Fresh Apple: GigaOMApple (15 сообщений)

rss2email.ru

Свадьба вашей мечты!

Доменные новости от РЕГ.РУ

GigaOMApple

http://gigaom.com
рекомендовать друзьям >>

How to Migrate Data From Your Old Computer to a New Mac
Deciding which Mac is right for you is only half the battle. Once you finally get that new Mac in your hands, you’ll want to get up and running fast. Migrating all of your applications, preferences and data can be a daunting task, but there are options available to help make your transition as painless as possible.

Preparing Your Old Mac

Moving from an old Mac to a new one can be a nightmare, similar to restoring from a backup. There are some very basic steps that you should take before even considering a data migration from an old Mac to a new one:

Maintenance: You should perform routine maintenance on your old Mac before you attempt to migrate. This includes performing tasks like resetting Safari to clear its cache, emptying the trash, ensuring that your software is up to date, repairing disk permissions, and even repairing your disk itself with Apple’s own Disk Utility or something like Micromat’s Tech Tool Pro.

Backup: While there are certainly several online options available for backing up your data, when transferring data to a new Mac, a local backup is the best way to go. Beyond using Time Machine to help keep a historical account of your Mac’s files and settings, I would strongly suggest cloning your old Mac to an external hard drive to ensure you backup everything. This is also your last chance to check that your backup solution is actually working.

Cloning Your Old Mac: While using a utility like Bombich Software’s Carbon Copy Cloner or Shirt Pocket’s SuperDuper is a great strategy to mitigate the risk of a hard drive failure, it doesn’t just let you duplicate your OS X installation. I would however recommend using this option with the Migration Assistant’s “From another volume on this Mac” option, which will let you import the settings and data from that drive. Simply connect an external drive to your old Mac and backup everything.

Software Licenses: It is very likely that the registration and license keys of some software titles will need to be re-applied on the new Mac. Gather all of you installation media and updates for the software you intend to keep using. I like to use an online service like MacUpdate to manage my updates, and a program like Kedisoft’s AppShelf for my license keys. If most of the apps you care about are now being managed by the Mac App Store, then you may not need to use any additional programs.

Transitioning From Mac to Mac

When you first power on your new Mac, you will be presented with the option to copy your applications, user preferences and data from your old Mac to your new Mac.

Install From Another Mac. You have three options when it comes to copying an installation of OS X from one Mac to another:
- From another volume on this Mac — My favorite option of the three is to use an up to date a clone of your old Mac. Simply attach the external drive with the cloned volume (made using one of the tools mentioned above) on it and select which information you what to migrate over. The data transfer rate of this option is also the fastest.
- From a Time Machine Backup — This option is best used in emergencies to recover from a disaster or if you do not have the means or the time to clone your old Mac.
- From another Mac — Your choices to connect to another Mac will be over a network connection via FireWire, Ethernet or AirPort. If you do not have the means or the time to clone your old Mac to a local drive, and you are not using Time Machine to backup your existing Mac, then this is the only viable option.
Using Apple’s Migration Assistant: If you did not opt to use the Migration Assistant during the initial install, you can still run it later on. Personally, I prefer to install fresh and use the Migration Assistant straight from the install process itself. Using the Assistant after the fact is basically just a good way of copying a user profile from one Mac to another.

Transitioning From PC to Mac

If you’re switching teams, there are also a number of options for keeping your data largely intact. Both VMware and Parallels offer solutions to create a virtual copy of your existing PC, and run Windows on your Mac, so you won’t miss a beat.

VMware Fusion’s Migration Assistant: After purchasing VMWare’s Fusion for Mac, you can execute the Migration Assistant on your PC to create a virtual copy of your PC. You’ll need to download and install the Migration Agent on your old PC before you get started. There’s an advanced tutorial on YouTube that shows how it works.

Parallels Switch To Mac Edition: With Parallel’s you need to be aware of which version you purchase. Be sure to buy the Switch to Mac edition. Like VMware, you will need to download and install the Parallels Transporter Agent on your old PC.

Whether you’re coming from a PC or an older Mac, the best path to bringing your old world into your new is through some sort of “cloning” process. Whether you use Carbon Copy Cloner to make a ‘real’ clone of your old Mac, or the Migration Assistant in Fusion to create a virtual clone of your old PC, you shouldn’t have too much trouble making sure your new world has all the comforts of home.

Related content from GigaOM Pro (sub req'd):
Переслать
You'll Get Your iPhone Personal Hotspot March 11, AT&T Users
AT&T customers don’t have to worry about being left out of the Personal Hotspot party when iOS 4.3 arrives. AT&T confirmed with Electronista that it would be offering Personal Hotspot beginning Mar. 11, which is when iOS 4.3 is set to go live for the general public.

Existing users who have the $25/month DataPro plan which allows for 2 GB of usage, plus the $20/month tethering add-on will be able to use the Personal Hotspot feature automatically after updating their iPhone 4 devices to iOS 4.3 on Mar. 11. Other customers wanting access to the feature should be able to sign up for the plan for the same price, with Electronista saying it doesn’t look like there will be any new additional charges specifically for Hotspot users.

Verizon’s iPhone shipped with the ability to use Personal Hotspot, thanks to a special version of iOS 4.2 that comes pre-installed on the device. Personal Hotspot will only be available to iPhone 4 owners, as no older devices support the feature, and the choice to use offer it will ultimately remain up to carriers. It’s nice to see AT&T stepping up, although it really has little choice if it wants to stay competitive with Verizon.

