Hours ago, much of the tech-following world got official word of the device that has had rumors flying about the web for months – Steve Jobs announced Apple’s newest gadget, the Apple iPad.

The iPad features a 9.7 inch LED backlit screen with multi-touch functionality. With its thickness only being 0.5 inches, it’s easy to see why everyone is calling it the “Big iPhone”. Like the iPhone, it has capability to run all apps from the Appstore.

There are six models available with disk storage and internet connectivity as the differentiating factors. The base model with 16GB and WiFi will sell for USD $499 and the top of the line with WiFi / 3G and 64GB on board will sell for USD $829.

Apple’s reasoning for the iPad is that it will be bridge the gap between laptop and mobile phone. I question this – perhaps, yes, as an eBook reader but for everything else, I still prefer to use my MacBookPro and iPhone combination. Another gadget in the mix, for me, would be something that would have limited use and be there for mostly ornamental value.

What do you think?

Twitter Thoughts on the Apple iPad

Here’s some thoughts from my Twitter friends (@mr_gadget) on the three things they like about the iPad and whether or not they were thinking of getting one:

1. MickGriffin @mr_gadget It’s matches my macbook. It matches my iPhone, and erm It’s made by apple
2. ChasingAmyJ @mr_gadget I’m not sold on it yet, but knowing Apple they will somehow make us all think we ‘need’ one. Ps. I can’t live without my iPhone
3. krea_frobro747 @mr_gadget #iPad No camera?????? No flash support????????????? No buy.
4. cswanger @mr_gadget 1. portability 2. cool factor 3. iBooks ~ But, IMO, too big. I’ll keep the kindle + my Macbook for now.
5. Justblue73 @mr_gadget I still haven’t broke down to get an iPhone because I dont want #AT&T so I dont think I will be getting an #iPad
   anytime soon.

Apple iPad Press Release

SAN FRANCISCO—January 27, 2010—Apple® today introduced iPad, a revolutionary device for browsing the web, reading and sending email, enjoying photos, watching videos, listening to music, playing games, reading e-books and much more. iPad’s responsive high-resolution Multi-Touch™ display lets users physically interact with applications and content. iPad is just 0.5 inches thick and weighs just 1.5 pounds— thinner and lighter than any laptop or netbook. iPad includes 12 new innovative apps designed especially for the iPad, and will run almost all of the over 140,000 apps in the App Store. iPad will be available in late March starting at the breakthrough price of just $499.

“iPad is our most advanced technology in a magical and revolutionary device at an unbelievable price,” said Steve Jobs, Apple’s CEO. “iPad creates and defines an entirely new category of devices that will connect users with their apps and content in a much more intimate, intuitive and fun way than ever before.”

iPad features 12 next-generation Multi-Touch applications. Every app works in both portrait and landscape, automatically animating between views as the user rotates iPad in any direction. The precise Multi-Touch interface makes surfing the web on iPad an entirely new experience, dramatically more interactive and intimate than on a computer. Reading and sending email is fun and easy on iPad’s large screen and almost full-size “soft” keyboard. Import photos from a Mac®, PC or digital camera, see them organized as albums, and enjoy and share them using iPad’s elegant slideshows. Watch movies, TV shows and YouTube, all in HD or flip through pages of an e-book you downloaded from Apple’s new iBookstore while listening to your music collection.

iPad runs almost all of the over 140,000 apps on the App Store, including apps already purchased for your iPhone® or iPod touch®. The iTunes® Store gives you access to the world’s most popular online music, TV and movie store with a catalog of over 11 million songs, over 50,000 TV episodes and over 8,000 films including over 2,000 in stunning high definition video. Apple also announced the new iBooks app for iPad, which includes Apple’s new iBookstore, the best way to browse, buy and read books on a mobile device. The iBookstore will feature books from major and independent publishers.

