O'Grady's PowerPage

Tag: 2

  • iFixit posts full iPad 3 teardown, finds stronger involvement from Samsung than initially expected

    It’s that time again and the cool cats at iFixit have performed a full teardown of Apple’s new third-generation iPad to discover the following:

    – In removing the LCD panel, the solutions provider got a look at the back of the new Retina display. There, they found a model number naming scheme that suggests the panel for that particular model was built by Samsung.

    – On the logic board is the new custom A5X processor, which features the same clock speed as the A5 CPU found in the iPhone 4S and iPad 2, but adds a new quad-core graphics processor and a gigabyte of RAM. The CPU was also built by Samsung, and markings on it indicate it was manufactured in the first week of 2012.

    – The new 4G LTE iPad, identified by the model number A1389, also sports a larger 11560mAh battery.

    – Texas Instruments CD3240 driver device.

    – Broadcom BCM4330 802.11a/b/g/n MAC/Baseband/Radio with Integrated Bluetooth 4.0+HS and FM Transceiver.

    – Epcos B4064 SAW filters.

    – Fairchild FDMC 6683.

    – Toshiba ZX0730 1123KLD.

    – Qualcomm RTR8600 (under the thermal pad).

    – Broadcom BCM5973 I/O controller.

    Stay tuned for additional details as they become available.

  • Apple sells out of iPad 3 online preorder stock, retail units should still be available for Friday launch

    It might just be a long iPad 3 launch day line this year.

    Per AppleInsider, Less than two days after Apple’s new iPad was unveiled, the company has sold out of launch-day preorders in its online store, as new orders are now advertised to ship by March 19.

    Customers who order a third-generation iPad now from Apple’s online store will not receive it until after next Friday’s launch date. The March 19 shipping date now applies to all models, capacities and colors sold in the U.S.

    Of course, while launch-day supplies are no longer available at Apple’s online store, those who wait in line at the company’s retail outlets will still have a chance to get an iPad on March 16. In addition, Apple’s retail partners, including Best Buy and others, will have stock on launch day.

    The first sign that demand for the new iPad was outstripping supply came on Thursday, when shipping estimates for the white 4G LTE model compatible with AT&T’s network were the first to have estimated shipping dates of March 19. The first models to sell out for launch day delivery were the 16- and 64-gigabyte capacities.

    But now, all 16-, 32- and 64-gigabyte models, Wi-Fi-only or 4G LTE, and in black and white are all scheduled to ship three days after the official iPad launch.

    Next Friday’s iPad launch will be the largest debut yet for the company, as the touchscreen tablet will go on sale in 10 countries. They are the U.S., Canada, the U.K., France, Germany, Switzerland, Japan, Hong Kong, Singapore, and Australia.

    As for the 16-gigabyte iPad 2, available in both white and black with Wi-Fi-only connectivity or 3G compatibility, new orders are advertised to ship in one to three business days. The Wi-Fi-only iPad 2 will remain available in a 16-gigabyte capacity as the new low-end model, for US$399, while a 3G variant will cost US$529.

    Those who were among the first to preorder the third-generation iPad have already begun receiving notifications that their order has shipped from China. However, the iPads are not scheduled to actually be delivered until next Friday, which is the product’s official launch day.

    Stay tuned for additional details as they become available.

  • iPad 3 units begin to ship from western China

    Even though the delivery dates for some of the third-generation iPad models may have slipped to March 19th, there’s still some good news to be had. Per 9to5Mac, the first shipment notifications this week of ‘new iPads’ departing out of Chengdu in Western China. Chengdu, you’ll recall, was the site of a deadly Foxconn explosion on an iPad 2 assembly line last summer.

    If you’ve received a shipment notification email from Apple regarding your iPad 3, please let us know.

  • iPad 3 press event live blog

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    Ladies and gentlemen, we’re here with the iPad 3 press event live blog, as covered via Macworld.

    So, without further ado, let’s get to it and see what’s happening:

    – The music is playing, people are filing in and the event should begin at 10 A.M. PST/1 P.M. EST.

    – Apple CEO Tim Cook takes the stage and thanks everyone for coming on out. Begins to discuss the idea of a post-PC world and the devices you carry around with you on a daily basis.

    – States that the iPad, iPhone and iPod touch are post-PC devices and that last year, Apple sold 172 million post-PC devices, which accounted for 76% of the company’s revenue.

    – Apple will add Japanese language support to Siri as part of iOS 5.1, which is available today and will be rolled out in Japan over the next few weeks.

    – A new Apple TV device is now being unveiled.

    – This is nifty: Movies and TV shows purchased/rented in the iTunes Store will now support 1080p.

    – Photo Stream appears to be due for an update and Tim Cook is demonstrating how a picture taken with an iPhone is automatically synced over to an Apple TV in the background at full 1080p.

    – Tim Cook is now beginning to discuss the iPad, its effect and the company’s sales numbers for the tablet.

