• apple,  ipad

    Apple iPad Accessories

    Now that I have made my Apple iPad reservation with an Apple Store here in Connecticut, I’m taking a look at what accessories I might want to get for my new mobile gear.

    I’ve been walking around with a simple screen protector on my iPod touch and it has done the job nicely since the iPod is carried around in my laptop bag or my pocket. While that might be OK for an iPod or iPhone, the pocket trick won’t work for an iPad.
    Alan’s Must Have iPad Accessories
    If I’m going to have my iPad with me at the office, I’m going to need something more than a screen protector. I’ll have to get some kind of case of it. And it looks like Apple’ iPad Case is a perfect fit for my tastes. It no only protects the iPad, but it also serves as a stand for the iPad so that you and position it for watching video, reading, or viewing photos. It also folds to become an angled wedge that positions the iPad so you can type on the on screen keyboard. (I’m able to touch type on a hardware keyboard, but I’m not sure how well I’ll be able to “touch type” on the iPad. We’ll have to see how things go.)
    The iPad Case will go on sale sometime in April, but I don’t expect it to be ready for the April 3rd launch. The iPad Case is priced at $39.00.
    The iPad Dock works just like you would expect the iPhone or iPod dock to work. It provides you with a base to plug your iPad into and then has a dock connector port you plug in the iPad’s dock connector to USB cable and plug the other side into your Mac or PC. There is also an audio line out that you can connect to external powered speakers. The Apple iPad Dock also works with all of the other iPad dock connector accessories like the video out cable.
    The Apple iPad Dock will be available for $29.00 on April 3rd.
    3. iPad Screen Protector
    Call me crazy, but after shelling out $500+ on a new gadget, I still want the screen to look amazing and be scratch free two years after I buy it. It’s true, I baby my hardware. While I don’t see any Apple or third-party screen protectors in on the online Apple Store today, I do expect them to show up before long. And, so, I’m adding a screen protector to my list of must have accessories.
    You can see Apple’s other iPad accessories at the online Apple Store.
  • apple,  google,  iphone,  motorola

    NTY: A Battle for the Future Is Getting Personal

    The New York Times has a new article online that does a good job of detailing the battle between Apple and Google that has gone from a simple rivalry to what could become an all out war between the two tech titans.

    “In the last six months, Apple and Google have jousted over acquisitions, patents, directors, advisers and iPhone applications. Mr. Jobs and Mr. Schmidt have taken shots at each other’s companies in the media and in private exchanges with employees.”

    You can read the full article at The New York Times website

  • apple,  ipad

    Skip the Line, Reserve an iPad Online, Pickup at the Store

    Apple’s Wi-Fi iPads go on sale here in the United States on April 3rd. Don’t want to wait in line? Don’t want to run the risk of not getting your iPad on launch day? Don’t feel like waiting around the house all day fro the delivery truck to come?

    Apple has you covered! You can reserve your iPad online and then mosey on down to the nearest Apple store and pick it up! Problem solved. The reservation system will allow you to hold your iPad from 9am – 3pm, after which time, your reserved unit goes into the first come, first served pool, so don’t take too long to get down to the Apple store. Once you have made your reservation, you will receive an email confirmation that contains a link that you can use to change your reservation if you need too. (I’m only ordering one iPad, so I don’t know if the 2-unit limit is being enforced, but I’m willing to wager a bet that it is.)

    You can reserve your iPad on the Apple website.

    Thanks for the fun iPod touch, I’ll take my iPad now

    I want to get an iPad to replace my first generation 16GB iPod touch which has been having some trouble with the headphone jack for a long time now. I primarily use my iPod touch to surf the web, watch TV shows and movies, listen to music, and play games. Since I do surf and watch a lot of video, I think the jump up to a 10-inch screen will be nice. I’m also going make the jump from 16GB to 32GB, but don’t tell me wife that will cost me an extra $100.

    I’m also interested in seeing what newspaper and magazine subscriptions will be coming to the iPad: specifically what will happen with The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, and magazines like Time and Newsweek. (Ok, I occasionally read Entertainment Weekly too.)

  • cell phones

    2009 Global Cell Phones

    I was just reading an interesting fact published in the March 8 Time, which should be on newsstands now.

