Ipad application Archives | AI, ML and IoT application development company | Fusion Informatics https://www.fusioninformatics.com/blog/tag/ipad-application/ Let's Transform Business for Tomorrow Fri, 14 Jul 2023 10:28:06 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.5.5 https://www.fusioninformatics.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2014/02/favicon.png Ipad application Archives | AI, ML and IoT application development company | Fusion Informatics https://www.fusioninformatics.com/blog/tag/ipad-application/ 32 32 High Growth Experienced In iPad Apps Development Sector https://www.fusioninformatics.com/blog/high-growth-experienced-ipad-apps-development-sector/ https://www.fusioninformatics.com/blog/high-growth-experienced-ipad-apps-development-sector/#respond Wed, 04 Dec 2013 07:13:27 +0000 https://www.fusioninformatics.com/blog/?p=2363 iPad apps development has led to the growth of a number of applications. The iPad apps store is…

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iPad apps development has led to the growth of a number of applications. The iPad apps store is replete with applications belonging to different categories such as health, entertainment, education, jobs, business, technology etc. It has been reported than more than 20,000 Apple iPad apps are in the process of being created. This was revealed in a report released by Flurry in April. The researcher estimated that there was a significant hike in developer support for iPad since its launch in the month of January. This was great news for the tablet market, which was planned for release from Apple stores in April. Due to this growth there was a rise in the companies offering iPad apps development.

Flurry monitors any new projects started by iPad apps developers within its system. It said that it measured a remarkable spike in developer support for iPad. Apple reported the presence of more than 2,000 iPad applications during the year 2010. Due to increasing growth of iPhone and iPad at a faster rate than that of Android, Android suffered a setback. iPad apps development is a field that has been attracting both iPhone and Android apps developers.

Businesses are increasingly availing of iPad apps development so that they can provide their clients, using iPad, with creative applications. Applications help a business in marketing products and services. They also help a business in establishing brand identity. iPad applications are useful not only for businesses but also for users. Some of the applications target business users whereas some applications target users who need entertainment. With the iPad device some of the applications are already installed while some of the applications have to be installed from the app store. You can download the apps that are useful to you.

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Malware Targets iPad users On Windows Platform https://www.fusioninformatics.com/blog/malware-targets-ipad-users-on-windows-platform/ https://www.fusioninformatics.com/blog/malware-targets-ipad-users-on-windows-platform/#respond Wed, 28 Apr 2010 06:16:04 +0000 https://www.fusioninformatics.com/blog/?p=1291 Users of Apple’s iPad tablet computer have been targeted by hackers with an email offering a fake iTunes…

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Users of Apple’s iPad tablet computer have been targeted by hackers with an email offering a fake iTunes update that downloads malware to their Windows PCs, internet security firm BitDefender warned yesterday.

The company reported on its official blog that several iPad users who also owned a Windows PC had received an email with the subject line ‘iTunes Software Update’.

The email contained a link that led users to a fake download page, designed to precisely resemble the real iTunes page. BitDefender identifies the malware as Backdoor.Bifrose.AADY.

It’s the first piece of malicious software aimed at taking advantage of the current buzz surrounding Apple’s new tablet computer, which has seen record sales since it was launched on 3 April.

Sabina Datcu of BitDefender wrote on the company’s Malware City blog that β€œThe figures make it clear as daylight why malware creators were so keen on crashing this promising party. To carry conviction, the e-mail emphasizes that users should keep their iPad software updated ‘for best performance, newer features and security’.”

Resource:
http://www.itproportal.com/security/news/article/2010/4/27/malware-targets-ipad-users-windows-platform/

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4G Wireless 19 Questions Asked & Answered https://www.fusioninformatics.com/blog/4g-wireless-19-questions-asked-answered/ https://www.fusioninformatics.com/blog/4g-wireless-19-questions-asked-answered/#comments Tue, 27 Apr 2010 09:15:37 +0000 https://www.fusioninformatics.com/blog/?p=1258 Smartphone, you might have considered yourself a member of the leading edge of wireless services users. Then you…

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Smartphone, you might have considered yourself a member of the leading edge of wireless services users. Then you started hearing ads and reading stories about something called “4G,” and perhaps began wondering…what is it, where is it, can I get it, and do I want it?

Here’s a quick list that explains what 4G is, what it can do, why it’s the future of wireless communications, and where (and when) you might be able to get it.

