Tag Archives: Apple iPad

OnLive comes to iPad with limited functionality, bright future

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OnLive, that gaming on-demand cloud-based service you’ve been hearing so much about, has found its way to the iPad but not in the way you might suspect.  No you cannot demo and purchase games on Apple’s ubiquitous device; what can do, however, is hook up to OnLive’s servers to watch other people play games.  With the free OnLive Viewer app you can spectate live gameplay, view and rate Brag Clips, add your favorite players to a friends list and send them messages, and view trailers for current and upcoming games.  Says John Spinale, OnLive VP of Games and Media: “Watching live games and interacting with the people playing them takes social gaming to an entirely new level. It’s unlike any other experience. And people love it.”

But this is just the beginning for OnLive on portable devices.  The company promises that the update will receive an update sometime next year that will allow users to demo, purchase, and instantly play games and create Brag Clips–so much more than just spectating.  What they’re waiting for is games to become “touch- or motion-aware” so that gameplay is more suitable for a touchscreen experience a la the iPad.  CEO Steve Perlman says that the app “is the last piece of the puzzle to unify the worlds of TV, computing and mobile all under one real-time cloud-based platform, enabling previously inconceivable experiences, capabilities and live, video-rich social interaction.”  Beyond gaming, Perlman’s plan is to have the app bring the touch-based Windows 7 OS to OnLive users, effectually porting Adobe Flash and Microsoft Silverlight to iOS and Android devices.

For now you’re stuck with spectating–but it’s not all that bad actually. Download the free app here and give it a whirl.  An Android version is currently in beta.

[Via IGN; Gizmodo]

Today in Apple news: iOS 4.2, Apple TV 4.1 get unleashed; MobileMe Find My iPhone feature goes free

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If you are a proud owner of an iOS device today is your lucky day.  Apple has finally unleashed iOS 4.2, and it brings oh-so-much to the aging iPad and a handful of sweet features to the iPhone and iPod touch.  Here’s the laundry list of new features coming to the iPad: multitasking, folders (you can store up to 20 apps inside a folder), Game Center, and updates to Mail (Unified Inbox, fast inbox switching, a threaded message view).  In other words, it’s playing catch up with the iPhone and touch.  Also bear in mind that the physical toggle switch on the iPad’s side no longer acts as an orientation lock; now it’s a mute switch, just like it is on the iPhone.  The lock has been moved to the dock tray that also houses the iPod controls.  With the new update, all iOS devices will gain the ability to find and highlight specific words and phrases on web pages in Safari, select new fonts in Notes, beam video and audio with AirPlay, and print wirelessly with AirPrint.  Let’s talk about the latter two new features because they are exciting additions.  With AirPlay you can stream music, video, and photos wirelessly from your iOS device to Apple TV and AirPlay-enabled speakers.  On the video front, you can only stream files you’ve purchased from iTunes (or managed to convert to make playable in iTunes) and from YouTube.  If you try to beam video content from Netflix or the ABC app, for example, only the audio will cross over.  Bummer, I know.  If you want to print wirelessly with AirPrint, you must own a compatible printer; Apple says HP Photosmart, HP LaserJet Pro, and HP Officejet will be the first to support it.  iOS 4.2 is compatible with iPad, iPhone 3G, iPhone 3GS, iPhone 4, second and third generation iPod touch, and the latest iPod touch.  You’ll be prompted to update the next time you open iTunes.

Right on cue Apple TV owners received the 4.1 firmware update today, granting them the ability to harness the power of AirPlay.  That is, of course, if they also own a compatible iOS device.

Last, the MobileMe Find My iPhone feature no longer requires a MobileMe subscription to access and use.  Apple has turned it into an app, and it’s available in the App Store today.  In case you forgot, Find My iPhone helps you locate your missing device on a detailed map.  You can also have it display a message or play a sound to make finding your missing device easier.  And if you are forced to give up the search, you can remotely lock or wipe data from the lost device.  The free Find My iPhone feature is available for iPhone 4, iPad or new iPod touch (4th generation).

Look after the break for Apple’s PR.

[Via Engadget, here & here] Continue reading Today in Apple news: iOS 4.2, Apple TV 4.1 get unleashed; MobileMe Find My iPhone feature goes free →

SlingPlayer gets previewed on iPad

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They hinted at it, and now they’re delivering the goods.  SlingPlayer is coming to the iPad in all its video slinging glory.  According to Sling “the video quality is better than any mobile app we’ve ever done”, so that’s something to be excited about.  You can channel surf by flicking up and down on the iPad’s large display.  But I won’t give away all the sleek, cool features.  Hit play and watch the nearly five minute demonstration above.  Expect the app to release soon for $29.99.

