New iPad Pricing to Stay the Same, Available March 16th

Apple has announced availability and pricing for the new iPad. The pricing will follow previous pricing for iPad in the past with Wifi models being priced $130 lower than their 4G/LTE counterparts.

The new iPad will be available to consumers on Friday, March 16th, as recently rumored and have the following price points –

Wifi Models

• 16GB – $499
• 32GB – $599
• 64GB – $699

Wifi + 4G/LTE Models

• 16GB – $629
• 32GB – $729
• 64GB – $829

If you aren’t too sure about shelling out the money for a new model, the iPad 2, which is still an amazing device, will now be available for $399.

Check out all our iPad event coverage and let us know if you will be picking up an iPad 3 on March 16th or picking up a discounted iPad 2?

New iPad to include A5X chipset, quad-core graphics

Apple announced during their iPad 3 event that the new iPad will indeed come packed with the rumored quad-core A5X SoC (system-on-a-chip) to power the device. It appears the quad-core chip will be directly tied into the graphics subsystem powering the device.

There was some debate prior to the announcement that Apple might be using a dual-core option with the A5X instead of jumping to an A6 chip, but many believed that would cause slowdown with heavy multi-tasking, as well as hinder gaming performance as Apple pushes iOS further into the portable gaming realm. It was also thought that Apple would be utilizing both the A5X alongside the A6, but that’s no longer the case.

The A5X should be enough power until Apple sees fit to introduce a more powerful A6 chip, which may also come in quad-core form but have a higher clock speed.

Rumor claims Apple set release lower priced 8GB iPad 2, no 64GB iPad 3… wait, what?

Yet more rumors are surfacing that Apple will release a lower priced 8GB iPad 2 alongside the iPad 3 this month… but this one also claims there won’t be a 64GB iPad 3. Digitimes, which has not been extremely accurate lately, says this is to “defend” against Windows 8 tablets coming later this year.

As Apple has scheduled an event on March 7, sources from its upstream supply chain pointed out that the company is expected to launch two iPad 3 models – a 16GB version and 32GB version. In addition to iPad 3, Apple is also expected to unveil an 8GB iPad 2, allowing the tablet PC series to cover different segments and to defend against Windows 8-based tablet PCs, the sources noted.

Lack of a 64GB iPad 3 model sounds very, very strange, given both the original iPad and iPad 2 offer 64GB models. So does the idea of competing with Windows 8 tablets, which have a completely different cost structure to Apple’s. Namely, Microsoft makes money licensing Windows. ODMs (Original Device Manufacturers) like Samsung, HP, Dell, etc. make money on the hardware. In the past they’ve shown a willingness to operate on razor thin margins, driving prices to the bottom, hoping to make it up on volume. That didn’t work out for netbooks and it’s tough to see it working out for tablets. In either case, that’s not a game Apple plays.

Last year, Apple chose not to keep the original iPad around at a reduced capacity and lower price point, however they have done this with older generation iPhones and iPod touches in the past, most recently with the low-end 8GB iPhone 4 when the iPhone 4S was released.

If Apple ends up doing the same with the iPad 2 this year, it could be simply to lower the cost of entry to attract more customers to the iPad platform.

Digitimes previously speculated that Apple would try to hit a $299 price point with a budget iPad, but given Apple’s traditional focus on profit margins, that will depend a lot on how low they can drive production costs. Further, since the iPad isn’t a subsidized product, Apple can’t shift the discounts to carriers the way they do with the iPhone.

Given the lack of subsidies, Apple’s profit margins, and the rumored 8GB storage capacity, it’s hard to see how appealing even a slightly discounted iPad 2 would be. iCloud and iTunes Match would slightly reduce local storage demands, but not significantly.

Would you find an 8GB iPad 2 appealing at $399?

Source: Digitimes

Facebook for iPhone, iPad about to get mobile ads

If you’ve been enjoying the blissfully commercial-free experience of Facebook’s iPhone and iPad apps, we’re sad to inform you that Facebook will be integrating ads into their news feeds effective immediately. What’s more, “premium” ads will be displayed on the desktop logout screen as well.

This comes after Facebook recently filed for IPO, and hot on the heels of rival social network, Twitter, announcing plans to integrate promoted tweets into their official iPhone app.

Up until now, Facebook has only pushed ads on the desktop and only below the ticker, on the side of user profiles. They no doubt hope mobile ads in the news feed will increase revenue and profitability. Like Google, they offer a free service to end users, but the price of that free service is advertising, data mining, and marketing. We’re not the customers, we’re the product. Facebook, like Google, hopes the service they offer is valuable enough that we’ll put up with the advertising and keep sharing our data, so they can sell more ads to show us.

It’s been an incredibly successful business model for Google, and could prove to be similarly successful for Facebook. However, ads in search may be more tolerable than ads in timelines. Search doesn’t feel as personal as our social circles, and ads shown when we’re looking for something might feel more helpful than ads shown when we’re trying to share with our friends.

