iPad

PressReader: Ultimate newspaper app for iPads?

What is the future of newspapers? Ask any iPad owner and they'll probably trot out their New York Times Editors' Choice and USA Today apps--both of which deservedly earned spots on CNET's recent roundup of top 20 free iPad apps.

Ah, but what about folks who prefer a more traditional, more local newspaper experience? What option is there for those who want to see each daily edition exactly as it was printed, complete with ads, obituaries, comics, and all the rest?

That's PressReader in a nutshell. Powered by NewspaperDirect, it provides access to a whopping 1,700 newspapers from 92 countries in 48 languages. You can buy papers one at a time or choose from a subscription option.

After debuting on the iPhone last year, the newly updated PressReader app makes good use of the iPad's comparatively spacious screen. Take a look at its rendering of today's USA Today:

As you can see, it's like looking at a scan of the actual front page (which is exactly what it is). You can zoom and scroll as needed, much like you would with a PDF. However, even on an iPad, there's some uncomfortable back-and-forth or down-and-up scrolling involved. Not fun.

That's why PressReader also includes a text view: Just tap any highlighted headline to get a convenient pop-up window with the full text of the story. Within that window you can increase/decrease the font size and e-mail the story's link to a friend. … Read more

10 things Nintendo must fix before battling Apple

Two interesting things happened to Nintendo over the last few days. First, Nintendo President Satoru Iwata, never afraid of bold statements, reportedly told his executives to consider the battle with Sony and Microsoft already won and has targeted Apple as the "enemy of the future."

The second? Nintendo released its Black Wii.

I find the first interesting because Nintendo and Apple, the reigning forces in family-targeted entertainment, seem to finally be eyeing each other. The second is interesting because I fielded a question to Nintendo about what Wii users should do with already downloaded games should they choose … Read more

The 404 577: Where we will not quack at the principal (podcast)

Leave it to Wilson to make the rest of us look bad on Mother's Day. While we were all scrambling to make it to Duane Reade before closing time on Saturday, Wilson had already ordered a Fed Ex truck to deliver all the presents to his Mother down in Florida. We hope the rest of you had a fun weekend, but don't forget that just because Mother's Day is over doesn't mean that you're off the hook for the rest of the year; keep up the love!

President Barack Obama gave a commencement speech at Hampton University over the weekend where he warned the graduates about the dangers of a "24/7 media environment that bombards us with all kinds of content...some of which don't always rank all that high on the truth meter."

We were in complete agreement with everything Obama was saying...until he openly admitted to not knowing how to use an Apple iPod/iPad, an XBox, or a Playstation. It's no surprise that our Commander-in-Chief has bigger issues to worry about than dead pixels, but if a 99-year-old Grandma can pinch and pull her way around an iPad, what's Obama's excuse?

Don't forget to don your lead underwear the next time you get in line for a body scan at the airport. Rolando Negrin, a 44 year old attendant with the TSA learned that lesson the hard way when he threatened a colleague with a police baton after the bully allegedly made fun of his exposed genitalia during a routine training session at a Miami Airport.

The lesson began with Negin showing a group of trainees how to use the full body scanner, but the session soon turned into a roast when his colleagues started poking fun at the smaller-than-average size of his junk. In the bully's defense, it's completely possible that the first joke was made to relieve the tension of seeing his boss in his birthday suit, and Negin shouldn't have gotten so pissed- I'm sure they keep the air condition on pretty high during Spring and Summer.

Check out the full episode by clicking on the player below. You can also subscribe to our iTunes feed in audio and video form, and don't forget to e-mail at the404(at)cnet(dot)com or leave a voicemail on 1-866-404-CNET to share your thoughts with us!

EPISODE 577 Subscribe in iTunes audio | Suscribe to iTunes (video) | Subscribe in RSS Audio | Subscribe in RSS Video… Read more

Printing coming to iPad?

An e-mail reportedly from Apple CEO Steve Jobs answers the question of whether printing will come to the iPad, according to MacRumors.com. A customer apparently wrote on Friday evening:

Dear Steve,

Why no printing on the iPad? What gives?

About 15 minutes later, Jobs apparently responded in his typical, terse style:

It will come.

