Wednesday, March 30, 2011

TUAW (40 сообщений)

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  • British MP delivers speech in Parliament from an iPad
    Source: Wikimedia Commons

    Well, it was sort of accidental. Labour MP Kerry McCarthy wanted to deliver a speech in the House of Commons, and there were so many last minute changes to the text she just decided to read it from her iPad.

    The Mirror reports the use of the iPad was the first after a rule change that allowed iPads in the chamber. Devices no bigger than a sheet of A4 paper are allowed, so smartphones and tablets are OK but laptops are still not allowed.

    Meanwhile, the BBC is reporting that Tony Blair's former IT chief has criticized the government for overly ambitious and badly managed technology procurement. Ian Watmore, who is now leading a charge for better government efficiency thinks costly IT projects should be stopped to save money. Then he added that Apple products, which he said he used at home, should be used more in government.

    All this struck a chord with me, because in the late 90s I led a massive IT project for the BBC, which is kinda, sorta, quasi governmental. The BBC is funded by UK taxpayers through a license fee. To get my project done, I had to struggle with byzantine rules and an army of often overpaid consultants who were simply driving the costs up. Almost all were very Windows-centric even though, at the time, Macs were heavily used in the creative departments for editing and graphics.

    Thanks to Warren and Jack for the tip on the iPad story

    British MP delivers speech in Parliament from an iPad originally appeared on TUAW on Wed, 30 Mar 2011 16:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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  • How to: Listen to your Amazon Cloud Player music on your iOS device

    Have you signed up for Amazon Cloud? It's a newly launched service that offers 5 GB of free online cloud storage, and affordable paid plans up to 1 TB. Competing with DropBox, Amazon Cloud takes measures one step further -- integrating with its online store to provide over-the-air media access, like SugarSync, Mougg, and AudioBox.

    Unlike those latter services, however, Amazon Cloud provides media storage for free -- so long as you purchase that media from the Amazon store. Your Amazon music will not eat away at the free 5 GB that come with the basic plan.

    If you're hoping to play your Cloud music on your iPhone or iPad, you might be put off by the user interface which offers an MP3 icon but no play/pause button -- the way that it does on your Flash-enabled home computer. Fear not. TUAW has found you a workaround.

    Continue reading How to: Listen to your Amazon Cloud Player music on your iOS device

    How to: Listen to your Amazon Cloud Player music on your iOS device originally appeared on TUAW on Wed, 30 Mar 2011 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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  • Rumor: New iMacs on tap for April or May

    A couple of tweets from CNET's Brian Tong are fueling speculation that a new batch of iMacs are on their way to the US, with an expected debut in late April or early May.

    In a tweet a little over a week ago, Tong noted "New iMacs en route by ocean to U.S. available end of April or 1st week of May. No major cosmetic changes." That tweet was followed by another today that reiterated the timeframe for new iMac models.

    Over at MacNews, Dennis Sellers made some predictions that are quite reasonable to believe. He expects the new iMacs to feature dual- or quad-core Sandy Bridge processors. At the low end of the price spectrum would be 21" models running dual-core Intel Core i5 CPUs at 2.3 and 2.7 GHz, while the high end would feature 27" iMacs with quad-core Intel Core i7 CPUs at 2.0 and 2.3 GHz. Sellers speculates that the new iMacs would come equipped with Thunderbolt I/O, an easy guess since the fast new I/O standard has already made a debut on the latest MacBook Pro models.

    I disagree with Sellers on his estimate of hard disk capacities. He's anticipating 500 GB to 1 TB models. Apple already sells configure-to-order (CTO) models with 2 TB capacities, along with 256 GB SSD boot drives, so I'd expect to see the company start at 1 TB and possibly outfit CTO models with 3TB of storage. Most drive manufacturers are now selling 3 TB SATA units at reasonable prices, so there's no reason for Apple to at least make them an option for buyers. With storage that spacious, it might make more sense for Apple to squeeze two high-capacity drives into a new iMac for onboard data mirroring.

    These new iMacs are probably already a done deal if they're indeed on the ships heading for the US. That doesn't mean that TUAW readers can't join in on the speculation. What would you like to see in a new iMac? Leave your comments below.

    Rumor: New iMacs on tap for April or May originally appeared on TUAW on Wed, 30 Mar 2011 15:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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  • iPads are becoming as important to doctors as their stethoscopes

    For many doctors, iPads are becoming "...as important to patient care as their stethoscope," according to a segment on CNBC. Last year about 22 percent of doctors started integrating iPads into their practice. At Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, iPads became a mainstay in patient care from day one. Describing medical conditions to patients using the graphics of iPads made maladies far more understandable to many.

    Additionally, a rush to use Electronic Health Records (EHR) is being fueled by a US Government program called Meaningful Use, in which doctors and hospitals can be reimbursed by Medicare and Medicaid for technology when meeting certain criteria. This, and the clarity brought to patients, is causing medical software companies to quickly scramble to get medical apps ready for the iPad and other tablets.

    The iPad should benefit most from this initiative since they are a known quantity and (as long as you're not looking for an iPad 2) readily available. Hospitals can settle on a tablet now without waiting for what might be coming out later. This can also be a boon to the sanitizing business, since products like Lymstat are a much more elegant solution to keeping tablets clean and safe than using a Ziploc bag, which our own Erica Sadun swears by.

    After the break is a video showing doctors at Beth Israel Deaconess in action with their iPads.

    Continue reading iPads are becoming as important to doctors as their stethoscopes

    iPads are becoming as important to doctors as their stethoscopes originally appeared on TUAW on Wed, 30 Mar 2011 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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  • TUAW TV Live at 5 PM EDT: Open topic Wednesday

    Today's TUAW TV Live will be coming to you from an undisclosed location in a hotel room somewhere in California. As such, I'm operating on a much slower network and without all of the support equipment that I usually have at the TUAW TV Studios. We're going to have some fun this afternoon, though -- if provide the topics, I'll respond the best I can. Think of this as an open mic night at your local bar, except you won't get to sing and there's no alcohol involved.

    As usual, we'll be starting at about 5 PM EDT (2 PM PDT / 10 PM BST). At that time, drop by TUAW and I'll have full instructions on how you can watch the live streaming video and participate in the chat. If you can't join me this afternoon, be sure to subscribe to the TUAW TV Live podcast through iTunes.

