With all the hoopla about Apple's upcoming technological baby, the iPad, one has to wonder about the effects on the App Store.  We know that Apple will be releasing an iBookstore as part of iTunes for the download of books and probably magazines.

What about apps?  How will they be affected?  Most of the apps developed before now have been optimized for the smaller screens of the iPhone and iPod touch.  Is that the reason for the 60 day delay in the iPad's release?  So that developers can re-develop for the iPad.

My theory is this: a new breed of apps will be released that will be exclusively for the iPad, and they will likely have a higher price point than the iPhone apps initially.  I'm sure that after some time though, the draw of .99 for an app will probably occur on the iPad as well, and the majority will end up there.

But the real question that sticks in my mind is, what sort of apps are going to come out for the iPad that couldn't come out for the iPhone/Touch because of the extra screen real estate?  The greater amount of visual real estate will surely lead to more complex apps that would work less awkwardly than on the smaller equivalents.

If current Apps are re-created for the larger screen, will iPad versions of the apps we all know and love have to be repurchased for the iPad?  Unlikely, as that goes against the iTunes model in which one purchase guarantees free updates for the app (which should include modifications for different screen sizes).

The veracity of my theory will be proven just after the first release of the iPad is done around the end of March.  I'm sure there will be a flood of new applications shortly thereafter for us to write about, and we will have our iPads ready to review them for you!

Walt Mossberg got a chance to speak with Steve Jobs after the iPad was presented on Wednesday and a video was recorded. All Things Digital. A transcript of the conversation is below… the good parts start at 2:00 on the scroll

Mossberg: "Why should she buy a book for $14.99 on your device when she can buy one for $9.99 on Amazon on the Kindle or from Barnes & Noble on the Nook?"
Jobs: "Well that won't be the case..."
Mossberg: "You mean you won't be $14.99 or they won't be $9.99?"
Jobs: "Uh...the prices will be the same."

Jobs: "The publishers are withholding books from Amazon cuz they're not happy with the..."

Jobs: "A bit more than 10 hours..."
Mossberg: "Really?"
Jobs: "Ya."
Mossberg: "Music, a lot more than 10 hours?"
Jobs: "Oh ya, music, it is, uh...140-something hours, I think...of contiguous music playback."
Mossberg: "140? And reading? What about reading?"
Jobs: *Inaudible*
Mossberg: "Its over 10? Because you know Amazon's is measured in days..."
Jobs: "Its all about the display...our chips don't use hardly any power."
Mossberg: "But that's the key, you're doing an ebook reader that isn't using e-ink that gives you really beautiful color and led..."
Jobs: "And you can read at night..."
Mossberg: "I get it, but on the other hand, there's a battery cost to that..."
Jobs: "You know there isn't...cuz you just end up...plugging it in.  I mean you just end up docking it or whatever you're gonna do with it...its not a big deal.  I mean, 10 hours is a long time, you're not gonna read for 10 hours"
Mossberg: "So should I write my review of this on this?"
Jobs: "Sure.  Get Pages and write it in Pages."
Mossberg: "I could save it as a Word doc like on a Mac?"
Jobs: "Yes, you can."
Mossberg: "And then send, cuz believe me, the editors don't know anything about Pages, the onkly know about docs."
Jobs: "You could export it to...you could make a Word version...write it in Pages and make a Word version and send it in an email to your editors."
Mossberg: "All from here?"
Jobs: "Ya."

Remember the Sherlock Holmes Mysteries game released in conjunction with the Robert Downey Jr. movie?  Well, the WB has just lowered the game price to $.99 and released a set of tips for the game.  They are:

1.  Retrace Your Steps!  If you feel like your investigation is stalling out, try revisiting previous location. Make sure you talk to everyone, as many clues are uncovered in conversation.
2.  Tap Into Sherlock’s Mind! Touch an objective to bring it to Sherlock’s Mind. You will need to complete the chosen objective before you can put the clue to mind by selecting it and tapping “Put to Mind”.
3.  Locate the Screwdriver! If you find that you are lacking this essential tool for assembling the Electric Gramophone, you would do well to revisit locations. Rotterdam was known to be quite the tinkerer. Too bad he lies chilling in the Morgue.
4.  Pick the Locks! When picking locks, you will need to discover a path that connects all of the tumblers between the start and the finish.
5.  Find the Copper Coil! If you are having problems finding the copper coil for the Electric Gramophone, be sure to scour Pennington Place.

