Posts tagged with "iPad"

FarmVille Lands On The iPad

Uh oh, look at what Zynga released today: an update to their world-changing (really, must be something like that) game FarmVille which includes native support for the iPad. The latest 1.09 update allows in fact iPad users to enjoy cultivating their farms with much more real screen estate and redesigned and more accessible menus.

The app is free. Go download it, but you’ve been warned: I heard this one’s pretty addictive. Screenshots and changelog below. Read more

32% Of iPad Owners Have Never Downloaded An App

The App Store is famous because of its simplicity and one-click downloads, right? I mean, that’s the reason Steve Jobs is even bringing it to the Mac. Well it turns out that according to a survey by nielsenwire, 32% of iPad owners have never downloaded an iPad app, and 5% have downloaded only free apps.

You can see the numbers in the pie chart below. 63% of iPad owners have bought apps in the store, with Games obviously taking a huge 62% of the charts.

I believe nielsenwire is a reliable source, but I really can’t see why would anyone want to keep a device apps-free. Maybe it’s the iTunes account creation process? Read more

An iOS-Powered Massage Chair

Who wants to use a wired analog remote when you can use a sleek, retina-displayed iDevice to do it? The Acutouch HT-9500 massage chair is being sold for only $4,999 (iPhone not included). After you drop $5K on the chair, head on over to the App Store and download the FREE (it better be) HT-Connect™ app to start making your iDevice your personal masseuse. It uses Bluetooth to send the controls/settings to the chair and grants you “instant access to a world of resources, massage programs and expertise designed to improve your wellness and life.”

Wow, my back feels better already, it’s my wallet that’s hurting now. Read more

The Air’s Place In An iPad World→

The Air’s Place In An iPad World

In fact, the MacBook Air’s biggest competition is the iPad. Both can be used as a standalone product, but really shine when used as a secondary device. Both have great battery life and are thin and light. The smaller Air is even close to the size of the iPad.

The difference of course is all about software. For some people, iOS just doesn’t meet their needs. The new 11.6″ MacBook Air offers all of the features of Mac OS X in the smallest package ever. For people who need a full-blown computer that can go just about anywhere, the Air is an obvious choice. For everyone else, though, the iPad is really, really hard to ignore.

The iPad is similar in size to the new Air, and it’s cheaper. But don’t forget and don’t underestimate the importance of a small device running OS X at an acceptable form factor. For some people working in certain conditions with very few space available and frequent travelers, the 11.6-inch Air is a God-send.

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Acer’s JT Wang Thinks iPad Users Will Eventually Return To Their Senses

Oh, Acer. It must be difficult to be cut out of a new market segment and not be able to come out with a product to compete with Apple’s iPad or the upcoming Samsung tablet.

Acer’s chairman JT Wang, at a recent summit in Taiwan, commented on the success of the iPad by stating it hasn’t got a “serious impact” on the notebook market, and consumers will eventually grow tired of the product. Tablets will be a new potential segment, according to Wang, but they won’t “eliminate” notebooks. Read more

iHome iA100 for iPad Now Available

iHome unveiled its first iPad-compatible product in July, but many wondered when it would be available, and for how much. Today iHome finally introduces the iA100, a full-featured stereo / docking system for iDevices which, among other stuff, happens to support the iPad. The iA100 retails at $199, it’s got Bluetooth and an alaram clock on its front.

Full specs available here, and press release below. [via Engadget] Read more

The Cost Of 14 Million iPhones→

The Cost Of 14 Million iPhones

Great observations by Turley Muller about blockbuster iPhone sales and drop in gross margin:

Where in the hell did Apple get that production capability? There is no way Apple could have turned out 14.1M units without materially added expense.

The 3GS benefited from no change in form factor, thus the molds. tooling, assembly process didn’t change.  iPhone 4 required a significant modification to the production process.

With more units sold come more expenses. If you add that the iPhone 4 required a complete change in the manufacturing process, well you get the idea. About the iPad:

I can envision a scenario where Apple would desire to announce lower iPad units just to keep entrants from salivating.

Take iPod for example – very expensive, only worked with Macs (latest with firewire). Then USB solution came, but still PCs didn’t have iTunes, thus significant work arounds required. Nobody took Apple seriously on iPod – too expensive & minute addressable market.

Couple, three years later – all in rapid succession – Apple releases iTunes for Windows, iTunes Music Store, cut prices and introduced the iPod mini. Within 9-12 months iPod share exploded from 20-30% to 70-80%.

I wouldn’t be surprised if Apple adopted this strategy once again. They let others think it’s a very niche product, then they blow the competition out of the water by constantly iterating. The question is: can they really play this game with almost 8 million units sold in 6 months?

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