Apple’s total sales in 2011 were $128 billion which is more than the gross domestic product of about 160 nations around the world including New Zealand, Iraq and Syria.

Apple’s current market capitalization is $508 billion making it the largest company in the world.

Apple’s release of its latest iPad was massive: the company sold 3 million devices in the first 72 hours of release.

695 iPads are sold every minute. 11 iPads are sold every second.

Apple projects to sell 56.4 million iPads in 2012. Laid end-to-end those iPads would stretch from Cupertino, California to New York City and back and nearly halfway back to the Big Apple.

Since 2008, almost as many devices with Apple’s IOS operating system were sold as cars worldwide. Does that mean that in today’s world we consider Apple products as important as vehicles?

While the iPad has been a huge success, the iPhone is still Apple’s franchise player selling over 72 million devices in 2011. That’s nearly equal to the weight of the Eiffel Tower.

40% of Apple’s revenue is credited to the iPhone alone.

Via Best Computer Science Degrees.com

J.P. Morgan’s analyst, Mark Moskowitz, believes that Apple won’t be launching the rumored Apple TV this year, instead, Apple will launch other services like the iPay, Apple mobile payment based on NFC for the iPhone, Moskowitz cites economic factors for Apple to avoid the introduction of the HDTV set.

According to Moskowitz research, Apple will be pumping its current AppleTV device with better features until it finds market sustainability for the introduction of Apple long-rumored AppleTV (iTV). Analysts have been talking about Apple introduction of a full-fledged HDTV, for its part, Apple has been tight-lipped and has avoided a direct talk about the iTV rumors.

Via Appleinsider.com

A steep drop in shipments of Android-based tablets offset a strong quarter from Apple and caused the media tablet market to miss projections for the first quarter of 2012 (1Q12), according to preliminary data from the International Data Corporation (IDC) Worldwide Quarterly Media Tablet and eReader Tracker. Total worldwide media tablet shipments for the quarter reached 17.4 million units in 1Q12, 1.2 million units below IDC’s projection for the quarter. While IDC predicted a sharp seasonal slowdown of -34% from the previous quarter’s record-breaking 28.2 million units, the actual decline was slightly steeper at -38.4%. The total still represents a robust year-over-year growth rate of 120%, up from 7.9 million units in the first quarter of 2011.

“It seems some of the mainstream Android vendors are finally beginning to grasp a fact that Amazon, B&N, and Pandigital figured out early on: Namely, to compete in the media tablet market with Apple, they must offer their products at notably lower price points”

“Apple reasserted its dominance in the market this quarter, driving huge shipment totals at a time when all but a few Android vendors saw their numbers drop precipitously after posting big gains during the holiday buying season,” said Tom Mainelli, research director, Mobile Connected Devices at IDC. “Apple’s move to position the iPad as an all-purpose tablet, instead of just a content consumption device, is resonating with consumers as well as educational and commercial buyers. And its decision to keep a lower-priced iPad 2 in the market after it launched the new iPad in March seems to be paying off as well.”

Apple shipped 11.8 million iPads during the quarter, down from 15.4 million units in the fourth quarter of 2011, and grew its worldwide share from 54.7% in 4Q11 to 68% in 1Q12. Amazon, which stormed into the market in 4Q11 to grab second place with 16.8% of the market on shipment of 4.8 million units, saw its share decline significantly in the first quarter to just over 4%, falling to third place as a result. Samsung took advantage of Amazon’s weakness to regain the number two position while Lenovo vaulted into the number four spot, followed by Barnes & Noble at number five.

Although total Android shipments were down sharply in 1Q12, companies such as Samsung and Lenovo are beginning to gain traction in the market with their latest generation of Android products. IDC expects the segment to rebound quickly as other vendors introduce new products in the second quarter and beyond.

“It seems some of the mainstream Android vendors are finally beginning to grasp a fact that Amazon, B&N, and Pandigital figured out early on: Namely, to compete in the media tablet market with Apple, they must offer their products at notably lower price points,” Mainelli added. “We expect a new, larger-screened device from Amazon at a typically aggressive price point, and Google will enter the market with an inexpensive, co-branded ASUS tablet designed to compete directly on price with Amazon’s Kindle Fire. The search giant’s new tablet will run a pure version of Android, whereas the Fire runs Amazon’s own forked version of the OS that cuts Google out of the picture.”

The impact that Microsoft Windows 8- and Windows RT-based tablets, which are widely expected to ship into the market by the fourth quarter, will have on the overall tablet market is yet to be determined. Pricing on the new Windows tablets hasn’t been announced, and that will be a critical factor when it comes to winning over consumers. Consumer reception to the new OS and the success of integration with traditional Windows systems will also be critical.

