Owning a tablet is becoming less and less inaccessible to people who aren’t willing to dole out major dough, no thanks to Apple. This week, Barnes & Noble’s Nook Tablet enters the market at $249, and Amazon.com’s Kindle Fire arrives at $199. Apple’s iPad absolutely has certain qualities that might make it more appealing than its adversaries, but are they really worth dishing out another $300?

3G is absent in the Nook and Kindle Fire, but still, the price remains. Hopefully the competition will inspire Apple to rethink its costs.

Apple has released a statement declaring that they will replace the first generation iPod Nano due to the slim chance of the device overheating.

The iPod was sold from September 2005 to December 2006, and though it hasn’t been mass produced in years, Apple asserts that they will be replacing each 1G Nano with the same version.

Replacements will be sent to users about six weeks after they send their old models.

Apple released the new iOS 5.0.1 upgrade Thursday in response to complaints about battery life. The update can be downloaded to the third and fourth-generation iPod touch, all iPad models, iPhone 3GS, iPhone 4 and iPhone 4S.

The upgrade was released sooner than expected, but according to the Apple discussion forums, it has done little, if anything, for many consumers of the product. Many users complain about the upgrade possibly leading to failure in other iPhone features.

Apple’s iOS 5 is out now, promising a better user experience.

The update contains over 200 new features, including the following:

• Notifications
  • Swipe from the top of any screen to view notifications in one place with Notification Center
  • New notifications appear briefly at the top of the screen
  • View notifications from lock screen
  • Slide the notification app icon to the right on the lock screen to go directly to the app
• iMessage
• • Send and receive unlimited text, photo, and video messages with other iOS 5 users
  • Track messages with delivery and read receipts
  • Group messaging and secure encryption
  • Works over cellular network and Wi-Fi
•  Newsstand
• • Automatically organizes magazine and newspaper subscriptions on Home Screen
  • Displays the cover of the latest issue
  • Background downloads of new issues
• Reminders for managing to do lists
• • Syncs with iCloud, iCal and Outlook
  • Location-based reminders when you leave or arrive at a location for iPhone 4S and iPhone 4
• Built-in support for Twitter
• • Sign-in once in Settings and tweet directly from Camera, Photos, Maps, Safari and YouTube
  • Add location to any tweet
  • View twitter profile pictures and usernames in Contacts
• Camera improvements for devices with cameras
• • Double click the home button when device is asleep to bring up a camera shortcut on iPhone 4S, iPhone 4, iPhone 3GS and iPod touch (4th generation)
  • Volume Up button to take a picture
  • Optional grid lines to line up shots
  • Pinch to zoom in the preview screen
  • Swipe to camera roll from preview screen
  • Tap and hold to lock focus and exposure, iPad 2 and iPod touch (4th generation) only support exposure lock
• Photo improvements for devices with cameras
• • Crop and rotate
  • Red eye removal
  • One tap enhance
  • Organize photos into albums
• Mail improvements
• • Format text using bold, italic, or underlined fonts
  • Indentation control
  • Drag to rearrange names in address fields
  • Flag messages
  • Mass mark messages as flagged, read or unread
  • Customize mail alert sounds
  • S/MIME
• Calendar improvements
• • Year view on iPad and new Week view for iPhone and iPod touch
  • Tap to create an event
  • View and add event attachments
• Game Center improvements
• • Use personal photos for your Game Center account
  • Compare your overall achievement scores with your friends
  • Find new Game Center friends with friend recommendations and friends of friends
  • Discover new games with custom game recommendations
• AirPlay Mirroring for iPad 2 and iPhone 4S
•  Multitasking Gestures for iPad
• • Use four or five fingers to pinch to the Home Screen
  • Swipe up to reveal the multitasking bar
  • Swipe left or right to switch between apps
• On-device setup, activation and configuration with Setup Assistant
• Software updates available over the air without tethering
• iCloud support
• • iTunes in the Cloud
  • Photo Stream
  • Documents in the Cloud
  • Apps and Books automatic download and purchase history
  • Backup
  • Contacts, Calendar, and Mail
  • Find My iPhone
• Redesigned Music app for iPad
• Hourly weather forecast
• Real-time stock quotes
• Wireless sync to iTunes
• Keyboard improvements
• • Split keyboard for iPad
  • Improved autocorrection accuracy
  • Improved Chinese and Japanese input
  • New Emoji keyboard
  • Personal dictionary for autocorrection
  • Optionally create keyboard short cuts for frequently used words
• Accessibility improvements
• • Option to light LED flash on incoming calls and alerts for iPhone 4S and iPhone 4
  • Custom vibration patterns for incoming calls on iPhone
  • New interface for using iOS with mobility-impairment input devices
  • Option to speak a selection of text
  • Custom element labeling for VoiceOver
• Exchange ActiveSync improvements
• • Wirelessly sync tasks
  • Mark messages as flagged, read or unread
  •  Improved offline support
  • Save a new contact from a GAL service
• More than 1,500 new developer APIs
• Bug fixes

The update works with the iPhone 4S, 4, 3GS, iPad, iPad 2, iPod Touch (3rd and 4th generations)

For information on the security content of the update, visit support.apple.com.

Steve Jobs, Apple Co-Founder and former CEO, died of respiratory arrest caused by a pancreatic tumor on October 5, according to officials.

The Santa Clara County Public Health Department in San Jose, Calif. released the information Monday as the official cause of death. 

No autopsy was performed.

The launch of the iPhone 4 in June 2010 hit a bit of a rough patch for Apple, when several customers complained about loss of signal strength and dropped calls while touching the lower left edge of the phone.

Soon after the complaints began, Apple made a controversial statement, claiming that while they understood the issue, many of their competitor’s phones had the same problem and initially offered no other resolve for the problem. Once a lawsuit was threatened against the company and their partners at AT&T for fraud, Apple released a five dollar quick patch, a cleverly shaped band-aid with the catch phrase “Apple made a boo-boo.” Later, they released a free bumper casing for iPhone 4 owners in order to put an end to the complaints.

The technical issue and following actions taken by Apple were named by some online tech-bloggers as “Antennagate” and became a black mark on Apple’s mostly stellar cell phone record.

It seems now though; a permanent change has been made to this flaw, as the newly announced iPhone 4S will feature a pair of antennas that should eliminate concerns about a loss of single and dropped calls presented by its predecessor. The announcement of the new tech was made this passed Tuesday, at the unveiling of the iPhone 4S.

Apple says that the two antennas outside the case intelligently switch back and forth between each other to maximize the phone’s ability to transmit and receive data. This system should also minimize the loss of calls caused by the former problem. The antennas are also placed on the top and bottom sections of the phone, so as to minimize them both being covered by its I Phone users while gripping the phone.

This addition has been heralded by some as the long awaited permanent response to the iPhone 4’s issues, though it was said that by some that holding the phone horizontally with both hands to text or type may result in a similar “Death Grip” situation.

Whatever the result of the change, the major issue of calls being dropped due to hand position seems to be a thing of the past for iPhone users.

Steve Jobs is remembered outside the Fifth Avenue Apple Store on October 5 in New York City. (WireImage)

On Wednesday October 5, 2011, the world lost on of its strongest cultural and technological icons when Steve Jobs, former CEO of Apple Computers and definer of this generation’s entertainment media, died at age 56.

