The iPad Becomes Official; Rumors Swirl Soon After
 Opinions concerning Apple’s new iPad (starts at $499; www.apple.com) have widely varied since the 9.7-inch tablet was unveiled in late January. Still, there are at least two points that industry experts, analysts, and reviewers alike seem to agree on. First, the iPad is a beauty. Second, the tablet is suited for consuming content and not creating it, as the lack of meaningful multitasking abilities and integrated USB ports, video camera, memory card slot, and physical keyboard would suggest. Consumption-wise, the iPad’s integrated iBooks app will tie into Apple’s new iBook store where five major book publishers are already signed to sell ebooks in the open EPUB format. Reportedly, Apple is also toying with offering publishers the option to cloak their books in DRM software to prevent piracy.
Less certain is what the availability of periodicals and magazines will be when the iPad launches this spring, as rumors suggest Apple has struggled to come to terms with publishers about pricing and what subscriber-related information Apple should be privy to. On the video front, many have criticized the iPad’s lack of Flash support, meaning the iPad won’t natively support such online video sites as Hulu.com. Some rumors, however, suggest Hulu is considering developing an application specifically for iPad use. Apple is also rumored to be considering a monthly subscription plan for TV content. Yet another rumor—that Apple was experimenting with the idea of offering select U.S. TV episodes for 99 cents apiece in the iTunes Store as opposed to the $1.99 (standard) and $2.99 (HD) they sell for now—became at least a partial reality before press time, as CBS announced it would make some of its shows available at that price.
iPad Accessories Here, There & Everywhere
 If you’re considering an iPad but are worried about protecting it against scratches, dirt, and debris, don’t be. Plenty of accessory makers have announced new iPad cases and sleeves, including Belkin (www.belkin.com) with its 10-inch Vue ($39.99), Max ($39.99), and Grip ($39.99) sleeves featuring neoprene construction, reinforced panels, pleated designs, and laser-etched silicone trimming. Be.ez (www.be-ez.com), meanwhile, says its polyurethane LA Robe iPad Allure ($29.95) sleeve available in Moka, Black, Red Kiss, and Color options is the “most rugged, yet stylish” iPad accessory around. iLuv’s (www.i-luv.com) water-resistant iBG2000 series sleeves run $19.99, and its iCC series cases come in leather, casual fabric, clear, ultra thin, and silicone options and range in price from $24.99 to $39.99. Scosche’s (www.scosche.com) kickBACK (pricing TBA) is a shatterproof polycarbonate and rubber stand with molded grips and patent-pending locking kickstand that supports vertical and horizontal viewing and an “optimal typing position.” Griffin’s (www.griffintechnology.com) iPad protectors include the micro-suede Elan Passport ($49.99), stain-resistant synthetic Elan Sleeve ($49.99), silicone FlexGrip ($29.99), and neoprene Jumper ($29.99).
Amazon.com Puts Kindle App Store In Motion
It’s no secret that apps are all the rage these days, including for owners of Android, Apple, BlackBerry, and Nokia devices. Looks like you can add Amazon.com to the list, as it recently launched a beta program focused on its Kindle ebook devices that will provide software developers a development kit to create apps that will likely sell in the Kindle Store later this year. Amazon.com stated in a press release that Handmark is already developing Zagat guides, EA Mobile games, and Sonic Boom word games and puzzles. Currently, authors and publishers can upload and sell original content at the Kindle Store. The program will reportedly see developers netting 70% of the profits and Amazon.com the other 30%. Free, one-time, and monthly subscription apps are planned.
New Headphones Sound Off
 If you find earbuds painful to wear, Phiaton’s (www.phiaton.com) “half in-ear” PS 210 earbuds ($119) are designed to offer comfort through lightweight aluminum earpieces that combine "the excellent bass response of in-ear style buds and the crystal clear highs of open-ear style buds." The ATH-ANC1 ($129.95) on-the-ear headphones from Audio-Technica (www.audio-technica.com), meanwhile, have a travel-friendly foldable design that integrates the company’s QuietPoint noise-canceling technology into an in-line module vs. the earpieces. Think-sound (www.thinksound.com), meanwhile, aims to “create incredible sounding headphones with the smallest eco-footprint possible.” To that end, Thinksound’s wood-based Thunder 10mm earbuds ($74.99) come in silver cherry and black chocolate and include a PVC-free, tangle-resistant cord; wood selected from renewable resources; cotton carrying pouch; and recycled packaging material.
We’re not sure if we want to wear Sennheiser’s (www.sennheiser.com) new CX 980, MX 980, and OMX 980 earbuds (pricing TBA) or just stare at them. With silver, “high-grade metal” construction; “finely crafted finish”; a variable jack that bends straight or at a 90-degree angle; and metal shirt clip, the earbuds induce instant ogling. On the wireless front, Sennheiser’s portable PX 210 BT Bluetooth headphones ($299.95) are already available with 12 hours rated battery life and integrated apt-X technology touted as providing “audiophile Bluetooth stereo” quality. Finally, Etymotic (www.etymotic.com) has upgraded its acclaimed hf2 headset with the iPhone-supporting, mic-wielding hf3 (pricing TBA), which “adds a three-button remote control while maintaining all the design features, exceptional noise-isolation, and audio clarity of the hf2 headset.”
The World’s First Intelligent Headset
 If you remember anything about Aliph’s new Jawbone Icon Bluetooth headsets ($99; www.us.jawbone.com), make it MyTALK, “an industry-first software platform” integrated in the headsets for personalizing and updating the headsets via Web-based programs. Currently, only Icon owners can access MyTALK, which among other things lets users connect an Icon to a PC via USB cable to download software that changes the voice heard in the headset announcing caller IDs, battery status, and so on. MyTALK can also help customize headset buttons to quickly launch voice-to-SMS, voice dial, and 411 services. Additionally, the Icon, available in six designs, can display a visual battery meter on a mobile device’s screen. Elsewhere, Jabra (www.jabra.com) has released the Extreme ($79), a headset using Jabra’s Noise Blackout Extreme noise-cancelation technology, which works in conjunction with a dual-microphone system.
AT&T Gives Sling Media App Official 3G Nod
 Sling Media’s SlingPlayer Mobile App ($29.99) had been available in Apple’s App Store since last spring to let owners of Sling Media devices control and watch their home TV and DVR content on an iPhone screen. The catch, however, was AT&T only allowed doing so over a Wi-Fi connection and not its 3G network, reasoning that the bandwidth-hungry SlingPlayer app might overload the 3G network. In mid-February, AT&T changed its tune by announcing it had been testing the app since December 2009 and “recently notified Sling Media, as well as Apple, that the optimized app can run on its 3G network.” At press time, the app had been updated to version 1.2 in the App Store and included 3G-streaming ability when used with a SlingBox Solo, Pro, or Pro-HD device.
The New DNA Of MP3s
Buying music online can be a flavorless experience that bestows the buyer with few extras beyond the actual audio file. Bach Technology (www.bachtechnology.com) is looking to change this with its new MusicDNA file format. With input from Dagfinn Bach, creator of the first MP3 player in 1993, and Karlheinz Brandenburg, creator of the MP3 format, Bach Technology has created MusicDNA to be backward-compatible with MP3s but also with the ability to pack cool extras in the files. Similar to Apple’s iTunes LP feature, MusicDNA will accompany audio files with such user configurable items as lyrics, videos, blog posts, photos, artist news, tour dates, and scheduled TV appearances. Reportedly, buyers will be able to configure which information they receive, as well as use a free media player. An official summer launch is set to follow a spring beta release. by Blaine Flamig
|
Email This
Print This