Monday: March 8, 2010
- New iPad commercial accidentally reveals some book pricing information.
It's easy to miss just by viewing the ad but the folks over at The Unofficial Apple Blog have spotted a frame of the commercial that indeed shows off some pricing. So, want to know what you'll be paying for books on the iPad? Probably around $12-$14 bucks a pop.
Monday: May 17, 2010
- Apple beats out Whole Foods and Nordstrom for best shopper experience title.
Factors that contribute to a good shopping experience, according to the survey, include having customer-centric store design, maintaining shopper history data, creating ambiance, and carrying and displaying a well-organized, 'rationalized' product assortment.
Wednesday: May 12, 2010
- HTC asks for ban on Apple products after filing patent complaint.
Engadget is taking a deeper look at just what patents are involved here between the two companies and the implications of the federal lawsuit (which HTC has filed along with their patent suit). Should be an interesting battle - or about as interesting as Nokia versus Apple.
- Apple seems to have lost yet another iPhone prototype.
Here we go again - not sure how Apple would've been able to make the same mistake twice given the publicity of the last prototype that was lost. A teardown of the device has revealed an Apple branded microchip, just like the iPad.
- Google will probably have an e-book store of their own in the near future.
Interesting news when combined with the all-to-recent rumors of an Android tablet coming to Verizon. And apparently Google has already even gotten approvals from roughly 25,000 authors and publishers.
Tuesday: May 11, 2010
- Rumors swirling that Apple might make their MobileMe service free for all.
This is an interesting rumor and would certainly make a lot of sense given that most, if not all, of the current functionality of MobileMe can be done elsewhere - for free. If this happened, I'd drop some of current Google services I currently use in less than a minute.
Monday: May 10, 2010
- Borders joins the e-reader party, taking pre-orders for Kobu device.
Let's see - so now we have a Kindle, a Nook, an iPad, and a Kobu. I'll admit that I see many a Kindle on the morning commute into Manhattan and I've spotted the Nook on the subway just once in my travels. I'll also admit that the name Kobu sounds like something you'd eat for dinner.
- An interesting writeup on iPad usability from Jakob Nielsen.
This post contains most of my reasoning as to why I haven't purchased an iPad just yet. I can't seem to rationalize how the device fits into my overall usage scheme. The iPhone seems to do everything I would use an iPad for - and it does a heck of a good job at everything it already does.
- An insightful TED video on why people seem to like Apple products so much.
This is a great video that will challenge your common mode of thinking just three minutes in. The method doesn't only apply to Apple (other inspirational leaders are referenced in the video as well) but it serves as a great example for the entire concept. Mental note to self: watch more TED videos.
- Android manages to outsell the iPhone in smartphone sales for the first time.
Verizon (30%), T-Mobile (17%) and Sprint (15%) make up the bulk of the rest of the market. The numbers may also reflect the late lifecycle of the iPhone 3GS compared to the newer android devices. Apple is also widely expected to revise the iPhone in the next month.
- Apple files and receives trademark usage for iTunes Live.
No one is quite sure what this newly trademarked service will actually do. It may refer to iTunes in the cloud for purchasing music online without actually using the iTunes software or perhaps it could be a method for seeing (and purchasing) live concerts as they are performed. Either way, purchasing will probably involved.
