Author

Élyse Betters

Reader eBooks by Sony, Angry Birds Star Wars, BBC iPlayer, Facebook, Instagram rolls out Web profiles, app sales, and more

Élyse Betters Nov 5 2012 - 10:46 am PT

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dXzMN9pbxCE&feature=youtu.be]

9to5Mac compiled another list of the top app news, updates, and launches in our usual roundup below. The highlights from today includes statistics on how the newly Web-geared Instagram helped capture Hurricane Sandy in real-time, a new eBook app by Sony, and a shiny teaser trailer for Rovio’s Angry Birds Star Wars (above). Oh, and a few app sales—check it out:

News

1. Angry Birds Star Wars
After releasing a string of teasers for its title landing on iOS Nov. 8, Rovio posted the first official full-length gameplay trailer today for its new Star Wars edition of Angry Birds.

Angry Birds Star Wars will be out on November 8, but until then, watch this gameplay trailer and scream “OH MY GOODNESS!!!!” to yourself in the mirror

2. Instagram | Free
Hurricane Sandy barreled through the East Coast last week, and those in its stormy path made sure to document all of the havoc in real-time with the help of Instagram. Instagram CEO Kevin Systrom revealed to GigaOM today that folks uploaded over 800,000 photos tagged with the #Sandy hashtag. Systrom specifically noted Sandy was “probably the biggest event to be captured on Instagram.” The news from Systrom this morning came as the Facebook-acquired company also announced the rollout of new Web profiles with a very Facebook-esque look (via official Instagram blog):

You’ve asked for Instagram on the web and we’ve listened. Over the next few days, we’ll be rolling out Instagram profiles on the web!

Your web profile features a selection of your recently shared photographs just above your profile photo and bio, giving others a snapshot of the photos you share on Instagram. In addition, you can follow users, comment & like photos and edit your profile easily and directly from the web. It’s a beautiful new way to share your Instagram photos!

Just launched
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Report profiles Google’s internal feelings over whether Apple will approve Google Maps app

Élyse Betters Nov 5 2012 - 9:01 am PT

iOS 5 Maps with Google’s backend

The Guardian published a new report today that cited unnamed sources and throws around phrases like “not optimistic” and “unlikely event” in regards to Apple ever allowing a Google Maps iOS app.

The story claimed Google’s app is ready to ship by the end of 2012, but Google is torn about the likelihood of Apple ever giving an official go-ahead:

While one source indicated increased hopes that the dedicated Google Maps iOS app will eventually be approved now that Apple’s maps leader, Scott Forstall, has departed the company, another was less than enthusiastic about any increased prospects, citing industry politics and Apple’s need to save face as much as possible and “keep moving forward in an effort to make its obviously inferior product better”. Apple unveiled the section, which on Monday listed ten free and paid-for apps, to spotlight alternative mapping apps for iOS in an effort to placate users over response to criticisms of its own Maps app.

The Guardian specifically noted Apple’s reluctance to give Google Maps any attention in iOS. The company apparently went as far as to neglect apps in the “Find maps for your iPhone” section of the App Store that use Google Maps APIs:

Further, a source at Google told me the feeling is that those apps were purposely left out of the new section because they promote Google and its “superior product” – at a time when there is so much bad blood between the companies over the continuing smartphone patent litigation (following allegations from the late Steve Jobs that Google’s Android OS ripped off iOS). In other words, no matter how bad Apple’s Maps are, the company still wants its users to move on from Google – and forget about them. This doesn’t bode well for the approval of an official Google Maps app, the source says.

Despite the pessimistic outlook of the anonymous Google sources, the Guardian said Apple and the folks in Mountain View are in constant talks. So, the tide could potentially change without any notice. With that said, they firmly believe Apple will never again make Google Maps a default mapping solution in iOS.

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Belkin unveils first third-party Lightning accessories

Élyse Betters Nov 5 2012 - 8:31 am PT

: Dock

: Car charger

Belkin just unveiled the market’s first third-party Lightning accessories.

The manufacturer said it will launch several new products designed for Apple’s Lightning connector this year, but today it specifically revealed a hardwired car charger for $29.99 and a Charge + Sync dock for $29.99.

The Lightning accessories are available for pre-order now and will become available in mid-November. Full specs for each product are available in the press release below.

