Garage Band for iPad: Using the app to show off the device

Garage Band for iPad is, I'm pleased to say, another one of those apps. Software that melds so perfectly with the iPad hardware that when you show it off to someone, their natural inclination is to say "Oh, so that's why I should buy one of these devices."

I love finding those apps.

Follow the jump to find out why Garage Band qualifies.

I'm a little late to the Garage Band party because I didn't think to buy a copy until several of my TUAW colleagues pointed out its utter simplicity for creating rimshots. "It's like having a portable backup band," one blogger swore. Just hop into the app, select Drums, and use the Classic Studio Kit. A couple of taps on the lower-left snare followed by a top-left cymbal? Brilliant.

But there is so much more you can do with Garage Band than to create an imaginary "Tonight Show" experience. The best way to use it is to noodle around; and the best way to noodle around is to put the application into automatic section length mode, select the smart guitar and have at it.

Start by creating a new song. Choose "Smart Guitar" as your instrument. Then tap the jigsaw puzzle piece at the top left of the screen, tap on Section A, and enable Automatic. This allows you to mess with a random creation without having to be limited to 8 bars at a time.

Next, select a key. I played with C minor (Song Settings/Wrench > Key > C, minor) because, well, it's just fun. Choose a major key if you want to be able to perform all the best songs of Peter, Paul, and Mary with just 3 chords. (or add in a 4th chord for the true Axis of Awesome experience.)

You're now ready to create your own masterpiece. Tap record and have at it. When using Smart Guitar, the iPad basically acts like a smart Autoharp. A single tap brings you an entire chord. Tap the top pentagons to play each chord or stroke individual strings to add notes.

What follows is me recording a "song" by tapping the screen pretty much at random. This is how good the app is. My random taps -- and this. Use the record button at the top center of the screen to capture your session as you mess around. As you can tell from this example, it's almost impossible to use Garage Band badly. And yes, I really was touching things without any plan whatsoever.

To share your creation, tap My Songs to return to the library/organizer screen. Tap the share button (bottom-left, looks like a rectangle with an arrow leaving it to the right), choose Email Song, and let Garage Band do the rest. If you'd rather add your song to your onboard iTunes library, there's an option for that as well.

I am in love with Garage Band. For $5 it offers a toy that a two year old can probably use to make things that sound, well, that sound like they weren't made by a two year old.

Start playing with it around friends and you'll discover that your iPad will leave your hands in moments -- and that your friends will be leaving your company with a resolve that this is one device that they need to buy for themselves and for their kids.

Garage Band is awesome. Highly recommended.

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Google brings check-ins to Google Latitude on iPhone, 30 languages to Places

Unsurprisingly, El Goog gifted the Android versions of Latitude and Places with these updates a few weeks back, but now the iOS loyalists are being brought into a similar circle. The search giant has just added check-ins to the iOS version of Google Latitude, with any iDevice using iOS 4 or higher being deemed compatible. In related news, the Applefied build of Google Places is now available in 30 languages, and there's an added 'Saved Places' feature for keeping tabs on your favorite spots. You can check your phone for updates, or if you haven't dug in yet, have a poke around in the App Store.

I think Apple would welcome Google Navigation, but I think Google Navigation is the one app that Google doesn't want it's biggest competition to have, as it legitimately could be a reason for someone to buy an Android over the iPhone. An app like Places or Latitude isn't going to have that same effect.


With iPad to iTunes Transfer, you can transfer your songs, videos, podcast, from iPad to iTunes library with ease. You can easily copy music, movies, podcast to iTunes with only a few clicks, saving you the hassle of changing the settings on your computer.
With iPad to iPad Transfer, u can easily transfer files like movies, music, playlist, podcast, TV shows from one iPad to another, or transfer iPad to iTunes Library for another transferring.

Google brings check-ins to Google Latitude on iPhone, 30 languages to Places

Unsurprisingly, El Goog gifted the Android versions of Latitude and Places with these updates a few weeks back, but now the iOS loyalists are being brought into a similar circle. The search giant has just added check-ins to the iOS version of Google Latitude, with any iDevice using iOS 4 or higher being deemed compatible. In related news, the Applefied build of Google Places is now available in 30 languages, and there's an added 'Saved Places' feature for keeping tabs on your favorite spots. You can check your phone for updates, or if you haven't dug in yet, have a poke around in the App Store.

