It may be disappointing, but according to local operators Vodafone UK, Orange Mobile and O2 UK, the Apple iPad touch screen tablet launch has been moved to May. The earliest pre-orders will be available by the 10th though the device will be officially released by the end of May.
In what seems to be Apple’s biggest blunder of the year, it turns out the company failed to foresee the immense demand for the iPad and has been unable to produce enough of the device to fulfill consumer needs. This launch delay is one of the most horrible in the tech industry as it pushes back the international availability of the device for a full month despite the fact that it is already available in the United States (if the iPad had yet to be launched anywhere, this would be a different story).
Disappointed fans have been ranting across forums and comment pages on the internet in their frustration at the development of events. In any case, it has not changed the demand for the touch screen tablet. The rage pretty much stands as a testament to how much people would want to get their hands on the tablet device.
Many critics and reviewers consider the Apple iPad to the biggest game changing device for the internet subculture. With many people that need to go online but have very little use for a full computer, the iPad is an excellent alternative (and it consumes less energy too). Of course, the iPad would never be able to replace netbooks and computers in terms of handling other tasks. But for basic informational, educational and entertainment purposes, the iPad is a perfect fit to today’s modern needs.
Get the rest of the info about the delay on the Apple iPad and the release plans of local network operators at the Guardian UK.
While things were certainly looking up for Apple last week, the iPad launch has taken a complete turnaround as more internal problems has been revealed and the inability of Apple to keep up with the demand has forced a delay in the international launch of the touch screen tablet.
iPad users in the Princeton University will have to hold back on using their iPads to connect to the in-campus WiFi network as the device has been confirmed to be unable to comply with expiring IP addresses assigned by the DHCP server. While this is not a big issue for home networks, it is a serious matter for large networks such as the one used in the University. The problem has already been reported to Google and they are still awaiting a solution before the campus-wide ban on the device is lifted.
This issue is more of a software problem than the hardware itself – a major sigh of relief for many existing iPad users. There are however, other problems that occur in the device such as the inability to connect dual band WiFi routers and more.
In bigger Apple iPad news, it has been confirmed that the tablet will not make it to the upcoming originally planned late April launch. The device launched first in the US last week, April 3 and has had a successful sales performance.
Despite the successful sales, it seems that Apple has underestimated the growth of its tablet market and as such, they are trying to keep up with the demands. While it seems like a bad argument, the fact of the matter is that the launch has been set back by a full month from late April to late May.
Read more about the Apple iPad being banned from Princeton and more at Softpedia.
It has been passed. In just a matter of hours, the House of Commons has crossed a threshold that many internet advocates feel that the government should have never done. Anyway, regardless of all the previously big arguments for and against the bill, the fact of the matter is that it has already been passed and there is nothing that can be done about it. What this means is that people will have to find ways of continuing to use the internet while keeping under the rules of the law.
File sharing websites will now be closely watched and monitored, while the portion of the bill which would have totally banned all file sharing sites was not approved, there is still the government power to declare any web service as a tool for the illegal sharing of copyrighted media and as such, would still be able to forcibly ban access to such sites.
Users will now be under the eye of ISP providers, who are under threat of a major fine if they fail to discourage and prevent users from illegally sharing media content. Many believe that many of these providers would be investing (or rather, wasting) plenty of resources in order to keep up with the monitoring of thousands of users.
The only silver lining here is that the changes are not expected to be in effect anytime soon. Some estimates place the first major changes to happen after two years, others believe that many businesses will take advantage of legal red tape to even further delay the implementations.
As for the effectiveness of the bill, there is much doubt that it would actually stop piracy at all, if anything, the bill would further encourage pirates to improve their file sharing methods.
Read more about how the Digital Economy Bill will change the way you access the internet at This is Money UK.
The tech industry is no stranger to Steve Jobs’ lack of support for Adobe Flash; in fact, it has become something that many already expect from the eccentric Apple CEO. However, many developers now feel a sudden crunch from Apple as the License agreement on the iPhone operating system version 4.0 SDK clearly blocks out the use of Adobe Flash Professional CS as a viable tool for developing new applications.
Consumers have plenty to worry about as well, with Apple tightening its grip on developers and fully blocking out Adobe, it is possible that the there will now be less app support for the iPhone.
