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Apple's iOS 6 stumbles on basic connectivity: Wi-Fi

PHILADELPHIA -- Apple's iOS 6 has not fared well with Wi-Fi.

Though this isn't the first time a new Apple operating system or device has had Wi-Fi issues, the situation this time around has been exacerbated by the release of the iPhone 5, putting an iOS 6 device immediately into millions of consumers' hands.

Not to mention all of the upgrades. Reports cite 60 percent of iPhone and roughly 40 percent of iPad owners upgrading to the new OS so far.

The fallout is numerous forum discussions on Wi-Fi connectivity problems. For example, there are currently two major … Read more

New iPad app shows inner workings of Einstein's brain

The story goes that one of the world's greatest geniuses had a slightly different shaped brain than mere mortals. Now anyone can verify the tale for themselves with a new iPad app.

The National Museum of Health and Medicine Chicago launched an interactive app today that has about 350 scanned and digitized slides of Albert Einstein's brain, according to the Associated Press. The goal of the app is to give scientists, students, and anyone else who is curious the opportunity to see into the inner workings of the genius's brain.

"I can't wait to find … Read more

Apple's iPad Mini said to be made by Pegatron, Foxconn

As chatter continues about the possibility of Apple's iPad Mini, Taiwan's Economic Daily News wrote today that much of the device's production is said to be done by the assembler Pegatron rather than Foxconn, suggesting that the device is already in production or just about to be.

Engadget picked up this information, saying the Taiwanese paper reported that Pegatron scored 50 percent to 60 percent of production orders on the iPad Mini. Up until now, Foxconn was the only iPad assembler Apple used. The Economic Daily News also wrote that between the two manufacturers, up to 5 … Read more

Ultrabooks, 'every screen' eventually touch, says Intel

Apple take note. An Intel executive says everything is going the way of touch.

"Intel has put its money where its conviction is" and invested heavily in touch screens, Rob DeLine, director of Ultrabook product marketing at Intel, said in an interview.

DeLine pointed out that although there are plenty of touch screens that are 10 inches and smaller avaialable, that isn't the case for larger sizes.

The larger-screen ecosystem "really didn't exist," he said. "The ecosystem for 10-inch and below for tablets is pretty mature. So, we've made investments to ensure … Read more

American Airlines pilots to use iPads for flight manuals

American Airlines will be the first commercial carrier to have all of its pilots replace their paper-based reference flying manuals with Apple's iPad.

The airline announced today that it received approval from the Federal Aviation Administration to "to use the Apple iPad in the cockpit during all phases of flight."

All pilots fly with a kitbag that contains necessary flight information, navigation charts, and reference materials for when they're in the air. American is dubbing its new kitbag with the iPad an "Electronic Flight Bag." Switching from paper manuals to the iPad will save … Read more

iPad Mini: What we expect

Editors' note, October 16, 2012: Updated after the release of Apple's October 23 invite.

There have been rumors of a smaller, 7-inch iPad since...well, since there was an iPad. The iPad Mini, as it's being called lately, initially seemed to some like a silly idea: why would you need a smaller iPad? It's actually a logical idea: make an iPad even more portable and more affordable than before. The only question is, when would such a product finally exist?

Now that Apple's sent invites for its next event, the iPad Mini seems to have become a very real product, yet we still know very little about it. Here are our best guesses.… Read more

Rejoice! Kindle FreeTime brings multi-user support to tablets

The biggest game changer from Amazon's Kindle Fire announcement yesterday wasn't the pricing, dual WiFi antennas or Dolby Digital Plus sound. Rather, it was that Amazon became the first major tablet maker to allow different people to have their own accounts on the same device.

Think how commonplace this is for traditional personal computers. Mac or Windows, both platforms allow multiple people to use the same machine, logging in with different accounts that are linked to their own settings, data, applications and perhaps even special restrictions. But for tablets, it's been the dark ages.

I've found … Read more

Apple aims to produce updated iPad Retina, says DisplaySearch

Apple could be aiming to refresh the third-generation iPad to reduce weight and make other improvements, CNET has learned.

The updated 9.7-inch Retina iPad would address issues with the first-generation Retina product. That includes making it lighter and improving the LED backlight apparatus, according to market research firm NPD DisplaySearch.

"We are seeing [Apple] work with panel makers to come out with a display that enables a thinner overall [product] with longer battery life," said Richard Shim, an analyst at DisplaySearch.

"Of course the supply chain is dynamic, but we're seeing some early indications that … Read more

Watch an iPhone 5 become an iPad Mini

What if the iPhone 5 and the rumored iPad Mini are actually the same device?

I'll wait while you pick the pieces of your exploded brain up off the floor so we can continue.

If your mind isn't already totally blown, then you might want to strap on some cranium protection before watching the below video, which features an iPhone 5 concept (the latest in a line of fan designs) that imagines the use of something called "rubber-band electronics" to pinch and stretch an iPhone into a small iPad.… Read more

Amazon assaults iPad turf with high-end Kindle Fire HD

SANTA MONICA, Calif.-- Perhaps the most unexpected news to come from Amazon's Kindle-fest here today was its announcement of a $499 tablet that runs on the zippy 4G LTE wireless network.

The uber-high end Kindle Fire HD 4G LTE, which also requires a data plan from AT&T that will start at $50 a year, put Amazon squarely into Apple iPad 3 territory. Amazon chief executive Jeff Bezos stood on stage at the Barker Hangar at Santa Monica's local airport, making the case that the most expensive Kindle still beats a comparably loaded iPad by more … Read more