iPad By Davis: “Samsung fires another cheap shot at Apple with ad poking fun at Apple Maps” plus 18 more

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• Samsung fires another cheap shot at Apple with ad poking fun at Apple Maps
• 1Password 4 for iOS, re-crafted from pixel to bit to keep your data conveniently secure
• Official Google Maps app for iPhone now available
• Forums: Google Maps, Most wanted jailbreak tweaks for iPhone 5 and more
• Google's new iOS maps rumored to pin themselves in the App Store tonight
• iMore show. Tonight. 9:30pm ET/6:30pm PT. Be here.
• How to get started with Passbook on your iPhone
• Moving Christmas: an Instant Favorite iPad Storybook App
• Office no longer an iOS must-have, unless you're Microsoft
• RadioShack offering $50 off iPhone 5 and iPhone 4S
• (Sponsor) MOBiLE CLOTH -the perfect- Stocking Stuffer!
• Flickr for iPhone completely redesigned, introduces filters
• Countdown to Christmas sale this Wednesday through Friday - Save 15% on ALL iOS Accessories!
• What’s on Your iPad: Jordan Beel
• Sector 5 case for iPhone 5 by Element Case review
• More Evidence of Microsoft Office for iPad in the Works
• Apple television still in the labs, still not going to market any time soon
• Chris Parsons' gift picks: 2012 holiday guide
• Apple CEO Tim Cook goes (almost) iPad Alone

Samsung fires another cheap shot at Apple with ad poking fun at Apple Maps Posted: 12 Dec 2012 11:17 PM PST Samsung hasn't wasted anytime taking advantage of Apple's problems with its Maps app in Australia. In a strange marketing campaign in Sydney, Samsung set up a muddied 4 x 4 vehicle in the city center with a tent and other camping supplies strewn around it, making it appear that the owners were lost. The news comes from [cnet] http://news.cnet.com/8301-13579_3-57558757-37/samsung-knocks-apple-maps-in-sydney-marketing-stunt/) who managed to get some pictures of the mocked up incident. CNET Australia has snapped pics of a little guerrilla marketing by Samsung featuring a muddied-up vehicle with a tent and other camping supplies. Next to it is a sign that says, "Oops, should have gotten a Samsung Galaxy S III. Get navigation you can trust. If you recall earlier this week, Police in Mildura, Victoria, Australia, issued a warning to motorists, cautioning them against relying on Apple's new iOS 6 Maps. This came about after receiving distress calls from motorists who had become stranded in a national park after following iOS 6 maps directions. The ad is really just a bit of fun but it does show that Samsung will take any opportunity going to take a shot at Apple. Of course it's all a bit of a moot point now, with the release of the official Google Maps app for the iPhone; you can get the best of all worlds now! Source: Cnet

1Password 4 for iOS, re-crafted from pixel to bit to keep your data conveniently secure Posted: 12 Dec 2012 08:26 PM PST Turns out you can have security and convenience. Long time users have 1Password, the password manager for iOS and Mac, have long suspected that very thing. But the latest version, 1Password 4, proves it. I've already written extensively about 1Password 4's vault view, so if you haven't already, go read that now. All done? Good, because there's more. There's a wonderful web view that you can access with a tap of the globe icon or, more viscerally, pull open from the side. In it you can browse to any website you like, use 1Password to enter login, identity, or credit information, and go about your business. And then you can slide right back to vault view. Given the limitations imposed by iOS, which includes no browser plugins or in-app communications beyond URL schemes, it's about the best way to maintain strong, different passwords across the web without locking yourself out of your own stuff. Overall, 1Password 4 is simpler. It's more elegant. It's better. And it's available now. (Yes, it's a new app. Yes, it's universal for iPhone and iPad. Yes, if you bought the old version, you still have to buy the new version. Yes, it's on sale for 50% off at launch so everyone gets upgrade pricing. Yes, that's the only option Apple allows. Yes, I bought it immediately because I want to support great developers so they continue to make great apps. Yes, if you like 1Password, you should absolutely buy it as well.) $7.99 on sale - Download now