Jobs had stepped down as CEO of Apple in August and died a day after Apple had its first major tech demo without him.

Born in San Francisco on February 24, 1955, Jobs began his professional path in an extremely unconventional manner. A college dropout, Jobs attended classes as an audit student at Reed College in Portland, Ore., staying in friends’ dorm rooms and getting free meals at local Krishna temples. After a short time at the college he began working for the pioneering video game company Atari and attended spiritual sessions for the teachings of Neem Karoli Baba in India. He also became interested in the LSD movement that was popular at the time in San Francisco, an event in his life that he rated as an extremely crucial part of his development.

In 1976, along with partners Steve Wozniak and Ronald Wayne, Jobs founded Apple Computers and gave the world a product called the Personal Computer.

Throughout the years, the company assembled and sold computers on an ever rising scale, with Jobs constantly pushing for new and creative people to help make the company more profitable. In 1984, the first national introduction to the company was given in the form of a now-famous Super Bowl commercial inspired by George Orwell’s 1984. The commercial was used to hype the release of the Macintosh Computer, the first commercially successful small computer with a graphical user interface and arguably the launching point of the American home computer revolution.

The years after the Macintosh was introduced would be a strenuous time for Apple, a time earmarked by Jobs’ controversial forced removal from the company.

Not to be kept down, Jobs purchased the video wing of George Lucas’ Lucasfilm in 1986 and created Pixar Animation Studios

The company’s first project 1995′s, “Toy Story,” would go on to gross $361 million and become etched in our popular culture forever. “Toy Story 3,” released last year, grossed more than $1 billion.

“Toy Story” was the first feature-length animated movie created 100 percent by computers. Jobs had, for the first time, given the world a commercially successful mix of computers and pop culture that would go on to define both him and Apple in the years to come.

In 1996, Jobs returned to Apple and began overseeing what would become the revolutionary Mac Operating System and iMac computer. The combination of these two products would pull Apple from a failing computer company to the second highest distributor in the world.

Next came iPod, which revolutionized the way people carried and listened to their music. Portable music played existed before the iPod, but it was Apple’s mix of cutting-edge technology with an intuitive interface that would drive it.

Jobs next tackled the smartphone. Rivals Microsoft and Research in Motion had been creating smartphones for years before Apple would release its iPhone, but it was the iPhone that ushered in the smartphone revolution. Perhaps never before has so much power and so many features been so fun and easy to use before. It was Jobs who made the iPhone an integral part of Generation Y’s lifestyle.

We hardly need to mention what came next: the iPad. Again, tablet computers were around long before the iPad, but it was the iPad that made tablet computing mainstream and sent every hardware competitor rushing to copy it.

Besides being an acclaimed businessman and ambassador for his company, Jobs was also a notable technician, being listed as either primary inventor or co-inventor in 338 US patents or patent applications. He was famous for his hands-on approach to Apple’s management, being personally involved with many of the company’s most successful products.

A statement issued from his family said that he had died “peacefully, surrounded by his family.” Jobs’ announced he developed pancreatic cancer in 2004 and had received a liver transplant in 2009. An official cause of death has not been announced.

Nearly as impressive as his life, the reaction to Jobs’ death has been a worldwide headline. In a time where the Occupy Wall Street movement is in full effect and the recent scandals of major companies have left many corporate personalities painted as villains, Jobs has received unprecedented admiration for his actions as CEO and a large online mourning has been going on since his passing. A massive twitter movement tagged #RIP #SteveJobs has everyone from celebrities to elected officials tweeting their well wishes to Jobs’ family and their thoughts on Jobs’ as an inventor and public persona. Possibly the most notable of these memorial statements is President Barrack Obama observing how many people discovered Jobs’ death through their iPhones: “There may be no greater tribute to Steve’s success than the fact that much of the world learned of his passing on a device he invented.”

Steve Jobs, legendary visionary and co-creator of Apple died Wednesday, he was 56. He is survived by his wife of 20 years, Laurene, and four children, including one from a prior relationship.

Jobs was born on February 24, 1955 and grew up in Cupertino, Calif.. which would later become Apple’s headquarters. Partnering with Steve Woszniak, the pair built their first commercial product, the Apple 1, in Jobs’ parents’ garage in 1976. He is credited with much of Apple’s modern vision and product line including the iMac, the iPhone and the iPod.

Jobs recently stepped down from his duties as chief executive in August because he could “no longer meet (his) duties and expectations.”

OtterBox, which makes the ultra-tough, waterproof and idiot proof cases for cell phones and other devices, will have its most popular cases ready to go for the iPhone 4S, the company said today.

OtterBox Defender, Reflex, Commuter and Impact Series cases will be out this fall with a new camouflage color scheme joining the fray.

More information here.

It may not be the iPhone 5 millions were anticipating, but Apple took the stage today in Cupertino, CA to announce the next evolution of its iPhone line, the iPhone 4S.  The new handset will be available for AT&T, Verizon and for the first time ever — Sprint on October 14.

The new 4S looks nearly identical to its predecessors, but according to Apple contains a new A5 processor that’s  is up to seven times faster at rendering graphics and twice as fast at processing data. It also features a new virtual assistant named “Siri” who will respond to voice commands and be able to translate speech in to text. Siri will also talk back to respond to questions. To display this, Apple’s Scott Forstall, a senior vice president for iPhone software asked Siri to find a Greek restaurant in Palo Alto. Siri pulled up the listing from Yelp and said ”I have found 14 Greek restaurants; five of them are in Palo Alto. I have listed them according to ranking.”  During the demo she did not say “I’m sorry, I can’t do that Hal…”

“I’ve been in the AI field a long time. This blows me away,”  said Forstall. Among other upgrades, the 4S will also have extended battery life, an 8 mega-pixel camera and the ability to shoot high definition video.

“When you think about it, only Apple could make such amazing software, hardware and services and bring them together into such a powerful yet integrated experience,” Apple’s new CEO Tim Cook said at the press conference.

Apple also detailed iOS 5, which features cloud storage and will be available on October 12.

Apple is holding a press event on October 4 at 10 a.m. Pacific Time, where it is widely believed the company will announce, or perhaps release, the iPhone 5.

It is possible that Apple will release the widely anticipated new iPhone at the event, with the top names in tech journalism in the audience.

The event will also probably mark new Apple CEO Tim Cook’s first major appearance at a launch event.

SlashGear reported that Apple may demonstrate the new phone’s 4G capabilities.

The most recent rumors say that the iPhone 5 will have a dual-core A4 processor, 8 megapixel camera, iOS 5, thinner body and larger display.

Fans could be disappointed, however, as it is also possible that Apple will merely unveil a cheaper iPhone 4 called the iPhone 4S, SlashGear reported.

The event is tagged “Let’s Talk iPhone” and will be held at Apple’s Cupertino, Calif. headquarters.

Geek Noun/g?k/

-An enthusiast or expert especially in a technological field or activity

Minimal (Adj  \?mi-n?-m?l\)

- Barely adequate, the least possible

It’s hard out there for a geek. Not only do I find that statement to be true, it’s even tougher for a geek who loves gadgets, yet has little to no money to purchase any such technology. Consequently, I call myself a “Minimal Geek.”