  1. What does “4G” mean, anyway?4G is a marketing term that service providers are using to describe the “fourth generation” of wireless services. Such services may use different underlying technologies, depending on the provider, but they typically offer between four and ten times the performance of “3G” networks.
  2. What are the technologies behind 4G services?The two main technologies are WiMax and Long Term Evolution (LTE). WiMax is a standard developed by the IEEE, the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers; Development of the LTE standard is led by the 3GPP, an industry body for providers that use GSM, the current leading technology for cellular communications. Both WiMax and LTE use advanced antenna technology to improve reception and performance. However, the technologies rely on different types of wireless spectrum.
  3. How fast is 4G compared to 3G?WiMax providers today are offering contracts that advertise download speeds of between 2 megabits per second and 6 mbps, with peak speeds of 10 mbps and more. Verizon, which will launch LTE networks in the United States later this year, is expecting to offer services with download speeds in the 5 mbps to 12 mbps range. Most 3G data systems today deliver speeds of between 400 kilobits per second (that is, 0.4 mbps) and 1.5 mbps.
  4. Why should I want 4G?4G’s faster download speeds and better overall data performance will significantly improve the performance of demanding applications such as streaming video, videoconferencing, and networked gaming. You may also be able to replace your home DSL or cable modem service with a 4G service that you can use both at home and on the road.
  5. Are 4G services available now?Yes, in some places. In the United States, the partnership of Clearwire and Sprint currently offers WiMax-based services in 28 cities–among them, Atlanta, Charlotte, Chicago, Dallas, Las Vegas, Philadelphia, Portland (Oregon), and Seattle. Clearwire and Sprint plan to add Los Angeles, New York, and San Francisco to this list in 2010.

    On the LTE side, Verizon is the most aggressive of the U.S. providers, with plans to launch commercial services in 25 to 30 as-yet unnamed markets before the end of 2010; AT&T plans to follow with LTE in 2011. Internationally, WiMax services are already in use in many countries, including Japan, Korea, and Russia; and one commercial LTE network is running in Sweden.

  6. What providers other than Verizon and AT&T plan to offer LTE in the United States?In March, MetroPCS announced plans to launch LTE services in Las Vegas before the end of this year, using a dual-mode 3G/LTE phone made by Samsung. T-Mobile is expected to launch LTE services sometime in the future, but it has not specified a timeframe for deployment.
  7. What are the cost advantages of 4G versus 3G?Right now, the Clearwire/Sprint plans typically provide true “unlimited” data usage, whereas virtually all 3G cellular plans impose extra charges for downloading more than 5 gigabytes of data per month. Plans from Clearwire and its reseller partners (which include Comcast and Time-Warner Cable) are typically $10 to $20 per month cheaper than the standard $60 per month 3G cellular data plan, too. Verizon has not announced LTE pricing.
  8. Can I get 4G on the 3G phone or USB modem that I have now?No. The 4G networks are designed to run at different frequencies than the ones current cellular services use, so you’ll need new radio chips tuned to the 4G frequencies.
  9. Does 4G support voice calls?Not in any current implementation, other than Voice over IP applications like Skype or Vonage. Most early 4G phones will be “hybrid” devices that include a 3G chip to handle voice calls.
  10. Are any 4G phones available now?As of April 2010, the only 4G phone announced for U.S. markets is Sprint’s HTC EVO 4G, which was unveiled in March and is expected to be available by this summer. (Earlier, HTC shipped a WiMax phone for a network in Russia.) Verizon has said that it expects LTE phones to ship by mid-2011.

    iPhone in the United States under an exclusive contract with AT&T, it has manufactured the phone with chips that connect to AT&T’s 3G cellular network. Many people hope that Verizon, which has more-immediate 4G plans for its network than AT&T does, will begin selling a CDMA version of the iPhone later this year.

