JP Morgan: Kindle Fire is 'noise,' won't compete with Apple's iPad 2 - Amazon's new Kindle Fire won't compete with Apple's iPad 2, and isn't even a lock to become the second-most-popular tablet on the market, one Wall Street analyst believes.
(Via AppleInsider.)
Can Any Tablet Top the iPad? -
How often have you seen someone using an iPad competitor? If your experience is anything like ours, probably not very often. That’s because a non-iPad tablet is something of a unicorn in the wild, except it’s far less magical. We decided to take a look at what went wrong for these iPad challengers and determine whether they have a shot in the future.
(Via Mac|Life all.)
What does Kindle Fire compete with, anyhow? Everything--and nothing - Amazon's upcoming tablet isn't precisely like anything else on the market. But that doesn't mean that it doesn't have any competitors. In fact, it has scads of them.
(Via CNET News.com.)
Amazon to lose $50 on each Kindle Fire, says analyst - Amazon will lose $50 on each Kindle Fire it sells, but the company could see additional revenue from the digital content it peddles to each tablet buyer, says a Piper Jaffray analyst.
(Via CNET News.com.)
Dhani Harrison Honors Father George, Faces Fear of Missing Out - Dhani Harrison discusses his band's new EP, his work on Martin Scorsese's documentary about his Beatle father George Harrison, and an upcoming iPhone and iPad app that will map his father's massive guitar collection.
(Via Wired Top Stories.)
Opinion: Oh, and about those iPods... - 
Does October 4 spell the death of traditional iPods? It makes a good headline, but the reality is, probably not. Here's what Chris Breen expects to see.
(Via Macworld.)
Ten things we don't know about the Kindle Fire - For every interesting thing we learned about the Kindle Fire today, there were one or more important questions not answered.
(Via CNET News.com.)
Amazon estimated to lose $50 per Kindle Fire sold - A note by Gene Munster of Piper Jaffray, says Amazon's Kindle Fire is "not a true competitor, but more competitive than expected," while noting the Internet retailer "is likely losing about $50" on each unit it sells.
(Via AppleInsider.)
Kindle Fire details reveal no iPad competitor -
Credit: Amazon.com
Amazon’s Kindle Fire is now a known quantity, thanks to details supplied to Bloomberg ahead of the official announcement at Amazon’s press event Wednesday. The Android-based tablet has an attractive price, but to get there, it cut so many corners it probably won’t make much of a dent in Apple’s market lead.
The Kindle Fire has a seven-inch display, no camera and no microphone. It can only connect to Wi-Fi network; there’s no built-in 3G. It also only carries 8 GB of onboard memory, with no options for memory expansion, in order to help Amazon reach the Fire’s low price point of $199. By comparison, the Barnes & Noble Nook Color costs $249, and the iPad begins at $499.
(Via TheAppleBlog.)
Amazon Unveils $199 Kindle Fire, $99 Kindle Touch, $79 Kindle -
To paraphrase Robert Duvall in the 1979 classic Apocalypse Now: “We love the smell of Kindle Fire in the morning.” Yes, Amazon’s seven-inch tablet is real, and it’s cheaper than even the analysts had predicted -- and its arrival has further pushed down the price of the standard Kindle, which is now a mere $79.
(Via Mac|Life all.)
6 Things We'd Like to See in the New iPod -
Apple yesterday announced that it's officially holding an event a week from now to announce new iOS products. Whether it's a new iPhone or a whole slew of iPods is a different story entirely, but it could very well be that this year we'll be seeing a refresh to everyone's favorite music player. With that in mind, here’s a look at what Cupertino might do to put the spotlight back on the iPod again.
While the iPod lineup is far from dead, Apple clearly sees the writing on the wall: More people are buying iPhones (and, to a lesser degree, iPads) which will has started to mean fewer people need an iPod. Sure, there will always be those among us who long for the sheer quantity of songs available on an iPod classic, or who enjoys the simple convenience and disposable nature of an iPod shuffle or iPod nano -- not to mention those who have no need for a cellular connection and call the iPod touch their friend.
Given that Apple isn’t likely to completely put a stake in the heart of its iPod line on the eve of its 10th anniversary, here are some thoughts on how the company might excite us about the iPod all over again.
(Via Mac|Life all.)
