• Apple to Have an Immediate Availability of iPad 2 Next Week

    // Gradly // Apple, blog, iPad, Rumors No Responses

    According to sources close to AppleInsider, Apple is going to surprise everyone next week with “near immediate” availability of the next-generation iPad to public.

    According to people familiar with the matter, Apple is preparing several of its operating segments to perform functions during the second half of next week that are representative of nothing short of a large scale, consumer-oriented product roll out (not just an announcement). And with official invitations to next Wednesday’s press briefing clearly indicating a focus on iPad, these people believe at least one version of the refreshed device will be in transit to retail outlets during that briefing.

    Apple is going to announce iPad 2 in a media event, which is going to be held on Wednesday, March 2nd, at the famous Yerba Buena Center for the Arts in San Francisco.

    iPad 2 is expected to feature at least one camera for FaceTime video calls, Dual Core CPU and GPU, and will be thinner in size than its predecessor.

  • New iPad will be Available Around the End of March

    // Gradly // Apple, blog, iPad 1 Response

    The second generation iPad is rumored to be announced by Apple on March 2nd at an event in San Francisco but there has still been no word on when it will ship.

    Sources have told us that the second generation iPad will be announced in the next 7-14 days (backs up the rumored March 2nd date) and will be available towards the end of March. This fits with Apple’s usual annual announce/update for iOS products.

    The new iPad is rumored to include a front-facing video camera for FaceTime video chat in addition to a rear-facing camera for FaceTime and taking both pictures and video. This rear camera may be one megapixel and will shoot video in full 720p HD. The new iPad is also rumored to include a faster processor, more RAM, and adopt and thinner and lighter design.

  • New iPad ‘Smart Bezel’ Patent Emerged

    // Gradly // Apple, blog, News, Patents, Rants & Raves, Tech. No Responses

    A patent from Apple detailing a new ‘Smart Bezel’ feature for the iPad emerged. This new bezel is said to be a touch-sensitive gesture area surrounding the iPad’s display. Now, with the iPad being rumored to lose the stationary home button, it would make sense that Apple would implement something similar to what is found in the ‘Smart Bezel’ patent.

    Adding credence to this Patently Apple has uncovered yet another patent relating to the smart bezel and this patent features a tablet device with the new bezel, but the drawing does not include the home button.

    The patent describes some possible features for the bezel such as double-tapping the bezel to turn the iPad on and off, touching the bezel in certain places with certain amounts of pressures to the control brightness and volume, and touching the bezel in a certain way to lock and unlock the display.

    We think that this ‘Smart Bezel’ along with the new iPad gestures Apple is testing in iOS 4.3 would be a good replacement for their physical home button in mobile iOS products.

  • Is Apple Buying A Third-Party App To Fix iOS Notifications?

    // Gradly // Apple, blog, Rants & Raves No Responses

    It is no secret that Android’s, WP7’s and webOS’ notification system offers far better experience than iOS’ current notification system, which is intrusive at best. Sources close to CultofMac has informed them that Apple is buying a small company to revamp the much criticized notification system of iOS. here is what they had to say:

    UPDATE: I sent an email to App Remix’s CEO Jonathan George asking whether his company was going to be bought by Apple. His response? “No comment…” he said.

    Apple is working on a new notification system for iOS and will be buying a small company to build its technology into the operating system, according to one of our sources.

    Apple’s pop-up notification system for new text messages, voicemails and the like has often been criticized as one of the weakest parts of the iOS. Notifications are intrusive, modal and often cryptic. It’s a mess.

    HP/Palm’s webOS banner notification system, on the other hand, has been widely praised for its utility and ease of use. And from this week’s preview, it looks to be getting better.

    There were rumors last year that the iPhone’s notification system would be fixed after the chief architect of Palm’s system, Rich Dellinger, returned to work at Apple. However, the system still hasn’t been fixed, and according to our source, Apple is now trying to buy a small app developer to fix it.

    Our source, who asked to remain anonymous, didn’t know the identity of the company, except it already has an iPhone app in the App Store.

    One candidate is Boxcar, a free app from App Remix that enables push notifications for Twitter, Facebook, and email. Boxcar’s system has been highly praised, especially the new iPad version.

    Other than that, we couldn’t find other obvious possibilities for the company Apple is buying. If anyone has a good idea, please leave it in the comments.