Ed Sutherland - page 45

Apple appears to face an up-hill battle convincing studios of the wisdom of the Cupertino, Calif. company’s plans to rent tv episodes for 99 cents. Time Warner’s CEO became the latest to speak out against the proposal, saying it ‘jeopardizes’ sales by the networks.

“How can you justify renting your first-run TV shows individually for 99 cents and episode and thereby jeopardizing the sale of the same shows as a series to branded networks that pay hundreds of millions of dollars and make those shows available to loyal viewers for free,” Time Warner CEO Jeff Bewkes said during the London-based Royal Television Conference.

We start out with a variety of deals. First up is a neoprene sleeve for your iPhone for just $3.29. The sleeve protects your investment against water and includes a fold-over enclosure. Next up is a 2.8GHz Core 2 Duo MacBook Pro with a 15-inch screen and three years of AppleCare for $1,849. Speaking of AppleCare, Expercom has a two-year AppleCare Protection Plan for your 13.3-inch MacBook Pro, MacBook or MacBook Air for $169.

Along the way we also check out number of applications for your iPad, iPhone or iPod touch, including ESPN Scorecenter XL for your tablet, Monster Mayhem for your iPhone and Rocketeer. As always, details on these and many other items (like Apple’s Magic Mouse) can be found at CoM’s “Daily Deals” page after the jump.

Dell said Wednesday it will launch a 7-inch Android-powered tablet device “within the next few weeks,” according to a Wall Street Journal interview with the computer maker’s China executive. The tablet would join the already unveiled “Streak” tablet and be the latest in what CEO Micheal Dell recently described as a “whole slew” of new products.

“In fact, very much in the near future we’ll be launching the seven-inch tablet as well as the additional three-inch product,” Amit Midha, Dell’s Great China President, said. Dell launched a five-inch tablet in the U.S. earlier this year and plans to offer it in Australia, starting Friday for $628. The device will also enter China “later this year,” according to Midha.

Apple is again challenging Nokia in court, this time on its home turf, Europe. The Cupertino, Calif. company Tuesday filed suit against the Finnish cell phone giant, claiming Nokia violated the same 9 patents which led to an ongoing legal battle in U.S. courts.

The patents cover technology related to GSM and wireless transmissions. While Apple had no comment on why it filed a UK lawsuit, Nokia told Reuters it was investigating the claims. The two companies expect to wait until 2012 before a U.S. court takes up the case. The U.S. International Trade Commission told both companies the body will look into both complaints.

We start off with three hardware deals. MacConnection.com has a bargain on a 13-inch 2.4GHz MacBook for just $850. Next is a 20-inch iMac desktop running at 2.66GHz for $930. For the more demanding users, there is also a deal on a Mac Pro 4-Core 2.66GHz Xeon desktop for $1,175.

Along the way, we’ll also check out new iPhone cases, more software and many other items. As usual, details on these and more bargains can be found at CoM’s “Daily Deals” page after the jump.

Although heir-apparent to Apple CEO Steve Jobs, Tim Cook, the Cupertino, Calif. company’s Chief Operating Officer is rumored to be on the short list to run troubled PC maker HP. The rumor, first floated by investor gossip site Fly On The Wall, is making the rounds of tech news sites. Although carrying a bold “rumor” stamp and issued with a black box warning, the speculation effected the stock market.

Apple stock dropped 20 points Tuesday morning, before regaining ground. The news is likely to bolster Cook’s position when he negotiates his salary or hints its time for Jobs to go.

Wall Street analysts have been at it again attempting to prognosticate upcoming Apple products. It’s Goldman Sachs’ turn at the crystal ball – with a little help from those chatty “supply chain” folks. Goldman believes the Cupertino, Calif. company will launch a second version of its popular iPad with a 9.7-inch screen, a camera and mini USB connection.

