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Apple's iPad Announcement To Rain On Nokia and Microsoft's New Product Release Parade
Forbes' Ewan Spence notes that Apple has announced an event for the end of October, the expectation being that the company will announce its new range of iPads, along with more details on OSX Mavericks and the new MacPro.
While the exact product specifications are still a matter of rumor and conjecture, Spence observes that what's clear is that everyone will be talking about the iPad in the news cycle, and there's not going to be a lot of room to talk about tablets from anyone else - a downer for Microsoft, since October 22nd is also the day that its Surface 2 RT tablet PC goes on sale in the United States. Also for Nokia'a last Nokia World in Abu Dhabi before the Microsoft takeover, where it's widely expected that Nokia will announce a phablet Windows Phone 8 device alongside their first Windows 8 RT tablet.
Spence predicts that in terms of allocation of resources from reporters, bloggers, and analysts, the lion's share of the time will get spent prepping and reporting from Apple's events.
However the likelihood of Apple having picked October 22 deliberately to disrupt Nokia's farewell party and Microsoft's latest stab at grabbing a relevant share in the tablet space, is highly unlikely, since Apple is following a long-established pattern of October product releases, with the upcoming one being precisely one year less a day since the iPad mini/iPad Gen-4/13" Retina MacBook Pro/new iMac release on Oct. 23, 2012.
For the full report visit here:
http://goo.gl/vBGJNy
TouchMarks II: iPad mini and iPad Have Most Responsive Tablet Touchscreens
Agawi's TouchMarks tablet touchscreen responsiveness test report, compares touchscreen latencies of leading tablets, including iPads, Microsoft's Surface and leading Android tablets as well as Amazon's brand new Kindle Fire HD and Nvidia's new Tegra 4-based SHIELD.
In TouchMarks, Agawi uses their Touchscope to benchmark the app response time of touchscreen devices by measuring the interval between when the user touches the screen and the device updates the display. They place the light sensor and touch at the center of the screen to account for the devices' 60 Hz refresh rate in airplane mode with full brightness and all background apps closed to make the test as fair as possible.
They found that the iOS devices are more responsive than their competitors, and interestingly, the iPad mini with its smaller screen and 1024x768 resolution performs similarly to the larger fourth generation iPad and its 2048x1536 resolution, suggesting that responsiveness is not reduced by the larger screen size or resolution.
Amazon's Kindle Fire HD was a surprising leader in the Android section, especially given that its $90+ cheaper than the other two Android tablets tested. Finally, Microsoft's Surface RT also performed much better than expected, especially given that Nokia's Lumia also running Windows didn't fare significantly better than did Android devices in Agawi's previous smartphone comparison, and the researchers are looking forward to running Amazon's higher-end Kindle HDX and Microsoft's new Surface 2 through Touchscope.
They conclude provisionally that if you're into latency-sensitive applications like games or interactive music apps, then your best bet might be an iPad.
For the full report visit here:
http://goo.gl/hn0QXD
Microsoft's Office for iPad Strategy Still Nonsensical
PCWorld's Tony Bradley notes that Microsoft CEO Steve
Ballmer has re-ignited anticipation for an iPad version of the Microsoft Office suite, but told an audience at a Gartner event in Florida that the iPad version won't come until after a touch-first version is developed for Windows.
Bradley says his first reaction to the news was to shake his head and wonder if Microsoft is still stubbornly clinging to the idea that it can drive sales of Windows mobile devices by holding Microsoft Office hostage, observing that the carrot has already been dangled, and nobody is biting, with Windows Phone and Windows tablets supported by Microsoft Office and still floundering in the marketplace, demonstrating that any expectation Microsoft Office will drive sales in-house hardware has apparently failed. Alternative productiviry apps are available for users of the competition, and Microsoft Office itself is not enough to sway someone to Microsoft mobile devices.
For the full commentary visit here:
http://goo.gl/nm2JlO
iPhone 5s & iPhone 5c Arrive in Italy, Russia, Spain & More Than 25 Countries on Friday, October 25
Apple has announced that iPhone 5s and iPhone 5c will be available in Italy, Russia, Spain and more than 25 additional countries on Friday, October 25. iPhone 5s and iPhone 5c will also be available in more than a dozen countries on Friday, November 1, including India and Mexico.
iPhone 5s features the Apple-designed A7 64-bit chip, a new 8 megapixel iSight camera with True Tone flash, and introduces Touch ID, a way to simply and securely unlock your phone with just the touch of a finger. iPhone 5c features a 4-inch Retina display, Apple's A6 chip, and the 8 megapixel iSight camera. iPhone 5s and iPhone 5c are claimed to both offer more LTE bands than any other smartphone in the world and include all-new FaceTime HD cameras.
iPhone 5s comes in gold, silver or space gray for a suggested retail price of $199 (US) for the 16GB model, $299 (US) for the 32GB model and $399 (US) for the 64GB model. iPhone 5c comes in blue, green, pink, yellow and white for a suggested retail price of $99 (US) for the 16GB model and $199 (US) for the 32GB model. iPhone 5s cases come in beige, black, blue, brown, yellow and (RED) for a suggested retail price of $39 (US) and iPhone 5c cases come in blue, green, pink, yellow, black and white for a suggested retail price of $29 (US). iPhone 5s, iPhone 5c and cases for both phones will be available through the Apple Online Store (http://www.apple.com), Apples retail stores and select Apple Authorized Resellers. iPhone 4s is available for free with a two-year contract from participating carriers.