How do you feel about ads in your Facebook news feed?

Source: Facebook

Apple now selling iPhone 4 handsets made in Brazil

It looks like Apple has started selling iPhone 4 units from Foxconn’s new Brazilian manufacturing plant, which has been up and running since late 2011. According to photos released by Portuguese news site Meio Bit, the iPhone 4 handsets in question appear to be the lower-end 8GB models, with stamps indicating they may only be just a few weeks old.

Gizmodo Brazil previously took a few photos showing Foxconn’s Brazil’s production. In addition to producing the iPhone 4 in Brazil, Foxconn plans to build 5 more production facilities in the surrounding areas to help with growing demand for the iPad among consumers.

Since Brazil also imposes very high duties on iPhones and iPads imported from China, it’s conceivable that switching to local production could eventually eliminate those fees and bring iPhone and iPad pricing more in line with other regions, making the devices more accessible to Brazilian markets. No such price reductions are evident yet, however, so there may be other factors involved that require additional time to sort out.

Source: Meio Bit via MacRumors

Ringtonium review: The best ringtone creation app for iPad

Ringtonium is simple and easy to use, and best of all saves you money by letting you use your already purchased songs as ringtones.

Ringtonium is the best app for creating custom ringtones — and alert tones — on your iPhone. While record labels are happy to resell you ringtones for the same tracks you’ve already bought — often at the same or even higher prices than the full song! — if you don’t mind a few quick steps, you can save some money and get exactly the ringtone you want, exactly the way you want it.

Although there are plenty of ringtone creation apps available in the App Store to do just that, none of them are a well rounded or useful as Ringtonium. The user-interface is extremely easy to use and builds on some of the unique syncing abilities available in iTunes, along with a number of outside apps like SoundCloud, and of course social network sharing.

Dialing down to specific start and stop times with Ringtonium's fine-tune slider and associated dial

Upon launching the app you’ll be asked to choose between an existing track from the iPod music library, or creating your own track by using the iPhone’s built-in microphone. Once you’ve got a track to work with, you can then jump into the mix and get into the details with a fine-tuned audio scrubber for selecting your start and stop times. If you need even more control over your start/stop times, Ringtonium offers a dial with the ability to drill down to milliseconds for absolute precision.

If you chose to record from the microphone, the quality is remarkably high and distortion free, even at higher input volumes. That’s surprising and very welcome.

Adding effects in Ringtonium using their built-in FX feature is easy

Ringtonium also has an included FX panel where you can add fade in and fade out, adjust the pitch or reverse the audio, and add flange or echo effects. The quality of the included effects are top-notch and Ringtonium lets you go for the longest ringtone duration Apple allows — something most other ringtone apps haven’t caught onto yet.

Exporting custom ringtones with Ringtonium

The Good

• Fast to use
• Well thought out design and user interface layout.
• Supports exporting using iTunes or with 3rd party cloud integration.
• Fine-tuned slider and dialer let you set perfect start/stop times.
• Modify or delete custom ringtones within the app — no iTunes required!
• Video tutorials included.

The Bad

• Cannot mix/combine multiple tracks.
• Limited built-in FX.

The conclusion

Ringtonium is simple and easy to use, and best of all saves you money by letting you use your already purchased songs as ringtones If you’ve been looking for the best ringtone app for your iPhone, look no further than Ringtonium — it’s the best option currently available and excels in every area.

$0.99 — App Store Link

How to sell your old iPad before upgrading to the new iPad 3

You’ve decided you’re going to buy an iPad 3, sight unseen, the moment Apple lets you give them your money.  Do you also  want to get a jumpstart on selling your old iPad before the market gets saturated? No problem! If you’re not handing it down to a friend or family member, or keeping it around the office as a backup device, why not get some cash back and put it towards the purchase of Apple’s next big tablet device? It’s a relatively straight forward process, but there are some things to be careful about, so here’s how to get started.

Getting more for your old iPad

You’ll never get back all the money you poured into your current iPad, but there are some things you can do to maximize the value before you sell.

1. Jailbreak: This isn’t as important as it is with selling old iPhones, especially since 3G iPads are unlocked by default, but a jailbroken iPad can still do things a stock one can’t and some buyers will value that. If you are new to jailbreaking we suggest checking out the jailbreak starters guide for the best resources.
2. Condition: The better your iPad looks, the more you’ll get for it. That almost goes without saying, but the difference can be a good chunk of change. Make sure you give it a good cleaning before you offer it up for sale, and if you’re still under AppleCare or warranty, and are having any issues, take it in for repair or replacement immediately. Most fixes are free and will add a lot of value to your iPad. (Even if you’re no longer under warranty, Apple will still sometimes help you out, so it’s always worth trying.)
3. Wipe your data: Before you end up selling your old iPad, you absolutely have to run a full data wipe on it to make sure none of your data is available to the new owner. We’ve done a quick How-To post to help you with the process.