I love technology and I don’t remember a time where electronics weren’t on the top of the list of things I wanted to own. To this day, I find myself wanting gadgets and gizmos aplenty before I even think about buying other things I might actually need; like clothes. With all the passion I boast for technology, there’s one little roadblock that gets me every time. I don’t have the money to buy ANYTHING expensive, and electronics/gadgets (whatever you like to call it) tend to be on the pricy side.

As a “Minimal Geek”, I’m slightly forced to keep my collection of technology, well, minimal. I own a four-year-old MacBook Pro, an iPhone 4 and an Xbox 360. I would love an iPad 2 and a new MacBook Air, but that’s just not going to happen anytime soon. If I was to add just those two products together, that’s roughly $1,500, and that’s if I get the cheaper forms of the products! These prices may not sound ridiculous to some people, but I can’t drop a cool thousand ever time a new gadget hits the scene. So, as broke as I am, I try to keep the technology I do have nice, so it never craps out on me. I hope to get a new laptop soon, but seeing as my cash flow is more minimal than my electronics’ collection, I’ll have to save up for a long time.

As simple of a choice I have to whether I’ll be able to make a big tech purchase (an easy yes or no), it still seems to be a tough decision either way. Until the day I’m filthy rich, without a money problem in the world, I shall geek out with the best of them and plague my mind with wishful thinking of sparkly new tablets, laptops, and electronics galore. It sure doesn’t help that I have expensive taste. Thanks a lot Apple.

The crew that helped put an end to counterfeit Viagra pills from China is now on board with Apple, helping to stop the rampant underground market overseas, according to CNN.

CNN’s report was based off of a memo that Wikileaks exposed last Wednesday and promoted via Twitter.

According to the memo, counterfeit Apple problems are a problem in Asia due to a lack of security.

“As amazing as it seems, computer maker Apple Inc. had no global security team – including inside China – until March 2008, when they hired away the team from Pfizer that formed and led a multi-year crackdown on counterfeit Viagra production in Asia,” the report said.

The memo was written by the U.S. embassy in Beijing and distributed through the Secret Internet Protocol Router Network to officials in the Departments of State, Justice, Commerce and Homeland Security, the FBI, the Patent Office, the FTC, the U.S. International Trade Commission, the Library of Congress and the White House, according to CNN Money.

Read the full text of the memo here.

The news that Steve Jobs is leaving Apple has rocked the tech world over the past week. Beyond that, Apple’s momentous rise over the past two years has made it one of the most valuable companies (and stocks to own) in the US.

But that success hasn’t been going on forever. Sure Apple gave us the iPod, iPhone, and iPad, but here are five products that just plain failed. Rotten apples, you could say:

5. Pippin (1996)

Ah the Pippin, with its AppleJack controller, 14.4 modem, and $600 price point.

Nintendo 64 it was not.

This gaming console PC cost way too much back in the day, and it’s modem made things impossibility slow, even by 1996 WWW standards.

Considering that N64 was about $200 back then, the Pippin never stood a chance.

4. Twentieth Anniversary Macintosh (1997)

There were some innovations here. The TAM was one of the first desktops to use an LCD screen. It also had a Bose speaker system that sounded amazing, and its design was futuristic and playful. For that reason, it was not a total failure.

But its $7,000 price was unheard of, even by Apple standards, even in the 90s.

When you throw in the fact that the TAM was just a Power Mac 6500 with speakers and a monitor for more than $4,000 extra … yeah …

3. QuickTake (1994)

If the QuickTake came out in the late 80s or even 1990, it would be marveled, up there with the Apple II, as something revolutionary, that helped usher in a new generation of tech toys.

But it came out in the mid 90s, when a dozen other companies were racing to put out much better products.

The QuickTake was one of the first digital cameras.

But it only took pictures in 640×480 resolution, had no focus, and only stored eight photos.

The camera was also designed to work with a Mac, instantly limiting its market share.

2. MobileMe

The technology is there. The clouds are there. There is and was nothing revolutionary or impossible or really even that difficult about what MobileMe was designed to do: allow users to access and edit their photos, files, contacts, and calendars from a remote location.

The problem was simple: It didn’t work correctly when it launched. The buggy launch of MobileMe helped usher its demise, along with a 50-cal slug from iCloud.

1. The Apple Lisa (1983)

Reportedly named after Jobs’ daughter, who was born when development started, the Local Integrated Software Architecture computer was Apple’s first try at a GUI-driven computer.

The computer was marketed at businesses, but it’s $10,000 price tag drove away even the hungriest greasy-handed IT department computer nerds.

Some would say the Lisa was a success because it helped usher in the Macintosh in 1984, but that wasn’t the case at all. Businesses and home users flocked to IBM’s cheaper personal computers in the early 80s, cementing the PC as the dominant platform. Apple would never recover.

For that reason, we name the Lisa has the biggest failure, in our minds, in Apple’s history. The company rules the tablet PC market and a good chunk of the mobile phone market. It has a monopoly on the portable music market. But it has never, and will never, dominate the desktop computer market, and part of the reason is because IT departments almost always buy the same “type” when they upgrade, partly because of software costs. Therefore, WINDOWS is still what’s in nearly every office and most homes.

Purposefully not on the list

The ROKR.

OK, so nobody likes the ROKR. They still bought it — a lot of them did.

At least 16 different Motorola ROKR cell phone models have been built since 2005, with the latest coming out in June 2009. It is a phone designed to carry your iTunes music. If that’s all you want, and some phone calls, then the phone worked fine. No reason to add any additional hate. No matter how lame the piece of crap is.

NeXT

Not an Apple product, but it was a Steve Jobs product. Apple bought it eventually. The computer didn’t sell well, and the platform it was built on was short lived, but this product is not a failure for one simple reason: In 1991 it was used to create the first web server.

Newton

Can’t call the Newton a failure. It was the first PDA ever. Apple CEO John Sculley actually coined the phrase “Personal Digital Assistant.” So what if it cost too much and the Palm Pilot would soon demolish it?

Apple co-founder Steve Jobs has resigned from his position as the company’s  Chief Operating Officer. The position will be filled by Apple’s former Chief Operating officer Tim Cook. Jobs will stay on as the company’s Chairman of the Board.

The announcement was made via a press release issued by Apple earlier today. “Steve has made countless contributions to Apple’s success, and he has attracted and inspired Apple’s immensely creative employees and world class executive team,” the press release said. “In his new role as Chairman of the Board, Steve will continue to serve Apple with his unique insights, creativity and inspiration.”

Though the announcement is surprising, Jobs has been hindered by a number of health problems in recent years that have forced him to take frequent leaves of absences from his position. These health problems date back to August of 2004, when Jobs had surgery to treat a rare form of pancreatic cancer. Jobs announced in January of 2009 that he was suffering from a hormonal imbalance and in April of that same year Jobs underwent liver surgery.

Jobs reportedly announced his decision via a private letter to Apple’s employees. In the letter, Jobs ensured his faith in Cook and said that he believes that  “Apple’s brightest and most innovative days are ahead of it.”

