Jan 22

iPad 3 in March 2012

By Brian News 1 Comment »

With the iPad 2 being released just several months ago, get ready for the iPad 3 to launch by Apple in as early as March of this year. What will the iPad 3 offer? The most anticipated feature of the iPad 3 is expected to be a retina display like the iPhone 4 and iPhone 4S have to offer. A retina display on the iPad 3 would double the resolution and offer a substantially-improved viewing experience when reading text books in iBooks 2, for instance.

I’m enjoying my iPad 2 very much and can’t really justify an upgrade to an iPad 3 so soon, but I have to admit that the prospect of having a retina display on my iPad is extremely tempting. That feature alone may be enough to prompt me to take the leap to the newest iPad. One thing is for sure — the next iPad tablets will just get better and better, especially with competitors trying to compete with Apple and take a bite out of the tablet pie and increase marketshare. Is the iPad 3 enticing you?

 

 

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Aug 09

Stick with iPad, get iPad 2, or wait for iPad 2 HD or iPad 3?

By Brian Editorial 5 Comments »

There are rumors a’swirling about the next iPad, both about what it will be and when it will be available. There is rampant rumor-mongering on the internet about Apple breaking with their traditional annual release cycle and offering up a new iPad as soon as this September. Or, the next iPad may not hit the shelves until sometime in the first quarter of 2012. There’s also much speculation about what the next iPad will be — a more high-end iPad 2 HD with a “retina” display like the iPhone 4, or will it be an iPad 3 with numerous upgrades to display quality, processor speed and memory size?
With such important questions still unanswered, it’s hard to know what to do or when to do it as an original iPad owner. I love my iPad 3G 64GB slab of wonder, but I’m feeling a little left behind with some of the accessories now available that are geared for the iPad 2, like the ZAGGfolio for the iPad 2 that I’m lusting after — ZAGG doesn’t make it for the iPad 1. I have an itchy trigger-finger to pick up the iPad 2, but if an iPad 2 HD or iPad 3 is just around the bend, perhaps as early as next month, should I wait? Would I feel foolish buying the iPad 2 now only to have a new iPad arrive as soon as a month later, or even just a few months from now?
These are important questions for a gadget junkie like me, and since any iPad requires some serious payola to acquire, it’s not a decision to be made lightly. Or is it? Maybe the one true answer lies in the idea that whether or not you have the “latest and greatest”, if the product does what you need it to do, then why wait for the next one? Apple is quite reliable for releasing new generations of their products at least annually, so in the worst case, I could pick up an awesome iPad 2 and be “stuck” with it for a whole 13 months, right? Oh, the horror! Yet, on the other hand, I could have to go without the newest offering for a year and be in gadget geek purgatory.
This, my friends, is the conundrum I face. What would YOU do?
[Photo courtesy of NinoGadget]
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Jun 27

iPad 3 for Spring 2012, ‘iPhone 4S’ in September?

By Brian Rumors 3 Comments »

Ever since this Spring and Apple breaking the tradition of a yearly iPhone announcement (iPhone 5), along with an impressive but slightly underwhelming iPad 2 release, there has been speculation about when Apple would unveil the next iPhone and roll out the iPad 3. According to investment research firm FBR Capital Markets analyst Craig Berger, who apparently has an inside track with Apple supply chains in Taiwan, production ramp-up of Apple’s fifth-generation iPhone, presumed to be called the iPhone 4S, will occur around late September or early October of this year. The iPhone 4S will offer performance enhancements consistent with an evolutionary upgrade as opposed to a radical redesign, so perhaps we can expect a new iPhone that looks very similar to the current iPhone 4.

Will the iPad 3 arrive before the end of the year? It doesn’t appear to be in the cards. Due to continuing strong demand and a severe supply shortage of the iPad 2, we likely can’t expect an iPad 3 prototype until early Spring 2012 and consumer availability until late Spring or early Summer 2012. Knowing this could be the case, who is waiting for the iPhone 4S and who plans on picking up an iPad 2 now instead of waiting for the iPad 3 next year?

[Apple Insider]

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Jun 21

Need an iPad? Be smart and RentSmart!

By Brian News No Comments »

If you’re reading this blog, you probably have your finger firmly on the Apple pulse and are excited by the flow of updates, innovations, and new models of the iPad. Once you pledge allegiance to the Apple camp, it can be hard – not to mention expensive – to keep up with all the iPaddy goodness they roll out.

Rather than buying an iPad outright, there is another option. Technology rental companies such as RentSmart offer iPad rental.  Weekly payments start from just $5.59 pw, giving you access to an iPad without having to sink your money into a model that you know you’ll want to replace when the iPad 3 is revealed.

How it works

When you rent an iPad with RentSmart, you can get approval online or in store at a number of retailers (including Dick Smith or JB Hi-Fi). Once you have approval, you can go and pick up your iPad from a partner retailer. You have to pay your first month’s rental in-store and from then on in you’ll pay a monthly payment for the duration of your rental term (2, 3 or 4 years). It’s also possible to rent other technology – computer rental, for example.

Why iPad rental is a clever option

You might want or need an iPad now, but not have the funds to buy one outright. This way, you don’t sink your money into technology that you know is going to constantly evolve and develop. At the end of your rental term, you can choose to upgrade to new technology (the latest model of the iPad!), and continue using the iPad.

If you need to use an iPad 2 for business purposes, your iPad rental may also be tax deductible – always a bonus! If you’re wondering how an iPad can help your business, then here are a few ways it can be effectively used and make a difference to your day-to-day business dealings:

  • It’s portable which means you can carry it with you wherever you go. Take it to meetings and capture your notes electronically. Later, you can upload your notes to your PC or laptop should you so wish. It also has an 11 hour battery life, meaning you don’t have to worry about constantly recharging your device.
  • You can show your PowerPoint presentations on the iPad 2, or simply use it as a tool to showcase your work, or examples of your work, if you don’t have anything prepared.
  • Use the two cameras and FaceTime for video conferencing with clients.
  • It’s easier to access e-mails, documents and calendars when you’re on the go with the iPad 2 as opposed to mobile devices.

The iPad 2 can add value to your business, and iPad rental is a smart way to get access to an iPad 2 without having to lay out significant upfront costs. You can also rent an iPad as an individual or for your family – it’s not just for businesses!

If you’ve been wanting or thinking about getting an iPad 2 but are worried about the initial cost, then iPad 2 rental is an easy way to avoid investing your money into technology that is likely to constantly change and evolve.

Check out RentSmart today! After all, it’s not a bad way to have the latest technology NOW without putting a big dent in your budget.

 

 

 

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Jan 24

Rumor: iPad 3 will have high-resolution display

By Brian Rumors 5 Comments »

Many rumors have circulated on the internet about what to expect with the iPad 2 — a camera on the front and back, more memory, an SD card slot, slimmer form-factor, and more. One rumor that had me salivating was a high-resolution display for the iPad 2, but a new rumor suggests that the high-resolution display will come to the iPad 3.

Rather than the cost being an obstacle of an iPad 2 high-resolution “retina” display, the real problem appears to be production. Current suppliers simply cannot keep pace with the expected demand of the iPad 2, so Apple is expected to bring the “retina” display to the iPad 3 after allowing enough time for display manufacturers to prepare for the production numbers needed.

As tempted as I am to upgrade to the iPad 2 to take advantage of the expected feature upgrades, particularly the cameras for using FaceTime, a “retina” display would have sealed the deal for me. Now, I’m more likely to wait for the iPad 3 — time will tell. Does the display difference expected between the iPad 2 and iPad 3 affect your decision to upgrade?

[tuaw]

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