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News

iPad 2 Zooms by the Motorola Xoom

How fast is the iPad 2? How about adding a dual core A5 chip and 9 times the graphic speed. When you’re flipping through your pages on the home screen, you will notice the changes. The faster graphics make games smoother and more realistic. Certain games with video will show a smoother transition and not as sluggish you could say. The A5 dual core will do two times the work at once. While your multitasking to get to your applications faster or watching a movie, your whole iPad will seem like it’s hyped up on steroids. Everything just works faster and better with dual core. The new iPad two went face to face with the Motorola Xoom, and let’s just say it wasn’t a fair battle.

 

The iPad 2 and Xoom both share a dual core chip, but nothing can compete with the A5 chip, especially the Android powered chip. Our friends at AnandTech ran some benchmark speed tests, and it completely tore the Xoom apart. The iPad 2 beat the Xoom by almost 3.7 times faster. It also topped the original iPad by 5.4 times faster by framerate. With the faster speed of the new iPad 2, the developers will be able to create better apps that offer better graphics and faster performance. I think that the Xoom will never be as fast as the iPad because of who it’s built by. Apple’s A5 chip is the new best thing, but this certain chip will always be fast and will tear apart the competition.

 

The new iPad 2 is a different type of tablet and also has new technology then the original iPad has. It comes with the dual core A5 chip and 9 times the graphic speed which I talked about before. It kept the same 10 hour battery life which to me is astonishing considering the fact that the iPad is technically doing twice the work then the original iPad. The new iPad 2 also has the three-axis gyroscope which is really cool. You get to see apps in a different way, and it may also seem like it’s more realistic. The iPad 2 has the new Smart Covers which make the iPad look more colorful. The Smart Covers are a magnetic attraction for the iPad 2. The iPad 2 it self has built in magnets that align perfectly with the Smart Covers. The Smart Cover can fold backwards so that you can turn it into a keyboard stand or a FaceTime/video stand. The Smart Cover comes in two textures, Polyurethane and Leather.

 

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Average Joe's Tips

How to: Enable Four and Five Finger Gestures a.k.a Multitasking Gestures

One of the biggest disappointments of the iOS 4.3 was that we knew the neat four- and five-finger gestures wouldn’t be there. But, we didn’t realize they were actually there and just needed a few clicks on the mouse to be enabled. These gestures allow less use of the Home screen and more use of your fingers; after all it is a tablet.

So how do we enable these four- and five-finger gestures, a.k.a Multitasking Gestures? First we need to start with Xcode which comes standard on your Mac depending on your settings, alternatively you can download Xcode from the App Store if your willing to spend the $5. We’re using a little older edition of Xcode, Xcode 3.2.5, surprisingly after downloading a few files from the Internet it was ready to set into development mode.

After you have installed Xcode, fire up Xcode and plug in your iPad. The Organizer should pop up immediately. Under the “Devices” tab on the side, find and select your iPad.

Once your iPad is selected, click on the large titled “Use for Development” button. It will ask you for the “Developer Account” information, just click cancel if you do not have the $99 account. Depending on the version of Xcode, it might need to download a few files, then it will process them — so let Xcode do it’s thing. When Xcode doesn’t show any activity, move down to the next step.

On your iPad, launch the Settings app. Then select General and scroll down until you see the Multitasking Gestures. It’s flip should already be in the on position, and away you go, no more need for the Home button.

Could the Home button be ditched in future versions of iDevices? How did this work for you?

 

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Uncategorized

Update 3/14/11 iOS 4.3, GarageBand and iMovie for iPad, and the speedy MacBook Pros

Learn about Apple’s latest release for of it’s iOS, iOS 4.3 and the iPad versions of GarageBand and iMovie, and the speedy MacBook Pros.

Do you need to run windows applications on your Mac? CrossOver, by CodeWeavers can help! Learn more about how to use CrossOver and CrossOver Games to run windows applications on your Mac . No need to reboot, no need for a virtual machine AND no need for a window’s license!

 

 

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News

Apple Stores Around the World: Mongolia

The following article is a guest article composed by Mad-Mongolia.com.

While most of the “Apple fan boys” in the world jitter with the anticipation of the upcoming and improved line of MacBook Pro’s, Mongolia’s Apple aficionados have other reasons to celebrate.