Some clips for the game are also available online -
·         Sherlock Holmes Mysteries for iPhone and iPod Touch http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TD8UdZGodyU
·         Boxing Gus-Sherlock Holmes Mysteries for iPhone and iPod Touch http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nqj8GWH3tyY
·         Finnegan Fight-Sherlock Holmes Mysteries for iPhone and iPod Touch http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zLmk6BpCJ74
·         Lock Picking-Sherlock Holmes Mysteries for iPhone and iPod Touch http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SWqPdHw0iJw

Yes, I'm a shill, but I do legitimately like the game.  If you haven't already purchased the game and like either Sherlock Holmes or mystery games, I highly recommend it.

Well, as many of you probably know, the iPad was finally announced!

Heres the scope...

• .5 inches
• 1.5 pounds
• 9.7 inch IPS display
• Multi-Touch
• 1GHz Apple A4 Chip
• 16-64Gig Flash
• WiFi 802.11
• 3G - ARGH!!!! AT&T is never going away!
• Bluetooth 3.1 + EDR
• Accelerometer & Compass
• Speaker, Microphone, 30-pin Connector
• 10 hour battery
• Month Standby Time
• iPhone OS
• new Versions of iWork
• App Store Access
• New iBooks with direct download for book from device (like Kindle)
• Full screen keyboard
• Docking with physical keyboard
• Runs all iPhone Apps
• New version of iWork for device - compatible with Mac versions
• New onscreen pop up menus vary for different applications
• youTube on demand in HD
• Can connect device to projector for presentations
• Photos, Movies, Music, Contacts, Calendar, etc (like iPhone)
• NO CAMERA!
• NO FLASH
• NO MENTION OF PHONE SERVICE

Cost for 3G service?

Only $29.99 for Unlimited data, $14.95 for 250MB, best part?  NO CONTRACT!

International plans will be announced by June.

Price?

When is it available?

60 Days for WiFi version, 90 for 3G

So, who's buying?  Are You?

Check out the Video

Looks like someone slipped!

The CEO says: "Yeah, Very exciting. Yes, they'll make their announcement tomorrow on this one. We have worked with Apple for quite a while. And the Tablet is going to be based on the iPhone operating system and so it will be transferable. So what you are going to be able to do now is we have a consortium of e-books. And we have 95% of all our materials that are in e-book format on that one. So now with the tablet you're going to open up the higher education market, the professional market. The tablet is going to be just really terrific."

And now we know its iPhone OS Based!

Here's The Link To the Video, you'll want to go to 2 min 50 seconds to hear it!

We usually don't do this sort of "repost", but we think this is an amazing story.  Don't you?

Trapped Haiti survivor used iPhone app to treat injuries - Recombu -

Stuff.co.nz

Trapped Haiti survivor used iPhone app to treat injuries Recombu Using a first-aid app on his iPhone, he treated a compound fracture of his leg and a cut on his head - and even set the alarm on his iPhone to go off every ... iPhone app helped US man survive Haiti quakeCNET Man Says iPhone Application Helped Him Treat Wounds in Haiti, Saved LifeFOXNews Haiti quake survivor credits iPhone appFox 31 KDVR.com Sydney Morning Herald -Huffington Post (blog) -Wired News all 59 news articles »

At this point, I think I've heard all the rumors.  However, I've heard a myriad of them with some of them being downright contradictory.  Supposedly we will have:

• The introduction of the iPad or iTablet or iSlate or whatever it's going to be called.
• The tablet application will look like an enlarged version of the iPhone without being tied to AT&T.  Rather, the users will have a choice of AT&T or Verizon.
• The screen size will be 10 inches.  No, wait, 11 inches.  No, wait, 9.5 inches.
• iPhone OS 4.0 will be introduced, which the tablet device will run a version of.
• Apple will halt its iPhone exclusivity with AT&T, which will go into effect later this year.  An unlocked version of the device will be released at that time.

Since rumors usually run rampant right before Apple makes a major announcement, I thought I'd try to start a few of my own.  They are:

• Steve Jobs will announce his affair with Angelina Jolie.
• The next generation of iPhone will come with lasers for vaporizing your enemies.
• Apple will release a new computer-based product that will open portals to other dimensions.
• Apple is abandoning the consumer retail electronics business and will open a chain of themed fast food restaurants where they will sell, what else, apples.
• Steve Jobs will autograph an HP computer.
• It will be revealed that aliens have been running Apple Inc. since 2003.

What will Apple announce on Wednesday?  Use your imagination and let me know in the comments.

