Archive | Apple

The Apple Peel Turns a iPod Touch into a iPhone

The Apple peel can turn your iPod Touch into an iPhone.  Wish that your iPod Touch could take calls like an iPhone? You aren’t alone…and in China you can do something about it. “The Apple Peel” is a Chinese made device that “peels” your Touch and turns it to an iPhone.

The device is a sophisticated case that houses a SIM card, docking station, and battery.  The docking station connects to the bottom of your iPod Touch (where you charge it).  The battery powers the device that takes the calls, which are allowed by the SIM card.

This means that you can have a Verizon iPhone, Sprint iPhone, or T-Mobile iPhone just by purchasing a simple case. It’s quite the sophisticated and cool device, if you ask me.

A new iPhone costs from roughly $500-$800 while an iPod Touch is only a couple of hundred dollars.  The Apple Peel only costs $57 which makes this an affordable way to “jailbreak” your iPod Touch into taking calls.

Sadly, the device isn’t available in the US for sale. However, I would expect that those traveling to Asia may purchase these devices so that they, too can transition their iPods into phones.

Photo Credit: (Credit: PConline)

Posted in Apple63 Comments

A Verizon iPhone 2011 Possibility: Could Apple Leave ATT By January?

A Verizon iPhone 2011 may be in the mix.  Apple’s iPhone could leave exclusivity from AT&T and go to Verizon by January.  Of course, everyone has heard this song and dance before making it almost like the quintessential “boy who called wolf” tale.

However, Verizon boasts one of the largest networks, with millions of subscribers.  In addition, the Android based smartphones are the leading competition against Apple’s coveted handset.  Verizon is one of the largest sellers of Android handsets – so placing the new iPhone at the carrier just makes good business sense.

Don’t get me wrong. I use AT&T – but I also don’t use the iPhone. I’m a Blackberry kind of guy. But I still call it as I see it, and it’s time for the Verizon iPhone.

The “rumors” are actually quite credible, with blog “Tech Crunch” indicating the story this time around. They claim the secret lies within the making of CDMA chips to be used in the handsets.  However, we saw this from the Wall Street Journal near the end of March and those stories didn’t come to fruition.

Are you thinking that a Verizon iPhone could be in the works?

Posted in Apple, Companies, Economy, Technology29 Comments

Apple’s New iPhone 4 Is Thinner, Features Gyroscope

The Apple iPhone 4 was revealed by CEO Steve Jobs at Apple’s Worldwide Developers Conference in San Francisco on Monday.

Apple iPhone 4

The Apple iPhone 4 will be 24 percent thinner than its predecessor at 9.3mm thick, contain a front-facing camera, and offer greatly improved battery performance with up to 40 percent more talk time, according to Jobs.  It will also have 32 gigabytes of storage, a gyroscope (which will allow for more precise motion detection), and HD video recording capability.

Jobs described the phone as “the most precise thing and one of the most beautiful things we’ve ever made.”

The iPhone 4 will be priced at $199 for a 16GB model and $299 for a 32GB model.  It will go on sale on June 24.

For more about the iPhone 4 from Apple, click here.

Posted in Apple, Companies, Economy, Gadgets, Lifestyle, News, Technology19 Comments

iPad Reviews are Mixed – is the iPad a Big iPhone or a Revolutionary Product?

iPad reviews are mixed. Some iPad reviews indicate that the Apple product is a big iPhone. Other iPad reviews say that the gadget is a revolutionary product.  So which is it?  Is the iPad nothing more than a blown-up iPhone, or is the new product the revolutionary product we have all been waiting for.

Nothing is quite as popular as the Apple iPhone. It allows you to talk on the phone, use Twitter, FaceBook, and it’s just all around a really cool gadget.  When news of a tablet computer from the Cuptertino, California based company started making its buzz, everyone was excited.

But are they let down? Well, there are two product lines that are most likely shaking in their boots because of the invention of the Apple iPad: the netbook and the eBook.

com recently experienced a stock price increase after higher than expected earnings during the fourth quarter.  Their revenue went up 46% from year to year, and the company attributes some of the gain to the popularity of their Kindle.

The Kindle is an electronic product that allows you to read thousands of books in electronic format. For every 10 physical books sold, 6 Kindle books are sold.

The Apple iPad could hurt that.

In addition, those that want internet access on the go currently seek out netbooks.  The Apple iPad could hurt sales of these products as well. 

I’d much rather tote around an iPad than a netbook. It would be much easier to fit in my purse and would be much easier to discretely use.

CLICK HERE TO WATCH PEE WEE HERMAN AND HIS iPAD

CLICK HERE TO READ ABOUT iPAD PRICING

Still yet, critics complain that the iPad is nothing more than a big iPhone. They don’t expect the sales of the product to take off, as consumers favor the smaller handsets.

There’s also the chance that maybe – just maybe – the iPad will revolutionize computing.  There are a few things that Apple could improve.  For instance, being able to have more than one application open at a time would be a great start.

They could also produce the tablet to be able to handle the same software as their MacBook line of laptops.

Posted in Apple, Gadgets, News, Technology5 Comments

How Much is the iPad? Apple’s Tablet A Bank-Breaker or Bargain?

How much is the iPad? Is the iPad tablet a bank-breaker or a bargain? Today, Steve Jobs unveiled Apple’s newest creation, the iPad.  For weeks, the technology industry has been buzzing about the Cupertino, California based company’s newest invention.  Would the iTablet, iSlate, or iPad (at that point we didn’t know what it would be called…heck it could have been called MacBook Pad or something for all we knew) revolutionize computing as we know it?

So just how much is the iPad? Apple’s iPhones are $300 with some AT&T plans.  Some expected the iPad to cost well within the $1,000 range – after all, a simple laptop from Apple costs $999 – a far cry from the $250  bargain netbooks you can find at Office Depot stores across the nation.

