Monday, February 28, 2011

Today's Headline

Apple to Unveil New iPad Wednesday
The Wall Street Journal
The company invited reporters to a special event this Wednesday in San Francisco and everyone expects the next version of the iPad to be shown.  Another reason of reporters are keenly interested in the event:  will ailing Steve Jobs attend?

Google's Android Reaches Adolescence
ZDNET
Review of Motorola's Xoom:  "At long last, here is a worthy competitor to the Apple iPad: the Motorola Xoom. It’s not a reasonable one (more on that in a minute). It is most certainly a formidable one. But it has arrived nonetheless, leaving an electroluminescent wake in its path"


The 20 Most Popular iPad Apps Over the Last Year
Tom's Guide
A critical look at the 10 most popular free and the 10 most popular paid apps in the iTunes store. 


The Battle for the Digital Newsstand
Toronto Globe and Mail
Newspaper and magazine publishers have reacted coolly to Apple's plan to sell their products in the iTunes stores.  

Missouri School District May Replace Textbooks with Kindles
Associated Press
The school board in Eastern Missouri okayed a a"Kindles for Kids" proposal last week. Administrators want to provide each of the most than 2,000 students in the district with the Amazon Kindle DX by the 2011-2012 school year.

Archos Arnova Android Tablets For Those Who Can't Afford an Apple iPad
Tablet.Blorge
How about a $149 tablet.  It's here according to this blog:  "The big selling point is, of course, the price. The Archos Arnova 10 will set you back just $199, while the Archos Arnova 8 is just $149. Archos is promising a hardware update in April which will add faster processors, capacitive touchscreens, and an updated Android (hopefully Gingerbread). So it may be worth holding on for two more months."

Friday, February 25, 2011

Today's Headline

Motorola's Xoom:  Fatally Flawed Pricing Strategy
Forrester Blog
 Analyst Sarah Rotman Epps takes a hard look at the Xoom and concludes "that is a great product, but it's fatally flawed pricing model means that it won't fly off the shelves this year. The Xoom will earn a lusty look from consumers--and then they'll go buy iPads."

iPad Snares 93% of Tablet Market in Q3
Christian Science Monitor
ABI Research estimates that four million tablets were sold in the third quarter of 2010 and that Apple's grip on the market won't last forever.

The Daily Extends Free Trial Period for Tablet-Only Newspaper
PaidContent
Publisher Greg Clayman is quoted saying the free trial period will last indefinitely.

PixelMags Adapts Apple's Subscription Service
Company Press Release

CNN Releases Android App Made Just for Honeycomb Tablets
The Android Police
The CNN app features a swipable navigation bar on the left-hand side and a grid story layout on the right side. For video junkies, live video broadcasts as well as pre-recorded video segments are provided.  Best of all:  it's free

Review of the 27-Inch iPad 2
Huffington Post
Spoof video review of Apple's next big product.

iPad Stand Adds Flexibility to Your Device
Dallas Morning News
A review of a thin rubberized case with flexible legs for your iPad

Thursday, February 24, 2011

Today's Headlines

With Launch of Xoom Today, Motorola Starts Tablet Wars
The Wall Street Journal
The Journal's Walt Mossberg weighs in with his two cents about the coming battle for the multi-billion-dollar market: "I consider it the first truly comparable competitor to Apple's hit iPad. That is partly because it is the first iPad challenger to run Honeycomb, an elegant new version of Google's Android operating system designed especially for tablets."

Did Motorola Rush the Xoom to Market?
Engadget
The respected blog offers a contrarian view of today's launch of the Xoom: "The problem with the Xoom isn't really about the core of the experience or the core of the hardware -- it's about the details. Too much in both the design (like those wonky buttons) or the software (like the feeling that this is all very much in beta) makes you wonder if this wasn't rushed out to market in order to beat the next wave from Apple. Regardless, there isn't much here for consumers right now."

Xoom Is Hollywood's Coolest Swag for Oscar Goodie Bag

PC Magazine
The world's first Honeycomb tablet will be present in gift bags given to a select few attendees of the Academy Awards Sunday evening.