Putting your iPad up for sale

There are several different ways to sell your iPad, ranging from personal deals between friends, colleagues, or acquaintances, to local classified services, to online auctions. Each one has its pros and cons. Here are some things to consider:

eBay

Selling your iPad on eBay is a pretty simple process. However, there are still some things to keep in mind when using eBay to sell your iPad. For instance, eBay charges fees for each auction based on the item you’re selling and how much it sells for, among other things, so here are five quick tips to help you get the most out of your auction:

1. Only ship to the buyer’s confirmed Paypal address if using Paypal.
2. Price competitively if using Buy It Now as an option.
3. Take the best looking photos you can. Humans are drawn to nice looking things.
4. Make sure the pictures include any physical blemishes on the iPad and be up-front in your description.
5. Use a fast shipping service and make sure you include that in your item description.
6. Use keywords in your title and in your item description to attract more potential buyers.

You may also want to consider insuring your iPad in case anything goes wrong during shipping. Watch out for low-feedback buyers and also keep in mind that Paypal charges processing fees as well.

Craigslist

Selling on craigslist is something to consider if you’d rather deal with people locally and meet face-to-face exchange your iPad for cash. I’ve used Craigslist to sell a number of things around the house, and always follow a few basic rules:

• Don’t ever put your personal or home address in an ad. Ever!
• Putting a personal phone number in an ad is okay, but that’s up to you.
• Some find it easier to text rather than email.
• Meet in a public place, preferably in the daytime.
• Bring a friend or several friends; better safe than ripped off.
• Watch out for email scams, something for which Craigslist is notorious.

It’s always a good idea to use caution when dealing with Craigslist. I’ve heard some pretty crazy stories so really, bring a friend and meet in an open, public area to avoid any problems.

Gazelle

Gazelle offers a service that lets you easily turn most electronic devices into cash. Simply send in your iPad and Gazelle will send you money after confirming the condition. The first thing you’ll need to do is tell Gazelle what you’re selling and what condition the item is in. You can choose from poor, fair, good or excellent condition It’s important to be honest when rating the condition so there’s no hiccups or snags along the way. It also helps if you have the box and original documentation and cables with your item, and the service will check for any water damages before giving you a quote.

The process takes about a week, and although you’re not getting as much money in the end it’s a great service if you don’t want to deal with a lot of hassle. You can have your payment delivered through Paypal among other methods. You can also submit multiple items if you’re looking to get rid of a few more things while you’re at it.

SellYourMac.com

SellYourMac.com offers a similar service to Gazelle by letting you send in your old iPad for payment with little to no hassle involved. In a nutshell, they’ll buy your old Mac or iOS device. You’re required to provide pictures along with a serial number next to your item description and condition. Once SellYourMac.com receives your iPad they clean it, inspect it and verify that it’s in working condition before they turn around and sell it on eBay. Users can receive payment via Paypal and SellYourMac.com even says they give higher quotes than competing services like Gazelle, so you’ll definitely want to compare before making any final decisions.

Apple Recycle Program

If selling your old iPad on any of the services mentioned above doesn’t sound appealing, and it’s not in good enough condition to give away, Apple has set up an iPod and Mobile Phone Recycling Program.

Personal transactions

Just because all these online services are available, it doesn’t mean you can’t still sell your old iPad the old fashioned way — person to person, likely to a friend or acquaintance. Just be sure to follow all the tips suggested above, and remember that accessories like Square can even let you take credit cards right on your own device now, if cash isn’t as convenient.

Bonus tip

Include all packaging, cables and adapters if possible. If you have any extra cases or accessories you want to throw in the deal it can usually net you a higher selling price as a bundle instead of trying to sell them individually.

Any questions?

Whether it’s eBay, Criagslist or any other method for selling your old iPad we hope this article will help you along the way. As always, let us know if you have any questions or additional suggestions in the comments below!

You can also check out our Marketplace Forum for more iPad buying/selling action.

Why Apple chose Twitter over Facebook

Control, privacy, platform, and competition are just some of the reasons both iOS and OS X integrate Twitter but not Facebook.

With the upcoming release of OS X Mountain Lion, Apple will be fully integrating Twitter social sharing across all of their included apps, as well as extending a developer API for 3rd party apps available through the Mac App Store. This follows similar integration in iOS 5 last year and leaves one huge, lingering question: where’s the Facebook integration?

Facebook has roughly 845 million users on their platform, and Facebook for iPhone has been one of the most popular apps on the App Store since launch. Both iOS and Facebook are massive platforms and the intersection of those to platforms is enormous.

That’s not taking anything away from Twitter, which is also extremely popular and also shares a huge intersection between its user base and Apple’s. They’re just very different social networks, with different features, and iOS currently only has one and not the other.