Every customer who buys an iPhone 5s or iPhone 5c at an Apple retail store will be offered free Personal Setup service, helping them customize their iPhone by setting up email, showing them new apps from the App Store and more, so theyll be up and running with their new iPhone before they leave the store. Customers can learn more about iOS 7 and their new device through new free workshops at all Apple retail stores worldwide.
iPhone 5s and 5c will be available on Friday, October 25 in Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, French West Indies, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Macau, Malta, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Reunion Island, Romania, Russia, Slovakia, Slovenia, South Korea, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Taiwan and Thailand. iPhone 5s and 5c will also be available on Friday, November 1 in Albania, Armenia, Bahrain, Colombia, El Salvador, Guam, Guatemala, India, Macedonia, Malaysia, Mexico, Moldova, Montenegro, Saudi Arabia, Turkey and UAE. Both iPhone 5s and iPhone 5c are currently available in the US, Australia, Canada, China, France, Germany, Hong Kong, Japan, Puerto Rico, Singapore and the UK.
Notes
• Battery life depends on device settings, usage and other factors. Actual results vary.
• LTE is available through select carriers. Network speeds are dependent on carrier networks, check with your carrier for details.
• iTunes Radio is available with iOS 7 in the US.
• For qualified customers.
Qualcomm Backs Away From 'Marketing Gimmick' Comment About iPhone 5s' A7 chip
Appleisider's Kevin Bostic reports that Apple chippery supplier Qualcomm has backed away from statements made by Qualcomm CMO Anand Chandrasekher last week, contending that the 64-bit capabilities of the iPhone 5s' A7 processor are a "marketing gimmick."
"The comments made by Anand Chandrasekher, Qualcomm CMO, about 64-bit computing were inaccurate," a Qualcomm spokesperson told Bostic in an email. "The mobile hardware and software ecosystem is already moving in the direction of 64-bit; and, the evolution to 64-bit brings desktop class capabilities and user experiences to mobile, as well as enabling mobile processors and software to run new classes of computing devices."
For the full report visit here:
http://goo.gl/Yzkgo
"Dear Apple: Want To Stay In Business? Make An iPhone People Can Afford"
The Register's Jasper Hamill notes that in a report by Bernstein Research senior analyst Toni Sacconaghi entitled: "Are There Enough Wealthy People in the World to Sustain iPhone Unit Growth?" the author contends that Apple needs to start making bargain basement phones because soon there won't be enough rich new iPhone customers left in the world to prop up its sales growth, observing that "only a finite number of users globally can afford a $450-plus smartphone."
For the full report visit here:
http://goo.gl/w3u4Bz
How Google Could Beat Apple: Better Ways For Developers To Make Money On Apps
Quartz's Christopher Mims notes that a smartphone is only as good as its software, and most of what's on the average iPhone isn't made by Apple, and that the strength of Apple’s App Store derives from simple economics. Ergo, it’s the place where developers can make the most money as compared with Google’s Google Play store.
Mims suggests that Google could gain an edge by giving developers more ways to sell their apps, citing mobile analyst Ben Thompson's recent observation that Apple has made little or no effort to help developers make more money on its app store by allowing free trials of paid apps, paid updates to apps or built-in support for subscriptions to apps - all of which are important ways its competitors like Adobe and Microsoft make money on productivity software sold for traditional PCs, and if Google can get creative about how it lets developers push their apps through the Google Play store, it opens up ways for them to make money that simply aren’t available through Apple.
For the full commentary visit here:
http://goo.gl/e5DKkl
Microsoft Store Staff To Hold All Night Vigil For Surface 2
The Register's Neil McAllister reports that Microsoft is planning a midnight launch for its next-generation Surface tablet PCs, to be capped by a performance by rapper Pitbull, and notes thatMicrosoft now operates more than 70 retail stores, including pop-ups and permanent locations, but only ten of them all in the US have been singled out for the late-night Surface 2 kickoff on October 22.
Participating locations include the Microsoft retail stores in White Plains, New York; Boston, Massachusetts; Miami, Florida; Atlanta, Georgia; Arlington, Virginia; Oak Brook, Illinois; Austin, Texas; San Francisco, California; Scottsdale, Arizona; and Microsoft's home turf of Bellevue, Washington.
