Apple announces new iPad with 4G LTE, Retina Display, Siri
Today Apple announced the next-generation iPad, available on March 16. Its features include 4G LTE access, Siri, a quad-core processor, and a 2048 x 1536 display, equalling 3.1 million pixels.
Apple announced that the new iPad will include access to the high-speed 4G LTE network and will feature voice dictation using the Siri tool found on the new iPhone 4S. The starting price for the unit begins at $499.
At the California event live-blogged by hundreds of news sites, Apple CEO Tim Cook spoke about Apple heading into the post-PC future, saying “Our post PC devices made up 76% of our revenues.”
He added Apple sold millions of iOS devices in one quarter, specifically stating they sold “an astonishing 315 million devices through last year, 62 million in Q4 2011.”Cook said Apple sold 15.4 million iPads in the last quarter alone. More than 200,000 apps have been built for the iPad, he added.
“Everyone’s been wondering, who will come out with a product that’s more amazing than the iPad 2?” Cook said, and paused, then said, “We are!”
Apple’s senior vice president of Worldwide Marketing Phil Schiller described the new iPad, first announcing a new retina display at 264ppi. “For the first time an iPad has a higher resolution than this entire display behind you,” he said, pointing to the massive screen on stage. “That’s a fun challenge.”
The display sports 2048 x 1536, equally 3.1 million pixels. “The most ever in a mobile device,” Schiller pointed out. The saturation is 44 per cent greater compared to the iPad 2.
The device also includes the quad-core A5X processor, Schiller said.
The new iSight camera on this iPad features a 5-megapixel backside illuminated sensor on the back, a 5-element lens, IR filter, and auto-focus and auto-exposure tools. The camera also lets you do some 1080p video recording, a feature many observers expected.
Then Schiller introduced the voice dictation add-on. “The iPad, like all great iOS devices, has a great keyboard and now you’ll see there’s a new key on the bottom: a microphone.” Instead of typing, you can tap the microphone icon on the keyboard, then say what you want to say and the device listens. Tap “done,” and iPad converts your words into text. Dictation also works with third-party apps.
He also announced this iPad will offer 4G LTE service, a highly anticipated feature. The iPad 2 zipped along at 3.1Mbps on EV-DO, 7.2 on HSPA, Schiller noted, but the latest tablet will access the Web at 21Mbps HSPA+ and DC-HSDPA at 42Mbps, with LTE triumphing at 73Mbps. LTE partners in North America include Verizon, Rogers, Bell, Telus and AT&T.
Schiller said the new iPad delivers the same as the iPad 2 in battery life – 10 hours of battery life, clocking around 9 hours on 4G. Size-wise, it comes in at 9.4mm thin, weighing 1.4lbs.
The new iPad will cost $499 for 16GB, 32GB is $599 and 64GB for $699. If you want a 4G unit, it will cost $629, $729 and $829 respectively. It will be available worldwide on March 16 but Apple is taking pre-orders now.
This article originally appeared on Digital Journal [Link]
Photo courtesy of Apple
Study: Newspapers losing $7 in print ad revenue for every $1 earned online
by Andrew Moran (Guest contributor/Digital Journalist)
According to a new study by the Pew Research Center’s Project for Excellence in Journalism, newspapers in the United States lose $7 in print revenue for every dollar earned in digital revenue. Will a new business model appear?
Many newspapers in the United States and Canada are starting to adapt to the digital age – some may be faster than others. Some publications have attempted the paywall structure, while others publish their news online for free. But are these business models working?
By analyzing financial data of 38 American newspapers and conducting interviews with senior executives from more than a dozen companies that own 330 dailies with circulations between 25,000 and 100,000, Pew Research Center’s Project for Excellence in Journalism has published a new study that finds some very interesting figures for the newspaper industry.
The most important statistic to report on is the fact that newspapers lose $7 in print advertising for every $1 earned in digital revenue. The research found that digital advertising revenues rose on average 19 percent, but suffered from nine percent losses in print advertising.
“Only 40 percent of the papers that provided data say targeted advertising is a major part of their sales effort,” the report stated. “Even though many newspapers are not focusing on it, smart or targeted digital advertising—in which ads are customized based on consumer online behavior—is expected to dominate local digital revenue by 2014.”