    TUAW TV Live at 5 PM EDT: Open topic Wednesday originally appeared on TUAW on Wed, 30 Mar 2011 14:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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  • Verizon launches 4G mobile hotspot

    Samsung 4G LTE Mobile Hotspot for Verizon

    Customers can now order the new Samsung 4G LTE Mobile Hotspot online or in Verizon Stores, Samsung and Verizon announced on Tuesday. The new mobile hotspot, which allows up to five Wi-Fi-enabled devices to connect to Verizon's 4G Long Term Evolution (LTE) network at the same time, will begin shipping on March 31.

    Samsung's new device, which is about the size of a small stack of credit cards, promises to connect users to Verizon's next generation mobile network with download speeds of 5 to 12 Mbps and upload speeds of 2 to 5 Mbps. That's about ten times faster than a typical 3G connection and up to 2.5 times faster than the average home broadband service in the United States. Today, Verizon offers 4G LTE service to 39 cities in the US and has announced plans to expand this coverage to 98 cities by the end of 2011. In areas without 4G coverage, the Samsung 4G LTE Mobile Hotspot is backward-compatible with Verizon's existing 3G network.

    If you need a high-speed mobile hotspot in your pocket, the Samsung device and associated data services will put a small dent in your wallet. The device itself costs US$99.00 after mail-in rebate with a two-year contract or $269.99 without a contract. For service, Verizon charges a $50 monthly access fee for 5 GB of data or $80 per month for 10 GB. Customers who exceed their monthly rations can expect to pay an additional $10 per extra GB. Disappointingly, Verizon doesn't appear to offer an unlimited data package at any price.

    With its rapidly growing family of 4G devices and services, Verizon is quickly becoming the carrier to beat in the next generation wireless market. Verizon launched its 4G services with only modems for PCs last December and introduced its first 4G-compatible phone, the HTC Thunderbolt, earlier this month. In the second quarter of this year, the Motorola Xoom will receive a hardware upgrade that will allow Verizon to add the tablet to its 4G family. The Samsung 4G LTE Mobile Hotspot completes the starting lineup, enabling any Wi-fi device - like a Mac or an iPad - to enjoy Verizon's speedy LTE services.

    The Samsung 4G LTE Mobile Hotspot is available to order through Verizon's website.

    Verizon launches 4G mobile hotspot originally appeared on TUAW on Wed, 30 Mar 2011 13:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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  • Softbank to replace iPhones lost in Japan's earthquake, tsunami

    In the midst of an overwhelming catastrophe, Japan's wireless carrier Softbank is stepping up to the plate to help many of those affected by the Japanese earthquake and tsunami. Softbank CEO Masayoshi Son recently traveled to Tamura, a city that is serving as a refuge for those devastated by the tsunami and Fukishima nuclear disaster. Son was moved by what he experienced and offered to buy food, pay for commuting costs and provide jobs for 1,200 people to relocate to Takeo, Saga.

    Son also reached out to his Twitter audience and asked for suggestions on how Softbank could help additional earthquake victims. One follower suggested Softbank offer free phone service to those children orphaned by this disaster. Son embraced this idea and announced on Twitter that Softbank will provide orphaned children with a free phone and free cellular service until they turn 18. Softbank also offered to replace iPhones for customers whose handset was lost or damaged in the earthquake.

    It is refreshing to see a company put aside financial considerations and use its resource to help fellow countrymen. Let's hope this move by Softbank will inspire other companies to follow suit.

    [Via Engadget]

    Softbank to replace iPhones lost in Japan's earthquake, tsunami originally appeared on TUAW on Wed, 30 Mar 2011 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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  • Exclusive: yap.TV 2.5, a social TV guide

    I had the pleasure of spending part of Wednesday afternoon chatting with yap.TV founder & chief marketing officer Shawn Cunningham. yap.TV is a free social TV guide that initially came out for the iPad last fall, and later for the iPhone and iPod touch. We lightly touched on yap.tv last fall when Steve Wozniak appeared on an episode of The Big Bang Theory. At the time, Woz chatted along with viewers through yap.tv, and it turns out he does more than that. He is an adviser for the app itself.

    yap.TV is billed as a second-screen companion, an app that you can utilize while watching your favorite series to connect with like-minded viewers through social media. If you're watching the latest episode of American Idol and want to see what everyone else thinks of the finalists, this app is for you. But, it's not for anyone who wants to avoid spoilers, even though yap.TV has a system that filters tweets by time zone to try and stop this.

    Cunningham took me through a hands-on demo of the software. While the first release was solid, the additions for the iPhone and iPod touch have made it better, and the UI has been overhauled to take advantage of the smaller screen. This review focuses on the iPhone version of the app.

    Continue reading Exclusive: yap.TV 2.5, a social TV guide

    Exclusive: yap.TV 2.5, a social TV guide originally appeared on TUAW on Wed, 30 Mar 2011 12:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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  • Wall Street cuts Apple estimates, iPhone 5 "delay" the reason

    Analysts are responding to Apple's planned WWDC conference and the ensuing rumor that suggests Apple may delay the launch of iOS 5 and the iPhone 5 until the fall. Jim Dalrymple, of The Loop, confirmed his report that the iPhone 5 would not be introduced at WWDC was not based on speculation but came from reliable sources.

    A protracted development schedule would be a major shift for Apple which has produced a new iPhone model and major iOS version each summer since the original iPhone launch on June 29, 2007.

    A shift in its annual summer launch schedule may cause Apple to lose its yearly summer boost in sales, an expectation that shaped the company's 2011 financial outlook. This move to a fall debut is prompting analysts to trim the company's revenue, EPS and iPhone shipment outlook for the remainder of 2011.

    Jefferies analyst Peter Misek cut Apple's revenue by 4 percent, its EPS by 5 percent and its iPhone shipments by 8 percent. Other analysts may follow suit and Apple's stock could be affected by this diminished outlook. Thus far, Apple's stock remains strong and finished on a positive note at the end of Tuesday trading.

    Of course, this trend could be reversed if Apple uses this delay to put the finishing touches on an improved version of iOS and to fine tune those rumored cutting-edge cloud services.

    Wall Street cuts Apple estimates, iPhone 5 "delay" the reason originally appeared on TUAW on Wed, 30 Mar 2011 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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  • iPad 2 lines persist two weeks after launch

    iPad - get them while they're hotNo, this doesn't mean that some people have been standing in line for two weeks non-stop; it means that lines continue to form at Apple stores around the USA as new shipments of iPad 2s arrive.

