If you haven’t heard, Apple’s iPad computer goes on sale April 3. The innovative touch-screen computer was supposed to debut this month. But you know how things are in the tech world, right? Besides, Apple missed March by just 3 days. The company starts taking preorders on March 12.
Praised and panned, the iPad is Apple’s first touch-screen computer aimed at people who read eBooks, watch online videos and want something smaller than a traditional laptop. Past stories about the iPad:
For the first time, Apple Inc. won’t be at the MacWorld Expo in San Francisco, which starts next week. But the show must go on, apparently.
There is a large enough cottage industry to keep running the show and it’s even attracting new exhibitors, like Brea-based Apogee Inc., which sells all sorts of Apple video-adapter accessories under a recently launched brand Kanex.
“The brand is fairly new. We want to immerse ourselves into the Mac community and plan to do so at MacWorld,” said Denise Truong, with Apogee.
The company is also giving away 2 free Expo Hall passes to the event. Just leave a comment on the Kanex blog. There’s only a handful of comments so chances of winning are pretty good. Here’s the post: “MacWorld Expo Hall Pass Giveaway: Participate to win.”
Right now, those same hall tickets cost $25 each — and $45 after the show starts. Looks like there are around 230 exhibitors including Anaheim bag maker Targus Inc., Western Digital in Lake Forest and CarMD in Fountain Valley.
And yes, show organizers plan to talk about the upcoming Apple iPad, though there is no mention that the iPad will actually be at the show.
Recent Apple news:
Now that the Apple iPad is official (read the details at “Apple announces its first tablet computer: The iPad“), the skinny little machine is getting all sorts of reviews from folks who had the chance to play with it and others who’ve only read about it.
Here’s a collection of observations from the Web and the newsroom:
>>This just in: Ken Brusic, editor for The Orange County Register and an iPhone user: What they did was really smart. We will order one to see how it might help us think of 
producing content in the future and see what our web site will look like on such a thing. The thing that I think is really smart is … instead of creating something new, they’ve created something that is really useful and continued along the same path that they started with the development community and the millions of ( iPhone and iTouch) users. I think it probably won’t be as useful as a Kindle for reading a book. eInk technology is really great for reading books because it uses so little power and the reading experience is really great. … I think magazines and newspapers will be great on the tablet. But 10 hours worth of battery life? I’ll have to see it to believe it.
► Brent Chow, Yorba Linda resident via Twitter: the iPad could rev the use of portable comps. Y buy a macbk pro when u can get a more powerful imac & ipad for about the same $
► OCMarisa on Twitter: I’ve been hoping for this. Been holding off on a netbook. I’ll get this with the 3G
► Peacekeeper357 via Twitter: Meh. Not bad, but not great. I’ll wait 4 next rev. I waited until 3G iPhone, I’ll wait on this.
► Jon Lansner, OC Register real estate blogger at Lansner on Real Estate (and an iPod Touch user): I’m not sure this is the game changer, technology wise. But packaging-wise — assuming it delivers the expected high performance — this seems like the “next big thing.” And to bring technology up a notch to the masses, It’s always been about the packaging — not the science anyway. This may indeed be the start of the ”paperless” society many have dreamed of.
► Engadget, tech news site: “The screen is gorgeous, tilting is responsive, and the thing is super thin. Still, if you’ve used the iPhone before — and you can see the two devices side-by-side here — there’s not a lot of surprises here so far. …It’s not light. It feels pretty weighty in your hand.” (Read more)
► Leo Malone, Gadgetress commenter: Sadly it’s just a big iPod Touch. If it won’t run normal Apple laptop apps then it’s really just a toy. And when you consider it, a big uncomfortable one.
► Sonya Smith, our own beloved iGirl and major Apple user, via Twitter: The ipad has arrived. Now back to trying to sleep off this cold. Read the rest of this entry »
It’s official. Apple’s CEO Steve Jobs has announced the company’s first tablet computer: the iPad.
What can you do with it? Surf the Internet, send e-mail, share pictures, watch videos, listen to music, plays games and read eBooks, Jobs told the media crowd who showed up in San Francisco for this morning’s big announcement.
This is definitely what was rumored. And it does look like a giant iPhone. Jobs went on to show numerous publications that have built content fit for the iPad including the New York Times (which also made an appearance on stage), Time and National Geographic.
UDPATE: Some prices revealed: $499 for the 16 GB version. The 32GB is $599 and 64GB is $699. These are all Wi-Fi versions. With 3G, add $130 to each model so the prices jump to $629 $729 and $829. Data plans start at $14.99/month for 250 mb of data or $29.99 for unlimited data. AT&T is providing the service plus offering free Wi-Fi hotspot access.
The iPad begins shipping in 60 days for the non 3G versions. The 3G versions will ship in 90 days.