“The worldwide tablet market is entering a new phase in the second half of 2012 that will undoubtedly reshape the competitive landscape,” said Bob O’Donnell, program vice president, Clients and Displays. “While Apple will continue to sit comfortably on the top for now, the battle for the next several positions is going to be fierce. Throw in Ultrabooks, the launch of Windows 8, and a few surprise product launches, and you have all the makings of an incredible 2012 holiday shopping season.”

Frommer’s announced immediate availability of the first-ever truly interactive guides for iPhone and iPad. With seven titles from Frommer’s award-winning Day by Day series rebuilt on Inkling’s platform and optimized for iPad, iPhone, and iPod touch, the joy of traveling begins before you even get there.

Travelers now have unprecedented access to the information they need, wherever they are. Plan your trip at home on the sofa with your iPad, swiping through images, listings and interactive maps. Then, check your notes and highlights on the airplane, making a few last minute plans. Once there, leave your iPad in the room, and grab your iPhone for quick references while out exploring the sights you researched earlier.

All of the content from the Day by Day series, like thoughtful itineraries and curated expertise, is amplified with Inkling-only features not found in any e-book or travel app:

With more than 650 rich maps, travelers can envision the destinations as they plan, tapping for instant access to more information, links, and images.
It’s easy to make highlights and bookmark anything from text to maps and web links. iPad users can also make notes. All annotations are saved in your guide for easy reference.
More than 3,000 high-resolution photographs make you feel like you’re already lounging on a beach, exploring a Renaissance chateau, or walking through Zen gardens—all before packing your bags. Frommer’s on Inkling immerses travelers in the destination from the first tap.
Figure out what to pack in advance or what to wear that day as you read about your itinerary with 74 live, five-day forecast weather windows. Every time you check out a destination inside your guide, you’ll get up-to-the-minute weather about that destination or city.
Easy navigation of your guide means easy navigation of your destination. Instead of flipping back and forth between maps, photos, and lists, layered maps show the top places to dine, stay and visit in one spot. Every chapter also begins with slideshows of destination highlights, to help you dive in with ease.
Frommer’s guides are fully cross-linked. Tap on references to other places or sections, and jump to hotel, restaurant and other websites anywhere in the book.
Forget navigating a traditional index or remembering where a recommendation is in the book. Search for anything, and Inkling finds it anywhere in the guide—plus Google and Wikipedia, too, just in case.

Seven guides are available for immediate download from www.inkling.com/frommers and from within the App Store: Costa Rica, Alaska, California, France, Spain, Great Britain, and Japan. More destinations are coming later this year.

Frommer’s Day by Day guides on Inkling are universal apps for iPad, iPhone and iPod touch, priced from $9.99 to $14.99. You can learn more about Frommer’s on Inkling at www.inkling.com/frommers.

Austin-based SalesVu just released its latest mobile payment application, SalesVu 2.0 for iPhone’s and iPad’s. The new update solidifies SalesVu’s technology leadership position as the only mobile payment solution with centralized cloud-based management, reporting, and social media marketing.

According to Pascal Nicolas, SalesVu founder and CEO, SalesVu 2.0 provides more value than most point-of-sale and mobile payment solutions while offering the lowest credit card processing fees. “We listened to thousands of SalesVu users across various retail, restaurant, and services segments and added features designed to help them operate their business more efficiently, securely, and cost effectively,” Nicolas says.

New retail functionality built into SalesVu 2.0 includes the ability to print receipts and scan barcodes for faster transaction processing. Another common request from retailers was the ability for employees to clock-in and out, a feature that SalesVu tied to a complete cloud-based employee timekeeping solution on SalesVu.com. Lastly, retailers will be able to significantly simplify their close-out process with SalesVu’s cash drawer functionality.

Features designed specifically for food service establishments in SalesVu 2.0 include the ability to split checks, print orders to the kitchen, adjust tips at the end of the shift, and receive orders from the restaurant’s website. While most online ordering solutions only send email notifications, SalesVu also displays the order right on the point-of-sale app for immediate processing, allowing smaller businesses to be as efficient as larger chains.

Service businesses, according to Nicolas, were an important driver in many of the functionality enhancements built into version 2.0. He notes that there is one thing that beauty shops, massage therapists, and plumbers have in common: they work by appointment. SalesVu 2.0 routes appointments from a business’ website directly to the SalesVu app on the iPhone and iPad and allows business owners to take a partial deposit at the time of the reservation and process the balance once the service has been completed. The mobile payment solution also added invoicing and recurring billing, which allows service-based professionals such as attorneys and consultants to set up monthly credit card payments in addition to processing face-to-face transactions.

The launch of SalesVu 2.0 will also now include the application and credit card reader at no cost to businesses. What’s more, SalesVu’s credit card processing fees in the U.S. are the lowest of any mobile payment solution at a flat 2.7% rate for both swiped and keyed-in transactions. In Canada SalesVu’s rates vary from 1.73% to 3.26% depending on card type, which is significantly lower than the rates Intuit recently announced for the Canadian market.

