Apple New iPad (3) Launched With iOS 5.1 & Retina Display Features: Pre-Order At Apple Stores

At long last, Apple has officially announced the upcoming availability of the iPad 3 aka the third-gen iPad. Funny, but Apple seems to call its new tablet as ‘The Resolutionary new iPad’. Still, it wouldn’t hurt if we prefer to use the shorter term.
Anyways, we did tell you that there will be a special iPad event that will be held this month. And speaking of which, the grand iPad launch happened yesterday and we were quite pleased to know that the slate did flaunt its long-rumored Retina Display. Hence the name we have mentioned a while back. But that’s not all. We have also come to learn that the third generation Apple slate will also be running on Apple’s latest operating system that we can proudly call as the iOS 5.1. But it’s not just the iPad 3; those with earlier versions of the slate can also download the said OS today. Just keep in mind that you will need to have the latest version of iTunes. The firmware can only be installed on the following Apple devices: iPhone 4S, iPhone 4, iPhone 3GS, iPad 2, iPad, 4th Gen iPod Touch and 3rd Gen iPod Touch. In addition, the iOS 5.1 will be packed with Japanese language support for Siri and it will also fix the bugs that affect the lifespan of your device’s battery.

Let’s head back to the specs of the next-gen Apple tablet. So far, we have already told you that the iPad 3 will run on iOS 5.1 aside from its stunning Retina Display. As for the latter, expect that you’ll be getting a 9.7 inch tablet with LED-backlit glossy widescreen with a full screen resolution of 2048 x 1536 pixels. That’s even more vivid than your HDTV’s display. But that’s not all. The iPad 3 will also flaunt its fingerprint-resistant oleophobic coating that goes alongside with its 5 mega pixel iSight rear facing camera with auto focus and FaceTime camera. The iSight camera will be capable of 1080p full HD video recording while the slate’s FaceTime camera can be able to provide you with VGA-quality images with video frame rates that won’t go any slower than 30 frames per second.
In terms of performance, you can definitely rely on the iPad 3’s powerful dual core Apple A5X chipset with quad core graphics. That’s more than enough to handle your slate’s pre-installed apps. Wait. Did we say pre-installed apps? Indeed. The third generation iPad (The new iPad) will be fully loaded with cool and fun applications. You’ll have iBooks for your reading necessities, iPhoto, AirPlay, iCloud, Maps, Newsstand, YouTube, Notes, Calendar, Reminders, Photo Booth, Game Center and a whole lot more. Of course, you will need a stable network connection to be able to maximize your experience. Apple knows that and you can easily toggle between your Wi-Fi and 4G network options. That’s right! With the new iPad, you’ll be able to connect to the web at blazing-fast 4G speeds courtesy of AT&T and Verizon. You will also be able to take advantage of the slate’s high-speed Bluetooth 4.0 Technology for file transfers. As usual, the slate will be equipped with built-in speakers, 3.5mm stereo headphone minijack and 30-pin dock connector port.
Appearance wise, the iPad 3 with iOS 5.1 and Retina Display is a bit thicker and heavier than the iPad 2. It flaunts its 9.4mm thin body with an overall weight of 652 grams. Not much of a difference. You won’t even notice that the slate has become heavier than its previous version. Likewise, it will be offered in Black and White colors.

As of now, the new iPad is currently available for pre-order at the Apple Store. The slate will be out in the market this coming 16th of March for a very competitive price that will start at 499 US Dollars. Basically, you will be able to choose between the iPad 3’s two variants. There’s the Wi-Fi only version and the Wi-Fi + 4G version. The latter can be availed via AT&T and Verizon. Both variants will be offered in three storage options: 16GB, 32GB and 64GB. The slate will also flaunt its new feature called Dictation which is pretty much like Google’s Voice for Android tablets and smartphones. Just like the iPad 2, the new iPad will also have its own Smart Cover that can alternatively work as a tablet stand.

Source: Techzek

Read more »

Apple New iPad Shipped to 25 New Countries, Sold 3 Million Units in 1 Week

In a bid to sell more units, Apple shipped New iPad units to 25 different countries today. This is after 7 days since iPad 3 has been released in the United States including 11 other different countries.
Apple’s New iPad comes packed with great features and the most popular among them is Apple’s signature Retina Display which is reported built specifically for iOS devices. According to our sources, the next device to get Retina Display would be iPhone 5, although there are rumors the company will for a 4.6-inch display instead of the traditional 3.5″ screen.

Retina Display is said to have 3.1 million pixels compressed into a 9.7 inches screen on the New iPad. This ensures that Apple’s latest flagship will come with great picture and display. HD TVs have around 2 million pixels distributed into a 42″ screen but still you are amazed by the quality of pictures or videos. Just imagine adding another 1 million pixels to that screen and compress it into a much smaller one like iPad’s.
The New iPad was initially released in the US, the UK, Canada, Singapore, France, Australia, Germany, Japan, Switzerland, Hong Kong, the US Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico where according to Philip Schiller, Apple’s senior vice president of Worldwide Marketing, sold three million units in just a week after it was released.
Having sold 3 million units in 1 week is a record-high sales projection in tablet market. In fact, no other device came close to this record.
The next 25 countries targeted by Apple are: Austria, Bulgaria, Belgium, Denmark, Finland, Greece, the Czech Republic, Ireland, Iceland, Hungary, Luxembourg, Liechtenstein, Norway, New Zealand, Mexico, Macau, The Netherlands, Spain, Sweden, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia and Slovenia, Italy and Romania.
Even if the New iPad could come half its performance in the first week in these countries, it would still be a huge success for the company.
While the New iPad is the newest craze in town, still it’s not as perfect as most people think. In fact, there are already hundreds of owners who flooded Apple’s Support forum with problems they have experienced and one of them is the poor Wi-Fi connectivity. The company may be so busy for now that they don’t have time to reply to their customers.
Apparently, Apple is in the process of spreading its new units. Addressing the owners’ problems may come later when everything settles down.
The New iPad is actually one of the most wanted devices this year. So, would you get yourself one of those?

Source: http://www.techzek.com/apple-new-ipad-shipped-to-25-new-countries-sold-3-million-units-in-1-week/

Read more »

How to Fix New iPad Wi-Fi & Connection Issues

If you have bought the new iPad then you may heard daily about new problems with the new iPad. Well we would like to say that most of them are just rumours, but the news about Wi-Fi issues on new iPad is quite true. If you are having trouble in the connection of Wi-Fi on your iPad then read that article. You may have connectivity to Wi-Fi but sometimes you will not have any reception. There are many online communities are talking about that problem in new iPad. Even Apple have given a solution to the WiFi issue on their website. Some users of new iPad are getting good connectivity sometimes but most of the time Internet is not working at all.