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AT&T adds Locker app to growing market of cloud storage services

Élyse Betters Nov 1 2012 - 7:40 am PT

AT&T just announced its version of Dropbox, Google Drive, Cloud Drive, etc., with the introduction of AT&T Locker for iOS.

The cloud storage app, as one might assume, essentially allows folks to automatically sync and save photos, videos, and other data to the cloud, and it offers 5 GB of free storage to new users. The content is accessible via the mobile app or on a computer through Locker’s website.

AT&T is just getting around to lifting the cloak off its new service, but the app has already been available on the App Store for six days. A list of key features, according to the app’s description:

Photos and videos can be automatically uploaded to your AT&T Locker from your phone
Easily access your photos, videos and documents from your phone and computer
Easy to share to email, Facebook and Twitter
Your content is secure and backed up in the cloud
Store your favorite memories in a safe and convenient place
Store music from your computer to your AT&T Locker

AT&T offers storage space upgrades to 30GB for $3.99 per month or 100GB for $9.99 per month. The free iOS app is available for the iPhone 3GS or higher. It is worth noting the Android version of Locker launched in September.

Check it out: AT&T Locker by AT&T Services

The full press release is below.

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AT&T and T-Mobile begin initiative to discourage theft by merging databases of stolen devices

Élyse Betters Nov 1 2012 - 6:56 am PT

AT&T and T-Mobile recently announced they would start to share a combined database of stolen mobile devices that aspires to discourage theft and shield customers.

All the major carriers, through their wireless association CTIA and the Federal Communications Commission, first revealed plans in April to merge their respective databases, but AT&T and T-Mobile were the first to do so yesterday.

CNET specifically elaborated on how the joint database works:

The database went live yesterday, and allows either AT&T or T-Mobile to block a device from being used on either network. In order to do that, the companies ban a device’s IMEI number — a unique identifier that tells networks what the device is and who owns it — and effectively stop it from being able to place calls.

In the past, stolen smartphones were blocked by eliminating the use of a SIM card. However, in the GSM world, a phone can be used with any SIM card. So, if a thief stole a device and popped in a new SIM card, it would still work. By targeting the IMEI number, that’s no longer the case.

Sprint and Verizon are expected join the initiative by November 2013.

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Apple shipped 16.6-percent of global smartphones last quarter, up 2.3 points yoy

Élyse Betters Oct 26 2012 - 7:14 am PT

Strategic Analytics released its latest report today that depicted global smartphone shipments growing to 162 million in Q3 2012, and Apple managed to grab second place with 16.6-percent global share.

“(Apple) shipped 26.9 million smartphones worldwide for 17 percent market share, up from 14 percent recorded a year earlier,” said Strategy Analytics Executive Director Neil Mawston in a press release. “Apple had a solid quarter in the important United States market and this helped to strengthen its global performance.”

Samsung led the charge, however, with a record 35 percent global share. The report mentioned Samsung successfully delivered “numerous hit models,” such as the Galaxy and Galaxy Note, despite competition in stores and courtrooms. Meanwhile, the remaining handset manufacturers, such as Nokia, fell into the “Others” category at 48 percent.

“Samsung shipped 56.9 million smartphones worldwide and captured a record 35 percent market share in the third quarter of 2012. This was the largest number of units ever shipped by a smartphone vendor in a single quarter,” Mawston added.

Samsung and Apple essentially shipped over half of all the smartphones worldwide in Q3—up from roughly one-third just a year ago. Strategy Analytic Senior Analyst Neil Shah therefore noted shipping volumes have “polarized” around the two brands.

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Tim Cook clarifies Apple’s position on 7-inch tablets

Élyse Betters Oct 25 2012 - 3:01 pm PT

Image via <a href="http://i.telegraph.co.uk/multimedia/archive/02377/cook_2377342b.jpg" target="_blank">Telegraph</a>

Chief Executive Officer Tim Cook just clarified, during Apple’s fiscal Q4 earnings call, that the iPad mini is not a 7-inch tablet because Apple does not “think they’re good products.”