    In fact the lines are so notable, says AppleInsider, that Wall Street analyst Charlie Wolf of Needham & Company is now predicting that Apple will sell 30 million iPads this year, 10 million more than his original estimate. And, he predicts, Apple will sell 40 million in 2012.

    With supplies running out around the world, the shipping delays of 3-4 weeks and Ebay prices holding at around 150% of list price, it looks like those queues will continue for some time.

    Wolf admits that predicting sales is difficult and that his initial predictions (and those of others) were wrong and have had to be updated.

    Are there still queues at your local Apple Store? Are you still waiting for your iPad 2? Let us know in comments.

    iPad 2 lines persist two weeks after launch originally appeared on TUAW on Wed, 30 Mar 2011 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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  • Music artists, labels create enhanced albums for iPad

    Launched with iTunes 9, iTunes LP would let record labels include extra content such as liner notes, expanded artwork and lyrics in albums sold on iTunes. The feature never took off, but the concept of adding value to an album using interactive digital content has not died. Record labels such as Universal Music Group and EMI are now looking to the iPad as a way to entice customers to purchase a full album with value-added content instead of individual tracks.

    EMI recently released an iPad version of Until One, a dance album from Swedish House Mafia. Besides audio tracks, the iPad album includes video footage, a photo gallery and commentary from the band. The content is distributed as an iPad app and costs $9.99. Universal has also jumped on the interactive album bandwagon and has teamed with a video production company, Eagle Rock Entertainment. The duo are working on an interactive iPad versions of classic albums such as Nirvana's Nevermind. This latter project is currently under development.

    Only time will tell if this latest focus on enhanced album content will succeed. In the past, consumers eschewed bonus content, but the 9.7-inch display of the iPad provides a richer, multimedia experience than the iPhone. Given the choice, would you pay more for an enhanced iPad album or would you stick with the less expensive, music-only option?

    [Via Macstories]

    Music artists, labels create enhanced albums for iPad originally appeared on TUAW on Wed, 30 Mar 2011 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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  • iPad 2 teardown: GSM and CDMA differences

    iPad 2 teardown comparison

    The screwdriver- and heatgun-happy bunch over at iFixit have been disassembling iPad 2s again, all in the interest of keeping radio (and other) nerds "droolingly-happy," as Engaget puts it.

    Their original teardown was of a humble (relative to other iPad 2s only) 16GB WiFi-only model. Now they've attacked (harsh term) CDMA and GSM models to bring us some very nice geeky internals pictures.

    In general, they say, Apple has made the same design change decisions as they did between the GSM and CDMA versions of the iPhone 4. There's no need for a microSIM slot, an extra antenna for the CDMA model or that Qualcomm Gobi radio chip, which supports both GSM and CDMA standards (does this point to the iPhone 5 supporting CDMA and GSM in the one handset?) and so on.

    iFixit's most interesting conclusion: "Of the three, having the Wi-Fi-only version in your chest pocket is your best bet if someone decides to shoot at you." Tony Soprano, take note next time you visit Junior.

    Check out their full teardown when you have a moment; if you got out of bed on the wrong side this morning, this will pick you up better than a Dilbert cartoon making references to Apple.

    [Via Engadget]

    iPad 2 teardown: GSM and CDMA differences originally appeared on TUAW on Wed, 30 Mar 2011 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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  • TUAW's Daily App: Tiger Woods PGA Tour 12

    Along with the console versions released recently, EA has also dropped an iOS version of Tiger Woods PGA Tour 12, featuring the latest and greatest in golf simulation for the iPhone and iPad. As much as other developers may rail against EA on the App Store, there's almost never a question of quality, and this app is no exception. This is a quality golf game that does a great job of replicating a lot of the features of the popular console series, like the controls (yes, you can spin the ball in the air, which may turn some hardcore golfers off, but you don't have to). There's a checklist of pro golfers to play as and against, and eight official courses like the classic St. Andrews and TPC Sawgrass.

    Tiger Woods PGA Tour 12 has four different modes to play through, from straightforward solo games to a full PGA Tour mode; mini-games and a "Closest to the Pin" social challenge mix things up quite a bit as well. The one real glaring omission in terms of features is Game Center integration, but EA's eschewed Game Center lately -- hopefully that's not a growing trend.

    At any rate, if you like golf and iOS gaming, you'll enjoy this one. It's currently US$6.99 on the iPhone and $9.99 on the iPad, but there is a free version to try out on the iPhone. If you think the prices on this or any other EA app are too high, just wait until EA has yet another sale.

    TUAW's Daily App: Tiger Woods PGA Tour 12 originally appeared on TUAW on Wed, 30 Mar 2011 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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  • Survey: Apple ready for big China growth
    Chinese want iPhones

    China is catching up with the Western world in many ways, and now "Wanting an iPhone really, really badly" has been added to the list of similarities. Until now, Nokia has been the most desired brand in China, largely because it's provided cheap handsets. Now such handsets come from Chinese manufacturers, and their low-budget image has led to their desirability being drastically reduced.

    These days it's the iPhone that tops the desirability charts amongst those Chinese who say they're thinking of getting a 3G handset. Up to 53 percent of those surveyed said they'd get an iPhone if price were no object, according to a new Alphawise/Morgan Stanley survey.

    This research was carried out with the iPhone 4 now nearly a year old compared to some of the competition. The eventual arrival of the iPhone 5 can only change this situation in Apple's favor, meaning that sales may be getting ready to take off in the land where the iPhone is actually made.

    Survey: Apple ready for big China growth originally appeared on TUAW on Wed, 30 Mar 2011 04:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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  • No Comment: Dell exec dismisses iPad, can't count

    Dell's global head of marketing Andy Lark spoke to CIO Australia this week, and he not only dissed Apple -- a company with a current market cap of $323.3 billion compared to Dell's measly $28.2 billion -- but also found some time to dream up some completely bogus specifications and pricing for the iPad.

    Lark started by stating that "Apple is great if you've got a lot of money and live on an island. It's not so great if you have to exist in a diverse, open, connected enterprise; simple things become quite complex."

    Ahem. That deserves a spot on our No Comment wall of confusion.

    Next, Lark stated that enterprises were not going to be jumping on iPad deployments, since "an iPad with a keyboard, a mouse and a case [means] you'll be at $1500 or $1600; that's double of what you're paying."

