Last November, I told you about the rumor of Microsoft Office coming to the iPad. Well it looks like Office has been submitted for approval and should be available soon. Microsoft has been showing a beta version of the app to select outlets and one has gone public with its findings. Read on for more information on Microsoft Office for iPad and a photo of the software suite running.
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iPad 3 to Feature Apple A5X Processor?
Alleged images of the iPad 3's processor reveal a chip labeled the A5X instead of the A6 chip many experts were expecting. The labeling is causing the rumor mill to believe that the processor will "only" be dual-core and not the quad-core chip some were expecting. This also adds a lovely twist to the "Dual-Core or Quad-Core?" debate we recently had. Check it out.
iPad 3 Shell Images Reveal Thicker Redesign
The iPad 3 announcement is (allegedly) two weeks away and the product launch will (also allegedly) take place shortly thereafter. As you sift through your iPad 3 wishes and wants, check out these images of the (again alleged) iPad 3 shell courtesy of M.I.C. Gadget. Judging from the photos, the iPad 3 is a wee bit thicker than its predecessor and also curves a bit differently. Check out some additional details below.
iPad 3 Retina Display Proof?
One of the longest-running iPad 3 rumors was that it would have a "Retina Display" resolution of 2,048 x 1,536. A lot of the rumors have been rooted in speculation and extrapolation. A few of the rumors were based on supply-chain sources, which can be hit or miss. The latest -- and most interesting -- is some actual, physical proof. Check it out.
Win a $10,000 App Store Gift Card
To celebrate its upcoming 25-billionth App Store download (think about that number for a second), Apple is holding a contest where you could win a $10,000 gift card. All you have to do is purchase and download an app or fill out an online form.
Kindle Fire 2 Coming in May?
When the Amazon Kindle Fire rumors first popped up in 2011, the word was that the company would release an initial model in Q4 2011 and an improved model in early 2012. The latest rumor is that the successor the Kindle Fire is coming in Q2 2012. Possibilities include a larger model, cheaper materials, and a big shift in how Amazon makes money with the Kindle Fire. Check it out.
Hironobu Sakaguchi (Final Fantasy) Working on Three iOS Games
Hironobu Sakaguchi -- best know as the longtime director and producer of the Final Fantasy series -- has revealed that he's working on three iOS games. What started out as an innocent question from a Twitter follower became a major revelation for RPG fans around the world. Check out the details below.
Mountain Lion Continues the iOS-ificiation of OS X
As Chris mentioned earlier today, OS X Mountain Lion has some powerful social gaming features thanks to its Game Center integration. On a larger scale, this upcoming OS X release shows how influential iOS -- particularly on the iPad -- has become. Just take a look at the marketing copy being used: "You love them on the iPad. Now you'll love them on your Mac." Let's take a look at some of the ways OS X is becoming more like iOS.
Epic Games Announces 'Make Something Unreal Live' Studios
Epic Games and Train2Game have provided an update on the "Make Something Unreal Live" competition. The contest has students making games using Epic's Unreal Development Kit. The games will be released on the iOS App Store, with the winner receiving "a full source, commercial Unreal Engine 3 license for iOS free of upfront fees" and a vacation to a water park in Slovakia (for real). As the contest approaches its climax, four student-based game-studios have emerged as the finalists: Commando Kiwi, Derp Studios, Digital Mage and Indigo Jam. The four studios will be making iOS games based on the Fighting Fantasy series of books by Ian Livingston and Steve Jackson.
Apple CEO Tim Cook Addresses China and Foxconn Controversy
Apple has been getting a ton of heat for its heavy use of Foxconn and other Chinese manufacturers. With labor practices, wages, and safety situations that are considered subpar by Western standards, it's easy to understand why. However, compared to most companies, Apple is doing more to improve labor in China. Foxconn is also viewed to be superior to other manufacturers in China. Check out a lengthy excerpt from Apple CEO Tim Cook addressing the matter.
Samsung Galaxy Note 10.1 On the Way?
It looks like the Samsung Galaxy Note "phablet" will be coming in a more traditional tablet size -- 10.1 inches. The company's schedule for Mobile World Congress and commercial casting call mention the Galaxy Note 10.1. As I wrote last month, it makes sense for Samsung to use its S-Pen stylus in other products. However, I imagined that the Note would be the "tweener" product and the S-Pen would find its way into the Galaxy Tab line. That doesn't appear to be the case.