Official Google Maps app for iPhone now available Posted: 12 Dec 2012 08:22 PM PST The rumors are true! Google Maps for iPhone is now available in the App Store. One of the biggest things it offers that Apple Maps doesn't (other than not getting you lost in Australia), is public transit directions by train, bus, or subway. The main features of Google Maps includes built-in Google local search, voice guided turn-by-turn navigation, public transit directions, and Google Street View. You can also discover places to eat, drink, shop, and play including rating and reviews. If you sign in, you can save and quickly access all your past searches and direction from your computer, right on your iPhone. Additionally, Google Maps lets you access live traffic information in cities across the world, see inside more that 100,000 businesses worldwide, and view high resolution satellite imagery of locations around the world. Personally, I'm having issues installing Google Maps and keep getting a "this item is no longer available" error, but others are able to download it fine. We've heard installing through iTunes on your computer might be a good work around as well. When you get it installed, let us know what you think! Free - Download now

Forums: Google Maps, Most wanted jailbreak tweaks for iPhone 5 and more Posted: 12 Dec 2012 07:45 PM PST Found an interesting article you want to share with iMore? Have a burning question about that feature you just can't figure out? There is ALWAYS more happening just a click away in the forums. You can always head over and join in the conversation, search for answers, or lend your expertise to other members of our community. You check out some of the threads below: Jailbreak tweaks you want most on the iPhone 5? Is the iPhone too premium? Email attachment issues, looking for help What iPad or other Apple products do you own? Google Maps on the way? Beat Runner - A rhythm based action game If you're not already a member of the iMore Forums, register now!

Google's new iOS maps rumored to pin themselves in the App Store tonight Posted: 12 Dec 2012 06:07 PM PST Attention blokes driving through the Australian Outback, Scott Forstall, or anyone else who needs to actually get where they're going: Google Maps may natively return to iOS as early as tonight, according to anonymous sources as cited by All Things D. Not a whole lot to say other than it can't happen soon enough, and that it's been about a month since we heard Google's app was in late-stage testing after being ousted as a built-in feature over the summer. While Apple's foray into the wide wide world of mapping hasn't necessarily been an abject failure, neither has it been up to par with Google's product, or, for that matter, what we'd expect from Apple. Source: All Things D

iMore show. Tonight. 9:30pm ET/6:30pm PT. Be here. Posted: 12 Dec 2012 04:17 PM PST Georgia returns to the iMore show tonight. You don't want to miss it. Join us LIVE at 6:30pm PT, 9:30pm ET. Set an alarm. Bookmark this page. Be here.

How to get started with Passbook on your iPhone Posted: 12 Dec 2012 04:05 PM PST Passbook is a great way to store loyalty cards, flight information, coupons, gift cards, and members cards right on your iPhone. Many participating merchants will even scan your iPhone in order to take payment or redeem points. As long as you've got iOS 6 or higher on your iPhone, you've got Passbook. Follow along and we'll get you set up and utilizing Passbook in no time. How to add cards and other items to Passbook How to access your items in Passbook How to refresh items in your Passbook How to delete items and cards from Passbook How to add cards and other items to Passbook There are many apps in the App Store that already support Passbook. They aren't always loyalty cards or gift cards either. Airlines such as American Airlines and United allow you to store boarding passes in Passbook while Klout allows you to view your score in one place without ever having to open the actual app. The process for adding cards may differ from app to app depending on how the developer chose to implement Passbook. For this example, we're going to use Starbucks app. Launch the Passbook supported app of your choice, in this case, Starbucks. Somewhere within the app there should be settings for Passbook. In this case, I can tap on the Manage button underneath the myCard tab. Now tap the Manage button. Tap on Add Card to Passbook. The app should show you a preview of your card. In this instance, I tap Add in the top right corner. That's it, I can open the Passbook app in order to confirm that the card is there and ready for use. How to access your items in Passbook Launch the Passbook app from the Home screen of your iPhone. Here you will see any card you've added to Passbook. Simply tap on the card you'd like to view or use. Once you are done using that card you can either tap the Home button to exit out of Passbook, tap it again to return it to your Passbook stack or swipe downwards. Any of these gestures will return you to the main Passbook screen. How to refresh items in your Passbook Every one in a while apps don't refresh as often as we'd like in Passbook so if you don't think your balance or point value is right, you can manually refresh that card on your own. Launch the Passbook app from the Home screen of your iPhone. Tap into the card you'd like to refresh. Tap the small info button in the bottom right hand corner of the card. The card will turn over to reveal some information. This may vary from card to card but across all cards you can see the last time it was updated at the very top. To refresh it manually just pull down and release on the screen in order to update the card yourself. Tap the Done button in the upper right hand corner to flip the card back over. The data on your card should now be updated. How to delete items and cards from Passbook Things that expire such as coupons are probably something you'll want to delete on a regular basis so they don't clutter up your Passbook app. It's very simple to delete a card from inside Passbook itself. Launch the Passbook app from the Home screen of your iPhone. Tap into the card you'd like to delete from the main screen. Tap the small info button in the bottom right hand corner of the card. Tap on the trash icon in the upper right hand corner. Confirm that you want to delete the card by tapping on Delete. Passbook will now run the card through a virtual shredder and delete it from Passbook. Need help finding Passbook apps? We all know Apple's list of Passbook apps on the App Store is nowhere near complete. Our forum members have found quite a few Passbook compatible apps that you may want to check out. Hit the link below for some new ideas and as always, leave anything interesting you find either in the forums or in the comments below! List of Passbook compatible apps

