Posts Tagged ‘hype’

Amazon Tablet Woes, Not Enough Suppliers For Parts

The newest rumors surrounding Amazon’s upcoming touch-based tablet release are in. In early May, PadGadget reported on the fact that Amazon had ordered 800,000 touch screen tablets from Taiwan-based Quanta. In mid-May, PadGadget reported that not one, but two touch screen tablets were rumored to be released by Amazon. Today, we are reporting on the rumor that touch screen suppliers have trepidations about their ability to fill Amazon’s huge order of approximately 1.5-2 million units by September of this year.

According to DigiTimes, TPK, a major supplier of touch panels, has concerns regarding capacity when it comes to its ability to fulfill Amazon’s wish list. Additionally, Wintek, a current supplier of modules for Apple, Inc. has also noted that, due to a tight production schedule for the latter part of the year, they are unable to confirm that they could accommodate Amazon’s order.

With what has been described as the first potentially viable competitor for the iPad mere months away from hitting the market, Amazon is surely petitioning other companies, ones that are not currently set up for glass touch panels, to make the necessary adjustments to their production line in an effort to fill the orders before time runs out. The momentum of the upcoming touch tablet’s release is exactly what Amazon can capitalize on to build the hype needed to compete with the iPad, but being forced to postpone its release may serve to take the buzz out of the air and leave Amazon’s new tablet nothing more than another notch in Apple’s belt.

» Related posts:

• New Tablet From Amazon to Offer iPad Competition
• Amazon Tablets Codenamed ‘Coyote’ and ‘Hollywood’
• An Amazon Kindle Android Tablet to Compete Against iPad 2?

New iPhone 4 TV Commercials

Let the advertising hype begin! The iPhone 4 will hit Verizon store shelves on February 10th and in preparation, both Verizon and Apple have launched TV commercials announcing the smartphone’s impending release.

Verizon is building anticipation for its upcoming iPhone 4 release with a TV ad of ticking clocks and people anxiously waiting for time to pass. After peeking curiosity, viewers find out “It Begins” on 2.10.11.

Verizon’s first iPhone ad is relatively tame and doesn’t take any pot shots at rival AT&T. The two wireless companies spent millions over the past two years advertising their respective networks were better than the other’s in a series of “red map vs. blue map” TV commercials.

Apple’s latest iPhone 4 ad shows two iPhones side-by-side as they are simultaneously tapped, pinched and swiped to manipulate a variety of apps before being moved to reveal AT&T and Verizon logos. The commercial then proclaims “Two is better than one” and there’s no doubt Apple is building hype around the Verizon iPhone 4 launch as well.

Apple obviously is walking a fine line and does not want to favor one wireless carrier over the other. The addition of a second carrier in the US is something customers have been demanding for some time, providing them with a viable alternative to AT&T’s 3G network.

Advertisements will continue to build anticipation for the long awaited Verizon iPhone 4. We know several people who’ve been waiting for this moment and are among the Verizon customers planning to make the big purchase on February 10th. Are you one of them?

AT&T has received negative press for network coverage and activation problems during past iPhone launches. It’ll be interesting to see how things play out for Verizon in the coming months.

» Related posts:

• Verizon Announces CDMA iPhone 4 Will be Available Feb. 10
• Can it finally be true? A Verizon iPhone Next Week
• Verizon Wireless Reportedly Getting the iPhone in January

Murdoch to Launch iPad Publication “The Daily” on January 19

News Corp’s long rumored exclusive iPad only publication The Daily is expected to be announced on January 19, according to a report from Forbes. The iPad only publication will be the first for any major media company and continues News Corp’s strong investment in the burgeoning tablet space.

Last year News Corp CEO, Rupert Murdoch, said the iPad was a “game changer” for the media industry and rumors quickly began spreading that the company was planning an iPad only publication. The Daily will not have any print or online editions but will instead be exclusively available on the Apple iPad.

The project has been underway for several months and reportedly already has a staff of 100 people working on content and design for the first issue. The staff, according to Forbes, has been releasing mock issues on a regular basis to a list of 1,000 “privileged” readers as the team readies the publication’s launch.

Apple is rumored to be assisting News Corp. in the preparation and design of the new publication and is also working to add a subscription billing model to App Store. CNBC previously reported that the “new digital news venture would incorporate text, photo and video, tailored for the iTunes app format …. neither a newspaper nor a news website — it would not be based on any of News Corp’s existing papers.”

The website thedaily.com has just been updated and now shows an app icon with the words “Coming Soon.” Looks like we will have to wait a few more days before we can see if The Daily will live up to all the hype.

