Apple has made a minor change to the iPad on the day that the Wi-Fi version became available for pre-order. The Loop points out that the “mute” switch located above the volume rocker has been made into a screen rotation lock.
iPad externals buttons
Rotate lock icons visible in iPad SDK
Apple iPad
As expected Apple has made the iPad available for pre-order in the US today. Those looking to purchase an iPad in the US can pre-order both the Wi-Fi and Wi-Fi + 3G. WiFi versions will be delivered on April 3 with the Wi-Fi + 3G version available late April.
iPad is a revolutionary device for browsing the web, reading and sending email, enjoying photos, watching videos, listening to music, playing games, reading e-books and much more. iPad’s responsive high-resolution Multi-Touch display lets users physically interact with applications and content. iPad is just 0.5 inches thick and weighs just 1.5 pounds — thinner and lighter than any laptop or netbook. iPad includes 12 new innovative apps designed especially for the iPad, and will run almost all of the over 140,000 apps in the App Store. iPad will be available in late March starting at the breakthrough price of just $499.
iPad is available for $499 (US) for the 16GB model, $599 (US) for the 32GB model, $699 (US) for the 64GB model. The Wi-Fi + 3G models of iPad will be available in late April in the US and selected countries for a suggested retail price of $629 (US) for the 16GB model, $729 (US) for the 32GB model and $829 (US) for the 64GB model.
Apple today released Safari 4.0.5 for Mac and Windows, the minor update to Safari brings performance improvements and bug fixes.
Apple describes the update as delivering:
Safari 4.0.5 is available via software update or Apple’s website.
Apple today released the fourth beta of iPhone SDK 3.2 which is aimed solely at the iPad due for United States release on April 3. The update continues Apple’s trend of bi-weekly updates.
iPhone SDK 3.2 provides support for developing iPad applications. This beta of iPhone SDK 3.2 includes the complete set of Xcode 3.2.2 tools, compilers, and frameworks for creating applications for iPhone OS and Mac OS X. These tools include the Xcode IDE and the Instruments analysis tool among many others.
With this software you can develop applications that run on iPad using the included iPhone Simulator, which runs iPhone OS 3.2. Additionally, you can develop applications for iPhone and iPod touch, which run on iPhone OS 3.1.3. (This software does not include all of the iPhone OS 2.x SDKs.) Installing the iPhone SDK 3.2 beta requires a Macintosh computer running Mac OS X 10.6.2 (Snow Leopard) or later.
The latest build of iPhone SDK 3.2 is labelled beta 4 (10M2144).
Late last week Apple revamped the packages available to developers who wish to create applications for the Mac. In a move which is reminiscent of the iPhone developer program Apple has created the Mac Developer Program and priced it at $99 per annum.
Developers used to pay either $499 or $3,499 for either “Select” or “Premier” ADC accounts. These two tiers of developer program are no longer available and sees the removal of hardware discounts and WWDC access for developers.
The new $99 developer program allows access to “pre-release Mac OS X software” and allow developers to “to begin incorporating the latest technologies into their development process, test for compatibility, and report bugs.”
Access to Xcode tools remains available for free developer accounts.
During the 82nd Annual Academy Awards which took place last night Apple aired the first advert for the iPad which goes on sale April 3 in the U.S. The 30 second spot entitled “Meet iPad” features The Blue Van’s song “There goes my love”.
The iPad advert quickly demonstrates handfuls of features of the iPad whilst also showing the gestures used on the large multi-touch display. Features of the iPad shown in the advert include Maps, Mobile Safari, iBook Store and an eBook, email, iWork’s Pages and multiple clips of the Star Wars movie playing.
The advert simply ends with “April 3″.
On related note Steve Jobs was in attendance at the Academy Awards last night and was snapped by an AP photographer on the red carpet.
Apple today released another build of Mac OS X 10.6.3 to registered developers. Build 10D567 is reportedly similar to previous builds and follows just six days after the last release.
Mac OX 10.6.3 build 10D567 weighs in at 718.7MB as a delta download, 783.3MB as a combo update.
Attached notes below. Mac OS X 10.6.3 continues to contain no known issues. Developers are asked to focus their attention on Graphics Drivers, iChat, QuickTime, Printing and Rosetta.
The 10.6.3 Update is recommended for all users running Mac OS X Snow Leopard and includes general operating system fixes that enhance the stability, compatibility, and security of your Mac, including fixes that:
Apple iPad running New York Times app
Apple has announced today that the iPad will ship in the US on April 3 with WiFi+3G models following in late April. Apple also said that all models of iPad would be available in Australia, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Spain, Switzerland and the UK in late April.
US customers can pre-order both Wi-Fi and Wi-Fi + 3G models starting March 12 or reserve a Wi-Fi model to pick up on Saturday, April 3, at an Apple retail store.
“iPad is something completely new,” said Steve Jobs, Apple’s CEO. “We’re excited for customers to get their hands on this magical and revolutionary product and connect with their apps and content in a more intimate, intuitive and fun way than ever before.”
International pricing will be available in April.
Upper West Side, Apple Store | Image courtesy of Apple
For the third consecutive year Apple has come on top of Fortune’s “World’s Most Admired Companies” and this year has increased the margin of its win to the largest in the 10-year history of the survey.
The ranking is based on a survey of 4,200 executives, directors and industry analysts.
Apple is followed by Google, Berkshire Hathaway, Johnson and Johnson and Amazon.
What makes Apple so admired? Product, product, product. This is the company that changed the way we do everything from buy music to design products to engage with the world around us. Its track record for innovation and fierce consumer loyalty translates into tremendous respect across business’ highest ranks.
As BMW CEO Norbert Reithofer puts it, “The whole world held its breath before the iPad was announced. That’s brand management at its very best.”
Apple has hired a former Microsoft security chief who served a lead on Windows XP Service Pack 2, at Apple the security expert will serve as senior security product manager.
According to PC World Window Synder began work at Apple this week, Synder has in the past also worked at Mozilla and was said to be credited with “professionalizing the Firefox security response team, at a time when the open-source browser was increasingly coming under attack from hackers.”
It is unknown what products Snyder will be working on but Apple is the third browser-maker to hirer her in the last five years.
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