Moving Christmas: an Instant Favorite iPad Storybook App Posted: 12 Dec 2012 01:54 PM PST Moving Christmas is a great new holiday-themed iPad storybook app. Here's the quick plot summary for the story: When Santa's workshop at the North Pole falls victim to the effects of climate change, Claus and company need a hero: someone to help the village and save Christmas! Santa chooses an unlikely partner to help him out of the disastrous situation – Frank Duffy, Mover of the Impossible. It turns out Duffy has never moved people before or done much of anything to recommend him, other than appear on The Nice List every year since his birth. Santa chooses him anyway and the race is on to get Santa and his elves and workshop and the whole operation in time to save Christmas. (...) Read the rest of Moving Christmas: an Instant Favorite iPad Storybook App (279 words) © patrickj for iPad Insight, 2012. | Permalink | No comment | Add to del.icio.us Post tags: iPad app reviews, iPad storybook apps Related Stories Review: London – A City Through Time for iPad Review: Robots for iPad, Hurray Robots! Ticker for Twitter: Streams Your Twitter Timeline This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now

Office no longer an iOS must-have, unless you're Microsoft Posted: 12 Dec 2012 02:09 PM PST In the early days of the iPhone and later the iPad, pundits and consumers alike questioned how useful the devices could be without Microsoft's Office productivity suite. For many, Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Outlook are synonymous with business and getting things done. The iPhone launched over five years ago, and the iPad is coming up on three years, but in all that time they've yet to have an official Microsoft Office app suite, and with more than 100 million units sold each, sales have clearly suffered tremendously. That's not to say that a solid word processor, spreadsheet cruncher, and presentation building app aren't essential for the platform - they are, and that's exactly why Apple built Pages, Numbers, and Keynote for iOS. Apple also sells the three iWork apps for $29.97 combined. That's ninety dollars less than the lowest available tier of Microsoft Office for PC or Mac, and that tier is intended for "home and student" use. It's another eighty bucks if you want a version meant for use in your business. The iOS iWork trifecta, however, continues to be less than thirty dollars, no matter what you intend to use it for. To be fair, there's a fairly large and vocal contingent that insists they need Office. Numbers still isn't as robust as Excel (as any accountant will tell you), for one. But there's also a large institutional memory barrier to be overcome. Business believe that in order to conduct business, they need Office. That barrier is slowly coming down, one business at a time, with more and more picking up iPads in lieu of PCs. With the iPad approaching its third birthday after completely turning the idea of what a tablet could be on its head while simultaneously and singlehandedly obliterating the netbook market, Microsoft finds themselves in an interesting predicament. Millions upon millions of iPad users have gotten by without Office, and they've flourished without Office. More and more, people are beginning to realize that they don't need Office to crunch numbers or draft documents or create presentations. With their email and contacts and calendar already in the cloud, they don't need Outlook. Microsoft let a golden opportunity pass with iOS. For years and years they've managed to convince the overwhelming majority of Windows users that they need to have Office, and those customers have overwhelmingly ponied up for a license. Microsoft has profited mightily from this impression, with even Mac switchers being willing to plop down the extra cash to purchase a copy of Office for their new OS X machines. But on iOS they have yet to have that opportunity. Hundreds of millions of iOS devices are out there, with not a single installation of Office in the public. Now, with Microsoft finally ready to roll out Office onto iOS, they've run into loggerheads with Apple over how much of a cut Apple should be able to