Just a few years ago nobody had a phone with an Apple logo on it. Now, that phone equals about 50% of Apple’s business ($12.3b in Q2 alone). The chart of the day nails it:
iPhone now accounts for half of Apple's revenue
Author
Mark is an award-winning journalist who worked at 9to5Mac for over six years. He covers Apple and other topics related to the consumer technology industry.
Mark is regarded as one of the go-to reporters for all Apple-related matters, one of Wired‘s top 16 people to follow in technology, and one of TIME Magazine‘s top 25 bloggers of 2013. Mark has also been profiled by CNN Fortune multiple times, NPR, the Los Angeles Times, LA Weekly, the Huffington Post, Business Insider, Columbia Journalism Review, Marketplace, Haaretz, and USA Today. Mark was also recently named to the 2015 Forbes 30 under 30 List.
In 2012, Mark published the first photos of the iPhone 5, broke the news about Apple’s switch to an in-house Maps application, revealed the first 15-inch Retina MacBook Pro, forecasted that Apple would update the iPad’s software with Siri support, and accurately revealed the iPad mini’s higher-than expected price point.
In 2013, Mark published the first photos of the original iPad Air, provided the first details about Jony Ive’s end-to-end iPhone and iPad software update called iOS 7, provided information about OS X Mavericks, and detailed Apple’s early work on the Apple Watch.
In 2014, Mark revealed Apple’s work on a new Health application for iOS 8 and the Apple Watch, Ive’s redesign of OS X called Yosemite, and details about the iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus.
Mark started out 2015 with a significant scoop detailing Apple’s yet-to-be-released 12-inch MacBook with a Retina display, thinner design, and more advanced trackpad and keyboard. He has continued the year by reporting on several details about iOS 9, including the new Proactive Assistant, redesigned Siri, upgraded Maps with transit functionality, new system font, split-screen iPad apps, Swift 2.0, as well as predicting a performance focus for both that software upgrade and OS X El Capitan. Mark finished the year by reporting the majority of the details about the new Apple TV, iPhone 6s and 6s Plus, Apple Watch updates, the iPad Pro, the iPad mini 4, and iMacs.
Mark started out 2016 with exclusive reports on Apple’s work on a pair of completely wireless Beats headphones for the iPhone 7, details on the iPhone SE, iPad Pro 9.7-inch, Apple Watch updates, Apple’s March product event, new Apple retail initiatives, and Tim Cook’s Town Hall meeting with Apple employees.
Mark has also written long-form features on “Apple Anonymous,” a group of retail employees who discuss work over Twitter and the fascination of watches by Apple executives. Most significantly, in fall 2014, Mark published an extensive profile of Apple’s PR and Communications department that was compiled over two months into nine chapters. Mark also provides analysis on relevant technology industry topics, such as Apple’s recent executive shakeup. Mark kicked off his writing career at the end of 2009, and he had his first significant break in 2011 with a story detailing Siri and the iPhone 4S.
You can follow him on Twitter.
Verizon CFO: iPhone 5 is CMDA + GSM world phone
Well, we’ve known this one for while but now it’s sort of official. Barrons reports that in Verizon’s earnings call today, Verizon Chief Financial Officer Fran Shammo said Apple’s next-generation iPhone will be a world phone. A world phone of course is a phone capable of connecting to both CDMA and GSM networks worldwide. You may remember that Shammo was the Verizon executive who spilled the beans on the upcoming Verizon-capable iPad 2.
Both the Verizon iPhone 4 and the CDMA iPad 2 carry the Qualcomm Gobi chip, which we previously detailed, and this chip is capable of connecting to both CDMA and GSM networks. Apple is rumored to start iPhone 5 production as early as July and is tracking a September release. Apple typically holds an early-September event so we’ll probably see the world phone there. The iPhone 5 is rumored to look similar to the iPhone 4 and will sport an A5 dual-core processor.
Jailbreak utility blocks iOS from storing recorded iPhone location data
Noted jailbreak developer Ryan Petrich has released a new jailbreak-only utility tonight named untrackerd, which promises to block iOS and Apple’s ability to log your device’s location information. Petrich’s application comes in light of a new discovery that Apple’s mobile operating system tracks iOS device’s longitude and latitude. That location information is then stored on your computer’s hard drive and can later be accessed by just about anyone with the right computer skills or software. Untrackerd is available for free on the Cydia jailbreak store. Thanks, Will.