Amazon unveils $199 Kindle Fire tablet, $99 Kindle Touch - 
Amazon on Wednesday unveiled its new 7-inch Android tablet, the Kindle Fire.
(Via Macworld.)
Amazon lights a Fire with its Kindle tablet (photos) - Company unveils three new e-readers and the Kindle Fire, its first foray into tablets and suddenly Apple's biggest competitor.
(Via CNET News.com.)
CNET readers react to the iPod's possible demise - With speculation and reports suggesting the iPod Classic and iPod Shuffle could be on the chopping block, CNET readers are sounding off on what they think about such a decision.
(Via CNET News.com.)
Amazon's new $79 Kindle, $99 Kindle Touch stick with e-ink display - Achieving an attractive sub-$100 price point, Amazon's new $79 Kindle and $99 Kindle Touch still sport e-ink displays for reading books and other content, while ditching the physical keyboard found on previous models.
(Via AppleInsider.)
Amazon Kindle Fire aims to undercut Apple's iPad with $199 price - Amazon on Wednesday unveiled its new Kindle Fire touchscreen tablet, an Android-powered device with a 7-inch display that will sell for just $199, or less than half of Apple's entry-level $499 iPad.
(Via AppleInsider.)
OnStar Tracks Your Car Even When You Cancel Service - OnStar, the popular in-car navigation and emergency system, is notifying its users that it will track their location and speed even if users cancel service. And it reserves the right to sell that data.
(Via Wired Top Stories.)
Well, Netflix has been in the news a lot lately, and it hasn't all be pleasant for the one-time darling of Wall Street. In July, Netflix announced they would be splitting up their DVD and streaming into two separate products, which effectively raised prices around 60 percent. Many customers were angry, and yesterday CEO Reed Hastings said, "I messed up."
But the apology also included some more disruptive news, that Netflix would be spinning off the DVD business altogether into a separate company called Qwikster. Not sure if this is a good or a bad thing yet, and confused why Netflix choose the name of a Twitter account belonging to a weed-smoking Elmo for their new venture, many customers are giving up on CEO Hastings and Netflix and looking for new ways to get their movie fix.
Once again, let us help.
(Via Mac|Life all.)
Opinion: Netflix's changes are customer-hostile - 
Netflix keeps trying to defend its pricing changes. And now it's splitting its site into two sites. Staff writer Lex Friedman argues that Netflix's latest moves only make things worse for its customers.
(Via Macworld.)
Fifth-gen iPod touch said to be 'very minor' revision - 
The fifth-generation iPod touch will see "very minor" changes over its predecessor when it's announced in the next few weeks, MacRumors claims to have learned. The biggest change will allegedly be the addition of a white option, something well supported by various part leaks. Other modifications should include an oleophobic screen coating, and an improved ambient light sensor ...
10 things you need to know about Google Wallet - Now that Google Wallet has officially launched, turning smartphones into digital wallets, keep these rules of the road in mind
(Via CNET News.com.)
Google Wallet opens for business - The virtual wallet for smartphones is designed to replace real wallets by allowing users to store payment information and to purchase things simply by tapping their phones.
(Via CNET News.com.)
MasterCard QkR unites QR codes, audio, Kinect, and NFC - 
MasterCard has gone beyond Google Wallet to show a new mobile platform that could use multiple mobile technologies to solve mobile payments. Known collectively as QkR, they focus on QR codes for mobile payments but also audio cues, NFC short-range wireless, and even Microsoft's Kinect for the Xbox 360. One system would have an NFC 'coaster' that could recognize products shown on TV and let users tap an NFC-equipped phone or tablet on the coaster to buy whatever's on TV ...
'Subconscious Mode' could improve phone battery life - 
Were your smartphone allowed to be just barely awake, it could extend battery life by as much as 54 percent, according to a research team at the University of Michigan that has invented a new "subconscious mode" for smartphones and other WiFi enabled mobile devices.
(Via Macworld.)
Google releases Chrome 14 browser - 
Google on Friday patched 32 vulnerabilities in Chrome, paying more than $14,000 in bug bounties as it also upgraded the stable edition of the browser to version 14.
(Via Macworld.)