Related content from GigaOM Pro (sub req'd):
Переслать
Why I'll Bite on the iPad 2 Update
Apple introduced the iPad 2 yesterday, the rightful heir to the tablet throne and a device that’s more than likely to keep Apple on top of the pile for yet another year. But is the iPad 2 worthy of the attention (and hard-won dollars) of original iPad owners? Om says no, but I can’t help but feel otherwise.

Less Laptop Envy

For at least this first-gen iPad owner, the iPad 2 seems like a major step up in a few areas that count. The iPad 2 might not be a complete reinvention of the original design, but it does hit all the right notes for users who like their tablets, but wish they could be just a little bit more like the notebooks they’re increasingly replacing.

When I bought the original iPad, I was really hoping that it could fully replace my MacBook as a mobile work machine. And it almost could, especially when Apple introduced multi-tasking to the platform. But in many ways, the iPad fell just short. With a much more powerful processor, built-in cameras for FaceTime and video calling (others will no doubt get on board, just as Skype and Vtok have for the iPhone) and video-editing capabilities, the iPad 2 makes up a lot of that ground.

Don’t Underestimate the A5

Apple isn’t big on playing up specs, and instead focuses on user experience. It’s smart, but in this case, it might not do justice to the tech. The new iPad 2 features an in-house designed A5 chip, the successor to the A4. The A5 is a dual-core, 1GHz system-on-a-chip, with a reported 512 MB of memory, double that of the A4. According to Apple, the new A5 provides the ability to do at least twice the work at once as its predecessor, which will make a huge difference for processor-intensive tasks.

The A5 also provides the iPad 2 with up to nine times the graphics performance of the original iPad. A nine-fold improvement means worlds of difference when it comes to using the new iPad for video and photo editing, and for gaming and watching movies. All with the same long, notebook-beating battery life that the original iPad offered.

It sounds good on paper, but it should perform even better in terms of actual use. And just like iMovie won’t be available for the original iPad, many other apps will spring up that can take advantage of the muscular A5 but would wilt on the older A4. We probably can’t yet imagine what developers will do with a beefed-up iPad.

A Game of Inches and Ounces

When it comes to tablets and other mobile devices, size and weight are factors that have a greater effect on usability than many realize. It was a lesson that really hit home with me when I tried using the 7-inch Galaxy Tab for two weeks, and one that was at the forefront again when Kevin and I were debating the merits of an iPhone with a 4-inch screen.

Apple made the iPad 2 quite a bit thinner and lighter than the original, shaving off a full third of its depth, and 15 percent of its weight. The iPad 2 is actually thinner than the iPhone 4. Even small changes make a big difference when it comes to device portability, and these changes aren’t that small. Even Om admitted that the 3.2 ounces the iPad 2 saves feels substantial when held in the hand. Now imagine using it day after day, carrying around in your bag wherever you go. A device that feels considerably more portable is one you’ll more often have on you, which is one of the key selling points of a tablet.

The iPad 2 may not have wowed those who had inflated expectations, but it’s by no means an insubstantial update. You could wait for the possible arrival of an iPad 3 in fall, something I think is unlikely, but if you’re looking for a better tablet experience, the iPad 2 is a sure bet, and one that’s a physical reality, not a speculative phantom.

Related content from GigaOM Pro (sub req'd):
Переслать
Get a $100 Refund on Recent iPad Purchases
Apple wants to make good with customers who feel burned by the introduction of the iPad 2 and the $100 price drop on the original iPad. The company will be refunding customers the $100 difference between first-generation iPads bought before yesterday and those bought after the price drop, so long as the purchase happened sometime in the last two weeks.

The refund has been confirmed by Apple’s sales team and various other outlets, including Electricpig.In order to qualify, you’ll need to have purchased an iPad within 14 days of yesterday’s announcement, which puts the earliest eligible purchase date at about Feb. 16. Customers seeking the rebate will also need to have their receipts on hand.

This is actually pretty generous of Apple, which hasn’t done the same thing with the iPhone or iPod touch, as far as I can remember, unless you count the $100 in-store credit it offered to early iPhone buyers after that device got a price drop, which wasn’t the result of a new model being introduced. It has arranged rebates for customers who purchased Macs on occasion, but only to refund them for major OS updates that launched just after their new machines shipped.

What do you think? Is this a nice gesture, too little, or overly generous given that hardware updates are an inevitable part of buying gadgets?

Related content from GigaOM Pro (sub req'd):
Переслать
Apple's iPad 2 a Step Backward for Carrier Choice?
Apple unveiled the iPad 2 today, and while just about everything introduced was expected, I was surprised by at least one thing: Unlike its predecessor, the iPad 2 looks to be locked to a single carrier, even in at least one country where carriers use the same mobile network technology.

If it was only the case in the U.S., that would be a different story. Verizon and AT&T are Apple’s official carrier partners in the U.S., and each uses a different network technology. Verizon’s devices use CDMA, while AT&T’s network uses GSM, which is much more popular globally. Even though many (including us) predicted the new iPad would have dual-network capabilities, it’s understandable that Apple finally opted not to go that route and kept U.S. iPads carrier-specific.