take for sales made through the app. Specifically, Apple is keen to take a 30% cut of the sale price of any app sold through the App Store and 30% of any purchase made in that app using Apple's App Store backend - subscriptions included. The rules are the rules. Microsoft's much-rumored Office for iOS is likely to take the form of an Office 365 subscription, which if purchased through Apple would result in a 30% commission for Apple into perpetuity, even if the subscriber switches to another platform (unless they opt to shut down their account and start from scratch - unlikely to say the least). Unsurprisingly, Apple's not budging on this. Not only have they made a lot of money off this model and stand to make even more off of Microsoft's work, but they don't need it. In the early days of iOS, those questions of how well the platform could succeed without Office support were loud and ongoing. Had Microsoft launched Office on the iPhone and iPad early on, they could have furthered the impression that Office was a must-have for anybody serious about anything, even on iOS. But they let years pass, and now Microsoft's flagship applications aren't so must-have anymore and Apple isn't overly eager to accommodate them. It's easy to imagine that four years ago when preparing to launch the iPhone App Store Apple may have been more willing to negotiate with Microsoft to get flagship apps like Word and Excel on the smartphone. But today? Apple's doing just fine without them. Apple doesn't need Office, and if they can't get past the issue of Apple's cut of revenue, then Apple will happily move on without Office. Apple is a "my way or the highway" company, and that shouldn't surprise anybody. Would Apple get additional App Store income and sell even more iPhones and iPads with Office available? Sure. But that's not going to happen if Microsoft isn't willing to accept Apple's terms. One could argue, on the other hand, that Microsoft needs iOS. While the "Maybe I don't need Office…" effect is one that is obviously of great concern to Microsoft's cash cow software, the potential of that realization for potential customers leads to further realizations: "Maybe I don't need a PC at all." Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer is betting the entire company on Windows 8, Windows RT, and Windows Phone. They've finally recognized that mobility is the future and they've built two-and-a-half operating systems that embrace that future. Windows RT and Windows Phone both come out of the box with Microsoft Office, an implicit admission that Office is a selling point for customers. Office is synonymous with Windows in the minds of many, and once they realize that they don't necessarily need Office, then they don't need Windows either. By letting the world's most popular smartphone and tablet go for all these years without Office and giving Apple long enough to cement the stronger negotiating position, Microsoft's sacrificed the opportunity to breed another generation of users who absolutely, unequivocally, must have Word, Excel, Powerpoint, and Outlook. And that could very well be Microsoft's undoing.

RadioShack offering $50 off iPhone 5 and iPhone 4S Posted: 12 Dec 2012 12:17 PM PST If you're looking to pick up an iPhone 5 or an iPhone 4S this holiday season, RadioShack is offering $50 off. While it isn't a huge discount, considering the iPhone 5 has only been released for a few months, it's a decent one. The offer is valid in any RadioShack location and for any carrier of your choosing. On top of giving you $50 off, RadioShack will also give you $10 off for every $50 you spend so if you need to pick up some accessories for the holidays, it may be a good time to do so. If you're interested in purchasing one for yourself and currently have an iPhone 4S or other iPhone, RadioShack will also take your trade-in for credit towards your new purchase. They're currently offering $195 to $260 for the iPhone 4S. If you happen to find the iPhone 5 or iPhone 4S cheaper elsewhere on-contract, RadioShack will also price match with their low price guarantee. Anyone tempted to pick up an iPhone 5 or iPhone 4S from RadioShack? Source: RadioShack

