As well as launching an iPad 3 and a next generation Apple TV… according to rumours of course, Apple is also believed to be launching a new range of MacBooks. The new models are believed to fall in to the 15 and 17 inch category of the MacBook Pro but will each be a lot slimmer, just like the smaller MacBook Airs.
iPad 3 Release Date Likely to be March
Reports are indicating that the next generation iPad, likely to be called the iPad 3, will be announced early in March and will be launched about a week after that to follow on from the mid-March release date of the iPad 2 last year.
With just a week expected between the announcement and launch a number of developers are beginning to prepare Retina resolution graphics just in case the new model does have a Retina display. Remember that when the iPhone 4 launched there were a few weeks in which developers could recreate graphics to match the higher resolution screen. This thought also follows along with an email sent out by this week to Apple developers which requested that all images for the iTunes store were sent in a Retina resolution which hints that the 3GS is coming to the end of its life soon. Also, it could be a hint that we will soon see the same email about submitting higher res iPad screenshots to the store.
Razer Blade Gaming Laptop Sold Out within 30 Minutes – Priced at $2800
Razer has managed to sell out of pre-orders of the Blade Gaming Laptop within 30 minutes of the page going live. The new gaming laptop has a hefty price tag of $2,800 although that didn’t seem to prevent buyers snapping one up.
iTunes U for iPad and iPhone Released
It was a big day for Apple yesterday and certainly a day where an industry is shaken up a little. As well as launching iBooks 2 with Textbooks and iBooks Author for the Mac, Apple also launched iTunes U for the iPhone and iPad. The app follows along with iTunes U that has been available in iTunes on the Mac or PC for a while, but allows you to sync your notes, courses and content between devices so that you can study whilst on the move.
New iPad Case Hints at a Thicker iPad 2S
Before I begin I’ll just comment that this needs to be taken with a pinch of salt as it contains an iPad 3 (or 2S) rumour.
A case manufacturer has created a new case that has been designed for an iPad 2S. The company believes that the new iPad will be a small update similar to that of the iPhone 4 to 4S. The main difference with dimensions will be that it is slightly thicker as previously rumoured.
iConvert Dock Turns iPad in to a Scanner
iConvert is a dock for the iPad that has a scanner built in. The dock has a feeder tray that allows paper to be fed through a document scanner. When an iPad is docked with the scanner, you can load up an app and any data scanned can be captured and then sent direct to the app running on the iPad.
Fake iPads Accidentally Sold at Major Canadian Retailers
An interesting story has revealed that some fake iPads were sold by some major Canadian retailers. What was actually sold was a lump of clay which was put in an official iPad 2 box which was then professionally sealed. It is believed that about 24 of them were sold this way.
iOS 5.1 Beta 3 Hints At Siri for the iPad and iPod touch
Now that iOS 5.1 Beta 3 has been seeded to developers, we are now seeing reports and hints at what could be included in future updates. One of the first discoveries is that the iPad and perhaps the iPod touch could be getting some form of Siri.
Asus Transformer Tablet Android Ice Cream Sandwich Update Coming Soon
We’ve already had confirmation that the new Asus Transformer Prime will be getting the Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich update. This is of course happening on the 12th January (this week!). For those with the older generation device, the Asus Transformer, you’ll also be getting the update this week.
Lenovo Launch a 10 Inch Transformable Tablet – IdeaTab S2
Lenovo has launched a new tablet called the Lenovo IdeaTab S2. The device measures just 8.69mm thick and comes with a 10 inch display. The operating system running on the S2 is Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich.
The keyboard is an extra which adds a little thickness to the tablet. In a similar way to the Transformer Prime, the S2 keyboard allows the tablet portion to be docked so it can be used more like a laptop for data entry.
iOS Devices to Get Quad-Core Processors
The beta of iOS 5.1 has some indications that the next iPad and iPhone will run a quad-core processor. That particular processor is expected to be an Apple A6 provided by Samsung. Although a quad-core chip is not really a surprise, what is good to see is that the iOS 5.1 beta has references to such a processor.
Samsung Series 5 Ultrabook Now Ready for Pre-Order in the US
Samsung has made the Series 5 Ultrabook available for pre-order in the US. The new ultrabooks have price tags of $899.99 and $949.99.
Two models are available for pre-order with one having a 13 inch screen and the other with a 13.3 inch screen.