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Ipad lines at Irvine Spectrum not (too) long

April 3rd, 2010, 8:05 am by

Blogging from my iPhone, I’m here at the Irvine Spectrum to buy my pre-ordered iPad.

There are two lines stretching to either side of the Apple Store, one for reserved devices and another for purchases. At 8 a.m., one hour before iPad goes on sale, the reserved line was about 40 strong and the other line has about 30 people in it.

Read Ian’s latest posts:

The first person in line, Russ Taylor, got in line at 3 p.m. on Friday. He has a vested interest in grabbing his two pre-ordered 64GB wifi iPads – he owns the store directly across from the Apple Store. It’s called Fusion of Ideas and they make protective films and do custom etchings for electronic devices.

The first people in the non pre-ordered line – brothers Edgar and Benny Vences – got here at 11 p.m. last night and slept on a nearby bench. They snacked on cookies and sour patch kids and a friend made a 3 a.m. run to Jack In The Box for them.

“It was really cold,” said Benny Vences. They decided to get in line on a whim and only had a couple of blankets to keep warm.

How many iPads does this Apple Store have?

“We have plenty,” said a passing Apple Store employee who offered coffee to the chilly people waiting in line.

Posted in: Apple mania • • | 2 Comments »

Countdown: Ian heads to Irvine to buy an Apple iPad (Video)

April 3rd, 2010, 7:48 am by

Hard to miss the news this week that Apple’s new iPad computer goes on sale today. All sorts of apps were announced and reviews started coming in.

This morning, O.C. Register reporter and Mac fan Ian Hamilton heads to the Irvine Spectrum Apple store to grab one of his own. He’ll be blogging about it right here later today.

As of 8 a.m., there are 40 people in the pre-purchase line and 30 others wishing they had pre-ordered. The first person was in line since 3 p.m. Friday.

If you’re standing in line too (or have been all night), he wants to hear from you. Tweet him at @hmltn or e-mail him at ihamilton@ocregister.com.

Read Ian’s latest posts:

The iPad is Apple’s first tablet-like computer. It’s a touch-screen marvel with Wi-Fi and option to add 3G wireless. Its pièce de résistance? It can access thousands of apps from the iTunes store. Read the rest of this entry »

Posted in: Apple mania • Gadgets • • • • • | 58 Comments »

Crappy Internet? Tell the government

March 12th, 2010, 3:30 pm by

A new mobile app lets consumers test how fast their phone or home’s Internet connection is — or isn’t.

The app’s owner? The U.S. Federal Communications Commission. As part of that National Broadband plan, the FCC wants consumers to be informed about what their broadband availability is and help contribute to the FCC’s Broadband Dead Zone Report.

“Transparency empowers consumers, promotes innovation and investment, and encourages competition,” said Chairman Julius Genachowski. “The FCC’s new digital tools will arm users with real-time information about their broadband connection and the agency with useful data about service across the country. By informing consumers about their broadband service quality, these tools help eliminate confusion and make the market work more effectively.”

The app, called the Consumer Broadband Test, measures speed and latency and reports it back to the FCC. It’s available in the Apple and Android app stores. There’s also a Web version at www.broadband.gov.

No broadband Internet? Consumers can also submit their results to the FCC by e-mail at fccinfo@fcc.gov, telephone, 888-CALL-FCC, or snail mail addressed to:

Federal Communications Commission
Consumer & Governmental Affairs Bureau,
ATTN: Broadband Dead Zone Reporting
445 12th Street, SW
Washington, D.C. 20554

One note: By taking the test, you’re giving the FCC some personal info including your IP address and home address.  Read the privacy statement.

More on the web:

Posted in: Cell phones • Internet • iPhone • • • • • • • • | 12 Comments »

Apple iPad now available on April 3

March 5th, 2010, 10:07 am by

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:

Posted in: Apple mania • • | 1 Comment »

2 free passes to MacWorld 2010

February 1st, 2010, 3:35 pm by

MacWorld 2010For 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:

Posted in: Apple mania • • • • • • • | Comments Off

Yes, Apple announces its first tablet computer: The iPad

January 27th, 2010, 10:15 am by

Apple Announces Launch Of New Tablet ComIt’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.

Apple iPad is 0.5-inch thin

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?
View Results

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 »

Posted in: Apple mania • Computers • Gadgets • • • • • • • • | 87 Comments »

Apple TV may one day offer a la carte TV

December 22nd, 2009, 11:19 am by

Apple TVNoted: Apple Inc.’s magical touch changed the music industry forever – so why not TV? The company behind the iPhone and iTunes is working on a plan to let consumers subscribe to only the TV channels they want, reports the Wall Street Journal in “Apple TV-Service Proposal Gets Some Nibbles.”

The newspaper, citing “people familiar with the matter,” said CBS Corp. and Walt Disney Co. are considering Apple’s plan to offer TV subscriptions over the Internet for a monthly fee. Apple would pay the major networks like CBS and ABC about $2 to $4 a month per subscriber. Basic cable networks might get $1 to $2 per month. A “best of television” package could cost $30 a month. Apple reportedly hopes to introduce the service in 2010.

“If Apple signs up enough networks to launch a viable service — still a very big if — it could ultimately alter the economics of the television business. The service could undermine the big bundles of channels that cable, satellite and telecommunications companies, including Comcast Corp. and DirecTV Inc., have traditionally sold in packages to subscribers.”

It’s an interesting, but not unexpected move by a company that doesn’t offer TV service. Right now, Time Warner Cable customers are facing the possible loss of Fox TV shows as negotiations between the cable company and network hit a wall and the two began publicly bickering about money. Read the rest of this entry »

Posted in: Apple mania • Video & TV • • • • | 15 Comments »

Apple alert: Steve Jobs, cheaper iPods, nanos with cameras

September 9th, 2009, 12:06 pm by

Apple iPod nano now includes video cameraApple’s big “It’s Only Rock and Roll” music event this morning has resulted in some surprising news: iPod nanos now have built-in video cameras but new iPod Touches don’t. Steve Jobs is walking and talking. Apple also dropped the lowest price of an iPod shuffle to $55.

The new iPod nano, available immediately, is $149 for the 8GB model and $179 for the 16GB model. Comes in silver, black, purple, blue, green, orange and pink. A yellow and (PRODUCT) RED versions at Apple’s retail or online store.

The iPod Touch was rumored to get a built-in camera but it is MIA, sad news for the iPhoneBlog.com. However, the Touch price dropped to $199 for the 8 GB version, and the lineup got a new size: 64 GBs for $399. The 32GB is now $299.

As for Steve? Standing ovation, according to CNET.  Engadget notes, “Wow — people are psyched right now. He looks good, and he’s definitely soaking this in.” Gizmodo offers its readers a Jesus as Messiah photoshopped image and this sentiment: ‘ … Steve Jobs has reappeared in the It’s Only Rock and Roll event, like the rock star he always wanted to be. Hallelujah!” (For those who don’t know, Apple founder Steve Jobs recently had a liver transplant and has long battled pancreatic cancer.)

Lots of coverage everywhere online. But here’s a link to Apple’s press site with details on new products.

More images: Read the rest of this entry »

Posted in: Apple mania • iPods • • • • • | 6 Comments »

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