(Sponsor) MOBiLE CLOTH -the perfect- Stocking Stuffer! Posted: 12 Dec 2012 10:48 AM PST   How many iPads, tablets, cameras, and other mobile devices will be given this year for the holidays?! Help keep them clean with MOBiLE CLOTH. MC is easiest, fastest, safest solution. A few swipes with our unique cloth and your screen will look like it just came out of the box! Patrick J. of iPad Insight included MC in a top ten accessory list after doing a review in 2010. Canada's largest iPhone/iPad blog exclaimed "it's the best cleaning cloth I've ever used" and Beatweek Magazine gave MC "5 out of 5" stars. MOBiLE CLOTH prices start at $8.99 for a 2 pack and we offer free shipping with a minimum purchase.www.mobilecloth.com promo GIFT Free shipping and a Free nano 2 pack ($8.99 value) with all orders over $25 (Free shipping USA only, excludes custom product, expires 12/24) © patrickj for iPad Insight, 2012. | Permalink | 3 comments | Add to del.icio.us Post tags:   Comments Micro fiber cloths, less than $1 a piece at Wal-Mart… by Doug S. No I don't. Mobile Cloth have been a loyal sponsor and ... by Patrick Jordan Do you own part of this company?? Those of us who look to you ... by Susan Hammer Related Stories (Sponsor) MOBiLE CLOTH, the perfect Stocking Stuffer! Sponsor: MOBiLE CLOTH wants to just say thanks to iPad Insight readers for making 2012 a break out year! (Sponsor) ColorStrokes HD for iPad This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now

Flickr for iPhone completely redesigned, introduces filters Posted: 12 Dec 2012 11:19 AM PST In case you didn't have enough photo-flitering apps to update this week between Instagram and Twitter, Flickr has also updated their iPhone app with a complete redesign and, you guessed it, filters! There are 16 different filters available as well a wide selection of editing tools. The editing tool and filters included with Flickr for iPhone are actually not too bad. For editing, you can enhance, rotate, crop, and adjust brightness, contrast, saturation, and sharpness. You can also draw directly on your photo, add text, remove redeye, whiten teeth, and remove blemishes. The filters included cover a wide variety of choices and are well designed. I must say that Flickr's filters are way better than Twitter's. That's how it should be, though, since Flickr is actually a service dedicated to photography, whereas Twitter is not. Making adjustments to your photos and adding filters is not all that Flickr has to offer. Flickr is a very social photo sharing service, so all of that goodness is also included in the app. The social tab will let you view feeds from your contacts and groups. The photos are organized vertically by user or group so that scrolling up and down will move through users and groups. Under each user or group, there are photos that can be scrolled through horizontally. I really like this approach as it's both visually appealing and effective. If, unlike me, you hate this look, you can switch to a vertical-only view that organizes photos by date. What's great about both views is that Flickr respects the original crops of the photos and doesn't force them into square thumbnails. This is something that really bothers me about other popular photography apps. How the photographer crops and composes their photo is part of the art, so forcing users to either crop their photos as a square and/or to view non-square photos as square thumbnails is a major pet-peeve of mine. When you tap on a photo, you will be taken to its page where you can tap on it again to see it even bigger, read comments and add your own, mark it as a favorite and share it to Facebook, Twitter, Tumblr, or Email. Swiping left or right while viewing a photo's page will advance through the other photos by that user or group. The tab with the globe icon will let you browse through Flickr's Interesting stream and nearby photos. Your profile page will display your Photostream as well as give you quick access to your sets, groups (and discussions), favorites, photos of you, and contacts. You can choose to have you photos display in the typical collage style, or switch to a list view that shows a small (yes, square) thumbnail of each photo, it's title, and the number of views, favorites, and comments. In addition to your photostream, your profile also has a tab that displays your activity stream. I'll admit that when I first saw that Flickr was updated, I immediately focused on the fact that they jumped onboard the filters train and had a negative feeling towards Flickr because of that. But now that I've spent some time with the app, I'm very pleased with the update. Any Flickr users want to give some input? What are your thoughts on Flickr's decision to add filters? Is this good for the community, or does it "cheapen" it? Free - Download now

Countdown to Christmas sale this Wednesday through Friday - Save 15% on ALL iOS Accessories! Posted: 12 Dec 2012 10:07 AM PST

