Latest Podcast



Featured Articles

Wednesday, March 2, 2011

There's nowhere to go with tablet innovation - even Apple seems to agree

Mark Bridge writes:

“Harder, better, faster, stronger”. Okay, so it’s a lyric from Daft Punk (or Kanye West, if you prefer) but it might as well be the vague design brief for second-generation tablets.

This struck me when I was at Mobile World Congress last month. Although each tablet manufacturer had its own USP - first to market, 3D cameras, a library of media content, a pressure-sensitive pen - there was as much emphasis on the operating system as there was on the other specifications. “Look what Honeycomb can do”, they all seemed to be saying. “It’s really good on our Android tablet”.

And it seemed to be a similar situation at Apple yesterday. Steve Jobs popped back into the office to unveil the second-generation iPad, a tablet that was 33% thinner than the original but still offered the same battery life. It’s now thinner than an iPhone 4, which is pretty darned impressive.

However, the initial impression hasn’t changed. Same screen size, same resolution. There’s a new dual-core chip inside - not such a big deal any more - and a front-facing video camera. Oh, and a choice of two colours. Black or white. That might blow Henry Ford’s mind but arguably it’s hardly major progress.

Hang on a moment, though.

Yesterday’s presentation didn’t just reveal the iPad 2. There’s a ‘Smart Cover’ that holds itself in place with magnets, keeps the screen clean and saves the battery. It comes in a choice of colours and sets you back anything from $39 to $69, but that’s only money. And don’t put your wallet away yet, because there’s an HDMI adaptor that lets you put your iPad display on your HDTV.

Then there are two new iPad-specific video and music-editing apps: iMovie and GarageBand, both already well-loved by Mac owners. $4.99 each, since you ask.

Which all makes me think that Steve Jobs’s line about the iPad 2 - it “moves the bar far ahead of the competition and will likely cause them to go back to the drawing boards yet again” - isn’t particularly true.

But what Apple has done is give its customers more reasons to buy and use an iPad. It’s removed some of the barriers to purchase. And it’s provided a reason to upgrade.

The iPad 2 isn’t a new tablet. It’s an upgrade. A very attractive upgrade nonetheless. And, some would suggest, it paves the way for iPad 3 shortly before Christmas.

Print
Author: The Fonecast
0 Comments
Rate this article:
No rating

Leave a comment

This form collects your name, email, IP address and content so that we can keep track of the comments placed on the website. For more info check our Privacy Policy and Terms Of Use where you will get more info on where, how and why we store your data.
Add comment

Opinion Articles

How AI technology is transforming the smartphone experience

How AI technology is transforming the smartphone experience

From improved performance to personalized recommendations, AI is enhancing the functionality and usability of smartphones for users

By incorporating advanced algorithms and machine learning capabilities, AI can help to optimize a smartphone's performance, providing users with a faster, more efficient and user-friendly experience.
Author: The Fonecast
0 Comments
Article rating: No rating
Whatever happened to all my tech?

Whatever happened to all my tech?

Mark Bridge revisits his mobile technology reviews

Mark Bridge writes:

I've been taking a look back at the devices I've written about during the past few years. Some are still faithful companions, others... well, let's just say my faith was misplaced.
Author: The Fonecast
0 Comments
Article rating: No rating

Predictions for 2016: Network Function Virtualisation, 4G throttling and video calling

Mark Windle, head of marketing at OpenCloud, predicts that this year’s reduction in the number of traditional telecoms operators in some countries will provide an opportunity for other operators to innovate and capture market share in 2016.

He says next year will be a year of rapid change for telecoms… whether it’s MVNO disruption, competitive tariff pricing or simply defence from the ‘dark art’ of hacking.

Author: The Fonecast
0 Comments
Article rating: No rating
Kapture review: the audio-recording wristband

Kapture review: the audio-recording wristband

A 'recording watch' that links to your smartphone

Mark Bridge writes:

The most memorable moments in life often go unrecorded. You don't have your camera in your hands. Your finger is still hovering over the 'pause' button on your audio recorder. Or you were simply too busy experiencing whatever was happening. It's all about the one that got away.

That's where Kapture can help.

Author: The Fonecast
4 Comments
Article rating: 4.0
Making mobile websites work better

Making mobile websites work better

Device detection and responsive design explained

Mark Bridge writes:

James Rosewell shows me a colourful roll of paper that's the width of an iPhone but well over three metres long. When I look closer, I can see it's a printed copy of the Wall Street Journal's mobile website. That's a lot of scrolling to do... and a pretty unfriendly user experience for anyone reading the news online. Why does it work so badly?

Author: The Fonecast
1 Comments
Article rating: 4.0
RSS
12345678910Last

Recent Podcasts

The week's top mobile industry news stories, from Motorola to malware

Podcast - 5th February 2014

This week's podcast starts with Lenovo's purchase of the Motorola Mobility smartphone business. Was it a good deal for everyone?

We also talk about network infrastructure sharing in the UK, mobile malware, 3G coverage, misleading apps, mobile advertising, Samsung's retail plans and global tablet sales.

Author: The Fonecast
0 Comments
Article rating: No rating

Mobile network disagreements, unexpected price rises, patents, takeovers and 4G data

Podcast - 29th January 2014

We start this week's podcast by looking at the new Ofcom rules that should end unexpected mid-contract price rises for UK mobile phone customers.

There's also talk about misleading mobile network advertising, patent agreements, takeover bids, satellite broadband and 4G data usage... plus a curious patent application from Google.

Author: The Fonecast
0 Comments
Article rating: No rating

Mobile payments, connected contact lenses, secure smartphones and much more

Podcast - 22nd January 2014

In this week's podcast, James Rosewell and Mark Bridge talk about the new Zapp mobile payment scheme, Google's healthcare plans and an ultra-secure smartphone.

Also on the agenda are HP's new phablets, Jimmy Wales joining a UK MVNO, Apple's in-app purchases and plenty of research about tablets.

Author: The Fonecast
0 Comments
Article rating: No rating

Google acquires Nest, O2 closes its Wallet, SMS usage falls... plus the rest of the week's mobile industry news

Podcast - 15th January 2014

This week's podcast starts with talk about money, as Google buys smart thermostat company Nest Labs while O2 UK closes its mobile Wallet product.

We're also looking at the decline of SMS text messaging in the UK, the end of the Cash4phones recycling business, an alleged security breach that wasn't what it seemed, mobile service on the Channel tunnel and the growth of 4G.

Author: The Fonecast
0 Comments
Article rating: No rating

Predictions for 2014 and beyond with Florent Stroppa of OnMobile

Podcast - 10th January 2014

Mark Bridge talks to Florent Stroppa, General Manager Europe for mobile value-added service specialist OnMobile.

In today's programme Florent explains what 2014 holds for the mobile industry, what he thinks will happen in the slightly more-distant future - and what lessons we can learn from 2013.

Author: The Fonecast
0 Comments
Article rating: No rating
RSS
First89101113151617Last

Follow thefonecast.com

Twitter @TheFonecast RSS podcast feed
Find us on Facebook Subscribe free via iTunes

Archive Calendar

«January 2025»
MonTueWedThuFriSatSun
303112345
6789101112
13141516171819
20212223242526
272829303112
3456789

Archive

Terms Of Use | Privacy Statement