This report shares some of the same qualities of a DigiTimes post published Sept. 17. Both agree the new iPad will advance Apple’s plans to offer Facetime videochat on every iOS family-member. Oh, that 7-inch iPhone 4 look-alike version one Chinese publication claimed was “finished” has “yet to be finalized,” according to Goldman analysts Henry King and Kevin Lu.

Amazon announced Tuesday morning the first chapter of Kindle books can now be embedded and viewed on web sites. “Kindle for the Web” also allows the initial chapter to be shared on Twitter, Facebook and e-mail.

“With Kindle for the Web, it’s easier than ever for customers to sample Kindle books — there’s no downloading or installation required,” Amazon Kindle Director Dorothy Nicholls said. Along with allowing authors to provide a sample of their books, the new Web application permits bloggers and website owners to earn money when visitors purchase a Kindle title on their websites.

We start off another week with a mix of bargains. First up is 10 refurbished iMacs from the Apple Store, starting at $1,099 for a 22-inch 3.06GHz desktop. Next is “Apache Strike: Desert Storm” for the iPhone or iPod touch. The game, usually $3, is being offered free. Finally, we check out an 8GB iPod touch for $223.

Along the way, we’ll also take a look at a business card reader for your iPhone, a USB power adapter for your iPhone or iPod, along with other items. As always, details on these and much more can be found at CoM’s “Daily Deals” page right after the jump.

Although Apple’s mobile advertising platform iAd debuted in June with 0 percent of the market, the interactive ads found in apps for the iOS platform may soon have 21 percent marketshare, tied with Google’s mobile efforts. Apple’s gains are coming at the expense of Google and other more well-established online advertisers, suggests a new report.

According to IDC estimates published by Bloomberg Businessweek, Google’s share of mobile advertising will fall to 21 percent in December, down from 27 percent in December 2009. Yahoo will also take a hit, dropping to 9 percent, down from 12 percent. (Yahoo CEO Carol Bartz recently predicted Apple’s advertising platform would ‘fall apart.) Likewise, Microsoft’s market numbers will be trimmed to 7 percent, down from 10 percent. As for Nokia, its mobile ad share almost disappears from the radar screen to 2 percent.

Although Adobe said Apple’s recent decision to relax rules on developers using Flash in IOS applications had little effect, the change was enough to get EU regulators to drop an antitrust investigation into the Cupertino, Calif. company’s practices. European Competition Commissioner Joaquin Almunia Saturday “welcomed” Apple’s change of heart.

Earlier in September, Apple announced it would permit developers to use third-party tools to create applications for the iOS platform. The restriction was seen as aimed at Adobe, which had released a tool permitting developers to use Flash in applications for the iPhone, iPod touch and iPad. As a result, Adobe restarted development of a Flash tool in Flash Professional aimed at the iPhone.

We close out another week with three iPhone applications in the spotlight. First is ‘Resident Evil’ for the iPhone – just $1. This is just one of the apps on sale from the iTunes Apps Store. Next is XMG Studio’s Cannon Cadets, a game for the iPhone or iPod touch. Finally, there is a deal on NAVIGON’s Mobile Navigator for the iPhone. This app provides 2D and 3D maps, along with many other features.

Along the way, we’ll also check out other hardware and software for the iPhone, iPod and Mac. As always, details on these and many other items can be found at CoM’s “Daily Deals” page right after the jump.

New reports Friday added to growing speculation a CDMA version of Apple’s popular iPhone 4 may appear in early 2011. Industry publication Digitimes, citing “industry sources”, claims supplier Pegatron will begin building the handset in November. The new iPhone version will hit 3 million to 4 million units in the first three months, and 10 million by mid-2011.

The 10 million figure may suggest the phone is targeted at Verizon, often-cited as the first U.S. carrier to sell the device once AT&T’s exclusivity expires. Many believe Verizon could get a CDMA iPhone as early as January. The 10 million initial shipment would not be enough to also support a CDMA iPhone 4 going to a second carrier, such as China Telecom or Sprint, reasons the web site.