I think Apple would welcome Google Navigation, but I think Google Navigation is the one app that Google doesn't want it's biggest competition to have, as it legitimately could be a reason for someone to buy an Android over the iPhone. An app like Places or Latitude isn't going to have that same effect.

With iPad to iTunes Transfer, you can transfer your songs, videos, podcast, from iPad to iTunes library with ease. You can easily copy music, movies, podcast to iTunes with only a few clicks, saving you the hassle of changing the settings on your computer.

With iPad to iPad Transfer, u can easily transfer files like movies, music, playlist, podcast, TV shows from one iPad to another, or transfer iPad to iTunes Library for another transferring.

iPad to Computer Transfer- Backup Music, Movie, Photo, ePub between iPad and PC

With iPad to Computer Transfer, u can easily transfer iPad/iPad 2 files like movies, photos, music, playlist, podcast, TV shows to PC for backup, and transfer iPad content to iTunes Library for another transferring.

Besides, iPad to PC Transfer can not only transfer your favorite Music, Videos, Photo, ePub, PDF, Audiobook, Podcast and TV Show from iPad 2/iPad to Computer, iPad to iPad 2, iPod to iPad, and iPhone to iTunes, but also enables you to use your iPad as a portable hard drive.

Moreover, iPad to Computer Transfer fully supports the newest iPad 2 and iPad, even keep high compatible with iPod nano, iPod nano 6G, iPod classic, iPod touch, iPod touch 4, iPhone 3GS, iPhone 4, even the updated iOS 4.3.

Key Features of iPad to PC Transfer

• Search files quickly
  Filter and quick search tools are provided for you to find what you want quickly and easily when you transfer Music, Video, ePub, PDF, Audiobook, Ringtone, Contact, TV Show and Podcast from iPad to PC, iTunes library;
• iPad info shown
  All information about iPad model, capacity, version, format and serial number are shown automatically as connect your iPad to Computer;
• Manage iPad as a portable hard disk
  iPad to Computer Transfer can open your iPad with Windows Explore to make you manage it as a portable hard disk;
• Two view modes
   iPad to PC Transfer supports two modes for viewing music, movies and photos, creating new playlist, adding illustration for video in thumbnail mode;
• Create and edit playlist
  Create playlists for your iPad, edit them as you wish. Playlists are good for the gym, office, travel and others;
• Other features
  iPad to Computer Transfer supports multiple languages including simplified Chinese and English and changeable skins;

Guide: How to transfer iPad to Computer/PC

Preparation: Free download and install iPad to PC Transfer. ready for the process.

Step 1: Run the software, connect iPad to PC, iPad to Computer Transfer will automatically detect iPad, then the iPad icon library and playlists will appear in the left window.

Step 2: Open the playlist, select the audio / video / photo option you want to transfer by clicking a check mark in the check box.

Step 3:Click button to choose a folder for save the transferred files, then click "Save" button to start transferring iPad to Computer.

------------------For Mac Users--------------

iPad to Mac Transfer enables users to fluently transfer iPad files like music, movies, photos, playlist, podcast, ePub, PDF, Audiobook, Camera Roll, TV shows to Mac for backup, and copy iPad content to iTunes Library easily with iOS 4.3.

Blu-ray to iPad 2 Converter- Convert Blu-ray movies to iPad 2

If you happenly want to watch Blu-ray DVD movies on iPad 2, here is the best one- Pavtube Blu-ray to iPad 2 Converter can make convert Blu-ray to iPad like a breeze.

The iPad 2 playable video & movie & audio formats:

* Video mirroring and video out support: Up to 1080p with Apple Digital AV Adapter or Apple VGA Adapter (cables sold separately)
* Video out support at 576p and 480p with Apple Component AV Cable; 576i and 480i with Apple Composite AV Cable
* Video formats supported: H.264 video up to 720p, 30 frames per second, Main Profile level 3.1 with AAC-LC audio up to 160 Kbps, 48kHz, stereo audio in .m4v, .mp4, and .mov file formats; MPEG-4 video, up to 2.5 Mbps, 640 by 480 pixels, 30 frames per second, Simple Profile with AAC-LC audio up to 160 Kbps per channel, 48kHz, stereo audio in .m4v, .mp4, and .mov file formats; Motion JPEG (M-JPEG) up to 35 Mbps, 1280 by 720 pixels, 30 frames per second, audio in ulaw, PCM stereo audio in .avi file format.