Adobe on the other hand is trying hard to keep up with the needs and demands of Apple. According to Steve Jobs, Flash is unstable and slow, and that the reason why Apple products such as the iPhone, iPad, and iPod Touch lack Flash support is because it would impede the device’s performance. While many experts fail to see the logic behind this claim, it is more than enough to have Apple completely do without support for the feature.
The announcement of the SDK license agreement has sent shockwaves through the industry as developers now find themselves needing new tools for the OS and Adobe losing its ground as one of the largest developers of design software.
Steve Jobs has been pushing for the use of HTML5 as a viable format of web video, and though it is powerful, many existing websites still use Flash FLV –which is why plenty of websites with streaming video are inaccessible through the iPad touch screen tablet.
Some developers are still hoping for a workaround or a loophole that would enable them to make use of Flash content for developing iPhone apps in the future.
Read more about the Adobe’s reaction to Apple’s announcement at Business Week.
The Apple iPhone’s new 4.0 OS update is coming soon and it brings plenty of new features.
Sadly, “new” does not necessarily translate into “good” as Apple mixes in iAds to the host of new functions that users get to try out. While versions 4.0 does not change anything drastic, it does bring users access to multitasking, background images, icon folders and several new extras. It is big news when Apple finally provides users with a basic function that they have been deprived of.
In general, the update brings many nice things for people, but it also brings a feature that is quite questionable: iAds.
Simply put, this new function will be running in the device’s background and delivering new ads to users while they browse the web, run apps, listen to music and more. How it exactly works still remains to be seen, but expect it to keep track of user preferences and usage patterns in order to bring relevant ads as well as choking bandwidth and transfer speeds when it decides that you need a fresh new batch of advertisements to ignore.
This is why it is not surprising that iAds is simply Aids spelled differently.
Aside from bringing a new function that would most probably earn the ire of users, Apple has also cast a stormy cloud over the horizon for developers –according to the agreement on the 4.0 SDK, developers are not allowed to use Flash to create content. Considering that many iPhone games were developed using a Flash compiler, this would certainly alienate developers who use Adobe software.
It is common knowledge that Steve Jobs hates Adobe, and everyone already tolerates the lack of Flash support on the device; but this one goes a little too far.
Read more about the new features about the Apple iPhone 4.0 OS at Tech Radar.
As a first generation device, one would expect that the Apple iPad has its’ share of hardware malfunctions and problems. Ranging from factory defects to unforeseen usage compatibility problems, there has been several reports of various errors and problems that have made many early buyers unsatisfied with the tablet and in some cases, returning the touch screen device for a refund.
The first problem that was brought up was concerning the WiFi errors. According to many users, the iPad has problems connecting to some hotspots and even in local home based routers despite other WiFi devices having no problems. Others on the other hand report that they are unable to maintain a strong connection long enough. The iPad reportedly jumps WiFi strength from 3 bars to just 1.
Apple has already made a comment regarding this problem and while they have yet to officially come out with a solution, they have been able to isolate the cause and have suggested that users change router settings in order to compensate for the iPad’s incompatibility with routers that use dual band technology.
Another major issue that has been brought up is with the device’s problem with maintaining a working temperature. While Apple has already preset a sensor in the device that would warn users if it is overheating, many users reported that the error has popped out too many times despite running the device in cooler temperatures.
Some users have complained that the iPad is unable to run some iPhone applications properly. Apps are reportedly hanging and crashing when being loaded on the iPad. Lastly, there have been complaints that USB charging is problematic for some. Some users stated that their iPad refused to charge unless the device was shut down.
Get to know more about the overheating issues on the Apple iPad at Macworld UK.
To say that one device is perfect would be just plain silly. No matter how good a gadget is, it will have its’ own share of advantages and disadvantages; it is when a device is just so impressively advantageous that the drawbacks hardly matter.
Such is the case for the new touch screen tablet device from Apple, the iPad.
It is expensive, lacks Flash support, does not have multitasking and according to many reports, has issues with dual band routers, iPhone app compatibility and USB charging. Still, many people cannot help but be impressed with how well put together this standalone tablet device is.
The gadget is simple; it is a 10 inch device with a 9.7 inch touch screen display. The resolution is 1024 x 768 pixels which mean that it can rival the average laptop in terms of screen resolution and that it is much better to look at than the cramped screens on smart phones. For controls, the touch screen works wonders on the internet. Even people who have never used a mouse and keyboard would be able to easily use the touch based controls.