    Joshua Schnell at Macgasm pointed out that a 16 GB Wi-Fi iPad 2, Apple Wireless Keyboard, iPad Dock and iPad 2 Smart Cover price out at US$666 before taxes. Where the extra $900 - $1000 comes into play is a mystery, unless Dell is selling thousand-dollar mice.

    Moreover, apparently Lark has no idea that the iPad doesn't need a mouse. It uses a magical and revolutionary "touchscreen" for its user interface.

    In the annals of Dell executive history, this has to go down as a pretty impressive foot-in-mouth comment; it rivals Michael Dell's famous quote about Apple on October 6, 1997: "What would I do? I'd shut it down and give the money back to the shareholders."

    Looks like it's time for Andy to go back to school and learn a little bit about his competitors. It might also help to brush up on those math skills.

    No Comment: Dell exec dismisses iPad, can't count originally appeared on TUAW on Wed, 30 Mar 2011 01:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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  • Rumor: BlackBerry Messenger to land in the App Store on April 26 [Debunked]

    Update: Boy Genius Report gets the official word from RIM; BBM is not coming out for iOS on April 26 (and that 'social media conference' where the CEO spoke? Also imaginary). That doesn't mean it never will, but we've erased that "x" from our calendars.

    Rumblings of an iPhone version of BlackBerry Messenger surfaced earlier this month from an unidentified source that provided a tip to BGR. Another unconfirmed source has stepped forward with additional information on the MacRumors forums that points to an April 26 debut of the BlackBerry Messenger app in the App Store.

    This latest information purportedly comes from an attendee of a social media conference hosted by RIM in Toronto [which never happened -- see above]. During the presentation, RIM's Co-CEO Jim Balsillie supposedly told those in attendance that BBM would make its way to the iOS App Store on April 26. The source also claims the app would be updated this summer with a new notification system. This last piece may be an indirect reference to iOS 5, which may overhaul Apple's current notification system.

    Douse this rumor with some pickling salt, kosher salt and table salt as we cannot verify this April 26 date, nor the existence of a BBM app. Based on earlier leaked information and RIM's move to incorporate Android application emulation in its PlayBook tablet, a move to iOS in the upcoming month is not that far-fetched. Anyone a believer?

    The image above was provided to TUAW several weeks ago and should not be considered evidence one way or the other of a BBM app.

    Rumor: BlackBerry Messenger to land in the App Store on April 26 [Debunked] originally appeared on TUAW on Tue, 29 Mar 2011 23:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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  • Gameloft's NOVA 3 rumored to be built on Unreal Engine

    Gameloft has announced that it has licensed the Unreal Engine for four upcoming games set to be released in 2011 and 2012.

    Gameloft hasn't announced which games will be running on the Unreal Engine, but Pocket Gamer seems to believe that one of the titles slated to be released this year is the next followup to the popular, and already impressive looking, sci-fi shooters N.O.V.A. Near Orbit Vanguard Alliance and N.O.V.A. 2.

    Last year, Epic Games started dropping jaws when it released Epic Citadel as a proof of concept showing off the Unreal Engine running on iOS. Epic then followed it up in December with the stunning and widely praised Infinity Blade, a game many have claimed looked as good as current generation dedicated gaming consoles. After all, it's the same engine that powers many blockbuster games, like Gears of War, Bulletstorm and BioShock 2, despite more limited hardware on iOS devices.

    Continue reading Gameloft's NOVA 3 rumored to be built on Unreal Engine

    Gameloft's NOVA 3 rumored to be built on Unreal Engine originally appeared on TUAW on Tue, 29 Mar 2011 22:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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  • Video extender powers iPad 2 wireless HDMI hack: The streaming adds 2 pounds

    If you don't mind spending a bit of money and adding a couple of pounds of weight (and a two hour time limit) to your iPad, this video demonstrates that a simple HDMI wireless extender will allow you to transmit audio and video to a remote presentation system.

    After watching the clip, we hopped on Amazon to see what it might take to duplicate this hack; we found the HP Wireless TV Connect (the same product that appears to be in use) for US$150, and a similar Brite-View product for $160. Although you can choose a VGA extender over an HDMI one, you will not be able to transmit audio the way this solution does -- and you'll end up spending more.

    So how much should you expect to spend, beyond the iPad and receiving screen? The HP transmitter should work fine, although you can scale up to more professional HDMI transmitters for more dough if you need the quality. The Digital AV Adapter is $39, and the battery pack will add another $24 -- then you'll need a case to hold it all together and stronger arms to carry the iPad around.

    Still, for mobile presenters and trainers who absolutely have to roam around with iPad in hand, it's an intriguing and (relatively) economical hack.

    Video extender powers iPad 2 wireless HDMI hack: The streaming adds 2 pounds originally appeared on TUAW on Tue, 29 Mar 2011 21:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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  • Apple Q2 2011 earnings call scheduled for April 20

    Apple's second fiscal quarter ends this week on Thursday, March 31, and the company has already scheduled the earnings call with financial analysts to discuss just how good (or bad) things were during the quarter.

    As you can see, the call is scheduled for 5 PM ET (2 PM PT) on Wednesday, April 20. That's at the time we normally host TUAW TV Live, so we may look into combining the call with a livestreaming video event for readers to join in on rather than our usual liveblog.

    You'll be able to listen in on the call here, and we'll be sure to remind you of the event in the days leading up to the call.

    [via MacStories]

    Apple Q2 2011 earnings call scheduled for April 20 originally appeared on TUAW on Tue, 29 Mar 2011 20:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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  • Pioneer demos new iPhone-powered in-dash interface

    We first heard about Pioneer's AVIC in-car units back at CES earlier this year, but earlier today, the company was kind enough to drive a Land Rover up to my curb here in Los Angeles, and I checked out the system in action. The main unit, as you can see in the picture above, is a pretty standard touchscreen in-dash interface -- you can use it to flip between any in-car audio or video controls you have, and of course, it has a built-in GPS unit and can do all of the usual navigation things, like give you a route or check traffic.

    But the interesting thing about this one is that it hooks up to your iPhone -- you can just barely see Pioneer's demo iPhone in the picture above, plugged into a dock cable that runs up through the glove compartment. And indeed, that's where your iPhone stays. The idea with this unit is that it works as an interface for your phone while driving, rather than replacing it completely.