Guide: How to rip/convert/copy Blu-ray to iPad 2 easily

1. Free download and install Blu-ray to iPad 2 Converter, ready for the wonderful conversion.

2. Add Blu-ray files- Click “BD/DVD Rom” or “BD/DVD Folder” icon to load Blu-ray movies.

You can select the subtitle freely and ajust audio track in the middle setting of main interface.



3. Edit input Bluray video (optional)- "Trim" allow users to split video into several small segments: "Crop" can remove black bars round the movie; "Effect" can set movie brightness, contrast, saturation and volume; "Watermark" can add text/image as a logo or dicription; and Blu-ray to iPad 2 has the function of replace the audio with your favorite music, even you can flip the video from left to right/upside-down.



4. Output settings- Select the output format as H.264 or MPEG-4 encoded videos that are compatible with iPad; Under "Output" option, select a folder to save the files from Blu ray to iPad. (Users can customize the output format as 1024*768 resolution in the "Settings" window)
Note: H.264 video up to 720p, 30 frames per second, with AAC-LC audio up to 160 Kbps, 48kHz, stereo audio in .m4v, .mp4, and .mov file formats. (Recommend to use)



Furthermore, Blue ray to iPad enable users to join videos by check "Merge into one file" option.

5. Convert- click "Convert" button to begin the Blu-ray to iPad 2 conversion. After the converison finished, you can transfer/sync the Blu-ray Video to iPad via iTunes. Then you can enjoy the video on iPad 2 with rich sound and vivid pictures!

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FLV to MPEG Converter- How to convert FLV files to MPEG easily

Whenever you want to convert FLV to MPEG/MPG, this FLV to MPEG is your best choice, which can easily and fluently convert FLV/F4V files to MPEG with superfast speed and high quality.

To your surprise, FLV to MPEG Converter is an all-in-one video converter, which can convert videos of different extensions mutually, like FLV to MPEG, VOB to FLV, F4V to AVI, MTS to MP4, TOD to SWF, etc. So if you are in search of FLV Video Converter, this excellent FLV to MPEG/MPG Converter will give your an wonderful experience.

(For Mac users, here is FLV Converter for Mac, free download and have a try)

Guide on how to convert FLV to MPEG

    Step 1: Free dowload and run FLV to MPEG Converter, Click button to import FLV files, batch conversion from FLV to MPEG/MPG is supported. Besides FLV files to MPEG converter allows u to capture the attractive images while preview the video.

  Step 2: Edit input FLV files before FLV to MPEG conversion- Click buttons seperately, the "Video Edit" interface will pop up.

FLV to MPG Converter allows u to cut unwanted parts by specifing Start/End time through Trim, remove the black edge through Crop, adjust brightness, contrast and saturation to make your MPEG video looks more comfortable through Effect, add image/text watermark to personalize your video through Watermark, then you can get your own unique MPEG Video from FLV files.

And u can join the FLV video together, check one file and press "Ctrl" button on the keyboard then check another files, the checked files will highlight, click "Merge" button to join the checked files.

  Step 3: Output settings- Choose (*.mpg) format from "Profile>>General Video " down-list, as you can see, Video FLV to MPEG supports various MPEG format; then choose a folder to save the MPEG/MPG videos by click "Browse" button.

   Step 4: Convert FLV to MPEG - click "Convert" button to begin converting FLV to MPEG progress. Set an action ( shutdown or open output folder) and let the FLV files to MPEG software do it automatically after a conversion is done, so you need not waste time waiting for it.

How do like this FLV to MPEG/MPG Converter? Easy-to-use but powerful, isn't it? We hope that this FLV to MPEG Converte can help you and the guide of how to convert FLV to MPEG can give you a hand. We are appreciated your satisfaction.