File this one under ‘seeing is believing.’ A rumor is spreading Friday morning from China that a speculated 7-inch iPad is “a finished product.” While Shanzai.com cites only talkative suppliers, the web site claims the supposed device looks more like an iPhone 4 than an iPad.

In order to prevent another iPhone 4-like prototype disaster, Apple has five different designs floating around to prevent anyone blabbing, according to the site. This isn’t the first time we’ve heard about a planed smaller iPad. In August, the Chinese-based Economic Daily News reported a smaller and lighter iPad was being considered by the Cupertino, Calif. consumer electronics maker. The most recent report, however, by Digitimes, suggested a second-generation iPad could appear the second-quarter of 2011. The new tablet device would retain the original 9.7-inch screen, but add a front-facing camera already used by the iPhone 4. The report claimed this iPad model was in “advanced testing stages.”

The iPad is already having an effect – real or perceived – on the netbook market. Although one retailer has backtracked on statements that the iPad is cutting into netbook demand, now comes word from manufacturers that they’d rather churn out more profitable tablets.

“The launch of Apple’s iPad has dampened the sales of netbooks, and with prices of netbooks dropping below costs amid decreasing shipments, panel makers would rather transfer their capacities to produce tablet PC panels as producing netbook panels means losing money,” industry publication Digitimes writes Friday.

We start off another day of dealing with something new in the spotlight: refurbished iPads. The Apple Store is offering refurbed 16GB, 32GB and 64GB Wi-Fi iPads for $449, $549 and $649, respectively. Apple is also offering a deal on the 160GB Apple TV for $129 – a $60 drop. Finally, there is another chance to get a 2-year iPhone warranty from the folks at SquareTrade. The $89 extended warranty covers spills and drops.

Along the way, we’ll also check out more software and hardware deals for your favorite Apple product. As always, details on these and many more bargains can be found on CoM’s “Daily Deals” page after the jump.

If anyone expected Verizon CEO Ivan Seidenberg to use an investor conference Thursday to spill his guts on whether the carrier will soon be selling the iPhone, they were sorely disappointed. Instead, Seidenberg played his cards close to the vest, not once mentioning the topic on so many tongues: how soon will AT&T’s exclusive arrangement with Apple end.

However, the CEO “said he hopes Apple Inc. will come around and allow Verizon to sell the phone for a new network it’s building,” according to the Associated Press. That 4G network won’t be complete until next year, Seidenberg said. His appearance comes prior to a planned keynote address in January at CES 2011.

Welcome to the Volkspad. What the Volkswagen did for autos, the iPad could do for mass adoption of Apple computers – or so says a keen observer of Cupertino, analyst Gene Munster. “We see the iPad as the Mac for the masses,” the Piper Jaffray analyst told investors Thursday.

The Apple tablet will be “a secondary computing device for those who already have a primary computer, a primary device for those who could not previously afford a Mac, and the first Apple product that will be a success in the enterprise,” Munster writes. The iPad will outsell the Mac in 2011 with 21 million units expecting to ship next year – nearly doubling the analyst’s previous forecast for 14.5 million tablets. With such a rosy picture, little wonder the analyst believes 94 percent of tablets sold this year will carry an Apple label.

We start off the last day of Summer with three deals in the spotlight: a Core i7 iMac with 27-inch screen running at 2.93GHz with 8GB of memory for $2,278. A Core i7 MacBook Pro running at 2.66GHz with a 15-inch screen and 8GB memory for $2,587. Finally, this is the last day for the MacUpdate Pro 2010 software bundle.

Along the way, we’ll also check out other bargains, including a number of refurbished iPods, starting at $37 for a 2GB shuffle. As always, details on these and many more items can be found at CoM’s “Daily Deals” page after the jump.