  11. Can I use 4G while I’m on the road, as with a cell phone?Yes. The whole idea behind 4G is that it’s not just broadband, but mobile broadband.
  12. Can I use 4G services in different cities, similarly to roaming with a cell phone?Yes, sort of. Roaming is supported between different cities covered by the same service, so a Clearwire or Sprint device you buy in Portland should work fine in Las Vegas or Chicago. LTE proponents say that they will support cross-provider roaming, but we’ll have to wait a couple years to see whether that works. And while chip vendors have announced silicon that could link to either a WiMax or an LTE network, no as-yet-announced device can accomplish that trick.
  13. Will 4G be offered in rural communities?Smaller providers such as DigitalBridge Communications–which has services in Jackson Hole, Wyoming–already offer mobile WiMax similar to Clearwire’s. A company called Open Range Communications has just started offering WiMax services in rural Colorado, and it plans to cover more than 500 rural communities over the next several years.
  14. Can 4G services replace my home DSL or cable modem?Yes, unless you’re looking for extra-high-speed services for extremely demanding broadband usage. Clearwire’s WiMax service already offers faster speeds than the lower-end DSL plans, and it can match some cable modem offerings. For users who want both home and mobile service, WiMax 4G may be a better deal than the combined price of a stationary service and a 3G data plan.
  15. What is a portable Wi-Fi router, and how does it use 4G?Clearwire and Sprint sell two versions of a portable Wi-Fi/WiMax router, which uses a link to WiMax on the back end to support a “personal hotspot” capable of broadcasting a Wi-Fi signal that several devices can share. Sprint’s forthcoming HTC EVO 4G phone will be able to act as a portable router, too, sharing its WiMax connection with up to eight other devices via Wi-Fi.
  16. I’ve been hearing recently about “HSPA+” or “3.5G” service. What is it?T-Mobile USA is in the process of launching a mobile data network based on a more-advanced version of the 3G protocols in use today. Theoretically the network can support speeds of up to 21 mbps, but in tests so far it is only marginally faster than most 3G data services. T-Mobile hopes to have the service available in 100 U.S. cities by the end of 2010.
  17. Why do some people say that current 4G services are not “true” 4G?Standards bodies have set higher speed goals for what they would like to define as “official” 4G services, performance marks that likely won’t be met for another couple years at the earliest. But marketers think that what’s available now is a big enough leap to justify the “next-generation” label–and they’re the ones who buy the ads.
  18. Will “real” 4G services ever be available?Both WiMax and LTE backers are working on versions of the technology that will support “true” 4G speeds of more than 100 mbps for downloads, but real products using those versions probably won’t appear for several years.
  19. When will this great service be available in my town?It all depends on when providers decide that your metro area is worthy! Clearwire and Sprint both have interactive maps on their Websites showing where and when services are likely to be available. Verizon is expected to announce its first LTE cities later this summer or early next fall.

Paul Kapustka is editor and founder of Sidecut Reports, an independent research firm that specializes in wireless technologies.

Resource:
http://news.yahoo.com/s/pcworld/20100427/tc_pcworld/4gwireless20questionsaskedanswered

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Apple iPad Used As Scam Bait https://www.fusioninformatics.com/blog/apple-ipad-used-as-scam-bait/ https://www.fusioninformatics.com/blog/apple-ipad-used-as-scam-bait/#respond Tue, 27 Apr 2010 09:15:16 +0000 https://www.fusioninformatics.com/blog/?p=1273 Apple’s continuing success as a company is encouraging more cybercriminals to try to exploit the popularity of the…

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Apple’s continuing success as a company is encouraging more cybercriminals to try to exploit the popularity of the company’s products to distribute malware.

The latest such scam involves spam e-mail messages addressed to iPad users. The messages direct recipients — who may or may not be iPad users — to click on a Web link that appears to host an iTunes update and to install the update

The text isn’t so poorly written as to be farcical. Even so, the use of the passive voice in the first sentence and the awkward wording suggests that the note’s author doesn’t work as a marketing professional at Apple or anywhere else.

“There were released updates for software installed on your iPad device,” the message begins. “It is very important to keep the software on your iPad updated for best performance, newer features and security.”

Recipients who happen to open this message on a Windows PC and comply with “update” instructions do not actually receive an update.

“Unfortunately for these users, following the malicious link means opening up a direct line to their sensitive data as instead of the promised iTunes update they get malware on their systems,” said Sabina Datcu, security researcher for BitDefender, in a blog post.

BidDefender identifies the malicious code as Backdoor.Bifrose.AADY, which attempts to infect Internet Explorer to open a back door in the victim’s system. It’s designed to scour infected systems for software serial numbers and to capture login and password information.

Mac users, not to mention those reading their e-mail on their iPads, don’t have to worry about this particularly malware.

In reporting its fiscal second quarter results last week, Apple did not disclose the number of iPads it had sold, but company executives said they were happy with iPad sales.

Apple previously said it had sold 300,000 iPads on April 3, the day it began selling the devices and delivering them to customers who had pre-ordered.