    – Building the suspense on the iPad 3…Barnum would be proud.

    – “Until you see it, you can’t understand how amazing it is.”

    – The iPad 3’s new screen resolution: 2048 x 1536 pixels. Do some nerd math and this is over 3.1 million pixels to gaze upon.

    – Phil Schiller has declared that the 2048 x 1536 pixel display is only the first new feature, which is met with applause.

    – The camera has been upgraded and the front of the device will now feature a FaceTime camera, complete with auto face detection, auto exposure lock, auto focus lock and HD video recording now at 1080p resolution.

    – Apple has added a voice dictation feature to the iPad 3.

    – The new interface features a microphone icon at the bottom of the screen (a la the iPhone 4S) that allows the user to tap and begin speaking.

    – Siri will be available on the iPad 3 and the device currently supports U.S., British, Australian English, French, German, and Japanese languages.

    – It was expected but you’ll like it: The iPad 3 features 4G LTE with EV-DO support and a maximum downlink of 3.1Mbps while also supporting HSPA (with a maximum downlink of 7.2 Mbps).

    – If your carrier supports it, you can turn your iPad 3 into a hotspot and allow up to five users to connect at once.

    – Faster processor time: The iPad 3 will use the A5X quad-core chip.

    – Apple is citing 10 hours of battery life (nine hours with 4G activated).

    – The new iPad is now 9.44mm thick and weighs 1.4 pounds.

    – The iPad 3 will be available on March 16 and is priced at US$499 for 16GB, US$599 for 32GB, US$699 for 64GB. And US$629, US$729, and US$829 for 4G (these are the same prices as the iPad 2).

    – The iPad 3 will be available in the U.S., Canada, UK, France, Germany, Switzerland, Japan, Hong Kong, and more. One week later, 25 more countries.

    – From what’s being said, the new resolutions of the iPad 3 look absolutely beautiful.

    – Garage Band and iMovie for the iOS have been updated, will remain at their US49.99 price points.

    – Ok, this is interesting: The new GarageBand adds smart strings joins smart guitars, smart keyboards, smart drums and a Note Editor. The app can sync in with iCloud to share data and a new “Jam Session” feature allows four iPads to play together to create a new song over Wi-Fi or Bluetooth.

    – The updated GarageBand is available today as a free update for current owners and US$4.99 for new users.

    – The updated iMovie for iOS allows users to easily create movie trailers as needed (select styles, templates, etc). The new version is a free update for current owners of US$4.99 for new users.

    – Apple is introducing iPhoto for iOS, the current speech highlighting sharing tools, editing tools, brushes, support for both left-handed and right-handed users, etc.

    – Once edited in iPhoto for iOS, photos can be shared via Twitter, Flickr and Facebook.

    – Photos can be shared to your iCloud and then viewed by anyone with a web browser.

    – iPhoto for iOS is available for US$4.99 starting today.

    – Apple WILL keep the iPad 2 in stock, but drop its starting price down to US$399.

    And that about wraps it up. Stay tuned for additional details as they become available and thanks for reading!

  • iPad 3 accessories begin to arrive at Best Buy ahead of next-gen tablet’s product launch

    Even if you’re one of the largest tech companies on earth, you never quite control when a soon-to-be-launched product’s accessory line arrives.

    Per PhoneArena.com, a number of Best Buy stores have reportedly begun to receive cases sealed in boxes for Apple’s third-generation iPad ahead of Wednesday’s anticipated unveiling.

    The cases have shipped in boxes with a pink sticker stating “Do not display until official iPad 3 launch,” an anonymous tipster told the site. Cases for the so-called “iPad 3” are said to be shipping in bulk, as third-party manufacturers are planning for Apple to begin selling its next iPad soon after it is officially announced.

    “The shipment is not of just a few cases — there’s over 1,000 Targus Versavu 360 stands for the next-gen iPad shipping to Best Buy, meaning that it won’t be long until the actual tablet hits shelves,” the report said.

    Multiple leaked components from Apple’s supply chain have suggested the next iPad will feature an external design largely the same as the current iPad 2. The third-generation iPad is expected to be slightly thicker, with edges more tapered than the iPad 2.

    Despite minor tweaks to the design, its expected that Apple’s magnetic Smart Cover will still work with the next iPad. But Apple’s protective accessory only covers the front, flat screen of the iPad, while many third-party cases cover the aluminum back.

    The rumor that third-party cases are being delivered to Best Buy is supported by a picture that surfaced last week, showing the retailer’s inventory system listing “iPad 3” accessories set to be in stock by next Sunday, March 11. The leaked inventory listings included ZAGG’s InvisibleSHIELD.

    The next iPad is expected to be unveiled at Apple’s media event this Wednesday at the Yerba Buena Center for the Arts in San Francisco, Calif. The event will kick off at 10 a.m. Pacific, 1 p.m. Eastern.

    Stay tuned for additional details as they become available.