Apple also introduced a new version of iWork® for iPad, the first desktop-class productivity suite designed specifically for Multi-Touch. With Pages®, Keynote® and Numbers® you can create beautifully formatted documents, stunning presentations with animations and transitions, and spreadsheets with charts, functions and formulas. The three apps will be available separately through the App Store for $9.99 each.

iPad syncs with iTunes just like the iPhone and iPod touch, using the standard Apple 30-pin to USB cable, so you can sync all of your contacts, photos, music, movies, TV shows, applications and more from your Mac or PC. All the apps and content you download on iPad from the App Store, iTunes Store and iBookstore will be automatically synced to your iTunes library the next time you connect with your computer.

iPad’s brilliant 9.7-inch, LED-backlit display features IPS technology to deliver crisp, clear images and consistent color with an ultra-wide 178 degree viewing angle. The highly precise, capacitive Multi-Touch display is amazingly accurate and responsive whether scrolling web pages or playing games. The intelligent soft keyboard pioneered on iPhone takes advantage of iPad’s larger display to offer an almost full-size soft keyboard. iPad also connects to the new iPad Keyboard Dock with a full-size traditional keyboard.

iPad is powered by A4, Apple’s next-generation system-on-a-chip. Designed by Apple, the new A4 chip provides exceptional processor and graphics performance along with long battery life of up to 10 hours.* Apple’s advanced chemistry and Adaptive Charging technology deliver up to 1,000 charge cycles without a significant decrease in battery capacity over a typical five year lifespan.**

iPad comes in two versions—one with Wi-Fi and the other with both Wi-Fi and 3G. iPad includes the latest 802.11n Wi-Fi, and the 3G versions support speeds up to 7.2 Mbps on HSDPA networks. Apple and AT&T announced breakthrough 3G pre-paid data plans for iPad with easy, on-device activation and management.

Continuing Apple’s dedication to designing and creating environmentally responsible products, each iPad enclosure is made of highly recyclable aluminum and comes standard with energy-efficient LED-backlit displays that are mercury-free and made with arsenic-free glass. iPad contains no brominated flame retardants and is completely PVC-free.

Apple today released a new Software Development Kit (SDK) for iPad, so developers can create amazing new applications designed to take advantage of iPad’s capabilities. The SDK includes a simulator that lets developers test and debug their iPad apps on a Mac, and also lets developers create Universal Applications that run on iPad, iPhone and iPod touch.

Pricing & Availability
iPad will be available in late March worldwide for a suggested retail price of $499 (US) for the 16GB model, $599 (US) for the 32GB model, $699 (US) for the 64GB model. The Wi-Fi + 3G models of iPad will be available in April in the US and selected countries for a suggested retail price of $629 (US) for the 16GB model, $729 (US) for the 32GB model and $829 (US) for the 64GB model. iPad will be sold in the US through the Apple Store® (www.apple.com), Apple’s retail stores and select Apple Authorized Resellers. International pricing and worldwide availability will be announced at a later date. iBookstore will be available in the US at launch.

*Apple tested wireless battery life by browsing web pages and receiving email over an AirPort® network, never letting the system go to sleep during the test, and keeping the display at half brightness. This is a typical scenario of use on the go, resulting in a battery performance number that is very relevant to mobile users.

**A properly maintained iPad battery is designed to retain 80 percent or more of its original capacity during a lifespan of up to 1,000 recharge cycles. Battery life and charge cycles vary by use and settings.

The Apple mobile phone has been really successful and it is difficult to find a person who is not looking forward to have one in his pocket. iPhone offers lots of features, it is more than an iPod, it offers multimedia capabilities, games, agenda, and, of course a mobile phone.

What is a trendy mobile phone without a trendy ringtone? That is the reason of iPhone RingToneMaker, an easy-to-use and intuitive program that allows you to create your own ringtones for your iPhone.

It supports mp3, wav and ogg files. Choose your favorite song and it will appear on a line, then you only have to choose the part of the song you like the most by dragging the limits. If you want you can add some cool effects to your ringtones. When you will have finished your creation, just save the selection and use iTunes to transfer the ringtone to your iPhone.

iPhone RingToneMaker lets you create your own custom Ringtones for your iPhone using the music from your music library.

Features of the iPhone RingToneMaker:

• Super easy and intuitive user interface
• Automatically transfers your custom ringtones into iTunes
• .MP3, .WAV, .OGG Support
• Fade In and Fade Out your ringtones
• Create ringtones with accuracy up to a hundredth of a second
• Use songs purchased from iTunes(xp only)

Get your iPhone RingToneMaker free trial today!

The iPhone 3GS has now launched in Singapore, and huge crowds are lining up in hopes of grabbing the new offering from Apple. The crowds have been so large in fact, that the first customer reportedly waited in line 11 hours. That’s a bit of a wait.