So why would Apple choose to leave out Facebook and rely only on the less-enormous, less feature-filled Twitter for social integration in OS X 10.8 and iOS 5?

Control

The first reason that springs to mind is control. Apple likes to have as much control over their platform as they can in order to deliver the absolute best user-experience possible. Twitter doesn’t take much issue with this, but Facebook is a different story.

Apple and Facebook once tried to work together on Apple’s Ping social music service. According to the late Steve Jobs, Facebook wanted “onerous” terms in order to allow integration between Ping and Facebook’s platform. Apple declined. Facebook pulled support. Finger pointing and harsh words followed.

(There are also some signs that Apple and Facebook flirted with integration in iOS 4 as well, but nothing became of it.)

Privacy

Apple has had some issues with privacy, including the collection of traffic data and recently apps that uploaded Contacts info without permission. However, they’ve also used privacy as a way to needles Google. Apple makes most of their money selling products, not selling advertising services, so they don’t want to or need to collect a lot of user data. They’ve also been fairly unimpeachable when it’s come to insisting other companies get users to opt-into sharing information up front, rather than force them to opt-out in some convoluted manner later. (Much to the consternation of advertisers and marketers, most recently in the magazine subscription area.)

Facebook on the other hand likes to collect huge amounts of data from its users, often with a collect first, apologize later mentality. Apple might take issue with Facebook wanting to harvest iOS user data, package it up, and market against it. Especially if all they, and users get in return is integration for status, photos, and location.

Platform

Facebook views their service as a platform. Just as OS X and iOS are unique and proprietary platforms meant to help Apple sell hardware, Facebook’s platform is a proprietary service meant to help them collect data and sell ads. Apple wants to prioritize their iPhone and iPad devices, Facebook their social graph.

Those different and diverging priorities can easily be at odds and lead to conflict.

Competition

Lastly, Facebook has long been rumored to be working on their own smartphone. This could present the same problem for Apple that Google did when Android was released. In fact, it could be an even bigger problem if Facebook’s integration is integrated more deeply than a maps or video app, or a mail account. Facebook integration isn’t a bell that can be easily un-rung.

It would make sense for Facebook to make their own smartphone, however, the same way it made sense for Google.

Steve Jobs threatened to go Nuclear on Google when Android was released, to spend Apple’s last dollar suing Google over their “stolen” technology. Would Apple set themselves up for that to happen again?

Twitter

Twitter doesn’t seem to want as much control as Facebook. They’re so far much more upfront about user privacy. While they’re also a platform, it’s one that seems — at least for now — more compatible with Apple’s needs than is Facebook’s. There’s also no sign of a Twitter Phone on the horizon (or rather, almost every smartphone is already a Twitter Phone these days.)

Of course, it’s always possible that Apple and Facebook may come to some sort of agreement down the road, ultimately paving the way for Facebook integration in iOS 6 and future versions of OS X. During Apple’s recent shareholder meeting, CEO Tim Cook was asked about their relationship with Facebook and where exactly the popular social network would come into the picture down the road.

We do a lot with them, our users use Facebook an enormous amount. [...] I’ve always thought that the two companies could do more together.

Apple could stay away from Facebook just as they have always done, allowing Twitter to continue on its course of massive growth and user adoption. Or Apple and Facebook could patch up their differences, work out a deal, and give users more benefit with additional social sharing options..

Regardless, it would be nice to see the two work something out given how popular Facebook is and how often most of us use the social network on our iPhones, iPod touches, and iPads.

Apple’s Fair Play DRM for iBooks cracked

It appears as though Apple’s FairPlay Digital Rights Management (DRM) for iBooks has been cracked, allowing iBooks to work on non-iOS ePub readers. MobileRead Forums reports:

It is now possible to remove the DRM from epub ebooks bought in Apple’s iBooks store. “Brahms”, has recently released a new version, 3.3, of his Requiem software, which has been able to remove DRM from music and videos bought in the iTunes Music Store for a long time. This new version can also remove the DRM from Apple’s epub format ebooks.

DRM cracking has been a long standing problem for Apple and other platform owners, originally with iTunes music and video content, later with App Store apps. While Apple dropped FairPlay DRM from iTunes music in 2009, it’s remained in place for everything else.

DRM protects authors and other creators from illegal distribution of their content (we all like to get paid for the work we do), though when poorly thought out or overzealously implemented, it can also stop legitimate customers from enjoying the content they purchased.

FairPlay tends to be pretty liberal, allowing up to 5 Mac or Windows PCs to be authorized for iTunes content, and up to 10 iOS devices, including iPhone, iPod touch, iPad, and Apple TV to access services like iTunes Match.