Cook specifically stressed the 7.9-inch screen size of the iPad mini provides 35 percent more screen area than the 7-inch competition:

“(…) referencing all comments Steve made before about 7-inch tablets: Let me be clear, we would not make one of the 7-inch tablets. We don’t think they are good products, and we would never make one. Not just because it’s 7 inches, but for many reasons. One of the reasons…is size. I’m not sure if you saw our keynote. The difference in just the size between 7.9—almost 8—versus 7 is 35 percent. And when you look at the usable area, it is much greater than that. You know, it is from 50 percent to 67 percent. The iPad mini has the same number of pixels as iPad 2 does. You have access to all 275,000 apps in our App Store. So, iPad mini is a fantastic product. It is not a compromise product like the 7-inch tablets. It is a whole different league.”

Follow 9to5Mac’s live blog for more minute-by-minute details from the call.

[tweet https://twitter.com/llsethj/status/261588725874696192]

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AAPL Company

Apple ‘beloved’ TV hobby sells 5M this fiscal year, up over 100 percent

Élyse Betters Oct 25 2012 - 2:39 pm PT

Chief Executive Officer Tim Cook just revealed, during Apple’s fiscal Q4 earnings call, the company sold 1.3 million Apple TVs this quarter. Apple further sold 5 million units total in 2012—double the previous fiscal year.

Cook on the growing success of Apple TV:

“For Q4, we sold 1.3 million. That’s up over a 100 percent year-on-year. That means that we sold more than 5 million Apple TVs during the fiscal year, which is almost double the previous year. We sold 2.8 the previous year. And, so, the business continues to do very well. But, if you look at the size of revenue of this business versus our other businesses, it’s quite small. So, it still has hobby label. However, it’s beloved hobby. And, we continue to focus on it and continue to believe there is something more there.”

Follow 9to5Mac’s live blog for more minute-by-minute details from the call.

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Top places to trade a third-generation, not-so ‘new’ iPad for cash or credit

Élyse Betters Oct 24 2012 - 8:49 am PT

So…I have the new iPad, err, the third-generation iPad, and its value tanked by 30 percent to 50 percent in the last 24 hours thanks to the fourth-generation iPad and iPad mini unveiling at the California Theatre yesterday.

I now have a few decisions to make. I can keep my iPad and wait for a larger update in the fifth-generation iPad. I could also trade my iPad for money or credit to buy the fourth-generation iPad, or I can even use the trade-in money for my iPad to get the iPad mini and then keep the extra dough for myself.

I actually decided to take a fourth option: I am going to trade my not-so new iPad and my dusty ‘ole first-generation iPad for credit to go toward the fourth-generation iPad. This way, I will be up to date. I will also get more bang for my trade-in buck when Apple releases the fifth-generation iPad (next fall?), as I will have the latest version. As for the iPad mini, I guess I will have to shell out extra money for it. I could always trade my old iPhones to get cash for it, though…but more on that here.

9to5Mac has you covered, for whichever path you choose, as we have compiled another list of the top trade-in places for cash or credit.

Check out the top 13 list below.

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Apple debuts iPad mini: 7.9-inch, 7.2mm thick, 10-hour battery life, starting at $329

Élyse Betters Oct 23 2012 - 10:53 am PT

Apple Senior Vice President of Worldwide Marketing Philip Schiller is now live on stage at the company’s special media event in California, and he just unveiled the new iPad mini.

“The iPad mini is every inch an iPad,” announced Schiller.

The iPad mini is the much-rumored smaller tablet from Apple, and it just debuted at 7.9 inches and .68 pounds.

“It’s as light as a pad of paper,” Schiller added.

The new Apple-branded tablet boasts a 1,024-by-768-pixel resolution, like the previous-generation 9.7-inch iPad models, but it has a 7.2mm-thick aluminum shell that is 53 percent lighter and 23 percent thinner. The iPad mini also has a dual-core Apple A5 processor, a 5-megapixel iSight camera, 802.11n Wi-Fi, LTE capability, Lightning connector, and a 10-hour battery life. The base model

Full iPad mini specs:

