iPhone 4 Announced

Apple CEO Steve Jobs and a host of partners and colleagues took to the stage at the WWDC event in San Francisco on Monday in order to unveil the iPhone 4.

The latest addition to Apple’s smartphone line up represents the biggest step forward since the first iPhone was launched in 2007 and it has got even the cynics excited, desperate to get their hands on a retail version.

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Brits pay over the odds for iPad

New figures show that Apple’s new iPad is costing customers in the UK far more than their international contemporaries.

European prices for the iPad are much higher than in other regions of the globe and the UK is being hit even harder with high prices for the must-have gadget of the day. More on iPad Uk Prices

iPad launch tomorrow

Econogo electric scooter hits UK

An electric scooter which is the first of its kind to come with a removable battery pack has arrived in the UK.

Manufactured by Econogo, the scooter has a detachable battery which uses the lithium ion technology found in most modern portable devices.

Econogo is based in the UK and the YoGo scooter’s detachable battery represents a significant update from the previous generation of electric scooters. This is because rather than having to bring electricity to the scooter, you can now take its battery directly to the power source.

Finding the right socket to which you can connect a scooter with an integrated, non-removable battery pack can be a pain, but detaching the YoGo’s battery means that you can take it with you and plug it in anywhere to charge.

The batteries that power the YoGo will take just an hour to charge up, which is an incredibly short period when you consider the charging time of most battery-powered vehicles.

Econogo supplies two spare batteries with the retail version of the YoGo scooter and according to promotional material this will increase the range of the scooter by 44 miles.

With a top speed of 38 miles per hour achievable from the 1500 watt electric engine, the YoGo is no slouch when it comes to performance. It will also significantly reduce running costs in contrast with those you would see with an equivalent petrol-powered scooter.

The basic YoGo costs £2000 and its restricted 27mph top speed means that you do not need any form of official license to take it out for a spin.

UK iPad launch date confirmed

Apple has finally committed to an official release date for the iPad for international customers, meaning that UK fans will be able to get their hands on a localised device in just a few weeks.

The iPad will be landing in the UK and many other international destinations on May 28th. It is possible to head to Apple’s online store and pre-order the two versions of the iPad from today (May 10th), so keen fans can get their name on the waiting list of what is sure to be one of the most in-demand gadgets of 2010.

Sales of the iPad in the US have vastly exceeded the predictions of many observers, with over a million sold. The booming app market is also getting another boost and there are well over a thousand apps that have been crafted exclusively for the iPad.

The international release date of May 28th will not see the iPad arriving everywhere, as folks in places such as the Republic of Ireland, the Netherlands and New Zealand will have to wait until an unspecified point in July before they get Apple’s slate computer.

What makes the iPad special is its Wi-Fi or 3G connectivity, depending on the model, coupled with its intuitive interface, vast software library and ability to operate as an eBook reader. Detractors have criticised it for its lack of Flash player support and its shunning of USB peripheral connectivity, which makes it a little less versatile than netbooks in this respect.

One million iPads sold in month one

Apple has proved sceptics wrong and has managed to create yet another best selling gadget in the iPad, with one million of the devices flying from the shelves in its first month on sale.

The iPad was seen by many as a fairly odd device, offering what looked to be a much larger alternative to the iPhone, but consumers have clearly fallen for Apple’s uniquely beautiful aesthetic touches and user-friendly interface once again.

The iPad could well be the device that finally brings the concept of eBooks to a mainstream audience, as Apple claims that 1.5 million eBooks have already been downloaded by iPad users.

Unsurprisingly the application craze that started on the iPhone has shown no signs of slowing on the iPad, with 12 million apps downloading in the last 30 days alone.

When the iPhone launched in 2007 it took over two months for it to sell a million units, but the iPad has hit this magic number in less than half that time. The result is that Apple cannot supply enough iPads to meet demand.

The iPad has caused something of a renaissance in the tablet computer market. Every tech firm in the world seems to be planning a slim, slate-like PC and there are plenty of knock-off copies of the iPad doing the rounds if you know where to look.