[Via Engadget]

Light painting with an iPad creates awesome 3D visuals in space

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Light painting meets stop motion in this creative video designed by BERG and Denstsu London.  Using only a camera and multiple iPads, the team was able to capture illuminated 3D typography in real space.  I could blab about how they used multiple long exposures to create the awesome effect, but you should really just watch the video embedded above to see the final product and learn exactly how it was done.

[Via Engadget]

iPad finds a home in Macintosh Classic & clamshell iBook

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Let’s travel back in time, shall we?  The year is 1984 and the Macintosh Classic is all the rage.  9” (512×342) display, 8 MHz Motorola 68000 processor, 1MB of memory, no HDD, $999.  Flash forward to 2010 and you’ve got the $499 iPad.  Leave it to a mac enthusiast and do-it-yourself guru to gut the Mac Classic and shove an iPad inside it.  Which happens to fit almost perfectly where the original display would sit.

And let’s do it one last time.  The year is 1999 and the iBook classic reinvents the laptop scene with a clamshell design.  12” (800×600) display, 300 MHz PowerPC G3 processor, 32 MB of memory, 3.2GB HDD, $1599.  Now it’s 2010, so why not remove the display and place a brand new iPad inside.  And while you’re at it, take out the janky old keyboard and install a current Apple keyboard in its place.

Ah, the awesome-ness that results when retro and modern unite.  Hit up the source links for more images and peek after the break for a video tour of the Mac Classic + iPad.

[Via Hirac; AppleNoir] Continue reading iPad finds a home in Macintosh Classic & clamshell iBook →

Apple sells 2 million iPads in under 60 days

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It seems like it was just yesterday when we received news that Apple sold one million iPads in a matter of 28 days.  Oh wait–that did just happen.  Time for another milestone in the history of the iPad.  Shortly after launching the iPad in international waters (Australia, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Spain, Switzerland and the UK), Apple can proudly claim that they’ve sold two million iPads in under 60 days since its US launch on April 3.  Says Apple CEO Steve Jobs: “Customers around the world are experiencing the magic of iPad, and seem to be loving it as much as we do. We appreciate their patience, and are working hard to build enough iPads for everyone.”  And let the good times roll for Team Apple.  Full PR after the break.

[Via Apple] Continue reading Apple sells 2 million iPads in under 60 days →

iPad goes international on May 28

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On Friday, May 28 the following nine countries will join the U.S. with iPad launch festivities: Australia, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Spain, Switzerland, and the UK.  Eager customers who can’t wait to get their oily hands all over the magical device can preorder it online on Monday, May 10.  Apple pledges to release the iPad in Austria, Belgium, Hong Kong, Ireland, Luxembourg, Mexico, Netherlands, New Zealand and Singapore sometime in July.  Look after the break for the full PR and price listings.

[Via Apple; Engadget; Mashable] Continue reading iPad goes international on May 28 →

28 days later…Apple sells 1 millionth iPad

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April 3 to May 3.  28 days.  1 million iPads sold.  The “revolution” has begun, wouldn’t you say?  The “magical” device Apple CEO Steve Jobs introduced to the world back in January now sits in the hands of over one million people.  This impressive feat surpassed the rate at which the iPhone flew off store shelves, and Jobs was quick to make this fact known: “One million iPads in 28 days-that’s less than half of the 74 days it took to achieve this milestone with iPhone.  Demand continues to exceed supply and we’re working hard to get this magical product into the hands of even more customers.”  Also within this time frame, over 12 million apps from the App Store and over 1.5 million ebooks from the iBookstore were downloaded to iPads.  Read the full PR after the break.

[Via Apple] Continue reading 28 days later…Apple sells 1 millionth iPad →

A 2.5 year old uses the iPad for the first time

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What happens when you give a two and a half year old one of the most technologically advanced gadgets to come out in quite some time?  Telstar Logistics founder Todd Lappin decided to find out for himself by conducting this fun experiment.  Here are some of his findings:

As you can see, after geeking out on my Sutro Tower homescreen, she took right to it — including figuring out how to enlarge some of her favorite iPhone-legacy apps to 2x to display full-size on the iPad screen. If you’re good at understanding kid-speak, you’ll also notice that she immediately saw its potential as a video-display device. She lamented the lack of a camera, and wondered about its potential for playing games.

On the downside, she had the same frustration as many adults, where touching the screen-edge with your thumb while holding the iPad blocks input to all home screen icons. Notice also that she was confused by the splash page for FirstWords Animals, her favorite spelling game: Because the start button looked like a graphic, rather than a conventional button, she couldn’t figure out how to start the game.

Oh, here’s one he forget to mention: She’s so freakin’ cute!

[Via LaughingSquid]