iOS Devices

The Financial Times is offering all 1,800 of its staff a £300 or $480 rebate against the cost of an iPad or other tablet.

The newspaper wants to get its staff using those tablets — it is even offering the rebate to staff who already own an iPad,
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COMPUTERWORLD: What we see at this stage of evolution may reflect massive growth for Android as the amorphous entity it is, but the confusion for consumers attempting to install Apps shows us Google’s Achilles’ Heel — it doesn’t do usability. Apple does. The war’s not done yet.

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We’re hoping Steve Jobs doens’t kick his old Apple co-founder off of his Christmas card list for this, but Steve Wozniak today grabbed a few more million column inches when he said, Android will be the dominant smartphone platform.

Update: Engadget got a call from Woz, it appears that things aren’t exactly as they seem.  While Woz does acknowledge making comments about Android grabbing more marketshare than iPhone, he says that almost every app he’s used is better on iOS than Android.

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As anticipated, Apple today confirmed its intention to launch iAds in Europe next month — the company had been expected to begin its ads system earlier in the region.

In a press release distributed this morning in Europe, the company revealed its launch ads partners will include L’Oréal, Renault, Louis Vuitton, Nespresso, Perrier & Unilever.

Press Release follows:

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Reuters reports that News Corp executive James Murdoch has confirmed that News Corp will be soon revealing and launching a publication specific for distribution on tablet computers like Apple’s iPad. Murdoch told journalists that the publication is a “tablet-only product and it’s very exciting.” So far there is no specific word as to what this tablet-only publication will entail and Murdoch went on to speak about the tablet form-factor in general.

“The tablet in general, it lends itself to a type of journalism that is really new,” Murdoch said, highlighting the way print looks on tablets and the multi-touch screens that encourage interaction from readers.

The iPad was originally billed by Apple as the future of newspapers and reading and has already made a nice dent in the ebook market with their popular iBooks application along with their iBookstore. Popular publications like the New York Times and Washington Post are also believing in the iPad as a fantastic news distribution device and this is demonstrated from both of the publication’s iPad news apps.

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In an interview with the WSJ Verizon CEO Ivan Seidenberg revealed that his “embrace” of LTE data technology has “drawn the interest” of Apple, so much that it was one of the leading reasons for the Verizon iPad deal. Even more interesting is when Seidenberg was given the money question: when’s Verizon getting the iPhone? His response was not very revealing but he did say the reason Verizon would get the iPhone is “because Apple thinks it’s time.”

This once again shows the Verizon iPhone deal is on Apple’s court and Apple will be the one leading the show and deciding when the Big Red will be getting the iPhone. The CEO also said “our interests are beginning to come together more but they have to take steps to align their technology with ours.”- That’s quite obvious from the iPad deal but does represent their new ongoing partnership. Recent Verizon iPhone rumors have pointed to an early 2011 release with claims brought to light by the New York Times and the Wall Street Journal

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FireCore has announced that they will be bringing a neat software suite to the second-generation Apple TV that includes both a web browser and a Last.fm application. The software suite is called aTV Flash (black) and will be released as a beta in a couple weeks. The web browser is called Couch Surfer and it will support most browsing functions and some plugins in the future (no word on flash). Here’s a video of it in action:

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lRxYgWSU72Y&w=640&h=385]

FireCore will also be bringing Last.fm to the new Apple TV via an application that looks great. The streaming functionality looks fluid and you can take a peak at Last.fm for Apple TV via the video walkthrough after the break:

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Uh Oh. Jobs won’t be happy with this one. Boxwave has revealed yet another physical keyboard attachment for the iPhone and this one looks pretty substantial. The Keyboard Buddy is a full on iPhone 4 case complete with cutouts for the camera, volume rocker, and everything else. The case snaps on to the iPhone 4 securely and the keyboard is bluetooth for easy connection. The case includes a USB cable for charging and turns on an off to conserve battery and switch between Apple’s touch keyboard the case’s physical one.

Boxwave’s website claims the keyboard can last up to 45 days on a full charge and the case ships in jet black for 69.95 after a %10 discount. You can now pre-order the Keyboard Buddy at Boxwave’s online store and it is shipping December 14th worldwide. Hopefully we can get a review unit to show you if its truly a magical accessory. Another shot is after the break. via Engadget.