Web 2.0 Expo San Francisco brings together the designers, developers, entrepreneurs, VCs, marketing professionals, product managers, and business strategists building the next-generation Web.

Resource:
http://www.informationweek.com/news/security/vulnerabilities/showArticle.jhtml?articleID=224600439

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View iPad-optimized apps in iTunes https://www.fusioninformatics.com/blog/view-ipad-optimized-apps-in-itunes/ https://www.fusioninformatics.com/blog/view-ipad-optimized-apps-in-itunes/#respond Tue, 27 Apr 2010 09:06:24 +0000 https://www.fusioninformatics.com/blog/?p=1260 Now that the iPad has been released, there are three kinds of apps in the App Store: apps…

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Now that the iPad has been released, there are three kinds of apps in the App Store: apps made specifically for the iPhone, apps made specifically for the iPad, and “hybrid” apps that include both iPhone- and iPad-optimized interfaces.

The problem is that while the iTunes Store provides a convenient button for browsing either just iPhone or just iPad apps, the rest of iTunes appears to be ignorant of this distinction. The Apps view, listing all downloaded apps, doesn’t differentiate by default, and when your iPad is connected, the Apps tab for your iPad provides no way to view just the iPad apps.

There are a couple ways to ferret out your iPad and hybrid apps, however. Click on the Apps item in iTunes’s sidebar–your iPad doesn’t need to be connected–to view all downloaded apps. Then choose View -> As List to view those apps in a sortable text list. Next choose View -> View Options and check the box next to Kind (or right-click any column header in the Apps view and choose Kind to enable it); this action adds the Kind column to the list.

Click this new Kind column and your apps are now sorted by app type: iPad app, iPhone/iPod touch app, or iPhone/iPod touch/iPad app (click again to invert the sort order). Unfortunately, iPhone/iPod touch apps end up between the two types of iPad-optimized apps, so it’s a bit of a hassle to view all apps with an iPad interface. But it’s better than nothing, right?

The other way to view apps in such groups is to choose View -> as Grid and then choose View -> Grid View -> Applications. This shows you a graphical view of all your downloaded apps, grouped by app type. I don’t find grid view to be as useful as list view, however, especially if you have lots of apps. (It also sorts the same way as list view, with iPhone/iPod touch apps between the two types of iPad apps.)

Of course, these options don’t help you while you’re deciding exactly which apps to sync to your iPad (in other words, when you select your iPad in the sidebar and view the Apps tab). But it at least makes it easier to see how many of your apps will take advantage of the iPad’s larger screen and other unique features. Here’s hoping Apple fixes this omission, and makes it easier to automatically sync just iPad-optimized apps to your iPad, in an update to iTunes.

Resource:
http://www.computerworld.com/s/article/9176021/View_iPad_optimized_apps_in_iTunes?taxonomyId=76

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Adobe is Testing Flash for Android https://www.fusioninformatics.com/blog/adobe-is-tesing-flash-for-android/ https://www.fusioninformatics.com/blog/adobe-is-tesing-flash-for-android/#comments Tue, 20 Apr 2010 10:37:05 +0000 https://www.fusioninformatics.com/blog/?p=1109 Adobe has officially announced the beginning of testing of its multimedia technology in the Flash version for the…

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Adobe has officially announced the beginning of testing of its multimedia technology in the Flash version for the rapidly increasingly popular mobile platform Google Android. She was previously available only in some devices, such as, HTC Desire.

The vast majority of Internet sites use it to display Flash video and other multimedia content. In addition, Flash is a convenient platform for application development

. The main trouble for it today is to dislike Apple chief Steve Jobs, for which the technology is not supported by Adobe nor the iPhone, nor the iPad – and this is a significant part of the market.

A couple of years ago make sense to implement support for Flash in the smartphone was not – the majority of power devices for normal mapping would not be enough.

But today the situation is quite different, smartphones and Internet tablets with gigahertz processors and graphics accelerators, the individual coping with Flash-graphics with a bang.

The fact that the development of Flash for Android entered the stage of debugging, and is about to be declared a set of all comers in a series of beta testers, said the chief ideologist of the platform from Adobe Li Braymelou.

According to him, users Android-smartphone after the implementation of them is waiting for Flash support “a lot of exciting, the possibility of devices markedly improved.

Register to participate in a public beta Flash-player for Android can be on the official website of the company.