New iPad Wi-Fi issue

These are the Steps to fix WiFi issues on new iPad.

• Step 1: First of all go to the Settings option of your iPad and then head for General option.
• Step 2: In General option there will be many other options. Out of these options go to Network and then select Wi-Fi button.
• Step 3: Now in that area check out to which network or device is your iPad is connected to. Now tap on the Blue arrow next to the device your iPad is connected.

Steps on new iPad

• Step 4: Now click on Forget this network and restart your WiFi button.
• Step 5: When you will get the option to join that network again, just tap on it. This option will work to get better reception on your iPad. If that’s not working follow Step 6 and further.
• Step 6: If the above mentioned method is not working! Then go to the settings again and click on Reset Network Settings.
• Step 7: Now your iPad will reboot and start the connectivity again. This time you may be able to get better reception.

You should also check out the cables and the settings of your WiFi Reuter. Make sure the password you enter in the pass field is right. We will keep you updated if there will be a better fix for that problem in the new iPad.

Source: http://www.techzek.com/how-to-fix-new-ipad-wi-fi-connection-issues/

Read more »

How To Make New iPad As WiFi Hot Spot: Tutorial Available

If you have bought the new iPad and want to use its wireless connection to access internet on other devices like your iPhone or any other devices then you can easily make it a WiFi Hot Spot. As we have mentioned in a previous article that new iPad have WiFi connectivity issues, well then you may have followed the published instructions on that. Now to make your new iPad as WiFi hot spot you will have to use its in built feature to access wireless connectivity on other devices. You can easily share the Data plan of new iPad with five different devices which is a cool thing with this iPad.

Wi Fi with iPad

Follow Step by Step Procedure :

• Step 1: First of all go to the settings of your iPad and then find General option. In General Option go to the  Network.
• Step 2: Now make sure that your Cell Data Connection is on. If it is not on then go to Data Connection and Switch in On otherwise it will not work and will have no connectivity at all.

iPad Hot Spot Setting option

• Step 3: Now in General Settings you will find a Setup Button, click on this button and it will check that your data carrier have this feature supported or not. If this is a supported feature by your carrier then it will allow you to set the iPad as WiFi Hot spot.
• Step 4: Now as you have enabled the WiFi Hot Spot option of New iPad, you can go to the menu items and search for Hot Spot. Then click on it to configure its settings.
• Step 5: Now in the Hot Spot settings you will find many options including Bluetooth, USB connection and WiFi. If you want to access other functions then you can get details about them in the Personal Hot Spot Setting Area.
• Step 6: Now in the password field set a Password for your WiFi Hot Spot of iPad. The password requirement for iPad is for 8 characters. Set the password and you are ready to go further.
• Step 7: Now use a wireless device to connect to the WiFi spot you have created with your iPad. It will ask for a password, then use the password you have set before.

iPad HotSpot Status/ Image Credit- Jason Cipriani

• Now when the device will be connected to internet, check the status bar on your new iPad and you will find name of all connected devices to your new iPad’s WiFi hot spot.

So it’s a great benefit to use your new iPad as a WiFi hot spot, so that you can enjoy the connectivity on other devices too. When you want to switch off the WiFi hot spot then just go to the Settings then Network and then Switch off the WiFi Hot Spot Button there. If you have any questions regarding it, then feel free to post a comment.

Source: http://www.techzek.com/how-to-make-new-ipad-wifi-hot-spot/

Read more »

How To Run Windows 8 on iPad: You Can Enjoy Multiple Touch Screen Features

If you want to run Windows 8 on iPad then you must check out the Windows 8 Tested app by Splashtop Inc. There must be many folks out there who want to taste the Windows 8 new user interface on their iPad and for you all Splashtop came up with a Windows 8 Metro Tested Application to run Windows 8 on iPad. There are many new advance features are there in Windows 8. The Metro UI feature is one of the best feature for touch screen devices. If you have ever used any Windows Phone then you will probabily know what we are talking about. To have the fun of new features in Windows 8 on your iPad you should download and try this application by Splashtop.

Windows 8 on iPad. Credit- Splashtop Inc.

Well there are many folks who already have iPad and maybe going to buy a Windows 8 featuring Tablet in future. So now this tutorial will surely drop a little bit of sells of these Windows 8 devices in future. Now as you can try out the multiple touch screen feature on your iPad too, there is no need you should go for new tablet just to have Windows 8 on the device and use its special features. This application for iPad will cost you around $24.99. Well it is like expensive app for an expensive device but it will surely worth it.
These are the steps to Run Windows 8 on iPad.

• Step 1: First of all make sure that you have already installed Windows 8 on your Computer. Now install the Splashtop Streamer Client for your Windows 8 Computer. [Follow this link- Splashtop Streamer Client Software]
• Step 2: Now Download Splashtop Remote Desktop application for iPad by following this Download Link.
• Step 3: Now configure Splashtip Streamer client software on your Computer and set a password to be operated by your iPad.
• Step 4: Now install the Splashtop Remote desktop app which you have downloaded in step 2 on your iPad.
• Step 5: Now run this application on your iPad and then this application will show you the computers installed and running Splashtop Streamer software. As you have installed and running the Software on your Windows 8 device, it will show this computer on your iPad.
• Step 6: Now from the list as you will get only one computer name click on it and then use the password to access it.

Now you have access to the computer with Windows 8 on it. You have this access using a remote client. Now you can control the computer and have fun of Windows 8 on your iPad too.
These are the screen shots of Windows 8 on an iPad.
Screen Shot 1-

Windows 8 on iPad Screen Shot

Screen Shot 2-

Windows 8 on iPad Screen Shot 2

Now your iPad is a multitouch monitor for your Windows 8 machine. The features of Windows 8 are really cool with touch and swipe gestures. One of the cool features of Windows 8 touch based devices is that when you will open multiple work tabs then you can control them on one screen. The tabs will be shown in parts on your screen. Well why don’t you try it out on your iPad and let us know if you have any problem installing the app and running Windows 8 remotely on your device.

