The LapDock turns your iPad into a laptop. Just dock your iPad into the LapDock, add a wireless keyboard, and bingo – instant laptop!
Besides the addition of being enclosed in a wooden case, you could bypass this less than intriguing alternative and simply purchase Apple’s iPad Keyboard Dock which comes with a keyboard and stands it in the upright position. The iPad is not a laptop, and so you shouldn’t treat it that way.
[Via iPadLapDock; Engadget]
[Via ComicGoneBad; Gizmodo]
Shortly after the fine folks at PC World got their mits on an iPad, they quickly pumped out this video stress test. They really put the device through its paces; the iPad gets dropped, scratched, and even drenched in water. And who knew donuts could work the multitouch display?
[Via PC World]
On Saturday, April 3 Apple sold over 300,000 iPads. According to the official PR, these sales include “deliveries of pre-ordered iPads to customers, deliveries to channel partners [Best Buy/Apple Authorized Resellers], and sales at Apple Retail Stores. In addition, iPad users downloaded over 1 millon apps from the App Store and over 250,000 eBooks from the iBookstore that day. Impressive! Steve Jobs had this today about launch day: “It feels great to have the iPad launched into the world—it’s going to be a game changer. iPad users, on average, downloaded more than three apps and close to one book within hours of unpacking their new iPad.” Keep in mind that the WiFi+3G iPad does not release until “late-April.” This second launch will certainly rack up high sales figures, too. Can’t you feel the magic in the air?
[Via Apple]
So the iPad is coming out today. THE iPAD IS COMING OUT TODAY! OK, calm down. If you want one that badly, here’s what you need to know.
Where/when to buy it: (1) The iPad is available to purchase at all Apple Stores around the nation. On launch day, Apple employees will cater to customers who preordered it first at 9AM, then start selling it to everyone else at 10AM. Lines started forming a whole 24 hours before store opening. But don’t worry; it’s been reported that most lines are not as deep as those found on iPhone launch day. (2) The iPad will also be available to purchase at Besy Buy. Word has it that the device will only be sold at Best Buys that contain the mini-Apple kiosks within them; fortunately that includes around 675 stores around the nation. Stores will likely hand out tickets (redeemable until 3PM) at 9AM. Your best bet is to go to an Apple Store first and save Best Buy as a backup plan. The Apple Store will definitely receive more iPad units, and it’s been reported that Best Buy is only receiving 15 units of each model. If queues begin, your chances of getting one are slim. So, Apple Store first, then Best Buy. (Apple Specialist Stores will also be getting in some iPads. If you know if your local mall has one of these, call them up and inquire; it’s worth a shot.)
Don’t feel like going out tomorrow?: Well, that’s fine. There is one other way to snag an iPad early in the game. Head over to the Apple store online and order one. The initial shipments have sold out, so if you order one today the expected ship date is April 12. (Note that Best Buy does not offer the iPad online.)
And that’s about it. If you’re going out to get one, good luck and have a magical day! While you’re waiting, check out the full catelog of iPad apps, now available to view in iTunes! I’ll be posting some of my favorites next week.
[Via Gizmodo]
With the iPad’s release one day away, the little slate of magic is making its rounds not only with tech reviewers but also on TV.
Apple fanboy Stephen Colbert chops some vegetables with it.
David Letterman licks it.
Modern Family’s Phil Dunphey really, really wants it. (And if you have a single funny bone in your body you’ll watch the entire episode right here.)
Tonight Engadget’s Joshua Topolsky handled it with Jimmy Fallon. And the audience was WOWED by the iBooks app. Look after the break for part 2.
Oh, and ABC got to spend some time with the iPad and intervied a couple app developers. Check that out after the break. Continue reading iPad on TV: Colbert, Letterman, Fallon, Modern Family
Slingers, rejoice! Sling Media has come out and stated they are “actively moving towards H.264” and Microsoft Silverlight video support to bring the Slingplayer application to the iPad and Windows Phone 7 Series devices sometime in the near future. The move to these video formats will increase the current resolution of the player from 320×240 to something larger and more expansive. Slingplayer HD, perhaps? Sling had this to say on the matter: “When it makes a noticeable difference in quality, we will definitely provide higher resolution streaming. The iPad is a good example of a device where we are hard at work on this, but unfortunately it won’t be there at the April launch.” Patience is a virtue. That’s what they say, right?
[Via ZatzNotFunny]
Mixr will be one of the first professional DJ applications for the iPad. The iPad’s large multitouch 9-inch screen will be able to accomodate two fully featured turntables with options for “cross-fading, equalizing, cue, drag & drop tracks, and full effects such as delays and auto filter.” You can create your own libraries, digital DJ crates, and even record your own mixes using tracks from your iTunes music library. As fun and exciting this all sounds, there’s an overarching theme here to be considered: apps like Mixr are just the beginning for the iPad. Thanks to the large screen and intuitive touch controls, the App Store will start to flood with brand new apps made specifically to take advantage of the tablet’s features, inside and out. If you thought the App Store launch on the iPhone was buzz-worthy, you ain’t seen nothin’ yet.
I cut out this comic from last Sunday’s paper. In it FoxTrot pokes fun at one of the iPad’s biggest downfalls.
[Via FoxTrot]
The very first iPad commercial aired last night during the Oscars. Per usual, Apple found a very catchy song to pair with it. It’s called “There Goes My Love” by Danish band The Blue Van. And if you were wondering, Steve Jobs did attend the Oscars, likely cheering on Pixar’s Up.
The Apple iPad took one step closer to the brink of reality today when Apple announced a ship date. iPads will be available for purchase Saturday, April 3 at Apple Retail stores, online at Apple.com, and “select Apple Authorized Resellers.” (Could that mean we’ll see iPads sold at Best Buys? Time will tell.) On March 12 (one week from today) you can pre-order the iPad (Wi-Fi + 3G models) at Apple.com or you can reserve the iPad (Wi-Fi model only) at an Apple Retail store and pick it up on that date. The 3G model will be released in “late April.” Speaking of late April, peoples of Australia, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Spain, Switzerland and the UK will get their paws on the device at this time. Need to be reminded the prices of the models and how much poorer you will be come next month?
Fun fact: Apple’s stock hit a record high Friday afternoon, jumping to $219.70 before it slightly fell to $218.95 at closing time, up around 4%.
John Makinson, CEO of book publisher Penguin, unveiled to a crowd this week his vision for the iPad and how be plans on pushing “books” and other content to it. I say “books” because these demos look more like applications to me. In fact, Makinson says, “for the time being at least we’ll be creating a lot of our digital content as applications for sales in app stores in HTML, rather than as ebooks. The definition of a book itself, as you can see, is up for grabs.” As demonstrated in the video above, Penguin plans on bringing children’s books with support for embeddable sound, touch interactivity, and accelerometer (shaking/tilting) implementation; interactive textbooks (human anatomy, shown here); an “online community for vampire lovers” (OK?); a travel companion with an itinerary and maps; and lastly a far-out “intergalactic GPS system” that uses the GPS chip and augmented reality to reveal star constellations when you point the device to the sky. That last one will likely remain a concept for a while. It’s good to see a company really looking ahead into the future of print/digital media. The iPad has the power to do these things; it’s up to the developers (here, book publishers) to make it happen. ‘Nother video of Makinson speaking to the crowd about his ideas after the break.
Watching these demos makes me wish I had a kid so I could buy him an iPad and watch him interact and learn in ways I never imagined were possible when I was a toddler.
[Via PaidContent; Gizmodo]