For the full report visit here:
http://goo.gl/JXZqbA
Seventh Issue of Free Independent Photo Magazine VIEW Now Available For iOS
Showcasing photography from around the world, VIEW Magazine is an independent, original art-photography magazine available for iOS devices on Newsstand. The magazine is free to download and subscribe to. The seventh issue features art from Matt Lief Anderson, Willson Cummer, Dietmar Eckell, Barry Falk and more. VIEW Magazine is published every quarter by FusionLab, a mobile app design firm based in New York City and the Hudson Valley.
For issue 7, VIEW scoured the web to find some great photographers, from Joachim Moog's simple and beautiful photos of the environment surrounding him (see cover); Dietmar Eckell's beautiful survey of crashed planes whose pilots and passengers survived the forced landings; Willson Cummer's introspective look at dawn light; Roberto Deri's comical yet serious photos; Steve Ferrier's very British road photographs; to Petter Togstad Stige's photos depicting real and not so real animals. Eleven photographers in total, each committed to their craft and passion.
This issue features the following artists and their work:
(*) Landscape, revered - Matt Lief Anderson
(*) Everyday is worth a shot - Scott Binkley
(*) Dawn Light - Willson Cummer
(*) Seemingly Everywhere - Roberto Deri
(*) Happy End - Dietmar Eckell
(*) Das Unheimliche - the alienated familiar - Barry Falk
(*) Random Roads - Steve Ferrier
(*) Mutual Respect - Joachim Moog
(*) Pause Photography - Benni Pause
(*) Animal Kingdom - Petter Togstad Stige
(*) Geographical Abstraction - Kalo Vicent
(*) And more
Language Support:
(*) English, French, German, Hungarian and Japanese
Device Requirements:
(*) iPhone 3GS/4/4S/5, iPod touch (3rd/4th/5th generation), and iPad
(*) Requires iPad with iOS 5.0 or later
(*) Universal app optimized for display on all iOS devices
(*) 29.9 MB
VIEW Magazine 3.0.1 is free and available worldwide exclusively through the App Store in the Photo & Video category.
VIEW Magazine 3.0.1:
http://fusionlab.com/viewmagazine/
Download from iTunes:
https://itunes.apple.com/app/view-magazine/id422061173
Facebook Profile:
http://www.facebook.com/FusionLabDesign
Twitter Profile:
http://twitter.com/fusionlab
Trackback URL:
http://goo.gl/rjGr32
High-End Kids Apparel Maker Souris Mini Saves Thousands With FileMaker Solution Running On iPads And Desktops
Souris Mini is keeping pace with growth by creating its own custom business solution to connect and mobilize its global staff and to streamline back-end operations. Souris Mini designs, manufactures and distributes hip, colorful apparel for children up to age 10. The solution, which now serves 29 of the companys boutiques in Canada and another six stores in the United Arab Emirates, was designed and built using FileMaker software that runs on iPads and desktops.
On the manufacturing side, FileMaker manages the entire process, from the moment a garment is designed to its arrival at the warehouse. Using FileMaker Go for iPad, Souris Mini extended portions of its existing solution including design imagery and manufacturing and sales data to iPad users. The FileMaker solution also integrates with the companys front-end retail software and its system for counting in-store traffic. Front-and back-end processes stay in step, and FileMaker is able to generate comprehensive reports on sales and store traffic.
The solution enables smarter decision-making, more insight into the business, and better matching of supply and demand by improving collaboration between field staff and management. The company also reports that the easy-to-use FileMaker software saves Souris Mini thousands of dollars annually in custom development fees for integrations and reports.
FileMaker allows me to create solutions that are adapted specifically to our fast-growing businesss needs, says Michel Paquet, IT Director for Souris Mini. We would have to pay our vendor thousands of dollars to have them develop these reports, yet with FileMaker, its quick and easy to do, at no cost other than a little of my time.
Five Ways FileMaker Helps Souris Mini
• Souris Mini can now analyze business results down to fine details such as sales by week and region, either on desktops or mobile devices.
• Store supervisors now fill out status reports using FileMaker Go for iPad, and management can immediately see the results on their desktops. This replaces emailed spreadsheets and word processing documents.
• Maintenance personnel use iPads to assign tasks and follow up on projects, including the ability to attach photos easily to a form in FileMaker Go.
• Data stays synchronized between mobile employees and management because iPad users can connect to the database server from wherever they are, via 3G or Wi-Fi networks.
The company no longer has to waste money on trying to customize off-the-shelf solutions or connect the dots between piecemeal systems such as spreadsheets or word processing documents.
Millions of people, from individuals to some of the world's largest companies, rely on the FileMaker Platform to manage, analyze and share essential information using iPads, iPhones, Windows, Mac and the web. FileMaker, Inc. is a subsidiary of Apple.
For more information, visit:
http://www.filemaker.com
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