On average, a customer during the peak period will queue between anywhere for three to four hours. The carrier worked to create a festival atmosphere, including fireworks and a confetti drop. Customers waiting in lines even pass through a number of “experience zones” featuring additional entertainment. The presence of Felicia Chin, a popular local actress, also helped to build the crowd.

Lines were much smaller for the iPhone 3GS launch in the United States, although AT&T encouraged customers to pre-order for a shorter wait. SingTel expects large crowds to remain for several days.

The folks in Singapore clearly win the award for most iPhone 3GS love.

More of iPhone Singapore Launch via MacDailyNews.

Apple guys do keep themselves busy thinking up new ways how to improve their iPhone OS software. And Apple’s patent applications give us a glimpse of how they may go about it. If this load of recently filed Apple patents become a reality, your iPhone may become a perfect tool for spies soon, with real world object identification, faces recognition, voice alteration, and text filtering, among other things.

Today a new batch of Apple’s patent applications surfaced, showing us some more interesting things that may come with your next major iPhone OS update.

• Real World Object Identification

The coolest feature potentially headed to a future iPhone near you is the live object identification technology. By using any combination of your iPhone’s camera, RFID sensors, barcode readers and the like, you can literally point your iPhone at a product on a store shelf and have the Apple Phone fetch product information. Alternatively, you can just search the object up in Google. It’s not like it’s hard to read a tag or enter a name.

• Face Detection and Recognition

After implementation, face recognition capabilities can be used to control the operation of the device – controlling access privileges and restrictions, deciding whether to put a device into a sleep mode, etc. Similar to the face recognition feature in iPhoto, this can be used for security access.

• Text Message Filtering

In this patent application Apple describes methods for filtering and controlling various text based communications via your iPhone. This filtering can be applied to outgoing and incoming e-mails, text, MMS, IM and other messages. The text control app can be set up alter the objectionable text (e.g. – swear words in an e-mail app), or to help your kid lean foreign language, by making him send e-mails in it.

• Smarter Messaging Interface

There are also couple of patent applications that describe the ways to make your overall messaging/communication experience easier.

One of them is related to multiple recipient messages, e.g. you send a message to your work team and not all the messages get delivered. After a preset time interval the messaging app checks the status of message delivery. If some messages have not been delivered, it alerts you and then provides an interface to easily resend a message to those who did not get it via the same or different means.

Another application is designed to help you deal better with unread messages. Apple thinks that if you have some unread messages from a person you are about to contact (call or send a message to him); you might want to at least look at them before initiating contact. And that’s exactly what this app does – compares your unread messages, e-mails, voicemails, etc; to the info of a person you are about to contact and informs you if you have some unread messages from him sitting on your phone.

In addition to checking the contact info, the message app can also check for certain keywords – e.g. the name of a project you are writing about and alert that you have some unread messages relating to it.

• Changes Voice Output in Your iPhone

And then there is a patent application that describes the possibility of altering audio output from your iPhone.

There may be a multiple reasons you’d want to do this. This application can be useful but also disadvantageous. Regardless, it is how you will use the application to maximize the iPhone’s capabilities.

More of the complied list of iPhone patent applications at Unwired View.

Whether anecdotal reports of iPhones overheating are true or not, Apple has taken them seriously enough to reveal the presence of a temperature warning screen for the iPhone 3G and 3GS.

Here’s the deal: an unknown but probably very small number of iPhones have been affected by overheating, to the point that some white iPhone 3GSes have allegedly turned pink.

Apple, however, has issued what some might call a “common sense” warning: a support document that warns users not to keep the iPhone in an environment where temperatures can exceed 113 degrees Fahrenheit, including parked cars.

But Apple also warns that CPU-intensive applications, such playing music or using the GPS while in direct sunlight may also overheat the iPhone.

In that case, actually using the iPhone in temperatures over 95 degrees can also trigger the temperature warning. “Low- or high-temperature conditions might temporarily shorten battery life or cause the device to temporarily stop working properly,” Apple warns.

Obviously, summer temperatures in many locations top 95 degrees. So what will happen?

Apple also says that the iPhone 3G and 3GS should not be stored where the temperature can fall under -4 degrees Fahrenheit, or used in less in temperatures under 0 degrees F.

If the phone exceeds those temperatures, Apple says, the iPhone may stop charging, its display might dim, a weak cellular signal may be experienced, and the temperature warning screen on the left may also appear. Apple’s support document implies that there’s a temperature sensor of some sort built in to the iPhone 3G or 3GS.