    Continue reading Pioneer demos new iPhone-powered in-dash interface

    Pioneer demos new iPhone-powered in-dash interface originally appeared on TUAW on Tue, 29 Mar 2011 19:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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  • Former Lala CEO says Apple bought them 'for the people'

    Lala's Bill Ngyuen had a short video interview with Fortune, and in it Nguyen says that Apple picked up his company specifically "for the people," not for the streaming cloud music service or any of Lala's other assets. Fortune confronts him on the idea of Apple running its own cloud music service (as has been rumored for a while), and Nguyen suggests that instead of building its own service, Apple's actually provided the hardware and software platforms to let any number of companies, from Pandora to Netflix, do what Lala did and provide content over the air to whatever devices people happen to use.

    That's an interesting take for sure -- from Nguyen's perspective, it sounds like Apple is already doing what it wants to do with Lala, which is just use its employees' knowledge of how services like this work to provide help for other companies on the App Store. We've all expected Apple to run a streaming service of its own, but maybe it just wants to make things easier for other companies to jump in and provide content. Who knows what we'll see with that data center in North Carolina.

    Former Lala CEO says Apple bought them 'for the people' originally appeared on TUAW on Tue, 29 Mar 2011 18:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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  • Report: Windows Phone to beat iPhone in market share by 2015

    IDC has released its latest report on the future of the smartphone market, and according to the predictions, there's a lot of growth in store for Windows Phone 7. By 2015, says the firm, Windows Phones should have over 20 percent of the smartphone market, placing it ahead of even Apple's iOS handsets (Apple's market share, according to the report, is going to fall, but not by much).

    That's not impossible, given that Android has already moved ahead of Apple, and given the growing smartphone market itself, we'll probably see a lot more Windows Phones out and about in the next year or so. But that amount of growth seems unlikely, especially as iPhone prices are dropping and customer awareness is at an all-time high thanks to Apple's innovations. Apple's not really going after market share, so even if Windows Phones do see that growth, it won't hurt the company much anyway.

    As our sister site Engadget points out, however, IDC also predicted that Symbian would "dominate" the smartphone market through 2013, and this latest report has the bottom falling out of that OS, dropping down to a .2 percent share in 2015. So essentially, it's all just crystal ball guessing anyway.

    Headline corrected.

    Report: Windows Phone to beat iPhone in market share by 2015 originally appeared on TUAW on Tue, 29 Mar 2011 17:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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  • Element Case Joule Chroma iPad stand works with iPad 2

    We've covered the Element Case Joule iPad stand several times here on TUAW, even giving away some specially-made TUAW-logoed stands to several of our readers. Now Element Case has partnered with us again to introduce the new Joule Chroma line of iPad stands, and yes, we will be giving one away.

    The Chroma line comes in six bright colors -- orange, red, blue, pink, grey and black -- and there's even a matching Ultrasuede liner to caress your iPad. The Joule stand is set up with rubber pads at the bottom to keep it from sliding across smooth surfaces as you tap on the iPad screen, and the tilt foot magnetically attaches to one of three ports to adjust the angle at which the iPad sits. Finally, there's a speaker port so that your tunes aren't muffled when the iPad is nestled in the stand in portrait mode.

    The Joule Chroma isn't for everyone; at US$149.99, it's definitely a luxury item. And you probably don't want to use it with the Smart Cover installed, as you'll want to use this when you're using the iPad 2. But if you're looking for a very classy and well-made machined aluminum product with which to prop up your iPad, the Joule Chroma is a heck of a choice.

    Continue reading Element Case Joule Chroma iPad stand works with iPad 2

    Element Case Joule Chroma iPad stand works with iPad 2 originally appeared on TUAW on Tue, 29 Mar 2011 16:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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  • iPhone 4 Personal Hotspot put to the test

    It's a good thing that I decided to sign up for AT&T's implementation of the iOS 4.3 Personal Hotspot feature while I was standing in line for my iPad 2 a couple of weeks ago.

    I'm accompanying my wife on a conference trip this week, using the time away from my consulting clients to get some serious writing done on a book update. As with many hotels that host conferences and conventions, this place charges for Wi-Fi in the room.

    That's not a problem during the fairly quiet morning hours when the bar area is empty, but once lunch rolls around and the afternoon partying starts, it's impossible to get any work done. To avoid paying the ridiculous $10.95 daily charge for in-room Wi-Fi, I decided to put Personal Hotspot to the test.

    The service, which requires a "tethering package" and a "personal hotspot package" from AT&T at a combined cost of $45 per month, was quite easy to set up. Blogger buddy Erica Sadun and I were in line at the Aspen Grove Apple Store on March 11 when I got disgusted with the flakiness of the Wi-Fi connection we (along with about 50 other people) were borrowing from the store.

    My iPhone 4 had been updated to iOS 4.3 a few days before, so I knew I had Personal Hotspot capabilities -- all I needed to do was call AT&T by dialing 611 on my phone. After a five-minute call, most of which was taken up with the service representative repeating that I was going to be paying an additional $45 a month, I was up and running.

    Continue reading iPhone 4 Personal Hotspot put to the test

    iPhone 4 Personal Hotspot put to the test originally appeared on TUAW on Tue, 29 Mar 2011 15:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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  • MobileMe rumored to get alternative payment methods

    MobileMe LogoA recently-published report from Germany suggests Apple will soon add brand new functionality to MobileMe: the ability to subscribe to the suite of online services with a form of payment other than a credit card. The rumor discourages hope for MobileMe becoming a free offering.

    According to macnews.de, one of its readers ran into trouble while trying to renew his subscription to MobileMe. Currently, it's practically impossible for Apple's customers to activate a subscription to the US$99 per year online service without a credit card. When the macnews.de reader, who doesn't have a credit card, explained his situation to Apple's support hotline, a support agent for the company told him, "We're currently working on offering customers alternate payment options." The support staffer could not provide any further details or a release date.

    Once upon a time, customers like this macnews.de reader could walk into a store, purchase a boxed "copy" of MobileMe using their preferred payment method, bring the box home and use the included activation instructions to enable or renew their MobileMe subscriptions online. But in February, Apple discontinued shipments of boxed MobileMe activation kits, leaving customers with only one option for buying the service: online with a valid credit card. This limitation could dramatically reduce MobileMe subscriptions in countries like Germany where about 80 percent of consumers use bank transfers to complete online transactions, according to research by The Nielsen Company. If Apple wishes to continue charging customers for all or part of its online services, it would be necessary for the company to offer more payment options.