An official Apple store has, at long last, opened its doors in what is known as the world’s coldest capital: Ulaanbaatar.

While the traditionally enthusiastic, nearly hysteric, throng of people normally present to celebrate the opening of an Apple shop, was strangely absent it can never the less be considered a momentous event in both the Mongolian geek calendar as well as an indication of Apple’s expanding interest in Asian markets.

The opening of an Apple shop in Mongolia is something of a leap of faith within a country of less than 3 million people that still ranks as one of the poorest in the world. However, despite its apparent poverty, Mongolia is one of the fastest growing economies in the world, propelled largely by its enormous mineral reserves and its close proximity to the insatiable Chinese economy.

Mongolia’s consumer environment is developing apace. In 2010 Louis Vuitton opened a store in the overlooking the vast central public space of Ulaanbaatar, Sukhbaatar Square. The chic storefront looks out across at the statue of revolutionary hero Sukhbaatar, this juxtaposition indicative of the changes occurring in the Mongolian capital.

Since then luxury brands of all kinds have begun to vie for space on one of the city’s main avenues; Cartier, Dior, Shangri-La, Hilton, Boss, Mont Blanc, BMW and Benetton have all set up shop with many more international brands reconnoitring the city’s prime retail territory. It is only logical that Apple is keen to be present in the early stages of this incredible development story.

Until now Apple products have only been available in Mongolia in the form of imports brought by individuals from the US or China. Prices were excessive, often double if not triple the official Apple retail prices. The latest models were often entirely unobtainable. Bodi Electronics, an arm of the giant conglomerate Mongolian Bodi Group has obtained the sole and coveted status of authorized Apple retailer for Mongolia.

Other retailers such as Nomin and MCS, who until now profited handsomely from the lack of official Apple representation in Mongolia, will likely be forced to lower their prices considerably if they hope to compete in the same market as the — official — Apple Store.

The Bodi Electronics Apple Retail Store will officially open its doors on the 1st of March 2011, but has been open for business since the 21st of February. M.A.D. Corporate Services was its first customers, purchasing one of the new Mac minis as well as a 27inch Cinema Display. It carries the full range of Apple products but does not currently stock iPads as they prefer to wait for the rumoured update. iPhones are also off the wish-list as there are currently no carrier arrangements in Mongolia.

Getting to Know the 1st Ulaanbaatar Apple Store

The Apple Store is not in the very centre of Ulaanbaatar but still within walking distance of Sukbaatar square (20 minutes). The store is within the Golomt Towers, a set of 5 tall and iconic towers to the West of central Ulaanbaatar. It is on the ground floor, with its entrance door next to the Torgo Fashion Shop.

The shop is open from 9am until 7pm daily with shorter opening times on Sundays (to be confirmed).

All the staff speaks excellent English and will be able to assist you with the basics of operating a mac or other apple products, there is as of yet no “genius bar” in the shop but it is rumoured to be planned for the second shop.

The shop supplies itself by plane from the Singapore Apple shops and is thus expected to have overall similar product lines and timed releases as Singapore.

Bodi Electronics is rumoured to be planning the opening of a second Apple retail store closer to the city centre, in all probability within the Bodi Tower on Sukhbaatar Square or the Central Tower.

[Mad Mongolia]

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News

Apple is the #1 Most Admired Company!

How do you know that Apple is the #1 Most Admired Company? Well, FORTUNE magazine runs a yearly survey by asking businesspeople to vote for the companies that they admire the most. They compile the votes and create a list called Top 50 Most Admired Companies. So what did FORTUNE magazine find this time? Apple is #1, for the fourth year in a row. There is good reason for why Apple was picked as #1. They make so many great products that are admired by many. The company introduced the iPad last year and opened the world to an entirely new idea. Google, the #2 most admired company, was also following closely behind Apple. The following are the Top Ten Most Admired Companies:

  1. Apple
  2. Google
  3. Berkshire Hathaway
  4. Southwest Airlines
  5. Procter & Gamble
  6. Coca-Cola
  7. Amazon.com
  8. FedEx
  9. Microsoft
  10. McDonald’s

As for my own opinion, I also admire Apple the most. What do you think? Leave a comment.

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