Comes in Wi-FI and Wi-Fi+ Cellular models
7.2mm thick— 23 percent thinner, “as thin as a pencil,” etc.
53 percent lighter, 0.68 lbs, “as light as a pad of paper,” etc.
Colors: black with slate, white with silver
7.9-inch diagonal
Exact same pixels as previous-generation iPad: 1,024-by-768—all software works unchanged
163 pixels per inch (ppi)
Bezels: made of aluminum, where as Android is plastic (Schiller comparing iPad mini to Nexus 7)
FaceTime HD camera: 1.2MP photos, 720p HD video, FaceTime video calling over Wi-Fi or cellular, Face detection, Backside illumination
5MP iSight camera: 5MP photos, Autofocus, Face detection, Backside illumination, Five-element lens, Hybrid IR filter, ƒ/2.4 aperture
Video recording: 1080p HD video recording, Video stabilization, Face detection, and Backside illumination
802.11a/b/g/n, Ultrafast LTE wireless
Battery: Built-in 16.3-watt-hour rechargeable lithium-polymer battery, charging via power adapter or USB to computer system, 10 hours of battery life (ad: “largest and thinnest single-cell battery we have ever designed”)
Dual-core A5
Lightning connector, 3.5-mm stereo headphone minijack, built-in speaker, microphone
Supports AirPlay Mirroring to Apple TV (second and third-generation) at 720p and AirPlay video streaming to Apple TV (third-generation) at up to 1080p and Apple TV (second-generation) at up to 720p
Get more details at Apple’s website.

Go to 9to5Mac’s full coverage of the iPad mini for more information on pricing and availability.

An image gallery is below.

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Apple announces ‘fourth-generation iPad’, starting at $499

Élyse Betters Oct 23 2012 - 10:51 am PT

Apple has refreshed its third-generation iPad line today, as expected, with a semi-minor upgrade that includes a new Lightning connector, but the company also included some upgraded internals in what it is calling the “fourth-generation iPad.”

“It is a power house,” said Apple Senior Vice President of Worldwide Marketing Philip Schiller while on stage at the event.

The fourth-generation iPad features faster performance with dual-core A6X and quad-core graphics. It also has a 5-megapixel iSight camera, expanded LTE chipset, front-facing camera with FaceTime and 720p video capture, ultrafast two-times Wi-Fi, and Lightening connector.

Additional specs:

Next-generation ISP
Double CPU performance from A5x
Double graphic performance
10-hour battery life
LTE support
Colors: black and white

This is the first time Apple has unveiled two versions of the 9.7-inch iPad in one year. The fourth-generation iPad is priced at $499 for the 16 GB model and $629 for the 16 GB model with 4G LTE.

Go to 9to5Mac’s full coverage of the fourth-generation iPad for more information about carrier options and the discontinuation of the third-generation iPad.

An image gallery is below.

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Apple unveils new, slimmer iMac: 21.5-inch and 27-inch models

Élyse Betters Oct 23 2012 - 10:31 am PT

Apple Senior Vice President of Worldwide Marketing Philip Schiller is now live on stage at the company’s special media event in California, and he just showcased a refreshed, slimmer, and sleeker iMac.

“It is the most beautiful iMac we have ever made,” announced Schiller. “There’s an entire computer in there […] it’s hard to believe there is even a display in here.”

The new eighth model is beautifully thin, but it still touts the iconic iMac shape. Schiller further discussed the iMac’s striking 5mm edge, as well, noting Apple used a “friction stir welding” technique to create the new desktop that apparently boasts less reflection than older displays.

Schiller also mentioned a new “Fusion Drive” option that is a combination of storage and software. It provides a 128GB SDD and 1TB or 3TB HDD melded into a single volume for faster read-and-writes and better performance. Go to 9to5Mac’s full coverage of the Fusion Drive for more details.

More iMac specs:

Two sizes: 21.5-inch and 27 inch
Edge-to-edge glass—5mm thinner display, 80 percent thinner than previous generation, extends entire length, super strong and nearly seamless, LED-backlit display with IPS technology
Removed 2mm air gap, lamintated display directly to glass, 45 percent thinner
Anti-reflective coating, plasma deposition—apply coating down to nanometer thickness, 75 percent less reflection than previous generation
FaceTime HD camera, dual mics, stereo sound system
Sheds up to 8 lbs
Audio: stereo speakers, dual microphones, and headphone port
Connections: SDXC card slot, Four USB 3 ports, Two Thunderbolt ports, Mini DisplayPort output with support for DVI, VGA, and dual-link DVI, 10/100/1000BASE-T Gigabit Ethernet (RJ-45 connector)
Wireless: 802.11n Wi-Fi wireless networking —IEEE 802.11a/b/g compatible; Bluetooth 4.0 wireless technology
OS X: Mountain Lion

More specs for each model and images are below.