    Prompted by an email from Steve Jobs promising MobileMe would "get a lot better in 2011," many speculate the service is due for a major overhaul this year. Today, Apple's suite of online services allows subscribers to publish websites and photo galleries, access ad-free IMAP email, synchronize data between Macs and devices over the internet, backup and share files online and locate lost iPhones. Rumors suggest any or all of these services will be revamped and expanded to include a "media locker" to give subscribers online access to certain content purchased from the iTunes Store. Speculators hoped Apple planned to offer MobileMe free of charge, especially after the company discontinued the service's boxed activation kits. But if Apple is exploring alternative payment options, an entirely free MobileMe seems unlikely.

    [via MacNN]

    MobileMe rumored to get alternative payment methods originally appeared on TUAW on Tue, 29 Mar 2011 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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  • From volcanoes to Third World schoolchildren: Why I chose the iPad 2

    Last week, I posted two stories about my iPad 2's big trip to Guatemala for I4U and TechEye. The articles -- mainly the pictures, if I'm honest -- provoked a larger reader response than I'm used to dealing with. Most of the comments and emails came from female fans, excited by my rugged handsomeness. But many came from doubters -- people with a reflexive negative reaction towards any Apple product.

    First off, I'll provide a dram of personal background: the iPad 2 is the first Apple product I've ever purchased. I'm not a fanboy, and I've written some very nasty things about Apple that have been read by a few million folks. So I didn't come into this experiment with an eye on providing Apple with some free PR.

    Not everyone simply accused me of being an Apple fanboy. Reader "Tom" on TechEye brought up an interesting point ... and made a butt joke.

    "Another article by someone who thinks an expensive toy that can do the sort of things we've been able to do on computers for a long long long long time is somehow newsworthy may just result in an article on 'First iPad found by proctologist'."

    Continue reading From volcanoes to Third World schoolchildren: Why I chose the iPad 2

    From volcanoes to Third World schoolchildren: Why I chose the iPad 2 originally appeared on TUAW on Tue, 29 Mar 2011 14:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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  • JBL introduces OnBeat speaker dock for iPad, iPhone, iPod

    If you've somehow avoided buying a speaker dock for your iPad, iPhone or iPod up to this point, then you might want to wait until next month before you make your decision. That's when the JBL OnBeat speaker dock will be available at Apple and Best Buy stores.

    Priced at US$149.95, the OnBeat is JBL's first foray into the iPad dock market. They've obviously put some thought into the design, building a swoopy design big enough to comfortably hold an iPad in portrait or landscape orientation and packing a pair of Phoenix full-range transducer speakers that can pump out your favorite tunes with great clarity and volume. The OnBeat produces 7.5 watts of computer-optimized, DSP-equalized audio per channel.

    Not only does the OnBeat dock handle your tunes, but if you happen to have a set of composite video cables handy, you can run 'em between the OnBeat and your TV. JBL supplies an IR remote with the OnBeat so that you don't have to get up from the couch to change tunes, and of course, you can use the dock to keep your favorite iToy charged up.

    As you can see from the image above, the OnBeat dock looks pretty cool, too. I don't know if it's just me, but with that iPad attached it looks like some sort of robot samurai... We'll try to get one of these docks soon for testing and giveaway.

    [via Engadget]

    JBL introduces OnBeat speaker dock for iPad, iPhone, iPod originally appeared on TUAW on Tue, 29 Mar 2011 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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  • Will iOS 5 get integrated voice tech?

    TechCrunch is reporting the rumor today, and some sources I have close to the Siri product think it is likely happening.

    Siri is that very cool personal assistant app. It allows you to ask questions that the app sends (as your voice data) to a server where it is recognized. The query is then sent off to a series of search engines to find an answer, which is finally returned to the user. You can ask for things like the best area pizza shop, the status of an arriving flight or the weather in Omaha. The speech recognition in the app comes from Nuance, the company that developed Dragon Dictation and Dragon Search.

    Last year, Apple bought Siri, and it seems likely that the tech will find its way into Apple products, especially iDevices. Siri is a very clever app, and it has always made a great demo on my iPhone. To have it built into iOS would be great. It appears Apple is trying to wean itself off Google services, like Search and Maps, and Siri would be a step in that direction. If you don't have it already and want to play with Siri, you can get it free at the App Store. Prepare to be impressed.

    Will iOS 5 get integrated voice tech? originally appeared on TUAW on Tue, 29 Mar 2011 13:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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  • Camera + 2.2 adds Clarity feature, UI improvements, more

    Tap Tap Tap has released Camera + 2.2 (US$0.99) today, which includes some nice UI changes, automatic saving to the iPhone's camera roll (yay!) and a hot new feature called Clarity, which is Tap Tap Tap's answer to Apple's HDR photo feature. I spent the morning shooting photos with Camera + 2.2, and here's what I found.

    UI

    Camera + hasn't received a complete UI overhaul, but the changes are quite welcome. Transition animations are smooth and pretty. For example, tapping the Edit button while viewing an image full-screen first pulls the shot forward, than sinks it into the edit window as the tools appear. Tap the Done button when you're finished and the editing tools fall away as the image slides back into the foreground. Each transition is smooth and pretty with no stuttering.

    The info panel has been updated with the Tap Tap Tap gang re-ordering a few buttons. Now you get a thumbnail at left, the time stamp and date stamp, size and resolution. Beneath that, you'll find EXIF data and flash status at the time of exposure (on or off). Lastly, a pin identifies where the shot was taken on a Google Map. Give it a tap to open the Maps app.

    Finally, you'll find buttons for the camera, editing tools, save options, sharing options and finally a delete button.

    Continue reading Camera + 2.2 adds Clarity feature, UI improvements, more

    Camera + 2.2 adds Clarity feature, UI improvements, more originally appeared on TUAW on Tue, 29 Mar 2011 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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  • Building permits suggest SoHo Apple Store ready for expansion

    Apple's New York SoHo store has a long and storied history. It was the first Apple Store to open in New York City and is housed in an old, distinctively-styled Post Office building.

    It has been visited by Steve Jobs himself and has been the host of several high-profile guest appearances by the Coen Brothers and the Jonas Brothers. These appearances attracted so much attention that the store was cited as a bad neighbor by its community.

    Though its reputation is large, the square footage of the SoHo store reaches a mere 16,000 square-feet, making it the smallest Apple store in the Big Apple.