Newspaper executives admitted in their interviews with the institute that cultural difficulties are making it harder to transition from print to digital. One challenge that newspapers face is that their employees are too keen on their “old ways.”
Another trouble newspapers face is that even though they may be attempting to shift towards digital revenue, they are having a tough time trying to convince digital salespersons to the newspaper sector.
Upon further analysis, Pew found that the daily deals offerings (e.g. Groupon, DealChicken, etc.) accounts for only five percent of digital revenue. Meanwhile, mobile device advertising only tallies one percent in digital revenue.
The future seems desolate, according to some of the interviewed executives, who maintain a morose outlook. They believe that many newspapers will shrink, shut down and only provide print editions that would be delivered a few times per week.
“The study suggests that the future of newspapers, rather than being determined entirely by sweeping external trends, can be substantially affected by company culture and management, even at papers of quite different sizes,” said Tom Rosenstiel, PEJ director, in a press release.
Canada’s Media
Although the study primarily focused on U.S. publications, Canadian news outlets face the same issues.It was announced that Torstar Corp., owners of the Toronto Star, Workopolis, TheStar.com and others, reported better-than-expected profits in the fourth quarter. Although executives say advertisers are remaining cautious, digital revenues were up 22.8 percent year over year – digital revenue maintains 10.6 percent of its total revenues.
More than one-third of PostMedia’s revenue comes from online operations. It does not, however, publish its financial data.
This article was previously published in Digital Journal [Link]
Conservative columnist, publisher Andrew Breitbart dead at 43
by Andrew Moran (Guest writer/Digital Journalist)
Conservative activist and blogger Andrew Breitbart has passed away from natural causes at the age of 43. He died shortly after midnight in his Los Angeles home. Breitbart is well-known for his support of the Tea Party and criticism of Occupy Wall Street.
Andrew Breitbart, the popular right-wing columnist, who ran five websites, including Breitbart.com, has died. It was announced on BigGovernment.com, an Andrew Breitbart website, that he passed away from natural causes.
Fox News is reporting that Breitbart was walking to his house when he collapsed. A bystander saw him collapse and immediately called paramedics. They attempted to revive him and then transported him to the emergency room at UCLA Medical Center. He suffered from heart problems a year earlier.
Breitbart is mostly known for helping Arianna Huffington launch The Huffington Post and working as an editor for the Drudge Report. He has also published journalistic pieces and has exposed unflattering stories of politicians, such as former New York Congressman Anthony Weiner.
“I love my job. I love fighting for what I believe in. I love having fun while doing it. I love reporting stories that the Complex refuses to report. I love fighting back, I love finding allies, and—famously—I enjoy making enemies,” wrote Breitbart in the conclusion of his new book, “Righteous Indignation.”
“Three years ago, I was mostly a behind-the-scenes guy who linked to stuff on a very popular website. I always wondered what it would be like to enter the public realm to fight for what I believe in. I’ve lost friends, perhaps dozens. But I’ve gained hundreds, thousands—who knows?—of allies. At the end of the day, I can look at myself in the mirror, and I sleep very well at night.”
The conservative publisher recently made headlines when he interrupted an Occupy rally outside of the Conservative Political Action Conference where he told the activists to “stop raping people.” He also told them to “behave themselves” and that they are “freaks and animals.”
Breitbart leaves behind four children and his wife, Susie Bean.Many comments over at BigGovernment.com have wished Breitbart well.
Meanwhile, ABC News is reporting that former Pennsylvania Senator and 2012 Republican presidential candidate Rick Santorum was “crestfallen” upon hearing the news from reporters.”Oh that’s shocking. Obviously prayers go to him and his family and it’s a big shock. What a powerful voice. It’s almost you mean you think of anyone who’s more energy who’s out there constantly driving and pushing he would be,” said Santorum on the campaign trail at a city hall in Georgia. “What a huge loss in my opinion for our country and certainly for the conservative movement and the prayers go out to my family. I’m sorry to hear it.”
This article originally appeared in Digital Journal [Link]
Flickr photo by Gage Skidmore