Source: http://www.techzek.com/how-to-run-windows-8-on-ipad-you-can-enjoy-multiple-touch-screen-features/

Read more »

Apple Launching New iPad in 21 Countries Including India: Starting April 20th

In an official press release by Apple, the company confirmed rumors that its New iPad (3) will be brought to another 21 countries around the globe and that includes India. This is still a part of the Apple’s plan to dominate in the world of high-end tablets and it seems that the company is just right on track. For now, there is no other tablet that could beat or even come close with the New iPad and this gives Apple a boost in its sales. While there are many other high-end devices being released almost every month, the Cupertino-based company seemed to have gotten a good grip on the market that when tablets are the topic, anyone would automatically think of the New iPad as the ultimate device for the category.

Starting April 20th, Apple will be officially selling its new iPad to South Korea, Brunei, Croatia, Cyprus, Dominican Republic, El Salvador, Guatemala, Malaysia, Panama, St Maarten, Uruguay and Venezuela. These belong to the fast-rising countries and new mobile technology is scarce except for South Korea. Thus, there is a need for Apple to reach for the wider audience even to non English-speaking countries. After all, its newest flagship is known to all corners of the world and would surely become a hit in no time.
On April 27th, India will be able to receive the first batch of the New iPad including Colombia, Estonia, Israel, Latvia, Lithuania, Montenegro, South Africa and Thailand. India is among the countries adopting the 4G LTE technology and while the government wants to put tablets in the hands of every student in the country, the new iPad is just on the right season to make a debut. With more and more cheap tablets heading to India, it is a good thing Apple decided to mark its territory by planting a high-end device in the midst of tech-loving people.
While we know that Apple has always been so serious in releasing new devices, the New iPad seemed to have exceeded everybody’s expectation basically because of its specs and features. The loudest of the features of the recently released model is the Retina Display where Apple boasts of stuffing 3.1 million pixels on the 9.7 inches display giving the device a higher resolution everybody wasn’t expecting from a device as small as the New iPad. But it happened that’s why it became a hit. So, for Indian Apple-lovers, brace yourselves for the upcoming release.

Source: http://www.techzek.com/apple-launching-new-ipad-in-21-countries-including-india-starting-april-20th/

Read more »

Nexus 7, a wolf in sheep’s clothing for other Android tablet makers?

The Google Nexus 7 is right now one of the most popular 7-inch tablets out there, and considering it’s a Nexus-branded device ready to offer buyers a pure Android experience, it will probably become one of the best sold tablets of the year.
Google is yet to mention sales numbers for the device that started shipping last week and which is currently sold out with certain third-party retailers, but Digitimes reports that according to “industry sources” the Search giant may ship as many as 2.5-3 million units this year.
That may not seem like an impressive number, as the tablet is only available in a limited number of markets right now, but will Google hurt its partners when it comes to overall tablet sales and profits? The Nexus 7 doesn’t, and can’t, target the iPad – Apple is expected to sell tens of millions of iPads each quarter – but instead it’s meant to compete against the Kindle Fire, a product Google can’t afford to ignore.
Amazon’s tablet became popular with the crowds because it’s an affordable device, ready to offer a good enough experience for that price, not to mention access to the company’s digital content stores.
Google has adopted the same model, selling the device at cost, hoping to prevent users from jumping ship to Amazon and have them immersed in an improved Google Play environment instead. But while Google can sell the Nexus 7 without making any profits because users would then spend more money in its digital stores, other Android makers won’t be able to enjoy the same perks.

 

And they won’t be able to come up with similarly priced devices ready to offer a similar experience. Google did say that’s plenty of room left for innovation in the tablet environment, implying that its product will not hurt tablet sales from its Android partners, but the fact is that each Nexus 7 buyer is a customer that may have chosen an Android tablet from a different OEM. At the same time, that customer may have chosen the iPad too, so having him or her purchase a Nexus 7 instead is a better alternative for Google.
But, and I’ll say this again, Apple may sell as many as 30 million iPads by the end of the year (that’s a guesstimate from my part), that’s not counting what it has already sold in the first two quarters. And Apple did not cut the price of its tablets once the Nexus 7 launched. And Apple also has its digital stores in place that can be accessed almost in full in more markets that Google Play is available in, which means Apple too can make plenty of money off of its digital offerings.
Meanwhile, other Android device makers will have to suck it up, and fight even harder for a piece of the (Android) tablet ecosystem. The same Digitimes reports that various OEMs including Samsung, Asus and Acer, have started to cut the prices of their tablet offerings in order to better adapt to the new competition from Google’s tablet:

Samsung, which enjoys a high level of brand recognition, cut slightly the prices of its tablets in order to cope with increasing competition and to pave the way for the launch of its own new models.
But for Acer and Asustek Computer, they seem to have adopted the same strategy of lowering the prices of their 10.1-inch models to the levels close to those quoted for 7-inch models by Google or other rivals in order to attract consumers.

So is the Nexus 7 a wolf in sheep’s clothing for the Android tablet ecosystem? We’ll be able to better asses that in the following months when we’ll find out more details about tablet sales from the most important players in the business.

Finally, there’s also one more negative effect of the Nexus 7 that we can’t overlook – the iPad mini. Apple was rumored since last year to be working on a 7.85-inch iOS tablet, but the company didn’t make it public. Then the Kindle Fire appeared and the Google Nexus 7 rolled out seven months later revealing that there’s a certain share of the population that’s interested in purchasing cheaper tablets – but not the very cheapest, as there are various cheap Android tablets from unrecognized brands that don’t enjoy the popularity of the Kindle Fire or Nexus 7. And that could be a good enough reason for Apple to launch its smaller iPad this fall/winter. Android tablet makers will then have to fight against the smaller tablet as well.
What tablet are you buying this year?

Read more »

Nexus 7 vs iPad: water and drop tests won by Google’s Jelly Bean tablet [video]

The Nexus 7 is in no exactly a true iPad competitor, but it’s definitely the hottest Android tablet in town. And while we can’t fairly compare Google’s and Apple’s devices since they’re essentially tablets that target different segments of prospective buyers, we can definitely check out how these two gadgets fare when it comes to accidental drops and water incidents
SquareTrade decided to put these two tablets to the test in three challenges: a regular drop, a knock off the table and an underwater dunk. While both devices survived the tests, the Nexus 7 came on top even though its build quality is questioned given its low price.
In each incident where dropping was involved, the iPad’s screen was cracked, mainly at one of its corners, while the Nexus 7 only got a few scratches on the back.
When it comes to submerging the tablets in water, they both kept running after being taken out of it – in fact, they kept running while under water as well. But the iPad lost its speakers in the process, while the Nexus 7 hanged on to its sound capabilities.
At the end of the day, it doesn’t matter what device is stronger – in our own Galaxy S3 vs iPhone 4S drop test the iPhone did slightly better than the new Galaxy model – and accident survivability shouldn’t be the main reason for buying a smartphone and/or a tablet. But it’s certainly good to remember that these precious devices, which can cost a lot of money, are still fragile, and you should make sure they don’t get dropped and/or drowned.