Apple may start manufacturing the iPad 3 in the fall for a release date sometime early next year, according to reports.

The Wall Street Journal first reported this latest Apple rumor.

According to the newspaper, the iPad 3 “is expected to feature a high resolution display—2048 by 1536 compared with 1024 by 768 in the iPad 2.”

The screen will remain the same size, however.

This matches the ongoing rumors that the iPad 3 will have a so-called “retina display” made famous on the iPhone 4.

Apple is expected to release iOS 5 this fall, which will be a major update to Apple’s mobile operating system which purports to have interoperability with Twitter and a messaging app similar to BlackBerry Messenger.

The iPad 3 is also expected to be thinner and lighter than the iPad 2, according to ABC News. That report also mentions that AT&T is leaking news of an iPhone 5 release in October.

Google will buy Motorola’s former phone making division, Motorola Mobility, for $12.5 billion in cash, marking the search engine giant’s largest acquisition to date.

“Motorola Mobility’s total commitment to Android has created a natural fit for our two companies,” said Google CEO Larry Page in a statement. “Together, we will create amazing user experiences that supercharge the entire Android ecosystem for the benefit of consumers, partners and developers.”

Google Android competes directly with iPhone, Blackberry, and Microsoft Windows-based devices. Mobility makes smartphones for the Android, but sales have floundered, especially against the iPhone/iPad.

Motorola Mobility split from the rest of the company in January.

In the sale, Google will pay $40.00 per share, 63 percent over Motorola’s closing stock price on Friday.

The Associated Press reported that Google is likely interested in Motorola’s many, many patents on mobile phone technology, as a consortium of its competitors, which included Microsoft, Apple and Blackberry maker Research In Motion, recently won the chance to buy thousands of patents from bankrupt Canadian networking gear maker Novell.

A savvy blogger living abroad in Kunming, China uncovered a completely counterfeit Apple Store and spread the story through her BirdAbroad blog, according to the Associated Press.

The store appears completely legitimate, right down to the employees’ name tags and the spiral staircases; the only clue that it is fake are the words “Apple Store” on the sign.

“It had the classic Apple store winding staircase and weird upstairs sitting area. The employees were even wearing those blue T-shirts with the chunky Apple name tags around their necks,’’ said the 27-year-old blogger who remained anonymous. “But some things were just not right: the stairs were poorly made. The walls hadn’t been painted properly. Apple never writes ‘Apple Store’ on its signs — it just puts up the glowing, iconic fruit.’’

A worker at the fake store on Zhengyi Road in Kunmig, which was the bloggers main focus, told the Associated Press that is an “Apple Store” before hanging up the phone.

This store is one of three known in China that are not listed on Apple Inc.’s website as authorized resellers, which Apple Spokeswoman Amy Bessette pointed out. That was her only comment on the issue.

An operator of an authorized reseller in Kunmig, only identified as Zhang, said most customers do not know the stores are counterfeit.

Zhang told the Boston Globe that some of the fake stores’ staff “can’t even operate computers properly or tell you all the functions of the mobile phone.”

These stores were found out after China’s Commerce Minister told American executives that the latest of many crackdowns on product piracy would produce lasting effects.

China’s tendency to counterfeit goods has been a major problem for its trading partners.

Apple’s iPad has pioneered the field of tablets and exceeded expectations of user satisfaction, according to an internationally recognized authority on media tablets and e-readers.

Roger Fidler, program director for digital publishing at Reynolds Journalism Institute at the University of Missouri, found that iPad owners report higher rates of satisfaction the longer they use the tablet, which is very unusual, especially for computers and other electronics.

“It’s unusual for new technology devices,” Fidler said. “In most cases, satisfaction tends to drop off significantly after about 13 weeks. That clearly is not the trend with the iPad.”

In his first study last fall, Fidler found that 94 percent of the 1,600 surveyed were either very satisfied or somewhat satisfied with their iPad.

Fidler’s follow up study this spring found that nearly 70 percent of the 561 respondents were more satisfied than they were last fall.

Fidler has been conducting surveys of iPad users since last fall to understand how the tablet is used in daily life and how it may influence journalism and news consumption in the future.

“While the iPad is designed for consuming all kinds of media, it has become clear that leisure reading of news and features is very popular with owners,” Fidler said. “The iPad’s ultra-thin, lightweight nearly magazine-size screen is more conducive for reading than laptop computers and other mobile devices. The screen size seems to be one of the main reasons for its sustained user satisfaction.”

The majority of iPad owners use their tablet at home throughout the evening from their couch or easy chair, according to Fidler’s study. The complete results can be found online.

Fidler’s next step is a study this summer to gauge satisfaction with all tablets on the market. The results will be available in the fall.

The rumor of the day has been a possible iPod Touch 3G model may. be. coming soon, perhaps as early as this fall, if you believe that we are on the cusp of an iPhone 5.

The iPod Touch 3G would be like an iPad 3G — lots of data, but not “actually” a phone. Plug in Skype or the incredible Line2 app, and you’re “almost” a real cell phone.

In real life, this product doesn’t make a whole lot of sense, and that’s not just because an obscure Dutch website “broke” the story.

A “lite” iPhone, which is what a 3G iPod Touch would be, doesn’t make sense for these reasons:

• Manufacturers have essentially stopped making accessories for the iTouch. It’s a dying product. It was amazing. It is amazing, but…
• The iPhone 3GS is just about free if you sign a contract. Why pay for a lite iPhone, when you can get a real one?
• As ZDNet’s Adrian Kingsley-Hughes writes: “Do you really think that just after announcing the iPhone 5 (or whatever it ends up being called) Steve Jobs is going to pause, then turn back to the audience and say “oh, and one more thing … here’s a crappier, cheaper version of the new iPhone we just announced!”? I don’t think so!”

But hey, it’s an Apple rumor!

We could be only weeks away from the next great iPhone release.

Apple will release the iPhone 5 on September 7, and it will come preloaded with iOS 5, according to a report on the website International Business Times.

At least 200 new features are expected in the iOS 5 launch, which Apple has already confirmed for fall.

The competition faced by Google’s Nexus 4G puts Apple in a position to have to make a move, perhaps more quickly than they anticipated. We can only assume that the iPhone 5 will be a 4G phone, since every other major competitor has gone that way.

Dad deserves something nice for Father’s Day this year as in every year. Long gone are the days of ties and Oxford shirts.

He needs something techy, edgy, and functional. And sometimes they need new versions of things they’ve had for years. Here are some leather gift ideas too.

Buy your dad: A paper shredder

We’re not saying your father is a white collar criminal. Actually, odds are that dear old dad already has a paper shredder.

He just needs a new one.

If your dad’s paper shredder is a dinky clip-on-the-trash-bin model from 10 years ago, buy him the Swingline Stack and Shred. It shreds credit cards, staples, paper-clipped documents and up to 100 pages at a time. Your dad will never have to worry about having his identity stolen.

Blast tested the Stack and Shred, and it is the best shredder we’ve ever used. It sucks up anything you throw at it and then asks for more. It’s especially great for dads that are accountants, lawyers, or insurance salesmen. ($215)

Buy your dad: A power drill

Cordless power drills are a staple in every dad’s arsenal. They build walls, assemble furniture, mount televisions to the wall, and fix nearly everything.