Untrackerd’s description in Cydia:
This package installs a daemon (process that can run in the background) to clean consolidated.db file) No new icons are added to your homescreen. There are no options to configure.
Tim Cook: We expect our strong relationship with Samsung to continue, tried to settle issues out of court
During Apple’s Q2 results conference call today, Tim Cook went on record to say that Apple is Samsung’s largest customer, and both companies value their strong relationship. This news comes amidst Apple’s lawsuit against Samsung over the Galaxy S line of phones and tablets. Apple claims that Samsung copied key design components of the iPhone and iPad lines. Apple COO Tim Cook also said that Apple worked with Samsung to try to settle their issues out of court, but had to go to court after Samsung’s mobile division “crossed the line.” Cook thinks Apple and Samsung’s strong relationship will continue.
Why did Foursquare executives just check in at Apple Inc?
Right now, Foursquare’s co-founder Dennis Crowley, a PR representative, and a business and partnerships executive are enjoying burritos at Apple’s employee cafeteria on the 1 Infinite Loop campus in Cupertino, California. But why?Apple is known to be looking at key acquisitions to put them even farther ahead of their competitors, maybe Foursquare would be a good pickup? Apple is rumored to be working on a new, location based social networking system called ‘Find my Friends.
Foursquare is a new social network that is all based on location and “checking in” at locations. Foursquare even has a popular application for the iPhone, Android, Palm, BlackBerry, and Nokia’s Ovi platform. Perhaps Apple is getting some “assistance” on this new network – presumably coming in iOS 5 – from the Foursquare team. Looking at which executives are there, the possibilities are seemingly endless at this point. Thanks, Jim D.
Apple 'firing on all cylinders': reports Q2 revenue of $24.67b, 95 percent profit growth – 3.67m Macs, 18.65m iPhones, 4.69m iPads
Click here for our live blog of the call
Apple just released their financial results for Q2 2011 that ended on March 26th, 2011. The Q2 revenue is $24.67 billion with a net profit of $5.99 billion. “These results compare to revenue of $13.50 billion and net quarterly profit of $3.07 billion, or $3.33 per diluted share, in the year-ago quarter. Gross margin was 41.4 percent compared to 41.7 percent in the year-ago quarter. International sales accounted for 59 percent of the quarter’s revenue.”
Apple sold 3.67 million Macs (28% increase from last year Q2), 18.65 million iPhones, (113 increase), 9.02 million iPods (17% decline) and 4.69 iPads. Apple’s iPod sales and revenue has been declining since the advent of the iPhone, and most recently the iPad. With the iPad’s release last year, it’s still good to see that Mac sales are increasing. Many analysts and reporters have feared that iPad sales will effect Mac sales. That’s clearly not the case.
Apple’s second quarter 2011 results are lower than the previous quarter which netted Apple $6 billion off of $26.74 billion in revenue. Q1 was the normally higher holiday quarter, though. Apple sold 4.69 million iPads during Q2, which to us seems a bit low seeing the launch of the iPad 2. It sort of makes sense, though, due to the supply and stock issues of the new tablet with FaceTime cameras and faster processor.
Apple investors seem to like the Q2 results, though, with AAPL up over $10 (3% in after hours trading):
Apple CEO Steve Jobs comments:
With quarterly revenue growth of 83 percent and profit growth of 95 percent, we’re firing on all cylinders,” said Steve Jobs, Apple’s CEO. “We will continue to innovate on all fronts throughout the remainder of the year.
Apple CFO Peter Oppenheimer comments:
We are extremely pleased with our record March quarter revenue and earnings and cash flow from operations of over $6.2 billion,” said Peter Oppenheimer, Apple’s CFO. “Looking ahead to the third fiscal quarter of 2011, we expect revenue of about $23 billion and we expect diluted earnings per share of about $5.03.
