News

Apple Just Can't Get Enough iPad Screens

Shipping time for a new iPad is already set at 7-10 business days, but a shortage could be looming as parts manufacturers struggle to keep up with demand for orders from Apple. The latest company to signal it was having trouble is Korean company LG Display, who manufactures the 9.7 inch IPS LCD display found in the iPad.

Apple iPad manufacturing LG

LG reported it was currently running at full capacity, but would have to reduce production in August due to low demand for television screens. iPad screen production could be increased, however LG Display CEO Kwon Young-soo predicts that supplies will be tight until early 2011. Apple could be forced to find another supplier to augment production at LG is demand keeps up over the next several months.

AT&T iPad 3G Activation Tops Half a Million

AT&T Wireless released two months worth of iPad 3G data, stating that 400-500 thousand units were activated with data plans on its network during the period. 75-80 percent of these users chose the top-tier monthly data plan over the smaller plan with a low bandwidth limit. Initially, AT&T offered iPad owners the choice of an unlimited data plan or 200 MB.

Apple iPad 3G activations

AT&T has since moved to a tiered data plan on the iPad and iPhone 4. Users can now choose between 2 GB per month or 250 MB. Apple sold over three million iPads in several countries since the April launch. AT&T has an exclusive US contract to provide data plans for the iPad 3G, and offers customers monthly data plans that can be cancelled at any time.

South Gate Restaurant Offers iPad Wine List

South Gate restaurant in New York now offers its wine list in a custom interactive iPad application. It may not replace the sommelier, but the iPad certainly makes selecting a bottle of wine more interesting than a paper wine list. The "wine tablet" automatically updates the wine list to reflect inventory, currently over 650 bottles.

Apple iPad Wine List South Gate

The custom SmartCellar app provides information about varietals, growing regions and details on each bottle that assist guests trying to select the perfect wine to pair with their meals. Of course servers will have to make sure the iPad is put safely away before the wine glasses are filled.

iOS 4 iPad Firmware Update Will Be Free

Erroneous reports have surfaced that Apple plans to charge existing iPad owners for the next major operating system upgrade. iPad users have been anxiously waiting for iOS 4 on their devices, which Apple plans to release this fall. The company shipped iPads running iPhone OS 3.2 this spring and specifically stated that iOS 4 would be free.

Apple iPad Firmware Update iOS 4

When asked about the current rumors of a firmware charge Apple of course has no comment, since the question is based on speculation. The fact remains that the iPad firmware licensing agreement contains text guaranteeing iPad users a free update to iOS 4. Not all functions of the new operating system will necessarily work on older generation iPads, but the update will not cost anything.

iPad USB Cable Melts While Charging

We know that iPads might get a little bit warm while they're charging, after all the battery under that aluminum is pretty large. What one user didn't expect is to wake up early in the morning to the smell of burning plastic. He noticed the iPad was piping hot when he tried to disconnect the USB cable from the dock connector.

Apple iPad USB heat

The iPad was so hot that his reaction was to drop it on the ground, hence the dent in the corner. The USB cable is clearly melted and discolored due to a malfunction in the cable or inside the iPad dock connector port. The iPad charger is 10 watts, with potential to pack quite a punch should there be a problem or short while connected.

App Turns Your iPad Into a Wireless PC Monitor

Looking for some more screen real estate, but not looking to spend money on a graphics card and second monitor? Take that iPad off your desk and install Maxivista for a simple wireless solution that's fully compatible with your Windows PC. The software is free for your desktop computer, and the companion iPad app runs $9.99.

Apple iPad App Maxivista Demo

The app works over your local Wi-Fi network using efficient data compression, which makes for a display frame rate close to that of a normal monitor. You can drag windows from your notebook or desktop computer screen right over to the iPad seamlessly, and even maximize windows on the iPad to fill the 9.7 inch LED screen.

Future iPads Will Make FaceTime Video Calls

Apple plans to bring FaceTime video chat to more iOS devices in the near future, as BGR has discovered in the iOS 4.1 beta firmware. Assuming the next-generation iPad includes a front-facing camera, video chat over Wi-Fi would be possible using the built-in software. This would greatly expand communications options between Apple mobile devices.

Apple iPad FaceTime video chat

In addition, FaceTime has been opened up to developers for use on any platform. Potentially those with the iPhone 4 could use FaceTime to communicate to anyone with an enabled device. The iPad and iPod touch could join the fray as soon as cameras are added. BGR found that Apple is working on a system to allow calls using email addresses instead of phone numbers.

Next Generation iPad Coming in 2010?

No way. Leave it to DigiTimes to keep the iPad rumor mill in full swing. The publication has reported that new iPad models could be on the way as early as fourth quarter 2010. Considering that Apple has had a difficult enough time delivering three million units sold to date, this doesn't sound very likely.

Apple iPad Future Models

In the same report, DigiTimes cites sources in the industry who claim Apple has placed orders for OLED screens from Taiwanese component maker Compal. The current iPad features an IPS LCD display, the most expensive single component featured in the hardware design. OLED screens are still more expensive to produce, and even OLED giant Samsung Electronics is having trouble fulfilling orders for its own products.

Macintosh Classic Makes the Perfect iPad Stand

This modification of an Apple Macintosh Classic into an iPad stand is not only functional, it looks great and will make any fan of Apple products look twice. Could it possibly be a coincidence that the Apple iPad fits perfectly into the open screen portal of the original portable Macs?

Apple iPad Stand Macintosh Classic

The iPad simply slides into the side of the Mac Classic and then the old plastic case serves as a stand, holding up the iPad for use as a touch screen inside the empty shell. Of course, there's no way to really press the home button or use external switches unless the iPad is pulled out.

Flash Works on the iPad Thanks to Frash

Yes, Frash. This software makes it possible to run Adobe Flash on a jailbroken iPad. Comex has demonstrated his latest creation with a YouTube video showing a sample of Flash animations and games running on the iPad. Frash is a port of the Adobe Flash runtime for Android to the iPad.

Apple iPad Flash Player Frash

Flash programs run natively in the Safari browser, and a crash in the plug-in doesn't affect the browser thanks to the way it's set up. Comex has made the source code available and plans to release the software when a stable version is complete.