Apple

A photograph containing one of Apple's fourth-generation iPhones has been lingering undetected in the public domain for nearly a week now thanks to having been overshadowed -- quite literally -- by the company's new iPad, AppleInsider has learned.

People with an impeccable track record in matters such as these say the iPhone in a photo, published by gadget blog Engadget in the hours leading up to Apple's iPad announcement last Wednesday, is a prototype of one of the handsets due to hit the market in roughly five months.

Contrary to what most people think, the Nokia N900 is an amazing piece of hardware that can run everything in this world. Don’t believe it? I remind you that this smartphone or internet tablet or mobile computer with phone capabilities can run Windows NT 4, Windows 98, and Debian among other full operating systems. Let’s not forget about Android! I know they’re not really usable, but the device can do it and we have to appreciate hackers. The latest software that can run on the N900 is Mac OS X 10.3.4 codenamed Panther and we’ll have to give full credit to Toni Nikkanen from Finland.

If recent gadget history is a guide, consumers considering Apple's new iPad won't focus so much on the product specs -- the big screen, fast processor, long battery life and the like.

They'll look instead at what the product can do. And to find out, they'll turn to its lineup of apps -- those cheap, downloadable programs that run on mobile phones and other gadgets.

Once again Apple has sold out its users to the greedy telcos with the choice of a non-standard SIM card slot for the iPad'ss mobile broadband access.

While the Apple iPad is dominating tech news left and right, there was another bit of news from the company yesterday that should be noted: Apple has removed restrictions that previously prevented VoIP iPhone applications from working over 3G. This unleashes a world of opportunity for VoIP applications, which have only worked over Wi-Fi thus far.

The iPad. It's new. Just not that new. Although the iPad looks and feels exactly like a giant iPhone, it has an equal genetic contribution from the iPod.

On the surface that's no bad thing. Born in 2001, the iPod has been an enormous success. No competitor has ever come close: only now are sales slipping, as music streaming starts to take over from downloads.

Software developers already building applications for Apple's wildly popular iPhone are gearing up for the new Apple tablet device announced today, anticipating new opportunities for their software as well as tweaks they will have to make to their code.

Apple CEO Steve Jobs on Wednesday unveiled the iPad, the widely and wildly anticipated tablet-style computer that he called "a truly magical and revolutionary product."

"What this device does is extraordinary," Jobs said. "It is the best browsing experience you've ever had. ... It's unbelievably great ... way better than a laptop. Way better than a smartphone."

Apple® today announced financial results for its fiscal 2010 first quarter ended December 26, 2009. The Company posted revenue of $15.68 billion and a net quarterly profit of $3.38 billion, or $3.67 per diluted share. These results compare to revenue of $11.88 billion and net quarterly profit of $2.26 billion, or $2.50 per diluted share, in the year-ago quarter. Gross margin was 40.9 percent, up from 37.9 percent in the year-ago quarter. International sales accounted for 58 percent of the quarter’s revenue.

Security firm Intego has added to the bevy of year-in-review pieces for 2009 with a comprehensive report on Mac and iPhone security of the past year. While this may seem more than a little self-serving for the authors of VirusBarrier, the report is fair, comprehensive and hyperbole-free.