>> Watch Apple’s iPad video HERE.
It has interesting tweaks on the usual computer/phone features like calendar, Google Maps, contacts. Some featured services already built for iPad: Fandango movie tickets and MLB.com‘s baseball videos.
| Take the poll: | |
|---|---|
| OK. You’ve heard and read the buzz. We know it’s early — hey, you can’t even buy one yet — but we have to know …
So, will you buy one?
|
Jobs had a whole segment on, what else, iBooks. Harper Collins, Penguin, Simon & Schuster, Macmillan are some of the publishers named. It uses the ePub format, an open format so you might be able to upload your own books. According to iLounge.com, Jobs said:
Apple will go further than Kindle with a full-screen eBook reader called iBooks. iBooks has a bookshelf that inclues covers on a shelf. You can see two pages or one page at once as you prefer, and there’s a button at upper left to access the new iBook Store. Fully integrated with app to let you discover, purchase, download eBooks right on your iPad.
SPECS: It has Internet, of course. There’s also Bluetooth and Wi-Fi (802.11n), some will have 3G wireless service built in (see prices above). All 3G models will be unlocked. Read the rest of this entry »
OK. You’ve heard and read the Apple iPad buzz.If you haven’t …
We know it’s early — hey, you can’t even buy one yet — but we have to know …
If you haven’t heard about Apple’s big press conference this morning, you must not care. For those who do, Apple’s first big event of 2010 starts at 10 a.m. and I’ll report on all announcements as they become official.
Will it be an Apple tablet computer? Probably. Or an iPhone for Verizon and everyone else who’s not AT&T? Unlikely but you never really know.
We pretty much know it will be Apple first tablet computer, as confirmed by McGraw Hill’s CEO yesterday. It will run on the iPhone operating system.
It should be touchscreen, based on a patent Apple has, and will compete somewhat in the eReader market. The Wall Street Journal makes an educated guess at who else will be there: The New York Times and Walt Disney.
But how much is it, when will it be available, how big is it and will there be a new app market is undetermined. Until after today’s 10 a.m. event, we won’t know for sure. If you can’t wait until it’s over, here are some very good roundups of what the Apple tablet will be like:
If you want to catch the coverage live, here are some live blogging options:
On Twitter:
Search for the tags #apple, #appletablet, #itablet
Click HERE for a stream of Tweets about the pending Apple news:
Local iPhone users rejoice: AT&T has added 26 more 3G cell sites in the area, including six in Orange County.
The cell sites should improve wireless coverage for 3G phone users indoors and out. In Orange County, the new sites are near these intersections:
Does this affect you? Comment below and tell AT&T if these areas are really better, or tell them what intersection to hit next.
Nationwide, AT&T has been upgrading cell sites everywhere to get ready for even faster Internet, called High-Speed Packet Access or HSPA 7.2. The faster speeds are scheduled to begin later this year and next year.
Other Southern California cities included in the batch of new 3G cell sites include the following: Los Angeles, Ontario, Glendale, Santa Fe Springs, Calabasas, Northridge, Corona, Rialto, Redlands, San Luis Obispo, Santa Barbara, Bakersfield and Oxnard.
More on cell coverage in Orange County:
Vizio conquered the LCD HDTV market last year. Now it wants a piece of the TV accessory market.
While the Irvine TV company unveiled its first Blu-ray Disc player, sound bar and cables last year, this year’s show had many nice surprises as well. It not only showed its latest TVs, including a 3D model and a super skinny HDTV, but it offered up a bunch of interesting TV accessories. I’ve highlighted the following, with pictures of course:
Universal remote control with built-in LCD – Two of them are coming but the more interesting one is the XRT100 touchscreen remote control has a 3.5-inch LCD display to control the home’s entertainment system. It will work with Vizio’s upcoming (and delayed) Internet TV, as well as older audio and video devices. Unlike the Samsung Wi-Fi remote with the built-in TV display, this one works over Bluetooth. Click photos to enlarge.
Headphones with built-in LCD — Why does one need an LCD screen on a set of headphones, I’m not quite sure. But it was cool to see. Vizio added a round LCD display to the outer part of each earpiece. Users will be able to see the album cover or personal images on the screens. These are future products with no price or availability date available. Watch the video I took inside Vizio’s dark CES suite: Read the rest of this entry »
 To view local listings CLICK
HERE
Or visit your TV provider: * Cox Cable * Time Warner Cable * DirecTV * Dish Network * AT&T U-verse * Verizon FiOS *
Watch a show online HERE. |
|---|
 The North Orange County Computer Club answers your tech questions. Visit the PC Club page and the Stump archives. |
|---|
More O.C. Tech News
Here's a list of TV/mobile companies helping consumers one tweet at a time. 