But in the Canadian market, the same logic doesn’t apply. Apple offered the first iPad it introduced unlocked in Canada, and free to use on whatever network a buyer chose just by switching out the micro SIM card. If you weren’t happy with service from one, you could easily switch to another. Not so with the iPad 2. According to Apple’s official website, you have to choose which carrier you plan on using your device with in advance when ordering the iPad 2, since “[t]he iPad model you purchase is specially configured to work with either Bell, Rogers, or Telus.” All three networks currently use the same GSM standard for their networks, and I can use my current iPad and iPhone 4 on each without having to resort to unlocking.

This looks to be specific to the Canadian market. In the U.K., where there are also many GSM carrier choices available, Apple makes no such stipulations about having to stick with a chosen carrier. But it should be cause for concern for Apple customers outside Canada, too, since it seems to indicate Apple is more eager to please carrier partners than it has been in the past, and it represents a significant reverse in Apple’s ongoing shift away from carrier lock-in.

Stacey broke the news that Apple might be working on building in a remotely-programmable hardware SIM that would give consumers even more choice when it comes to carriers, but the Canada lock-down seems like a step in the opposite direction. Not only does Apple not appear to be using dual-mode mobile broadband chips in its new iPad, but it’s also going back to the days of artificial carrier software locks, at least in some markets.

At least there aren’t any contract requirements attached to iPad 2 data plans, but it’s still not encouraging to see Apple make any kind of carrier concessions.

Related content from GigaOM Pro (sub req'd):
Переслать
Early Impressions: iPad 2 Is a Must See for New Tablet Buyers
To upgrade or not to upgrade? That is the $829-dollar question. I mean, if you have an iPad, should you line up outside the Apple store and buy the new iPad 2? Is it worth it?

I mean, it has a faster chip. It has two cameras. It has a new OS. It has a gyroscope. It can do HDMI video out. It can play nice with all iTunes content. It sure is thinner — about one-third thinner than the current iPad — and 0.2 pounds lighter that the current iPad, which weighs 1.5 pounds. (Apple iPad2: What you need to know).

Like many others in the media who follow Apple, I was at the iPad 2 launch event held earlier today. I had a chance to spend some time playing around with the new device and have some quick impressions. Now you have to remember, I’ve had only ten minutes to play with the iPad 2, so take these impressions with a pinch of salt.
- The 3.2 ounces in shaved weight actually does feel a lot lighter than one might imagine just from looking at the spec sheet.
- The slimmer size makes holding the device a lot easier. It’s very much like the iPod touch vs iPhone comparison.
- The screen is no different from the current generation of iPads, except the dual-core processor and additional graphics oomph make it feel livelier and more responsive. Still, I wish Apple offered higher resolution on the screen.
- I can't really tell how other apps — games, for example — perform on the device.
- The new Safari is actually pretty fast and handles JavaScript fairly well, which makes sites such as Google Mail and Google Apps quite handy to use.
- The two cameras are great addition. I am a big FaceTime and Skype Video user. Facetime looks pretty hot on the bigger screen and makes video calling more useful.
- I like that the iPad 2 is more video friendly thanks to cameras, iMovie, and scores of other upgrades like watching iTunes content on it via Home Sharing and sharing videos to big screen televisions via a HDMI adapter and/or AirPlay.
- No matter how hard Steve Jobs tried to convince us that the white iPad 2 is cool, I am so NOT into the whole white Apple devices thing, and that means the iPad 2, as well.
That said, being an owner of a 3G iPad, I’m hard pressed to spring for the upgrade. I am still getting maximum mileage out of the first-generation device. The price cuts announced earlier today are only going to devalue the resale value of my top-of-the-line iPad 3G. (Related: How to prepare a used iPad for sale.)

I have a MacBook Air, which does a great job at video conferencing, and now with a Verizon iPhone 4 in my pocket, I can FaceTime anytime. I’m still waiting to see how developers leverage this new hardware.

That said, if you’re a first-time tablet buyer, it’s perhaps your best option on the market right now. It has a fast processor, is light, is ultra thin, is available in a week, and more importantly, it’s far ahead of what else its rivals are selling (or are planning to sell.)

Related content from GigaOM Pro (sub req'd):
Переслать
Apple Squeezes Competition With $100 Price Drop on Original iPad
At the launch of the iPad 2 today, Steve Jobs noted the “redesigned” tablet would keep its current price structure while adding new features. However, for consumers who believe price is the most important feature, Apple is selling all models of the original iPad for $100 off while supplies last.

Under the “Special Deals” section of the Apple Store online is a link to a clearance page for the six original model iPads. Wi-Fi iPads cost $399, $499, and $599 for 16 GB, 32 GB, and 64 GB respectively, while 3G iPads start at $529 for 16 GB, and range up in $100 increments. Clearance 3G iPads are for UMTS/GSM networks like AT&T’s in the U.S. These are great prices for an original model iPad, but consumers can currently do even better.

Refurbished iPads are now selling for as little as $349 for the 16 GB Wi-Fi model, $50 off the clearance sale price. At $479, the 16 GB 3G iPad is also $50 off the clearance price. All other refurbished iPads are $70 less than original model iPads at clearance prices, and all refurbished iPads come with the same one-year warranty. Refurbished or new, these prices are a win for cost-conscious consumers, as well as for Apple, since it should help get the iPad into as many hands as possible.

