Apple Thoughts - News & Reviews on all things Apple

"Apple's iPad is already huge. In fact, after just its first quarter of sales, it's already the company's third-biggest business segment."

You can clearly see the pink showing through, and that is the iPad revenue as it goes past the iPod. The iPad did so well, at $2.2 billion USD in revenue, that it made more than the iPod at $1.5 billion USD, and almost half as much as the Mac revenue at $4.4 billion USD.

"If you're attending the World Wide Developer Confrence today, you might well notice a few devlopers sporting swollen heads and ear-to-ear grins. Such a sight can only mean one thing: The Apple Design Awards 2010 winners have been announced."

The awards focused on iOS this year, instead of OS X, which led to the email from Jobs to one developer that said "no hidden meaning here, it's just the normal cycle of things." And with that, they did focus on iOS and announced winners in various categories. The winners this year are:

• Financial Times by Financial Times
• Doodle Jump from Lima
• SkyBrushes for iPhone by Steve Sprang
• TabToolkit from Agile Partners
• Articles for iPhone by Sophiestication
• Flight Control HD from Firemint
• Twenty Minute Meals from Zolmo
• Star Walk for iPad from Vito Technology
• Real Racing for iPhone from Firemint
• Pinball HD from Gameprom

"Apple posted a video of the 2010 World Wide Developers Conference keynote presentation late on Monday. CEO Steve Jobs used the event to introduce iPhone 4 along with the rebranding of iPhone OS 4 as iOS 4."

The video is posted here at Apple, so you can watch in either QuickTime or MPEG-4 formats. No chair kicking but I hear there were some Wi-Fi problems.

Well, I'll tell you! Just as in years prior, there are several sites that are offering live blogging from the event, which starts on Monday June 7th at 10am Pacific Time, so here are a few:

• Gearlog
• Gizmodo
• The Apple Blog
• GDGT Live
• ARS Technica

One notable exception to the usual live bloggers is Gizmodo. It appears the whole iPhone 4G coverage issue that is still ongoing has done one thing for their relationship with Apple, and that is to sever it. According to Gizmodo, they haven't received any answer to their request for passes. They will still offer coverage via other sites apparently but won't be live blogging.

"Apple is putting up its flags and bunting for its annual developers garden party (without a garden) WWDC 2010 at the Moscone Centre in San Francisco next week.Images are already spreading widely across the Internet as avid snappers grab pictures of the signs going up."

It's that time of year again, with Apple holding their annual developers conference at the Moscone Center in San Francisco on Monday. Lots of rumors swirling around about this conference too. There is the well reported Verizon getting an iPhone rumor, as well as updates to iPhone OS 4.0. But how about the rumor of upcoming Mac Mini refresh, with some credence to it due to shortages? Or the MacBook Pro updates? Did you hear the one about Sprint getting the iPhone? Anyway, lots of stuff out there, what do you think will be announced at WWDC 2010?

"If you were planning on attending WWDC 2010 but have yet to buy your ticket, I hope you don't take disappointment too hard. Despite an April 28 announcement-just six weeks before the conference-Apple's WWDC has sold out for the third year in a row."

It only took them 8 days to sell out this year, the 3rd year in a row it has happened. Wonder when they are going to get the attention of scalpers?

"Apple's same-store sales rose 8 percent in the March quarter of 2010, propelled by a 22.3 percent year-over-year increase in Mac sales, even though a MacBook Pro refresh did not arrive during the three-month period."

Much better news than last year when they had a decline of 21.9% according to the article. Non Mac revenues grew 1.2% fueled by iPads, which was the first growth in six quarters. If you like Apple products, the retail stores are the place to go to get the hands on experience for all of their products. And for those thinking about purchasing one of their products, in my opinion, it is an integral part of building the brand and expanding the reach of the product line.

"The Apple Worldwide Developers Conference 2010 will start on June 7 in San Francisco. Five days of endless code orgies and hands-on sessions for iPhone OS 4 and Mac OS X. No word on any possible Steve Jobs' keynote yet."

What kind of a WWDC would it be without Steve Jobs? You can find more info about this conference at Apple's WWDC page.

"The iTunes Festival is back for 2010. Last year your feedback was so great, that we're doing it again at Camden's Roundhouse in London. We're inviting more than 60 artists to perform 31 consecutive nights of brilliant live music in the UK's best intimate venue. Every show will be recorded and made available on iTunes."

Quite the lineup, wish I was in the UK and I'd go to this in about 69 days (I didn't see an exact date just a ticker that has a little over 69 days on it). You can find more about it at the iTunes Festival London 2010 site. You can also become a fan over at Facebook or follow on Twitter if you so desire, to get all the updates for the show.

"On Monday World of Apple reported that an online invitation was inviting attendees of this years NAB exhibition to join Apple 'for an update on their latest hardware and software products.'"