Trouble is, the same drill your dad bought in 1998 isn’t cutting it anymore. Ask your dad how long the battery stays charged in his drill…

The Milwaukee 2601-22 M18 Red Lithium 1/2 in. 18-volt Compact Hammer Drill is the solution. It’s up in the typical tool lovers price range, but it has a reliable battery with good life.

Two key words phrases: hammer drill and 18 volts. Don’t buy a 12-volt drill.

The M18 can deliver 550 pounds of torque with a variable speed trigger, making projects much easier. We tested. We approve. ($199)

Buy your dad: A Root Beer Brewing Kit

For some reason, dads just seem to love root beer, and this is kind of a cute gift that’s great for younger kids/dads.

ThinkGeek is offering the Root Beer Brewing Kit that will let you and your dad do just that.

The kit is cheap, includes everything except the sugar, and lets you make about two gallons of root beer in a few days. ($26.99)

Buy your dad: A gas grill

Oh God, does your dad need this…

A lot of dads — a LOT of dads — have stood by their old faithful grill since, oh, before you were born.

Remember one word: Weber.

The Weber Summit is the best gas grill on the market, but for $2,000, your father can buy his own damn grill.

The Weber Genesis series is an excellent higher-end choice for a dad who needs a new grill. We’ve tested the Genesis E-310 three-burner grill, and we approve. It cooks food perfectly and evenly. Pool your funds with mom and the siblings. It will benefit you as much as him, only he’ll enjoy it more. ($699)

Buy your dad: A flash drive

You’d be amazed by how many fathers need more USB flash drives.

Dads benefit from their storage capacity, small size, and utter ease of use. Do you remember the old days? Did anyone out there try to teach their dad to burn data to a CD-R?

We like the Verbatim: TUFF-‘N’-TINY drives for their small size and keychain cache. The 4GB version will hold all his photos, important documents, and the family’s Quicken backups. ($23.99)

Last but not least, buy your dad: An iPad

Your dad will never ask for it. Trust us, he wants one.

Blast’s editor teamed up with his brother and mother to buy dad an original iPad for Christmas. He hasn’t put it down since. The iPad can do everything that a computer can — and it’s newer.

If you have the extra dollars, go for the 3G iPad, but if you don’t think dad wants or needs another Verizon or AT&T contract, you can stay with WiFi. Another bit of advice: Most dads don’t have massive music collections, and they don’t download nearly as much video content as you do. The 16GB iPad 2 should be sufficient. ($499)

Buy now!

The iPad is on sale!

It’s a Memorial Day BONANZA at Best Buy.

Or is it?

Check your email. You probably have an email flyer from the big-blue-and-yellow-box store declaring a Memorial Day Sale — with an iPad starting at $499.

Thing is, that is the original, everyday price of the iPad.

Best Buy also advertises L.A. Noire for Xbox 360 for $59.99, which is also the original MSRP.

What’s on sale? Well they have “City Slickers” on Blu-ray for $9.99.

Oh, and 20 percent off ink and toner … but that’s only for Wednesday. Sorry, Memorial Day shoppers.

In fact, one of the only “sale” products listed, after clicking the “sale” link on the flyer is a really just awful Coby 32-inch LCD television for $249.99, which is hilarious considering that Best Buy also sells a really amazingly good Sharp 32-inch LCD HDTV for $329.99.

This isn’t exactly “Extreme Couponing.”

We knew this day would come. As Apple’s Facetime technology — and competing tech from other mobile companies — makes video calling popular after two decades of existence, pornography has come to take advantage of the trends.

iP4Play bills itself as the “first and only provider of live adult entertainment utilizing Apple’s FaceTime technology.”

Miss FaceTime 2010 Charlotte Stokely

iP4Play is a brand new company. During its first six months in existence, the company has also offered two-way audio and video sex over Skype.

“iP4Play users have quickly realized the benefits of the iP4Play experience over traditional computer-based webcam services,” the company said in a statement. “Unlike most webcam services that offer only one-way interaction, iP4Play offers true interactive two-way audio and video via FaceTime on iPhone 4, iPod Touch, the iPad 2, and Mac computers.”

As for Charlotte Stokely, she was born in a much more conservative geography in Utah and now lives in SoCal. She’s Scandinavian and English and loves music, movies, and reading.

We’re not exactly sure what the “Miss FaceTime” award entails, but it gives us an excuse to post her photo on Blast.

“I am so thrilled and excited at winning this incredible award,” says Charlotte. “I have so much fun with the people from all over the world who come to get away from life’s craziness to enjoy having a crazy time with me!”

You can follow Charlotte on twitter at @Char_Stokely.

Google is no longer top dog. Apple has taken the spot from which Google has had for the past four years. In a study conducted by Millward Brown, a site geared towards marketing trends, they determined that premium trumps free.

The companies have contrasts between them, and with a premium service like Apple, the fact that they pushed Google from the top has to do with their business model.

Per the site “Google is the archetypal Internet brand, with free services and open systems. Premium-priced Apple eschews the open model in favor of what Steve Jobs refers to as an “integrated” model.”

This is working for Apple in a big way, and it is this consistency that makes the brand a strong one. Regardless of which Apple product you use, the interface and design is both easy and familiar for its users which is probably why Apple consumers continue to purchase their products time and time again.

This is good news for the company that has had bad press lately over their tracking system. With this news, can Apple maintain their top spot?

“Rio” took the top spit at the weekend box office, besting the latest installment of the “Scream” franchise $40,000 to $19,000.

The $40 million opening for the Johnny Depp animated films a good sign, as it carries a $90 million price tag. “Scream 4″ will have to hold up however to match its $40 million cost.

The start is disapointing fie the film, following disappointing reviews. Most prognostications had the film opening much higher; “Scream 2″ and “Scream 3″ both opened with box offices north of $33 million and went on to earnings of over $90 million. It’s looking unlikely “Scream 4″ will match that. (Check out the Blast review with spoilers or spoiler-free).

“HOP” maintained a healthy presence, upping it’s total to $82,000. However, “Arthur,” “The Source Code” and “Your Highness” continued to underperform.

Hey, why don’t you Like Blast’s Facebook page?

The Top 10:

1. Rio: $40,000,000, NEW
2.Scream 4: $19,279,000, NEW
3. HOP: $11,200,000, $82,642,400
4. Soul Surfer: $7,400,000, $19,996,627
5. Hanna: $7,326,624, $23,326,936
6. Arthur: $6,940,000, $22,348,417
7. Insidious: $6,856,554, $35,982,822
8. Source Code: $6,300,000, $36,989,522
9. The Conspirator: $3,924,000, $3,924,000
10. Your Highness: $3,900,000, $15,957,765

Last month Facebook and Warner Bros. entered into a licensing agreement to stream “The Dark Knight” over the social network, available for rent with credits on the site, to the tune of about $3. Now more films have been added, including two “Harry Potter” films and recent blockbuster “Inception.”