It’s likely Apple is investigating the issue and will have a FairPlay fix put into place via a software update for iTunes and the iBookstore in the near future, but it’s a cat-and-mouse game so we probably haven’t heard the last of it.

Source: MobileRead Forums via CNET

Best iPhone apps and accessories for running and jogging

“Whether you’re new to jogging or are a seasoned marathoner, there are tons of great iPhone apps and accessories will help you to be the best runner you can possibly be.”

The iPhone is the perfect companion for those looking to get into jogging or running, or those looking to keep their long-term training fun and fresh. Since it’s health and Fitness month here at iMore and the Mobile Nations network, we’re going to take a look a the very best accessories and apps that’ll help you get the most out of your experience.

One important thing to remember before getting started is to always keep yourself properly hydrated when going on a run. Keeping a water bottle with you is a great idea, but if you can’t, make sure to get a good amount of hydration during your warmup and cool down periods. The fact is, when you run, you sweat. A lot. Whether it’s just a quick jog or a long, 10-15 mile run, proper hydration is absolutely essential to keeping your body going without over-stressing your cardiovascular system.

Tune Belt Sport Armband for iPhone 4 and iPhone 4S

Some runners might prefer an armband over a belt case, and if so, the Tune Belt Sport Armband is your go-to

The Tune Best Armband is the best armband out there for both heavy running and light jogging. It features a protective window cover and washable material, with support for right side up or upside down orientation to match every type of workout you can imagine. Attach it to your arm or even your thigh with the EX3 length extender pushing it beyond the default 9-17 inch adjustment options if needed (EX3 sold separately). The dual-orientation also makes for a more convenient way to access your iPhone without requiring you to remove it from the armband. Just extend your arm up to eye level, and you can navigate through your iPhone without the hassle of stopping, removing it from the case, and tapping through to what you need.

The great thing about the Tune Best Armband is the stretchable form-fitting material, which supports newer iPhone models as well as the older, bulkier iPhone 3G and iPhone 3GS. You’ll never have to stress about your iPhone being exposed to water damage if you’re running out in the rain or snow with the water-proof design, and the protective front cover ensures a scratch-resistant environment in case you happen to slip or fall while you’re out on a jog in less than ideal weather.

For safety nuts, the Tune Best Armband includes a highly reflective logo for night jogging, and you won’t have to worry about your earbud cord getting in the way with the built-in cord organizer. Just wrap your earbud cable around the flap for a tangle-free experience! For runners, the Tune Belt Sport Armband is definitely the way to go.

• Protective cover with waterproof design
• Earbud cord organizer for tangle-free running
• Form fitting to older iPhones
• Reflective logo for safety

$14.99+ — Buy Now

Polk Audio UltraFit sports headphones

There’s nothing worse than headsets that fall or flop out of your ears when you’re running. It completely takes you out of the zone and leaves you fumbling for your music rather than focusing on your run. Enter UltraFit, a range of high performance headsets specifically engineered to stay in your ears, even if you’re running cross-country (or jumping on a trampoline!)

Polk offers both cheaper and premium alternatives, and because of the design, the UltraFit don’t block out all noise — so you can hear cars getting close or friends complaining when you leave them in the dust. The hire end models also include remote controls on the cables to easily control your audio apps without fussing with your iPhone.

• Tangle free, planar cables
• SecureFit to stay in place
• Moisture shields
• Two cable choices, 14 and 41-inches

$49.95 – $99.95 – Buy Now

RunKeeper

RunKeeper lets you setup training workouts, map your route, monitor caloric output and more

RunKeeper is quite possibly the best app out there for runners. RunKeeper uses the GPS included in the iPhone to measure distance, elevation, duration, speed and pace of your run, and more. It also follows your routes on a map and gives you the ability to plan your route ahead of time, giving you a much better overall idea of how easy or difficult your run will be — all before even getting started! RunKeeper also comes with the following features:

• Social Network Sharing
• Personalized Dashboard
• Target Pace with built-in coaching (via headphones)
• Interval workouts/runs

The app also includes full iPod integration, so you won’t have to jump out of the app and into music library in order to change tracks or switch to another playlist.

Breakdown of time and speed for each mile you've run and access playlists for quick and easy changeovers

In addition, RunKeeper includes audio prompts that cycle through your headphones to give you information and updates on your run without any user input required. If you’re new to running or if you’ve been running for a while, RunKeeper is definitely the first app you’ll want to look into.

Free — Download Now

Get Running (Couch to 5K)

If you're new to running and find it a bit daunting, Get Running is the app for you

Get Running is an app for new runners. This little gem of an app will get you running for a full 30 minutes, non-stop, by integrating three daily workouts over a nine-week period, starting slow and building up to the ability to finish a full 5K run!

• Social Sharing
• Set up a personalized plan
• iPod integration for working with or without your music
• Full activity and achievement log

Get Running is the only 5K running app that coaches you up like an actual human coach would, so you’ll feel more motivated to keep progressing as you go through the program. By encouraging you to keep moving forward, you’ll be able to run a full 5K stretch in no time!