Steve Jobs says “we will continue to innovate on all fronts throughout the remainder of the year.” That sounds like Apple is planning a product refresh for every part of their lineup this year. We see every Mac getting a refresh this year, a new iPhone, a new iPad/iPhone operating system, all-new iPods, possibly a new Apple TV with an A5 dual-core processor, a new Mac operating system (Lion), new MobileMe, new iWork… it’s going to be an awesome second-half of 2011 for Apple.
Read our live blog of the call here. Catch the full press release after the break.
Apple pulled Facebook integration from iOS 4, Media Stream is its replacement
Out of everything revealed in yesterday’s white iPhone 4 prototype leak, a small settings pane titled ‘Facebook’ stuck to us the most. The first thing that came to mind was that iOS 4 was supposed to include some Facebook integration. It’s known that Apple and Facebook were working together on Ping throughout 2009 and 2010 – when Apple was also developing what was then called iPhone OS 4 – and now we have heard that Facebook integration really was in the cards for iOS 4.
Apple was planning to include Facebook integration into iOS’s photos application. We have been able to confirm Facebook video uploading directly from the photos app with SDK evidence, and we have also heard that Facebook photo sharing was planned. One thing Apple and Facebook never planned on integrating were Facebook.com features like the news feed. That is proven by the screenshot provided to us by Tinhte from their iPhone running a ‘test-version’ of iOS 4. There is a button that takes you to the Facebook App Store page.
Apple was also planning to integrate Facebook into the iPhone’s phone application. Facebook contact linking in iOS’s contacts applications was discovered last year. Business Insider also reported that iOS Facebook contact syncing was in the works in addition to Facebook messaging. Perhaps the settings panel you see above was to be a system-wide login for Facebook, separate from the main App Store app for contacts, photos, video uploading, and messaging integration in iOS. Apple also patented social-networking/Facebook integration: perhaps this is what we’ll be seeing system-wide.
We have no idea as to whether or not Apple and Facebook’s potential iOS integration deal fell through, like the Ping deal, but we do know it was planned and it would have been awesome. It’s obvious, though, that Apple didn’t want to scrap social features for their mobile platform. That’s where Photo Stream comes in. Photo Stream, as we were first to detail, is sort of like a combination of Facebook and Instagram photo uploading and sharing. It’s also built right in the photos application, like the Facebook integration, so it’s very easy and convenient for the user. Thanks Sonny D.
Apple clearing supply issues: iPad 2 now ships in 1-2 weeks from the U.S. online store
At it’s peak, the iPad 2 shipped in 4-5 weeks from the Apple online store in the United States. Now, Apple’s second-generation tablet is shipping in only 1-2 weeks. It seems that Apple is really clearing up any production, supply, or shipping issues that they may have had. Apple stores are still a difficult place to find an iPad 2, so with a 1-2 week shipping time, the online store may just be your best bet.
Update: MacRumors notes that the shipping time has dropped to 1-2 weeks only in United States, Canada, Mexico, Australia, and New Zealand but is still at 2-3 weeks in many European countries. These things usually work their way around the world, however.
iMac supplies tighten ahead of forthcoming refresh
A good indication that an Apple product refresh is coming soon is when the respective product’s supplies begin tightening up. Most recently, this process happened with the iPad prior to the iPad 2 launch and with the MacBook Pro prior to the MacBook Pro refresh with Thunderbolt and quad-core processors. Now, it’s the iMac’s turn for a refresh. We have been told by three people familiar with the matter – all in different countries including the U.S. and an Asian country – that iMac supplies are tightening.
First, we have our friend Mr. X who provided us with the above screen shot and the following information. Mr. X says supplies for the iMac have tightened significantly, and this has never happened during the current model’s life-cycle. The data chart above shows that all four iMac models are “constrained” with no ETA for new shipments in a particular region; a very large one.
Tipsters in the United States have informed us that their iMac shipments are also very constrained. That’s not the full story though. Although actual iMac shipments are lacking, our U.S. tipsters report that actual iMac components are also very constrained. The most constrained pieces right now are the current iMac’s graphics processors and hard drives. A lack of replacement components is also a good indication of an upcoming refresh.