And with that, Facebook is dipping into the digital media delivery service, but what does Facebook hope to gain here? Netflix is the king here, Hulu is hoping for action, and iTunes will always have the Apple ecosystem to summon users.

Facebook could be a powerful tool for digital media sales: more than films, but encompassing television, apps, and music. After all, consider the social aspect of sharing films, reviews, comments — imagine the ability to watch a film with friends across the site, commenting in real time. When a friend posts or links to media, instant delivery of that medium.

That’s a jump in logical progression. But it’s not to fanciful. And perhaps this is what Facebook is going with here, or perhaps not.

The point is Facebook is putting feelers out. It’s been constantly testing the potential of its expanses, from Facebook games/apps to the recent email/chat/message consolidations.

And now it’s looking at the media industry. Just like its looked at the Facebook phone. Hell, its even threatened to wade into Google’s territory with search.

Which brings us to Google. When Google started leveraging its dominance earlier in the past decade to branch into everything. Just as Google was the behemoth of the previously-unheralded search, Facebook is of social. The possibilities are limitless, and Facebook is exploring.

The TechCrunch blog started the Apple fanboy world buzzing Sunday morning, when it reported Apple intends to push the release of iOS 5 to a fall release, likely to coincide with the release of an iPad 3. The writer, Apple fanboy extraordinaire MG Siegler, cites multiple “unnamed sources familiar with Apple’s plans” to make the slew of predictions.

If Apple maintains its yearly refresh cycle, it will release an iPhone 5 this year, along with a fifth update to its iOS. Rumors suggest the fifth version of the mobile software is likely to be a major overhaul in the software.

If true, the rumors fly in the face of recent reports that Apple planned to demonstrate iOS 5 in April (as it did with iOS 4 in April 2010) before its launch with the latest iteration of the iPhone, which our own sources reiterate today.

A fall release of the iPad 3 has also been rumored (a rumor widely reported by Siegler), featuring greater hardware capabilities and a potential “retina display.” However, many industry observers believe an iPad 3 in 2011 was essentially squashed when Steve Jobs unveiled the iPad 2, calling 2011 “the year of the iPad 2.”

Don’t put too much stock into this widely distributed report. Our own sources maintain that Apple will host an event in April to unveil new software. The event has been speculated to revolve around an updated Mobile Me service including a music locker, though TechCrunch claims that is also pushed to the fall. However, our sources say the event is still on track, and will feature iOS 5 or MobileMe, or both.

The push to the fall would also be a major departure from Apple’s yearly cycle. New iPhones are introduced in June or July, and the new iOS has been released with it the last four years. A push beyond the traditional date would mean two things: that Apple will release a new iPhone without a software overhaul, or that Apple will hold the iPhone 5 release until the fall: we find both unlikely.

Lastly, the rumored iPad 3 that TechCrunch has been pushing also seems largely fictitious. Last year when the iPhone 4 was unveiled, Siegler posted rumors that lit the internet ablaze that Apple would break the yearly cycle and release iPad 2s in the fall with Face Time cameras to maximize the sales potential for the Holiday season. Guess what? That never happened.

Given that last year there was a legitimate reason to update the iPad line with new hardware and features in time for a Holiday season and Apple declined to do so, and that they have called 2011 the year of the iPad 2, it’s unlikely they break the mold again.

Apple is a secretive and mysterious company, part of the appeal to fanboys, but it also follows a routine. I can’t speak to MG Siegler’s track record with predicting Apple releases, but I can say these predictions don’t match what we’re hearing, and that beyond that dissention in sources, these predictions don’t seem to mesh with moves in the past for Apple.

So take these rumors with a grain of salt; expect that iPhone 5 around the same time as always.

Three-time Oscar nominee Amy Adams has joined “Superman: Man of Steel,” as the iconic love interest for Superman, Lois Lane.

Adams joins a growing cast, including Diane Lane, Kevin Costner and Henry Cavill, who will play Superman. Viggo Mortensen is also discussions to play the film’s villain, rumored to be General Zod.

“Superman: Man of Steel” is hitting theaters December 2012, directed by Zac Snyder, of “300,” “Watchmen” and “Sucker Punch.”

Adams will be the fourth screen Lois Lane in the last two decades, following Teri Hatcher, Erica Durance and Kate Bosworth.

Charlie Sheen just sued Warner Bros. for $100 million. This is getting ugly. How does it work out? When Warner Brothers rehires him and “Two and a Half Men” restarts next season.

This might seem crazy. Like, Charlie Sheen-crazy. But think about it — why did they fire him anyway?

Because he bad mouthed the studio and his boss? Pssh. There are plenty of divas around Hollywood. And there is one reason people are allowed to be divas — when they bring in the money. Like Charlie Sheen does.

“Two and a Half Men” has been the number one comedy on television for seven of its eight season. NUMBER ONE. Not “The Office.” Not “30 Rock.” It’s had critical acclaim in the form of Outstanding Comedy nominations and Emmy nominations for Sheen. But all that matters is that number one designation.

It’s one of the most-watched shows on television. Because of this, it brings in fairly substantial advertising revenue, money needed to offset all the unwatched shows on CBS in the demo (like “Blue Bloods,” “The Good Wife,” etc.).

And since its not a drama or a serial, it repeats really well. So well, that for the last two Mondays, even in repeats, “Two and Half Men” has been one of the top programs for the night.

It does just as well in syndication. Most weeks, “Two and A Half Men” is one of the most-watched syndicated programs. And that’s where Warner Bros. is making its money: syndication.

Warner Bros. foots the bill for the show. It’s the one paying out nearly $2 million per episode to keep Sheen — and the studio that just fired him. Warner Bros. sell each episode to CBS for its first run airing. Given that its one of the top programs, CBS probably pockets some nice advertising change ($200,000+ per 30 second commercial) for the show, and in turn, pays a hefty price to Warner Bros. per episode — likely several million per episode, off setting the cost of production for Warner Bros.

Warner Bros. then banks on syndication to keep “Two and A Half Men” money running forever. Successfully syndicated shows are monster — “Seinfeld” has earned more than $2.7 BILLION in the 13 years since it went off the air. Every episode canceled represents millions of dollars lost to Warner Brothers.

Since “Men” repeats and performs so well in all these aspects, it makes the most financial sense to keep Sheen. This lawsuit is going to cost everyone involved, millions of dollars. Sheen wants the money. And as his lawsuit alleges, Warner Bros. knew what he was like when they signed him to a $90 contract extension last year.

How does this all end? The only way that makes sense for everyone: with Sheen returning to “Two and a Half Men.” 

Apple’s highly anticipated iPad 2 releases at 5pm tomorrow. We’ve already heard about how thin it is, how much more powerful the processor is and all that, but what we really want to know is — how will it serve as a gaming machine?

Developers seem to think so. In a recent interview withGamezebo, Andrew Stein, Senior Director of Mobile Business Development, PopCap Games (Plants VS Zombies, Bejewled) was very excited about the possibility of developing for Apple’s new tablet.