    In 2002 there was an estimated 1 billion cell phones in use worldwide. In 2009, there was an estimated 4.6 billion cell phones in use.

    Wow!

  • Uncategorized

    This blog has moved

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  • google

    Moving Day

    A few weeks ago, I mentioned that I was going to have to change the way I use Blogger to manage SmartphoneFanatics.com. (Details)

    Today is the day that I am going to attempt to make the move. If the site becomes unavailable, rest assured that we’ll be back as quickly as possible.

    Update
    The server maintenance is now complete! To access SmartphoneFanatics.com in the future, point your browsers to:

    blog.smartphonefanatics.com.

    If you continue to use www.smartphonefanatics.com, you will be redirected to the new page after 30 seconds.

    -Alan

  • apple,  ipad

    Rumor: Will Apple’s iPad Launch Be Delayed?

    Will the launch of Apple’s iPad be delayed by a month? That may be the situation if a recent report from Canaccord Adams analyst Peter Misek is accurate.

    In an report to investors released yesterday, Mr. Misek writes:

    “The upcoming iPad launch may be somewhat limited as a manufacturing bottleneck has impacted production of Apple’s newest device,” Misek wrote. “An unspecified production problem at the iPad’s manufacturer, Hon Hai Precision, will likely limit the launch region to the US and the number of units available to roughly 300K in the month of march, far lower than the company’s initial estimate of 1,000K units.”

    If true, I don’t expect any long term impact to Apple or the iPad. Apple is likely motivated by having a good experience during the initial roll out of the iPad, and having long lines at regional Apple stores and limited supply would not be a good experience. If Apple isn’t able to significantly ramp up production of iPads, I fully expect the the company to push back the release date of the iPad from the end of March to the end of April.

    There is no word on what will happen to the launch date of the 3G enabled iPad models that are suppose to ship about a month after the Wi-Fi only units ship.

    [Via AppleInsider.com…]

  • pre,  sprint,  web os

    Pre webOS 1.4.0 Battery Test: Part 2

    My Palm Pre battery test continues. It’s about 6:30pm and my Pre is reporting that the battery is now at 84% with little use since about 2:00pm today.

    So far, I have been losing 4% charge an hour. I haven’t made any phone calls or used the phone to play games or surf the web. The only thing that has been going on with the phone is scheduled sync check with my single Gmail account.

  • pre,  sprint,  web os

    Pre webOS 1.4.0 Battery Test

    Improved battery life is one of the reported enhancements in Palm webOS 1.4.0. I’ve decided to put the battery improvements to the test.

    It’s just after 2:00pm and my Pre has 100% charge. Wi-Fi is off, as is Bluetooth. I have one Gmail account (email, calendar, and contacts) configured to sync items as they arrive. We’ll see how things are going in a few hours.

  • android,  eris,  google,  sprint,  verizon

    Android 2.1 Update Coming to All US Android Phones

    Taylor Wimber, the skipper over at Android And Me, has posted and article stating that Google is working with carriers to release the Android Eclair 2.1 update to all of today’s existing Android powered smartphones.

    “After talking with several inside sources familiar with the matter, I would like to report that every Android phone currently released in the United States will be receiving an upgrade to Android 2.1.”

    Now for the bad news. Mr. Wimber writes:

    “Now let me cut to the bad news. Select Android phones will require a wipe when they are upgraded to Android 2.1. I actually only know of phones that will require a wipe, so it could include all of them (minus the Droid which is already on Android 2.0.1).”

    Mr. Wimber goes on to state that he believes that the update will be rolled out to Android customers in late Q2, 2010. (Translation = Could be as late as the end of June or July)

    Ok, so is a hard reset really that bad? I’m guessing that if your an Android gear head that you would rather have the official update on your phone and a reset won’t be the end of the world.

    I’m playing with a work issued Verizon HTC Droid Eris running Android 1.6 (Donut) and would like to have the newer OS so that I don’t have to worry about compatibility issues with new application software over the next 24 months.

    So how about it, Android fans? Are you ready for some “Google Goodness?”

    [Via AndroidAndMe.com…]