If you’re new to running and want to make the process a bit less scary, Get Running is the app for you!

$2.99 — Download Now

iMapMyRun+

View pace, speed, time distance and other stats to help monitor your progress along the way

iMapMyRun is a more basic running app that does exactly what the title implies. It maps your run and gives you information related to your run, such as pace, distance, caloric output, nutrition information, elevation, heart rate stats and features a live route map update in real-time as you go.

The app offers great social integration as well, so if you’re into building up your bragging rights amongst fellow runners, iMapMyRun+ offers an always up-to-date list of the latest runs you or your friends have been on.

Displaying your progress is great for motivation or to compare with fellow runners

Just like RunKeeper, iMapMyRun+ features voice prompts to update you with all of these stats on-the-go so you don’t have to stop and check the app to see how you’re doing. You also have the option of posting bragging rights to Twitter and Facebook if you want to keep your friends up to date on how you’re doing. It also includes full iPod integration with a GPS camera. The free app comes with ads, so you’ll have to purchase the full app if you don’t want that to become an annoyance for you.

$1.99 — Download Now

Now get running!

Whether you’re new to jogging or are a seasoned marathoner, there are tons of great iPhone apps and accessories will help you to be the best runner you can possibly be. I’ve been using these apps and accessories to help get in shape, and I couldn’t have picked a better device to assist in the process. The iPhone — paired with these apps and accessories — is the perfect solution for running and jogging.

If you have any additional accessories or apps that you consider the best-of-the-best, make sure to mention them in the comments below. And if you’re joining us for Mobile Nations Fitness Month, and P90X is your plan of choice, jump into our Health & Fitness Forum and work out with us!

Apple acquires Chomp, set to revamp search and discovery for App Store apps

Apple has acquired Chomp, a search and discovery app for the iPhone that helps users find the best-of-the-best apps in the App Store. Apple plans to utilize Chomp’s proprietary algorithms and technology to improve discoverability and user experience, presumably both on the mobile and desktop versions of the App Store.

According to M.G Siegler at TechCrunch

This is not a cheap “acqui-hire”, Apple has bought the Chomp team and technology and plans to use both to completely revamp App Store search and recommendations, I hear.

This follows a recent 9to5Mac report that Apple had plans in the pipeline for a complete revamp of the iTunes and App Store environment, with emphasis on app and music discovery. The Chomp acquisition would no doubt play a roll, potentially a large one, in the rumored redesign, especially server-side where right now there are far too many scam apps and poor quality search results to effectively find quality apps.

Whether or not it would replace, or merely reinvigorate the Genius recommendation system is unknown.

There are currently over 500,000 iOS apps available for download and purchase, and Apple is already preparing for 25 billion app downloads. There’s also a growing number of OS X apps in the Mac App Store. This is something Apple simply has to address.

Source: TechCrunch

Bug in iOS 5.0.1 allows unauthorized access to your contacts and call history

A new bug found in iOS 5.0.1 may allow an unauthorized user to access your contacts, make phone calls, or use FaceTime on your iPhone even if it’s passcode locked. The iPhone 4S, iPhone 4 and iPhone 3GS all seem to be affected by this bug.

While it’s always unnerving to find out that someone could potentially gain access to your iPhone without your knowledge, this one isn’t something I’d be too concerned about as the process seems a little beyond what the average snoop would attempt. Especially when they’ll only be able to access your contacts and recent calls.

Someone would basically have to confuse the phone after receiving a missed call by one of two methods – doing it while you have no network coverage or actively inserting and ejecting the SIM card. This will eventually lead to the iPhone unlocking to the phone app and allowing you to place phone calls. Once you hang up, you’ll be locked out again.

It seems a bit silly as this process obviously needs to be performed numerous times, as shown in the demo video, in order for it to confuse the phone. As long as you aren’t leaving your iPhone unattended for long periods of time with shady friends who actively carry around a SIM removal tool or paperclip, I don’t see this becoming a popular way of hacking into someone’s iPhone.

A similar bug was discovered a while back under iOS 4 which also allowed access to contacts, favorites, and voicemail on a locked device. Another recently discovered timestamp bug in iOS 5 allowed access to your camera roll.

No word yet on whether or not this specific issue is patched in iOS 5.1. If it isn’t already, it probably will be before the public release of iOS 5.1.

Source: iPhoneIslam

Rumored iPad 3 glass and digitizer images reveal no major changes from iPad 2

We’ve seen a number of supposed iPad 3 parts recently, and this latest one shows the front glass and digitizer assembly with the layout remaining largely the same as that of the iPad 2, with no changes to the Home button, front-facing camera position or ambient light sensor arrangement. If the pictures, which come by way of Sina Weibo, are accurate, the only recognizable change is the ribbon cable on the side of the glass, which extends roughly half-way up the device as opposed to the iPad 2 which has a shorter cable with a sideways orientation.

