No iPad for you!

Kids smashing iPad's already - They've sure got a lot of money on the other side of the Digital Divide!

2010-04-06T15:48:00.000-07:00

News is just in from a good old friend of mine that it was in the news in the US how some kids bought an ipad, then smashed it using a baseball bat and posted it in YouTube. They just wasted $500 bucks so they can post it in Youtube. It's a crazy iPad review though but it was in the 7:00 PM news last night (US Central time). My friend also showed it to her class and they all reacted: "What did they do that for???".

Well my reaction to that would be that if you didn't want it why not send it over to this side of the Digital Divide so people could be educated about this new technology. Well they don't think like that on the other side of the Digital Divide do they?

You can watch the video for yourself right here:

Publish Post

iPad overcharging and rip-offs under way on Apple's iTunes website for iPad applications!

2010-04-06T15:24:00.000-07:00

What would you pay for an iPad application version of Times Magazine? Would you be willing to pay an extra 15 times more than the offline/printed edition? Obviously that depends upon the amount of cash you can throw around, doesn't it? If not then guess what's happening at iTunes? Well you may call it the rip-offs of the year from Apple's website!

Well that's not what is really happening but beware of buying applications for your iPad. I was just browsing the iTunes website for iPad applications and came upon this page here and an angry customer left the following comment:

"* Beware by Jimtowner
It's my own fault, but in my excitement over the iPad I purchased this without realizing I was paying for ONE edition of Time. In my haste I thought the date referred to the release date for an app that would give continuing access to various Time articles. As with some music on iTunes, I thought this was a pre-release. Oh well, buyer beware. I would never pay $4.99 for a single edition of Time in any form. I hope my mistake will help someone else to understand what they are actually purchasing before they buy. I also think Time can be much clearer about what they are offering. As it stands, the app listing is bordering on misleading in my opinion. And yes, I understand that it's my mistake."

That's quite a hefty price to pay for a Times Magazine subscription and is truly a rip-off over the iPad application fad going on. Here is another comment from an intelligent passer by on the same website:

"$$$ by zxspectrum
So they don’t pay for materials, shipping/distribution anymore... but the magazine is x15 times more expensive!!! you can get 56 paper issues for $20! seriously, you guys are finished."

Comments sources: http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/time-april-12-2010/id364384236#

No iPad for you Mr. Fouad Bajwa!

2010-04-06T07:53:00.000-07:00

Yeup, living on the other side of the Digital Divide has its own set of implications and especially when you are a resident in Pakistan. Apple's recent iPad frenzy is the shiniest new toy around taking over the other side of the digital divide and I was wondering if it would ever come to this side in Pakistan without the implications of the black market like its iPhone product.

Despite having Apple franchises in various cities of Pakistan, Apple never officially introduced the iPhone and the only iPhone's that can be bought in Pakistan are unlocked versions without any support in the region. None of the iStore's carry iPhone and Pakistani's usually buy them at double the price from places like Shophive etc. Its an interesting case though that some parts of the world are kept behind in product availability despite having on-the-ground presence.

Since the iPhone never made it officially to Pakistan by Apple, we can guess the same might happen with iPad. The iPad will again be blacked in the local market and might sell at anything between US$1000 or simply 70-80 Thousand Pakistani Rupees. I don't blame the guys who do this after all its them taking the pain to bring these products in for Apple product lovers.

So in the end I can simply say, no iPad for you Mr. Fouad Bajwa!