Sent from my iPhone

MacRumors does acknowledge that such e-mails are "difficult to authenticate." However, it's not unlike Jobs to respond to customers via e-mail. He recently answered questions about iPad data plans and about MacBook Pro updates.

While consumers wait for … Read more

iPad or Netbook? Readers respond

Last week, I asked readers whether they would choose an iPad or a Netbook. Those in favor of a Netbook--or notebook, in some cases--stated practical reasons, while those in favor of the Apple device often pointed to its media-viewing capabilities and novelty.

In all, Netbooks seemed to come out on top, in terms of clear utility. That's probably because they have been out there a lot longer and have time-tested designs. The iPad, on the other hand, is not only new, but it defies traditional usage models, lacking a standard PC operating system and physical keyboard.

A couple of items worth noting: this isn't an apples-to-apples comparison. To state the obvious, the iPad and Netbook are different designs. But a purchase decision can come down to an either-or choice, when considering that both devices fall into the gap between a smartphone and a high-end laptop--not to mention the fact that not everyone has the luxury of buying both. It's also worth noting that a few readers saw the choice as simply the traditional mainstream laptop versus the iPad.

I've listed some of the more cogent and/or representative arguments in favor of buying either device.

Pro-Netbook:

Cheap, simple: "[The Netbook] fills a unique need for casual computer users who need a cheap, simple, portable computer [that] can perform any computer-related task. So...while the iPad is interesting, I don't see it filling a need for cheap, simple computers, which can do everything." Full keyboard: "At the end of the day, my Netbook goes to class with me. It has a full keyboard and Microsoft Office." And another reader: "A keyboard is the fundamental difference. Virtual keyboards just aren't as efficient in their current form as physical keyboards are. The iPad's solution, a separate keyboard module, is much less elegant than the integrated keyboard of laptops." Multitask: "I don't see the iPad replacing my Netbook when the iPad can't multitask. That means I can't get NZBs, use uTorrent, be on IRC, and have Trillian and Winamp running all while I use Firefox."… Read more

Report: Apple developing a Flash alternative

The heated battle between Apple and Adobe Systems over Flash may get a bit more interesting, as reports of a Flash alternative being developed by Apple begin to surface.

The technology, called Gianduia, was introduced by Apple last summer at its World of WebObjects Developer Conference, according to an AppleInsider report. Gianduia is described as being "a client-side, standards-based framework for rich Internet apps."

Apple has apparently been using Gianduia in several of its retail support applications, including services such as the One to One program, the iPhone reservation system, and the Concierge program for Genius Bar and … Read more

This week in Crave: The kith and Kin edition

This week has been a pretty hopping one here at Crave, for a few reasons. Besides helping you get ready for Mother's Day, we've been been helping you use gadgets and social media to find love (not that I know anything about that).

We also talked about many things iPad, including a case that turns it into a laptop and stats showing it might already be affecting the Netbook market. We dug down a little and looked at Microsoft's Kin phone and wondered why Verizon doesn't bundle it with Zune Pass.

The PS3 Slim got turned into a laptop, … Read more

Analyst: AT&T's iPad deal to delay Verizon iPhone

Another week, another analyst weighing in on the iPhone's future.

This one comes from Brian Marshall of New York equity researcher BroadPoint AmTech (now part of Gleacher), who predicts that because of a deal AT&T cut with Apple for the iPad 3G, the U.S. telecommunications giant will continue to have carrier exclusivity for the iPhone until at least 2011.

His reasoning goes like this: Apple hasn't been happy with AT&T's network performance for the iPhone. AT&T wanted to remain the exclusive U.S. carrier for the Apple phone, keeping it … Read more

How to make an iPad safe for kids

At two-years old, my son is already obsessed with the gadgets I bring home from work. He knows my iPod Touch can play Elmo songs and has a Sesame Street app. He knows the Chumby I use as an alarm clock also has games on it. But nothing prepared me for the day I brought an iPad home. He went nuts.

Years from now there will probably be a study detailing how much damage I'm doing to my kid by letting him play games and watch Sesame Street on my iPad, but for now, it's great to watch … Read more