Lose Your Apple Device, Locate it for Free

Apple released a new version of iOS on Monday, adding new features to the mobile operating system that drives the iPhone, iPod Touch and iPad.

Owners of the iPad, a camera-equipped iPod Touch or iPhone 4 can go to the App Store and download Find My iPhone. The service was previously included only as part of Apple's Mobile Me package, which costs $99 per year.

Once the feature is enabled, the owner of a lost device can see its location on a website, which accesses the phone's GPS coordinates to show it on a map. You can also have the gadget display a message pleading for whomever finds your property to return it; additionally, you can set a passcode or send a command to wipe personal information from the hardware.

The update also adds the ability to wirelessly print documents and to transmit video or music to an Apple TV or compatible speaker system using a feature called AirPlay.

This software version 4.2 brings the iPad in line with Apple's other mobile products. With this version, the iPad can now run apps in the background -- say, listening to Pandora while surfing the Web. It also unlocks Game Center (Apple's social network for games), the ability to organize apps into folders and new features for e-mail users.

Early Black Friday Campers get iPads

Two families have officially kicked off Black Friday fever by becoming the first in the nation to get in line for a bargain about an entire week early.

The Thain and the Davenport families set up camp together in a tent and gazebo outside the entrance of the Best Buy store in St Petersburg, Florida on Friday because they wanted to make sure they were first in what is sure to be a long line.

Family members will take it in turns to sit outside the shop until early on Friday morning when the doors are opened to the public.

The families have already been rewarded with an early Christmas gift.  When Best Buy managers realized mothers Tina Thain and Lorie Davenport were the first to start queueing in the country they gave them both an iPad.  A great goodwill gesture by Best Buy, but judging by the size of one of the ladies, let's hope she doesn't get hungry and eat the iPad.

‘We just wanted to be sure the early bird got the worm,’ said the pair.

‘'I really didn't think about the days. We really didn't think about it because we just wanted to be first,' Thain told ABC.

'Now it's really sinking in that we really are the first people in line. It's kind of exciting.'

The pair said that the camp-out was not just about getting the best deal - but also about their strong friendship.

'It's a great time for us to catch up because we don't get to see each other with our work schedules very often,' Thain said. 'It's a great time for friendship, fellowship.  it might've been easier if they just went to dinner or something.'

Mrs Thain and Mrs Davenport, in their 40s, may be the first, but they are definitely not the last to join a line for Black Friday.

Millions of shoppers will be out hunting for the best bargains on Black Friday, and some will be starting on stores that will be open Thanksgiving Day.  Retailers will be ready with plenty of product and good deals.

Apple Will Release iOS 4.2 Soon

Apple has taken the next step in preparing iOS 4.2 for the iPad, iPhone and iPod touch. By offering the golden master version of the software to developers, it is a sign that Apple is nearly ready to offer it to consumers.

Apple has added the AirPlay feature back to iOS 4.2. AirPlay lets users wirelessly stream music, videos, and photos from iPad to the new Apple TV (no word on compatibility with the old Apple TV). Users can also stream music to AirPlay speakers or receivers. Apple has removed AirPlay from the last developer build of iOS 4.2.

Though a number of features will appear across all three "i" devices, the iPad will be the primary beneficiary of iOS 4.2. The iPad's current OS version is 3.2.2. It lacks folders, multitasking and a number of other features that debuted with iOS 4.0 for the iPhone. That includes the Game Center and the ability to print from the iPad via Wi-Fi to select, compatible printers.

iOS 4.2 will give the iPad a significant boost in capabilities. The addition of folders and multitasking alone will help to make it a better device, let alone the bonus items such as AirPlay and wireless printing.

With any luck, iPad app developers will have iOS 4.2-tested versions of their applications available for the iPad as soon as the software is available to consumers.

We will probably be able to download the new software in 7-10 days.

iPads and Walmart

While at my local Walmart over the weekend I checked out the Apple display to see if they were prepping it for the soon to be arriving iPads.

There was some empty space.

Now word has come out that iPads are available at Walmart Online, and you can have it shipped to Walmart near you.

Walmart Online is going to sell all models, but right now only the 64GB iPad WiFi, 32GB iPad WiFi+3G and the 64GB iPad WiFi+3G can be ordered online. All other iPad models are marked out of stock right now.

When the iPads reach the stores, each store is expected to have 5 of each kind of iPad in stock.

iPad Hits Target Stores, Is Walmart Next?

Head on out to your local Target store and what will your see?  Plenty of iPads for sale leading up to the holiday season.

Walmart, never one to be left out of a good fight is possibly next to get Apple's iPad.

MacRumors obtained some photos of some e-mails sayng Walmart will sell the iPad as early as next week.

The initial stock at Walmart stores will be 5 units of each iPad model and 10 units each of Apple's official iPad accessories.

The iPad will roll out first to 1,000 stores beginning "week 37" through the end of October, with more stores receiving the device in "the first few weeks of November," the report noted. Store displays will reportedly feature a covered "live demo unit" with a continuous video loop highlighting the iPad's features.

Most Walmarts have a small Apple secion in their electronics department right now.  Those could quickly be used to sell the iPads while still offering iPods and other Apple products.