Cheaper, Thinner iPad May Be in the Works

The Boston Herald
The Herald speculates about the size, thickness as well as improved speakers and an SD-card slot.

8 Neat iPad Apps on Sale Today
PadGadget
These include Paprika Recipe Manager and the game Risk (reducted from $6.99 to 99 cents)

Publishers Object to Apple Subscription Plan
Print CEO
Publishing analyst Bo Sacks speaks out about the Apple subscription plan: "I have said for years that if we as an industry don’t figure this out, some else will. Well, guess what? Someone else did."

Apple App Store Runs on a Break-Even Basis
The Mac Observer
The store is not a big profit generator according to the company's CFO Peter Oppenheimer.

Wednesday, February 23, 2011

Today's Headlines

Apple Sets Mystery iPad2 Event for March 2
AllThingsD
Kara Swisher's exclusive where she speculates about "a much-anticipated event on March 2, where the tech giant seems poised to unveil a new version of its hugely successful iPad, according to multiple sources."

Tablet Computers: The New Paper
Globe and Mail
It turns out neither your smart phone nor your laptop should be jealous of your sleek new iPad. But those big old three-ring binders that have always held performance reports and sales charts? Their days are numbered.

Motorola and HP to Snare Apple's Mobile PC Share

PC World
Apple Computer stands to lose its No. 1 rank in mobile PC sales this year as Hewlett-Packard and even Motorola eat into its market share, research firm DisplaySearch said late Tuesday.

Use Your Tablet to Check Out E-Books
Wall Street Journal
Now you can wirelessly download electronic books from your local library using the Apple iPad or an Android tablet.

iPad2 May Be Delayed Until June
CNET
Production problems may cause next version of the iPad to be delayed until early summer.

Apple's iPad Strategy Either a Golden Opportunity or Giant Headache for RIM's Playbook

The National
While rival tablet makers across the technology industry would no doubt relish the opportunity to take advantage of Apple’s potential pipeline problems with the iPad, perhaps no other company is poised to benefit from an iPad delay more than RIM.

Tablet Problem Solved: I Got a Kindle
ZatzNotFunny
"I still plan to get a tablet in the future," writes this blogger, "but in the meantime, a purpose-built e-reader, especially at today’s prices, is just what I need. Temporary tablet problem solved."

Tuesday, February 22, 2011

Today's Headlines

The iPad Competition Is Almost Here From RIM, H-P and Motorola
Chicago Sun-Times
A comprehensive look at three competitors poised to enter the tablet wars.

Xoom TV Commercial Is Scary....and Only 16 Seconds Long

Android Guys
Check out the new Xoom tv commercial on YouTube

Rumor: iPad 2 Delayed Until June

AppleInsider
Design problems are reportedly the problem

HP's TouchPad Could Hit Shelves in April

Unwired View
Tis report contradicts earlier stories that HP's device would be out by the summer

Sports Illustrated Creates Android App for Xoom Tablet

News & Tech
WoodWing Software announces that the magazine. used its Tablet Publishing Solution and Android 3.0 Reader App platform

The Top Ten Apps That Will Change Your Life

The Wall Street Journal
Surprising selections from "Find My Car" to "The Good Food Guide 2011"

Monday, February 21, 2011

TODAY'S HEADLINES

Two Digital Subscription Platforms; Two Types of Problems
The New York Times
Columnist David Carr analyzes the strengths and weaknesses of the Apple and Google subscription services for print publishers.

iPad Rivals Eye Corporate Market
The New York Times

A number of tablets geared devices for the office market are entering the market and sales could be in the tens of millions by 2015.

Dear Tablet Industry: The Opportunity to Beat the iPad on Price is Still Wide Open

The Technologizer
Harry McCracken's open letter to the tablet industry

Motorola Xoom Shipping without Flash Support
Business Insider
Flash support won't be included until the spring

Hands-On with the HP TouchPad

MacVideo.tv
A rare hands-on review that cites many benefits compared to the iPad including its ability to multi-task more effectively than the iPad.