resurface inside the cities limits. Most stolen devices are sold as second-hand devices on the open market.

While the ability to track smartphones and tablets based on their unique identifier has been around for years, the NYPD’s partnership with Apple is a first of its kind on such a large scale.

Do you think partnering directly with law enforcement is a good way for technology company’s to offer better protection for their customers?

Apple And NYPD Form Partnership, Hope To Stop iDevice Theft is a post from: The Inquisitr

New Apple iPad rumors are swirling and if they can be believed then the iPad 5 could be here as soon as April. Rumors about the iPad’s fifth generation have been floating around the Internet for quite a while now and inital rumors even had the device hitting the market in March.

The lack of anything remotely official from Apple seems to kill any chance of the newest iPad being available next month, but April appears to still be a realistic goal. Laptop Magazine is reporting that the fifth generation iPad will be boasting some real revamping, rather than just a couple of tweaks like the fourth gen tablet.

Piper analyst Gene Munster says that Apple will be launching a redesigned model that will look quite a bit like the iPad Mini. Munster wrote a note to his clients saying:

“We believe that looking at the history of time between Apple product launch events suggests that the company will introduce something new in March or April. Over the past two years, the Spring event has been iPad updates.”

Munster also believes that the newest iPad will have a body and casing quite similar to the iPad Mini. The rumors of a new casing have been backed up by leaked photos that 9 to 5 Mac was able to acquire. That site says that the photos of the back panel of the new iPad illustrates a lighter generation of iPads is on the way.

New Apple iPad rumors are short on details other than what people think might be added. There has been talk about a 128 GB iPad hitting the market this spring as well, whether that would be launched along with the brand new iPad, whether the iPad 5 will offer 128 GB of storage or whether the 128 GB iPad is complete fantasy are all, as of yet unknown.

New Apple iPad Rumors: iPad 5 Arrives in April is a post from: The Inquisitr

New Zealand police officers are about to receive some big in-the-field help from Apple and the team at Vodafone. Six thousand frontline officers will receive Apple iPhone’s, and 3900 additional officers will receive Apple iPad devices.

The deal will provide Vodafone with a $159 million contract that spans ten years and includes cellular charges.

NZ Police chief information officer Stephen Crombie tells NBR.co.nz that the devices were chosen after an extensive 11-month trial period in which the iPad and iPhone were tested in the field.

According to Crombie:

“Based on frontline officer feedback from the trial (over 100 staff in four districts trialled smartphones, laptops and tablets over an 11-month period) the preferred devices are the iPhone as smartphone and iPad for the tablet.”

The chief information officer adds:

“The approach used to develop the applications means Police can move to other devices with relative ease as technology changes.”

Apple has been making inroads lately with both private and public organizations. The New Zealand police officers program was announced only a short time after Home Depot executives ditches BlackBerry in favor of the Apple iPhone.

Apple Insider also reports that Apple also scored a big win from LinkedIn, providing its 3,500 workers with 32GB iPad mini tablets courtesy of LinkedIn CEO Jeff Weiner.

With battery life that can last for days, light weight designs, and a cost structure that is less expensive than new computers, the move towards Apple iPhone and Apple iPad based devices will likely only become stronger.

Do you believe that the New Zealand police and other agencies should switch from traditional computers to Apple iOS, Google Android, and other tablet OS devices?

New Zealand Police To Receive 9,900 iPads, iPhones is a post from: The Inquisitr

The team at CACI International has modified thousands of iPads to ensure they surpass US government security requirements.

To secure the iPad devices, the company physically changed some of the tablets hardware and then made modifications to Apple’s software.

Securing iPad and other mobile devices for government use is a growing business. Among government workers taking advantage of the Federal iPad program are President Barack Obama, the Immigration and Naturalization Service, the Department of Homeland Security, and the FBI.

Speaking to Bloomberg about the government approved iPad CACI, CEO Dan Allen notes that devices currently photographed with President Obama are ”most likely a product that either came from us or came from someone we work with. It’s a neutered iPad … We’re working on how do we effectively brand it.”

The new CACI created iPad devices have had their front and rear-facing cameras removed. Others have had their 3G, 4G LTE, and Wi-Fi connectivity terminated for highly classified area workers.

The new device does show a bluetooth icon at the top of each tablet; however, there appears to be no way to connect via bluetooth.

CACI has also added “strict inventory requirements,” and they added a remote wipe feature that is said to be “destructive” to all data once removed.

Depending on a government worker’s security clearance, the government secured iPad’s from CACI International all have different features that have been disabled.

Are you surprised by the governments shift towards tablet based devices from Apple, or was it an inevitable shift created by consumer demand?

Government Secured iPad Delivered By CACI International is a post from: The Inquisitr

Welcome to the 21st century. An iPad Bible App was used this past week to swear-in New Jersey’s newest set of Fire Captains and Battalion Chiefs. At the time of the swearing-in, a bible was not readily available, so an iPad was substituted for the firefighter ceremony.

The swearing-in ceremony was caught on video by a local NBC affiliate. During the event, eight officers are shown placing their hands on the iPad. The device was shown to include the Bible app, which made it an allowable copy of the Bible for ceremonial purposes.

The ceremony was attended by friends, family members, and supporters of the Atlantic City Fire Department, and the event took place in the City Council chambers.

As e-books continue to become more prevalent, there will likely be more cases in which “stand-ins” for original copies of Bibles and other books occur.

It should be noted that a Bible is not needed for swearing-in ceremonies as they hold no valid legal consideration. However, Bibles are none-the-less used as part of traditional ceremonies.

Even some church leaders have begun to use iPad’s an accessible ways to pull up notes during sermons and to collect their thoughts leading up to their lectures.

Do you think using an iPad bible app for a New Jersey firefighters swearing-in ceremony breaks too much from tradition?

iPad Bible App Used To Swear-In New Jersey Firefighters is a post from: The Inquisitr

Q4 2012 set a new record in terms of tablet sales. According to preliminary data from the IDC‘s Worldwide Quarterly Tablet Tracker, 52.5 million tablets were sold in the final quarter of the year. Q4′s sales witnessed a 74.3 percent increase over Q3 sales of 30.1 million units.

Sales were helped along by holiday shoppers who were anxious to pick up a new tablet and by a decrease in the average price for many top and middle-tier tablets.

According to Tom Mainelli, tablet research director at IDC:

“We expected a very strong fourth quarter, and the market didn’t disappoint. New product launches from the category’s top vendors, as well as new entrant Microsoft, led to a surge in consumer interest and very robust shipments totals during the holiday season.”

Apple was the big winner in Q4 2012 with 22.9 million units shipped, numbers that were largely helped along by the company’s iPad mini and fourth generation full-sized iPad tablets. Apple’s shipments were up by 48.1 percent compared to the same quarter one year earlier. While Apple sales increased, the company’s market share fell from 46.4 percent to 43.6 percent.

Samsung’s Android and Windows tablets were the big winners in Q4, shipping 8 million combined units for a company year-over-year increase of 263 percent. Samsung now holds a 15.1 percent market share, good enough for second place.

Amazon also moved a decent number of Amazon Kindle Fire devices with 6 million tablets sold, an increase from 8.3 percent to 11.5 percent. Amazon’s tablet growth year-over-year is believed to be a healthy 26.8 percent.

Barnes & Noble shipped nearly one million units for a share increase of 1.9 percent from 0.7 percent, B&N witnessed a drop of 27.7 percent year-over-year.

Microsoft finished in fifth place with just under one million Windows RT tablets shipped.

According to  Ryan Reith, program manager, Mobile Device Trackers at IDC:

“There is no question that Microsoft is in this tablet race to compete for the long haul. However, devices based upon its new Windows 8 and Windows RT operating systems failed to gain much ground during their launch quarter, and reaction to the company’s Surface with Windows RT tablet was muted at best.”