With complete point-of-sale functionality, social media promotion capabilities, daily deal ROI analysis, enterprise-level sales and inventory reporting, Nicolas is confident SalesVu 2.0 has a clear advantage in the mobile payment race.

Incoming search terms:

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GUESS created a premium global brand in part by putting iconic imagery in front of consumers. Now, it’s again leading retail trends by integrating these assets into the shopping experience inside stores and beyond using the VeriFone GlobalBay iPad Retailing solution from VeriFone Systems.

VeriFone, today announced that the popular designer and distributor of one of the world’s leading lifestyle collections of contemporary apparel and accessories for men, women and children has implemented the VeriFone GlobalBay solution inside a dozen stores in the U.S., taken the technology on the road to Asia, and plans to expand the deployment widely in 2012. GUESS is using the VeriFone solution to enable consumer interaction with iPads mounted on rolling stands that serve as self-service kiosks to its online and in-store products to enhance the overall shopping experience and generate additional sales.

The VeriFone GlobalBay iPad Retailing App is powered by an easy-to-use web-based content management console that allows the retailer to easily design, brand and manage iPad Apps – no programming skills required. Apps deployed via the VeriFone GlobalBay solution sync rich content locally to the device so that users experience an optimized iPad shopping experience. Online connectivity allows for real-time interface to web-based assets and e-commerce transactions when required.

Within the store the VeriFone GlobalBay iPad application allows shoppers and store associates to browse various styles via the LookBook functionality and to select products for either immediate purchase or order online if the product is not available in the store. After hours, the iPad is used for distribution of training videos to store associates and managers.

Outside the store, GUESS has deployed the VeriFone GlobalBay iPad solution to events, including the recent Jingle Ball at the Staples Center in Los Angeles, and on a six-week roadshow in Asia that leveraged customer loyalty enrollment in Chinese as well as local sizing explanations and related product imagery.

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Maxell will announce and demonstrate new photo storage, sharing and backup capabilities for the second generation AirStash at the 2012 International Consumer Electronics Show. AirStash is the first and only wireless flash drive which uses infinitely expandable SD card media to provide true two-way wireless storage for the iPad, iPhone, iPod touch, and other wireless devices. With the upcoming version of the AirStash+ companion app, you can snap photos around the world without worrying about running out of iPhone storage or accidentally losing your captured memories. Stop waiting for slow and costly cloud uploading and feel free to leave your laptop at home — just backup your precious photos and videos to the pocket-sized AirStash.

Enjoy your vacation and capture as many memories as you want: if your iPhone is getting full, just run the free AirStash+ app and quickly backup your camera roll (including video) to your AirStash for unlimited storage with interchangeable SD cards. Once your photos are transferred to the AirStash, you can share your photos with up to eight friends instantly through any compatible WiFi-enabled device.

If you have a point-and-shoot or professional SLR camera with you, you can put the camera’s SD memory card into AirStash for instant viewing of thousands of photos on your iPad or iPhone wherever you are without a laptop — without waiting for a lengthy import process. View up to 75 MP RAW and JPEG, then share with others directly to their own iPad, iPhone, or iPod touch, compatible Android device, Windows Phone, or Kindle Fire. Import your best, edit them with apps such as Adobe Photoshop Express, and email them across the world right from your iPad.

AirStash A02 is the smaller and more powerful second generation device from the pioneers of mobile wireless storage. Measuring just 3.6 x 1.2 x 0.5 inches (93 x 32 x 13 mm) and weighing just 1.4 oz (41 g), AirStash easily fits into your pocket, backpack, briefcase, or handbag for up to seven hours of continuous video streaming thanks to the built-in lithium-polymer battery. AirStash charges from any USB-equipped laptop or desktop (powered ports only) and works as a USB High Speed flash drive & memory card reader. Memory is provided by an SD / SDHC / SDXC slot supporting beyond 128GB of high-density storage. New features and enhanced device compatibility can be provided by firmware updates downloaded from the Internet. (SDXC cards require a manual format before use).

Recently launched worldwide, AirStash is now available at many online and local retailers.

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A new augmented reality experience greeted Singaporeans on the first day of the new year. An interactive print advertisement placed by Volkswagen Singapore in the local daily, The Straits Times, allowed readers – for the first time – to partake in user interaction with a print ad using their Apple iOS devices to discover the whole range of Volkswagen models.

This new experience also marks the first-phase launch of the “VW SG” Apple iOS device application, which activates the augmented reality component of the ad. Additionally, users will literally have the Volkswagen showroom at their fingertips to explore model features and even book a test drive with just one touch. While intuitive in nature, the application has a little video guide hosted on the Volkswagen Singapore website. The campaign serves to provide a platform which allows customers to access Volkswagen any time and anywhere.