The biggest advantage however, is accessibility. The iPad is something you can pick up and use anytime, anywhere. Unlike a net book or a computer that is cumbersome, the iPad has been designed to be very accessible.
Going back to the WiFi issues, it turns out that Apple has already identified the source of the problem and that they have given out a quick solution for users having the problem. However, Apple still needs to create a patch in the future that would address this concern. Hopefully, the issues regarding the app compatibility and USB charging would also be sorted out before the device launches in the UK this April 24.
Read more about the iPad WiFi issues at Softpedia.
Apple’s latest electronic is making waves in the American market as it launch in the US last April 3. According to reports, about 300,000 units were sold on the first day alone. Current tallies as of the time of writing places the sales numbers now at 700,000; if this market trend keeps up, Apple may pretty much hit the 1 million mark by the end of the week.
It’s a pretty big feat considering that the Apple iPad tablet is a new device that is still trying to create its own niche market. Right now, the biggest sales demand for the device is from people who are just too curious about what a tablet is and those who simply need to have the latest device.
Most tech fans have based their decision to buy on the initial reactions of the day one buyers while the rest of the more prudent members of the tech community are slowly biding their time before jumping into the bandwagon.
Overall, it appears that despite having its share of problems and drawbacks, the Apple iPad is a pretty good choice for a wide variety of people. Non-tech folks would certainly enjoy the internet experience without the unfamiliar constructs of a mouse and a keyboard many claim that the touch screen user experience alone is well worth the purchase.
eBook readers on the other hand appreciate having a good multifunctional alternative to the Kindle or the Sony Reader. Though the iPad seems to rank lowest as a reader, the availability of extra features still makes it a better choice.
The UK release of the Apple iPad tablet is still not due until later this April, and by then, the device may have already surpasses all sales expectations in the US alone.
Find out more about the first day sales for the Apple iPad at the Telegraph UK.
With the UK launch of the Apple iPad still not due until later this April, it seems like we will just have to wait and see whether the touch screen tablet will be as well-received locally as it was when it launched in the US just a couple of days ago. Initial reports are placing sales figures at the 700,000 mark with some predictions stating that Apple can be looking at 1 million sales by the end of the week.
So just how good is the iPad? It is a really big question considering that the device does not offer any existing function that we need or is not present in another electronic gadget. What it does however, is bring us the internet, electronic books and entertainment media in a medium that is easy to use for everyone.
The two big functions right now are web browsing and eBook reading. As a web browser, even the lack of Flash does not stop plenty of people from appreciating the finer points of touch screen based browsing. Unlike a smart phone, the large screen on the iPad provides a web experience that matches that of desktop computers. With the touch screen interface, the controls are far more intuitive than using a mouse and keyboard.
Apple also places its eBook functions as a major selling point, and for good reason. The built in Apple iBooks app makes full use of the touch screen features. It is perfect for first time eBook readers, but fans of the Kindle would miss the older controls.
Fortunately, Apple has allowed the use if the Kindle application as well. The great thing about this is that you can log in to your Kindle account using this app to access any books you already have in your library.
Get to know more of how the iPad is faring for users at ZDnet.
The US launch of the iPad will certainly be big, as it will bring the world a whole new electronic device that could possibly change the way we see and access news, information and the internet in general.
The launch will still be limited however, and despite all internal memory size options being already available, consumers will not be able to purchase the non-3G version of the iPad tablet as of yet.
According to Apple, the launch of the non-3G iPad will be at the same time that the device comes out in the UK, which means that locally, two main editions of the device will be available. So far, aside from the new option, there will be no further changes between the UK and the US release.
While individual interest in the touch screen tablet is still low, there is a significant difference for the business sector, according to some reports the iPad will be a big hit among business companies as the device will serve as the perfect device for many office related uses.
Considering the hardware limitations of the device, we doubt that being able to access data easily would be included as it lacks support for USB devices which means that it will have to rely on downloading content from the internet. Also the lack of multitasking lowers the device’s value as a workstation.
In any case, the iPad is expected to hit UK shores by late April. By then, we would already know of the device is suffering from any hardware problems. Rumors about potential problems with the iPad battery have been brought up. Apple has already put out an official statement regarding their replacement program specifically for the battery, which means that they might be pre-empting a known problem.
Get to know more about the Apple iPad at the Telegraph UK.