Do you think tablet sales will continue to increase, or will the market soon level out?

52.5 Million Tablets Sold In Q4 2012, Record Sales Included 22.9 Million iPads is a post from: The Inquisitr

The Cupertino, California company will offer the new iPad in both Wi-Fi only ($799) and Wi-Fi + Cellular ($929) models. The new memory options will also feature black and white model choices.

Featuring Apple’s retina display the new devices are being targeted squarely at the high-end and enterprise user markets. According to Apple SVP of Worldwide Marketing Phil Schiller:

“With more than 120 million iPads sold, it’s clear that customers around the world love their iPads, and everyday they are finding more great reasons to work, learn and play on their iPads rather than their old PCs. With twice the storage capacity and an unparalleled selection of over 300,000 native iPad apps, enterprises, educators and artists have even more reasons to use iPad for all their business and personal needs.”

Announcing a mid-cycle upgrade to its systems is a rare move for Apple. Historically the tech firm has focused on yearly updates, typically reserving system changes to minor iOS releases meant to fix bugs and offer system essential services.

Moving to secure new enterprise customers could be Apple’s attempt to push those users away from Microsoft’s new Surface Pro tablet. The Surface Pro is specifically geared towards high-end and enterprise customers who are looking for a full OS and more robust computing solution.

Apple could also be targeting customers who have moved towards more powerful ultrabooks. Those devices offer high end features, better speeds and more robust memory options for power users.

Recent reports have suggested that Apple customer loyalty is slipping and it is unlikely that Apple will win back many of those customers with a 128GB iPad. With that being said the company could earn more enterprise customers in an attempt to offset its losses.

Enterprise customers offer Apple and other tech firms a more secure future. As businesses adapt to a certain type of technology their IT departments often stick with that tech in order to streamline their network systems. A hospital for example that invests thousands, maybe even millions of dollars in Apple products will be less likely to start from scratch down the road with Google Android offerings.

Apple iPad 128GB Announced, Goes On Sale February 5 is a post from: The Inquisitr

Apple is rumored to be prepping a 128GB Apple iPad, the first 128GB version of the company’s popular tablet PC line.

9to5Mac discovered a new iPad SKU for its fourth-generation device that will soon arrive on retailer store shelves. The Apple reporting website also reveals that the SKU features the name “ultimate” in its title. The new naming convention could suggest that Apple is attempting to define a new higher-end sector for its tablet line.

According to the report, the new iPad will be made available in Wi-Fi only and cellular options. The Wi-Fi version appears to cost $799 while the Wi-Fi + Cellular version is listed at $929.

The new version will likely not receive a major release announcement. Apple investors have been hungry for Apple’s next big thing, and hyping the release of a dated device that simply features extra memory could ultimately lead to disappointment on behalf of shareholders who want to see innovation and not simple upgrades.

The higher selling pricing for the 128GB iPad could be a hard sell for Apple at a time when a premium Microsoft Surface Pro can be grabbed for the same type of pricing and with a more robust operating system.

Apple may also struggle to convince buyers that they need additional memory in an age of easily accessible cloud storage options.

Are you willing to spend upwards of $1000 for an Apple iPad?

128GB Apple iPad Rumored To Be In The Works is a post from: The Inquisitr

Apple is offering free shipping, free engraving, and discounted iPad accessories as part of the company’s push to reel in the Valentine’s Day shopping crowd.

On Tuesday, Apple launched a special Valentine’s Day promotion on its website. The promotion focuses on iPad and iPad mini gift ideas alongside a wide assortment of accessory categories for iPad buyers.

Apple is also offering free shipping for iPod touch and iPod nano orders and free engraving for Apple devices.

If you aren’t quite sure what your special someone would like for Valentine’s Day, Apple is also offering a Valentine-themed Apple Store gift card that can be used online and at any Apple Store.

Because orders can sometimes fail to arrive on-time, Apple has setup an order delivery webpage, which shows buyers order delivery deadlines for February 14.

Buyers of the iPad Mini will especially want to order early as supplies are still constrained in the United States. iPad Mini buyers should place their order no later than January 30 if they hope to receive the device by Valentine’s Day.

If you plan on buying your loved one an iMac 21.5-inch model, you are not assured delivery by Valentine’s Day because of limited supply. Twenty-seven-inch iMac systems are also listed as severely constrained due to manufacturing issues with the devices display provider LG Electronics.

Apple is also offering its popular print books via iPhoto, also with a January 30 cut off day for Valentine’s Day delivery.

Any order over $50 qualifies for free shipping, and free laser engraving is available for any iOS device purchased through the online Apple Store.

Apple iPads And Free Engraving Promoted For Valentine’s Day is a post from: The Inquisitr

The Samsung Galaxy Tab did not infringe on the design patents held by the Apple iPad, that according to a district court in The Hague.

The lawsuit in question focused on the Galaxy Tab’s rounded corners, specifically those found on the Galaxy Tab 10.1, Galaxy Tab 8.9, and Galaxy Tab 7.7.

Apple claimed that the rounded corners of the devices were a direct rip off of the company’s trademark iPad design.

Following the courts decision Samsung confirmed its own stance:

“We continue to believe that Apple was not the first to design a tablet with a rectangular shape and rounded corners and that the origins of Apple’s registered design features can be found in numerous examples.”

The Dutch courts ruling mirrors a similar decision handed down by British courts.

Apple has continued to hammer Samsung over its design, despite the fact that pretty much every other tablet designer uses the same design elements.

At this time, it is unclear if Apple will pursue an appeal in the Dutch patent lawsuit.

Apple and Samsung remain locked in patent design lawsuits in at least 10 countries. Apple’s biggest win to date came in the form of a $1.05 billion judgement against Samsung in the United States, that case is currently under review after the USPTO negated part of Apple’s patents and trademark claims.

Do you think Apple has erred in attempting to go after Samsung regarding the rounded corner designs of the iPad and Galaxy Tablets?

Samsung Galaxy Tab Doesn’t Infringe iPad Design, Says Dutch Court is a post from: The Inquisitr

The Apple iPad line of devices may still be the top-selling tablets on the market, but they are quickly losing ground to the Amazon Kindle and various other Google Android based tablets.

The team at Chitika Insights examined more than 100 million smartphone and tablet ad impressions from December 1 to December 27, 2012 throughout Canada and the United States. The firm found that tablet use among Amazon, Samsung, Google, and Microsoft gained a 5.5 percent market share over the same period. In the meantime, Apple iPad devices lost 7.14 percent of the market.

The Amazon Kindle Fire line saw the biggest improvement, increasing from 3.03 percent of the market to a 7.51 percent share. Samsung’s Galaxy tablets also witnessed a large jump from 1.38 percent to 4.39 percent. In third place was the Google branded Nexus tablet, which rose from a marketshare of just 0.92 percent to 2.04 percent. Even the struggling Microsoft Surface tablet line showed improvement from 0.17 percent to 0.40 percent.

The biggest loser in the study appears to be the BlackBerry Playbook, which decreased from a 0.68 percent ad impression share to just 0.02 percent.

While the Apple iPad line lost some market share, its 7.15 percent drop still leaves the company with a 78.9 percent stronghold over the tablet market.

In the coming weeks, Chitika expects Apple to increase its market share close to the 80 percent mark as new devices are used less frequently and current Apple users level the ad impression playing field.

Do you think increased competition in the tablet market will continue to chip away at the marketshare for the Apple iPad line of tablets?

Kindle Fire, Android Tablets Chip Away At iPad Marketshare is a post from: The Inquisitr

The crime index for New York City has increased, and Mayor Michael Bloomberg has found the culprit: Apple, Inc. According to Bloomberg, the increasing number of iPhone and iPad thefts in New York City has caused a rise in crime-related activities.