Next, our source in a major Asian country reports that the 21.5 inch iMacs are very constrained, more so the 3.06 GHz base model, and the other three models are very close to the constrained state. So, when are the new iMacs coming? Previous reports claim that new iMacs with faster, Sandy Bridge processing chips and Thunderbolt I/O ports are launching between late April and early May… bring them on! Thanks, Robert!
Update: Readers are asking about Mac minis and white MacBooks. Although those products are approaching the end of their life cycles, there are plenty of them still around.
Survey: Apple's iOS reaches 59 percent more people than Google's Android
The WSJ points to a new comScore survey detailing who’s buying iPads. The most interesting piece to note is that iOS still trumps Android with 59% more people being exposed to iOS than Android.
The finding is incredible because it shows that Android being the most popular smartphone is not the whole story, said Mark Donovan, the senior vice president of mobile at comScore. Publishers, developers and advertisers are trying to understand how to reach audiences, and the study shows that users are using a range of devices.
56.1% percent of iPad owners are male and 49.4% of iPad owners have an income greater than $100,000 per year. 27% of iPad owners are between the ages of 25-34 and 41.4% of iPad owners do not have a college degree. Something interesting to note is that 6.2% of iPad owners are senior citizens. Even more interesting is the accompanying smartphone that iPad users carry: 27.3% of iPad users rock iPhones, 17.5% have Blackberrys, and only 14.2% have Android phones.
64 GB white iPhone caught in the wild… running prototype iOS 4 with Expose, new folder system, Facebook integration?
Remember the second people to bring the world legit photos of the iPhone 4? How about a mid-year MacBook refresh and an iPod touch camera prototype? Well, they (Tinhte) are back and they’re back with a white iPhone 4. It’s not any white iPhone 4, see, it runs a never before seen version of iOS 4. From the looks of things, iOS 4 could have lost the Spotlight search menu from the iOS 3 days and the iOS 4 multitasking instead could have been an Expose multitasking page with a Spotlight menu at the top of the display. Really cool stuff happening here. (via Engadget)
Update: We’ve found a new video from the same source, this time showing off some of the device’s hardware: it’s 64 GB and obviously a prototype based on the camera and buttons designs. Oh, iOS 4 could have brought a brand-new home screen folders interface… it’s/was awesome!
Why we think it’s really something Apple crafted: This particular phone is running an Apple-internal application called “Radar” in addition to a game called “Tough Fighter.” If you’re not familiar, Touch Fighter is a game Apple actually built to show off the iPhone’s accelerometer and graphics performance at one of their early SDK keynote. Some of the settings menus also look pretty internal
Update 2: Facebook integration in iOS? It’s probably integrated nicely with Media Stream for photo uploading and such. Cool. Thanks, Will Strafach, Stephen H, Piratx
Remember that Facebook video uploading we found in iOS 4 that never made it to the market? Yeah…
Apple ends MobileMe and iWork $30 rebate programs ahead of rumored refreshes
A source within Apple has provided us with an internal memo announcing the end of Apple’s long-running rebate programs for both the MobileMe service and Apple’s iWork productivity suite of applications. The rebate allowed Apple customers to receive $30 off their purchase of the $99 MobileMe if the service was purchased alongside a new Mac or iOS device. The iWork rebate program, also $30 off, became an option with new Mac purchases.
Starting at the “close of business” on April 18th (that’s today in most markets) the MobileMe and iWork rebates no longer exist. Above is a screenshot of the internal memo we obtained. Apple’s decision to end the rebate program comes right before the rumored revamp of Apple’s MobileMe service. Back in February, we reported that MobileMe could now only be purchased online: not at retail stores, and no retail packaging would be shipped to the customer.
Apple is rumored to be updating MobileMe either later this month or in June at the annual World Wide Developers Conference (WWDC). The refresh is rumored to include a new “music locker” service for music streaming to Apple devices from the cloud, in addition to new cloud-based services. A ‘Media Stream’ and ‘Find my Friends’ feature is also rumored to be tied into the revamped MobileMe. Those features may debut in iOS 5. Apple cutting the rebate program may add credence to past reports claiming that MobileMe is becoming a free Apple service.