More info: FLV to DVD Converter   ||  SWF to FLV Converter

The iPad 2- Thinner, Lighter. Faster

Apple has just made its second-generation iPad official! It features a 1GHz dual-core A5 chip and, finally, cameras, both on the front and rear. The new CPU is said to be up to twice as fast, with graphics performance up to nine times better than on the original iPad, while power requirements have been kept the same. Battery life is, consequently, unaltered, with Apple promising 10 hours. Pricing, too, has been left unchanged, starting at $499 for a 16GB WiFi-only iPad 2 and stretching up to $829 for a WiFi + 3G SKU with 64GB of storage. The new tablet will come with an HDMI output capable of 1080p -- which will set you back $39 for the requisite dongle, called an Apple Digital AV Adapter -- but there will sadly be no rumblings of Thunderbolt connectivity here. What you will get is an enlarged speaker grille on the back, as expected, and the same 1024 x 768 resolution and IPS LCD screen technology as on the original iPad.

Update: We've gotten our first hands-on with the iPad 2 and, boy oh boy, it's fast!

720p video recording at 30fps will be on tap from the rear-facing camera, which can also do a 5x digital zoom if you're into that kind of thing, whereas the front-facing imager will record at a more modest VGA resolution, also at 30fps.

There's a new cover for the device, which is best defined by Steve Jobs himself: "We designed the case right alongside the product. It's not a case -- it's a cover." Basically, it's a magnetic flap that protects the front and automatically wakes and puts the device to sleep according to whether it's open or closed. Guess we know what that proximity sensor was about now. These Smart Covers will cost $39 in plastic or $69 if you opt for leather.

The iPad 2 is 33 percent thinner than its predecessor, at a mind-melting 8.8mm, and a little lighter at just over 600g, while paintjob options have been expanded: you'll get a choice between white and black. It'll be available on both AT&T and Verizon, and all variants start shipping on March 11th. Apple Retail Stores will start sales at the unusual hour of 5PM, which will probably make online pre-orders the fastest way to get yours.



In terms of new software, Apple's launching iOS 4.3 alongside the new iPad and bringing with it much improved Safari performance as well as FaceTime, Photo Booth, iMovie and GarageBand (the latter two costing $4.99 a piece) apps specifically for the newly camera-enriched iPad. Personal Hotspot capabilities are also arriving in the latest version of the OS, but they'll be exclusive to the iPhone 4, so you won't be able to share your 3G iPad's connection. The minimum compatible version of iTunes for the new iPad 2 will be the freshly released 10.2.

DVD to iPad 2 is specially designed for Apple users, it can convert DVD to iPad 2, iPad, iPod, iPhone, Apple TV with corresponding resolutions.

DVD to iPad 2 Mac is a wonderful gift for Mac and iPad users

iPad 2 Updates

Well there you have it folks -- the absurdly thin new iPad 2. We just got our hands all over the next greatest tablet from Apple and it's... very much the same, save for that new body. There's no question that the industrial design is top notch, and we did notice some speedier behavior when jumping around -- but the core OS remains unchanged, so this won't be a major shock. We're spending more time with the device and getting impressions, but for now, feast your eyes on the galleries below.

Update: Okay, we've had a chance to play around the with iPad 2 some more, and here are our big takeaways from the experience.
• This thing is insanely fast. We're not joking -- it's blazingly fast. Everything the iPad 2 does feels like it's on turbo. We're uploading a video of the some evidence of this, you'll be appropriately stunned.
• The design feels great in your hands. Sleek, super thin -- much nicer to hold than the previous version. Definitely has more of a magazine than book feel. Everything is tight and solid. It is pretty amazing how thin they've gotten the device.
• Even software made for the first generation device feels better here. Safari is definitely sped up. Games looked great on-screen, though obviously there are no updates to the resolution of screen technology here.
• This is an evolutionary step, but we definitely don't feel like it's lacking for features. People are going to gobble these up when they see the new apps.


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iPad 2 vs. Motorola Xoom vs. HP TouchPad vs. BlackBerry PlayBook: the tale of the tape

You might recall we ran this comparison about a month back when HP's TouchPad was announced, but now we're back with a full set of 2011 devices as Apple's brand new iPad 2 has joined the fray. There's no need for excessive introductions, really, just leap past the break to get swalloped up by an avalanche of next-generation tablet specs.

