iPad

The latest in the slew of iPad 2 rumors leading up to Wednesday's media event pegs Apple to release a white version of the popular touch-screen tablet.

9to5Mac has posted a photo (via iFixYouri) that claims to be the front bezel of a new iPad 2. And guess what?

It's white.

Could it be that Apple would release a white iPad 2, a product that hasn't even been officially announced yet, before it manages to release the white iPhone 4? Will we ever see a white iPhone 4 from Apple?

The white iPhone 4 issues have widely … Read more

As I sit here at 33,000 feet, watching my kids watch "How to Train Your Dragon" on my iPad, I'm struck by several thoughts.

First, in-flight Wi-Fi is just plain awesome. Second, coach seats were made for Netbooks, not laptops. The sardine-can contortions I'm enduring right now are just plain painful.

Third, buying high-definition (HD) movies or TV shows from iTunes is a waste of money--if you're planning to watch them solely on your iPad.

See, many users make the mistake of thinking that standard-definition (SD) videos are intended for iPhones and iPods, while … Read more

DirecTV has joined the growing number of television service providers that are embracing Apple's iPad.

The company announced today that DirecTV customers can now download its iPad app from Apple's App Store. The app offers users the ability to remotely control their televisions with built-in controls, set recordings, and change the channel. The app also includes a channel guide, the ability to set favorite channels, and the option to learn more about the show the person is currently watching.

The company already offers similar apps for iOS and Android devices, which allow users to browse shows and record … Read more

Today's show title comes from this scene in Billy Madison, but unfortunately Adam Sandler got no recognition at last night's Academy Awards.

We thought James Franco and Anne Hathaway made a cute couple of hosts, and we appreciated James's #oscarsrealtime updates but we also agree with Roger Ebert and the LA Times, who gave critical reviews of the remarkably tame ceremony.

As usual, the Oscar food puns for each nominee were borderline more entertaining than the show itself.

Last week we talked about a Facebook app called Breakup Notifier that would send you a message when your crush changed his or her relationship status to "single."

Well, an "accidental" change in the Facebook developer's code permanently disabled access to such notifications, so creator Dan Loewenherz clever shifted his focus to a new project called the Crush Notifier.

The Facebook Crush Notifier lets you purchase Facebook credits that allow you to select crushes in your friend list. Those individuals are notified in an anonymous e-mail, and have the option to rate you back.

If you're selected as well, you'll receive a similar message- unfortunately… Read more

It seems that in-app purchase problems are starting to affect Google too. Reports surfaced Thursday that the company removed an app over a violation of "payment rules."

Earlier this week, Google notified one of its developers that the developers' free app, Visual VoiceMail, was being pulled from the Android Market. The reason given was that the app violated a section of Google's developer agreement that covers pricing and payments, according to a report on GigaOM.

While Google hasn't been clear about the exact violation, Jonathan Hollander of PhoneFusion, makers of Visual VoiceMail, believes the problem is … Read more

Our guest on today's episode of The 404 Podcast is Russ Frushtick, the games and tech editor for MTV Multiplayer, but the ESRB has assigned him an AO rating for Adults Only, so he won't be visiting Australia anytime soon. Similarly, Australia also refuses to welcome the latest Mortal Kombat game due to excessive violence.

The real story, however, is Australia's outdated rules for video game classification that currently only accommodate a maximum MA15+ rating, so video games that surpass these limitations are automatically banned in the country.

Since Australian adults still have access to mature media in its other myriad forms, it doesn't make sense that local gamers can't also enjoy video games with similarly "explicit" content.

And speaking of risque video games, a U.K.-only Nintendo Wii title is promising "flirty fun for all" with its latest adult-friendly release, called We Dare. The trailer for We Dare illustrates gameplay in the form of four consenting adults using the Wii remote to control virtual versions of party games like Spin The Bottle, Kiss Under the Mistletoe, and the ever-popular Take Off Your Clothes.

The We Dare trailer is a perfect example of vendors using viral marketing to hype up the release of video games that may not be as fun as the videos suggest.

The Dead Island trailer is making similar waves for two reasons: because of its graphic nature that makes sensitive babies like Wilson and me squirm, but also because it doesn't show footage of actual gameplay in Dead Island.

Game previews often show cut scenes or, worse, videos exclusively created for the trailers, which leaves plenty of gamers feeling cheated when the gameplay doesn't even come close… Read more

Apple's iPad 2 won't have two key features that some folks have been hoping for, a new report claims.

Citing unnamed sources, Engadget reported late yesterday that the iPad 2 won't launch with a high-resolution display or with an SD card slot. Apple initially planned on delivering those two features in the updated tablet, Engadget said, but apparently "engineering issues" caused the company to modify its plans at the last minute.

It's worth noting, however, that Engadget's latest report contradicts claims the blog made last month when it also cited unnamed sources who … Read more