Resource:
http://it-chuiko.com/internet/3416-adobe-is-tesing-flash-for-android.html

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Dell's attempt to squeeze between iPhone and iPad https://www.fusioninformatics.com/blog/dells-attempt-to-squeeze-between-iphone-and-ipad/ https://www.fusioninformatics.com/blog/dells-attempt-to-squeeze-between-iphone-and-ipad/#comments Tue, 20 Apr 2010 10:36:35 +0000 https://www.fusioninformatics.com/blog/?p=1115 If the iPad is too big and an iPod or iPhone is too small, you might be a…

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If the iPad is too big and an iPod or iPhone is too small, you might be a Dell Mini 5 candidate.

According to Engadget, the Android-powered Mini 5 just showed up in the FCC database with the WCDMA Band IV radios. Those radios only are used on one US network: T-Mobile’s (DT).

The Mini 5 is just a bit bigger than a big smartphone (HTC’s Evo will be 4.3 inches vs. the Mini’s 5 inches) but is being marketed more like a mini tablet β€” but one with significantly more screen size than the market leading iPod touch from Apple (AAPL). It is powered by the same Qualcomm (QCOM) Snapdragon processor that powers HTC’s latest Android phones as well. Unfortunately for Dell, it’s been only show running an older version of the Android OS, version 1.6 (vs. 2.1 on the latest Android phones).

Perhaps most importantly however, the Mini 5 will launch with a big content partnership from Amazon (AMZN) which will provide the device with music, Video-on-Demand, eBooks and anything else Amazon sells.

The questions that remain are: When will this device be sold and for how much ?

  • Dell (DELL) could sell this through the carriers (T-Mobile in this case) like most phones and some Netbooks are sold
  • Google (GOOG) could sell it ad-hoc like it sells the Nexus One (also on T-Mobile) on its website?
  • Dell could sell this like Apple sells the iPad β€” With specialized unlocked data-only plans (though the Mini 5 can make phone calls)
  • Dell could just sell this outright on Dell.com and let customers find their own SIM / plan options.
  • Any combination of the above.

The device itself is probably going to cost south of $500 (if it wants to have any chance vs. the iPad and iPod touch) and any carrier deals will just bring that down further.

The Mini 5 is a big deal for Dell, which is coming to the US with its first Android devices and first portable devices since it killed the Axiom and Dell DJ lines years ago. Dell also sells a smaller Mini 3 in Brazil and China.

The Dell Mini’ 5’s size might be a good differentiator vs. Apple and HP which both make significantly smaller phones and larger tablets.

Speaking of larger tablets, Dell is slated to have a 7-inch version of its Mini Tablet at the end of the year and a 10-inch variety at the beginning of 2011.

Resource:
http://tech.fortune.cnn.com/2010/04/19/fcc-database-reveals-dells-mini-5-to-come-to-t-mobile/

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iPhone Application Migration to iPad https://www.fusioninformatics.com/blog/iphone-application-migration-to-ipad/ https://www.fusioninformatics.com/blog/iphone-application-migration-to-ipad/#comments Tue, 20 Apr 2010 10:36:13 +0000 https://www.fusioninformatics.com/blog/?p=1111 Now, you can feel a new experience is getting you iPhone and iPod applications on the iPad tablet…

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Now, you can feel a new experience is getting you iPhone and iPod applications on the iPad tablet through development of existing iPod/iPhone apps for the iPad. In addition to the 1,40,000 apps that run comfortably well on the iPad, you could also use your existing iPhone applications on the tablet device and watch your apps don an enlarged appearance and a refreshing experience when visualized on the 9.7 inch multi touch screen.

Our iPad application developers understand the technical tweaks that would be required to an iPhone application to make it work well on the iPad and could utilize the unique features of the iPad that would give the entire application an absolutely different feel and make it iPad-compatible. iPod / iPhone Application Migration to iPad would bring a new delight to your tablet device with development of customized iPad apps from from existing iPhone/iPod apps.

Now, that the Apple iPad has already hit the stores and is believed to be a huge success, our iPad developers stand ready for migrating iPhone/iPod applications to the iPad. Most of the iPhone and iPod apps would run unchanged on the iPad but our dedicated iPad experts work dexterously at creating wonders even when an existing iPhone app is migrated on to an iPad.

If you wish to bring an extra fun to your iPad tablet by iPod / iPhone Application Migration to iPad, look no further. We are able to bring almost any category of existing iPhone application, from entertainment to music, from books to lifestyle, to the iPad.