A separate post from the same person claims the rumored A5X SoC includes a dual-core processor instead of quad-core, in addition to the iPad 3 coming with full support for Siri, which has so far remained exclusive to the iPhone 4S.

Other recent component leaks indicate a thicker, more tapered back, a logic board with possible A5X chipset and the supposed Retina display put under a microscope.

Additional notes indicate Apple plans to release iOS 5.1 alongside the iPad 3, which is expected to be announced on March 7th with a Retina display and possible 4G LTE. BGR previously heard rumors of iOS 5.1 hitting on March 9th, which could be when Apple plans to deliver devices to consumers, but we’ll have to wait for the official announcement next month.

Source: Sina Weibo via Apple.pro, MacRumors

Supposed photos of iPad 3 compared with iPad 2 confirm thicker design, more tapered edges

The iPad 3 rumor mill is chugging a long a full speed, this time showing us what’s supposedly Apple’s next generation tablet side-by-side with an iPad 2. These photos highlight a slightly thicker casing and more tapered edges, which falls in line with previous image leaks.

If accurate, these images from M.I.C. Gadget has posted another round of new photos likely confirm that Apple will be modifying the casing of the next iPad to offer a thin feeling while ever-so-slightly extending the thickness of the device, most probably to allow room required for a higher quality 8 megapixel camera, Retina display, battery, and possible 4G LTE networking

The iPad 3 is expected to be announced on March 7th shortly before Apple is rumored to push out iOS 5.1 to the masses.

Source: M.I.C Gadget

Apple rumored to be working on complete iTunes Store and App Store redesign

Apple is reportedly planning a redesign for the iTunes Store and App Store for sometime later this year. Apple hasn’t introduced a complete overhaul to the iTunes Store interface since late 2009 when they introduced , but according Mark Gurman at 9to5Mac:

The new design is said to be even simpler and more user-friendly than the current design. Apple is working on ways to enhance the speed and efficiency of finding new content, such as songs, videos, and applications. The cornerstone element of Apple’s new iTunes Store is interactivity. As Apple vaguely explained to a number of music labels and entertainment partners, Apple is looking to make the iTunes Store a much more engaging experience. [...] The interactivity that Apple wants within the digital store is something Apple could only likely pull off by housing the store within a full-fledged application, not a pure web browser experience.

They’re not sure if this redesign, like iTunes 9 which saw the last major overhaul, will require a new version number — like iTunes 11, of if it will just be rolled into an iTunes 10 point release. However, discoverability is said to be on the agenda, with more interactive ways to find music, movies, apps, and games being a priority. It sounds like iTunes on Windows and Mac is the current focus, may be timed to coincide with Mac OS X 10.8 Mountain Lion this summer, though the more traditional fall update cycle — perhaps alongside the iPhone 5 could be a more likely possibility.

Source: 9to5Mac

iPhone 5 rumored to be keeping to fall release schedule for 2012

Apple is rumored to be sticking to a September or October 2012 release cycle for the iPhone 5 — or whatever they end up calling the next-generation iPhone — just as they did with the iPhone 4S in 2011. Japanese news site Macotakara reports:

According to Asian reliable source, the next iPhone will be released in September or October, and this cycle seems to be kept for years.

Previous to the iPhone 4S, Apple historically held to a summer release cycle, with the original iPhone hitting on June 29th, 2007. Subsequent releases of the iPhone 3G and iPhone 3GS were in mid July and late June respectively, with the iPhone 4 following up on June 24 of 2010.

With the iPhone 4S, however, Apple switched to a to an October release window, moving away from the summer cycle they’ve been accustomed to and taking the Holiday spot previously reserved for the iPod. Given that Apple announced a record-breaking quarter with over 37 million iPhones sold after the iPhone 4S hit consumers late last year, it was likely a smart move and it makes sense for Apple to continue on this path going forward.

iMore previously reported on an October 2012 release date for the iPhone 5.

Source: Macotakara

Rumored prototype iPad 3 logic board shows Apple A5X chip

Adding to the ever-growing iPad 3 rumor mill, a new photo has surfaced on the WeiPhone forums showing a system-on-a-chip nestled onto a prototype logic board, carrying a previously unheard of “A5X”. The A5X chip also includes a date code of “1146″, which would peg production at or around November 14th-20th of 2011.

This could mean a) the iPad 3 will have an updated variant of the Apple A5 chipset rather than an Apple A6 chipset as previously speculated; or b) this specific prototype was being tested on a variant of the A5 while work was still in progress on the Apple A6.