Stevie Wonder thanks Steve Jobs for iOS accessibility - 
During a surprise appearance at the 6th Annual Wonder-Full tribute concert by DJ Spinna at the Echoplex in Los Angeles on September 11th, soul music legend Stevie Wonder -- who has been blind from birth -- thanked Apple co-founder and chairman Steve Jobs for making the iOS devices such as the iPhone and iPad fully accessible to disabled users, AppleInsider and The Next Web report. The comment was part of a longer free-form speech encouraging the audience to think about how to help those with disabilities ...
Sharp cuts down to one Galapagos tablet as iPad looms large - 
Sharp on Thursday checked its ambitions in the tablet arena with word that it was dropping its original two Galapagos tablets. Both the 5.5-inch and 10.8-inch models will exit the market at the end of September, about 10 months after they went on sale. Only the seven-inch A01SH launched last month will stay on sale ...
Skype adds Facebook integration for Mac users - The latest beta of Skype for the Mac adds in the Facebook integration that's been part of the Windows version since the end of July.
(Via CNET News.com.)
Stevie Wonder thanks Steve Jobs for making iOS devices fully accessible - On stage at the Echoplex in Los Angeles, Stevie Wonder gave a shoutout to Apple's Steve Jobs for making the iPhone and iPad fully accessible to disabled users.
(Via AppleInsider.)
Creating a cloud-based backup for your image library - 
Creating your own cloud storage system doesn’t require a degree in computer science. But it does help to choose the right equipment. Derrick Story advises photo pros how to get started.
(Via Macworld.)
Looking back at Apple's 1984 ad -
Ars Technica has an excellent interview with Steven Hayden, former creative lead at advertiser Chiat/Day and one of several people behind Apple's iconic 1984 ad. Hayden sheds some light on the behind the scenes negotiations that went into this advertisement.
It's well known that Apple's board of directors did not like the ad and threatened to fire advertiser Chiat/Day, but, according to Hayden, it was supposedly Steve Wozniak's faith in the project that helped bring it to fruition. Hayden also revealed he had to interview with Scott Ridley's mother in London before the famed director agreed to work on the American commercial. For additional quips like this, check out the rest of Ars Technica's full interview here. It's worth the read.
10 Handy iPhone Apps for Emergency Scenarios -
We all know that our iPhones can be lifesavers during long lines at the DMV and boring concert recitals, but what about in actual emergency situations? Mother Nature is anything but nurturing these days, and disasters can strike seemingly anywhere, devastating cities and stranding the unprepared without basic necessities for days. But even if the lights are out and running water is hard to come by, your iPhone can help -- and not just as a high-priced flashlight.
(Via Mac|Life all.)
Jobs biography grows by over 200 pages, release date unsure - 
The size of Walter Isaacson's authorized Steve Jobs biography has grown by more than 200 pages, a check of Simon & Schuster's website shows. The book is now listed at 656 pages by its publisher, versus the 448 announced earlier. The latter figure is still displayed on the iBookstore ...
Amazon testing yearly subscriptions to Kindle books - 
Amazon is actively exploring the idea of bringing a subscription model to Kindle books, sources claimed late Sunday. As discussed with publishers so far, it would parallel the strategy taken with Instant Video, where Amazon Prime customers paying the $79 per year get the media subscription as a bonus. Titles would primarily be "older," the WSJ understood, with a limited number of free titles every month ...
Apple prepping next-generation AirPort Express? - The latest reports suggest the company could unveil a new version of its 802.11n AirPort Express router, according to a source "familiar with the matter."
(Via CNET News.com.)
Apple open to restoring axed MobileMe features in iCloud - Apple hasn't completely ruled out the return of features like iDisk and System preference syncing from eventually reemerging as part of its iCloud service, representatives for the company's new chief executive are telling customers.
(Via AppleInsider.)
Amazon eyes Netflix-style service for e-books - E-commerce giant is reportedly planning a Netflix-like subscription service for e-books, in a move that would be another perk for Amazon Prime subscribers.
(Via CNET News.com.)
Now that the Labor Day holiday is behind us here in the U.S., fall is fast approaching and that can mean only one thing: iCloud time! Ever since iCloud was previewed at WWDC 2011, iOS device users have been staring at their current devices, longing for some cloud syncing magic, so let’s recap what we know about iCloud so far.