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Apple shows off new iBooks, available today

Élyse Betters Oct 23 2012 - 10:16 am PT

Apple CEO Tim Cook is live on stage at the company’s special media event in California, and he just announced a new version of iBooks.

News and features:

400 million iBooks downloads
Continuous scrolling
Better integrated with iCloud— purchased books show up on shelf
Fantastic new ways to share — tap favorite quote and share on Facebook and Twitter
Supporting over 40 languages— new Korean, Chinese, Japanese
Available today, free download

Education news and iBooks Author:

iBooks textbooks reinvent the textbook full screen gorgeous layouts, interactive
Textbook available for 80 percent of high school
2,500 US classrooms with iBooks textbooks
Publishers can now take own fonts and provide custom look
Multitouch widgets
94 percent of fortune 500 is testing or deploying iPad—seeing similar in smaller business

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Apple by the numbers: 5M iPhones sold, 3M iPods sold, 200M devices on iOS6, 160M Game Center accounts, and more

Élyse Betters Oct 23 2012 - 10:11 am PT

Apple CEO Tim Cook is now live on stage beginning the company’s special media event in California, and information about updates and numbers are flying left and right.

Here is a quick rundown:

5 million iPhone 5s sold during first weekend (sold out). Most iPhones ever sold opening weekend, most phones sold ever opening weekend.
3 million iPods sold ( new nano and touch)
In just 1 month — 200 million devices running iOS 6. Fastest upgrade rate in history.
124 million docs in the cloud
300 billion messages sent (28,000 per second)
160 million game center accounts
Shared over 70 million photos with their friends of family
Uploaded over 700,000 apps in app store
Over 275,000 iPad apps
Now downloaded 35 billion apps from the store
Paid out $6.5 billion to developers
2 weeks ago sold 100 millionth iPad, 100 million in just 2.5 years (sold more iPads in June than any PC manufacturer sold of their entire PC lineup)
iPad accounts for over 90 percent of web traffic of tablets

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Mosaic unveils, Action Movie FX, Dropbox, Kroger Co, Modern Combat 3, and price drops

Élyse Betters Oct 22 2012 - 9:16 am PT

[vimeo http://www.vimeo.com/51841853 w=600&h=381]

A few apps updated, went on sale, or made announcements recently, and 9to5Mac gathered the most noteworthy ones in our regular round up below. Today’s selection includes a new app by Mosaic and Yobongo, updates to popular action-packed games, and a couple huge price drops. Per usual, we will continue to update this list throughout the day.

New:

1. Mosaic | Not yet live
Mixbook, a scrapbook, calendar, and photobook company, acquired chat service Yobongo earlier this year, and the two forces have been working on an iOS project, called “Mosaic,” that unveiled at 12 p.m. EST today (video above). 9to5Mac was able to get a sneak peak:

Mosaic is basically a product app that lets users build and create formatted photo albums from images stored on their iOS devices. The app’s UI is clean, fast, and fluid, and the limited options provide an easy “1,2,3-step” experience. Simply select the photos, choose a mat color preference, and then place the order.

The Mosaic photobook costs roughly $20, but it ships fast, arrives in sturdy, eye-pleasing packaging, and the entire product feels very high in quality. In fact, when I created my Mosaic, I chose low-lit, grainy, blown-up pictures, because I wanted to see how well the images would appear after going through Mixbook’s printing press. Much to my surprise—they came out crisp, clear, and stunningly vivid (pictures below).

While Mosaic is just an app for putting digital images into a nicely printed photobook, its user-experience and caliber of artisanship make it certainly worth noting. Check it out: www.HeyMosaic.com

More updates and price drops below.

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Apple launches iBookstore in New Zealand and Latin America ahead of iPad Mini and iTunes 11

Élyse Betters Oct 22 2012 - 8:23 am PT

Apple plans to launch the iBookstore in Brazil ahead of its media event tomorrow, according to a new report by BlogDoiPhone (translated).