The A5X chip is model #S5L8945X, which matches an iPad 3 iBoot log reported by BGR a couple weeks ago, and indicates a less dramatic update than than the previous 30X to 4X jump between the original iPad and iPad 2. If the A5X ships with the iPad 3, it could mean Apple is sticking with the original dual-core architecture of the A5-powered iPad 2 rather than going to a quad-core architecture, as previously rumored. This wouldn’t overly affect speed and power, as an A5X would likely be faster and incorporate a newer graphics chip as well, but it could reduce flexibility and the number of complex tasks the iPad 3 could do at once.

We won’t know the broad strokes for certain until Apple makes an official announcement, likely on March 7th. We also won’t know the details until after Apple delivers the iPad 3 to customers, the date of which is still up in the air. Then the teardown companies will get at it and give us a more detailed look.

In addition to a new chipset, the iPad 3 is expected to include a high-resolution 2048×1536 Retina display, possible 4G LTE network support, and a higher quality 8 megapixel camera and slightly adjusted tapered casing.

Source: WeiPhone via MacRumors

iOS 5.1 rumored to bring rich text to Notes app

iOS 5.1 has been in beta for a while now, but it looks like several features have remained hidden from developers thus far — potentially including rich text formatting for the Notes app. Previously limited to just plain text, iPhone Hellas reports that users will soon be able to include bulleted lists, links, underlined text, change the font color and more.

If accurate, it’s great to see Apple pushing Notes a little further, as it’s been essentially the same since the early iPhone OS days. It probably won’t have any effect on App Store note-taking apps, which often include additional features, or features Apple would never add, like Dropbox or Box.net support, or allow hand-writing support.

Like the Photos app, it’s just bare bones functionality.

iOS 5.1 has been rumored to hit the streets on March 9th from operator profile code uncovered in the latest beta release, which is also right around the time we think Apple will be announcing the iPad 3.

Source: iPhoneHellas

Best Buy employee auction site loaded up with discounted iPad 2′s ahead of iPad 3 launch

It looks like Best Buy is trying to offload some iPad 2 inventory on their internal employee auction website ahead of the iPad 3 launch. Offering internal employees reduced prices isn’t an uncommon practice among retailers in the lead up to product refreshes from Apple, as some retailers offered the first-gen iPad at lower prices both internally and at retail stores before Apple officially announced the iPad 2 last year.

The iPad 3, which is expected to be announced on March 7th and to ship sometime soon thereafter. Expected features include high-resolution Retina display, quad-core Apple A6 processor, and possible 4G LTE support. (We’d also dearly love better cameras.)

Along with case leaks, constrained supplies, and tons of rumors, consider this just one of the many signposts that we see along the way, alerting us to the iPad 3 event, and release, coming up ahead.

Apple CEO Tim Cook discusses bringing iPad, iPhone experience to Mountain Lion

Apple CEO Tim Cook and SVP of Worldwide Marketing Phil Schiller sat down with The Wall Street Journal to discuss some of the reasons Apple chose to bring the iPad experience over to the Mac. During the interview, Cook went over some of the changes we’ll be seeing in Mountain Lion and how they plan to allow the iPad and laptops to coexist while merging the user-experience in many ways.

“We see that people are in love with a lot of apps and functionality here,” said Mr. Cook, 51 years old, pointing at his iPhone. “Anywhere where that makes sense, we are going to move that over to Mac.” [...] Mr. Cook said he already thinks of Apple’s iOS and OS X operating systems “as one with incremental functionality.” He said both laptops and tablets will continue to coexist, but he didn’t rule out that the technologies could converge further.

Cook also touched upon some of the rumors related to Apple using their own integrated SoC (system-on-a-chip) across the the gamut of their products — from mobile to the desktop — although he was rather vague on the subject while leaving it open to possibility.

When asked if Apples iPhones, iPads and Macs might run the same microprocessor chips, he said: “We think about everything. We don’t close things off.”

Phil Schiller also went over some of the reasons Apple is attempting to merge the mobile and desktop experience between iOS 5 and OS X Mountain Lion, indicating they took a “logical pass” at the user-experience in order for everything to make sense to the end user.

When asked if Apple was worried about the iPad taking over Mac sales, Cook tried to calm the concerns by explaining how iPhone and iPad users flock to the Mac after realizing how much better of a user-experience the devices provide, although he did admit Mac sales have been slightly canalization by the iPad in the most recent quarter.

Mr. Cook said the Mac remains an “incredibly important” part of the company and that it is already benefiting from the success of the iPhone, particularly in China, where Mac sales doubled last year. “They know about Apple and what Apple stands for,” he said. “Then they search out and look for the Mac.”

Apple officially announced they’ll be pushing OS X 10.8 Mountain Lion to the public later this summer, further integrating the iPad experience with the desktop, and creating Mac versions of Messages, Reminders, Notification Center and more.

OS X 10.8 Mountain Lion will be available later this summer, with a developer preview hitting the channel this Thursday.

Source: WSJ