Amazon Kindle Fire for $139

This deal is HOT - If you have been considering the purchase of an tablet then take a look at these refurbished Kindle Fires tablets on Amazon. Only valid through today, these tablets have been repaired and have a warranty. So for $139 you could have a $200 Kindle Fire, not bad!

Apple Girl - iTunes $10k Gift Card Winner

Fu Chunli, now known as Apple Girl, was flown to Beijing by Apple to collect her prize. I would love to know what she will be purchasing with her new gift card. I have been fascinated by this story because it doesn't make sense. Take a look at one of my earlier posts on the topics.
http://mediamixmaster.blogspot.com/2012/03/apple-gives-away-10k-itunes-gift-card.html

Google Play - A New Marketplace

The Android Market is now "Google Play", "Now your favorite music, books, movies, apps, and games are all in one place that's accessible from the Web and any Android device."
But Google isn't "playing around" with enforcement of its content policies. As reported on Cnet, Andrew Shu's "Reddit Is fun" app was pulled from "Play" last week by the Google for violating its content policies. Some Android developers, like Shu, may decide to stay clear of "Play".

Google + James Worthy = Hangout

Google is looking at new ways of draw folks to Google + by using "Hangouts" with
President Obama, and then Mitt Romney. Now Google is partnering with college (North Carolina Tar Heels) & NBA (Los Angeles Lakers) legend James Worthy to hold a hangout on March 31st, as a prelude to the NCAA Final Four. According to  Lost Lettermen in order to participate you will need to submit your questions to James Worthy by leaving a comment on their site or by leaving one on twitter @ #AskJamesW.

Google Visits Amazon

Visiting the Brazilian Amazon is on my bucket list - but I haven't gotten around to it yet. Now Google's street view will allow you to take a boat down the Amazon river and experience its wildlife. Take a look.

New iPad is Really HOT!

According to Consumer Reports (CR) the iPad could get as HOT as 116 degrees, which is 13 degrees hotter than the iPad 2. After a week of record sales there are 3 million of these HOT puppies in consumers hands. The likely culprit is Apple's new amazing Retina display which is putting added demands on the processor. Admittedly, I haven't put my new iPad through any rigorous tests, so I haven't experienced the heat issue.

Google Nexus Tablet for $149

If you want to silence the research analyst crowd about fragmentation in the Android OS market -- releasing a sub-$200 tablet might just be what the doctor ordered. As I have been saying, for many consumers price is the driving force in their decision making process and these folks are less likely to be concerned about OS fragmentation.  Google has opportunity to increase its tablet market share with the release of this product - it doesn't need to be better than the iPad - at $149 it will only have to be good enough. And personally - I'd buy one for my kid.

also see: Where are the $99 Tablets?

Waiting for the iPad 3, I Mean the New iPad

The faithful have been waiting on long lines all night (in the rain if they were in NYC), but they are opening their wallets this morning and welcoming the third version of the iPad. I am not as adventurous as Steve Wozniak anymore, so I ordered my iPad online and it will be waiting for me once I get home.

I found it interesting that Apple decided to name this iPad the "New iPad", rather than the iPad 3. It seems that they may have painted themselves into a corner. What will the next iPad be called, "the New, New iPad" or "the Latest iPad" or "Newer iPad" or "Brand New iPad" !

Encyclopedia Britannica ends print edition

I remember how excited I was as a kid when my parents purchased a set of the encyclopedia Britannica - we had a library at home. The nearly endless volumes of knowledge took center stage on the bookcase my father built. My encyclopedia set is long gone and so is the bookshelf - they have been replaced by tablets in my house. I wonder if my kids will have fond memories about receiving their tablets - probably not.

Read more: http://www.foxnews.com/scitech/2012/03/13/after-244-years-encyclopaedia-britannica-ends-sale-print-edition-69037531/#ixzz1p5xiDuOw

IT Buyers Pick the iPad

 ChangeWave Research conducted a survey of 1,000 IT business buyers last month, which revealed that 84% intend to purchase iPads in the upcoming quarter. According to the study, while Apple's iPad future business purchases roses 7% to 77%, other tablet makers like Samsung and Asus have been on the decline.This further illustrates the iPad's dominance in the marketplace and specifically in the corporate environment.

My iPad 3 Only Cost Me $75.66

As promised I ordered an iPad 3 - total price $575.66. If you recall, I sold my 1st gen iPad for $399, once the iPad 2 was announced. Then I decided to not to purchase the iPad 2 and wait for the iPad 3. Just by chance, last week I received a $100 gift -so my iPad on cost me $75.66. Not Bad!
My iPad has shipped from China and will arrive on the 16th.

iPad 3 - Unveiled - Users Flood Apple Store Online

I have been waiting for the iPad 3 - And I was absolutely ready to Pre-Order mine. Then as I hit the Pre-Order button, Zap!

I guess I wasn't the only person who wanted to Pre-Order an iPad 3. Crashing is usually a bad thing - in this case it illustrates the enormous demand for this product.

The 25 Billionth App Download was in China

We have a winner - Chunli Fu Qindao of China has won the $10k Apple iTunes gift card. He downloaded ‘Where’s My Water" a free application. I suspect that Chunli is finally realizing that he got stiffed --- The only benefit is that Chunli probably won't have to pay taxes on the $10k - but I am not familiar with the Chinese tax code. Maybe he can trade it in at his local Fake Apple store for cash.

