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iPad
Nothing says 'I love you' like a $20,000 iPad
The iPad might be an expensive device, but Mervis Diamond Importers has done its part to ensure Apple's pricing will always look cheap. The company announced on its site recently that it will offer a Diamond iPad for $19,999.
According to the site, the Diamond iPad boasts 11.43 carats worth of diamonds displayed in a "micro-pave styling." Mervis states that the diamonds are graded highly in color and clarity.
That's great and all, but I find the device a bit ugly with all those diamonds.
Unfortunately, Mervis didn't say which version of the … Read more
Apple loses key chip executive
Dan Dobberpuhl, the PA Semi founder and CEO who came to Apple with the acquisition of his company, has apparently jumped ship to work at a chip-related start-up.
Apple acquired PA Semi in April of 2008 for $278 million. At the time, Apple CEO Steve Jobs said the company was purchased to design system-on-chips for iPhones and iPods. Dobberpuhl was the leader of the team Apple hired.
Apple did not respond to inquiries about whether Dobberpuhl was still at Apple. Several sources said Dobberpuhl's departure was not recent and may have happened as long ago as last fall or … Read more
Apple says iPad pre-orders start Friday morning
Apple normally offers a very simple message about its products. Often, there's not even a tagline.
So it's curious that at Apple.com, the company emits these words: "A magical and revolutionary product at an unbelievable price. Coming April 3."
I know that this almost Wal-Martesque offer is making many senses tingle. People are wondering how soon they can put in their iPad pre-orders.
Well, according to TUAW, Apple has confirmed that if you are poised over your Mac at 5:30 a.m. PST Friday, you will be able to go to Apple.com and … Read more
The 404 534: Where we take a stab at the daily news (podcast)
The original rundown for today's episode of The 404 Podcast started with a bunch of stories about tech-related violence, but we decided to scrap all that for a more positive show. And we're also putting Wilson on a temporary story time-out for the next few days so this doesn't happen again.
Jeff is particularly excited about this first story, because it involves two of his close loves: video games and Playboy bunnies. This fall, Take Two Interactive is partnering with Playboy on Mafia II, a mature video game that lets you play as a gangster in the 1940s and '50s. The game is replete with vintage Playboy magazines and, of course, the centerfolds. Before you start writing your local government reps, keep in mind that the images are tastefully integrated into the game's nostalgia, which also includes vintage cars and firearms to invoke the 1940s zeitgeist. Additionally, the scenes in question are fairly tame compared with another Take Two game series, "Grand Theft Auto." Remember the Hot Coffee mod in GTA: San Andreas?
The 404 prides itself on keeping up to date on pop culture trends, but the newest fad among teenage girls is churning our stomachs. Across the country, the newest thing is to get intoxicated by an alternative form of ingestion. We'll spare you the details in this blog, because my physical demonstration in the video makes it so much easier to digest. This is why we're absolutely terrified of having kids.
Now that spring has finally decided to visit New York, it's time for backyard BBQs, rooftop parties, and bikes rides! New York certainly isn't the easiest city to navigate on a bicycle, but Google Maps is now offering a cycling navigation feature to guide you along your way.
The directions route you through to your destination by cross-referencing the least busiest streets with the ones that have clearly defined bike lanes, getting you there faster and, most importantly, in one piece. Once you get to your destination, however, be sure to do everything you can to minimize the chance of theft.
In perhaps its first practical application, local New York bike messenger Austin Horse successfully recovered his stolen bike using Twitter. After someone snatched his bike, Horse immediately notified his followers to keep a lookout (not too difficult a task, as the frame is bright orange) and posted the same to a local message board. In less than 24 hours, someone recovered his vehicle in the Lower East Side and it's now back with its rightful owner--great news!
Keep sending us voice mails to 1-866-404-CNET because you know we love to hear how you're doing, and don't forget to send in your 404 sticker pictures to the404(at)cnet[dot]com. High quality shots have a good chance of making it to a blog post, like the one you see up there from our buddy Derrick Chen. Natali Del Conte on the show tomorrow, so be sure to catch us live at 11 a.m. EST/8 a.m. PST on CNET TV.
EPISODE 534 Subscribe in iTunes audio | Suscribe to iTunes (video) | Subscribe in RSS Audio | Subscribe in RSS Video… Read moreEFF knocks iPhone developer license agreement
The Electronic Frontier Foundation obtained a copy of Apple's iPhone developer license agreement and posted the 28-page document on its Web site on Tuesday.
The digital rights watchdog group used the Freedom of Information Act to obtain the document (PDF) from NASA after it noticed the NASA App for the iPhone.
The EFF has also listed what it describes as "a few troubling highlights" from the agreement.
In order to be eligible to sell an application on Apple's App Store, for example, developers must agree to the license agreement, part of which forbids public statements about … Read more
Rumored Acer laptop: Ultra-thin, keyboardless
The minds at Acer think your laptop is too thick, so they're reportedly working on a couple of things to make future laptops thinner. And I mean thin. Victoria Beckham thin. Sandra Bullock's chances of winning an Oscar thin.
The company is thought to be going about this size reduction in two ways. First, the speculatastic notebooks would do away with that pesky plastic around and behind the LCD screen, according to DigiTimes. Instead, the screens would be made with a new type of reinforced glass with no need of a casing, trimming a little more than one-third … Read more
HP mimics, mocks iPad with Slate demo video
While we still don't know when Hewlett-Packard's Slate will be for sale, thanks to two new videos, we certainly know more about how HP feels about Apple.
Just hours after Apple revealed the first iPad commercial, HP has followed with a pair of video demos showing off its own touch-screen tablet, the Slate.
The first video, embedded below, feels remarkably similar to Apple's own ad, just sped up and with backing music that's a little harder-edged than Apple's usual choice of cutesy indie pop. Like the iPad as well as iPhone and iPod Touch ads, the demo features just the screen and a pair of hands swiping and pressing the Slate's screen. The similarity between the demo videos of the two competing devices is made easier considering that the iPad and the Slate also look a lot alike. Check out the video, and you can judge for yourself:
CNET TV Apple Byte: When Steve says no Flash, the world listens
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iPad ad launches during the Oscars--predictable?
Why would Apple launch its iPad campaign March 15, as was rumored by some, when it could launch during the Oscars? This is Apple, not Snapple.
It seemed so necessary the iPad would receive its official TV push as other glamorous objects of adoration displayed their wares.
What is remarkable about the ad is that there is nothing remarkable about it at all. It is very neat, but very standard communication from Apple.
Yes, there is the music: "There Goes My Love" by Danish band The Blue Van, a tune that will soon be downloaded quite often on … Read more