There are many ways to enjoy the music on your iPhone. You can listen to it privately with earbuds or headphones and you can play it through your car’s audio system. But, the best way to enjoy all the great music on your iPhone is at home using a high quality speaker dock.

There are many docks and systems from which you can choose. They can be as simple as a table clock model or as exotic as one of the many higher end models. Most of them sound good but for my listening pleasure, I chose a slightly different route – the Bowers and Wilkins Zeppelin. B&W is known for high-end home audio speakers and their studio monitors are used in some of the best recording studios in the world. B&W has taken their knowledge of home audio and transformed the iPhone into a high-end music device. When docked in the Zeppelin’s handsome chrome cradle, the iPhone becomes a part of the Zeppelin’s artful look and creates sonic bliss.

Having been involved with home and car audio for years professionally, it takes a lot for me to talk about a specific product. The iPhone is very capable of high-end sound when given the right material. There have been many reviews on the Zeppelin since its introduction in 2008, so I won't rehash the specs in detail here (check out the B&W website for all the information). Instead, I’ll focus on the sound quality.

I purchased the B&W Zeppelin for Christmas (as a gift to myself) and have been enjoying it every day since. It plays at room-filling sound or background dinner music levels without missing a beat. The detail of the sound is amazing. Several guests not used to high-end sound, remarked that it seemed like the musicians were right in the room. The base response was very good and blended well with the midrange and highs. You can also hook up other sources to the Zeppelin such as TVs (you can use it as a great center channel for a home theater system) and computers.

The remote is intuitive and fits great in the palm of your hand.  All the basic functions are available on it and it matches perfectly in design with the Zeppelin.

The Zeppelin is priced at $599 which is not inexpensive but certainly not the most expensive dock system that is available today. Also, it is a stunning piece of musical art to look at even when it’s not playing. On a side note, B&W has come out with a smaller version called the mini for $399 – .great sound and looks in a smaller design. In closing, being an iPhone enthusiast and a music lover it’s great to see home audio companies raising the bar for excellent sound.

If you are in the market, this is absolutely one of the top iPhone docs to consider.

It is uncertain at this point whether the iPhone will ever be free of the shackles of AT&T.  It has to happen eventually, quite possibly this year.  However, Verizon and Palm are doing something quite brilliant in case it doesn't, and everybody benefits except AT&T.

Palm is adding software to the soon-to-be-released Palm Pre Plus and Palm Pixi Plus that will allow either phone to act as a WiFi hotspot.  No more searching for WiFi.  You'll be able to take a hotspot with you wherever you go and use your iPhone or iPod touch with it.

Supposedly, it's possible to install a program on Windows Mobile to turn your phone into a hotspot.  I've tried it on my Verizon VX9800 and it didn't work.  In its defense my phone (and operating system) is two years old now, a lifetime in the computer world.

Obviously, other operating systems such as those by Microsoft and Google will eventually have to respond to this by offering WiFi access of their own.  Perhaps even Apple will join the fray.  After all, this sort of access only affects the wireless providers and not the device manufacturers.  The providers aren't bothered because most plans have a data cap and they can make additional money from people that go over that cap.

Nonetheless, this new technology offering is a bit of a game changer.  I currently don't have any information regarding the price or availability, however with it the iPhone will have a new competitor in the form of the iPod touch.  What do you think?  Will this technology wean people off the iPhone?

Along with the Motorola Droid and the Palm Pre, we now have the Google Nexus One as a competitor to the iPhone.  Billshrink.com has posted a lovely chart of comparative costs of each.  I would like to add a thought or two to the analysis.

The clear advantage Apple has over the competitors is iTunes and the App Store, in which the company completely controls the distribution of content.  What everybody seems to forget is that iTunes and the App Store isn't just for the iPhone.  I submit, ladies and gentlemen of the jury, that the iPod Touch is almost as much a smartphone competitor as the iPhone, it's just that nobody acknowledges it.

To turn the iPod Touch into a phone, all that is need is a Skype account, a microphone and a WiFi signal (which isn't everywhere, but is ubiquitous enough).  I have used my iPod Touch to make telephone calls several times around my house with little to no difficulty.  If Apple really wanted to blow the competition out of the water, it would introduce an app that could tether any competing smartphone for Internet access.

Granted, the total cost of ownership for an iPhone is slightly more than the competition (depending on the competition), but not prohibitively so and the user experience is much richer.  The real money for all those iPods and iPhones sold is in iTunes.  All these smartphone makers would do better to remember that, as none of them have yet introduced a viable competitor to that online store.