iPad Newspaper to be Announced Feb 2

News Corp Chairman Rupert Murdoch and Apple Vice President of Internet Services Eddy Cue will introduce the Daily, a digital newspaper for tablet devices, at the Solomon Guggenheim Museum in New York on February 2 after weeks of speculation surrounding the Daily.

Murdoch and Apple Chief Executive Steve Jobs were originally scheduled to launch the Daily in San Francisco in January 19. But the event was postponed, because of technical glitches, according to sources familiar the event, but days later, Apple disclosed that Jobs was taking medical leave for the third time since 2004.

The Daily will cost 99 cents per week, News Corp executive James Murdoch said.

News Corp is a making a big bet that starting a newspaper from scratch is dedicated to tablet devices could help revive the struggling news business.

iPad owners have been waiting for a viable newspaper to hit their iPad each day.  This could be what they are waiting for.  I'm skeptical.

iPad Stands With a Speaker Part 1

I'm always looking at accessories for my iPad.  Most of what is out there is typical junk.  Every once in a while you come across an accessory that you can actually use and are proud to show off to a friend or family member.

This stand from GZ Tablet Stands fits all of the above.  It's finished wood with a carved out hole in the from to put an Altec Orbit speaker that you can get for $8-10 on Ebay.

The iPad will fit in slots with or without a protective cover on it.  You can lay it in horizontal or vertical whichever you choose.  For about $20, you can beat this stand.  Unfortunately, this sand with the speaker mount in the front is no longer available.  I can see it being hard to touch the iPad by reaching over the speaker, but if you are just looking for it to play music from Pandora or your own collecting this stand is ideal.

They are now making a similar stand where the speaker mounts in the rear.  I'll showcase that one in a couple days, but here's a preview pic of how it looks.

It's another great stand.  There were available on Ebay, but now they are on Etsy at

http://www.etsy.com/listing/63954314/gz-tablet-stand-original

These stands are highly recommended.

Report Says iPad 2 to Ship Soon

The next iPad tablet will start shipping as early as the end of February from electronics maker Foxconn Electronics' factories in China, DigiTimes reported on Tuesday.

The report, wouldn't name sources from Taiwan-based components makers, sbit it aid Apple originally planned to start mass production of the new device, known as iPad 2, in January.

Those plans were postponed since the device's firmware, or set of software instructions that are programmed into the device's hardware, was still being tested, according to the report.

The iPad 2 will mainly be supplied by plants in Shenzhen belonging to Foxconn, the parent company of Hon Hai, DigiTimes reported. An initial shipment of 400,000 to 600,000 units are expected.

As usual, an Apple spokesman declined to comment.

Apple sold 4.19 million iPads in the fiscal fourth quarter. That was lower than markets expected, but analysts expect sales to be strong through the end of December due to holiday sales. 

Tablets are Hot, There is No Doubt

I need a PC, I need a tablet.  But for those trying to decide on what to buy for their next computer purchase, tablets are making inroads.

Global computer sales are on track to set a new record this year but tablets like Apple's iPad are taking a bite out of the sector, technology research firm Gartner said on Monday.

Worldwide PC sales are forecast to total 352.4 million units in 2010, up 14.3 per cent over last year, Gartner said, but down from the firm's previous 2010 PC sales forecast in September of 17.9 per cent growth.

In 2011, worldwide PC sales are forecast to reach 409 million units, up 15.9 per cent over this year but down from Gartner's earlier estimate of 18.1 per cent growth next year.

"These results reflect marked reductions in expected near-term unit growth based on expectations of weaker consumer demand, due in no small part to growing user interest in media tablets such as the iPad," Gartner research director Ranjit Atwal said in a statement.

"Over the longer term, media tablets are expected to displace around 10 per cent of PC units by 2014," Atwal said.

Tablet computers like the iPad are expected to soar from nearly 20 million units this year to 55 million next year and over 208 million in 2014.

Apple began selling its iPad in April and a number of other companies have since begun producing the multimedia devices, which can be used to surf the web, read electronic books, watch video and more.

The computer industry as a whole is growing for many reasons.  The question now is how big of an impact will tablets have on traditional desktops and laptops?

"Media tablets are rapidly finding favor with PC buyers who are attracted to their more-dedicated entertainment-driven features and their instant-on capability," the research firm added.

Apple's 1 Day Black Friday Sale

Apple wants your bsiness on Black Friday.

Apple on Friday unveiled its deals for Black Friday, which includes $101 off the iMac, MacBook Pro, and MacBook Air, as well as $41 off the iPad.

Similar to  the past two years, Apple is offering $101 off some of its Macs. For today only, the iMac as well as the MacBrok Pro will start at $1,098, down from $1,199. The 13-inch MacBook Air, meanwhile, will sell for $1,198 – down from $1,299.

The savings also apply to Apple's popular iPad tablet. All models have been discounted by $41, with prices starting at $458 for the 16GB Wi-Fi version and going all the way up to $788 for the 64GB Wi-Fi plus 3G iPad.

While there are no discounts on the iPhone, Apple is dropping the Price of the iPod Touch. The 8GB version is now $21 cheaper at $208, the 32GB got a $31 price drop to $268, and the 64GB iPod touch is now $358, a $41 discount.

The 8GB iPod Nano, meanwhile, is selling for $138, down $11, and the 16GB version is available for a $21 discount at $158.

Apple's Black Friday deals also include a variety of discounts on accessories and software. The company is taking $5 off the price of things like its iPad case, wireless keyboard, iPad dock, keyboard dock, Magic Trackpad, and Magic Mouse.