Apple Pulling iPad 2 From Chinese Retailers Due to Proview Trademark Squabble
Once upon a time, a company named Proview owned the rights to the "iPad" trademark in China. Apple claims that it reached an agreement with Proview in order to use the trademark. Proview claims this isn't the case. While the companies prepare for a lengthy (and likely expensive) legal skirmish, Apple has proactively pulled the iPad 2 from some Chinese retailers, including Amazon. Check out the sordid details below.
Rumor: Apple Testing Eight-Inch iPad
The latest supply-chain rumor says that Apple is testing an eight-inch iPad, which fuels the rumor that Apple will be releasing two iPad models in 2012. An "iPad Mini" would be attractive to consumers that prefer a smaller form factor and a lower price. Some believe that Apple needs a budget model to compete with the capable Google Android tablets that sell for $300 or less. Others feel that an iPad Mini is completely unnecessary. Read on for more details.
DICE 2012: Mobile vs. Console
One of the three discussions during the "Hot Topics" session of DICE 2012 was mobile games vs. console games. On the console side was Zebra Partners principal Perrin Kaplan, formerly a longtime executive at Nintendo of America. On the mobile side was Addmired CEO Gabriel Leydon. It was an interesting discussion that brought up several fascinating points. Check out the video below. The mobile vs. console action starts at the 32:38 mark.
iPad 3 Announcement Slated for March 7?
It looks like Apple will be announcing the iPad 3 on March 7, 2012. The date was originally posted by iMore and later supported by the well-connected Jim Dalrymple from The Loop. The timing makes sense. March 7 would be a hair over a year from the iPad 2 announcement. Like the iPad 2 announcement, the rumored date would also be smack in the middle of Game Developers Conference, allowing Apple access to all the developers and journalists in town for the show.
Samsung's First Android 4.0 Tablet is the Galaxy Tab 2
The first Samsung tablet to launch with Android 4.0 (Ice Cream Sandwich) is called the...wait for it...Galaxy Tab 2! It will be available globally starting in March, packing a 1GHz dual-core processor, a seven-inch PLS TFT with a resolution of 1,024x600, 1GB of RAM, and an HSPA+ 21 radio. Curiously, perhaps purposefully, the processor type and manufacturer was not listed. Check out the complete spec sheet below.
Are We Approaching the Pinnacle of Tablet PC Graphics?
At DICE 2012 Epic Games CEO and technical director Tim Sweeney talked about the future of video game graphics during a session called “Technology and Gaming in the Next 20 Years”. During the talk he discussed how the human eye is the equivalent of a 30-megapixel camera and how the most it can process on tablets is a resolution of 2,560 x 1,600 at 72 frames per second. Considering the rumors of the iPad 3's capabilities, is the industry close to achieving this pinnacle?
Infinity Blade II Wins Interactive Achievement Award for Best Mobile Game
The outstanding Infinity Blade II won the prestigious Interactive Achievement Award for Best Mobile Game. The awards, held by the Academy of Interactive Arts & Sciences, are voted on by a committee of the top minds in gaming. While the competition was fierce, Infinity Blade II was the favorite to win for bringing iOS visuals to new heights. Congratulations for Chair Entertainment and Epic Games for the award.
Would You Like an iPad With Your Buffalo Wild Wings?
Have you ever eaten at a Buffalo Wild Wings restaurant and thought, "Man, I'm enjoying the wings and beer, but that waiter sure is an annoying sun on the beach!" A solution is at hand, courtesy of the Apple iPad. The restaurant is beta testing a program where customers can order food and drinks, play games, update their status on social networks, etc. on the iPad instead of having to deal with a waiter or waitress. Read more details and vital analysis (wings and beer are vital, after all) below.
Google Chrome Beta Available For Android 4 Devices
Google has launched a beta version of its popular Chrome web browser for Android 4.0 (Ice Cream Sandwich) phones and tablets. Lauded for its speed, stability, and innovative features, the desktop version of Chrome has been hugely popular among tech enthusiasts since launching in 2008. The mobile version syncs with the desktop version, allowing you to open the same bookmarks and tabs on your PC and mobile device. Check out a video and some hands-on-impressions below.
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Padvance on Twitter
- Microsoft Office for iPad in the wild. Allegedly ready for submission and coming soon. http://t.co/kAOLbso9 Yesterday
- @Mobigame Completely agree. Yesterday
- @iMattDroid93 A lot of things are said about Apple products. Apple never mentioned A6. I also suggest reading this: http://t.co/BahzHIos Yesterday
- iPad 3 to be powered by Apple A5X processor that's "only" dual-core? http://t.co/x3WZgt3X Yesterday
- Alleged iPad 3 shell reveals slightly thicker design with slightly different curved. http://t.co/V3Gk1g8g Believe? No believe?!? Yesterday