If that happens, Apple says, you’ll need to let the iPhone cool down before you use it again, although the phone may be able to make emergency calls during that time. How long will that take? Apple doesn’t say.

The bottom line is to be a responsible user and everything will turn out well.

You can read the full official temperature advisory from Apple by visiting their website.

Hold your horses; you should know the drill by now. A patent application doesn’t necessarily mean an actual product is on the way — but it’s always fun to speculate, right? And this latest trio of applications from Apple certainly provides plenty of speculation fodder. The most notable of the lot is an application for a “multi-touch display screen with localized tactile feedback”, which Apple seems to be at least considering as a possibility for the iPhone (or iPod touch). Like some similar systems, Apple’s application covers a screen that uses a grid of piezoelectric actuators that can be activated at will to provide vibrational feedback when you touch the screen. Apple even goes so far as to use a virtual click wheel on an iPhone as an example. Other patent applications include a fairly self-explanatory RFID reader embedded in a touch screen, and a fingerprint identification system that could not only be used for security, but to identify individual fingers as an input method – for instance, letting you use your index finger for play/stop and your middle finger to fast forward.

• Haptic Tactile Feedback

Perhaps most interesting amongst the patent applications is the acknowledgement by Apple that despite the many advantages of the iPhone’s multi-touch screen, a lack of tactile feedback remains its biggest disadvantage.

However, one of a touchscreen’s biggest advantages, the ability to utilize the same physical space for different functions is also one of a touchscreen’s biggest disadvantages. When the user is unable to view the display (because the user is occupied with other tasks), the user can only feel the smooth hard surface of the touchscreen, regardless of the shape, size and location of the virtual buttons and/or other display elements. This makes it difficult for users to find icons, hyperlinks, textboxes or other user-selectable input elements that are being displayed, if any are even being displayed, without looking at the display.

Unless touch input components are improved, users that, for example, drive a motor vehicle, may avoid devices that have a touch input component and favor those that have a plurality of physical input components like buttons, wheels, etc.

The proposed solution is the adoption of “haptic” display technologies which allow for some tactile feedback from touch screen displays. Apple proposes including a grid of piezoelectronic actuators that can be activated on command. By fluctuating the frequency of these actuators, the user will “feel” different surfaces as their finger moves across it. As an example, a display could include a virtual click wheel which vibrates at a different frequency as the center. Users could easily sense the difference and use the click wheel without having to look at it.

Haptic technology has started gaining adoption in other mobile phones and there had been some talk that Apple mght have been looking to adopt it.

• Fingerprint Identification as an Input Method

A second very intriguing patent application suggests the detection of a user’s individual fingerprints as an input method. Fingerprints have already been used in computers for security purposes, but Apple’s research involves the use of fingerprint patterns to actually identify distinct fingers. This could then be used to produce specific functions depending on which finger is being used. As shown in the table below, an index finger press might perform one action (PLAY/STOP) while a middle finger press could fast forward.

The reason for such a distinction again falls back on non-visual usage. Instead of requiring the user to find a button on the touchscreen, the use of different fingers alone could trigger different commands.

• RFID (Radio Frequency Identification) Reader

Finally, the last notable application covers the dual use of a touch screen as an RFID reader. RFID tags are small circuits that can be embedded in objects for identification using a special reader. Apple suggests that an RFID antenna can be placed in the touch sensor panel itself, allowing it to also be used as a RFID reader. As RFID tags become more prevalent, this could add a very useful function to future touch screen devices.

I know I’m a couple of days late installing the iPhone OS 3.0 Software Update – I blame the length of time it took to backup my iPhone (almost 2 hours) and my general busyness. But alas, it’s done and I’m very happy with the improvements. Especially had fun sending MMS messages to unsuspecting people in my contact list this morning. Being able to create voice memos is also a handy feature!

With all these fixes, I’m starting to question my desire to upgrade to the iPhone 3G S later on this week. Then again, increased battery time, video recording and faster CPU are still compelling reasons.