What’s on Your iPad: Jordan Beel Posted: 12 Dec 2012 08:28 AM PST What's on Your iPad? A simple question but one that leads to some fascinating answers. This is another installment of our now-regular series of What's on Your iPad posts. I enjoy these a lot because I love seeing how people put their iPads to use – and I find them a great resource for discovering new apps. Today's answers are provided by Jordan Beel. Jordan is an educator who is very interested in and involved in the subject of iPad in Education. Here's a little more profile info on him: I am a father of two and a high school assistant principal in West Michigan.  I've been in Education for 9 years, and have been intrigued and passionate about the integration of technology in the classroom since I began my career as a Social Studies teacher.  Our district is in the process of exploring options for an eventual 1:1 program as funds are made available, and I have been highly involved in that process as well as providing training for teachers & district administrators on several tech-related topics.  I've recently began reading the iPadinsight blog and it's been great.  Keep up the good work! Here are Jordan's answers – questions are in regular text, Jordan's answers are in block quotes: Which iPad model do you use? (original or iPad 2, WiFi or WiFi + 3G, storage size) Any particular reasons for choosing this model? I have the 3rd gen. WiFi model, 16GB.  I've also got the original iPad, which is now mostly relegated to use by my two children.  I keep most of my music on my iPhone, and don't need the additional storage of a 32 or 64GB model.  With most of the documents I use stored in cloud-based services, it's even more of a reason to just go with a smaller GB model.  I recently upgraded to the Verizon iPhone 5, and have been enjoying the WiFi hotspot feature with my iPad. Do you use any sort of case with the iPad? If so, which one/s and why? I've been using a pretty basic, black leather case from Snugg.  I recently got the Brydge Keyboard, which doesn't really work well with any kind of additional case/protection, but looks fantastic.  I debated putting a matte finish screen protector on (I've got  one on my first gen. iPad), but didn't want to take away from the retina display.  I still might put a glossy finish screen protector on, as I'm nearly obsessive about using a cleaning cloth to remove oily fingerprints on the screen. (...) Read the rest of What's on Your iPad: Jordan Beel (1,388 words) © patrickj for iPad Insight, 2012. | Permalink | 3 comments | Add to del.icio.us Post tags: What's on Your iPad   Comments I use my iPad 3 with 3G, WiFi, 64 GB for - blogging at ... by iNotes4You I'm keen to learn on this subject too Brandon. I've been ... by Patrick Jordan Thanks for the post. I'm always interested in seeing how ... by Brandon Related Stories What's on Your iPad: with Twelve South's Andrew Green What's on Your iPad: Tim Moore This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now

Sector 5 case for iPhone 5 by Element Case review Posted: 12 Dec 2012 08:26 AM PST I've always likened the high-end, aluminum bumper cases for the iPhone to hypercars like the Lamborghini Reventon or Aventador because that's precisely where they seem to draw their lines from. The Sector 5 case for the iPhone 5 by Element Case is certainly no exception. In fact, it continues just exactly that tradition from Element Case, bringing their trademark quality and corners to Apple's latest iPhone. Element Case has made two major innovations with the Sector 5. The first is in the way you put it on and take it off. With past versions of the aluminum bumper, you had to remove and replace multiple screws and deal with a fussier, two part assembly. Now it's streamlined down to the new Multilink system -- one screw, and one piece. Open, insert your iPhone 5, close, secure, and done. It's still more effort than a soft, slip on case, but as far as metal goes, it's a huge improvement. The second is in the manufacturing. The Sector 5 is still CNC machined in the U.S. from T6061 aluminum, but the new trussed design gives it a much lighter feel; almost as unbelievably light as the iPhone 5 itself. The one negative about the trusses, however, is that there's more area for dust and lint to find purchase. It's nothing the occasional wipe-down won't fix, but the more complex the architecture, the more involved the upkeep. There are strips to cover the sides and an Ultrasuede back plate to protect the anodized aluminum unibody of your iPhone 5. I'm a minimalist so I didn't use those, but if you want the full package, they're there for you. And as always, Element Case puts that package together beautifully, from box to bags, everything you need is there. I used the Sector 5 for a week and had absolutely no problems with reception, including in areas with low cell signals. I don't know if its the trussed design or the polymer RF bridge components, or the different antenna system of the iPhone 5 itself, but I never dropped so much as a bar. Voice sounded the same, and LTE downloaded every bit as fast. Overall, the Sector 5 case for the iPhone 5 by Element case looks great and feels even better. It's a premium product, made out of high-end materials, using a high-end process, and has a price-tag to match. But if you want something that makes your iPhone stand out from the crowd, that's just as high-octane as it is high-end, then check out the Sector 5 by Element Case. And buckle up. $139.95 - Buy now