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Bloomberg reports that iPads sold by Apple in China come standard with two years of the AppleCare protection plan. This differs from the one year standard in all other countries Apple sells the iPad in. The reason iPads from China include two-year warranties is because the Chinese government classifies Apple’s tablet as a computer and computers in China are required by law to include two-year warranties.

We think this is quite interesting and it attests to the fact that many people are considering the iPad as either a laptop/netbook replacement or a secondary computer. The AppleCare protection program does not cover physical damage but covers many hardware and software issues that may occur.

In the United States the iPad comes with one year of warranty for repairs and 90 days of telephone support. You can extend both the repair warranty and phone support to two years for an additional $99.

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[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pc5aOAGlOxg&w=670&h=527]

COMPUTERWORLD: We’re at the time of year when everyone looks anxiously at Amazon’s Black Friday deals list and races around to find the very best (affordable) objects to give to close friends, family and loved ones. The holiday season is expensive and demanding — and this year will be the year of the shopping app.

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Google announced today that you’d be able to edit Google Docs on the iPad, iPhone, iPod touch and Android devices…in real time.  Neat trick.

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eAr5VoYdVBo&hl=en_US&feature=player_embedded&version=3]
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Hulu drops its Plus plan pricing $2/ month today.  Perhaps it is feeling some competition from the likes of Xfinity’s iPad app? Or maybe paying for $10/month for shows with commercials just didn’t feel right.

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RIM CEO Jim Balsillie used a speech at Web 2.0 to issue one of his company’s attacks on Apple, saying, “You don’t need an app for the Web’.

Some may recall Apple CEO Steve Jobs in 2007 who said the future for app development on the iPhone rested with the Web. He faced a hail of criticism, Apple changed tack and launched the App Store, and the rest is history.
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Adobe CEO Shantanu Narayen says his company isn’t really at war with Apple — the two firms are “just on different sides”, he claimed.

Adobe is focused on “creating content for multiple platforms” he said.
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We’re heading to wrap-up on The Beatles/iTunes deal, learning overnight that Apple has secured an online exclusive on music from the band “well into 2011”.

It seems the move to get the music to the online store began when Roger Faxon took over as the head of EMI’s recorded music division — he prioritized making the deal happen, Billboard reports.
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Who had any idea that so many people would be using these little Nanos as watches?  Griffin surely didn’t because their Slap™ watch bands are just making it to stores in time for the holidays.  Order yours for $25 here.

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The New York Observer reports that a 17 year-old New Yorker has been ordering white iPhone 4 parts directly from a contact at Foxconn and putting his own conversion kits together. He has been doing so well with this business that he has earned around $130,000 during the 6-months he has been selling the devices.

Things were riding pretty smoothly for the boy until he received a letter from a private investigator. The sender of the investigator is unknown but a betting man might say a fruity company from Cupertino, California. Even with the fear of jail-time and fines for selling “stolen goods” online, the boy is not throwing up the white flag and has obtained an attorney.

Good luck kiddo! (seriously)

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Ironically, this might be the biggest announcement of the day for Apple.  After 16 months, Apple has finally let Google Voice past the App Store Gauntlet.

More screenies blow, via TechCrunch

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COMPUTERWORLD: Apple’s in a good position to take on PayPal with a move into mobile payment systems. A future NFC-based iPhone may enable people to pay for real world goods using their smartphones, with payments charged to them via iTunes. Is it game over for PayPal?

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So after years and years of rumor and a decade in which music from the band has been among the world’s most heavily traded sounds on file-sharing networks, The Beatles are now on iTunes, and while we’ve no word yet on whether the catalog will be made available via any other services, we’re pretty sure EMI’s sundry creditors will be happy at the (remaining) Fab Four’s move to reach digital detente and get their content online today. Though you have to ask if it will be enough to keep up EMI’s payments and keep Warner out.

“I am particularly glad to no longer be asked when the Beatles are coming to iTunes,” said Ringo Starr. “At last, if you want it—you can get it now—The Beatles from Liverpool to now! Peace and Love, Ringo.”
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[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AKOWK2dR4Dg&w=670&h=401]

Schmidt speaks at Web 2.0. Lots of Apple-related nuggets.
Quick rundown for the time-challenged:
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