CLICK HERE to view Artist rendition of the iPad before it was unveiled.

CLICK HERE to watch an artist rendition of the possible iPad commercial.

The iPad costs between $499 and $829, depending on which model you choose.  You can buy the Wi-Fi only models – which only pick up wireless networks when you are in range.  These are the most economical plans and cost $499 to $699, depending on what memory you buy.

The iPad is also available with 3GS from AT&T, meaning that you can connect to the mobile network wherever it’s available. These models cost $629 to $829 depending on how much memory you choose.  Data plans start at $14.99 but your best bet is the $29.99 unlimited plan.

The iPad’s cost could out weigh its benefit, especially for those (like me) that like gadgets.  As I write this on my little HP Netbook, I’m dreaming of typing on a phantom keypad on a sleek and sexy iPad.

Posted in Apple, Gadgets, Technology34 Comments

Designer Leaks Apple Tablet Pictures?

Designer leaks Apple Tablet pictures? With Steve Jobs’ big announcement coming up, Apple Tablet talk is hotter than ever.  What will the Apple Tablet be called? iSlate? iPad? iTablet? Macbook Pad? What will it look like? Will it be a large version of the popular iPod touch?

A designer has “leaked” photos of Apple’s prototype, and photographed the new product on top of a Macbook Pro – just to give us an idea of the size of the unit.  However, the pictures could just very well be created to drive a stir.  After all, everyone and their brother is anticipating this product. Any indication of a glimpse of the product before it’s released is likely to be very hot.

The pictures that are posted on Dustin Curtis’s blog are pretty real looking.  However, there’s skepticism about if the product really is the real deal.

CLICK HERE TO VIEW THE POSSIBLE APPLE TABLET COMMERCIAL

For one, iTouch owners know that the touch screen is very shiny.  In addition, the backing is likely to be made out of silver chrome – not black plastic.  The photograph on the blog features a screen that looks rather dull.

That being said, it could be the camera quality interfering with the photo of the product.  The designer’s leaked photos could very well give us the most authentic glimpse until the real product is ultimately unveiled.

Posted in Apple, Gadgets, Technology, US35 Comments

Apple Tablet Leaked? (PHOTOS, VIDEO)

Apple tablet leaked? America’s favorite technology company, Apple, has worked on a tablet ever since the 1980’s.  Now, there’s light at the end of their tunnel and the Apple Tablet debut is said to come soon.  The Apple Tablet leak photos that are circulating on the web, creating quite a buzz…but are they real?

The iPhone/iPod Touch was the company’s last slam-dunk.  As a proud owner of a Touch, I can attest that the interface is sleek and sexy – and I have the first generation!

The Apple Tablet will be like the Touch – only bigger and better and more powerful.  I can only imagine taking the product everywhere – as it is very portable.

Now that there are videos on the web claiming to be the Apple iPad (or iSlate depending on who you ask) leaked commercials, and blogs are popping up from “designers’ that are “leaking” the “Apple tablet mock-ups.”  Is all this true, or are we being taken for a ride?

One thing to remember about Apple fans (and designers) is that they are very good with technology – meaning that creating an ad or photo of the tablet wouldn’t be too difficult.

The “Apple tablet leaked photos” can be found here, at Dustin Curtis’s blog.

While these leaked photos and ads are entertaining, don’t expect them to be the real deal.  Chances are Steve Jobs and the Apple crew have something far better than we could ever have imagined in store for us.

For entertainment purposes, the “leaked Apple Tablet ad” can be found below

Posted in Apple, Companies, Gadgets, News, Technology, US29 Comments

Best Buy 2009 Black Friday Ads Revealed

Best Buy is the latest store to have its Black Friday advertisement leaked online.

Best Buy Black Friday Deals

Black Friday, which is the day after Thanksgiving, traditionally marks the beginning of Christmas shopping in the United States. Many retailers offer doorbuster sales as an incentive for shoppers.

Special deals and doorbusters for holiday shoppers at Best Buy on Black Friday include newly released CDs for $6.99, digital cameras for as low as $49.99, a digital camcorder for $69.99, a PlayStation 3 package for $299.99, a Web cam for $19.99, and much more.   For more on Best Buy’s Black Friday deals, click here.

View/download ad here: Best Buy Black Friday 2009 Ad (PDF).

The following Web sites are dedicated to locating Black Friday deals for major stores such as Sears, Walmart, Toys ‘R’ Us, Target, Kmart, and more:

Know of some good Black Friday deals? Leave them in the comments below.

Posted in Apple, Companies, Economy, Featured, Gadgets, Gaming, Movies, Music, News, Software, Technology, Television, US, Videos27 Comments

iPhone MMS update release date September 25, 2009

iPhone mms update available September 25, 2009

US 3G iPhone users will finally be able to receive Multimedia Messaging Service (MMS) through an AT&T upgrade.  By downloading the update from iTunes, AT&T 3G iPhone users will be able to send pictures and videos to friends, just like text messages.

Get instructions (and questions answered) for downloading the update at: The iPhone Blog

Download MMS at: iTunes

Check status of the update:

AT&T reported on its Facebook page that MMS should be enabled by late morning, Pacific time on Friday, September 25.

Posted in Apple, Technology29 Comments

Apple Investor Relations

Apple plans to conduct a conference call to discuss financial results of its fourth fiscal quarter on Tuesday, October 21, 2008 at 2:00 p.m. PDT.

Arguably the biggest piece of information announced in today’s 4th quarter earnings conference call was Apple’s iPhone sales. Apple has explained that in this past quarter 6.9 million iPhone 3G’s were sold. This exceeds all previous iPhone quarters (sales) combined.
Continue Reading

Posted in Apple24 Comments