During his weekly radio show on Friday morning, Bloomberg revealed that police recorded 3,484 more major crimes in 2012 than for the same period last year. Bloomberg then notes that 3,890 Apple product thefts were reported.

In comparison, homicides currently number 414, the lowest rate since NYC started recording the rate in 1963. New York’s lowest homicide rate came in 2009 when 471 reports were filed.

According to mayor press secretary Marc La Vorgna:

“If you just took away the jump in Apple, we’d be down for the year.”

Other devices such as the Samsung Galaxy S III and the Google Nexus 7 were not included in Mayor Bloomberg’s count.

In response to the increase in Apple-related crimes, Bloomberg offered the following advice:

“Put it in a pocket in sort of a more body-fitting, tighter clothes, that you can feel if it was — if somebody put their hand in your pocket, not just an outside coat pocket.”

In 2011, police investigators found that thieves were actually targeting iPhone carrying citizens on the New York Subway.

As of Monday morning last week, the city has reported 108,432 major crimes for the year, up from 104,948 over the same period in 2011.

Are you surprised by the number of Apple iPhone and iPad thefts occurring in New York City on a yearly basis?

[Image via ShutterStock]

New York City Crime Index Increases, Mayor Bloomberg Blames iPad and iPhone Thefts is a post from: The Inquisitr

Apple, Inc. has received permission to sell Apple iPad and iPad Mini LTE tablets in China. Chinese authorities approved the company’s request on Tuesday, allowing the tech firm to begin fourth-generation sales for its 3G + LTE capable devices.

The license approval was first reported by China’s Telecommunication Equipment Certification Center. The approval includes sales permission for both China Unicom and China Telecom. Still not available are devices for China’s number one cellular provider China Mobile, the world’s largest cellular provider company.

While Apple has attempted for more than two years to sign China Mobile to a distribution deal, the cellular provider has been slow to accept any type of iPhone or iPad carrier deal. However, China Mobile’s CEO recently said the company was aiming for an early 2013 Apple release.

With Apple stock prices shrinking in recent months, the company is in no doubt working endlessly to secure the China Mobile deal. Apple released the iPhone 5 in China on December 14 and quickly sold 2 million units. Apple has also been selling the Wi-Fi only iPad in China since December 7; however, that device has not been as well received as previous models. Despite slowed tablet sales, Apple continues to dominate the Chinese tablet market.

Apple has not revealed when the newly approved LTE tablets will go on sale; however, Apple Stores in China are typically pretty quick to pick up product and begin sales once approved by China’s regulations committees.

Both the Apple iPad and iPad Mini devices have been adapted to run on both WCDMA and CDMA2000 bands. Those network settings allow for 3G + 4G data access.

Apple iPad, iPad Mini LTE Tablets Cleared For Sale In China is a post from: The Inquisitr

Google is probably not too pleased with the way Amazon created the Kindle Fire HD. Android is an open source operating system, and thus perfectly legal for Amazon to use in creating its own tablet. But the Kindle Fire’s implementation of Android neatly excises Android’s links and hooks to Google services and replaces them with Amazon’s own content ecosystem. This gives Google no incentive to port their extensive list of apps to the Kindle Fire HD, which includes the very popular Google Maps app.

Some Kindle Fire users have complained about not having Google Maps but a small Berlin-based developer named Skobbler may hold a solution. According to VentureBeat, ForeverMap 2 is an app based upon the OpenStreetMap data.

Skobbler co-founder Marcus Thielking explains how they stepped into the gap over on MarketWatch:

“Following our recent launch for Android, we’re pleased to offer ForeverMap 2 to Kindle Fire users, who can now also benefit from a powerful and versatile hybrid map solution. The Kindle Fire has been wildly popular but with no Google Maps and no pre-installed map like most other mobile devices, this is a real opportunity to establish ourselves as the leading brand on this platform, and as a provider of the best map app for its users. We offer Kindle Fire users a solution that’s second to none in the Amazon App Store.”

OpenStreetMap is a crowdsourced mapping project. A Wikipedia for maps, if you will. This is not to mean that is subpar to Apple and Google’s mapping efforts. Apple itself used OpenStreetMap in iPhoto at one point. As previously reported by The Inquisitr, some people might wish that Apple continued to use OpenStreetMap, especially after getting lost from Apple’s new mapping tech.

OpenStreetMap may be crowdsourced, but ForeverMap 2 is not free. Maps of cities start at $0.99, states are $1.99, countries are $2.99, and continents are $5.99. A one-time payment of $9.99 gets Kindle Fire users complete and unlimited offline accessibility to all global maps.

While Amazon obviously wants a piece of the app store pie, in the long term they may consider adding the Google Play Android market app as an option. The internet retailer could still focus on promoting their own Amazon Store prominently throughout the Kindle Fire’s user interface but give Kindle users a little more freedom. After all, while it does take some technical know-how it is possible to install Google Play on the Kindle Fire HD already.

Will you be downloading the ForeeverMap 2 app onto your Kindle Fire HD?

ForeverMap 2 Provides Kindle Fire With Google Maps Like App is a post from: The Inquisitr

The Kindle Fire HD tablet sold by Amazon launched to rave reviews and has brought many new customers to the online retail giant. The Kindle Fire HD uses a heavily modified version of the Android operating system that focuses on Amazon’s products and multimedia. Amazon has a lot of catching up to do since the iOS-based iPad Mini still has Apple set to maintain control over the tablet market, with iPad Mini sales outpacing the Kindle Fire HD by 50 percent.

According to iTechPost the Kindle Fire was given the “HD” label because of the new and improved high resolution display:

“The Kindle Fire HD 8.9-inch features a 1920 x 1200 HD display and provides ‘zero glare for online and offline video playback.’ Customers are not only excited about feature, but also because of the various storage spaces not available for downloading songs and videos. They can get either 16GB or 32GB of storage drive.”

Reviews also highlight the 40 percent faster Wi-Fi local internet connection and the amazing sound quality of the speakers. Some customers consider the faster Wi-Fi a big selling point since it provides “faster download speeds for movies and music from Amazon.” Better “internet browsing has helped boost the popularity in the Kindle Fire HD series tablet.”

According to ZDNet, developer are focused on releasing mobile and tablet apps for the iOS and Android. This is a challenge for the Kindle Fire and Microsoft’s Surface:

“Specifically, researchers found that less than 22 percent of mobile developers are ‘very interested’ in building mobile apps for the Amazon Kindle, indicating that ‘the Kindle’s install base and revenue potential are too small to entice developers to build for the platform.’”

Although the Kindle Fire HD is based upon Android technology apparently developers have to port their app code and release it through the Amazon Mobile App Distribution Program. Developers receive 70 percent of all sales and there is a $99 signup fee, which is very similar to Apple’s developer program for their Apple Store. Kindle HD users currently do not have access to Google’s massive Android app market, especially Google maps, although it’s possible Amazon could change this strategy in the future.

Do you think the Amazon Kindle Fire HD is worth buying over the Apple iPad Mini?

Kindle Fire HD: Good Reviews But Apple iPad Mini Winning is a post from: The Inquisitr

The Apple iPad line of tablets are dominating the China retail market as tablet sales begin to pick up steam in the country. While only 2.6 million tablets were sold in China during the third quarter of 2012, a recent report found that seven in ten of those tablet sales were Apple iPads.

In the report by Analysys International the company notes that Apple accounts for nearly 70% of a market that has grown by 62.5 percent year-over-year.

Apple actually held a larger tablet share in Q2 2012 but lost some ground as Android powered tablets took to the market. iPad’s Chinese tablet market share dropped by one percent from the second to the third quarter.

In second place was Chinese manufacturer Lenovo which commanded 10.5 percent market share.  In a distant third was Chinese firm Erenbeb which edged out Samsung with a 3.6 percent share. Samsung grabbed 3.5 percent of the Chinese tablet marketplace.

