Apple

Apple has confirmed that the first iPads will be available to US customers on April 3rd, 2010. However, some users will be disappointed to learn it won't be useable as a makeshift modem for other devices. The first batch released will be WiFi only. ... The model adding 3G connectivity, meaning Internet-based apps can be used anywhere, will be available in late-April. Both models are set to be released in Australia, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Spain, Switzerland and the UK in late-April as well, before appearing in other countries later this year. US customers can pre-order both models ... (view more)

Apple, Inc. says it has discovered that three of its overseas suppliers used a total of 11 staff whose ages were below the legal work minimum. It also found evidence of many workers performing excessive hours or earning below the local minimum wage. ... The firm reports 17 "core violations" of its standards were uncovered this year. This includes three facilities where workers were hired at 15 years of age, despite local minimum working ages being 16. Other problems include eight cases of workers being charged extortionate fees, three cases of suppliers using unauthorized contractors for ... (view more)

Apple is said to be prepared to make quick price cuts for its iPad tablet if sales don't take off as planned. The news comes as a survey claims the public has actually become less interested after hearing about the device, though the figures don't ... necessarily bear that claim out. It's perfectly normal practice for a new gadget to be sold at a high price at first and then reduced later on. That makes commercial sense as it means the firm gets the most revenue possible from so-called "early adopters" and then drops the price to capture the mass market. In this case, however, it appears the ... (view more)

Apple unveiled its latest invention, dubbed the "iPad" at a press conference yesterday and to millions of potential television viewers. So, what does the iPad look and feel like? iPad: Hardware Details Some suggest that the iPad is essentially an ... oversized iPhone with longer battery life and a larger screen. And, unlike most laptops, netbooks, or tablet PCs, the iPad doesn't have a flip-top design. Instead, the iPad is merely a tablet, weighing only 1.5 pounds (about twice as heavy as Amazon's last Kindle) and comes preloaded with the standard iPhone fare, including Safari, Music, ... (view more)

Excitement is building after members of the tech media received press invitations for a special Apple product event set in San Francisco next week. No one outside of Apple seems to know for sure what it is the company will unveil, but speculation ... suggests it could have something to do with the rumored iTablet . The event promises to be quite unique, and there's no doubt the slick Cupertino-based firm will be revealing something important. After all, invitations received by tech pundits read "Come see our latest creation," suggesting something on par with an iPhone or iPod is ready for ... (view more)

For those wondering if Apple will ever release a device to compete in the netbook / tablet / ultra portability market, then take notice: it's expected the company could unveil a sleek new tablet device this month, with the first shipments moving out ... as early as March. According to a report in the Wall Street Journal, Apple is preparing to announce a new tablet computer later this month. That's not the big news, although such rumors were first circulated in December by the Financial Times, which then said the Cupertino-based company had reserved a San Francisco location for a January 26 ... (view more)

Is Apple to blame for hearing loss as a result of listening to one's iPod too loud? No, says a federal appeals court. The decision came this week and upholds the original dismissal of a lawsuit that claimed Apple's popular digital media device and ... the headsets sold along with it were defective and could cause permanent hearing loss -- without warning of such a possibility. Original Suits Filed in 2006 The original suit was filed by a disgruntled Louisiana iPod buyer and then supported by a similar claim in California in 2006. Unfortunately for the plaintiffs, judges found that neither ... (view more)

It appears Apple has gone ahead with plans to buy the rather unique music streaming service, named "LaLa." Some say the purchase could lead to big changes and, hopefully, improvements to the company's own iTunes service. LaLa has tested several ... different projects in the past, including CD swapping and radio, but in recent years has been known as a challenger to other popular music streamers like Pandora and Last.fm (frustratingly, like those other streamers it's also unavailable internationally). LaLa allows site members to create playlists of their own uploaded music and to allow ... (view more)

A sketchy firm based out of Miami Florida which falsely claimed it could sell cloned Macintosh machines has already suffered the wrath of Apple in the courtroom. Now it's suffering embarrassment as the truth emerges about its poor sales record. ... Psystar has been in long-running legal battles with Apple after selling computers which were made with PC parts but ran the Mac "Leopard" operating system. As Apple doesn't license its software to other manufacturers -- and you'd think that would made for a clear-cut court ruling, but the process was somewhat extended by Psystar (unsuccessfully) ... (view more)