Adobe will only begrudgingly admit Apple’s recent decision to allow the graphics format back into the iPhone development toolbox was helpful. Talking to analysts, Adobe’s CEO said only the impact of Apple’s relaxed standards “was muted.” The comment, while mild, could be the first steps toward detente between the media tools maker and the creator of some of the most-used media platforms.

Following a decision earlier this month to resume working on its Flash CS5 Compiler for the iOS platform, “a number of people who had created products using our tool submitted that to the Apple Store and were approved,” Adobe CEO Shantanu Narayen said.

More signs appear every day that Apple is prepping a CDMA version of its popular iPhone for early 2011. The Cupertino, Calif. company reportedly has told suppliers it wants the first 3 million CDMA-only handsets ready for December 2010. The addition of a CDMA version alongside the current GSM-only iPhone should push fourth-quarter iPhone production to between 21 million and 22 million Apple handsets, one analyst told investors.

Citing overseas suppliers, Susquehanna Financial Group analyst Jeffrey Fidarco said shipments of GSM-only iPhones will be betweem 18.2 million and 18.4 million for the September quarter, a figure he described as “well above investor expectations.” Additionally, the analyst forecasts Apple will sell 11.6 million iPhones for the fourth-quarter of fiscal 2010, a 39 percent jump from the 8.4 million Apple sold in the third quarter. The recent launch of iPhone sales in China, along with Apple’s goal to launch the iPhone 4 in 88 countries by the end of September will aid results in in the fourth-quarter, the analyst told investors.

We start off with a version of a word game for Pirates: “Words with Pirates,” just one of the free iPhone apps listed today. Next up is a 2.4 GHz MacBook for $850. (There are also several MacBook Pros in this issue.) We wrap up the day’s highlighted deals with a silver stylus pen for the iPad.

Along the way, we’ll also check out a clip-on stand for the iPad, a deal on an 8GB (and 16GB) iPhone, as well as a refurbished AirPort Extreme 802.11n router for just $80. As always, details on these and many other items can be found on CoM’s “Daily Deals” page right after the jump.

The Apple iPad appears to be spearheading an expected 296 percent jump in flash memory for 2011. Once known for producing iPods and iPhones with insatiable appetites for memory, the iPad (along with its rivals) tablet device means 1.7 billion Gigabytes of flash memory will ship next year – up from 428GB used this year, according to iSuppli.

The hardware analysts expect 8.8 billion GB of flash memory will ship by 2014. “Tablets have stolen some cache from netbooks,” declares senior memory and storage analyst Michael Yang. Part of the reason for the iPad’s popularity is its use of NAND flash storage, rather than traditional hard disk drives.

More than 60 percent of current iPhone owners will remain with AT&T even when Verizon begins selling the Apple smartphone, according to a new survey. The findings contradict early fears about how the exclusive iPhone carrier could be hurt if Apple expands participating U.S. partners.

The survey by Credit Suisse found 63 percent of iPhone owners would remain with AT&T and just 23 percent (or 1.4 million) of 18 million iPhone users would jump to Verizon. Previous reports suggested AT&T could lose up to 40 percent of iPhone owners should Verizon get the nod. Verizon could begin selling a CDMA iPhone as early as January, 2011, some analysts believe. (Credit Suisse is betting on February 15,2011 for Apple to announce a Verizon iPhone. The analysis firm previously said there was a 75 percent chance AT&T would remain the exclusive iPhone provider through 2010.)

We start off another week with two hardware deals and one free application for your iPhone or iPod touch. First up is the Superleggera case for your iPhone. The Acase unit includes two screen protectors for $8. Next is Flip/Bubble, a messaging app from the iTunes App Store. Finally, there is a deal on Sony’s Speaker Dock and Clock Radio for the iPhone or iPod for $80. The unit comes with a 7-inch LCD screen, 16GB of memory and an iPod dock.

Along the way, we’ll also check out other gadgets for the iPhone, iPod and Mac. As always, details on these and many more items can be found at CoM’s “Daily Deals” page after the jump.