The iWork rebate program is also being cut. We don’t particularly think that iWork is becoming a free service, but it’s a safe bet that we will be seeing an iWork ’11 update later this year. iWork for Mac has not seen a major refresh since January 2009 as Apple has seemingly put their iWork focus on the iPad. No new features of note have been rumored for iWork, but evidence of this upcoming refresh has already appeared on the Mac App Store and in Apple’s Keynote Remote application for iPhone and iPod touch. Thanks, Robert!
Apple releases iTunes 10.2.2 with bug fixes
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Apple has just updated iTunes to version 10.2.2 and includes some important bug fixes:
- Addresses an issue where iTunes may become unresponsive when syncing an iPad.
- Resolves an issue which may cause syncing photos with iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch to take longer than necessary.
- Fixes a problem where video previews on the iTunes Store may skip while playing.
- Addresses other issues that improve stability and performance.
Apple sues Samsung over Galaxy phone and tablet series (update: Apple comments)
The Wall Street Journal reports that Apple has filed a lawsuit against Samsung over the “look and feel” of Samsung’s Galaxy series. The Galaxy series includes the popular Galaxy S smartphone line – Nexus S, Galaxy S 4G, Epic 4G – in addition to the Samsung Galaxy Tab tablet device.
Rather than innovate and develop its own technology and a unique Samsung style for its smart phone products and computer tablets, Samsung chose to copy Apple’s technology, user interface and innovative style in these infringing products, the lawsuit said.
Apple and Samsung have long had a business relationship. Samsung supplies many flash components for Apple’s iOS devices like the iPad, iPhone, and iPod touch, in addition to Apple’s flash iPods: nano and shuffle. Most recently, it was discovered that Apple has switched from Toshiba flash components to Samsung components in the latest MacBook Air line.
Samsung also manufactures the basis of Apple’s A4 and A5 processors found in the iPhone and iPad. Samsung has also manufactured RAM modules and display technology for Apple. Apple and Samsung are rumored to be working together on a new Super PLS screen technology for us in future Apple devices.
Update: Mobilized got comment from Apple:
“It’s no coincidence that Samsung’s latest products look a lot like the iPhone and iPad, from the shape of the hardware to the user interface and even the packaging,” an Apple representative told Mobilized. “This kind of blatant copying is wrong, and we need to protect Apple’s intellectual property when companies steal our ideas.”
White iPhone 4 available April 20th? (update: listing removed)
ThreeUK has just thrown up a hidden deal on their online store for the elusive white iPhone 4. The deal allows you to actually purchase the white iPhone 4 with service right now for “earliest delivery” on Wednesday April 20th. We’re not saying this is confirmation of a Wednesday launch for the white iPhone, but unless this is just an error on ThreeUK’s part, we think it might be. The white iPhone 4 is rumored to officially launch by the end of April.
We are a bit skeptical about this seeing that the product’s launch date is yet to be even announced by Apple. We’d think that Apple would give more than a days notice, or on the day notice, of their new iPhone model’s release date.
Update: Three has removed the listing.
Apple modifies App Store ranking algorithm?
Besides Apple now allowing users to view the top 300 iOS apps, Apple has reportedly changed up their App Store ranking algorithm. Inside Mobile Apps reports that Apple’s ranking system may not completely rely on the amount of downloads per day anymore. It’s definitely too early to be certain, but it looks like App Store rankings may now also adjust based on application usage and ranking. Perhaps Apple also wanted to move the 10 bird apps out of the top 10 rankings.
The possible algorithm change was first noticed when Facebook suddenly jumped to number 1 – after an App Store refresh last week- after sitting in the 10-20 range for the past year and a half. We have a feeling this may also have to do with usage, as Facebook is possibly the app that most users come back to throughout the day. Number 2 and 3, respectively, are the highly addicting Impossible Test and Angry Birds.
Flurry’s vice president also believes that there was an algorithm change:
“We’ve been noticing changes in the Top Free rankings for at least three days now,” said Peter Farago, vice president of marketing at Flurry, which serves 80,000 applications with its analytics product. “From our point of view, Apple is absolutely considering more than just downloads, which we believe is the right direction go to measure true popularity of an app.” Other pay-per-install networks tell us they’ve been detecting these changes too.