Brand	iPad 2	Motorola Xoom	HP TouchPad	BlackBerry PlayBook
Platform	iOS 4.3	Android 3.0	webOS 3.0	BB Tablet OS (QNX)
Display	9.7-inch LED-backlit IPS LCD	10.1-inch	9.7-inch	7-inch LCD
Resolution	1024 x 768	1280 x 800	1024 x 768	1024 x 600
Processor	1GHz dual-core Apple A5	1GHz dual-core NVIDIA Tegra 2	1.2GHz dual-core Qualcomm Snapdragon	1GHz dual-core TI OMAP4430
Memory	?	1GB RAM	1GB RAM	1GB RAM
Storage	16GB / 32GB / 64GB	32GB	16GB / 32GB	16GB / 32GB / 64GB
Front camera	VGA	2 megapixel	1.3 megapixel	3 megapixel
Rear camera	720 / 30p video	5 megapixel AF with dual-LED flash,720 / 30p video	none	5 megapixel, 1080p video
Cellular radio	Quadband HSPA or CDMA / EV-DO Rev. A	3G with free upgrade to 4G LTE	3G and 4G	3G and 4G
WiFi	802.11a/b/g/n	802.11a/b/g/n	802.11b/g/n	802.11a/b/g/n
Bluetooth	2.1 + EDR	2.1 + EDR	2.1 + EDR	2.1 + EDR
Accelerometer	3-axis	3-axis	Yes	Yes
Gyroscope	Yes	Yes	Yes	--
Battery	25Wh	6,500mAh	6,300 mAh	5,300 mAh
Thickness	8.8mm	12.7mm	13.7mm	10mm
Weight	601g (WiFi),607g (Verizon),613g (AT&T)	725g	740g	425g

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What the Apple iPad 2 Can Teach Google

Apple's March 2 event is all but guaranteed to bring us the iPad 2, most likely with dual cameras and a revamped OS. It arrives two months after CES 2011, to a landscape littered with tablets from scores of manufacturers, most of them with one thing in common: they are running Google's Android OS. But only a handful of them run Android 3.0 (Honeycomb), the first Android tablet OS. Can tablets like the Motorola Xoom—the first Honeycomb device—take on the iPad?

If the past is any indicator, it doesn't look good. This has less to do with quality of product, however, and more to do with the manner in which the product is brought to the public.

The clear advantage Apple has over just about every competitor—except perhaps for RIM—is that it relies on no external manufacturers for its products. To clarify: of course Apple needs to farm out production of the components that make up its devices to OEMs, but when you see a new iPad, it is from Apple, running an Apple OS, for sale at the Apple store. The closest Apple comes to working with other companies is its partnerships with Verizon and AT&T for the iPhone and iPad. For the most part, however, Apple is its own, self-controlling entity. With no company—other than the carriers and OEMs— with which to coordinate, Apple can create a realistic product release timeline and stick to it.

It seems March has become iPad month—it joins June's iPhone announcements and September's iPod launches as predictable, annual product release events. Few companies are this consistent and still manage to put out product that people really want.

Google, meanwhile, created Android to be open to all manufacturers. Motorola just released the Xoom, and while Honeycomb looks great on it, the product was just not quite ready at launch. Flash support was not enabled, and the apps on the market were few in number and often weak in quality. Soon, Samsung will release a Honeycomb tablet, with a parade of tech manufacturers to follow. With so many companies hoping to entice consumers with the same OS, what's a manufacturer to do? Quite simply, they make customized versions of Google's perfectly functioning OS. But when updates are pushed out down the road, many of these custom versions don't work properly. How could they? Everyone is doing something a little bit different and the updates Google pushes out do not incorporate the custom tweaks made to previous versions.

Apple's iOS is only available on Apple-manufactured products. There's no (legally) customized version out there. Apple realizes that part of the allure of the iOS device is its "look"—not just the sleek physical design, but the clean on-screen graphics. Honeycomb has a similarly clean design, but you aren't likely to see it on too many devices. Companies will try to alter it to differentiate their product, but the net result is a large field of similar—but not ideally functioning—devices.

Apple's iOS isn't "open" like Android, but this is how Apple polices and protects its product line. There can be only one iPhone or iPad. Google would be wise to strike up a similar deal with a single manufacturer and call it a day. By allowing a plethora of companies, large and small, access to Android, Google's quality OS gets diluted, and the Android ecosystem becomes confusing to the consumer. Some Android tablets come with the Android Market loaded, for instance, while some don't have access and rely on second-rate "app stores" with lower-quality apps…but they all still say "Android tablet" somewhere on the box.