The only losers here are iPad competitors. While the 7-inch Samsung Galaxy Tab is now selling for around $250 to $300, that’s for the 3G model with a multi-year wireless contract. The minimum price for the Wi-Fi version is around $500. Motorola’s XOOM costs $600 for the 32 GB version, which matches the price of a new 32 GB Wi-FI iPad, but that’s the entry-level model for Motorola. RIM’s PlayBook, which is expected to launch this month or next, is rumored to be priced at $500 for a 16 GB Wi-Fi model with a 7-inch display. The HP TouchPad, which has a 9.7-inch display like the iPad, is expected to launch this summer at $699 for the 16 GB model.

Apple’s deal likely only lasts as long as its existing stock of first-generation iPads, but that might be long enough to clip the wings of at least a few competing devices.

Related content from GigaOM Pro (sub req'd):
Переслать
Apple Introduces GarageBand, iMovie and Photo Booth for iPad
Looking for more ways to use your iPad creatively? Apple just made it easy with three new apps it revealed at this morning’s special iPad-themed press event. GarageBand, iMovie and Photo Booth are all headed to Apple’s tablet in time for iPad 2′s availability next week.

Photo Booth (Free, built-in)

This is obviously an iPad 2 exclusive, since the only reason it exists is to take advantage of the iPad’s new front-facing VGA camera. Like the Mac app of the same name, the iPad version of Photo Booth lets you take photos of yourself (and whoever else happens to be in frame) and then lets you manipulate the pics using a variety of special effects, such as color and distortion filters. According to Apple’s official site, the app only seems to works with the front-facing camera (although the sample screens it provides show camera switch icons), which seems an oddly unnecessary limitation, and flashes the entire screen white before it takes a photo to act as a flash. Once you’re happy with your bizarre self-portraits, you can share them via Mail or access them via your on-device photo library.

iMovie ($4.99)

The new iMovie app is universal, meaning it will replace the existing version on the iPhone 4. It brings more advanced editing tools and introduces a screen layout very similar to the one found in the OS X version, with your film’s timeline on the bottom, and a clip library on top. You can pinch any transition to reveal a more detailed Precision Editor in the timeline, allowing a clear view of where clips overlap and making it easier to make fine adjustments with your fingers.

New themes make it easy to add flair to your projects without any heavy lifting, and Apple includes a CNN iReport theme that provides a branded way to add a degree of authenticity to your homemade breaking news reports. Themes include titles, transitions and soundtrack elements, so they really act as one-stop shopping.

The new iMovie adds some more versatile audio-editing tools, including the ability to add sound effects from a built-in library, visual soundtrack timeline management, and narration or voice-over recording right in the app.

Once you’ve got everything just right, there are a bunch of new sharing tools, too. Post your video direction to YouTube, Facebook, Vimeo or CNN iReport (Apple certainly is buddying up with CNN with this one). You can also share via email, MobileMe or MMS (on iPhone only) once you’ve exported the movie to your on-device camera roll. Movie playback directly to Apple TV via AirPlay is also supported, or by mirroring with the new digital AV HDMI adapter from iPad 2 to a cable-connected TV.

GarageBand ($4.99)

I love music, but am hopeless when it comes to playing an instrument or learning how to make any myself. Even auto-tuned, I sound terrible. But GarageBand for the iPad looks like it might let even someone like me come up with something worthwhile.

The app boasts Touch Instruments, which are virtual recreations of real life drum kits, pianos, organs and guitars that you can manipulate in various ways with multi-touch gestures. Depending on how hard, and where, you hit the virtual keys, cymbals or chords you can produce different sounds, since the app uses the iPad’s accelerometer and other technologies to distinguish between different types of interaction.

If that sounds like it still requires too much skill, then Smart Instruments are for you. These are like the auto-tune of guitar, keyboards, bass and drums. You can easily strum perfect chords on a guitar, set up and trigger complicated finger picking, or try visually arranging drum beats in a way that makes playing more like solving a puzzle than coming up with something original.

The iPad GarageBand also a includes a full-featured, eight-track recording studio that lets you zoom in and fine-tune each track. Jobs was quick to point out that this wasn’t a toy, but could was in fact perfectly suited for professional use, too. Apple loves its creative pros, and it doesn’t look like that’s changing as it moves its focus to mobile.

Which of these are you most looking forward to? I couldn’t care less about Photo Booth, but the other two both sound equally appealing.

Related content from GigaOM Pro (sub req'd):
Переслать
Jobs Says iTunes, Apple Retail the Secret to iPad's Success
Steve Jobs was on stage today to introduce the iPad 2, and took a few moments to talk about why the iPad has been so successful to date. Jobs stressed the role of the App Store in the iPad’s success, but also that of Apple Retail.

Apple’s lead in the marketplace is the result of great products (some might call them “magical”), very competitive pricing, and an active developer community. As Jobs noted at the event, Apple has sold 100 million iPhones to date, 100 million books have been downloaded from the iBookstore, and 15 million iPads were sold in 2010, representing $9.5 billion in revenue and a 90-percent share of the overall tablet market. The App Store for all iOS devices has over 350,000 apps for sale, and more than 65,000 of those are designed for the iPad. That success, in large measure, can be attributed to a very successful retail presence and Apple’s ability to attract registered customers to their online store.

