Apple intros new iPad Smart Case

Apple intros new iPad Smart Case, clever enough to cover both sides

And we're still not done. A new iPad case has managed to sneak onto the Apple Store's online shelves, and it'll protect your precious slab on both the back and front. The Smart Case appears to augment last year's Smart Cover with an additional (polyurethane hardshell) coating for the back of your iPad.

Priced at just under $50, the case fits both second and third-generation iPads and will arrive in six different color options. And yes, you can still get that ever-pressing message engraved onto it too.

Apple, Starbucks Team Up To Give Away Free iPhone Apps

Since April 2008, Starbucks has partnered with Apple for the “Pick of the Week” program. The “Pick of the Week” program provides users with iTunes Music Store content via cards. Previously, the promotion only allowed*customers access to a free song each week, with tracks priced up to $1.29. Now, CNET reports that these cards are now also offering free downloads of paid iOS applications.

The first application made available for free is Shazam Encore, which usually sells for $5.99 in the App Store. Starbucks has not commented on whether the free applications offer will replace music tracks for good, or if both will be offered in the future. Judging by the first free app offering, it seems they’re serious about providing quality apps because Shazam Encore is a very popular music app costing $5.99.

Customers who visit Starbucks can pick up the free “Pick of the Week” cards at the register that contain codes*redeemable in the App Store towards the purchase of iOS apps.*Last year, Starbucks also did something similar by partnering with Apple and Yahoo to offer digital content to in-store customers.

Android owners, are you jealous yet? Anyways, Apple’s evil.

[image credit: CNET]


Author: Parth Dhebar

Parth Dhebar has written 63 articles for us.

Apple Claims Android Device Counts Include Chinese Knockoffs

Every time someone releases stats on Android, Apple is owned and fires back with some excuse. The last time Google released stats on Android device activations, Apple claimed it included upgrades. This time, when Android has swept past Nokia and amounts for as many Apple and Blackberry phones, Apple claims that the figures includes Chinese variants of Android.

In short, Apple just cannot stand the Android growth and wants to take every chance to speak against it. Android, now accounts for a third of the global handset population and the situation in the fourth quarter reports are reversed from last year. In Q4 this year, Android accounts for double of Apple’s sales and has pissed off Apple.

Apple has claimed that it includes OPhone devices based on the Android variant OMS developed for use in China. OMS was originally developed for CDMA connections in China. Now, it has made it incompatible for Android apps but compatible with Symbian apps. In short, the app is nothing related to Android but has been included in the stats. Another Android fork, Tapas OS has been seen in China that focuses on Chinese social networks and software especially built for use in China.

Apple insider reports this as, That suggests most the growth in “Android” numbers is coming from no-name vendors selling devices in countries such as China, using devices that don’t support Google’s development of the OS (via ads or search services) nor even expand the platform in any meaningful way that could benefit Android users.


As pointed out at Daring Fireball, it would be interesting to know how many of those devices are from Chinese forks.