    A recent building permit issued for work on the SoHo store and a rental agreement for an adjacent property suggests the store may be expanding its retail footprint. The store currently occupies the upper level and a portion of the lower level and basement of 103 Prince Street. A remaining portion of the building is addressed as 124 Greene Street and was home to a Post Office branch until 2009. Now that this spot has been vacated, Apple has reportedly signed a lease for this parcel and is looking to integrate the 5,000-square foot space into its existing SoHo store. This expansion would put the SoHo store on equal footing with the other NYC stores, which average 20,000+ square-feet.

    Building permits suggest SoHo Apple Store ready for expansion originally appeared on TUAW on Tue, 29 Mar 2011 12:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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  • Vimeo for iPhone now available, features video editor

    Vimeo expanded its video hosting service to include an iPhone application today. The new mobile application is integrated tightly into the Vimeo service and lets you easily edit and manage your existing video content as well as add new content recorded on your iOS device.

    The Vimeo application is feature rich and lets you upload new content and download existing clips to your camera roll. The account management feature lets you edit the details of your video clips and organize them into groups, channels and albums. You can also retrieve stats, such as daily views, likes and comments. The obligatory social networking features let you share your videos using Twitter, Tumblr, WordPress, email or SMS.

    To sweeten the pot, the Vimeo application also includes a built-in video capture tool and editor that lets you spruce up videos recorded by your phone before you share them with the world. Editor features are basic and include transitions, titling and trim effects. You can also add a personalized audio track and adjust the volume level of recorded clips.

    Lastly, Vimeo has covered all the bases with this application by allowing users to browse Vimeo's extensive catalog of video clips from their mobile phone. Similar to its web client, the mobile application lets you watch videos stored in your Inbox and your Watch Later queue as well as those clips you have liked. You can also use the iOS application to "like" videos and add them to your Watch Later queue.

    Best of all, Vimeo is open to suggestions for improvement and is committed to providing regular updates, which will include new music, effects and feature requests submitted by users. The application is available for free from the App Store and is compatible with iOS devices running version 4.0.1 including the iPhone, iPod touch (fourth generation) and the iPad 2.

    Vimeo for iPhone now available, features video editor originally appeared on TUAW on Tue, 29 Mar 2011 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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  • Apple Design Awards: Would past winners be eligible?

    As we reported Monday, Mac software is once again eligible for an Apple Design Award with the caveat that it be available on the Mac App Store by May 23. Not only does it exclude companies that can't enter the Mac App Store, but it also cuts out a good bit of past winners.

    Out of the past 22 winners of the Apple Design Award spanning 2006 to 2009, nine apps would be eligible for the 2011 awards. Thirteen are out of the game, though two developers have indicated future Mac App Store plans. A couple pieces of past winners are no longer actively developed.

    Read on to see a list of past winners -- 2010 excluded, of course -- and their current status regarding the Mac App Store.

    Continue reading Apple Design Awards: Would past winners be eligible?

    Apple Design Awards: Would past winners be eligible? originally appeared on TUAW on Tue, 29 Mar 2011 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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  • Nokia files second complaint against Apple

    NokiaAfter yesterday's decision by the International Trade Commission that Apple isn't violating five key Nokia patents, Nokia today has hit back by claiming that they invented, well, just about everything Apple has ever made.

    AppleInsider is reporting that Nokia has today launched a second complaint with the ITC saying that Apple's iPhone, iPod, iPad and Mac computers violate seven of their patents covering multi-tasking, data synchronization, positioning, call quality and the use of Bluetooth accessories.

    Nokia has issued a press release in which they also say they disagree with the ITC's judgement yesterday, and "is waiting to see the full details of the ruling before deciding on the next steps in that case."

    "Our latest ITC filing means we now have 46 Nokia patents in suit against Apple, many filed more than 10 years before Apple made its first iPhone," said Paul Melin, Vice President, Intellectual Property at Nokia. Nokia is also suing Apple in patent courts in Delaware in the USA, Mannheim, Dusseldorf and the Federal Patent Court in Germany, the UK High Court in London and the District Court of the Hague in the Netherlands.

    It appears that about the only Apple product not first developed by Nokia is the Apple HiFi -- although, as it ran on electricity and has at least one speaker, even that could be theirs.

    Nokia files second complaint against Apple originally appeared on TUAW on Tue, 29 Mar 2011 10:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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  • Ask TUAW Video Edition: PDF and Scripting

    ask tuaw videoAndrew asked us about how to have a folder convert documents to PDF format so that he can sync them to his Dropbox.

    Today's show goes into how to use Automator and AppleScript to do some scripting, and we're going to demonstrate an iPad app that will convert documents for you on your iPad.

    Some resources for you:

    Any questions, please leave them in the comments or email us! Read on for the video.

    Continue reading Ask TUAW Video Edition: PDF and Scripting

    Ask TUAW Video Edition: PDF and Scripting originally appeared on TUAW on Tue, 29 Mar 2011 10:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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  • Amazon launches 'cloud locker' music service

    Amazon announced Cloud Drive and Cloud Player for the Web and Android, a new web-based service that lets you store your music and other files in the cloud and access them on the go. Streaming music is possible using a web-based player compatible with the Mac and PC as well as an Android application.

    The Cloud Drive service competes with online storage solutions like Dropbox by letting you upload music, video, photos and other documents to an online locker. The service provides you with 5 GB of online storage space for free, and additional storage capacity is available for a minimal fee. The paid service includes 20 GB of storage for $20, 50 GB for $50 and so on.

    Amazon's Cloud Player service is free and brings music streaming to the masses who shop Amazon's web store. Amazon apparently launched the service without the blessing of the recording industry and is working on securing post-announcement licenses. The online retail giant is forcing the music industry to play its hand and either support the service or risk appearing as the bad guy by shooting Amazon down. It's a gutsy move, but one that Amazon needs to make if it wants to catch up with its competition.

    Speaking of competition, read on to find out how Amazon is taking on Apple's popular iTunes music service.

    Continue reading Amazon launches 'cloud locker' music service

    Amazon launches 'cloud locker' music service originally appeared on TUAW on Tue, 29 Mar 2011 09:10:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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  • TUAW's Daily App: Ring Blade

    Ring Blade is an interesting take on the top-down shooter genre (sometimes called "bullet hell," though that specific genre is a little tougher than Ring Blade actually is). Games of this ilk on the iPhone have struggled a little bit with control schemes, and Ring Blade tries something original -- rather than dragging your ship around the screen or blocking the action with a finger, you can flick your ship back and forth on the bottom of your iPhone's screen. You charge shots with a touch, and then you can flick shots up off the "walls" on-screen; they'll bounce back and forth and hit enemies as they go.