The tablet market in China has grown in large part thanks to cheaper tablet devices that have enticed more buyers who want to hop online at a lower cost without upfront expenses.

Analysys isn’t the only company reporting Apple’s domination in China, a recent IDC report also found that iPad shipments drastically increased after Apple ended a trademark dispute over the iPad name.

In the meantime Apple’s iPad line lost 14% of its US market share in Q3 2012 thanks to the rise of the Google Nexus, Samsung Galaxy and Amazon Kindle Fire line of Android powered devices.

Do you think Apple will maintain its stranglehold on the China tablet market?

Apple iPad Tablets Dominating China Sales is a post from: The Inquisitr

Buyers late to the iPad Mini or iMac ordering game could find their devices being delayed until Q1 2013. A new report by Digitimes has discovered that display panels used for the iPhone mini are receiving a yield rate of just 22 percent from AU Optronics, LG Display, and AU.

Apple was originally hoping for a 40 percent yield. The panel issue has been further compounded by a supply shortage from backlight module makers.

With display issues delaying shipments, Apple’s 10 million shipment mark before the end of Q4 2012 could now turn into 6 million units shipped.

The new iMac uses panels made exclusively by LG. A new process was created to mass produce Apple’s iMac panels; however, LG is still severely limited in its production capacity. Sources close to LG production claim that the company will be hitting Apple targets by the start of the year.

Apple is no stranger to mounting supply issues due to its new Retina display. Since the iPhone 4, delays have been common as display suppliers wrestle against low display production yields.

Apple has also experienced problems with third-generation iPad and iPhone 5. Many of the company’s problems are based on its own design expectations, more specifically the creation of thinner displays with more surface area.

While it may appear that Apple is shooting itself in the foot with new technologies that are not yet ready for mass production, the company’s stock pricing remains strong thanks to high demand levels, and recent studies that showcase extremely strong consumer loyalty.

iMac and iPad Mini Devices In Limited Supply Until 2013, Report Says is a post from: The Inquisitr

Apple iPad devices slipped in Q3 2012, losing 14 percent of their market share. Despite the market share loss, the Apple iPad line still accounted for 55 percent of all tablet sales for the quarter. Apple iPad tablets are now selling at their lowest levels since debuting two years ago.

Apple over the last year has experienced increasing competition from Google Android based tablets from Samsung, Amazon, Asus, and Amazon among others. The Google Android OS now accounts for 44 percent of tablet shipments.

When Android and iOS are combined, they now account for 99 pecent of all tablet shipments, according to an ABI Research report.

According to ABI senior practice director Jeff Orr:

“As the OS of choice for the majority of device OEMs, we expect the Android ecosystem to continue growing in numbers — new manufacturers, better device choices for reaching more markets, and more developers finding value from apps and content.”

The new iPad mini was not included in sales figures, which could help Apple earn back a good share of its market share. Before the iPad mini debuted, Apple did not offer a smaller 7-inch display for users to enjoy.

Orr continues:

“With the introduction of a smaller, lower-cost iPad mini, Apple has acknowledged Android’s beachhead of 7-inch-class tablets, though at the same time, it has failed to deliver a knock-out punch through innovation, pricing, and availability during the most critical selling period of the year.”

The study only examined shipments to retailers and did not focus on actual sales rates which may further favor Apple devices which rarely stay on store shelves.

iPad Market Share Drops 14% In Q3 2012 is a post from: The Inquisitr

Holiday shoppers flocked to the Apple iPad over the Black Friday weekend, scooping up iPad devices at a faster rate than every other major tablet provider combined.

In a report released by IBM and titled The iPad Factor, the company writes:

“The [Apple] iPad generated more traffic than any other tablet or smartphone, reaching nearly 10 percent of online shopping. This was followed by iPhone at 8.7 percent and [Google] Android 5.5 percent. The iPad dominated tablet traffic at 88.3 percent followed by the Barnes & Noble Nook at 3.1 percent, Amazon Kindle at 2.4 percent and the Samsung Galaxy at 1.8 percent.”

In a report from eBay and PayPal, it was discovered that iPad 2 sales reached 250 units per hour from 12 am to 8 am PT.

A recent Nielsen study found that 48 percent of children ages six to 12 years old asked for an iPad for Christmas. The study also found that 36 percent of those same children wanted an iPod touch while 36 percent asked for an iPad mini and 33 percent requested an iPhone.

While Apple may have dominated the Black Friday weekend, likely thanks to Apple’s Black Friday sale, the company is facing increasing competition from Google, Amazon, Samsung, and various other competitors who are quickly adapting to the tablet market thanks to Google Android. Microsoft has also recently jumped into the consumer tablet game with the release of its Microsoft Surface tablet line of portable devices.

In celebration of the iPad’s massive Black Friday sales numbers, IBM created the following infograpic:

Apple iPad Sales Ruled Black Friday Weekend is a post from: The Inquisitr

iPad Mini devices with 4G LTE service are now on sale at AT&T, Sprint, and Verizon Wireless stores.

The device is expected to be so popular that Sprint Wireless is offering customers the chance to purchase a $50 gift card which will reserve one of the mini tablets. The gift card can then be used for the actual purchase if stock runs out.

Wireless carriers are hoping to capitalize on the iPad Mini by offering wireless data plans for the device. For example, Sprint Wireless is offering month-to-month plans that start at 300MB for $15 and then increase to 12GB for $80. If you are a current Sprint Wireless customer, you can also receive value plans that start at $10 for 100MB and then increase to $15 for 1GB.

AT&T and Verizon Wireless, in the meantime, have chosen to keep their standard data plans in place. AT&T, however, is offering a $100 discount on the tablet if a two-year data contract is signed. If customers at AT&T prefer, they can pay $10 per month to simply add their new iPad Mini to their Mobile Share plan.

Customers who ordered the iPad Mini online began to see their shipments arrives as early as Thursday.

Despite the release of the 4G LTE iPad Mini version, Apple’s online store is still showing a two week shipping time, suggesting that iPad Mini Wi-Fi versions are still a hit regardless of new options available to customers.

Will you be adding an iPad Mini 4G LTE device to your arsenal of 4G mobility products?

iPad Mini Now On Sale Through AT&T, Verizon, And Sprint is a post from: The Inquisitr

The ongoing feud between Apple, Inc. and Samsung could lead to a shortage of iPad mini devices over the holiday shopping season.

NPD DisplaySearch on Tuesday told CNET that Apple is finding it difficult to source component parts from outside vendors. Apple recently decided to stop its dealings with component supplier Samsung.

With Samsung now out of the picture, Apple is forced to rely on LG Display and AUO for many of its iPad mini components.

According to the CNET report:

“The problem is that AUO is a new supplier, and they’re not able to get to the volumes that Apple needs. So, essentially, there’s just one supplier.”

LG has managed to ramp up production, moving from 300,000 iPad mini panels shipped in September to 1 million panels expected by the end of October. In anticipation of the iPad Minis upcoming release, LG is expected to ship 3 million iPad mini panels by December.

It’s still unclear if customers will be willing to spend $329 for a Wi-Fi only tablet when Android competitors offer similar devices with GPS included for $199. If demand is high, Apple could find itself with massive delays.

Many analysts on Wednesday threw their support behind the iPad Mini, claiming that the lower price, when compared to the original iPad line, will be seen as an attractive offer for many buyers.

Samsung, in the meantime, is expected to completely pull out of its display contract with Apple by the end of 2013, instead focusing its efforts on Android manufacturers and other supply chain opportunities.

With Apple suing everyone who even looks at an iOS based product, it will be interesting to see how long its partnership with LG lasts.

Apple’s Samsung Feud May Lead To iPad Mini Shortages is a post from: The Inquisitr

A consensus roundup of 61 analyst from Wall Street brokerages and independent firms claims that Apple sold more than 18 million iPad devices in its fiscal Q4.