Resource:
http://www.unlock-iphone.org/blog/2010/04/iphone-application-migration-to-ipad/

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Can e-readers still compete with the iPad ? https://www.fusioninformatics.com/blog/can-e-readers-still-compete-with-the-ipad/ https://www.fusioninformatics.com/blog/can-e-readers-still-compete-with-the-ipad/#comments Tue, 20 Apr 2010 00:03:42 +0000 https://www.fusioninformatics.com/blog/?p=1113 SAN FRANCISCO (MarketWatch) — When Apple Inc. launched its touch-screen tablet device known as the iPad earlier this…

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SAN FRANCISCO (MarketWatch) — When Apple Inc. launched its touch-screen tablet device known as the iPad earlier this month, many began ringing the death knell for so-called e-readers — most notably, the popular Amazon Kindle.

After all, the two devices seem hardly comparable. The Kindle uses a black-and-white screen and is designed primarily for reading books. The iPad, by contrast, is a full-on portable computing device capable of reading, watching video and playing games as well as sending e-mails and typing up documents — all from a high-definition, 9.7-inch LCD touch-screen.

On top of that, Apple /quotes/comstock/15*!aapl/quotes/nls/aapl (AAPL 247.07, -0.33, -0.13%) managed to surprise the market by bringing in the iPad at a starting price of $499 — well below most estimations before the product was announced in late January.

“The iPad makes things much more difficult for e-reader devices,” said Colin Sebastian, an analyst with Lazard Capital Markets who has followed the e-reader market. “Especially when you’re a higher-priced e-reader, then the value proposition becomes less clear.”

Still, many companies are making bets on the e-reader business. And analysts say those bets could still pay off, depending on how they are executed. IDC estimates that about 2.5 million e-readers were sold in 2009, and that number is expected to double to 5.1 million this year

Those estimates have attracted several players to the market, with more coming. This year’s Consumer Electronics Show, which took place in January, showcased several such devices, which targeted market niches that ranged from book readers to newspapers to devices that are designed primarily for business uses. See full story on e-readers making a big splash at CES.

Still, the Kindle from Amazon.com (AMZN 142.43, +0.26, +0.18%) rules the e-reader market with an estimated 60% share, according to estimates from Forrester Research. Sony Corp. (SNE 36.11, +0.55, +1.55%) is believed to have accounted for another 35% of the e-readers sold last year, with other vendors splitting the rest.

Worries about the iPad’s effect on the Kindle have helped weighed down Amazon’s stock this year. The shares are up 4% since the first of the year — an under-performance compared to the Nasdaq Composite, which has gained more than 8% in the same period.

“The market fears that the iPad will materially undermine the value proposition and growth prospects for the Kindle,” Mark Mahaney of Citigroup wrote in a note to clients on March 25.

Staying alive — and cheap

Many analysts still see a strong future for dedicated e-readers — depending on price, content and other factors that could help them stand out to consumers.

First and foremost, most e-readers are still priced at a sharp discount to the iPad. The Kindle and its rival device called the Nook — sold by Barnes & Noble (BKS 22.14, -0.52, -2.29%) — both start at $259. Sony sells a model for $199 called the Pocket Edition, with another touch-screen version priced at $299.

But others have little space from the iPad. IRex, a reader that went on sale at Best Buy earlier this year, sells for $399. Plastic Logic, a venture-backed startup, introduced an e-reader at CES that it planned to start at $650 for a model that only offers WiFi connectivity, and $800 for one that can access a 3G wireless network.

The Plastic Logic Que was originally planned to launch this month, but the company delayed the release until June 24 “in order to fine-tune the features and enhance the overall product experience.” See Tech Tales commentary on Plastic Logic.

Forrester analyst Sarah Rotman Epps says e-readers will have to compete with the iPad mainly on price, since there is no way for them to offer the same capabilities.

“We do see a role for a stand-alone e-reader, but it’s not going to be a premium price point,” Epps said in an interview. “They will have to get under $99 to get the mainstream market.”

Ross Rubin of the NPD Group agrees, adding that markets such as textbooks remain largely untouched by e-readers, and have a lot of potential.

“We are still very early in this market, which is still expanding,” Rubin said.

Setting apart

Besides price, analysts believe e-readers can set themselves apart from the iPad in other ways.