On that note, here are some fun facts about such tablet accidents as offered by SquareTrade, based on 2-year tablet claims data:

• 9 out of 10 tablet claims are due to drops and spills
• 1 in 3 reported broken tablets have cracked screens

Have you had any such accidents with your devices?

Source: http://www.androidauthority.com/nexus-7-vs-ipad-water-drop-tests-won-google-jelly-bean-tablet-video-102085/

Read more »

NYT: iPad Mini, 10-inch Kindle Fire 2 on track to debut this year

• 
  
• 
  
• 
  

Image Credit: NYT

The Google Nexus 7 tablet has been just launched, and it’s selling like hot cakes, at least according to various third-party retailers that have sold out their initial Nexus 7 allotments. But the 7-inch Jelly Bean device will have some fierce competition in the near future, both from Apple and Amazon.
A fresh New York Times report mentions that both companies are readying new tablets to be released in then near future, the iPad Mini and the new Kindle Fire, respectively.

Apple iPad Mini

We have recently compared the Nexus 7 with various 7-inch rivals, including the iPad Mini – we have used available rumors for this initial comparison, as we have a general idea of what Apple’s smaller tablet could offer.

 

The Times now reports that the tablet will feature a 7.85-inch touchscreen display – something we already knew – and that the device will sell “for significantly less than the latest $499 iPad,” which somewhat confirms the previous $249 price tag for the iPad Mini that was mentioned in other reports.
The Times compares Apple’s iPod strategy – the company came out with various models a few years ago to make sure it stayed atop the music player business – with current iPad plans. That iPod diversification – various iPod models sold at various price points to meet various needs from consumers – worked well for Apple as no company really managed to dethrone the former computer-only maker from the number one position it quickly acquired in the music player business thanks to the iPod.
Similarly, Apple is dominating the tablet business right now, with no Android tablet, or any other kind, being able to truly deliver a blow to Apple’s iPad sales. Even the Kindle Fire was not really a threat for the iPad, but rather a nuisance for existing Android tablets, which prompted Google to come out initially with a Kindle Fire-killer rather than a full-fledged iPad-killer.
These 7-inch devices have shown that there’s definitely interest in smaller tablets, and now appears to be the best moment for Apple to come out with the Mini version, a device that was rumored for more than a year. Not to mention that the Times report adds even more credibility to the rumor, even though Apple declined to go on record regarding such rumors – the Times spoke with “several people with knowledge of the project who declined to be named discussing confidential plans.”

Amazon Kindle Fire 2

We have extensively covered the Kindle Fire 2 rumors for you, noting that, depending on who you ask, Amazon will launch more than one new tablet this year, with screen size set at 7-inch, 8.9-inch and 10-inch. The Times adds further to the confusion, suggesting that Amazon is going to respond to Apple’s iPad Mini with a bigger Kindle Fire model that would compete against the iPad. Therefore the publication seems to indicate a 10-inch Kindle Fire 2 is in the works, and while Amazon “declined to comment,” the Times had a credible source, a developer familiar with the project:

Amazon is working on a new version of the Kindle Fire, with a larger display, that could compete more directly with the iPad, according to a developer briefed on Amazon’s plans who did not want to be identified talking about unannounced products.

However, the Times did not go into more details about such a device, as it dedicated its feature on the impending arrival of the new iPad Mini and its impact on the market.
What budget-friendly tablet will you buy this year and why?

Source: http://www.androidauthority.com/nyt-ipad-mini-10-inch-kindle-fire-2-debut-this-year-101305/

Read more »

Bloomberg, Reuters confirm Google will unveil a $199 tablet made by Asus, at I/O. The main target? The Kindle Fire

While Google’s Nexus 7 tablet is no big secret by now, Bloomberg and Reuters are independently confirming that the tablet is indeed made by Google in cooperation with Asus, it will cost $199, and it will be unveiled at Google I/O (most likely today at the main event).
The news outlets can’t confirm the specs too, because the tablet plans are secret, but from what we’ve heard so far, the $199 version will have a Tegra 3 quad core chip, 1280×800 HD display with a pretty high 216 PPI, 1 GB of RAM, and 8 GB of storage, while there may be another version going for $250 that will have 16 GB of storage.
The tablet will of course run Android 4.1 JellyBean. I think that, without the launch of Google’s own tablet at I/O, the JellyBean version would have not existed, or Google would have called Android 5.0 JellyBean, for the fall release. If Google would stick to a 1 year release cycle like everyone else, it would be a lot easier for manufacturers to upgrade all their models within that year to the latest version of Android, before a new one shows up. Otherwise, most users will still be on Gingerbread, two versions behind, like it will be the case now, when Android 4.1 JellyBean will be out.
But since Google is releasing its tablet now, it couldn’t have used the eight months old ICS on their brand new tablet. It just wouldn’t have been so exciting, and Google need it to be exciting to start gaining market share against the iPad and the Kindle Fire. While it’s based on Android, the Kindle Fire doesn’t have much to do with Android at all, except for app compatibility (and even that may change in the future as Amazon forks Android further). Reuters reports that an anonymous Asus exec has told them that Google built the Nexus 7 specifically to target the Kindle Fire.
It will be interesting to see if, besides the new OS, Google will do anything about the tablet app situation. The thing is, on 7-inch tablets, “phone apps” don’t actually look that bad, so Google may yet again ignore the situation. Hopefully, I’m wrong, because as long as Android doesn’t have many tablet-optimized apps, there will be this general perception about the Android tablet ecosystem that it offers far less value than the iPad.
As for the Kindle Fire, it will probably continue to get some press because of the original tablet’s momentum. But now that Google has a similarly priced alternative, with an equally rich ecosystem, I doubt that Android users will be interested in the Fire, even if Amazon discounts it in the future to stay competitive. There’s just no reason for customers to get a Kindle Fire, when they can get a stock Android tablet from Google, for which they will get all the major Android updates for the next 18-24 months or so.

Read more »

Judge Koh: Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1 banned from sale in the US

Apple’s patent crusade against Samsung has finally resulted in the banning of Samsung’s Galaxy Tab 10.1 in the U.S. – a year after the slate was launched, and since replaced by a successor, the Tab 2 10.1.
US District Judge Lucy Koh granted Apple’s request for a preliminary injunction against the Galaxy Tab 10.1 on Tuesday, ahead of the scheduled Friday hearing on the injunction request.
Koh said that Apple has a strong case for the sales ban of the Galaxy Tab 10.1. — “While Samsung will certainly suffer lost sales from the issuance of an injunction, the hardship to Apple of having to directly compete with Samsung’s infringing products outweighs Samsung’s harm in light of the previous findings by the Court.”
We don’t know what’s changed between December 2011 and now. as that was when Koh herself denied the same injunction request from Apple against Samsung’s Galaxy Tab 10.1.

