Tag Archive for 'ipad'

Editorial: How to make a REAL iPad competitor

By Link Tamake at 2:03 am - 06/09/2010

Alright, there are a lot of tablets circulating around since Apple introduced the iPad. But are any of these tablets actually fit to compete? Absolutely not. Let me explain why.

Let’s talk Android. Android is indeed a wonderful, wonderful mobile operating system for smartphones. Let me emphasise that last phrase: for smartphones. Android isn’t fit whatsoever to be on a tablet and to compete with the iPad. The Market is great and all, but most of the apps are fit for phones. Unless the maker of the tablet decides to make some useful tools such as proper photo editing and a nice video player, Android tablets are doomed for failure.

Secondly, let’s go from Android to Windows 7. The HP Slate is going to fall flat on its face if HP decides to keep going on the 7 edition. Full-blown operating systems on a tablet are very, very bad, and Apple understood this with the iPad and even the iPhone. I can appreciate Microsoft trying to bring Windows 7 to more than one platform, but they should probably stick with Windows Phone 7 (we’ll touch on that later) and build on THAT mobile operating system.

Next, webOS: a fabulous mobile operating system that Palm whipped up for 21st century smartphones. I really love the multitasking features of webOS, and I think webOS tablets would be a great idea if Palm/HP were to modify it and include some productivity apps.

And Windows Phone 7? It’s a great mobile operating system, but in its current form, it’s not fit to be on a tablet. With no multitasking or cut/copy/paste, one shouldn’t even consider a WP7 tablet so early in development. If Microsoft were to create a tablet version of WP7 (Windows Tab 7 *tongue in cheek*), it would be a great tablet OS, especially considering the Metro UI and how it makes browsing a phone easy.

Overall, here’s the perfect tablet that I so dream of and hope someone makes someday. The tablet should run custom software (no Android or anything like that), should include things people do on the go (movies, music, photo editing, games, and so on), and should have a nice interface that is easily accessible without having to go through too much to access an app. The device should run open source software (make developers want to develop for it) and should have an app market that’s moderated strictly, but with no ridiculous restrictions. Team up with companies like Adobe to create simple but functional apps for the tablet, and be sure to work with developers to ensure that the tablet has a nice library of apps in every category.

Have your say in the forums!

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Unofficial port of Flash now available for your jailbroken iPhone or iPod Touch

By Link Tamake at 1:27 am - 08/08/2010

flash-player-iphone

Frash for iPad, created by comex, brought Flash to your jailbroken iPad. Now, @atomicmufin on Twitter has successfully ported the feature to iPhone and iPod Touch.

Frash runs over Safari and is active when a flash file is detected. Installation is as easy as installing this DEB file on your jailbroken iPhone/iPod Touch. This can be accomplished using iFile for iPhone and a file manager for PC/Mac. Atomicmufin says that Frash runs really nicely on the iPhone 4, while those with the 3GS might feel a bit of lag at times. And 3G users can forget even using this in the first place.

Note that JCXP stands neutral on jailbreaking. Jailbreak at your own risk. We are not responsible if you brick your phone.

[GumballTech via @atomicmufin]

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JailbreakMe released, no computer required

By Link Tamake at 4:39 pm - 02/08/2010

photo

Comex, who created the popular Spirit jailbreak for iPhone, iPod Touch, and iPad, has just released his new jailbreak for the iPhone 4, iPod Touch, iPad, and all predecessors called JailbreakMe.

Instead of the traditional jailbreak that requires you to plug your device into your computer, this jailbreak works right on the device. Just visit JailbreakMe.com and slide the bottom slider to jailbreak! We’ve been told that Ultrasn0w (iPhone unlock) isn’t working 100% yet, so tread with caution there.

Now, a jailbreak on the device itself brings up the Apple stores. They provide iPhone 4 demo units in-store, but they aren’t hooked up to a computer. But now, people can actually jailbreak the iPhone 4 demo units without a computer. This may spell trouble for Apple.

[via JailbreakMe]

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Apple: Jailbreaking ‘voids your warranty’

By Iian Kehn at 8:16 pm - 27/07/2010

Apple-logoDespite the decision to allow Jailbreaking/Unlocking for all Electronic Devices, as reported earlier, Apple has made a firm statement noting that if you do so, you would void your warranty, regardless of how you look at it, there’s no way that you would be able to service it if you returned your iDevice back to Apple Jailbroken.

So what did Apple have to say on the matter, according to TUAW, Apple notes

"Apple’s goal has always been to insure that our customers have a great experience with their iPhone and we know that jailbreaking can severely degrade the experience. As we’ve said before, the vast majority of customers do not jailbreak their iPhones as this can violate the warranty and can cause the iPhone to become unstable and not work reliably."

So there you have it folks, if you want to know more, check out Apple’s “mouthful” of information on their website.

via TUAW

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Apple offers an iAd opt-out option

By Link Tamake at 8:43 pm - 21/06/2010

Those updating their Pandora in the App Store today (backgrounding is finally here!) may have noticed the Terms of Service update that Apple updated. It has a couple of interesting bits to it, actually. You probably didn’t read it though (after all, who would rather actually read 45 pages than just buy the app and get on with life?).