Product design is one area. While the iPad is widely hailed for its sharp design, one disadvantage is its 1.5-pound weight, which is more than double the weight of the 10.2-ounce Kindle. This would be a serious issue for those looking to use a Kindle or iPad for long-form reading.

“Weight is an attribute that’s easy to overlook,” said Rubin. “If you have an extra pound on your laptop, you won’t be feeling it most of the time. But if you have an extra pound on a tablet device, you will certainly feel that.”

Adding a color screen is another. While fine for book reading, devices with black-and-white screens are unlikely to be a draw for readers — and publishers of — newspapers and magazines, who are all gravitating towards the iPad. Color screens using E-Ink technology are not available yet, but are in development.

“In this market, we don’t think it’s sufficient for Amazon to go with only a black-and-white Kindle,” said IDG analyst Susan Kevorkian.

E-readers such as the Kindle, Nook and Alex from Spring Design will have another advantage through ties to big retailers. The Alex will be sold through retail chain Borders (BGP 2.93, +0.19, +6.93%) later this year. The iRex and Sony e-readers are currently sold through Best Buy.

Amazon’s different avenues

Gauging the performance of the iPad compared to the Kindle in the market will be difficult, given Amazon’s long-standing policy of not disclosing sales figures for the device.

Amazon, which reports first-quarter results on Thursday, still refers to the Kindle as the top-selling product on its Web site. Mahaney of Citigroup estimates that the company sold 2.4 million units of the device last year and will sell 3.5 million units this year. He also expects e-book revenue to reach $760 million this year — or about 2.3% of total estimated revenue for the company.

“The strength and relatively low price points of the iPad increase the pressure on Amazon to deliver an improved product (perhaps with touch screen capability) at a lower price point (probably sub $200) in 2010,” Mahaney wrote. “But we believe this is a likely scenario.”

Kevorkian of IDC believes Amazon will also benefit from having its Kindle app available on the iPad – especially since its own e-reader does not have a color display. “The Kindle app lets the company get into the business of selling color content,” she said.

Still, few analysts believe the current number of e-reader devices on the mark is sustainable, especially with more tablet devices on the way. Hewlett-Packard (HPQ 53.64, -0.11, -0.20%) , Dell (DELL 16.90, +0.14, +0.82%) and Google (GOOG 550.10, -0.05, -0.01%) are all developing competitor devices to the iPad, which will likely put more pressure on the e-reader market.

“We’re not going to have a market where 30 different e-readers survive,” Sebastian said.

Resource:
http://www.marketwatch.com/story/can-e-readers-still-compete-with-the-ipad-2010-04-20?pagenumber=2

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VHA, Telstra to unveil iPad plans https://www.fusioninformatics.com/blog/vha-telstra-to-unveil-ipad-plans/ https://www.fusioninformatics.com/blog/vha-telstra-to-unveil-ipad-plans/#comments Thu, 15 Apr 2010 08:59:08 +0000 https://www.fusioninformatics.com/blog/?p=995 VODAFONE Hutchison Australia and Telstra will have the Apple iPad ready for sale in about six weeks, ahead…

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VODAFONE Hutchison Australia and Telstra will have the Apple iPad ready for sale in about six weeks, ahead of rival Optus.

Eager fans hoping to get their hands on the hyped-up device had a rude shock today when Apple pushed the original April launch to the end of May.

VHA will offer the 3G and Wi-Fi iPad to Vodafone and 3 Mobile customers with a range of dedicated price plans for all models of the touchscreen tablet. But the telco is keeping mum on what the actual price plans will entail or whether they will be available in post or pre-paid options.

Telstra has also said it will offer dedicated iPad price plans but it is unclear if the telco will have all versions of the device for sale.

Optus is yet to reveal if it will stock the iPad.

The iPad was scheduled to hit local shores at the end of this month but Apple has been forced to delay its arrival due to the overwhelming demand for the device in the US.

This is the second time Apple has had to put back an iPad launch: in January, its US debut was rescheduled to April after analysts reported that production delays and difficulties with suppliers would limit the number of units available.

Apple has sold more than 500,000 iPads since it first went on sale at the start of April, but a glut of complaints about poor Wi-Fi connections and problems with charging the device have marred its launch.

Only the Wi-Fi version of the iPad has been released in the US but a 3G version is expected to be available later this month. iPad prices range from $US499 ($534) to $US829.

Resource:
http://www.theaustralian.com.au/australian-it/vodafone-3-mobile-first-with-ipad/story-e6frgakx-1225854030536

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