More Evidence of Microsoft Office for iPad in the Works Posted: 12 Dec 2012 07:53 AM PST This week there are new reports that highlight more evidence of Microsoft Office coming to the iPad and iOS next year. Apparently numerous references to Office apps for iPad and iPhone have been found on Microsoft's support site. A MacRumors piece on Monday described what sort of hints are being seen: One example is a document addressing custom numeric formats in Excel. On the support site for the United States, the document is listed as applying to Excel 2013, while on theFrench support site it is incorrectly listed as applying to Excel for iPad. Searches for similar phrases throughout Microsoft's support site yield a number of other references, including "Excel for iPad", "PowerPoint for iPad", and "Office Mobile for iPhone". These rumors have been around for a long time now and seem to have more and more strength to them as the months go by. I think they make perfect sense and I only wonder why it is taking Microsoft so long to make this obvious move. I've said for a long time that I believe Microsoft loses out much more by not selling Office on iOS than the Apple ecosystem loses by not having it there. If and when they do bring Office to iOS I wouldn't be at all surprised if they earn more money on it than they do on selling Surface tablets. © patrickj for iPad Insight, 2012. | Permalink | One comment | Add to del.icio.us Post tags: iPad Apps, Microsoft Office for iPad   Comments I read elsewhere today that Microsoft is attempting to ... by Jessi G Related Stories 1Password 4 Coming Soon, This Week Coverage? App for iPad Updated – Massive Map Update Best Free iPad App of the Week: Snapseed This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now

Apple television still in the labs, still not going to market any time soon Posted: 12 Dec 2012 06:55 AM PST For a long time now we've heard Apple has television prototypes in the lab, but nothing even approaching a final design or go-to-market plan for the product. According to the Wall Street Journal, nothing has changed in that regard. Two people said Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., 2317.TW +0.63% which assembles the iPhone and iPad, has been collaborating with Japan's Sharp Corp. 6753.TO +7.80% on the design of the new television. "It isn't a formal project yet. It is still in the early stage of testing," said one of the people. Jony Ive is almost certainly doing the design, though Hon Hai and Sharp are just as likely collaborating on the prototypes. The late Steve Jobs famously said the go-to-market strategy for a television was even more difficult than a phone, with entrenched, regionalized monopoly cable companies and future-adverse content providers. The Apple TV set top box has often been called a "hobby" compared to the serious business of Apple's iPhone, iPod, iPad, and Mac product lines. In a recent interview, Apple's CEO, Tim Cook escalated Apple's living room plans from hobby to "area of intense interest". Making a television, or even a decoupled panel to along with a more easily upgradable brain box, would give Apple control of "input zero", or the initial startup and default user experience, and relegate everything from cable and satellite boxes to game consoles like the Xbox, to other media streamers like Roku to inputs further down the chain. Yet panels remain a limited, low-margin business, and no matter how smart the brain or brain-box, and how good the user experience, it would be tough for Apple to disrupt even the current, pathetic status quo without compelling content offerings, including live events, news, sports, and the other living room staples. My guess remains that we'll keep seeing the slow, steady evolution of the current Apple TV product for now, with more and more channel partners like Netflix and Hulu coming on line. Apple can be remarkably patient. If the goal is a unified interface to search across all content, find the program you want, and watch it when you want, that can be broken down into manageable steps. If they can't overcome the myopia of cable and content companies, they can outmaneuver it or simply outlast it. Apple shareholders are anxious about the timing and nature of the company's plans. While iPhones and iPads are selling briskly, they believe television could be one of the next big catalysts for Apple's business as those products eventually peter out. Apple shares fell to $541.39 on Tuesday from all-time high of $702.10 in September amid concerns about the company's future profits and growth. Apple has had 3 big products. It was decades between the Mac and iPod, and over a half a decade between the iPod and iPhone (and its iPad offshoot). Treating Apple like Hollywood or the video game industry, and expecting them to deliver blockbusters on a year basis is folly and will likely be rewarded as such. It's normal for people to want the "next big thing" -- if and when Apple ships a television, Apple iCar rumors will probably spring up within weeks if not seconds -- but it's just as normal for Apple to follow a far saner, and more measured product strategy. Source: Wall Street Journal