Jobs announced today that Apple has 200 million registered iTunes customers with credit cards on file, capable of one-click purchasing across all three of their online content stores: iTunes, the App Store, and the iBookstore. While Amazon doesn’t publish its numbers, Jobs suggested that this might be the largest collection of accounts with credit cards anywhere on the Internet. One-click purchasing is absolutely the key to success for the iTunes store and its rise to the top of music retailing, and now Apple has paid out $2 billion in revenue to App Store developers, which means its gross revenue take is somewhere around $2.85 billion given its 70/30 revenue split.

Apple’s success also owes a lot to its ability to get products in front of, and into the hands of, customers. Apple Retail finished its last fiscal quarter with 323 stores in 11 countries. Those stores are designed to provide customers with the ability to actually use Apple products and get information from knowledgeable staff. That staff also provides customer support and training for Apple products. No one else in the industry has been able to duplicate this retail strategy, and no amount of boasting about hardware specs will make up for its absence. No matter how good any competing tablet might be in 2011, it will lose because Apple has far greater reach and control when it comes to the retail experience.

And once those customers leave the store with a shiny new iPad 2 under their arm (or even before they do), Apple is ready and waiting to sign them up for one-click purchasing. The cycle continues, just as Apple will continue to dominate the tablet market for the foreseeable future.

Related content from GigaOM Pro (sub req'd):
Переслать
iOS 4.3 Available March 11, Brings New Features
At the Apple event today, we heard details about the latest installment of iOS, version 4.3. The developer beta has been available for a while now, but the public release has now been announced, and Apple revealed a couple of tricks that even the beta hadn’t yet introduced.

Personal Hotspot

A new feature, for the iPhone 4 only, is Personal Hotspot, which was first introduced alongside the Verizon iPhone. This lets you turn your 3G connection into a Wi-Fi hotspot other devices can connect to. It’s a great feature that’s been available on Android devices for a while now, so it’s terrific that it’s come to the iPhone. Up to five devices can connect, but whether you’ll be charged extra to use it will depend on your carrier.

Home Sharing

Home Sharing, the feature of iTunes which allows you to stream iTunes content over your home Wi-Fi network, is coming to iOS. You’ll now be able to listen to music and watch movies that are on your computer over Wi-Fi, rather than having to sync content to your device first.

iPad Switch

When the iPad switch was changed from a rotation lock switch to a mute switch, a lot of people started to complain. Luckily, iOS 4.3 adds a preference that allows the user to change the function of the switch. You’ll be able to choose between functions for the switch, so everyone can have what they want.

AirPlay

AirPlay on iOS 4.3 will allow third-party apps to stream video as well as audio, which is good news for apps concerned with video content. It also allows websites to stream content. Photos are able to be streamed over AirPlay, and will support Apple TV’s built-in slideshow transitions.

Increased Safari Performance

iOS 4.3 also improves performance in Mobile Safari, particularly with JavaScript. The mobile operating system now uses the Nitro engine, which should make JavaScript perform a lot better and faster. This is the same engine used in Mac OS X.

iOS 4.3 will be available to the general public at the same time as the new iPad 2, on Mar. 11.

Related content from GigaOM Pro (sub req'd):
Переслать
Apple iPad 2: What You Need to Know

Steve Jobs today introduced iPad 2, the successor to Apple’s first tablet, which has enjoyed 15 million sales in only nine months. Along with sharing sales numbers and the fact that over 65,000 iPad apps are available, Jobs took a few verbal jabs at competing tablets built upon Google’s Android platform. But amongst the barrage of information were all of the details on the next iPad so here’s a quick recap of what you need to know about Apple’s iPad 2 in order to make a better tablet purchase decision when the device arrives on March 11.
- New CPU. Apple’s old A4 (currently used in iPhone, iPod touch and iPad) gets a big boost with a new A5, dual-core processor. Apple says the power consumption is essentially the same, so 10 hours of battery life is still expected. But the iPad will see a performance pop: 9x the graphics power of the first iPad and double the overall performance.
- Same price as before. Apple is holding the iPad 2 price points the same as the original. Costs will range from $499 for a 16 GB version with Wi-Fi to $829 for a 64 GB unit with 3G.
- Carrier and color choice. Although Apple sells more Wi-Fi iPad models than those with mobile broadband, iPad 2 could change that ratio because there will be a model for AT&T’s 3G network as well as for Verizon’s. iPad 2 will be available in either a black or white bezel.
- Thin is in. Although iPad 2 has the same 9.7-inch screen size and resolution of the original, it’s 33 percent thinner at 8.8 millimeters. From the side, iPad 2 looks similar to large iPod touch due to the less blocky, tapered design. Indeed, it’s actually thinner than the iPhone 4. The weight of iPad also drops 0.2 pounds, bringing the total weight to 1.3 pounds.
- I see you! Both front- and rear-facing cameras are added to the new iPad. The front VGA sensor is geared for FaceTime conversations although Apple also showed off a new Photo Booth app designed for iPad. Video capture and images in 720p resolution are available on the rear camera and Apple will offer an improved $5 iOS version of iMovie for video editing.
- Keep it covered. Just as it did with the original iPad, Apple has created a custom case for the iPad 2 — and it’s very different. The case folds in itself to make a small stand for the iPad and it attaches to the display using magnets. Apple will offer a polyurethane version for $39 and a leather case for $69. The smart case wakes the iPad when opening and puts the device to sleep when covered.
- iPad on the big screen. Similar to newer smartphones that can pipe video to an HDTV, the iPad 2 supports HDMI-out through a $39 adaptor. The iPad can be charged while using HDMI out and will output video or a mirror image of the iPad environment at 1080p resolution.
- Hello, iOS 4.3. When iPad 2 ships it will have a slightly updated operating system, which will also filter down into other iOS devices. Some of the new features include a faster JavaScript engine (called Nitro) in the browser, iTunes Home Sharing, improvements to AirPlay streaming, and a choice for the iPad switch: it can be either a mute function or can lock the screen orientation.
Loading
NextPrevious
Picture 1 of 8
ipad2-cover