Here is the list of many of the  new features that are included in the iPhone 3.0 OS update:

• Cut, Copy & Paste with shake to undo
• Landscape keyboard in key applications
• Enhanced Messages application
- Send and receive photos, contacts, audio files, and location via MMS*
- Forward and delete single or multiple messages
• Added search feature in Mail, Calendar, Notes and iPod
• Spotlight search across iPhone
• Support for CalDAV and subscriptions in Calendar
• Improvements to Safari
- Performance
- HTML 5 support
- HTTP Streaming audio and video
- Auto-fill usernames and passwords
• New Voice Memos application
• Sync Notes with a Mac or PC via iTunes
• Internet Tethering over USB and Bluetooth*
• Browse and download movies, TV shows, and audiobooks from the iTunes Store**
• Stereo Bluetooth***
• Wi-Fi auto login
• Enhanced Stocks application
• More Parental Control options for Apps, Music, Movies and TV Shows
• iTunes account creation and login**
• YouTube account login and access to subscriptions, ratings and favorites**
• Shake to shuffle
• New languages, dictionaries, and keyboards
• Find my iPhone and Remote Wipe via MobileMe (subscription required)**
• Support for more Exchange policies
• Create and send Exchange meeting invitations
• Search mail on server (Exchange Server 2007 and supported IMAP servers)
• Search LDAP company directory
• VPN on demand and VPN proxy support
• Encrypted configuration profiles
• Encrypted iTunes backups
• 1,000 new developer APIs, including:
- In App Purchases
- Apple Push Notification Service
- Accessories support
- Peer to Peer Connectivity
- Embedded Maps
- iPod Library Access
• Bug fixes

Products compatible with this software update:
• iPhone
• iPhone 3G
• iPhone 3G S

* Compatible only with iPhone 3G and iPhone 3G S and requires support from your wireless provider.
** Not available in all regions or in all languages.
*** Compatible only with iPhone 3G and iPhone 3G S.

For feature descriptions and complete instructions, see the user guide for your iPhone at:
<http://www.apple.com/support/manuals/iphone>

For more information about iPhone, go to:
<http://www.apple.com/iphone>

To troubleshoot your iPhone, or to view additional support information go to:
<http://www.apple.com/support/iphone>

For information on the security content of this update, please visit this website:
<http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1222>

We are working in conjunction with iWorld Australia to give away 10 of the coolest phones on this planet – 5 x iPhone 3G S and 5 x Blackberry Curve.

To enter basically fill in the entry form link that is provided below.

Get in fast as the competition closes end of July! (Australian Residents Only)

Mr Gadget Win an iPhone/Win a Blackberry Competition

Jesus Diaz, from Gizmodo just posted an article where he is very sure that the above photos are taken from the upcoming iPhone 3G 2009.

He’s jumped the gun.

If you click on the UMPC referral link on the bottom of the Gizmodo page, Google translates the text from the Chinese post and reveals that the screens are in fact from an iPhone with the iPhone 3.0 on display. No where does he mention that it is from the new iPhone 3G 2009.

Visit this CNet iPhone 3.0 OS photo link, you’ll see that all these screens were posted months back. The Hong Kong poster could have just saved these onto his iPhones as images.

It is highly unlikely that some unknown Chinese blogger would be able to get their hands on an iPhone 3G 2009 before anyone else (no offence to him).

I’m a big fan of Gizmodo, so this is not an attempt to dishonor their good name at all – this is purely my personal opinion.

Via Gizmodo

The rumor mill has begun to spin with a once mostly unknown website, Appadvice.com, claiming to have the inside scoop on key features of the upcoming iPhone and its release date. No big surprises in this list compared to predictions that were made months ago but exciting nonetheless. I particularly like the idea of being able to record video – get ready for some serious vidcasting folks!

Oh can’t forget I’m also looking forward to better battery life, turn-by-turn GPS and others…

Specifications of New iPhone:

• 32GB and 16GB to replace current capacities
• $199 and $299 price-points to be maintained
• 3.2 Megapixel camera
• Video recording & editing capabilities
• Ability to send a picture & video via MMS
• Discontinuation of the metal band surrounding the edge of the device
• OLED screen
• 1.5X The battery life
• Double the RAM and processing power
• Built-in FM transmitter
• Apple logo on the back to light up
• Rubber-tread backing
• Sleeker design
• Built-in compass
• Revolutionary combination of the camera, GPS, compass, and Google maps to identify photo and inform about photo locations.
• Turn by turn directions
• July 17th, 2009 release date

Seriously doubt that I’ll make the effort to be the first one in my state to get the new iPhone but I’ll be lining up in Melbourne.

Who’s joining me?