The store is not currently live (update below), but screenshots of its existence are above and below. BlogDoiPhone noted a few books have begun to appear in Brazilian Portuguese when doing a search. “The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy” by Douglas Adams, for instance, now has a live link.

Many rumors indicate Apple will have a strong focus on education at its media event tomorrow, and recent leaks on iBooks 3.0, coupled with today’s news about the iBookstore rolling out to Brazil, seems to back those reports.

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Review: iPhoneography gear series: $15 Easy Macro Cell Lens Band

Élyse Betters Oct 20 2012 - 10:57 pm PT

Photo-editing apps have dominated the App Store ever since Apple’s iPhone launched in 2007, but they especially grabbed ahold of pop culture after famous photographers and photojournalists—such as Damin Winter’s prize-winning Hipstamatic Afghanistan war series and The New York Times’ Instagram summer series—advocated the iPhone as a premiere device for capturing special moments.

Here’s the thing, though: there are plenty of ways to beautifully snap an image or film a video with the iPhone that will contribute to the after-effects of apps. How so? iPhoneography gear.

Yes, iPhoneography is an actual name (it even has a Wikipedia page), and it essentially, as one might guess, involves shooting and processing with an iOS device. With that said, the iPhone 5 launched almost one-month ago, and it’s 8-megapixel camera, Sapphire lens, Panorama mode, and 1080p HD video are making tidal waves in the iPhoneography world.

Photojojo.com offers an impressive, mouth-watering catalog of photography and videography gear for the iPhone 5, so we at 9to5Mac decided to get our hands on some of the site’s hot accessories. And, over the next month, we will test and review only what’s best for helping creative folks step up their iPhoneography game. Hopefully, as the holiday season is practically here, the series will inspire a few gift ideas. The previous-generation iPhone, by the way, is on par with the iPhone 5, in terms of the camera, so we will look at iPhone 4S-specific accessories too.

Check out the first review below on the tiny, yet ever-so useful, Easy Macro Cell Lens Band.

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Microsoft’s Surface OS is large, just like the pixels on display

Élyse Betters Oct 17 2012 - 12:51 pm PT

The 32 GB Surface tablet costs the same as the 16GB iPad, but it also comes with twice the storage capacity—or at least that’s what everyone thought until Microsoft’s AMA on Reddit yesterday.

Daring Fireball just linked to one of the Surface Team’s responses that regarded how much free space the tablet actually has available:

So, the entry-level Surface delivers 20 GB of free space with Office and a few apps, eh?

In case you did not know, the iPad’s OS consumes around 1 GB of space. But that’s not all: Microsoft’s Steven Bathiche handled more questions as to whether the Surface’s display stands up to the new iPad’s Retina display.

After giving a long-winded description of Microsoft’s ClearType display technology, Bathiche concluded, “[sic] Doing a side by side with the new iPad in a consistently lit room, we have had many people see more detail on Surface RT than on the Ipad with more resolution.”

Again, in case you did not know, the current iPad offers a 2,048-by-1,536-pixel resolution. Surface for Windows RT has a 1,366-by-768-pixel resolution.

The full AMA thread: IAm Panos Panay, GM of Microsoft Surface, AMAA – Ask Me or My Team Almost Anything

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Hey guys, check out my sweet Klout Passbook Ticket

Élyse Betters Oct 17 2012 - 9:17 am PT

Klout for iPhone just pushed out version 1.8, and the update notably adds…wait for it…Passbook support!

The changelog mentioned users can show off a “Klout Card” equipped with their name, photo, and score to brag about their social influence. Yeah. Just what the world needed. Aside from Passbook support, the app is newly optimized for the iPhone 5. Users are also now notified of eligible Klout perks and can claim them right from their iPhone.

So, what are you waiting for? Start sharing your Klout Card now! Heck yes. And this.

[tweet http://twitter.com/MikeBeas/status/258597530592505856]

[tweet https://twitter.com/schwa/statuses/258601121302581248]

[tweet https://twitter.com/panzer/statuses/258604898449514496]

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Purported iPad mini displays and more batteries spotted [Gallery]

Élyse Betters Oct 17 2012 - 7:21 am PT

Smartphone parts supplier ETrade Supply just posted alleged leaked OEM parts of the iPad mini’s nearly 8-inch LCD screen and 4490mAh battery.