According to the report, the full sales number is close to 18.38 million units sold with a media estimate of 18.13 million.

If that number is correct, it is a 60 percent increase year-over-year and a one million units improvement over fiscal Q3.

Should those numbers hold true, it would mean that Apple in just two short years has went from three million units sold per quarter to nearly 20 million sold. Apple could fair even better in the final quarter of the year with holiday sales likely to push up earnings even higher.

Apple’s biggest competition will likely come from the Microsoft Slate tablet, which arrives on October 26, 2012.

With the iPad Mini expected to be announced next week, there is a good chance that Apple will further its market stranglehold for a little while longer. In the meantime, Apple continues to experience further competition from Google Android (Google Nexus 7, Amazon Kindle Fire HD) and Microsoft (Slate) devices.

The biggest slow down for Apple iPad sales over the holiday season could be its shelf life; the New iPad is currently half way through its shelf life, which may push users to wait for a new full sized tablet model to arrive next spring.

It should be noted that Wall Street consensus put iPad sales at 17.6 million units while independent analysts placed the sales level at 19.23 million iPads sold in the Q4 fiscal year period.

Apple iPad Sales Reach 18 Million In Fiscal Q4, Report Claims is a post from: The Inquisitr

Sitting down to eat your breakfast, lunch, or dinner at McDonald’s may soon come with the option to browse the web and watch various pieces of entertainment via the company’s table-installed iPad tablets.

The program is currently being tested at a new McDonald’s location in Virginia Beach. Under the new program, customers can sit down with their Big Mac meal and browse the web and play iPad games for free.

The idea for the program came about after various international McDonald’s locations began offering the program, which started with the help of a French supply company.

Hugh Fard, the owner of the pilot store, chose to take on the iPad setup on his own after discovering the same option in Europe. Fard tells CNET that, since launching the iPad platform, his customers have spent more time at his McDonald’s franchise location.

The new iPad program does beg the question: How greasy are the iPad displays after someone uses them while handling McDonald’s fries and a double cheeseburger.

No word yet on whether McDonald’s corporate will closely watch the store’s new program and possibly offer the same program at other stores throughout the United States.

Most McDonald’s locations in the United States have already been equipped with free Wi-Fi.

Would you be willing to sit down and use an Apple iPad while eating your McDonald’s value meal?

McDonald’s Store Begins Testing Free iPad Use is a post from: The Inquisitr

San Jose, California — Apple has won a major jury trial against its chief competitor Samsung today in federal court for claims of patent infringement.

After deliberating over three days, a nine-member jury has just decided that Samsung infringed on six of Apple’s technology patents for smartphones and tablets. Based on this finding, the jury awarded Apple about $1 billion in damages.

According to the Los Angeles Times, “The nine-member jury accepted most of Apple’s claims that Samsung copied the look and feel of its iPhone to roll out its own line of smartphones.”

Although the details are still being analyzed, the Times provides the broad outlines of the jury verdict against Samsung:

According to reports from the courthouse, as of 4 p.m. Pacific the jury found that Samsung infringed on Apple’s so-called “pinch and zoom” patent, or the ability to make text on a touchscreen bigger by moving one’s fingers outward; as well as its bounce-back patent, or the way the image onscreen bounces back when it is dragged with a finger to the edge of the device.

The Wall Street Journal reports that at the same time the jury rejected Samsung’s infringement clams against Apple: “The jury also found that Apple’s iPhone and iPad tablet didn’t infringe any of the patents that Samsung had presented in the trial.”

The outcome of this month-long trial has huge implications for both companies, the New York Times observes:

The stakes in the case are enormous, in large part because Apple has become the most valuable public company ever through the blockbuster success of its mobile products. The lawsuit, and others like it by Apple, were an effort to respond to the rise of devices based on Google’s Android operating system, which Apple executives view as a knock-off of the software for the iPhone and iPad. Samsung is the biggest maker of Android smartphones.

Based on the latest sales figures, Apple and Samsung dominate the smartphone market worldwide.

Apple Wins Patent Infringement Court Case Against Samsung is a post from: The Inquisitr

Apple iPad users predominately use their tablet devices for surfing the web according to a study carried out by Consumer Intelligence Research Partners. 

According to the study iPad users prefer the tablets for surfing the internet, watching movies, listening to music and playing games.

The July 16 report notes:

Apple iPad Predominately Used For Internet Access, Survey Reveals is a post from: The Inquisitr

Customers flying on Qantas flights will be able to take advantage of in-flight entertainment via Apple iPad devices after a successful test run of the program was completed in late 2011.

The Apple tablet program will launch aboard the company’s entire Boeing 767 fleet beginning in Q4, 2012.

The program will start with all flights along Australia’s east-coast routes and will eventually include all 23 Boeing 767-300 aircraft which means at least 5,000 units will be purchased along with extra tablets for repairs.

Content for the Apple iPad units aboard Qantas flights will be supplied by Panasonic’s eXW solution known as Qstreaming. To operate the service Qantas uses an onboard server capable of delivering more than 200 hours of on-demand entertainment via Wi-Fi access point.

It is still not clear if Qantas will allow customers to use their own iPads, the tested system relied solely on Qantas supplied Apple iPad devices.

Qantas is making a huge push towards iPad based functions, aside from in-flight entertainment the company recently suggested that it would replace pilots printed flight documents with iPad based docs.  The company has even created specific iPad apps for its pilots. Qantas pilot will account for 2,200 64GB iPad purchases and the devices will reduce paper loads by 45 pounds. The more the company can reduce its flight weight the more money it can save on fuel costs.

The Australian based airline has made huge strides to better equip its works while aligning its business strategy with Apple based products, on Tuesday the company announced plans to ditch Blackberry devices and instead provide employees with Apple based iPhone devices. Qantas claims the Blackberry to iPhone conversion will save the company millions of dollars annually.

Qantas To Offer Customers In-Flight iPads For Entertainment is a post from: The Inquisitr

The Apple iPad Mini will arrive before the end of the year according to new rumors reported by the New York Times. The device is meant to better compete with the Google Nexus 7 tablet which just launched with a smaller display and plenty of critical praise.

If the rumor is correct the Apple mini iPad will feature a 7.85-inch display and will sell for a significant discount compared to the 9.7-inch new iPad which comes at a premium starting cost of $499. It is not clear at this time if the same retina display will be utilized.

Apple’s launch of a small-sized tablet would allow the tech firm to compete in an industry that is attempting to break itself up into smaller segments that would allow users to pick and choose among various types of devices.

The launch would also coincide with the next generation Amazon Kindle Fire and Microsoft’s Surface tablet. Should Apple take sales from those providers and the Google Nexus 7 the company could carve out another majority share of an emerging tablet market.

While buyers can currently purchased the second-generation iPad for $399 Apple does not offer a product close to the $199 price range of the Nexus 7.

Apple maintains its dominance of the tablet market by controlling 60 to 70 percent of currently sold devices, should smaller tablets emerge as market leaders the failure to offer similarly sized devices could hurt Apple’s branding recognition amount tablet users.

Would you be willing to throw down your hard-earned cash for an Apple iPad Mini based tablet?

Apple iPad Mini To Launch In 2012 [Rumor Mill] is a post from: The Inquisitr

The latest version of the Apple iPad is going on sale in China finally. Chinese consumers will be able to purchase the tablet in stores as of July 20.

PCMag.com reports that for those techies who really want to get their hands on the device right away, Apple is accepting in-store reservation requests (at its five retail locations  in China) on Thursday morning, July 19, for next-day pickup. Chinese consumers can also purchase the device online as of July 20.

The new iPad  (third generation) went on sale in the U.S. and many other countries back in March, but the product rollout in China may have been delayed until Apple settled a trademark lawsuit in the Chinese court system with Proview Technology. About a week ago, Apple agreed to cough up $60 million to resolve the dispute over the iPad name.