Jamie Lee, General Manager of Marketing Communications, Volkswagen Group Singapore said, “With the high penetration rate of smartphones, we feel the need to be on the mobile platform to provide convenience to our customers and to anyone who might be interested in our cars. This is just the beginning. In time, we hope to drive this forward with innovative features and functionalities synonymous with the Volkswagen brand to allow our customers to connect with us at a deeper level.”

Jeff Cheong, Head and Executive Creative Director, Tribal DDB Singapore added, “We look forward to using this application to enhance the overall showroom experience for Volkswagen. With technology and creativity, we believe the app will be able to serve as an ‘always on’ platform for customers to access Volkswagen.”

Volkswagen’s augmented reality print ads will run through February 2012 and will also be available at the Volkswagen showroom. Media planning duties were handled by Mediacom.

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AOC announces the Aire Monitor with Docking Station, the ultimate monitor for iPod and iPhone owners. The 23-inch Full High Definition monitor features a built-in universal docking station for iPhone and iPod that allows immediate video, audio and photo playback from the mobile device through AOC’s patented plug-and-play technology. Along with the integrated dock, the base of the monitor also includes built-in speakers with high quality SRS Premium Sound. The 23-inch AOC Aire Monitor with Docking Station (e2343Fi) will be available for $279.99 at national retailers in March 2012.

The elegant and energy efficient Aire Monitor with Docking Station features a sleek design with a black bezel and white back that complements Apple’s stylish products. The 12.9 mm-thin monitor’s modern design is complemented by impressive image quality with Full HD 1080p resolution, a 50,000,000:1 Dynamic Contrast Ratio and 5 ms response time. The monitor’s Dynamic Contrast Boost feature creates five different color enhancement settings and allows for color adjustment in highlighted areas. The Aire Monitor with Docking Station also offers a user-friendly graphical OSD menu that can be accessed directly through the mouse and bonus features like embedded Screen+ software that allows the user to divide the screen into four self-contained work areas.

Along with being EPEAT Silver Certified for its green packaging and production, the monitor is also equipped with multiple power-saving features for reduced environmental impact, while the LED backlight is completely Mercury free. An Off Timer allows users to set an alarm clock to turn of the monitor automatically, and the eSaver feature has preset power conservation modes for the display when the PC is not in use.

Specifications
• Ultra-slim (12.9 mm) monitor with built-in universal iPhone/iPod docking station
• 23″ viewable image size, diagonal
• 50,000,000:1 Dynamic Contrast Ratio
• Displays 16.7 million colors
• 5ms response time
• 16:9 Aspect ratio
• 250 cd/m² typical brightness
• 1920×1080@60Hz resolution
• HDMI digital input
• Built-in speakers: 10 Watts
• Windows 7 compatible

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JOBY releases new versions of the hands-free positioning and camera optimizing case and stands, GorillaMobile Ori and GorillaMobile Yogi for iPad 2. Following the amazing success of the original Ori and Yogi in January, the new products complete the latest update to the GorillaMobile line which began with the Verizon and AT&T compatible GorillaMobile for iPhone 4 and the release of the free, stop-motion, all-in-one iPhone camera app in April – Frame X Frame. Enhanced for the addition of the camera to the iPad 2, the Ori and Yogi allow users to take advantage of the new iPad 2 features with steady, hands-free photographs and comfortable, more flattering Face-Timing that won’t make you look like you desperately need a few more hours of sleep.

Built for the demanding iPad power user, the GorillaMobile Ori for iPad 2 provides sleek ergonomic positioning all in a protective case and stand. Drawing its inspiration from the folding art of origami, the GorillaMobile Ori is engineered from a superlight German-made aluminum/polypropylene composite used in high-performance cars. This next-generation material allows the Ori to be folded into countless positions designed with the needs of the mobile professional in mind. When folded back into its folio mode, the Ori delivers lightweight, rigid stability that can easily slip into your bag for travel to the next meeting.

For iPad users who would rather read and watch videos in the comfort of their bed or on the couch, the GorillaMobile Yogi for iPad 2 stretches and wraps into the perfect position. The limber yet sturdy legs of the GorillaMobile Yogi twist and bend to stabilize the iPad on uneven surfaces or wrap around fixtures in the kitchen to become the perfect companion for your grand cooking plans. The polycarbonate case with rubber bumper protects your iPad from shocks and falls. In addition, the quick-release clip easily detaches the modular legs, allowing the case and legs to be used in landscape or portrait mode.

The GorillaMobile Ori for iPad 2 is available for $69.95 and the GorillaMobile Yogi for iPad 2 retails for $39.95. Both products are available for purchase today on Amazon.com and JOBY.com.

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