Apple brings multitouch to desktops with Magic Trackpad
The Apple Online Store is back up and with it comes the Magic Trackpad, bringing full on MacBook-style multitouch goodness to Apple’s desktop line.
It’s got click, scroll, swipe, and rotate, so if the Magic Mouse just wasn’t enough for you, here’s the escalation you’ve been waiting for. Oh, and there’s an Apple battery re-charger to go with it.
And while it’s not the iPhone or iPod touch “Magic Trackpad” app I’ve been waiting for — can you please get on that Apple? — it does show Apple is continuing to leverage their technologies across their various platforms, devices, and machines, creating a virtuous cycle iOS is sure to benefit from as well.
(And no, there’s no info on whether or not it will work as a companion to the BT Keyboard for iPad — we’ll have to try it when it arrives).
$69. Anyone besides me picking one up?
Apple brings multitouch to desktops with Magic Trackpad is a story by TiPb. This feed is sponsored by The iPhone Blog Store. TiPb – The #1 iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch Blog
Belkin Max Sleeve for iPad – accessory review
YouTube Link
The Belkin Max Sleeve for iPad not only does a great job of protecting your iPad, but it gives you a little extra room to stick some of your accessories in as well. The case is made of a fabric material that is pleated on the front. This is what allows you to have a zipper compartment in the front to stick your other gadgets in.
The inside of the case is a foamy white mesh material. It’s extremely soft so you don’t have to worry about it scratching your iPad. It’s also a loose fit, which means you won’t damage your iPad while taking it out and putting it back in the case. There’s always a down side to a case not fitting snugly though, and that’s if you forget to zip it and pick up the case by the wrong end, it’s very likely your iPad could go crashing to the floor. We didn’t have this happen with this case, but I could see that being a problem as the material on the inside doesn’t offer any grip.
The way we cast that fear aside was to put a silicon case on the iPad and then put it in the Belkin Max Sleeve. The silicon provides the grip and solves the issue. I know a lot of people wouldn’t want to buy 2 cases so it isn’t an ideal situation. My advice? It’s a great case worth the money, just be careful how you pick it up, or make sure you always zip it up.
Other than the sliding out of the case issue, this is a great case and well worth the money. It offers superior protection in an unobtrusive form factor. Even though it’s small, it still lets you stow away other objects, which is nice. If there’s any girls out there like me that hate carrying around a laptop/iPad bag and a purse, this is awesome. Simply throw your phone, credit cards, etc in the front pouch and you’re good to go. You can purchase the Belkin Max Sleeve for iPad from the TiPb Accessory Store.
Pros
Allows for extra storage room in the front pocket
Material on the outside is easy to grip on to
Material on inside won’t scratch your iPad
Cons
Inside material is a little slick so forgetting to zip up could cause an iPad to fall out
Zipper on front pocket is sometimes a bit hard to pull
Belkin Max Sleeve for iPad – accessory review is a story by TiPb. This feed is sponsored by The iPhone Blog Store. TiPb – The #1 iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch Blog
Apple releases iOS 4.1 beta 2 for developers
Once again keeping to the every-2-weeks cycle, Apple has released iOS 4.1 beta 2 for developers. If you’ve got an account, head on over to developer.apple.com and update your SDK and firmware.
We’re guessing Apple plans on doing what they’ve done in year’s past — keep releasing betas until they hold a fall Special Music Event and show off the final version along with a new iPod touch G4.
If anyone notices anything new in beta 2, we’ll update!
[developer.apple.com, thanks to everyone who sent this in!]
Apple releases iOS 4.1 beta 2 for developers is a story by TiPb. This feed is sponsored by The iPhone Blog Store. TiPb – The #1 iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch Blog
Android Captivate and Vibrant get reviewed — the competition
AT&T and T-Mobile bring the Android competition with the Samsung Galaxy S-class Captivate and Vibrant
Phil Nickinson, my counterpart over at sibling site Android Central has just posted his AT&T Android Captivate review and T-Mobile Android Vibrant review, the latest, greatest US GSM competition to our own iPhone 4. They’re both Galaxy S-class devices, but one of the strengths of Android is the ability for manufacturers like Samsung and carriers like AT&T and T-Mobile (and Verizon and Sprint when their versions launch) to modify and customize the hardware and software to make their devices distinct.
Ally already posted her thoughts on the AT&T Captivate vs. iPhone 4, so if you’re trying to decide between the two, or between them and the T-Mobile Vibrant, give Phil’s a read to and then come back here and let us know what you think.
Android Captivate and Vibrant get reviewed — the competition is a story by TiPb. This feed is sponsored by The iPhone Blog Store. TiPb – The #1 iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch Blog
Apple canceling bumper orders to Puerto Rico?
Looks like Apple may be canceling free bumper orders from Puerto Rico over the last 24hrs, as several readers have sent us copies of the following notification:
We are unable to complete your order. We do not ship to international,
freight forwarder, APO, FPO, or P.O. Box addresses.
We offer the following information:
International Shipping: We are unable to ship to an international
address. Therefore your order has been cancelled. Please visit the Apple
Store Worldwide for the Apple Store Store in your country of residence.
Freight Forwarders: We do not ship to Freight Forwarders. Therefore
your order has been cancelled.
APO, FPO or Post Office Boxes: Our carriers are unable to deliver
orders to these addresses. Please visit
http://www.apple.com/orderstatus to change your address to a physical
address, so that we may continue processing your order. If we do not
receive a response from you within one week, your order will be
cancelled. You will need to login to your account with your Apple ID to
locate this order.
Anyone else in a US territory seeing this?
Apple canceling bumper orders to Puerto Rico? is a story by TiPb. This feed is sponsored by The iPhone Blog Store. TiPb – The #1 iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch Blog
Apple TV and TiVo?
Could a next generation Apple TV not only run iOS, but also TiVo’s awesome DVR software? That’s what the rumors on the webs are saying.
It seems hard to reconcile both a new, tiny, solid-state Apple TV powered by iOS with the bigger, beefier needs of local HD video recording an playback, so I’m taking this with a grain of salt, especially considering Steve Jobs’ comments at the last D8 conference.
But at the same time the thought of iOS apps, iTunes streaming, and TiVo local recording makes me positively giddy with want. (And probably makes the upcoming Google TV slightly less competitive).
What do you think? Make Apple TV lean and mean and focused on the stream, or give it the TiVo treatment?
[Barrons via TUAW]
Apple TV and TiVo? is a story by TiPb. This feed is sponsored by The iPhone Blog Store. TiPb – The #1 iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch Blog