Google’s Android is the operating system of choice for those who are looking to take on Apple at their own game and with native Flash support and far lower price tags, these tablet alternatives could entice some away from the iPad.

Pharaoh-themed iPod dock / coffee table launched

The coffee table that integrates some kind of media compatibility is not a new idea, but the Horus is one that takes iPod compatibility to a whole new and rather obscure level.

The table itself gets its ancient Egyptian look because it is held aloft by a large concrete pyramid, with the tip appearing to protrude through the glass surface to house the iPod Touch or iPhone of your choice.

The concrete is apparently some kind of high performance material and the speakers are integrated into it below the surface. There is a blue illumination that emits from the mid section where the glass seems to slice through the concrete pyramid, giving off a glow that is in keeping with the whole Apple aesthetic.

The concept for the Horus gestated in the mind of furniture stylist Stephanie Thivend and it is undoubtedly one of the most unique iPod docks ever to have been conceived. It looks paradoxically modern and retro at the same time and will probably never fit in with the standard decor of the average household, making it the kind of item only the wealthy and slightly batty will ever consider for their own homes.

There are many well known iPod dock / speaker sets which look rather odd but still attract positive attention. For example, the famous B&W Zeppelin iPod speaker system is notable not just for its wacky design, but also for its high price and impressive audio quality.

iPad sales soar

Apple’s iPad has only been on sale for a few days in the USA, but already the oversized iPhone has been flying off the shelves.

Apple has reported that more than 300,000 iPads were sold in the first 24 hours and since then many thousands more have been picked up.

There had been fears that the iPad would not be as big a seller as the iPhone, but the initial pre-orders and launch day sales from Apple’s premiere retail outlets have shown that there is still plenty of love out there amongst gadget-lovers and consumers for Steve Jobs and company.

Apple has also said that there have been over one million iPad apps downloaded since the weekend, which shows that the hunger for touch-friendly software is all but insatiable.

In the weeks running up to the iPad’s launch, some critics had claimed that the high cost of iPad apps compared to their iPhone equivalents would put off potential customers. Virtually identical apps were being given a 100 per cent price hike on the iPad, but it seems that this has not deterred the early adopters.

Initial sales from the iBooks store have also been strong and a quarter of a million eBooks have been downloaded since the iPad went on sale. This suggests that the iPad could easily edge out rival standalone eBook readers, such as Amazon’s Kindle, which has recently enjoyed a technical upgrade.

In the eyes of many, Apple can do no wrong and the initial response to the iPad has been generally positive. But there are a wide range of alternative tablet PCs in development offering consumers a broader choice in the longer term.

iPad ships in US

Apple’s latest uber-gadget has emerged in the USA and over in the UK every tech site and gadget-loving celebrity has been getting their hands on some import models.

When the iPad launched on Saturday, new owners were not just handed their device and shoved out the door. At Apple’s retail outlets they were helped to customise their iPad experience by staff. Particularly keen consumers could even take a seminar as to how to unlock the iPad’s potential.

There had been doubts that Apple could sell the iPad in the same numbers as the iPhone, but now the Wall Street Journal is reporting that up to five million could be sold worldwide in 2010. Apple is expecting to move every one of the first batch in any case.

Apple has worked hard to make sure that the iPad is not bereft of software from day one and there are now over 1000 exclusive apps that are compatible with the slender tablet PC.

The usual smattering of apps from various international agencies have been joined by Twitter apps and many others. There are also many games available and many more in development, with the latest predictions suggesting 40 per cent of iPad apps that are currently in development are going to be games.

In the US, the ABC network has announced that it will be launching a free iPad app that will allow streaming of its TV shows. This is certainly something that the BBC will need to look into, as iPlayer on an iPad would be the perfect marriage.

Gmail Down Time Causes Huge Social Network Traffic

On September 1st 2009 widespread panic and speculation took over social networking sites. I logged into my twitter account and by the time I had read the first three comments at the top of the keyword list there were over 2000 more ready to be loaded. This mass tweeting continues as speculation grows over what has caused this problem and when the problem may end?

Our questions to you are:

How did this effect you?
What do you think caused it?

All comments are welcome so let’s have them

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