» Related posts:

• Apple and News Corp Set to Launch Joint Newspaper App
• ‘The Daily’ iPad-only Newspaper Available Next Month
• Murdoch Says iPad is a Game Changer

Murdoch to Launch iPad Publication “The Daily” on January 17

News Corp’s long rumored exclusive iPad only publication The Daily is expected to be announced on January 17, according to a report from Forbes. The iPad only publication will be the first for any major media company and continues News Corp’s strong investment in the burgeoning tablet space.

Last year News Corp CEO, Rupert Murdoch, said the iPad was a “game changer” for the media industry and rumors quickly began spreading that the company was planning an iPad only publication. The Daily will not have any print or online editions but will instead be exclusively available on the Apple iPad.

The project has been underway for several months and reportedly already has a staff of 100 people working on content and design for the first issue. The staff, according to Forbes, has been releasing mock issues on a regular basis to a list of 1,000 “privileged” readers as the team readies the publication’s launch.

Apple is rumored to be assisting News Corp. in the preparation and design of the new publication and is also working to add a subscription billing model to App Store. CNBC previously reported that the “new digital news venture would incorporate text, photo and video, tailored for the iTunes app format …. neither a newspaper nor a news website — it would not be based on any of News Corp’s existing papers.”

The website thedaily.com has just been updated and now shows an app icon with the words “Coming Soon.” Looks like we will have to wait a few more days before we can see if The Daily will live up to all the hype.

» Related posts:

• Apple and News Corp Set to Launch Joint Newspaper App
• ‘The Daily’ iPad-only Newspaper Available Next Month
• Murdoch Says iPad is a Game Changer

iPad Black Friday & Cyber Monday Sales Guides

We’re busy working to find you the best deals out there! Our Black Friday and Cyber Monday sales information includes extensive apps and gear lists for everything iPad.

Our Apps List shows you the top apps on sale now in the App Store. We give you the app icon, name, normal price, sale price and savings so you can make the best purchasing decisions. See something you want to purchase? Just click the icon you’re interested in, we’ve got direct links to the App Store for easy purchasing.

Looking for some cool gear to complete your holiday shopping list? Our gear list includes everything from marked down iPads to cases and iTunes gift cards. Get started on your Christmas list

Both our App and Gear Lists will be updated regularly throughout the weekend. Check back often to make sure you stay on top of all the best deals.

Happy Thanksgiving!

» Related posts:

• iPad Apps Start Going on Sale for Black Friday Weekend
• Black Friday – Is it all just hype?
• Apple Preparing Black Friday Deals, Including iPad

Apple Preparing Black Friday Deals, Including iPad

Earlier today, Apple posted a teaser advertising a big sale for Black Friday.

Apple seldom runs sales, as the manufacturer doesn’t need to discount its product given their popularity, however, once a year, the Cupertino-based traditionally offers discounts on some if its most popular items through its online store.

At this stage, not much is know about what items will be discounted, however it is safe to assume the sale will include the iPad and/or its accessories, as the teaser mentions:

Wrap it up this Friday.The special one-day Apple shopping event. November 26.

Come back to the Apple Online Store the day after Thanksgiving for a special one-day-only holiday shopping event. You’ll find dozens of great iPad, iPod, and Mac gifts for everyone on your list.

Mark your calendars now. And until then, get started by browsing the Apple Online Store for great ideas.

While it is unlikely that Apple will offer heavily discounted iPads on Friday, expect great deals on refurbished items and accessories, and with some luck, new iPads slightly cheaper than usual. Meanwhile, if you’re in search for a great iPad deal and cannot wait until Friday, you may want to try your luck at your local TJ Maxx and/or Marshalls, as some of the chain’s stores are currently selling new 16GB WiFi iPads for $399.

» Related posts:

• Black Friday – Is it all just hype?
• iPad and iPhone Amongst Top Items of ‘Black Friday’ Buying Predictions!
• iPad Goes on Sale in 9 New Countries This Friday

PadGadget Weekend iPad News Roundup – Nov 21, 2010

In case you missed them, here are some of the most popular articles on PadGadget from the past week (November 14 – 21, 2010).