According to Reuters, Apple “currently dominates China’s tablet market” even before the latest iPad goes on sale, but the tech giant is evidently getting some competition from Lenvo’s Lepads and from the Samsung Galaxy.  Apple has a 70+% market share, however.

PCMag.com adds that “China is now a major market for Apple. In the last few years, Apple earnings there have gone from nothing to $13 billion.” In a first, Apple CEO Tim Cook visited China in March on an “official capacity” and met with government officials about Apple’s plan for expansion in China. In the second quarter of 2012, Apple sales in China, Hong Kong,and Taiwan apparently tripled to $7.9 billion, some 20% of global revenue.

Apple also claims it is taking steps to improve working conditions at the controversial Foxconn manufacturing facility in China.

Apple iPad Goes On Sale In China In 10 Days is a post from: The Inquisitr

The third generation of the Apple iPad (new iPad) may be reverted back to a one-LED backlighting setup as opposed to the devices currently two-LED setup. The move according to DigiTimes is meant to solve an overheating problem that some users have complained about since the device was released for sale.

According to experts it’s not only the extra light that is causing the overheating but also the extra power needed to run them which puts a strain on the device’s battery.

The move would fall right into line with a recent announcement by Apple in which developers claim to be working on a new battery that is lighter weight and matches the thickness of the iPad 2.

Chinsese language website Apple Daily also claims that Apple is switching over to the Sharp-produced IGZO display panel which will improve thinness and battery life even more. If that rumor is true Samsung could be out millions of orders.

The changes to the new iPad likely won’t be witnessed until the holiday shopping season.

Apple is no stranger to changing out components on its products, even in their current generation. The iPad 2 received improved battery performance through a revision that was never officially announced by the team at Apple.

In fact Apple makes so many changes to their lines of products that I typically warn against running out to purchase Apple’s newest products until they have been on the market for at least 6 months, unless you don’t mind receiving a technologically inferior product at the same price point as someone who buys a better product with the same name six months later.

‘New iPad’ May Be Reverting Back To One-LED Setup To Solve Overheating Problems is a post from: The Inquisitr

Amazon is working with Taiwanese electronics company Foxconn to develop an iPhone and Android smartphone rival, according to Bloomberg. It is also seeking to buy wireless technology patents that would also help protect against infringement allegations.

The Seattle-based Internet retailer expressed interest in InterDigital’s wireless patents, but Intel bought the intellectual property for $375 million. Amazon has been involved in five patent lawsuits this year, and 20 patent cases last year.

To protect its patents, Amazon hired Matt Gordon, the former senior director of acquisitions at Intellectual Ventures Management. Gordon will be the general manager for patent acquisitions and investments at Amazon. IVM, which owns more than 35,000 intellectual property patents, was founded by Nathan Myhrvold, the former chief technology officer of Microsoft.

The plan to release a smartphone may have been in the works for a while now, as Citigroup analysts speculated that the Internet retailer was working with Foxconn to develop a smartphone to be released in the fourth quarter of 2012 in November of last year.

In addition to the smartphone, Amazon is also preparing to release at least three second-generation Kindle Fires, one of which will have 4G. According to Richard Shim, an analyst at NPD DisplaySearch, Amazon is planning three 7-inch Kindle Fire 2 models: one with no camera, one with a camera, and one with a camera and 4G. The fourth model will be 8.9 inches, but no details were given about whether it would have a camera or 4G.

The second-generation of Kindle Fires will face some stiff competition from the Apple iPad and the Google Nexus 7. The three companies are also battling it out in app marketplaces, with the Amazon Android Appstore rivaling Google’s Play Store and the Apple App Store.

A spokesperson for Amazon declined to comment on the smartphone’s development, and so far there is no name or release date for the device.

Amazon Developing iPhone, Android Rival And Kindle Fire 2 is a post from: The Inquisitr

Apple, inc. has agreed to settle a Chinese lawsuit over the iPad trademark at a cost of $60 million.

The world’s largest technology firm had claimed in court documents that it was legally using the iPad name. Apple claims that it reached an agreement in 2009 and bought the rights to the iPad trademark from Proview.

Foreign company’s have long run into intellectual property challenges in China and this recent settlement is seen as a way to avoid even bigger legal complications in the country. For example Proview had asked the court to restrict all sales of Apple iPad based devices in the country. China is Apple’s second largest consumer of iPad based devices.

Apple lost an original court case against Proview Technology and then appealed that decision. During the court case Proview argued that it still owned the name rights in China and asked that customs offices stop the import of all the devices until the court case was ended.

The ProView Technologies case was settled out of court to avoid further complications, it is unclear what Apple received out of the agreement.

A ProView representative had originally asked for upwards of $400 million but quickly accepted the $60 million settlement because ProView was being pressured by clients to pay various forms of debt. Acquiring the iPad name in 2001 the company originally sold naming rights to Apple for just $55,000. Apple at the time had purchased the naming rights through a ProView affiliate which a judge said made the company not bound to the sale.

The settlement may not be good for the China tech sector as a whole where American and other tech companies from around the world may find the settlement to be a troubling trend in which affiliate company’s sell the rights to trademarks and other items and their parent company’s than claim true control when products become successful, essentially holding the company’s hostage. A Hong Kong court recently ruled that ProView and the Taiwanese company that sold the iPad naming rights to apple were “clearly under the control” of the same Taiwanese businessman Yang-Long-san. According to a judge in the Hong Kong case, both companies worked together with the “common intention of injuring Apple.”

Apple Settles iPad Trademark Dispute In China, Pays $60 Million is a post from: The Inquisitr

Apple recently won an appeal court victory that suggests Samsung should never have been allowed to sell the Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1 in the United States and now Apple has filed a new motion for an injunction to pull the Google Android powered tablet from US shelves.

Apple and Samsung are set to begin high-level settlement talks on Monday which could keep the Galaxy Tab 10.1 in circulation, in the meantime if those talks fail a new injunction request could be ruled on by as early as June 7.

You may recall that Apple declared a similar court victory in Germany over the Galaxy Tab 10.1 however a judge in that case overturned Apple’s injunction, claiming that the Tab 10.1 was “sufficiently different” enough to avoid the injunction. The product in Germany known as the Galaxy Tab 10.1N is not sold in the United States.

Apple’s Tuesday victory vacated Judge Lucy Koh’s original ruling that Apple’s case had no merit in terms of the iPad argument, although she left the iPhone part of the case intact.

In the original case Circuit Judge Kathleen O’Malley wrote the dissenting opinion in which she said Apple should be granted an immediate injunction because of harm caused to sales by the Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1. The other two judges in the case ruled that the Apple vs. Samsung argument should simply be placed back into the original court for review.

Since Judge Koh never actually ruled on the iPad design patent which had previously been deemed invalid she is now overseeing settlement talks between the two company’s.

If talks fail Samsung must produce a response to the injunction request by May 25th.

While sales are not expected to be hurt by the final outcome it is likely that Samsung will change the design of its tablet devices to avoid future litigation with Apple.

Apparently Apple now owns the rights to flat rectangular objects. Actually Apple didn’t think up the iPad design on their own they just slimmed it down, check out this video from 1994 which conceptualized a very much iPad friendly looking tablet:

Do you think Apple’s patent claims over the design of the iPad devices is valid or proof that the patent system is in need of a major overhaul?

Apple Attempts To Block Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1 Sales In United States After Courtroom Victory is a post from: The Inquisitr

Apple has decided to drop the “4G” name from its market materials, replacing the wording with “cellular” after customers began complaining that 4G data services were not offered in many areas.

The announcement for the US market comes only a short time after the company made the same concession in Australia when regulators in that country had Apple remove the 4G moniker from its materials because the new iPad doesn’t support 4G services in Australia.