The Xoom is a fine example of Android's potential. Imagine how much more excited consumers would be about the Xoom if it were, indeed, the only Honeycomb tablet, period. Every year, you could look forward to a new Xoom. With the field simplified, Google and Motorola could easily work together to come up with a consistent product cycle. It sometimes seems that Google feels that having an "open" platform is better than having a quality user experience—unfortunately, the company's ideals are falling short of customers' expectations.

If we learned anything from the Zune, it's that you can't wait too long to get in the game against Apple. The Zune HD and Zune Marketplace were fantastic products…but a few years too late. iPods were already dominating the portable music market.

With the second iPad just around the corner, it seems like the window of opportunity for a realistic Apple competitor is closing yet again. What the tech world needs is not a plethora of mediocre contenders, but one, strong contender using a solid OS. The Xoom could be just that, but before it can even truly compete with the iPad, it has to compete with other Android tablets. That's quite an uphill battle.

Meanwhile, at least one company (besides Apple) has figured this out. While the rest of the tech world is obsessing over new Android tablets, don't be surprised if RIM's Blackberry PlayBook steals the show later this year. Like Apple products, RIM's products operate on their own OS, and the hands-on time I had with the PlayBook at CES showed an intuitive OS every bit as easy to use as an Android tablet. RIM, however, is not encumbered by the collaborative process that all manufacturers working with Google must deal with currently. Like Apple, RIM's process is more streamlined. (Though this makes the absence of the PlayBook, which has been shown off in various degrees of beta since last year, all the more puzzling.)

Someday, Apple will have a true competitor in the portable and mobile device market. Like most viable contenders, the company that emerges to truly take on Apple will start off by emulating Apple's successful practices, then differentiate itself in an attractive way. To paraphrase Pablo Picasso: Good companies borrow, great companies steal.

We seem to have a bunch of good companies right now, like Google and Motorola, but when are they going to get their acts together and truly create a great product that strikes fear in Apple's heart? The solid foundation that's needed (Honeycomb) is already in place. Now Google must abandon the ball and chain of an open platform and the diluted product field it creates, and instead control and curate a singular product line around a non-customized OS. Microsoft figured this out with the Zune, but it did so way too late. It's not yet too late with tablets, but it's getting there.

iPad動画変換 Mac

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Is “App Store” As Generic As Microsoft’s “Windows”?

As tech companies fight for ubiquity, it’s no surprise that there should be disputes like this. Using common words for product names is always a risk, as is establishing generic traditions (like Apple’s “i-” prefix) that are difficult to regulate. At stake today is Apple’s trademark on “App Store,” which as I’m sure our readers are aware, was established in 2008 as arguably the first real platform through which independent developers could offer mobile applications, games, and so on.

They filed for the trademark at the same time. Since then, however, it has been contended by Microsoft in particular that Apple has no exclusive right to so generic a term, one which arguably could apply to any other mobile application store. It’s as if Kleenex trademarked “tissue” as well. Apple just turned the argument around, however, noting that Microsoft itself is maintaining a plainly generic term for its most prominent product: Windows. Windows, as we all know, are both transparent portals allowing light to pass from outside to inside, and a visual metaphor for navigating a computer operating system.

It’s a point worth considering. But not the only one.

Apple has a strong case: “App Store” was more or less popularized by them. There were no competitors for some time so “App Store” referred only to Apple’s for quite a long time. “App Store” is also (they say) a “double entendre” meant to evoke the Apple Store. That one surely got some eye rolls in the industry. Still, the term wasn’t chosen arbitrarily. And competitors have options, as evidenced by the names the likes of Google and RIM have come up with.

Microsoft’s claims are equally rational, though: can you really trademark such a broad term, just by being the first one there? “Any secondary meaning or fame Apple has in ‘App Store’ is de facto secondary meaning that cannot convert the generic term ‘app store’ into a protectable trademark.” In other words, “App Store” didn’t blow up because of Apple, but because it’s the term anyone would reach for when describing something of this type. It’s telling (but not legally obligating) that every similar service could also be called an “app store.” Observe this beautiful Venn diagram:

Surely that counts for something? The counter-argument is, of course, that we use that term now because it’s the term Apple made us use. It’s a chicken-egg argument of innovation or imitation. Let’s be honest, though, in the tech industry that’s rarely much of an argument. 99 times out of 100 it’s imitation.