“We’re always excited about new, more powerful technology. Although the iPad was a powerful device, we found ourselves running up against some limits as we were adapting our games to the iPad,” said Stein. “The Introduction of the camera, the gyroscope, etc on iPad 2 means that there’s now feature parity between iPhone 4, iPod Touch 4^th gen and iPad 2. Consistent availability of features makes it much easier for us to start thinking about how we could incorporate those into gameplay. We’re also pleased that the resolution isn’t changing, so we don’t have to rework our existing games to be supported on the iPad 2.”

But is that enough to make you go out and buy an iPad 2 tomorrow? Marc Saltzman of The Game Hunters Blog seems to think so. Saltzman, of USA Today have been playing around with the iPad 2 for just over a week now and say that the new feature set create an impressive gaming machine. Speaking about the iPad 2′s more powerful processor, Saltzman notes that there’s simply no comparison between the two machines. “Memory-intensive games like Infinity Blade and Back to the Future Episode 1 HD play very smoothly, too. In fact, Apple says graphics performance is up to 9 times better than its predecessor — and while that number seems awfully high, you can see a marked improvement. As a test, I launched and played the same games on the iPad and iPad 2 side-by-side, and there’s no comparison.”

The iPad 2 hits stores Friday March 11 at 5pm.

Apple TV quietly updated its software today, upgrading to iOS 4.3, the latest software for the iPhone, iPad and iPod touch.

But in that “quiet” update, without any fanfare, Apple TV now allows users to stream NBA League Pass and MLB TV. That’s every basketball game and baseball game.

This is huge. First off, NBA League Pass with a cable provider is a nightmare; most of the games are only available in standard def. Assuming they are available in 720p for the Apple TV, that’s still a huge step up.

This is also huge because sports are one of the few remaining selling points of a traditional cable package. The premium channels such as Showtime and HBO are the other.

Other components of cable are now online. With Hulu Plus users can pipe the most up to date episodes of their favorite shows, along with the complete back catalogue for many. With Netflix comes tons of movies. Now that Apple TV is brining in live sports, its knocking down one of the last vestiges of traditonal cable.

Apple TV is gambling on that closed ecosystem that Android users love to hate on. Now you can get anything you want on iTunes, and watch it on Apple TV. And frankly, for the paying public, what isn’t available on iTunes? Add in the ability to share videos and apps from your iPhones, iPods and iPads to the television, and now live sports — it seems like Apple is secretly winning this war before Google or anyone else has had the time to step up.

And don’t even get us started on the potential of Air Play; that’s a stealth entrance into the console wars with Xbox and the PS3.

In a move that surprised pretty much no one, Apple officially unveiled the iPad 2 to the world yesterday. What may surprise you though is that the new models release date, March 11, is just days away.

While the new model doesn’t feature anything revolutionary, it does feature an impressive feature set that improves on the original. iPad 2 features a 33% thinner frame than it’s predecessor; going from 13.4 mm to just 8.8 mm (which makes the iPad 2 smaller than even the iPhone 4). The iPad 2 also fixes what many thought was one of the original’s biggest flaws by making the unit 15% lighter.

On the tech side the iPad 2 features a brand new dual core processor known as the A5. Accodring to Apple, the new processor is twice as old as the original and allows the graphics performance to run remarkably better. As expected, the new model also comes packed with many of the features that the rest of the iOS family can already claim, including front and rear facing cameras that allow for face time and the ability to shoot videos in 720p (and yes, this iPad will have an HDMI output) along with the gyroscope technology seen in the iPhone 4.

What hasn’t changed? The pricing structure. Just like the original model, iPad 2 will retail for $629-$829 depending on the model.

Apple says the App Store has passed the 10 billion downloads mark.

The success of the iPhone and iPad have led to an explosion in downloadable programs. That success appears to be increasing with the addition of the Verizon iPhone next month

Apple announced the news on its website Saturday.

dSteve Jobs has taken medical leave from Apple Inc. for the second time in as many years.

Few details have been revealed.

Jobs survived pancreatic cancer and is recovering from a liver transplant. His cancer was diagnosed in 2003 as an islet cell, or neuroendocrine, tumor, which is a much rarer form of pancreatic tumor as well as a much more survivable form.

According to the company’s official web site, Jobs sent the following email to all Apple employees Monday

“Team,

At my request, the board of directors has granted me a medical leave of absence so I can focus on my health. I will continue as CEO and be involved in major strategic decisions for the company.

I have asked Tim Cook to be responsible for all of Apple’s day to day operations. I have great confidence that Tim and the rest of the executive management team will do a terrific job executing the exciting plans we have in place for 2011.

I love Apple so much and hope to be back as soon as I can. In the meantime, my family and I would deeply appreciate respect for our privacy.

Steve”

The fallout was immediate. Though the New York Stock Exchange was closed Monday, Apple shares dropped in overseas trading.

Chief operating officer Tim Cook will take over day-to-day operations. Cook represented the company at the iPhone for Verizon Wireless launch last week.

Jobs took a six-month break to have a liver transplant in 2009.

John M. Guilfoil of the Blast Staff contributed to this report.

We see it everywhere. Whether it’s some 40-something playing with it on the subway going into work, or a greasy-fingered kid playing games on it because their parents gave into their incessant whining, or from inescapable channels of advertisements that bombard me with that silly jingle, the Apple iPad is everywhere. I am not saying that it doesn’t offer its benefits for some. If you are a person that is an Apple fanatic and really love everything that Apple spews out of their factories, then by all means go crazy with it. But with the way technology is today, there is always better and there is always the possibility of getting better, so why would I limit myself just for the brand name?

I think that the right tablet will eventually replace the laptop/netbook. Personally, I am waiting to buy that “right” tablet because of the many functions it can serve, some of which the iPad does not offer. First, the iPad doesn’t have USB or HDMI ports. Without those, Apple is limiting their customers to only use Apple peripherals (which are both costly and limited). If they had just one USB port I would be able to take the iPad to class and plug in my wireless keyboard/mouse and type up my notes through there. Also, without a USB port, tethering applications are useless and as a result I wouldn’t be able to use my cell phone’s 3G service and save that extra dough from purchasing the iPad’s 3G service. Lastly, I wouldn’t be able to attach a camera and use Skype. Without an HDMI hookup, the iPad cannot connect to my HDTV to play all the media that I would put on my iPad.

Among other things, I am looking for a tablet with 3.0 Bluetooth (which is about 8x faster than the iPad’s 2.1 and supposedly drains less battery), a camera (one that swivels back to front would be ideal and with at least 5 Megapixels), and I am looking for a tablet where I can replace the battery (the iPad is an enclosed unit and not being able to replace the battery really grinds my techy gears). I also want a tablet that supports widgets because they are personalized shortcuts that expedite all the information I want at a fast glance on my home screens. Lastly, it is paramount that the tablet be able to support flash because the better websites out there are flash enabled and without it, my internet capabilities are hindered and that makes me a sad panda.

So in the end, I will not go into the clinically white and sterilized environment of an Apple Store just to buy a product that is limited and gets more expensive with each add-on that should come free. This is why I am going to wait for a better tablet to replace my laptop/netbook and I promise it will never be an iPad.

The iPhone is coming to Verizon next month, but don’t buy it until you read these five points about the new marvel of mobile phoning:

1. Carrier reliability

Last May, a survey determined that an astonishing 4.5 percent of AT&T users experienced a dropped call over a 90 day period compared to 1.5 percent of Verizon customers.