 

Responding to their temporary victory against Samsung, Apple spokeswoman Kristin Huguet told AllThingsD that Samsung’s products – hardware, user interface, and packaging – look similar to the company’s iPhone and iPad. “This kind of blatant copying is wrong and, as we’ve said many times before, we need to protect Apple’s intellectual property when companies steal our ideas.”
As expected, Samsung was not best pleased with the ruling and issued the following statement: “Apple sought a preliminary injunction of Samsung’s Galaxy Tab 10.1, based on a single design patent that addressed just one aspect of the product’s overall design.” Cupertino’s patent that Samsung allegedly infringed is the D’889 design patent, filed in 2004 and issued the following year, which basically shows a rectangular electronic device.
According to The Verge, Sammy has already appealed the ruling to the Federal court, so this isn’t the end of the long wrought battle. Though sales of the Galaxy Tab 10.1 haven’t exactly been significant in the US, going down without a fight is not an option for Samsung, as it might set a precedent to other patent battles that the company is currently embroiled in.
Apple’s plan to check mate the King – the Galaxy S3 – would come somewhat easier after first taking down the pawns, wouldn’t it?
 

Source: http://www.androidauthority.com/samsung-galaxy-tab-10-1-sales-ban-us-judge-lucy-koh-97740/

Read more »

UK judge rules that Galaxy Tab does not infringe on the iPad’s design, “not as cool”

One of Apple’s legal claims against Samsung, based on the alleged similarity between the Samsung Galaxy Tab and the iPad, was thrown away in an UK court last week. A British High Judge, Colin Biriss ruled that there is a big difference between both products, although he did noted that there are some design similarities.

What’s interesting is that the judge’s somehow expressed his appreciation for Apple’s designs. Biriss stated that the Galaxy Tab devices “do not have the same understated and extreme simplicity which is possessed by the Apple design”. The judge also said that even though the devices are not identical, they are “rather similar” in appearance from the front.

Biriss’ final conclusion on the argument was that the Galaxy Tab’s design was simply “not as cool”, compared to Apple’s tablet. The judges said that the Galaxy Tab’s thinness and design of the rear side differentiated it from the iPad, enough to ensure that customers can’t confuse them.

The legal team at Samsung might be not pleased that they don’t live up to the UK judge’s expectations, however, they are delighted that they won the case, stating that:

“Should Apple continue to make excessive legal claims in other countries based on such generic designs, innovation in the industry could be harmed and consumer choice unduly limited.”

In case you have not been following the recent legal spats between Samsung and Apple, just last week, Apple obtained a preliminary injunction against Samsung, preventing further sales of the Galaxy Tab 10.1 in the United States. Cupertino has also obtained a temporary ban against the Galaxy Nexus, although Google is widely expected to issue a software patch that will remove the feature that the court found infringing. Apple’s offense hasn’t been so strong in the United Kingdom, with HTC winning an important battle just last week.

What do you think Apple’s next “jab” at Samsung will be? Do you think that this whole case seems necessary? I would love to hear your comments on this revolving court battle.

Read more »

Microsoft Surface Windows 8/RT tablets unveiled: specs, features, release date and pricing

Microsoft on Monday unveiled its first tablets ever, a Windows 8 and a Windows RT machine that are both going to be known henceforward as Microsoft Surface. The name seems awfully familiar not only because an earlier report suggested the product will be called Xbox Surface, but also because the company has coined the “Surface” term long ago, although at the time it described a touch-based product that was about the same size of a tablet.
We have recently wondered what operating system the new Microsoft tablet will run, as some sources suggested the device may not be a Windows RT / Windows 8 product since it’s too early in the game to unveil such a device – Windows 8 is expected to become official at some point this fall, with the first Windows 8 tablets manufactured by third party OEMs to hit stores by Christmas or thereafter. But Microsoft made it clear from the start of the media event, the Surface is a Windows-based product.

 

Surface appears to be a new flagship device for Mircrosoft, a company best known for its software dominance in the PC operating system business, but also for its console gaming hardware such as the popular Xbox and the Kinect. But more importantly, the Surface is Microsoft’s own Nexus-like device, a tablet meant to show the world, and Microsoft’s Windows 8 PC-making partners, how Windows on a tablet should look and feel like.
Surface also appears to be a high-end tablet meant to compete directly against the iPad and the most important Android tablets out there from various manufacturers, unlike the Google Nexus 7 that’s supposed to be a very affordable device meant to take on directly the unexpectedly popular (at least for Google and its Android tablet-making partners) Amazon Kindle Fire.
With that in mind, let’s take a look at the main characteristics of the device, its release dates and pricing.

Specs and Features

Here are the main specs and features of the two Surface kinds, Surface for Windows RT and Surface for Windows 8 Pro:

Surface for Windows RT

• OS: Windows RT
• Light: 676 g
• Thin: 9.3 mm
• Clear: 10.6-inch ClearType HD Display with 16:9 aspect ratio. Corning Gorilla Glass 2 technology also included.
• Processor: ARM-based by NVIDIA
• Energized: 31.5 W-h battery
• Connected: microSD, USB 2.0, Micro HD Video, 2×2 MIMO antennae
• Productive: Office ‘15’ Apps, Touch Cover, Type Cover
• Practical: VaporMg Case & Stand, edges angled at 22 degrees
• Configurable: 32 GB, 64 GB

Surface for Windows 8 Pro

• OS: Windows 8 Pro
• Light: 903 g
• Thin: 13.5 mm
• Clear: 10.6-inch ClearType HD Display with 16:9 aspect ratio. Corning Gorilla Glass 2 technology also included.
• Processor: Intel Core Ivy Bridge
• Energized: 42 W-h battery
• Connected: microSDXC, USB 3.0, Mini DisplayPort Video, 2×2 MIMO antennae
• Productive: Touch Cover, Type Cover, Pen with Palm Block
• Practical: VaporMg Case & Stand, edges angled at 22 degrees
• Configurable: 64 GB, 128 GB

 