On the surface, iCloud is Apple’s new attempt to right the early wrongs of MobileMe, the annual service for keeping vital contacts, calendars, bookmarks and more synced between computers and iOS devices. First launched in 2000 as iTools, reborn two and a half years later as .Mac and ultimately rolled in MobileMe in 2008, iCloud is the culmination of years of hard work on Apple’s part to make life easier for its users.
Whether you own a Mac, iPhone, iPod touch or iPad, iCloud promises to change the way you access your data across devices -- especially when it comes to adding a new device in the future. Here’s a look at what to expect based on the information Apple has made available.
(Via Mac|Life all.)
The Amazon-California tax debacle: We all lose - States and retail lobbyists say this just evens the playing field, but let's call it what it really is.
(Via CNET News.com.)
NASA satellite soon to return to Earth... in pieces - There's a 1 in 3,200 chance that a piece of space debris will hit someone, according to reports.
(Via CNET News.com.)
Amazon and California lawmakers cut sales tax deal - The online retail giant agrees to call off its referendum to repeal a new law in exchange for a one-year grace period from having to collect state sales taxes.
(Via CNET News.com.)
Charitable matching of up to $10K now available for Apple employees - Apple this week launched a new program for its employees in which the company will match personal charitable contributions of up to $10,000 per year.
(Via AppleInsider.)
iPod nano, this is your life -
The first iPod nano was released on Sept. 7, 2005, and in the six intervening years, it has undergone a lot of changes. In fact, the nano has one of the most mercurial design histories of any Apple product. Here’s a quick look back at the history of the iPod nano over the years in pictures.
(Via TheAppleBlog.)
Law & Apple: Disappearing Galaxies, Secret Numbers, and a Chinese Food Fight -
It's time for another whirlwind, around-the-world tour of Apple's latest lawsuits, this time with developments occurring on three different continents. In Europe, Samsung and Apple are dueling it out in Germany, and Down Under a judge tells Apple to cough up payment documents to prove Samsung's really a threat. We'll also discuss Apple's latest legal troubles in Asia, where the company sent a threatening letter to a Chinese food company to stop its trademark infringement.
(Via Mac|Life all.)
Amazon: We're testing a redesign - Perhaps coinciding with its alleged launch of a new "iPad rival," Amazon says it is testing a redesign that will make the site (even) easier to use.
(Via CNET News.com.)
TechCrunch reveals the Amazon Kindle Tablet -
TechCrunch's MG Siegler got an exclusive look at Amazon's Kindle Tablet, and by the sounds of things, the iPad may finally have its first credible competitor. The first thing Amazon got right was the price: US$250 for a device with a 7-inch, full-color display. Other manufacturers have priced their tablets similarly to the iPad, and consumer response has been... "lukewarm" is about as charitably as I can describe it.
Review: Eight iPhone 4 battery cases - 
Few of us would complain about squeezing a few more hours between iPhone recharges. We looked at several external battery cases for the iPhone 4.
(Via Macworld.)
HP's 12c calculator turns 30 with anniversary edition - 
HP's 12c Financial Calculator is celebrating its 30th birthday. To commemorate this milestone, the company has released a special edition version of the calculator.
(Via Macworld.)
Skype intros FreeTalk Connect-Me home phone adapter - 
Skype customers in the U.S. and Canada can now buy a home phone adapter called the FreeTalk Connect-Me that gives them the option of using their existing landline or just a traditional phone handset as a Skype phone, either using an unlimited plan or Skype credit to call cell phones, landlines, other Skype users and even make international calls. Once the device is initially set up (using a computer), the computer connection is no longer needed and only a broadband modem is needed ...
Apple may ship 20 million iPad 2s in summer alone - 
A reference to sources in a discussion of Foxconn profits has raised the prospects of Apple shipping many more iPads by the end of the summer than it did during the spring. Expectations have Apple shipping 20 million of the tablets, as much as 60 percent more than it did in the spring. The tally Digitimes had heard would automatically make the iPad the "major growth driver' for Apple in the second half of 2011 ...
Amazon's Kindle Tablet: An Android fork with disruptive pricing - The online retail giant's Kindle Tablet reportedly features a souped up, but dated version of Android.
(Via CNET News.com.)
U2 singer Bono praises philanthropy of Apple's Steve Jobs - Bono, the frontman for the band U2, spoke out this week in praise of Apple co-founder Steve Jobs, lauding his numerous contributions to AIDS research.
(Via AppleInsider.)