Chris Parsons' gift picks: 2012 holiday guide Posted: 12 Dec 2012 06:27 AM PST This season everyone here at iMore has been asked to share some of their favorite gift ideas. Now, given I don't write here on iMore as much as some of the others, you all may not know that I'm a rather huge retro gaming and cartoon fan. Luckily, it's a great time to be one thanks to the mixture of revitalized interest and technology. If you have someone in your life that is like me, take a look at my picks below for some great ideas they may like this holiday season. iCade Arcade Cabinet I live in an apartment and despite all my want and desire to fill it up with arcade cabinets from the past, I simply cannot. Thanks to ION though, I don't really have to worry about it all that much. The ION iCade manages to bring some of that experience right to my living room without all of the bulk. Sure, you're losing out on quite a bit of cabinet experience but the nostalgia of it all almost makes up for it. Simply slide your compatibe iPad into the iCade, load up on games and you're ready to rock! Plan for this one to be under the tree though, no way you're getting it into a stocking unless you have one massive stocking. $68.67  - Buy now He-Man: The Most Powerful Game in the Universe For years, the He-Man property has remained untouched. Some might say that it was for the best after a run of bad films and video game releases but Mattel has once again let it come out of the vaults. This time around they have teamed up with Chillingo and developer Glitchsoft to create He-Man: The Most Powerful Game in the Universe and it's a winner for fans and non-fans alike. The side-scroller built for the iOS platform has been a hit in reviews and has revived the He-Man property in such a way that people are once again wondering what's next for He-Man. Latest additions to the game itself include the capability to play as She-Ra and once you add in the fact you can unlock drawings and other goodies from the original series as well as the game, you have a great gift for any fan of the 80's -- especially cartoon fans. $0.99 - Download Now BlackBerry Music Gateway Looking for an amazing little stocking stuffer that packs wonders and is cheap? The Bluetooth enabled BlackBerry Music Gateway just might fit the bill. Rene reviewed it not long ago and his review was spot on. It gets some serious bonus points for being device agnostic and easy to set up. Connect it to your existing home theater/stereo system, your car or truck, or whatever else you can think of that will support it and you've got your music right there for you. Simple, easy and a cost-effective solution. $49.95 - Buy Now   Apple TV When I bought my Apple TV it was just because Apple had made it. I had no idea really why I wanted it but now I use it daily. Netflix, Hulu, YouTube and AirPlaying content on the little black box is great. I think a lot of people may be like me as well. You really don't know how much you'll use an Apple TV until you actually own one. At $99, it's an easy recommendation, especially if you already own some Apple products like an iPhone or an iPad. $99 - Buy Now Instacanvas A lot of people these days use Instagram. Maybe you use Instagram. Maybe you even happened to capture some great pics of family, friends or loved ones using Instagram. Rather than letting those images just sit on the Instagram website, why not print them out in a great way and show them off? Instacanvas allows you to take your Instagram photos, print them out and display them proudly. They offer a number of packages and sizes available for doing so be it on canvas, framed prints, or even iPhone cases. It's a great and affordable way to do something a little different and a little special. Starting at $31.99 - Learn More Your gift picks? Okay, those are my top picks for 2012 holiday gifts, but I'm sure a lot of you here on iMore have some great ideas as well. So lets hear them! What are your top gift picks this year?

Apple CEO Tim Cook goes (almost) iPad Alone Posted: 12 Dec 2012 06:27 AM PST As you've likely read, Apple CEO Tim Cook recently gave his first extended public interview. My favorite tidbit was the widely reported statement by Cook that he uses his iPad 80% of the time, has ditched physical keyboards almost entirely, and has entered the so called post-PC era with gusto. Here I say: welcome to my world Mr. Cook! It's no surprise really. There's a reason why PC sales are shrinking (not slowing, shrinking) and tablet sales are booming, cannibalizing PC sales, even though some continue to miss the forest for the trees. The simple reality is that for most of the people most of the time a tablet is a better tool to accomplish what they need to accomplish. And since the iPad remains far and away the best tablet on the market, it sits firmly at the top of the post-PC world. Sorry if this feels like an I told you so post. And before you say "well 80% still means he uses a Mac 20% of the time" I would say two things: 1) My bet is that 80% understates the reality 2) If the CEO of the largest company in the world (by market cap) can use an iPad at least 80% of the time, can't you? Posted with Blogsy

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