Monday, February 08, 2010 at 12:56 PM | Posted by kazouz
A report claims that mobile operator Hutchison Austria is planning to sell offer subsidized iPads with a two-year data contract requirement.
Hutchison Austria CEO Berthold Thoma said:
“Hutchison Austria will be the first Austrian carrier to bundle the iPad. We will do so via our long-established laptop bundle, which offers customers a 333 euro rebate if they agree to a 2yr contract offering 5GB of data for 29.90euro.”
The CEO also noted that his company will include a Huawei i-Mo 3G modem as the initial supply of iPads will be Wi-Fi only.
The information does not suggest that the company has worked out a deal with Apple for this: it appears Hutchison plans to purchase and sell the units on its own.
Monday, February 08, 2010 at 12:37 PM | Posted by kazouz
The Wall Street Journal reports that Apple is open to future price cuts on its newly introduced iPad tablet device if it fails to attract sufficient interest from customers according to an analyst.
Continue reading Apple open to iPad price cuts?
Monday, February 08, 2010 at 10:57 AM | Posted by howard
Last Thursday, Apple gathered 50 top New York Times exectuives at Pranna, a southeast Asian restaurant on Madison Avenue in Manhattan, to discuss the importance of digital distribution and give an up-close demonstration of the iPad.
With the internet creating an endless supply of ad space, print media interests face a stark decision; adapt their business model or face extinction.
Steve Jobs has expressed an affinity for “old media companies,” according to one New Tork Times source. “He believes democracy is hinged on a free press and that depends on there being a professional press.”
New York Magazine reports that the Apple CEO made an unexpected appearance at the “intimate, family-style gatherinng,” wearing “a very funny hat - a big top hat kind of thing,” and ordering penne pasta and a mango lassi.
Neither the pasta nor the yogurt-based beverage are featured on Pranna’s menu.
Continue reading Jobs makes case for importance of iPad to newspaper revenue.
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Monday, February 08, 2010 at 09:47 AM | Posted by howard
According to a study by Retrevo, one of the largest consumer electronics shopping and review websites, less people want to buy an iPad now than before the product was announced.
Data was compiled from a random sample of 1000 Retrevo users in the U.S. between January 16th and 20th, and a second random sampling surveyed from January 27th to February 3rd.
When asked directly if they needed an iPad after its January 27th unveiling, 61% of respondants said “no.”
Continue reading Once unveiled, consumers lost interest in iPad.
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Monday, February 08, 2010 at 09:45 AM | Posted by kazouz
Macworld Expo is set to begin this week at the Moscone Center in San Francisco.
Apple will not participate in this edition of the expo as the company believes trade shows are no longer an effective way to reach out to the public.
The company had used the event for significant product launches in the past. In 2007, the original iPhone was introduced at the Macworld Expo.
The expo will run from February 9 to 13, 2010 after traditionally taking place in January. The dates were changed to avoid conflict with the Consumer Electronics Show.
Despite Apple’s absence, Macworld Expo will still attract some attention as a number of new Mac and iPhone/iPod accessories will be showcased during the week.
Monday, February 08, 2010 at 08:11 AM | Posted by howard
Walter Mossberg, technology columnist for the Wall Street Journal, Michael Arrington of TechCrunch and David Carr, media and culture columnist for the New York Times shared their veiws on the iPad with Charlie Rose last Thursday.
“The gadget disappears pretty quickly,” says Carr. “You’re looking into pure software.”
Mr. Carr suggested that the absence of multitasking could be a positive feature of the device, allowing users to focus on their game or movie without distractions like Twitter and RSS feeds.
“Personally I think people are going to love this,” says Michael Arrington. “...sitting on the couch and listening to music or even looking up something on Wikipedia while they’re watching TV.”
Mr. Arrington asserts that Apple is making a comfortable profit on the iPad, using a relatively low-end chip and a smaller screen.
Continue reading Mossberg discusses iPad on Charlie Rose; “it’s a different animal than an iPhone.”
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Wednesday, February 03, 2010 at 03:14 PM | Posted by kazouz
Needham & Co. analyst Charlie Wolf estimates that Apple will sell 2 million iPads in FY 2010 and 6 million units in 2011.
The company believes that the $500 low-end price draws a “non-tivial” 75 million iPhone and iPod touch owners and a wide range of netbook buyers including schools and hospitals.
Wolf adds, however, that half of the predicted iPad sales may come at the expense of the iPod touch as the 9.7-inch screen will attract App Store game enthusiasts. Moreover, the price barrier between the two devices is relatively low.
The spark for iPad sales will be its advantage in video and e-books, according to Wolf. He observes that the iPod’s sales surge was principally due to Windows support while the iPhone’s catalyst was third-party apps.
Needham is holding to a $235 stock target, with FY10 and FY11 EPS estimates of $12.85 and $15.25.
Wednesday, February 03, 2010 at 02:29 PM | Posted by kazouz
Apple is reportedly partnering with a second major manufacturer to produce the fourth-generation iPhone, DigiTimes reports.
According to industry sources, ASUS subsidiary Pegatron Technology will be Apple’s new partner manufacturing the iPhone 3GS alongside fellow Taiwanese producer Foxconn.
Pegatron was previously rumored to become the producer of a “world phone” version of the iPhone, which would use a hybrid chipset with CDMA and GSM compatibility.
Wednesday, February 03, 2010 at 02:22 PM | Posted by howard
A few days before Apple introduced the iPad to the world last week, Google produced a visual depiction of what a Chrome OS-based tablet computer might look like.
According to it World Canada, Google has proposed the possibility of “keyboard interaction with the screen” on the device and has provided concepts for multiple Chrome OS-based machines.
Apple’s CEO recently made clear his feelings on Google’s threat to the iPhone’s market share with Android, and Google has shown they are at least considering entering the tablet market.
Continue reading Google pondering Chrome OS iPad rival?
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Tuesday, February 02, 2010 at 09:52 PM | Posted by howard
Computer engineer and Apple co-founder Steve Wozniak spoke briefly about his thoughts on the iPad during a recent visit to California State University of Chico.
“Im totaly guessing...i think [the iPad] would be such a comfortable way to get my magazines,” says Mr. Wozniak. “The hardware...is a whole new thing in life by how it implements a store.”
However, Mr. Wozniak does not “see it having a lot of roles in things like video editing...music production.”
Continue reading Wozniak weighs in on iPad.
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Tuesday, February 02, 2010 at 08:09 PM | Posted by kazouz
Apple today released iPhone OS 3.1.3 for iPhone and iPod touch
The update contains bug fixes and improvements, including the following:
• Improves accuracy of reported battery level on iPhone 3GS
• Resolves issue where third-party apps would not launch in some instances
• Fixes bug that may cause an app to crash when using the Japanese Kana keyboard
Tuesday, February 02, 2010 at 08:06 AM | Posted by howard
The Wall Street Journal reports that iPhone sales comprised 16.6% of the worldwide market for smartphones in the fourth quarter of last year.
While the total smartphone market expanded by 26% from the previous quarter, iPhone sales only increased 18%, resulting in a decline in Apple’s market share from 18.1% in Q3 2009.
According to ABI Resaerch, the last time Apple suffered a setback in the smartphone marketplace was in the fourth quarter of 2008.
Continue reading iPhone’s market share drops Q4 2009.
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