The terms of service talks about an option to opt-out of Apple’s new iAd service, among other things. Here’s the exact text:

Apple and its partners use cookies and other technologies in mobile advertising services to control the number of times you see a given ad, deliver ads that relate to your interests, and measure the effectiveness of ad campaigns. If you do not want to receive ads with this level of relevance on your mobile device, you can opt out by accessing the following link on your device: http://oo.apple.com. If you opt out, you will continue to receive the same number of mobile ads, but they may be less relevant because they will not be based on your interests. You may still see ads related to the contrent on a web page or in an application or based on other non-personal information. This opt-out applies only to Apple advertising services and does not affect interest-based advertising from other advertising networks.

OK, so you don’t actually get to opt out of it all, but at least Apple’s thinking about your privacy, right?

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Windows Live Messenger for iPhone now available

By Link Tamake at 10:21 pm - 20/06/2010

The time has come: Windows Live Messenger for the Apple iPhone/iPod Touch/iPad is now here.

Here’s a brief description of the app:

Windows Live Messenger for iPhone and iPod Touch is the best way to connect with the people that matter most and keep up with the things they are doing across the web. Use your iPhone to instant message your friends list, view and comment on your friends’ photos and status updates from Windows Live, Facebook, and MySpace, and at a glance, see what your Messenger friends are sharing from Flickr, YouTube, and many other social and photo sharing sites. Make sure to visit http://profile.live.com/Services today and setup Windows Live to bring in your social networks. Messenger is simply the best way to connect with your closest friends.

Chat:
Instant message with your Windows Live Messenger and Y! Messenger contacts on the go so you’re always connected to the people that matter most. You can even receive IM notifications when your app is closed so you never miss a message.

Social:
Windows Live Messenger gives you one place to view the updates your Messenger friends are sharing from social networks like Facebook, Flickr, MySpace and more, helping you cut through the clutter on the go.

Photos:
Upload photos right from your phone to share your favorite moments with the people that matter most. Create albums, add captions, and let your friends and family comment on your photos.

Hotmail:
Access your Hotmail account without leaving the app to read, reply to, and compose emails. Get email notifications within the application so you know when you have new messages.

Get it now from the App Store, boys and girls!

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iPad baked into chocolate for unsuspecting wife’s birthday

By Link Tamake at 10:47 pm - 13/06/2010

Uh…wow. This is probably the most win we’ve seen this week. For his wife’s birthday, a person in England decided to do something a bit different from the normal chocolate box and flowers: chocolate with an iPad center.

The iPad is not available in South Africa yet, and that’s where Mr. Magdalinski’s wife lives. She’s apparently also a huge Apple fan. Instead of wrapping up the iPad in a regular box, he decided to do something a bit different: freeze it in chocolate carbonite. According to the pictures on his blog, his wife loved it. And we do, too. Behold: the first iPad frozen in chocolate. I think this is worthy of an Apple commercial, eh?

Here’s the whole blog post and pictures!

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Apple rolling out iBooks to all iOS 4.0 devices

By Link Tamake at 9:49 am - 11/06/2010

Apple is slowly rolling out iBooks to its iOS 4.0 devices, and those running it will get a notification anytime soon.

iOS 4.0 users will receive a notification recommending they install iBooks, but some have had to install it through iTunes 9.2 instead of on the iPhone itself, some on Engadget report. Apple may be affecting this, but we don’t think so.

Also, some report that iBooks won’t install on the iPhone 3G. We tried this out on a 3G running 4.0 and indeed, iBooks wouldn’t install. Is this another 3GS/4 exclusive app, or is it just us? We’ll have to find out.

[via Engadget]

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Is RIM building a tablet?

By Link Tamake at 11:17 am - 14/05/2010

According to BGR, Research In Motion is preparing to build a tablet of its own, to compete with Apple’s immensely successful iPad.

The tablet is meant to compete directly with the iPad, which means that along with business tools, it’ll have games, media, and most likely books. There is also talk of the tablet being able to access the RIM App World.

The tablet is being called a “companion” to the Blackberry mobile phone, in the sense that you’ll be able to tether your Blackberry device to the tablet.

BGR’s sources also say that the tablet will be here in time for the holidays, but RIM is hoping for a sooner release. BGR said this about the tablet:

“To be honest, as a complementary device that is coming from RIM, we are not sure why they are even trying here. Especially since RIM employees have privately voiced their frustration to us regarding this initiative.“

We’ll have more information for you as soon as we get it!

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Apparently the iPad’s a good skateboard too!

By Iian Kehn at 10:50 am - 07/05/2010

As if you haven’t seen enough torture to the iPad as it is, the guys over at FUEL TV and Will It Shred managed to make a skateboard out of the iPad, while making a lot of damage.

The interesting part of the video (shown below, for your viewing pleasure) is the fact that the iPad’s glass was the first to break, and while I’m most certain it’s due to the fact that the device is 9.7 inches, it’s quite disappointing, otherwise it seemed to be fine, the case seemed to hold up pretty well up until the point that they used it as a ramp.

Check it out after the break!

Read More

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