Apple Gives Away a $10k iTunes Gift Card to a "Lucky" Winner

"A Billion Thanks a Million Times Over" – Well one customer will be sort of wealthier - at least a $10k App Store gift card wealthier. I am not sure what the "Lucky" winner will do with a $10k iTunes gift card. Here are a few options --- buy 1,000 movies ($10 average), or buy 833 books ($12 average),  or buy 10,101 Apps (.99¢  average). I am not sure where the "lucky" winner will store all of their new found software.
Winning is great, but winning something that you really can't fully use is worse than losing - in this case it is a loss. The poor winner may have to pay taxes on the $10k and they may have to use the full gift card  amount within a year.
Not looking like much of a victory! Decline it or donate it to charity.

They could have given away a One Billion dollar iTunes gift card - and it would have be equally useless.

iPad Mini Anyone?

On Wednesday Apple will be unveiling the iPad 3, but the hottest news is the arrival of an iPad Mini in Q3. According to Digitimes LCD Panel orders for  the 7.85–inch "Mini" have gone to AU Optronics, with additional orders going to LG. Also Apple may have decided to source the production of the "Mini" away from controversial supplier Foxconn to Pegatron Technology.

Does the iPad Have Any Real Competition?

I read an article from the Washington Post this morning entitled, "Apple’s ‘iPad 3’ faces stiffer competition than iPad 2".  The piece offered a long list of formidable competitors - but aside from the Kindle Fire, I really can't imagine myself purchasing anything but the iPad 3. And the only reason I'd get a Kindle Fire is because I have Amazon Prime. If consumers are going to spend over $400 on a tablet they'd probably want to purchase the most popular one available and that would be the iPad. I suspect that the additional $100 for an iPad isn't going to be a deal breaker. And consumers who purchase a Kindle Fire are far less likely to be concerned about using their tablet beyond recreational use. Unlike iPad users who will use their tablet for work.  I will admit that price can make play a huge roll in swaying consumers opinions about products - at the right price "Good Enough" becomes acceptable!
Also see my previous post on $99 tablets.



 From the Washington Post: Read the Article
Kindle Fire: Amazon’s seven-inch tablet has a price advantage over the iPad, starting at $199 instead of Apple’s $499, as well as access to Amazon’s huge retail store.
Nook Tablet: Great for reading, the Nook Tablet’s screen is easier on the eyes than the iPad and, with its seven-inch form factor, easier to carry around.
Acer Iconia A500: This tablet has more memory than the iPad 2 and more ports, making it good for people who want to use their tablets in conjunction with other gadgets.
Asus Transformer: The Transformer line comes with a full QWERTY keyboard, making it much easier to type on for longer e-mails or short memos.
Asus Slider: Another tablet that has a keyboard, the slider has a cool form factor that’s different than your average “screen surrounded by black plastic.”
HTC Flyer: This seven-inch tablet works well for people who like to write, runs Android Honeycomb and comes with an optional pen for highlighting, annotating and drawing.
HTC Jetstream: Like the HTC Flyer, this tablet comes with HTC’s Scribe pen but also comes with 4G connectivity — a much-wished-for feature for the iPad.
Galaxy Note: Not quite a phone, not quite a tablet, this five-inch hybrid comes with a stylus and is good for people who want their tablet more portable than the iPad but don’t want to squint to read on a smartphone.
Galaxy Note 10.1: With all the stylus features of its smaller sibling, the Galaxy Note 10.1 has HSPA+ connectivity, which means 4G data speeds.
Pantech Element:Three words: Waterproof. 4G. $300.
Galaxy Tab 10.1: This near iPad clone has been out for some time now but is a tad bit lighter and, of course, supports Flash.
BlackBerry PlayBook: The PlayBook’s smaller form factor and integration with BlackBerry smartphones recommend this tablet to its very specific niche.
Sony S: Sony’s got great design chops, and this tablet’s folded magazine design fits well in hand — better than Apple’s super-sleek slate.
Sony P: Sony’s latest tablet has not one but two 5.5-inch screens, making it quite portable and, if nothing else, different.
G-Slate: This tablet has 3-D capability. Sure, it requires those red-and-blue affairs, but it’s neat enough if you’re into the gimmick.
T-Mobile Springboard: Super-cheap and with 4G capability, this tablet is good for people who are on the go but don’t fear the two-year contract commitment.
Motorola Xyboard: The update to the Xoom, the Xyboard beats the iPad 2 in the camera department, with an 8MP sensor.
Toshiba Thrive: Ports, ports, ports set the Thrive apart from the iPad 2. The bigger version come with a spots for full HDMI, USB and an SD card, while the smaller version builds in mini- or micro-versions of all those expandable options.
Asus Transformer Pad Infinity: This new version of the Transformer Pad Infinity not only has the keyboard and the cameras, but comes in a range of attractive colors.
Asus Padfone: Another hybrid device, the Padfone lets users click their smartphone into a 10-inch shell to up the display size of whatever they want to do on-the-go. The Padfone can also use the Asus keyboard dock, making it functionally three devices in one.