    It's a weird little twist on the controls for the iPhone, and it works pretty well. Of course, as you can see above, Ring Blade's other selling point is the graphics -- they're all based on tribal tattoos, making for some interesting enemies and bosses. The game also features 30 levels and OpenFeint integration as well (no Game Center, sadly). It's available on the iPhone right now for just US$0.99.

    TUAW's Daily App: Ring Blade originally appeared on TUAW on Tue, 29 Mar 2011 08:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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  • Mobile Life 2011 survey covers phone use habits and future trends

    For the last six years, global research firm TNS has been compiling extensive reports on the usage habits of mobile phone users. Today the company announced the release of its latest work, TNS Mobile Life 2011. Based on a staggering amount of effort -- 25,000 hours of interviews with over 34,000 respondents covering 43 countries -- there's a ton of interesting data here on all sorts of things wrapped up in some attractive Flash graphics to allow you to slice and dice the data. For example, the above graph shows how various phone use cases -- email, social networking, internet and so on -- varies by time of day across different countries.

    The survey shows strong brand loyalty amongst both iOS and Android users, with 51 percent and 49 percent of respondents, respectively, "very likely" to stick with their current platform in the future. I suspect this is because of the lock-in effect of the two platforms' strong app store offerings. Once you've bought a few hundred apps through iTunes or the Android Market, you have a few hundred reasons not to want to switch platforms. Indeed, a quarter of all survey participants said that content and apps for their devices are a key part of choosing a platform.

    For Windows and Symbian those customer loyalty numbers were only 30 percent and 31 percent, respectively. It might be that Nokia's deal with Microsoft to switch to Windows Phone 7 might not help it as much as it hopes, although it's likely that the relatively poor customer satisfaction in the Windows camp reflects more on previous versions of Windows Mobile (which, as an owner of one, I can confirm stink out loud) than they do on the shiny new WP7.

    Looking to the future, the survey sees that as usage of SMS and still photography will reach market saturation, and customer purchasing decisions will be increasingly driven by advanced features, such as access to social networks, live TV viewing and photo and video uploading, particularly in emerging markets. Indeed, the survey paints a picture of a tremendous, untapped hunger for advanced smartphones in these emerging markets, which it defines as 24 countries including most of South America, most of Africa, China and India, amongst others.

    There's far more data here than I can hope to cover in this post -- if (like me) you're a data nerd, I recommend you take a long look for yourself.

    Mobile Life 2011 survey covers phone use habits and future trends originally appeared on TUAW on Tue, 29 Mar 2011 07:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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  • UK cell operator O2 changes tariffs, offers free tethering

    Here in the UK, O2 was Apple's partner operator for several years, and it remains the default choice for a lot of us iPhone users. With the new emphasis on tethering in iOS 4.3 via Personal Hotspot, many of us O2 users (particularly those of us with Wi-Fi iPads) have been clamoring for better tethering plans (as Ben Sillis notes, O2 has recently fallen behind rival networks in terms of its value for money.)

    Today, O2 is announcing new tariffs (note that in UK jargon we say "tariff" instead of "plan") across the board, for both its subsidized handset contracts and its SIM-only deals. The full details are here, but the important details for iPhone owners are:

    • Tethering is now completely free. If you have a 1 GB data allocation, then it doesn't matter if you use that data on the phone or on a connected device -- it's all charged the same.
    • Data allocations are now tiered separately to your base plan. 100 MB of data is £3/month, 500 MB is £6 and 1 GB is £10.
    • The basic 300 min voice / unlimited SMS / 500 MB tariff is £37 per month with an 18 month subsidized handset deal. If you commit to a 24 month contract, you can deduct £5 per month. This used to cost £30.64 per month (Google Cache of the old page).
    • The same tariff structure on a 1-month-notice SIM-only deal is £21.50 per month (previously, this was £20.43). If you commit to a 12 month contract, you get twice as many voice minutes.
    • Upgrading customers can now choose 12 month contract lengths, meaning you can get each new iPhone release when it comes out. Previously, most people were on 18 month contracts, which didn't sync up very well with annual iPhone refreshes.

    What do you think of the new plans, readers? Personally, I'm going to be calling them today to move my SIMplicity over to the new structure so that I can tether my iPad at will -- I might bump up to 1 GB per month of data, too.

    Thanks to Jonny Riches for sending this in.

    UK cell operator O2 changes tariffs, offers free tethering originally appeared on TUAW on Tue, 29 Mar 2011 07:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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  • Doodle Jump adds multiplayer race with version 2.0

    Lima Sky has just released an updated version of its insanely popular Doodle Jump game. The 2.0 release adds the ability to compete against your friends in a multiplayer race to the top. The multiplayer race requires a Wi-Fi network and is limited to your Game Center friends.

    For those of you patiently waiting for an iPad-optimized version of Doodle Jump, you're going to have to wait a little longer. The 2.0 release isn't a universal app. However, iPad owners who are Doodle Jump fans can download the free Hop app for iPad, which is basically Doodle Jump in animated, Hollywood movie tie-in bunny form.

    The latest 2.0 version of Doodle Jump is a free update to current owners and the usual US$0.99 for anyone who hasn't bought the app yet.

    Doodle Jump adds multiplayer race with version 2.0 originally appeared on TUAW on Tue, 29 Mar 2011 04:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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  • WWDC 2011 ticket shows up on eBay

    Well, if you weren't quick enough to get a ticket to this year's WWDC, this just might ... make you angry. A developer is selling an unactivated extra ticket on eBay for the Buy It Now price of US$3,500. That's $1,900 more than the original $1,599 cost. The eBay seller says the ticket is one he bought for a colleague who can't make it this year. It's great that he wants to give another dev who missed out on a ticket the chance of going, but trying to make a buck off it? Come on. [We thought about putting in a link to the auction itself, but decided that was just bad form. -Ed]

    Now before anyone gets too hopeful (or angry), I'm certain that Apple is going to put an end to this auction quicker than it can pull an app from the App Store. The last thing Apple wants to have happen is a string of bogus developers in future years buying up WWDC tickets and then scalping them for a profit. Still, I wouldn't be surprised to see some more WWDC tickets show up on Craigslist or eBay before the June 6 conference begins.

    WWDC 2011 ticket shows up on eBay originally appeared on TUAW on Tue, 29 Mar 2011 01:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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