Related content from GigaOM Pro (sub req'd):
Переслать
Meet the iPad 2 at Apple's Launch Event
The time has come. The Apple Store is down, and Apple’s about to kick off its special event, which will almost certainly see the introduction of the iPad 2. We’ll be following the action and collecting coverage of the announcements from around the web and the event itself right here thanks to Om, so stay tuned. You can manually upload the page to see new info, or use an auto-reloading plugin like ReloadEvery for Firefox, Auto Refresh Plus for Chrome, or Auto Refresh for Safari.

9:52: Press are in their seats. The place is packed, Tim Cook is chatting with people, but no sign of Jobs. The event is about to get started.

9:57: Phil Schiller and Cook are near the stage, and will likely be on it, soon. Jonathan Ive is in the front row. Apple’s showing off its big iTunes win by playing lots of Beatles.

9:59: They’re about to begin, the announcer is requesting people to turn devices to silent mode. There’s a couch setup on stage.

10:02: Lights are going down in the auditorium. It’s show time. Standing ovation as Steve Jobs comes out on stage! The audience is literally going nuts.

10:04: Jobs didn’t want to miss today, he says. He’s talking about iBooks first. 100 million iBooks have been sold through the iBookstore. Random House is now part of that store, and there are now 2500 publishers distributing through it.

10:06: 200 million user accounts, with credit cards and 1-click purchasing. It’s the most anywhere on the web. Apple has paid 2 billion in App Store revenue to developers. The iPhone has 100 million shipped. Today, Apple’s here to talk about its third post-PC product, the iPad.

10:08: Jobs says people laughed when they called the iPad “magical,” but the price and nature of the device ended up making 2010 the year of the iPad. 15 million sold in 9 months, more than every PC tablet ever. $9.5 billion in 2010 revenues from iPad alone, and 90 percent market share.

10:10: App Store is 350,000 strong. 65,000 of which are for iPad. Jobs showing off some apps, CNN, The Daily, etc. These apps take advantage of the iPad’s “magical” UI. There’s that word again :)

10:12: Competitors launched with at most, 100 apps. No comparison. Jobs is now talking about how Apple Retail is a big part of the iPad’s success. Now they’re showing a video about “2010, the year of the iPad.” Schiller on video talking about how now one predicted this.

10:15: All Apple execs are talking about how amazing the iPad is in the video. There are also some example case studies, including education (iPad in classrooms), medical (doctors are using it to help them devote more time to patients and less to administrative tasks. In business, iPad lets people carry data around with them easily.

Comment from Kevin re: competitor’s app stores for tablets: “He’s being kind. He’s being kind. My post last week showed 16 apps.“

10:18 Steve is back. He’s taling about how 2011 so far has been the year of the copycats, but nobody’s even close to the first iPad. Apple isn’t resting on its laurels. Here’s iPad 2.

10:19: iPad 2 is no minor improvement, according to Steve. It is dramatically faster with an all-new design. It has a dual-core A5 chip, which is about 2X faster than its predecessor, with the same power requirements as the A4.

10:21: 9x faster graphics, front and back-facing cameras. There’s a gyroscope in the tablet, too. It’s 1/3 thinner, very curved back, and only 8.8 mm thick. Thinner than even the iPhone 4. Jobs says “it feels totally different in the hands.” Lighter, too, at 1.3 lbs (compared to 1.5 for the last model).

10:22: Rumors were true, there’s a black and a white version. White version is shipping day one, says Jobs, which the audience greeted with laughter. 3G models work on AT&T and Verizon day one (GSM and CDMA). Same 10 hour battery life as before thanks to engineering improvements.

10:25: Pricing remains the same as the previous iPad. Starts at $499, goes up to $829. Jobs says “2011 will be the year of the iPad 2.” The new iPad ships March 11 in the U.S., two weeks later in 26 more countries.

10:27: New accessory cable available that does HDMI out. It works out-of-the-box with all apps! Definitely impressive. Supports 1080p output, rotation, the works and costs $39. That’s a huge win for Apple versus competitor offerings.

10:29: New case, which isn’t a case, it’s a cover. Smart cover, they’re calling it. Bends and folds to allow for different viewing angles when acting as a stand.

10:30: The new cover wakes the iPad when opened, and puts it to sleep when closed. It uses magnets to auto-align itself to the iPad. Very sleek, designed to add very little weight or size. Om says he loves the cover more than the device :) They’re now showing a video of how it works.

10:32: The magnets are actually in the iPad itself, the ones that make the cover auto-align. Comes in five polyurethane and five leather colors. PU version is $39, leather is $69. Now Scott Forstall is coming out to talk about iOS 4.3.

10:34: iOS 4.3 improvements are more than what we’ve already seen. Better Safari performance. iTunes home sharing means you can use AirPlay to stream from your computer to your iOS device. That’s awesome, I’ve wanted that for SO LONG. AirpLay also now works with apps and even websites.