Apple’s jab at Microsoft over the term Windows has slightly different factors, but it really is remarkably similar. Like Apple, Microsoft popularized but did not invent the “window” method of navigating a file system. You’re viewing this in a window, though you may not be viewing it in Windows. But Microsoft doesn’t go after people who say their application or OS opens a window, though there are equally applicable words: viewer, panel, tab. But “windows” are hardly a selling point now for OSes, and of course if Apple decided to change the name of OS X to “Windows OS X” because it has windows, Microsoft would have kittens.

Perhaps Apple can lay claim to popularizing the word “app”? That’s questionable. It’s just a diminutive of the term application, a term in use long before.

Furthermore, doesn’t the App Store operate under the umbrella of the iTunes Store? Look, in iTunes there’s an “Apps” section, next to Music and Movies. It’s not a separate store, really, any more than the music and movies sections are separate from each other. iTunes helped popularize online music ownership, yet Apple didn’t attempt to trademark “Music Store.” Isn’t it analogous?

There are numerous examples of trademarks becoming common words: Lego, Frisbee, Tazer. But these are nonsense words. They don’t refer to what they do. Apple seems to be attempting to do just this. It’s not clear whether Apple’s trademark is lawful, right, both, or neither. It’s a very nuanced issue. My personal opinion would be that “App Store” was generic to begin with but only had a sort of frosting of originality on it. But it’s a distinction of exceeding niceness, and a little argument might sway me the other direction.

What do you guys think? Is this a pot and kettle situation for Microsoft, with its Word and Office trademarks, or is Apple overreaching?

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Apple iPad 2 Predictions- iPad 2 View Shock

Apple will introduce the iPad 2 tomorrow morning, putting an end to months of rumors and speculation. I’ve been following the rumors quite closely and think we have a pretty good picture of what the iPad 2 will look like and some of its features. Here’s my take on the iPad 2 rumors and what you should expect to see at the iPad 2 event. We’ll be covering the event live from San Francisco.

Below are my iPad 2 Hardware Predictions. I guarantee I’ll be right on some counts and wrong on others. Regardless, we’ll hear all about the iPad 2 starting at 10am Pacific.

iPad 2 Form Factor:


The iPad 2 will have sharper edges and a flat back, putting it more in line with the iPhone 4′s design. The iPad 2 will weigh in at the same weight as the original iPad, or slightly less. I don’t expect Apple to announce a big drop in the weight department. In what appears to be a leaked iPad 2 case design, you can see the general changes in the iPad’s exterior.

Apple will stick with the aluminum and glass construction that it uses in the majority of its products.

iPad 2 Display

The iPad 2 will be very similar in shape and appearance to the original iPad. It will almost certainly have a 9.7″ display and while it might have a slightly higher resolution display, it won’t have a Retina Display like the iPhone 4. The iPhone 4′s Retina display packs 326 pixels per inch, which is an incredibly high density. I doubt that apple will attempt to match that in the iPad 2. The iPad has a beautiful display as it is, so why mess with it? I wouldn’t be entirely surprised if Apple plops a slightly better display in the iPad 2 and dubs it as a ‘Retina Display,’ but it’s not going to be the same as what you’ll see on the iPhone 4.

iPad 2 Performance

Apple will talk quite a bit about the iPad 2′s performance as it relates to video games, graphics and video performance. Processing performance will also be mentioned as it relates to multimedia apps and multitasking. Competitive products, such as the Motorola Xoom make a big fuss about performance and Apple will try to put a kibosh on competitor’s claims of superior performance. How one judges performance is in the eyes of the marketer however, so take whatever Apple says about ‘fastest, greatest, best, magical graphics’ with a grain of salt until you get to experience it yourself or the iPad 2 reaches reviewers’ hands.

iPad 2 FaceTime Camera and HD Camera

Apple will likely add both front-facing and rear-facing cameras to the iPad 2. The front-facing camera will probably have so-so specs, but it will make it possible to chat with friends who are on iPad 2′s, iPhones, iPod Touches, MacBooks and iMacs.