1. iOS 4.2.1 – Free MobileMe Accounts for iPad and iPhone Users?
2. Comcast’s Xfinity App for iPad and iPhone Available Now
3. Powis iCase Provides 9 Viewing Positions for your iPad
4. A Rough Start for iPad Competitor (Toshiba Folio 100)
5. SlingPlayer App for iPad Confirmed!
6. Enabling Mac AirPrinting the Easy Way
7. Black Friday – Is it all just hype?
8. Rage HD / Mutant Bash TV for iPad – Game Review

» Related posts:

• PadGadget Weekend iPad News Roundup – Oct 31, 2010
• PadGadget Weekend iPad News Roundup – Nov 7, 2010
• PadGadget Weekend iPad News Roundup – Nov 14, 2010

Black Friday – Is it all just hype?

Thanksgiving is next Thursday and people around the country are planning to spend time together with their loved ones enjoying good food and good fun. At our house, half of us will be sitting around on the couch playing with our iPads and watching TV, while the other half prepares our wonderful meal with the help of cooking apps like Allrecipes – Your Kitchen Inspiration, Celebrate the Holidays with Better Homes and Gardens and  Martha Stewart Makes Cookies. Of course once all the cooking is done, we’ll fill our bellies and count our blessings because the following day, WE WILL SHOP!

The day after Thanksgiving, commonly referred to as “Black Friday,” is synonymous with the start of the Christmas shopping season and lots of great deals, but is it really all it’s made out to be? According to a survey recently conducted by PriceGrabber, shoppers believe retailers offer the best holiday shopping deals over Thanksgiving weekend.

Despite the yearly reports from skeptics saying Black Friday is just a bunch of marketing hype, 61% of consumers surveyed said they think Thanksgiving weekend has the best shopping deals when compared to the rest of the holiday season. Of that 61%, 86% believe the best deals are found on Black Friday while 33% believe Cyber Monday has the best deals.

This year it looks like mobile shopping will also play an important role in Black Friday shopping. PriceGrabber is expecting to see many consumers using their mobile devices to compare prices, search for coupons and even make a few purchases while shopping from home or in stores on Black Friday. ”We also expect to see shoppers arm themselves for Black Friday shopping with comparison shopping applications, like the PriceGrabber apps for the iPhone, iPad, and Android. The most successful Black Friday retailers will be those that demonstrate the most value to consumers, not just in their own store but when compared with other brick-and-mortar and online retailers,” said PriceGrabber President Laura Conrad.

It’s common practice in our house to get the newspaper early Thanksgiving morning, prepare the food and then browse the deals and plan our shopping strategy while everything cooks. Some years we find more things we “need” than others but we always enjoy our time together. So this Thanksgiving, rest assured we will be busy on our iPads looking for the best possible deals available for Thanksgiving weekend.

Oh yeah, and we plan to share all of it with our readers too! Make sure you check our PadGadget site early and often on Black Friday and Cyber Monday to find out about the best deals we’ve been able to find, plus a few surprises we have in store for all of our readers.

» Related posts:

• iPad and iPhone Amongst Top Items of ‘Black Friday’ Buying Predictions!
• iPad Competitor Featuring Google’s Chrome OS Coming on Black Friday?
• Little Black iPad Dress

iPad Competitor JooJoo Bites the Dust

Fusion Garage has traveled a very bumpy road this year. The small company teamed up with Michael Arrington of TechCrunch fame and was one of the first companies to announce plans to produce a low-cost Internet tablet. Now, less than six months after hitting the market, Fusion Garage CEO Chandra Rathakrishnan has decide to pull the plug on the JooJoo.

The JooJoo cerainley had potential, but the device was never able to live up to all the hype. The company’s partnership with Arrington quickly went south with Fusion Garage ending the partnership and Arrington filing a lawsuit against the company in Federal court. The JooJoo never really had a chance. Between the public airing of dirty laundry between the original partners and the very successful launch of the iPad, the JooJoo was dead-on-arrival.

The death of the JooJoo doesn’t spell the end to Fusion Garage’s tablet plans. According to Rathakrishnan,Fusion Garage plans to introduce several new tablet designs based on Google’s Android operating system. Time will tell if these new iPad competitors will turn into iPad killers.

[via BGR]

» Related posts:

• iPad Competitor Featuring Google’s Chrome OS Coming on Black Friday?
• Apple’s iPad and Other Tablets
• Class-Action Lawsuit over the iPad 3G Data Plans Changes

Apple iPad – Official Review

Here is the review of the just released Apple iPad. I review the 16GB Wi-Fi model. This is Apple’s newest product in the market, and has already made its way into the mobile market. Is the iPad worth the price? Does it live up to its hype and features? Leave a comment below with your thoughts, and enjoy the review. Make sure to rate a “thumbs up”, and subscribe! Follow me on Twitter for updates on my new content and more: twitter.com