Skype for iPad now in iOS App Store

Skype for iPad makes its debut in the iOS App Store. The App was expected to be released in late June but due to some unknown reasons it was delayed till now. Skype for its iPad users brings its live video chat service on both Wi-Fi and 3G data connections. This version of the Skype supports near about same features as in the iPhone version of Skype.

The Skype for iPad includes features like video chat, instant messaging, phone calls and access to your contacts. Instant messaging can also be done during video chat. This feature was not available in the iPhone version of Skype.

No longer the app appeared in the iOS app store, Skype pulled it saying that it was prematurely released. Its Twitter feed said,

“To ensure your best Skype experience, we’ve temporarily removed Skype for iPad which went live prematurely today.”

The Skype for iPad App can call anyone using Skype whether its desktop or an iOS device.

UPDATE: The Skype for iPad App is back in iOS Store.
Source: iTunes.apple.com

Apple granted patent for capacitive multitouch interface

After filing a patent back in December 2007, Apple now has been awarded the patent on certain touchscreen behaviors.
The experts say that this patent can give a huge blow to the rival touchscreen manufacturers.
The patent was worded as follows,

[a] computer-implemented method, for use in conjunction with a portable multifunction device with a touch screen display, [that] comprises displaying a portion of page content, including a frame displaying a portion of frame content and also including other content of the page, on the touch screen display.

This patent gives ownership to Apple of the capacitive multitouch interface, this could create problems for their competitors as Apple now can produce a new round of law suits on the usage of multitouch interface used in smartphones or tablets like Motorola or Samsung and others that use operating system similar to iOS, like Android.

The patent seems to have enough scope to virtually cover any mobile device with interface that incorporate finger movements similar to Apple’s touchscreen devices, like tablets similar to apple’s iPad and media players like iPod touch.

Apple now can bully their competitors unless this patent gets invalidated.

Apple up to certain extent can restrict makers of touchscreen smartphones, tablets and other mobile devices from selling their products in U.S. or they can reach a settlement by licensing their technology for a good income source.

But some sources say that that the effects of the patent could be narrower because
this patent only refers to special kind of multitouch behavior which could be with respect to webpage content and frames within the webpage. Such touchscreen interactions can be engineered reasonably by Google, Microsoft and others.

We now will have to wait and watch, how apple reacts, will it be its monopoly or other smartphone makers find a way out of this…

References : PCMAG, this is my next

iPad 2 Launching In India Next Week ?

Tired of waiting for Apple products to arrive in India???
Not any more, OnlyGizmos reports that the Apple iPad 2 might be launching in India as soon as next week.
This is good news for all those people wanting to get their hand on this smoking hot device!!

Apple iPad2 will be priced Rs. 27,999 for the 16GB WiFi model.
The top end 64GB, 3G + WiFi model is expected to cost Rs 44,999.

Apple has decided to price the iPad2 same as the original iPad, and acquire the tablet space in India!!
This move from Apple will be welcomed by all the gadget lovers in India!!

The tablet will be available via Vijay Stores, Chroma and Reliance iStores.

Will you be getting one???

IPAD2 launching this month end in India???

There are rumors that Ipad2 which launched in the US on 11 March will be making an entry to Indian market officially by the end of this month.

Apple has always been slow in bringing new products in India even after knowing that there is great demand for Apple products here. Any Apple product that launches in US comes to India only after 6-7 months.

Is this going to change now???With Motorola Xoom the first honeycomb tablet running android 3.0 launching officially in India around first week of April, Apple now seems to have got its act right and are trying to push Ipad2 before Xoom hits Indian markets.

It will not be wrong to say both devices will sell like hot cakes in India. Apple products are already popular and Android’s popularity is increasing everyday with so many manufacturers launching android products here.

This is a win-win situation for consumers in India. Both Xoom and Ipad2 have great specifications. Apple products are well built and the finish is the best in the market. Hardware wise both devices are similar:

• Both have 1GHz dual core processors, Xoom has a Tegra2 processor and the Ipad2 has a custom made A5 processor.
• Both devices have 10.1 inches screen, Ipad2 has a led display vs lcd display of Xoom.
• Xoom has more RAM than Ipad2 1GB vs 512MB but that doesn’t mean the Ipad2 is slower than Xoom.
• Both the devices support multitasking.
• Both devices have 2 cameras front facing cam for video chat on Xoom/facetime on Ipad2 and rear cameras for high quality video recording, Xoom has a flash at rear for capturing pictures even in low lit conditions.
• Both devices are weighing almost the same, Xoom is marginally heavier than Ipad2.
• Ipad 2 is just 8.8mm thin and is the thinnest tablet in the market, its even slimmer than Iphone4.
• Ipad2 comes in 3 variants 16GB, 32GB and 64GB. Xoom comes in 32GB variant and an SD-card slot for increasing your storage capacity.
• Ipad2 comes in 2 colors black and white, Xoom comes only in black color.

Both the products have positives and negatives. The competition is very stiff and only time will tell if Apple with the introduction of Ipad2 in India before Xoom is able to spoil Motorola’s party this time!

Update(22-04-2011):
iPad2 to be launched in India as early as this weekend!
More Details!