Accessories

• Built-in stand – 0.7mm thick (comes with any Surface)
• Surface Touch Cover – 0.3 mm thick full multitouch keyboard dock that also acts as a magnetic cover, with trackpad included
• Surface Type Cover – similar to Touch Cover but slightly bigger at 0.5mm, it’s a keyboard with actual keys and trackpad buttons
• Pen with Palm Book – a pen that magnetizes to the body of the Surface to offer digital ink support

Microsoft’s execs demoed the product on stage emphasizing its most important features and the design challenges they had to go through to produce this tablet. The device looks, at least on paper, and in the images and video the company showed, like a worthy iPad rival, and certainly a tablet that could become a tough Android tablet competitor in the months to come. But on the other hand, and most importantly, the Surface may become a Windows RT / Windows 8 tablet competitor and therefore cannibalize on sales from Windows partners, something that may not necessarily suit the needs of the company.
Unlike Windows Phones, which are yet to become a worthy third player in the smartphone business, Windows 8 may become a lot more popular as a tablet OS. The only thing we don’t know at this point is how reliable the new software will be on tablets, and wether users will enjoy a Metro UI-based Windows 8 tablet as much as they appreciate other tablet designs.

 

Release Date and Pricing

The Surface, while interesting enough for tablet fans, will not be available in stores for quite a while now. The company revealed that it took a lot of time to design it –  we kind of appreciate the fact that the device was not leaked in the past months – and it will take a lot of time to see it in stores. Unfortunately Microsoft is not ready yet to share actual launch details and pricing details for the Surface at this time, but the execs mentioned more than once the fact that the device will be priced quite competitively, or better said, the two Surface versions, ARM-based and Intel-based, will each come with competitive prices compared to their direct rivals.
The ARM model is said “to be competitive with a comparable ARM tablet” and it will be available in store at the same time Windows 8 launches. The Intel model will be a bit more expensive with a price comparable to Ultrabook-class PCs, which are generally more expensive than traditional laptops. The Intel model will also be available only later down the road, around 90 days after the ARM-based Surface hits stores. If I’m reading correctly between the lines the Windows RT will be the really affordable version, but then again if you want Office 15 and other perks the Windows 8 Pro model will offer then you’ll have to be ready to shell out more dollars for it.

With that in mind, it’s probably safe to say that this winter we’ll have quite a lot of tablets fighting for the cash of the consumer including the iPad, the iPad mini (if certain rumors are to be believed), the Google Nexus 7, the Amazon Kindle Fires (more than one model, again if certain rumors are to be believed), various flagship Android tablets from important Android makers, the Microsoft Surface models, and various other Windows-based tablets coming from other OEMs.

Read more »

New rumors: iPad Mini to sport 7.85-inch Sharp IGZO display and cost $249-299

Although we here at Android Authority are first and foremost preoccupied with bringing you all the news that matter regarding Android devices, we like to keep an open mind and have a perspective on the technology world as a whole. That’s why we’re also interested in what Apple will be coming up with in the near future to face the growing competition and great progress of Android.
The newly released Nexus 7 tablet, but also the upcoming Kindle Fire 2 device(s), are widely seen as the primary gadgets that can cripple the new iPad’s sales, which, according to some reports, are not that great. This already complicated “equation” will, however, most likely get even more complicated by the end of the year, with rumors these past several months pointing towards the imminent release of an “iPad Mini”.
The iPad’s supposed little brother hasn’t been officially confirmed by anyone at Apple, but rumors, leaks and reports are piling up from all possible sources to pretty much confirm it’s coming. The latest such report comes from “anonymous industry sources”, so it’s not to be taken very seriously, but shouldn’t be ignored either, as we’ve seen numerous such rumors in the past proving to be accurate after all.
One of the details mentioned by this latest report fits pretty nicely with the already existing rumors, which is why we can say with almost certainty that the future iPad Mini’s price is set in stone. If all these speculations prove to be true, Apple will be pricing its upcoming gadget between $249 and $299, making it a true and savage “Nexus 7 killer”.

 

For that price, you might not expect much from Apple in terms of tech specs and features, but at least when talking about the tablet’s display, things are set to be looking surprisingly good. It’s therefore very possible for the iPad Mini to sport a 7.85-inch Sharp IGZO panel with 330 ppi pixel density.
IGZO stands for “indium gallium zinc oxide” and is a relatively new technology that allows TFT (thin-film transistor) screens to be thinner than usual, but at the same time to be as reliable as possible. Japanese multinational corporation Sharp has announced the mass production of such panels for tablets and TV sets to be launched in 2012, and the company’s collaboration with Apple has been rumored for a pretty long time, even before the iPad Mini was speculated upon.
Unfortunately, MyDrivers’ report on the iPad Mini only mentions these two pieces of information, leaving all of the other supposed specs and features of the tablet hanging, as well as its availability details. Still, this is enough to start viewing Apple’s future gadget as a possible very strong competitor for Google’s and Amazon’s 7-inchers.
Do you guys agree? Would you ditch the Nexus 7 and the upcoming Kindle Fire 2 for this rather mysterious iPad Mini? And most importantly, do you buy into these rumors? Will Apple actually do what was unthinkable until a couple of years back (release a budget-friendly 7-inch tablet)?

Read more »

New iPad 3 Jailbreak to iOS 5.1.1 Now Possible

Reports have been circulating today that Apple’s New iPad 3 can now be jailbroken to iOS 5.1.1 which has also been released just recently. One hacker who goes by the pseudo name i0n1c had shown off his new iPad running on iOS 5.1.1 which he claimed he successfully jailbroken yesterday, May 8th, just hours after the iOS version was released. This shows that the vulnerabilities of the new operating system from Apple have already been discovered so it is now open for developers and hackers to take advantage of.