10:36: Forstall is talking about iOS 4.3 things we already know about now. Personal hotspot allows wireless sharing from your iPhone 4 to up to 5 devices. Now he’s moving on to iPad 2 special software. Demoing Photo Booth for iPad.

10:38: Photo Booth looks cool. Nine live video streams at once being shown off, and you can add and manipulate effects using touch, then share videos with friends. Forstall is moving on to FaceTime for iPad. Works between iPads, with iPhone or iPod touch, or with Macs. You can flip between front and rear-cameras.

10:41: iOS 4.3 is coming on March 11, same day as iPad 2. Forstall says there are two more apps they’re going to show off today. One is iMovie for iPad (yay!), now that it has a camera.

10:43: Randy Ubillos, Apple’s chief architect of video applications is on stage to show off iMovie for iPad. It’s a universal app, too, so it’s replacing the iPhone only version. New home screen shows thumbnails of your films as movie posters.

10:45: You can record from within the app, or use your existing video from your library. Tapping a video clip brings up handles to let you select your timeline segment, and you can pinch zoom in to get finer control. Add and manage transitions, and check out and adjust the volume of your audio stream, too. The app features a library of sound clips for you to use in your movies.

10:47: The new iMovie lets you have up to three audio tracks beyond the original background audio track, provides additional themes, new titles and transitions. You can even play to AirPlay enabled devices over Wi-Fi or share to all kinds of sites, like Vimeo, YouTube, etc. Ubillos is now playing a demo movie.

10:50: iMovie is priced well ($4.99). iMovie demo is over, and now it’s time to take a look at Garage Band for iPad! Sounds like it has a lot in common with the desktop version, including a healthy loops library and 8-track recording and mixing. Xander Soren is on stage to demo.

10:52: Cool, Garage Band has touch instruments! Grand piano is being shown. Tap the keys like you would a real piano, there’s a button for sustain effects, which can be locked in. Soren is playing the piano now to show off how realistic it is.

10:54: The iPad’s accelerometer is used to determine how hard you hit the keys. And when you change the type of instrument, the look and features of the instrument change, too. Soren is showing how this works by switching from grand piano to classic rock organ.

10:56: He’s demoing how where you strike a key affects how it sounds. Now moving on to drums, tapping away at the screen. Smart instruments allow even people who suck at music (like me) to get in on the fun. You can set chords to autoplay and just strum away with the smart guitar. You “can’t play a bad note.”

11:01: There’s a whole lot of Garage Band demo going on. Showing off song sharing, via email or by sending to your iTunes library. Okay, that’s over with, and Steve is back on stage.

11:03: Garage Band is available for $4.99 on March 11. Steve is stressing that it’s powerful enough to do real work. That’s an amazing price for this kind of software. Jobs is repeating what’s been said about the iPad. Om notes that he’s walking quite slowly and looking seriously thin. Now they’re showing a video about the iPad featuring Jonny Ive talking about how amazingly awesome the iPad 2 is.

11:07: The video is now talking about how awesome the cover is. May be surprising, but Apple thinks the things it makes are awesome. Check out the video here: http://www.apple.com/ipad/#video

11:11: Jobs is talking about how Apple has a holistic approach that marries tech and the liberal arts, humanity. He says competitors who talk about speed and specs are not getting it. Post-PC devices need to be easier and more intuitive. Software, hardware and applications are all intertwined. Apple things its on the right track with its approach. Steve asked all Apple staff to stand up, and thanks everyone for supporting the company.

11:16 There’s a Q&A and a hands-on area, so we’ll hopefully have some more for you soon after Om gets a chance to poke around. Thanks for sticking with us!

Related content from GigaOM Pro (sub req'd):
Переслать
Track Your New Apple iPad (or Any) Shipment on iOS Devices
When it comes to the latest rumors and press releases, there are plenty of places to turn to for information. But once you commit to a purchase, it can feel like you’re all alone. Luckily, there are some great apps to track your purchase (Apple or otherwise) post-purchase on your iOS device.

There’s an App for That!

Delivery Status Touch (iTunes, $4.99)

Junecloud makes what is likely the most popular package tracking solution for the iOS, Mac and the Web. This universal app looks great on both the iPhone and the iPad, and the Dashboard Widget for OS X maintains the same styling as its iOS sibling. Supporting over thirty services including Amazon, Apple and Google, this app has your packages covered. You can even create an online account to keep all of your deliveries in sync.

TrackThis (iTunes, $0.99)

Fragmented Tech has opted to focus on push notifications rather than style, building in email, SMS, RSS, Twitter and Facebook support for notifications every time your package moves. On the downside, it only supports 13 services, and the non-universal iPhone app doesn’t look too good on the iPad.

TrackThePack (iTunes, $1.99)

Sabotage has found yet a third angle to focus on, and that is an abundance of ways to enter your tracking information. From email, to Firefox extensions, to bookmarklets, to OpenSearch support and even its own shortened URL service, TrackThePack certainly has its extras. Unfortunately, it supports just eight services and also isn’t as stylish as Delivery Status Touch on the iPad.