As you will notice in the market screenshot shown above, the new iPad with 4G is now titled “Wi-Fi + Cellular” for both AT&T and Verizon based cellular devices.

While much of Apple’s website still touts the 4G capabilities of its newest iPad device, store displays and purchase pages are now showing the new “cellular” naming convention. Store displays now offer a “Wi-Fi” only version or the dual branded option with “Cellular” service.

Apple is quick to point out that “4G” doesn’t just mean it will always connect to 4G data speeds but that it is in fact capable of connecting to 4th-generation data networks as opposed to being limited by 3G data speeds which including options up to HSPA+. It should be noted that Apple’s iPhone 4S also claims 4G data speeds but it actually only connects on networks up to 3.5G (HSDPA+) speeds.

Currently the new iPad is only capable of connecting on five 4G networks worldwide and those networks are all located in the United States and Canada which limits its full potential as a worldwide friendly device.

New iPad Gets Cellular Tag, Drops 4G Naming Convention is a post from: The Inquisitr

Christopher Piantedosi, 39, has been charged in the stabbing death of his girlfriend after he chased her into a bedroom and stabbed her 34 times, an attack that was witnessed by a teenager via iPad Chat software.

Christopher’s daughter was talking to a friend video on an iPad Video chat when she left the room to investigate an argument that was occurring between the couple. Moment later Christopher chased girlfriend, Kirsten Pulisciano, 38, into his daughters bedroom and shouted “you gotta die.”

Middlesex County Assistant District Attorney Nicole Allain explained the witnesses story:

“He could hear the victim saying, ‘Please, please.’ He could hear the daughter yelling, ‘No. No.’ He then heard the defendant say, ‘You gotta die. You gotta die.’ He then heard the victim say, ‘Chris, please stop. I love you’ and then the defendant began stabbing Kristen numerous times.”

Piantedosi claims he suffers from bipolar disorder and the judge overseeing the case decided to hold him without bail.

This isn’t the first time Piantedosi has been in trouble with the law, he became known as the “remorseful robber” after he stole a woman’s wallet, GPS and other items last year, only to return her belongings with an extra $10 and an apology note for his actions that was signed “stupid.”

Piantedosi claims that he attempted to commit suicide on April 29 because of his disorder and that he had been living with his parents for the past six weeks.

After killing his girlfriend Piantedosi attempted to flee the scene, throwing his cell phone and bloody clothes in a dumpster in Leominster, Massachusetts. After one night on the run he turned himself in to Massachusetts State Police.

When police searched the killers car they found two notes that read:

“Unarmed. Just have to sleep.” and “I put knife on table. Continued talking. She grabbed again. I grabbed a bigger one. Went at it in front of daughter. No, no, n0, no.”

As expected the remorseful robber has been charged with murder.

Grisly Murder Witnessed By Onlooker Via iPad Video Chat is a post from: The Inquisitr

Customers in the United States who have been waiting for their new iPad tablets to ship shouldn’t have to wait more than 3-5 days at this time. Apple on Wednesday updated its online store to reflect the new shipping times, marking a vast improvement over the 5 to 7 days noted on the company’s website just one week prior.

A quick examination of the Apple store shows that all models of the new iPad appear to be in line with the 3-5 shipping days regardless of data types offered, capacity options, carrier selection or connectivity.

Apple in the meantime appears to have fixed production issues experienced with units in the past, beefing up production of the new iPad at much faster speeds than the iPad 2, especially when considering that the device is already available in 56 countries.

While the United States and Canada are both offering 3-5 shipping day periods other countries such as Japan are still being quoted with standard five to seven day shipping numbers while parts of Europe are still being told one to two weeks.

In the meantime we can only assume that future Apple tablets, smartphones and other devices will continue to ship even more quickly as Foxconn continues to open new manufacturing plants and Apple continues to work with parts manufacturers who ensure the timely delivery of various components needed to build Apple based devices.

Does improved shipping times make you want the new iPad and other devices more or have you become accustomed to technology delays from major corporations?

New iPad Shipping Times Drop To 3-5 Days For US Customers is a post from: The Inquisitr

Apple on Tuesday offered to refund any Australian buyer of the company’s new iPad line who wasn’t happy with the firms false 4G claims.

iPad boxes in the country advertised the use of 4G data networks throughout Australia, unfortunately carriers in the country do not use LTE on Apple’s supported bands and their HSPA+ networks are not considered 4G speeds under the currently accepted definition.

Apple also agreed to put signage in stores and e-mail customers to explain that they couldn’t use Telstra’s new LTE technology, the only high speed standard in the country so far.

While Apple has said it will not place stickers on individual iPad boxes Attorney Paul Anastassiou noted in Federal Court that Apple was technically meeting the ITU definition of 4G.  Rules regarding the classification of “4G” changed when T-Mobile USA and Sprint Wireless starting referring to WiMAX and HSPA+ as 4G.

The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission has asked Apple to issue an explanatory ad within three days, both on company pages and in newspapers. The commission has also asked that Apple change the “iPad with Wi-Fi + 4G” name when dealing in local Australian sales.

At this time Apple’s LTE technologies support the 700MHz and 2,100MHz spectrums, options that are currently available in the US and Canada. Further support industry wide is expected to arrive in late 2012 and early 2013 as LTE chipsets take over the frequencies of many top Smartphones thanks to their better battery lives and stellar download/upload capabilities.

Apple Offers Angry Australian iPad Buyers Refunds After 4G Claims Fall Flat is a post from: The Inquisitr

Apple on Monday announced that it would use $45 billion in cash-on-hand to offer it’s first dividend since 1995 and with 3 million new iPads being sold this weekend the company can most certainly afford that offering.

That number of units more than triples Apple’s iPad 2 sales during its first weekend of release and shows a drastic increase over the original iPad which took 28 days to top one million units sold.

Not only are users buying more of the device, they are getting more for their money. The Los Angeles Times tore down the device and found that buyers of the 32-gigabyte version with 4G wireless are receiving a tablet that costs $375 to produce while is more than 50% of the tablet’s MSRP.

In comparison the iPad 2 cost just $335 to build with the same price tag.

In the meantime there might be some bad news for Apple, according to the Huffington Post various users are complaining about overheating issues that can easily push the devices core temperature over 100 degrees.

Here are several complaints from Apple Discussion Boards:

My 64gb, wifi/LTE new ipad is 96.8 degrees currently (and must have crafty artificial intelligence because it’s as if it KNEW I’d brought out my laser temperature scanner and cooled down for reading). It has been very hot to hold, lower left side, since first use. I’ll continue to monitor with scanner…

Mine is a 64 with WIFi and LTE – LTE not hooked up yet – got hot enogh that I measured with infared thermometer and it was 117 degree after 10 minutes – my little boy says its too hot to hold – (Great !) but seriously its not comfortable and I will be returning to the store

In some cases the display is getting so hot that an error screen appears that makes the device freeze up with the message: ”iPad needs to cool down before you can use it.”

With a larger display and bigger graphics chip along with the option 4G LTE chip which are all powered by a larger battery Apple may be faced with a much needed update to stop overheating.

Are you surprised by the Apple iPad 3′s success and have you witnessed any tablet overheating?

Apple ‘iPad 3′ Sells 3 Million Units In Debut Weekend, Customers Complain Of Overheating is a post from: The Inquisitr

Apple on Sunday confirmed that original stock of the new iPad units are sold out. According to Apple executives demand for the new iPad has been “off the charts which allowed the initial pre-order batch to sell out in record time.

While official sales figures for the tablet were not revealed Apple is expected to quickly build more stock to follow the devices March 16 release date.

The company also announced that Apple retail stores will have supply for launch day in the United States and Canada. In the meantime all models are still planned for a March 19 ship date.

Other countries are not as lucky with some shipments two-to-three weeks away from being fulfilled on all models of the new iPad.

Apple’s stock issues are not new, the iPhone 4S sold out before it was even available on the open market.