We have already been following the development of the jailbreak status in the world of the hackers and so far, only Pod2g is open about his exploits. Last month, pod2g revealed that he has spotted 5 vulnerabilities in iOS 5.1 but about a week later, he said there were two vulnerabilities that he can surely use jailbreak the OS to his device. The next thing we heard from him was through his tweet saying that he had successfully jailbroken iOS 5.1 to his iPhone 4S. The good thing is that it was an untethered jailbreak to iOS 5.1. Basically, it is possible to force-implement the latest iOS to newer models of iPhone, iPod and iPad especially the ones with A4 processors.
Not only the owners of previous releases of iPhones and iPads want to have their device jailbroken to run the latest iOS but also the owners of the New iPad 3. In fact, many of the new iPad owners have been searching for ways and information to jailbreak their device but to no avail. This news is actually one of those exciting ones as it has been a while since we’ve heard reports of iOS 5.1 was successfully jailbroken. We would like to see this in action to know if the process is easier than we think. It is also very surprising to know that this first successful jailbreak of the New iPad 3 to the latest iOS would come from i0n1c, real name is Stefan Esser, because he has aired his disapproval of jailbreaking so many times.
Esser showed the photo with his new iPad running iOS 5.1.1. While we can really consider that a good news, it seems unlikely for us to get the proper procedure on how to do such thing just because the hacker is not interested. It is ironic as it is exciting but I think Esser was just bragging of his capabilities that’s why he took shots of his device operating on iOS 5.1.1. For us who are waiting for the new developments on jailbreaking, we really cannot ask Esser to share a tutorial for us to jailbreak our new iPad; it’s his right not to and it is still his right to brag what he has achieved.
Meanwhile, there is a software that claims to be able to successfully untethered jailbreak a handful of Apple devices including the New iPad. The software was apparently commercialized, thus you cannot get it for free; you have to buy it for $19.99. If you are interested, you can read about the news I’ve written a couple of days ago. If i0n1c wouldn’t share his exploits with us, Pod2g would be our next hope to be able to jailbreak our new iPad. He said that he just finalizing things now and the tutorial will come out very soon. Let’s just hope for the best.

Read more »

iPad 3 Release date Delayed Untill 2012

Apple has discontinued its supply schedule for the iPad 3 pertaining to the latter half of the year 2011, which of course implies that the iPad 3 will not be coming out until the year 2012.

Apple iPad 3

The report says that Apple initially was going to launch the iPad 3 in the year 2011 with a probably volume of supply of 1.5-2 million tablets in quarter three of the year and then 5-6 million tablets in quarter four of the year, however the company’s partners of supply chain have recently stated that related figures were all deleted, according to sources.
Sources have said that the less-than-satisfactory yields of newer versions of the 9.7-inch 2048×1535 resolutioned Retina display have caused the delay. The sources have also been quick to point out that the 9.7” screen with the relatively high resolution needs a much higher source for backlight and that frankly a one edge bar of light will not be able to reach levels required. Because of the iPad 3’s needs for it to be physically thing, rich and high color support and durability and toughness will all be a cause of conflict due to the restrictions of the panel technology. That is why this would be a primary cause for the delay of the iPad 3 coming into the market.
This might very well kill rumors that seem to perpetually come up that the much awaited tablet is going to be released in the fall. Speculation suggested that the iPad 3 will be receiving a retina display sporting a high resolution. The fact of the matter is that Apple might very well have been in preparation for the possible inclusion of dual-resolutioned artwork for the iBook app. Some credibility has also been added to the speculation from other sources which last week had said that the iPad 3 would be released in 2012, and that the fifth-generation iPhone would be launching on the 7^th of October 2011.

Read more »

iPad App – iLearn Animals Review – Features, Ease of Use

This adorable iPad only application allows you to teach your child about animal sounds in a fun and entertaining way. The iLearn app, released on 03^rd august 2011, costs you $2.99 but it is well worth the money. The app includes animals’ pictures and sounds and even quizzes to test your child’s learning.

iLearn Animals iPad App

Features:

The home screen of the app has four buttons; hear, play, look and credits. Tapping the hear button leads you to a page with pictures of 27 animals. Clicking the picture plays the sound of the animal. The sounds have a very good quality and give a feeling of actually being near the animal. Hitting the play button starts a quiz. A big button in the centre labeled ‘listen’ will play a random animal sound with three animal pictures at the bottom of the screen. In order to identify the sound, tap the corresponding picture. The app even makes joyous and sad sounds to indicate whether your answer is correct or not. Tapping the Look button leads to a page full of animal pictures with their names written underneath. Each label shows multiple pictures of the same animal, usually comprising of different breeds and types.

iLearn Animals iPad App

Ease of Use:

This app is perfect if you wish to teach your toddlers something useful in a fun way. The iPad, however, cannot be handed over to the child. The app has a colorful and extremely simple interface to attract children and to make it easy for them to work the app with relative independence.

Verdict:

The app can be used on an iPad and is not available for iPhone or other devices. The app takes up 38 MB space and the cost is a little higher than other similar apps. The app is extremely useful and a great way to spend some time with your child while working and simultaneously teaching your child something interesting. The app helps the child learn how to use technology and also teaches them basic recognition skills. The app needs to label the animals on every page however. In the current version, labels are only available on the look page. It is essential that the child learns the name of the animal and associates the written name with the picture. The developers should definitely consider this minor change since it could improve the app manifolds.
The app’s extremely adorable look arouses the interests of the child and is a good way to use technology in teaching children lessons in a more pleasing and enjoyable way.

Read more »

iPad 3

Aple – has just launched their latest tablet computer called the iPad 3. This third generation ipad has just launched in the near future in. Physically, the design iPad 3 is not much different from the previous iPad, the screen size is 9.7 inches. At the rear there is also a layer of metal such as iPad 2. IPad 3 weights a bit heavier than the iPad 3, for its thickness, this tablet is not as thin as 9.3 mm which iPad 2.
Speaking of screens, especially the resolution, the screen resolution iPad 3 increased 4-fold compared with iPad 2 thanks to the retina display 2048 x 1536 pixels it has, it would make an appearance gambaj or other information in them becomes increasingly sharp. About the richness of color is also claimed to be 44% better than its predecessor.
Latest features iPad 3 which was previously owned iPad:

• Retina Display: Resolution 2048 x 1536 pixels with a density of 264 pixels per inch. Meaning, it looks closer view / print magazine when viewed from a distance of 15 inches.
•  A5X Processor: The processor used is Apple A5X, which has a dual core processor and graphics processor four-core (quad core). Claimed a 2-fold strength Tegra 3.
• 5MP Camera: The camera is more or less similar to that used in the iPhone 4S, and not just its ability 5MP 8MP.
• iSight: behind the camera was named iSight, it has the ability to record 1080p video at 30 fps. Without Siri: new iPad has the ability to dictate emails and others. The technology may be similar to those used in Siri.
• LTE: new iPad supports LTE 4G network capabilities. For users in Indonesia, this paper first ignored it until the network is available here.
• Availability: This device will be available next week, starting March 16, 2012 in the United States, Canada, Britain, France, Germany, Switzerland, Japan, Hong Kong, Australia and Singapore.
• Price: the price range is U.S. $ 499 (16GB), 599 U.S. dollars (32 GB) and U.S. $ 699 (64GB). There is a higher price for the 4G-capable iPad.