We think this is a good decision by Apple; perhaps to keep the spammy titles out of the top rankings. Apple might even use data covering how many users deleted a respective application. If the app gets one million downloads but gets deleted 500,000 times, the description/title of the app is surely lying somehow, and now it can be kept out of the top rankings.
Apple considering additional LED backlight manufacturer for iPads
Digitimes relays a report from the Commercial Times newspaper that claims Apple is exploring the possibility of adding yet another supplier to their tablet-making process. This time the new supplier is a company called Everlight and they have reportedly built and sent LED backlights to Apple for “verification.” Everlight’s LED technology is said to be bright at 2,000 millicandelas (mcd). Everlight has been producing these types of bright LED displays for tablet PC manufacturers since March of this year.
We will have to see if these LED backlights will make their way into iPad 2s produced in the later days of its product cycle, and if this LED technology is superior to the LED technology found in the currently shipping iPad 2. It wouldn’t be a surprise for Apple to silently start making their iPad 2s better about 6-7 months after the device’s initial release.
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Square credit card readers now sold through Apple: online now, stores next week
The popular Square credit card reader system is now available through the Apple online store. The card reader costs $9.95 and ships in either black or white and includes a $10 redemption code. To set up Square, just grab their free application from the iOS App Store and create a free account. Square takes a flat rate of 2.75% per transaction with any approved card (when swiped) and the system works with iPad, iPad 2, iPhone 4, and the 4th-generation iPod touch.
TechCrunch reports that the Apple + Square retail collaboration isn’t stopping at the online store. Apple Stores are expected to sell the small iOS credit card readers at their Apple retail stores. Maybe one day Apple will replace their thick EasyPay sleds with some Squares.
Square is the simplest way for individuals and businesses to accept credit cards. Just plug the reader into your iPod touch (4th generation), iPhone 4, or iPad and use it in conjunction with the free Square app you can download from the App Store.
Apple launches Apple Support Communities with question asking, tracked responses
Apple took their support discussions website down this morning and now it is back up. It’s not back up as support discussions, though. Apple has finally replaced their aging support discussions board website with Apple Support Communities. Products and services from Apple are now arranged by “community.” If you have questions, answers, or issues with a particular device, service, or anything Apple just find the related community and start doing whatever you came to do.
Within each community is a set of responses akin to those in Apple’s old discussion forums. Instead, now, there is a quick answer feature that lets you quickly reply to any post. Additionally, you will recieve any email when your topic is replied to (if you wish). Users will also be able to assign responses as “correct answers” – similar to what Yahoo Answers offers.
Tracked responses are now also present and this makes it easy to keep track of all replies directed to your issue/community post. Apple Support Discussions also includes a widgets feature that allows you to create a personalized community homepage. You can organize tabs where you like them. Widgets include: popular tags, newest members, popular discussions, unanswered questions, announcements, communities, places, and more.
Apple switches from Toshiba to speedier Samsung SSDs for new MacBook Air shipments
Toshiba MacBook Air “blade” SSD – iFixit
Anandtech notices that Apple’s newer MacBook Air shipments appear to contain Samsung-built SSDs versus Toshiba ones that originally shipped in the MacBook Air. It’s hard to pinpoint exactly when Apple made this change but it’s worth noting that our MacBook Air from late 2010 carries a Toshiba SSD and the one we purchased about a month ago carries a Samsung SSD. Additionally, iFixit’s teardown from 2010 features the Toshiba drive.
The Samsung SSD carries a model number of SM128C while the Toshiba drive is labeled as TS128C. To the consumer, a change in manufacturer and model number may not mean much, but that’s not the full story in this situation. According to tests (chart below) the Samsung SSD is significantly faster than the Toshiba version. Anandtech summarizes this chart:
The interesting aspect is that the SM128C models provide quite a nice performance bump in at least one performance metric. Benchmarks posted by users show that the SM128C manages up to 260MB/s read and 210MB/s write speeds. In our tests (and corroborating what users have reported), the TS128C only offers speeds of up to 210MB/s read and 185MB/s write. The SM128C also supports Native Command Queuing (NCQ) while the TS128C does not. The performance figures match the figures of Samsung 470 Series pretty well, which Samsung quotes as providing up to 250MB/s read and 220MB/s write. The Samsung 470 Series uses Samsung’s own controller with model number S3C29MAX01-Y340.
