Tech News and Reviews
Posts tagged iPad
iPad review (2012)
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What’s in a name? Or, more importantly, what’s in a digit? Would that which we call an iPad by any number less than 2 be less sweet? That’s the question Apple posed for us indirectly when it unveiled the new iPad and relegated its future slates (and, presumably, phones) to a numeral-free future. And that new slate? It’s much the same as the old one, with a slightly more chipper processor at its (quad) core and support for both Verizon and AT&T’s fancy new LTE networks.
But there’s one bigger change here, one that will ripple across the industry as each manufacturer struggles to keep up in this ever-accelerating market. That feature is the iPad’s new 2048 x 1536 Retina display. It’s the best display ever featured on a tablet, probably the best display ever on a mobile device, but is that enough to keep this tablet ahead of the pack? Believe it or not, the answer is yes.
The new iPad: are you buying one?
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Today is the day many have been patiently, or not so patiently, waiting for. The new iPad saunters onto shelves around much of the globe, and into the sweaty palms of the “gotta-have-its.” So, were you dazzled by that display? Or tempted by the LTE and new graphics chip? Maybe you’re upgrading, or treating the partner (by treating yourself)? Perhaps you were hoping for the rumored smaller device, or just gotta have something Android. Whatever camp you fall into we want to know about it, tell us via the poll below!
Is your new iPad heating up?
0Apple’s latest hot ticket seems to be a tad too hot to hold, some users are reporting. New iPad owners on the Apple’s own support community complain that the slab’s lower left corner can get a little warm during extended use. Don’t get excited though, reports seem to vary by user — some are reporting that their tablet becomes too uncomfortable to hold while others say that it only gets “slightly warm” and that it’s “expected.” How’s your new iPad treating you? Click on through to the comments and let us know.
Disney-branded AppClix camera for iPad turns you into the world’s happiest shooter
0516 days
by Arlene.L
in Digital Cameras
If you thought using the iPad’s camera — or any other tablet, for that matter — was an awkward way to do mobile photography… well, you were right. But, this mind-boggling AppClix ($60) is about to take things to a new level. The bizarre external shooter gives you access to all of its 7.1 megapixels via Apple’s proprietary connector, and you also get an SD card slot, 4X zoom for distant shots and a 1.5-inch LCD display for “previews.” As if the souped-up specs weren’t enough, the portable camera comes in a variety of flavors, so if Mickey or Minnie Mouse aren’t your characters of preference, you’ll be glad to know that you can also choose between Phineas and Ferb, Princes and Tinkerbell. Oh, and did we mention the Disney Pix editing app? If you’re silly enough to buy this thing, we’re told it’s a must-download.
Opera Mini lands on the iPad in version 6.0
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Been loving the Opera Mini experience on your iPhone and wishing for it on your larger iOS device? Opera is today turning that desire into reality with the release of v6.0 of its Mini mobile browser, which now has support for all iOS portables, including the iPad and iPad 2, plus a specific shoutout for the iPhone 4′s retina display. The overall design of the web explorer has also been freshened up, with a “new look and feel,” while a social sharing function will let you blast URLs into Twitter and Facebook directly from the app. Additionally, the new version includes the ability to load tabs in the background and improves support for non-Latin alphabets like Arabic and Chinese. Hit the source link for the download.
Hanwha unleashes HDMI / USB adapter for iPad, iPhone 4, and fourth-gen iPod touch
0784 days
by Arlene.L
in Peripherals
Feel the desire to watch your iPad, iPhone or iPod touch (fourth gen) videos on the big screen, but looking for something with a little more girth than Apple’s HDMI solution? Hanwha’s latest dongle might do the job. As you can see above, in place of the original adapter’s dock connector port is a USB 2.0 socket — compatible with cameras supporting mass storage connection — alongside the 720p-friendly HDMI port, but you’ll have to use the switch to toggle between the two modes. And that little mini-USB port on the far right? Well, it’s there to provide some juice to “reduce battery drain,” but probably not enough to charge up your iDevice. If you’re still interested and have a friend in Japan, Hanwha’s charging ¥5,980 (around $73), which is almost double that of Apple’s $39 connector. Is USB support worth such a price jump? Your call.
CDMA iPad coming to Verizon, too, says CFO
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It’s not just the iPhone 4 that’s going the way of CDMA. Verizon CFO Francis Shammo has told Bloomberg that the iPad will also be getting similar treatment. Although light on details like price (which we can guess) or release date (which we have no idea, really), Shammo did explicitly say a version that connects directly to Verizon’s network is in the pipeline. We assume he meant the current iPad, which the carrier currently sells as WiFi-only with a MiFi bundle, but hey, anything’s possible.
New Potato reveals TuneLink Auto Bluetooth-to-FM transmitter for iPhone, iPod touch and iPad
0908 days
by Arlene.L
in Peripherals
We’ve never been on the volunteer cheerleading squad for FM transmitters; in our experience, they’re downright useless in cities or other areas that actually have a large amount of radio stations nearby. But we’ll hand it to New Potato Technologies — this may be the slickest implementation yet. The newly announced TuneLink Auto looks like a typical cigarette adapter charger at first glance, but within, there’s technology that accepts audio over Bluetooth and then sends it out over FM. This prevents users from having to connect a dongle of any kind to their iPad, iPod touch or iPhone, but the built-in USB port is actually capable of charging all three should you choose. There’s even a 3.5mm output jack for channeling the tunes to a 3.5mm input on your head unit, and the (necessary) accompanying iDevice app should hit the App Store soon for absolutely nothing. The hardware itself is available now from New Potato for $99.99, and it’ll hit “select retail locations” in a fortnight or so for the same amount.
iXtreamer bridges the extreme gap between your iPad and TV
0914 days
by Arlene.L
in Peripherals
Looking for more than just a regular standalone iPad dock? Then you might want to consider Xtreamer’s new iXtreamer system, which is an iPad dock that also doubles as a media streamer. Of course, it will also work with iPhones and iPods, and the “dock” is quite capable all by itself as well — it’ll accommodate a 3.5-inch hard drive and up to two USB hard drives, and it’ll support just about any audio or video content you can throw at it, including content stored on your computer or networked hard drive. Interestingly, Xtreamer also notes that it would like to let you use iOS apps on your TV as well, but it says that’s up to Apple to allow — in other words, don’t bet on it. Head on past the break for a video overview, and look for the device to set you back €175, or roughly $235.
Sprint CEO thanks iPad for uptick in Overdrive demand
0931 days
by Arlene.L
in Peripherals
Well, wouldn’t you know it? Seems that tongue-in-cheek marketing campaign may actually be working. Way back in April of this year, Sprint decided it would begin offering its own iPad case, despite the fact that even today the iPad isn’t sold in Sprint stores. The reason? It’s the perfect opportunity to push the Overdrive, a 4G mobile hotspot that’s able to take the iPad (and any other WiFi-enabled device) to 4G speeds where available. In a recent interview with GigaOM, the carrier’s CEO (Dan Hesse) confirmed that most iPads being sold are of the WiFi variety, and due to that, “the company has seen an uptick in demand for its Overdrive (3G/4G) wireless-hotspot device, as people use it to connect their iPads to the Internet when on the go.” He failed to exaggerate on actual numbers, but it’s obvious he’s in favor of Apple’s darling tablet selling like hotcakes — after all, how else are you going to get an iDevice into 4G territory?