The new iPad will start initial shipments in ten countries at the same time during the new iPad release.

News of the massive purchase numbers doesn’t bode well for Android tablet sales. The biggest Android seller to date is the Amazon Kindle Fire which has sold approximately four million units from mid-November through the end of December.  Apple has been selling its Kindle Fire units as loss-leaders, costing the company millions of dollars in lost profit.

Do you think the Amazon iPad tablets will continue to rule the market for a long time to come?

Apple Confirms: New iPad Tablet Pre-Orders Are Sold Out is a post from: The Inquisitr

Apple store customers in Canada, France and Germany may have to wait days after launch to get their hands on Apple’s “new iPad” thanks to a shortage that has already stores in those regions to sell-out of the much anticipated tablet device.

Those store locations are now promising that orders will be delivered no earlier than March 18 with most orders currently already placed being delivered on March 19.

While UK customers are being quoted the same times on the devices main Apple website, further drilling down to individual models including 4G devices shows three-to-four-week delay times based on model selection.

Most versions in the US market in the meantime are still revealing a March 16 launch day with the exception of the AT&T 4G versions which will likely be delivered after the weekend.

Even with the delayed delivery times Apple stores in most countries are still expected to receive a high volume of the new iPad models.

While short supply is nothing new for Apple iOS devices the company saw huge demand for the new iPad models on its Website this week after the company announced the product.  At one point the Apple Store and Apple.com were completely inaccessible because of huge traffic spikes.

Rumors have pointed to 9.8 million iPads ready for launch.

Will you be one of the millions of people worldwide fighting over a new iPad when they reach stores or have you already secured your tablet through the company’s pre-order process?

Apple’s New iPad Runs Out Of Stock At Non-US Apple Stores is a post from: The Inquisitr

When we hear Apple tout its amazing “Retina Display” we assume that regardless of the device we’re looking at the resolution output will look the same, according to NPD DisplaySearch however that isn’t the case.

NPD recently examined various Retina Displays on Apple devices and found that the resolution output varies greatly. For example the iPad features 264ppi pixel density, far less than the 326ppi shown on the iPhone 4.

As NPD writes:

“But since ‘retina display’ is a marketing term with no specific definition, Apple is able to use it how it wants.”

The company also found variations in the technology Apple claims to be using. While Apple says it uses the IPS panel some of its suppliers are using FFS (fringe field switching) instead.

Because of those variations NPD claims that Apple really means that “retina display” simply refers to “high performance display” and not a specific set of standards.

Apple is believed to receive its displays from Sharp, LG and Samsung. Samsung and LG are said to be using a-Si TFT technology which Apple may have switched to while Sharp works out issues with its new IGZO display. In any case a-Si TFT is only capable of a 264ppi upper limit.

In the meantime the new iPad is expected to have “at least” twice as many LEDs as the iPad 2 (nearly 72 in total) which means higher power consumption which likely explains the bigger batter with no real change in battery life span.

Do you think Apple should strongly define the term “Retina Display” or is it our job as consumers to just assume that it means “high end” or “high performance” display?

Apple’s Definition Of “Retina Display” Is All Over The Place [NPD Results] is a post from: The Inquisitr

When the original iPad came out a lot of people criticized Apple for making a giant iPhone. Those criticisms quickly faded as the iPad became the hottest selling product of the year. But an 8-inch iPad? The company is reportedly working on a smaller tablet which would compete directly with Amazon’s Kindle Fire.

According to 14U, Apple has repeatedly claimed that its current 9.7 inch screen size is the ideal size for a tablet. But with the growing product line of 7-inch tablets, led by the Kindle Fire, Apple is reportedly working on its own 8-inch tablet which would sell at a cheaper price than its iPad line.

The 8-inch iPad rumor comes just a day after the release date for the iPad 3 was reportedly announced. It is widely believed that Apple will unveil the new iPad on March 7th. The iPad 3 is expected to have 4G LTE connectivity.

Details on the 8-inch iPad are scarce at the moment but I4u, BetaNews, and several other sources don’t expect the smaller tablet to make its debut anytime soon.

Would you use an 8-inch iPad? Do you think Apple needs a smaller tablet to compete with the Amazon Kindle Fire?

8-Inch iPad Coming Soon? Apple Reportedly Testing Smaller Tablet is a post from: The Inquisitr

That Apple iPad or iPad 2 you love so much can be a real pain in the neck and we’re not talking about it’s super simple to use interface, easy to operate camera or other user friendly features, it turns out the device itself might literally be hurting your neck.

A recent study conducted by researchers at the Harvard School of Public Health with the help of Microsoft researchers have found that a tablet user strains neck muscles more than a laptop or desktop user because they tend to place the device on their laps and then look down at the devices.

The lead author of the study told the LA Times:

“If you think about your position when you are hunched over looking down, your head is hanging out over space, so you are using your neck muscles to support the weight.”

It isn’t all bad news from the study, it turns out that Tablet users tend to shift their bodies and get blood flowing more actively which has been suggested for sedentary users.

Regardless of your weapon of choice (tablet, desktop, laptop), researchers suggest finding a comfortable spot to sit with good straight posture.

If you wish to avoid neck strain tablet stands are available for most major tablet designs, some also include built-in bluetooth keyboards which allow users to operate their tablet device in much the same way they do a laptop or desktop.

Do you find yourself straining when using an Apple iPad all day or have you figured out comfortable positions for using the best selling tablets?

Apple iPad’s Are A Pain In The Neck…Literally [Study] is a post from: The Inquisitr

Apple on Thursday announced the release of an iPad app for iTunes U. The announcement was made during a New York City press conference by Apple’s Eddy Cue.  iTunes U has served 700 million downloads to date and is used at universities around the country, primarily for lecture purposes.

The new iOS version of iTunes U brings an iBooks type interface to the iPad.

With the new version of iTunes U teachers can provide new tools to their students which allow for the creation and management of entire curriculums. Teachers can also provide assignments to their students and stream live content at will.

Just like Apple’s new digital textbooks students are also able to take notes directly inside the materials display.

For enterprising people who simply want to educate themselves course materials are already available for download from several Ivy league schools including Harvard and Yale.

The best part may be that iTunes U for iPad is available now for free from the iOS App Store.

Do you plan to download and use the iTunes U App for classroom use?

[via BGR]

iTunes U App Arrives For iPad Users is a post from: The Inquisitr

Vancouver, British Columbia- Canadians have been duped into buying at least 10 Apple iPad 2′s made out of modeling clay. The scam hit consumer electronics stores Best Buy and Future Shop, who have launched investigations into how it was pulled off.

it was an ingenious way of pulling off a scam. It is next to impossible to return an electronic device once it has been opened.  What the scammers did was purchase the iPad 2, weight out just the right amount of modeling clay and reseal the package so that it appeared brand new.  They then returned them to the store for a full refund and the products were put on the shelves.  Customers bought the new Clay tablets and didn’t realize they got ripped off until they got home.

A Future Store employee said,

“Customers don’t expect to receive this kind of product from Future Shop, so it’s a very serious matter and something we are addressing right away for anyone who has been impacted. It really saddens Future Shop that people stoop to be this opportunistic and make money in this kind of organized way.”

The scam came to the attention of Canadian Television after  one of the victims, Mark Sandhu, came to them saying that he thought he had purchased and iPad 2 for his wife for Christmas.  When his wife opened it and saw the clay he brought it back to the store and tried to get a refund where he was instantly rebuffed.

Sandhu saud,

“Maybe the way I was dressed, I don’t know. She made me feel like I’m trying to scam them out of $700. I was the one getting scammed.”

The store has since refunded his money and given him a free iPad2 for his trouble.

What would you do if the iPad you opened turned out to be clay?

Canadian Electronics Stores Sell iPads Made Out Of Clay is a post from: The Inquisitr