There’s One More Thing…

Just when you thought you had every angle covered, it turns out you can even track the flight your Apple package is on. Especially if you customized your order, you’ll notice that it is likely shipping via FedEx from Shanghai, China through Anchorage, Alaska, and finally on to your specific location. Using a site like FlightStatus, you can use the information on your FedEx tracking information to check the departure times of FedEx (FX) flights from Shanghai (PVG) to Anchorage (ANC). From the FlightStatus Home Page, select “Flight Tracker” from the “Flights” menu and enter FX as the Carrier, PVG as the Departure Airport, and ANC as the Arrival Airport. Tracking your package’s flight may be a bit extreme, but what are Apple fans if not zealous?

Related content from GigaOM Pro (sub req'd):
Переслать
Random House Finally Comes to iBooks
Apple’s iBookstore originally launched with many major publishers on board, including HarperCollins, Hachette, Penguin, Macmillan, and Simon & Schuster, but Random House was a longtime holdout. Then, on Tuesday, Random House switched to the agency model for e-book pricing, and today began populating the iBookstore with its titles.

The agency model allows the publisher to set prices, paying the retailer a commission (30 percent in this case) on each title sold. In the traditional publishing house model that Random House still maintains with brick and mortar retail stores, retailers set the prices, sometimes selling titles at a loss in order to attract customers to their own brand or other more profitable products.

Random House reaching an agreement with Apple right before the launch of the Mac-maker’s next-generation iPad device likely isn’t a coincidence. We can probably even expect to see the deal mentioned at the event, since it does represent a major victory for the iBookstore’s catalog. You can check back a little later today to see if Random House does get a mention during our live blog of the Apple announcement.

There’s also the possibility that Random House saw the futility of holding out against Apple when, in just a few short months, it might be the only major purveyor of e-books on the iOS platform. Apple has revised its app guidelines to ensure that if e-book sellers are offering content for use in an iOS app, it must also be sold through the App Store and without a link to an outside store. Amazon, Barnes & Noble and Kobo, all of which currently offer e-book apps connected to their own, separate e-book stores might not find those terms agreeable, and come June 1, the iBookstore might be the last iOS outlet standing. A deal with Apple gives Random House a guaranteed continued presence on iOS devices, even if the other stores pull out.

Related GigaOM Pro Research (sub req'd):
Переслать
How to Prepare a Used iPad for Sale
With the nearly guaranteed iPad 2 announcement drawing near, there are going to be a lot of used first generation iPads soon going up for sale. The process to follow in order to sell your own used iPad is similar to what you do when you’re selling a used Mac, but is carried out differently.

Backup Your Content

If you’re planning on buying an iPad 2, you’ll probably want to save your apps, settings and other data from your current device. It’s extremely easy to do — just plug your iPad into your computer and let iTunes perform a sync. If you want to be doubly sure that the latest version of everything is definitely backed up, you can right-click the device in the iTunes sidebar and choose Back Up.

iTunes stores these backups forever, even if you restore the device and sync it again, so don’t worry about losing anything when you get a new device.

Deactivate Find My iPad

Once you've sold your iPad, it’s not your business where it is, and of course you shouldn’t be using the remote wipe feature from MobileMe’s Find My iPad service. It’s highly likely that your MobileMe account will be removed from the device when you perform a restore later on, but keeping your device list clean of things you no longer own is reason enough to deactivate it yourself in advance.

Tap the Settings app, then open the Mail, Contacts and Calendars section. Tap on the entry for your MobileMe account at the top of the list and a popup will appear with a few options. Hit the big red button labelled Delete Account to remove every trace of your MobileMe account from the iPad. You then won’t be able to log in to Find My iPad and see where the device is.

Destroy Everything

Once you've got a backup of everything stored on your computer, it’s time to reset your iPad back to how it was when you opened the box on day one. This takes no effort at all, but can be quite time consuming, especially if there’s a lot of content on your device.

In iTunes, click the name of your iPad in the sidebar, then click on the Summary tab if it’s not already open. Now click the Restore button. If iTunes asks if you want to restore from a backup, choose No, since you want everything wiped.

Let iTunes run through the restore process, then when it’s done your iPad will be just like new again. Just unplug your device when you finish instead of going through the new device setup process.

Reinstall iOS

Once you've done the restore, you may wish to use the Check for Update button to check that your device has the latest version of iOS installed. This saves the new owner of your iPad having to update it themselves, and ensures there are no software easily-fixed faults which they may pick inherit and blame on you. Since iTunes is pretty good at checking for updates, and it’s hard to miss news about a new iOS version, it’s unlikely that your device will need an update, but it’s good to check.

Give It a Cleaning

Your iPad’s new owner won’t be too pleased if they open the box to find a dirty device covered in fingerprints. Smudges on the iPad’s screen are inevitable, since it’s a touchscreen device, but you should wipe them off before giving your device away.

iPads come with a screen wiping cloth, so use that to clean the screen to start with. A trick I found is if you breathe close to the screen, the resulting condensation does wonders for smudges and smears. Don’t worry, a little condensation won’t hurt the iPad. If you lost your cloth, a glasses or computer monitor cleaning cloth also works well.

The back of an iPad is simple to clean; just use a damp cloth and gently wipe away the grime. Make sure to wring out the cloth well first, since the iPad contains liquid contact sensors, and you don’t want those to be activated. Plus it won’t do much good for your device to drip water into the dock connector or headphone jack.

Conclusion

Once you've done all of the above, your iPad is ready to be passed on to another user who will hopefully take good care of it. Did I miss any vital steps? Let me know in the comments.

Related content from GigaOM Pro (sub req'd):
Переслать