The new cameras will likely be the biggest differentiator between the iPad and the iPad 2. The cameras setup will be the reason why we’ll see a lot of people dumping their original iPads for the iPad 2 models.

iPad 2 Apps

A faster graphics and improved hardware will make it possible to run more immersive games and complex apps. We expect to see a handful of apps and games featured during the iPad 2 keynote. I wouldn’t be the least bit surprised to see Electronics Arts, Rovio Mobile or other big-named publishers up on stage debuting iPad 2 apps that are exclusive to iOS.

Apple will likely show revamped in-house apps tomorrow. Since there will likely be an HD camera on the back of the iPad, I’d be shocked if Apple didn’t have an iPad version of iMovie ready to roll.

iPad 2 Audio

One weak point of the original iPad is its small single speaker that isn’t quite loud enough. It’s also a mono speaker, which isn’t the best solution when watching movies in landscape mode. Headphones are virtually a must when enjoying media on the iPad for extended periods.

The new iPad 2 will likely have a larger, louder speaker so you can watch movies with a friend without having to share earbuds or plug in an external speaker.

iPad 2 Thunderbolt

The original iPad can connect to external devices via its docking connector and an extra adapter. That solution isn’t very convenient. Intel introduced Thunderbolt last week and the MacBook Pro is the first device to feature the technology. Thunderbolt ports double as DisplayPort ports and Apple’s recently started selling DisplayPort to HDMI adapters. It’d be an elegant solution to be able to plug the iPad 2 directly into an HDTV or Apple Display with a single cable, such as the Kanex model Apple now sells. Did I mention Apple tapped Kanex for an exclusive on the DisplayPort to HDMI cable?

A thicker edge, as we expect on the iPad 2, would accomodate the Thunderbolt port. Here’s what the Thunderbolt port looks like on the new MacBook Pro (3rd port from the right).

iPad 2 Price

The highest price I expect to see for the entry-level iPad is $499. With more competition on the way, I wouldn’t be surprised at all if Apple dropped the entry-level price to just $399.

Apple often introduces products at high price points before making them more accessible with the introduction of second iterations. It wasn’t all that long ago that a MacBook Pro cost at least $2,000. Now a MacBook Pro can be had for $1,199. The original iPhone was $599, but the price dropped just a few months later. You can now get a free refurbished iPhone 3GS or pay $49 for a new one with a 2-year AT&T contract.

Apple’s in a unique position to undercut the competition for several reasons. It currently dominates the tablet market, which means it can use economies of scale to its advantage. It also has its own string of more than 300 retail stores that will of course carry the iPad no matter what. There’s no shortage of retailers willing to jump on board, even if margins on the iPad 2 are slim to none. iPad buyers are famous for buying tons of extra accessories, which usually have fat profit margins.

iPad 2 3G Options

The iPad 2 will certainly have AT&T 3G options and I’m pretty sure Verizon will be getting into the mix. Verizon is already selling the current generation iPad as part of an iPad/MiFi bundle. That solution is less elegant. The big coup here will be if Apple can convince Verizon to sell its wireless service in the same way AT&T does for iPad users. That is on a month-to-month contract-free basis.

The iPad 2 will not have Verizon 4G LTE as some people have guessed.

iPad 2 Availability

Apple’s cut off sales of the original iPad to retailers. With stock running low, iPad shoppers will be out of luck. Apple won’t go long without giving eager shoppers a chance to give them more cash. We wouldn’t be surprised if Apple began selling the iPad 2 tomorrow or the next day. That may sound fast, but that’s exactly what Apple did when it announced the new line of MacBook Pros and started selling them the same day. In fact, I’m writing this article on the MacBook Pro I bought from Best Buy hours after the announcement.

iPad 2 Promotions

Expect a full-court press from Apple’s marketing tomorrow onwards for the iPad 2. We’ll see a full smattering of iPad 2 commercials, ads and product placements. The Apple iPad 2 will make its way onto late-night shows and news programs within days of its launch. We’ll also see giant billboards plastering cities where tons of iPads are already sold, such as San Francisco and New York. Verizon and AT&T will likely run their own iPad 2 marketing campaigns to further bolster the new tablet device.

Within a couple of weeks we’ll start hearing from numerous app developers, case makers and headphone designers, all with the ‘perfect’ solution for your new iPad 2.

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