But after he posted the story a rep from NAB sent a tersely worded email telling him he was wrong and to pull the information "immediately." Seemed odd that Apple was going to this anyway, sounds like someone should have proof read the invitation.

"Last week, we got our first sneak peek at iPhone OS 4.0, and if history's any guide, we shouldn't expect to see Steve Jobs strut back on stage until WWDC in June to introduce the fourth generation iPhone and iPod Touch models."

According to ModMYI, Apple has booked the Yerba Buena Center for Arts at the San Francisco Moscone Center for June 22nd this year. Can't wait to see what they come up with this year. 

"CBS Interactive today released the 2010 March Madness application ($9.99 app store). Big difference over last year? 3G streaming of games! It is just a shame that the iPad won't be out until April."

You can get the paid app here, for $9.99 USD, but the free "lite" version has highlights and pretty much everything the paid version does except for the live streaming video of the games. I agree it's too bad the iPad won't be available for it, but at least you will be able to use the iPad with MLB At Bat 2010!

"With spring training beginning this week, Major League Baseball has rolled out today the 2010 version of the popular iPhone app, At Bat 2010."

Last year At Bat 2009 was a great app, but it was priced at $9.99 USD if I remember correctly. MLB At Bat 2010 is available now in iTunes for $14.99 USD. This is causing me to really debate the need for it, even though I did get a lot out of last years version. I don't see a lot of upgrades for $5.00 USD premium over the previous version. Now if this works on the iPad, which I'm assuming it will, then I may have to change my way of thinking. Anyone out there going to spring for this version?

"Apple has nailed down the number three spot on BusinessWeek's fourth annual customer service awards, falling in right behind LL Bean and insurance company USAA, and way above companies like Amazon and Dell. The awards were based on survey results from a few different places, and Apple scored an A+ in both Quality of Staff and Efficiency of Service thanks to its Genius Bars and helpful Specialists inside Apple Stores."

You can see the list here, and it shows that Apple has improved almost 10% from the 2009 ranking. For LL Bean they improved almost 11% from 2009 and USAA improved about 1.5%. 

"Apple has posted a QuickTime audio webcast of Apple's February 23, 2010 presentation at the Goldman Sachs Technology & Internet Conference."

You can hear the entire presentation over at Apple, audio only, and it lasts for about 45 minutes.

"The Mac Observer is pleased to announce the recipients of our Editors' Choice Awards from Macworld Expo 2010. We chose eight products that we feel represent the best of what was shown at the conference and expo, and like last year, there were lots of great products worth considering."

This is a best of list like the one Macworld came up with, but you will note right away there are different products on this list. They even include the HyperMac battery we noted a few days ago. This list isn't categorized, it is just their opinion on the best overall products, regardless of type, that were introduced at the 2010 Macworld Expo.

"Experience the best of the 2010 Vancouver Olympic Winter Games with the NBC Olympics app. Follow all the action with the live real-time updates on every event from Vancouver. Check out NBC Olympics video clips and highlights, news stories for every sport, results & schedules, and updated medal counts. Plus, you can follow your favorite nations, sports and athletes on Facebook and Twitter - all from your phone."

Once they fixed a few bugs, they turned this into a pretty good app for following the Olympics in Vancouver, and best of all it is free. Or you can always check out the mobile Yahoo site at m.yahoo.com/olympics that has updated Olympic coverage. If you are actually planning on attending, check out the two "essential apps" according to Macworld in their article posted here.

"When it comes to Macworld Expo, there's one question that Macworld editors are asked without fail: What are the most interesting products at the show? And that's the idea behind the Macworld Expo Best of Show awards-to highlight the products that stand out at the show."

Macworld kicked off yesterday so might as well see just what they thought were the best products. I especially like the FastMac U-Socket shown above. How clever is that? You can go here to see the slide show of all 11 of the best of show products.

"A special Macworld 2010 conference session - targeted at corporate and business decision-makers - will attempt to demystify the entire process of producing custom iPhone and iPad software, from start to finish."

This particular session will be held this Saturday, the 13th, from 10:30am until 11:45am. In a short 75 minute presentation, they plan on covering the "entire spectrum of developing software, both in general, and for the iPhone and iPad in particular." Ambitious to say the least!

"What will Macworld 2010 look like without Steve Jobs? For starters, the annual gathering of Mac fans will see less than half as many exhibitors Feb. 9-13: 220 this year versus 500 in 2009, the last year Apple said it would officially support the San Francisco event."

I was hoping they would have more exhibitors than what they are expecting so they might be around for a few years. But I imagine the Apple faithful will show their support in order to keep this show going. They moved it to February (this week in fact) so that it didn't conflict with CES, of which Apple was a part. What are your thoughts? Anyone out there attending?