So, what drive do you have?
Toys R' Us to start selling 16 GB and 32 GB WiFi iPad 2s, Smart Covers tomorrow – Sunday, April 17
Following the rumors that Apple will expand its iPad 2 retail presence to Toys R’ Us, we have been told that the rumors are true and that Toys R’ Us will begin selling the iPad 2 tomorrow. Sources say that sales will begin at many locations tomorrow – Sunday, April 17 – with ranging availability. iPad 2 availability at Toys R’ Us will increase in the coming days and weeks.
According to an employee flyer/memo (pictured above), Toys R’ US will sell the 16 GB and 32 GB WiFi-only iPad 2 for $499 and $599, respectively. The 16 GB model will come in either black or white and the 32 GB variant will be black only. Toys R’ Us will also sell the Apple iPad 2 Smart Covers. Most stores will carry the $39 polyurethane option in pink, blue, and green. The Times Square, New York flagship store will carry the black and tan leather covers for $69.
Toys R’ Us has had a relationship with Apple for some time, selling iPods at their retail locations. Since Toys R’ Us’s iPod sales are in-store-only, we speculate Toys R’ Us will only sell the iPad 2 in-store. The iPad 2 launched on March 11th with great fanfare and is currently sold at Apple, AT&T, Verizon, Best Buy, Sam’s Club, Radio Shack, Target, and Walmart. Best Buy is also beginning some sort of iPad 2 promotion tomorrow, April 17th.
PBS iPad app gets AirPlay, multitasking support
PBS updated their free iPad application today with support for multitasking and Apple’s AirPlay technology. You can now find a video that you want to watch from PBS, stream it to your Apple TV, and multitask around your iPad. Hopefully ABC decides to bring AirPlay to their app. Thanks, William
What’s new in version 1.2:
– Enjoy streaming video on AirPlay supported devices like an AppleTV connected TV.
– Quickly resume your program or browsing after switching away.
– Consistent sound without wondering which mode you’ve selected for the slide switch.
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White iPhone 4 shows up in Verizon's inventory
It’s real this time. After several false hopes along the way, Apple will finally release the white iPhone 4 very soon. We’ve been expecting an AT&T version since summer 2010 and reports of a Verizon version of the white model being in the works emerged earlier this week. Now, we have confirmation of this: Verizon is set to launch both 16 GB and 32 GB white iPhone 4 models and the devices have already popped up in Verizon’s internal inventory database. Apple has confirmed over and over again that the white iPhone 4 will come this spring (which is from now until early June) and independent reports claim that we’ll be seeing the white iPhone by the end of April.
The models popped up in the inventory today, leading us to believe the late April launch information is true. The screenshot (32 GB) above and the screenshot (16 GB) after the break do not specifically state the new models are white but based on the numbering system and information from sources the models are for the white iPhone 4. As you can see in the screenshots, the white version of the iPhone 4 carriers a number sequence that is one larger than the black model. The white iPhone 4 is MC679 and the black model is MC678. Same thing with the black and white iPad 2s. So, anyone still holding out for the white version?
Review: Magic Wand Magic Trackpad + Apple wireless keyboard connector
We’ve been testing out Twelve South’s Magic Trackpad + Apple wireless keyboard unifier for some time now and in short: it’s awesome. The Magic Wand works as advertised and is incrediblity simple to set up and start using. Simply slide your wireless keyboard and magic trackpad into the aluminum bar, push in the piece of supplied rubber to keep both input devices in place, and you’re set.
Many users of the wireless keyboard and trackpad with their Mac desktops have long noticed that the trackpad tends to slide far from the keyboard. In my experience it is just plain annoying. Twelve South’s Magic Trackpad works to defeat the issue and does in a fairly-inexpensive and intuitive manner. The product also works for anyone as you can slide the trackpad or keyboard into any side of bar, so it’s perfect whether you are right or left handed…