Verizon also led the way in overall satisfaction, with nearly 50 percent of their users “very satisfied” with their service, compared to only 23 percent of AT&T customers.

2. If debating the switch, are you willing to shell out the cash?

If you purchased an iPhone with AT&T after June 1, 2010, you better be ready to pay a staggering $325 cancellation fee (minus $10 for every month of service completed). While AT&T claims the “fee is not a penalty,” that is a lot of money we are talking about here… almost the price of two new Verizon iPhones (with 2-year activation)!

3. Talking to a friend while checking e-mail or mapping directions? — Not on Verizon!

Apparently “multitasking” such as checking your e-mail or browsing the internet while on a call, a commonplace task for us AT&T iPhone users, will not be possible on the Verizon network. The Wall Street Journal says that Verizon executives feel this isn’t an important feature to most users, but it is promised to be available next year.

4. How much longer until the iPhone 5 (4G)?

Apple is infamous for quickly antiquating its electronics with updated models, usually within a year and a half.

We saw the release of the iPhone 4 in June so it’s a good bet the iPhone 5 will be out sometime this summer. Are you really going to shell out $200 and lock yourself into a two year contract with Verizon in February when the iPhone 5 could be here as soon as June?

5. The 3G Mobile Hotspot app…

Not only will the Verizon iPhone come preloaded with the 3G Mobile Hotspot app, it will support up to 5 devices. AT&T offers tethering of only one device with their 2GB data plan for $45/month. While Verizon’s hotspot pricing hasn’t been officially announced, you can bet you will get more bang for your buck than AT&T’s measly one-device tethering.

At 11:11 a.m. on 1/11/2011, Apple announced that Verizon will start selling a version of the iPhone 4 on February 10.

This move gives iPhone and Apple devotees a choice between major American mobile phone networks for the first time since the phone’s inception in 2007. Until now, the iPhone has only worked with AT&T.

It appears that this version will NOT support 4G LTE.

The Associated Press reports that Verizon chief operating officer, Lowell McAdam, is making the announcement Tuesday in New York.

Apple COO Tim Cook, called the move “the beginning of a great relationship between Verizon and Apple,” according to the AP.

Pre-sales begin February 3.

You know we’ll have more to say about this. Stay tuned!

Avdeep Sahi (Media Credit/Avinder Sahi)

LEXINGTON — At 3 a.m., his alarm clock went off, and Avdeep Sahi, 16, slowly rose from bed, his legs and body aching from the previous day’s football practice. While the rest of Lexington was asleep, Avdeep was getting ready to call India and get to work.

After shaking away his early morning drowsiness, Avdeep, in his ever-gregarious tone, called developers in India to troubleshoot some problems he was having as he worked towards completing the challenging project he undertook at the beginning of the summer: developing an iPhone application from scratch.

In addition to being an entrepreneur, Avdeep is an active and vibrant member of the Lexington High School community. Even though his family moved to the United States from India just four years ago, in 2006, he has adjusted quickly to his surroundings, even introducing his American friends to Indian culture by starting a cricket club in school. As if his numerous endeavors are not enough, he is also a student teacher in a computer programming class.

“He has proven to be a natural leader who is hardworking and active,” Avdeep’s father, Avinder, said.

The iPhone application project originated this past spring when Avdeep was deciding where he wanted to intern for school credit between his sophomore and junior years in high school. Due in large part to his love of Mac computers, he chose to work at Lexington Community Media Center (LexMedia), which has a substantial and well equipped Mac lab for digital editing.

LexMedia covers local events in Lexington, and Avdeep’s main responsibility was to record and edit some of the content that would be broadcast. While interning, he had an idea for how he could help LexMedia take advantage of the fact that people are spending more time on their Smartphones and less time on their computers.

“For about a year I had started teaching myself the basics of how to program applications by viewing videos online and reading magazines,” Avdeep said. “I then proposed that if they let me use their resources, I would attempt to create an iPhone application that would make all of their content available for users, streamlined to their Smartphones.”

When Avdeep offered to volunteer his time to produce the iPhone application, LexMedia said they would be happy to let him attempt to do it. However, there were some questions as to whether or not he could complete such a complex project.

“Avdeep told them that he would have to get connected with the process, the resources, the training, and he would try to make the application, but was not sure if he would be able to do it,” Avinder said.

“Before the summer I didn’t even truly know how to program,” Avdeep added.

Despite his uncertainty, Avdeep dove in head first and dedicated nearly all of his free time to developing the application. However, he soon found that the labyrinthine project was impossible to complete without the help of others. Luckily, he knew a couple of companies that specialize in iPhone development, one of which is a company in Cambridge called Endeca. On Fridays, Avdeep would commute to Cambridge and pick the brains of the professionals at Endeca.

In addition to calling developers in India from home, Avdeep spent many nights in the lab at LexMedia. He also sought the help of individuals at CMC Americas, another application development company. Near the end of the process Avdeep ran into a problem with PC hardware and started using his high school’s Mac lab. His teachers took an interest in his project and helped Avdeep troubleshoot while uploading the content.

“All of the people were truly gracious with their resources and time,” Avdeep said. “They were really nice to me.”

Avinder believes that the country’s recent economic struggles had a lot to do with why people were so willing to lend a helping hand to his son. Avdeep’s mentors and teachers saw a bright future in him and wanted to give a young man a chance in a tough economic climate.

“Ever since the downturn we have become pessimistic about what is around us, but there are pockets of people who are an open source,” Avinder said. “People are available with their time, knowledge, resources, and are raising their availability to high school kids,” he said.

In September, after three months of working tirelessly, Avdeep finished the application. He submitted the content to Apple for them to review. During the review process, the Sahis realized how lucky Avdeep was, as he was exposed to talented professionals who provided him with guidance and let him use their resources for free.

“People are putting their faith in a much younger generation today,” Avinder said.

In early October, Avdeep was informed that the LexMedia iPhone application had been approved, and at the age of 16 he had its copyrights. The finished product, available through iTunes and App Store, provides updates from LexMedia’s portal, Facebook page and videos, as well as access to Lexington news and events schedules. Avdeep is currently working on new features for the application’s updates, including a live feed option.

The process, from start to finish, cost a few hundred dollars and proves that sometimes the only capital you need is drive. This is a young man who saw an opportunity and did not simply dream — he made his dream happen.

“All you need is motivation,” Avdeep said.

Below are screen shots from Avdeep’s LexMedia iPhone application, courtesy of Avdeep and Apple:

If you were planning on buying the white version of the Apple iPhone 4 soon, it looks like you will be playing the waiting game a while longer.

Apple has, once again, delayed the release of the white iPhone 4 until the spring. Apple didn’t give any details as to why this delay is taking place for the, now, third time. Rumors have been swirling explaining the setback as everything from color-matching problems to back-light issues. It seems only Apple is positive on the actual reason for the holdup.

The only thing the company has said about the problem is that the white model was “more challenging to manufacture than we originally expected.”

Paying no mind to colors, Apple isn’t having any difficulty selling their latest smartphone. Though they originally had trouble keeping up with demand, the iPhone is now currently available in 89 countries.