Leander Kahney's Blog, page 2279

Opera Mini Tops iTunes Downloads Worldwide

Just a day after Apple approved it,  the Opera Mini Web Browser app is topping free downloads on iTunes stores around the world. It's currently number one of the top ten free iTunes downloads in all 22 iTunes stores — from Japan to Sweden,  Australia to Austria.
In the 20 days it took to [...:]

Daily Deals: New 2.4GHz MacBook Pro, $929 Refurbed MacBook Pro, App Store Freebies

We've reached midweek and we start with two deals on MacBook Pros, plus a peak inside the latest batch of freebies from the App Store. First up, is a MacBook Pro bundle that includes three-year AppleCare service, starting at $1,358. Next a some refurbished unibody MacBook Pros, starting at $929 for a 2.26GHz model. Finally, [...:]

Apple Stock May Hit $300, Buoyed by iPhone, Mac Sales

Two analysts Wednesday told investors Apple's stock price could hit up to $300 over the next year, a mark helped by high-flying expectations for sales of the iPhone, Mac and iPad. Apple is scheduled to release its quarterly earnings report early next week on April 20.
Piper Jaffray analyst Gene Munster expects Apple shares to touch [...:]

Seventy-Year-Old Retiree: My First iPhone App

Here's a nice story from Victor Keegan, the Guardian's recently-retired technology editor, about how he created his own iPhone poetry app.
This month I finally left the Guardian after nearly 47 years. At the end of last week I had my 70th birthday and today my first iPhone app came out. Life is full of surprises.
More [...:]

"Vertigo Rogue" brings "Grand Theft Auto" to 3D App Store Skies

www.youtube.com/watch?v=kJ7_MOs9ffw
One of the great things about the App Store is how it's leveled the game development playing field: for the first time since the late 80s, a single developer coding in his bedroom can be competitive both graphically and presentationally with larger developers.
Case in point: Brainphant's Vertigo Rogue, an action game that literally came out [...:]

Infographic: Most Artists Earn More Revenue Through iTunes Than At Retail

This incredible infographic from Information is Beautiful really puts the iTunes business model in perspective: for the vast majority of artists, iTunes gives them a significantly larger share of the revenue than traditional retail outlets, and orders of magnitude more cash than any other digital music service out there.
Full infographic and breakdown after [...:]

$0.69 Business Card Holder Makes Ideal iPad Stand

Leander seems to think the iPad Keyboard Dock is a no-duh-brainer for real iPad typing, but at $69.00, it's a luxury accessory when most of us already have Apple's own bluetooth aluminum chiclet keyboard on our desks (in my case, collecting tobacco detritus).
After all, if you already have a keyboard that will work with [...:]

4th Generation iPhones and iPod Touches TBA on June 22 at WWDC 2010

Last week, we got our first sneak peek at iPhone OS 4.0, and if history's any guide, we shouldn't expect to see Steve Jobs strut back on stage until WWDC in June to introduce the fourth generation iPhone and iPod Touch models.
What day should you block out? According to ModMYI, June 22nd, on which [...:]

International iPad Preorders Delayed Until May 10th

I think I speak for many Europeans when I say that Apple's promise of a late April international iPad launch elicited a small incredulous groan. Coming just a few weeks after the US April 3rd ship date made it appear like Apple's international launch date was flexible according to the supply demands of US consumers. [...:]

Analyst: iPad Apple's Lone Defense Against Netbooks

Yesterday's news of updated MacBooks indicates Apple has placed a wager, putting its new iPad device up against a growing pack of low-cost PC netbooks. But will the Cupertino, Calif. company win this bet?
"Apple is betting [the:] iPad's form factor, engineering, design and rich interactive content experience, with Apple's brand, can create and lead a [...:]