Apple’s much-discussed iPad mini is set to unveil at the company’s media event next Tuesday, and today’s parts pictures possibly confirm earlier reports and give a sneak peak as to what to expect from the folks in Cupertino.

The device’s display is “about 162mm in length and 124mm in width,” according to ETrade Supply, with a ratio of 4:3. Labeling on the back also indicates LG Display manufactures the part.

Image gallery is below.

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Foxconn official says iPhone 5 supply shortages caused by complicated design, productivity improving

Élyse Betters Oct 17 2012 - 6:33 am PT

The Wall Street Journal spoke with an unnamed Hon Hai executive today about why the iPhone 5 is experiencing supply shortages, and the Taiwanese manufacturer, also known as Foxconn, apparently blamed it on the smartphone’s complicated design and its subsequent assembly process.

“The iPhone 5 is the most difficult device that Foxconn has ever assembled. To make it light and thin, the design is very complicated,” said the executive to the Wall Street Journal. “It takes time to learn how to make this new device. Practice makes perfect. Our productivity has been improving day by day.”

The official did not wish to be named, but he admitted Hon Hai is attempting to better production capacity while apply more procedures to alleviate the reports of damages such as scratches to the iPhone 5’s metal casing.

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Adobe Reader, MyFitnessPal, Amazing Alex, Path, Quickoffice, price drops, and more

Élyse Betters Oct 16 2012 - 10:31 am PT

[slideshow]

Many apps updated, went on sale, or made announcements recently, and 9to5Mac gathered the most noteworthy ones in our regular round up below. Today’s selection includes a couple of announcements by Adobe and MyFitnessPal, a big update from QuickOffice, a few smaller tweaks to popular games and apps, and notable price drops. Per usual, we will continue to update this list throughout the day.

Check them out:

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Beats Pill Bluetooth portable speaker with NFC chip for iOS now available for $199

Élyse Betters Oct 16 2012 - 9:17 am PT

Beats Electronics just announced the availability of its Jawbone speaker alternative, the Beats Pill.

The four-speaker system is compatible with iOS and Android via Bluetooth 4.0, and it amplifies app audio and supports all call functions including conference calls due to a built-in microphone. It also boasts an NFC chip so users can pair an NFC-enabled smartphone with just a tap.

Additional specs:

Rechargeable lithium ion battery provides 7 hours of continuous play
AC Power adapter with USB receptacle for charging
Auto shut-off after 30 minutes of no signal detection in order to conserve battery life
3.5mm line out for connection to an external speaker system
Built-in mic for hands free conferencing
Echo cancellation for call clarity and feedback control
8 Bluetooth profiles
Tap-to-pair NFC and apt-X technology for easy and instant Bluetooth audio

It is available today in black, red, and white options for $199 at Beats’ website and select retailers.

Check it out: Beats Pill—Just what the doctor ordered

The full press release is below.

(The company also announced The Beats By Dr. Dre Executive Headphones for $299.95. Complete details are in the presser below.)

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Logitech reveals vlogger-geared 720p HD Wi-Fi Broadcaster webcam for Mac, iPhone, and iPad (Video)

Élyse Betters Oct 16 2012 - 8:11 am PT

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z6JCguygXW4&feature=player_embedded]

Logitech just announced its 720p HD Wi-Fi Broadcaster webcam that wirelessly transmits to any Mac, iPhone, or iPad from 50 feet away.

The webcam is specifically aimed toward “video professionals, bloggers and hobbyists,” as it allows instant live streaming with Ustream and gives users the ability to toggle between the device and their computer’s built-in camera for second-angle POV shooting.

Logitech further noted the webcam is compatible with most popular Mac video applications like QuickTime, PhotoBooth, iMovie, FinalCut Pro, FaceTime, iChat, Skype, etc. Oh, and it comes with a plastic carrying case that doubles as a stand.

Additional specs:

HD 720p video capture
3x digital zoom and digital pan and tilt
Built-in mono mic / External mic jack
2-hour battery life, depending on use and usage of illumination lamp.
Tripod ready H.264 video compression
Built-in illumination lamp

Broadcaster is now available for pre-order at just $199.99 in the United States and Europe.

Check it out: Logitech Broadcaster Wi-Fi Webcam

The full press release is below.

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