Pros and Cons iPad 3
Plus points

• 9.7 inch IPS display screen of the retina display 1536 x 2048 pixels coated oleophobic coating as well as Galaxy Nexus Bluetooth v4.0 iPhone 4S
• Supports a 4G
• Using a graphics chipset A5X claimed 2x better than the Tegra 3
• Battery life up to 720 hours

Minus

• The body is thicker than iPad 2, thick iPad 3 is 9.4 mm, whereas only 8.8 mm iPad 2
• There is no external memory slot
• There is no FM RadioB

Read more »

Celeste Now Compatible with the iOS 4.3.3

Good news for the users and fans of Celeste!!! It is news which many of the users were waiting for a long time now. Well the waiting period seems to be over now. Yes the news is here and now Celeste can be used with the 4.3.3 version of iOS now. With the new action menu plug-in which recently got updated and implemented in the Celeste it is now compatible with the Apple’s iOs. This major update would have brought smiles to many of the Apple lovers as it has removed some of the boundaries which limited the use of Celeste in their gadgets.

Celeste Compatible with iOS 4.3.3

With this update Celeste has brought the long-awaited missing features on the iPhone, iPad, or the iPod Touch. Now one can easily send and receive songs, contacts, photos and more on their gadgets. Celeste can easily work with any Bluetooth device capable of transferring files. It is also built in such a way that it perfectly integrates with some of the built in iOS applications. With the help of iFile and myTunes one can transfer music on an iPod.
However besides this being great news for all those Celeste fans out there a bad news is also associated with the compatibility. It is compatible with iOS 4.3.3. But many of the functions of Celeste are still not working. The features that are not working in the update is the absence of the feature of sending songs from the iPod Library.
Besides this small problem there are other problems too where Celeste does not function as it actually does. These issues need to be addressed by the Celeste and its developers and should be updated so that the fans do not get disappointed with inability to function perfectly with their iOS 4.3.3.
If you are on the lookout to buy this you can purchase it from Cydia where it has been priced at $ 9.99. However the fact that it’s not fully functional with iOS 4.3.3 should be kept in mind before purchasing it. One can send some files from their iPod music library but cannot transfer music. Installing this application is pretty easy with Cydia and can be installed in a couple of minutes.
Also the fact to be noted is that Celeste is the only application available which allows a user to send files with the Bluetooth to any device or a computer from an iDevice. With both the pros and cons associated with the application one might go for the application. However waiting for an update and the issues related to its functionality being resolved seems to be a brighter idea for the moment. It can be expected that we see an update soon in future which would be 100% compatible with iOS 4.3.3. Thus till then keep your fingers crossed and keep waiting for some more good news.

Read more »

Apple iPad 2 Vs Amazon Kindle Fire Tablet : Take Smart Decision

The Amazon Kindle Fire is now up for grabs. Of course, it is quite undeniable that the tablet successfully reaped the attention of the many due to its very affordable price. But if you are the type of person who would seek for reviews and comparisons before you make your final decision, then you might as well read on.
In this particular post, we will be comparing the Amazon Kindle Fire against the Apple iPad 2, one of the most sought tablets of this year. Thus, without further ado, allow us to share to you the advantages and disadvantages of each tablet according to a variety of factors.
DISPLAY SIZE
First off is the appearance. It is quite apparent that the Kindle Fire is much smaller than the iPad 2. The Amazon tablet can provide you with a 7 inch multi-touch IPS display at 1024 x 600 pixels (169 ppi) of screen resolution. Meanwhile, the iPad 2 can take pride of its large 9.7 inch diagonal LED-backlit glossy display at 1024 x 768 pixels (132 ppi) of screen resolution. The Kindle Fire weighs around 413 grams while the iPad 2 weighs around 601 grams. If we speak of portability, then it is pretty obvious that the former wins over the latter. Though, it can’t also be denied that the iPad 2 is way much thinner than the Kindle Fire.

SPECS & FEATURES
Upon comparing these two tablets, there are two basic aspects that you need to keep in mind. The first one is the connectivity and the second one is the platform. You should also consider the fact that you would need a reliable device that could sync with your PC, notebook or smartphone. In that case, both devices can provide you with their high-speed Wi-Fi b/g/n connection. The iPad 2, on the other hand, gets the lead because it offers a built-in support for 3G. But if you’re not a heavy 3G user and you prefer not to commit to any monthly data plans, then you can pretty much depend on the Kindle Fire.
In addition, the Kindle Fire can somehow compete with the iPad 2 when it comes to standard web browsing. Still, the Amazon tablet can’t beat the iPad 2 when it comes to the speed of page loading but you can always depend on the Fire’s cloud-accelerated Amazon Silk browser with Adobe Flash support.
You should also take note that the Kindle Fire is being powered by Android and you can definitely take advantage of its wide selection of Android applications. But that’s not all. You will also be able to enjoy the slate’s massive stock of books, movies and songs. The only downside of this slate is that you will have to download these apps via the Amazon App Store. If you want to access the Android Market, then you would probably need to sideload. Meanwhile, the iPad 2 can let you browse through its vast range of built-in applications.
BATTERY
In terms of battery life, the Kindle Fire’s battery can last up to eight hours while the iPad 2’s power cell can let you stay on for 10 hours. There is a bit of a difference but you should also consider the activities that you do that causes your battery to deplete sooner than you have expected.
CAMERA
Unlike the iPad 2, the Kindle Fire doesn’t provide any camera. You won’t be able to take a bunch of snap shots and you will basically be deprived of the joy of video calls. You may chat with your friends on Skype or Facebook but that would be as far as you can go.
PERFORMANCE
Both slates are based on a Dual Core ARM Processor. But even so, the iPad 2’s A5 Chip offers a better performance than the OMAP 4 chip inside the Kindle Fire. You can pretty much notice that the Apple slate boots much faster than that new tablet from Amazon.
PRICE
Let us admit that the Kindle Fire is a budget-friendly tablet that can be easily acquired by anyone who wants a tablet. Its 8GB of storage is quite enough for any typical tablet user. Compared to the 16GB Wi-Fi only model of the iPad 2, the Kindle Fire can definitely give you a decent option. It’s only $199 while the iPad 2 would require you to pay the sum of $499.
As a wrap-up, we can’t really say that you should get the Kindle Fire because it is cheaper. It truly depends upon your needs. If you don’t do much other than surfing the web or watching your favourite flicks via Netfix and you don’t want to spend a lot for a tablet, then you can definitely save a lot if you opt for the Kindle Fire. But if you want to enjoy a heap of features and you are willing to spend your savings on a much deserving device, better get the iPad 2. You really don’t need to think twice.

Read more »