Techlada – Tech news and random reviews

Apple has started their Black Friday Sales in Australia and New Zealand. It shows approximate discounts as follows:

• Macbook Pro 8% off
• iMac 8% off
• iPod touch 10% off

Perhaps not as good of a deal as one could hope for. An opportunity to save a few bucks if your already going to buy one anyways.

According to the DigiTimes Apple upped it’s order for CMOS chips from Foxconn 17-20%. The CMOS chips are used as the sensor for the iPhones camera.

Netbook sales are also likely to increase this holiday season, most of which also contain a small camera, further limiting supply even more.

Historically everytime Microsoft releases a new OS Apple also sees an increase in sales. Rumors are that Apple will launch an advertising campaign that makes fun of the windows 7 “upgrade”/reformatting procedure.

Here is a graph from BrainStormTech to show how Windows releases increase Apple sales

Maybe certain case manufacturers didn’t get the memo that Apple released the 3rd Gen iPod Touch without the Camera. People are reporting cases showing at Best Buy’s in Texas and also at Mall’s. Either they are expecting a refresh of the iPod Touch sooner than we are, or allowing customers to future-proof their case purchase.

iPod Touch Case with Camera at Mall

AT&T 3G MicroCell allows you to use your existing broadband connection to connect to AT&T’s 3G network. This will finally help those who have terrible coverage at their homes and offices. Now the bad news, you will be charged by AT&T for using your broadband’s bandwidth!?!

From AT&T:

AT&T 3G MicroCell acts like a mini cellular tower in your home or small business environment. It connects to AT&T’s network via your existing broadband Internet service (such as DSL or cable) and is designed to support up to four simultaneous users in a home or small business setting. With AT&T 3G MicroCell, you receive improved cellular signal performance for both voice calls and cellular data applications like picture messaging and surfing the Web.

Apple Insider shows list of Model Numbers of new iPods. Note, Ipod Touch’s don’t appear on list.

MC027LL/A – IPOD NANO 8GB – SILVER
MC031LL/A – IPOD NANO 8GB – BLACK
MC034LL/A – IPOD NANO 8GB – PURPLE
MC037LL/A – IPOD NANO 8GB – BLUE
MC040LL/A – IPOD NANO 8GB – GREEN
MC043LL/A – IPOD NANO 8GB – YELLOW
MC046LL/A – IPOD NANO 8GB – ORANGE
MC049LL/A – IPOD NANO 8GB – RED
MC050LL/A – IPOD NANO 8GB – PINK
MC060LL/A – IPOD NANO 16GB – SILVER
MC062LL/A – IPOD NANO 1[6]GB – BLACK
MC064LL/A – IPOD NANO 16GB – PURPLE
MC066LL/A – IPOD NANO 16GB – BLUE
MC068LL/A – IPOD NANO 16GB – GREEN
MC070LL/A – IPOD NANO 16GB – YELLOW
MC072LL/A – IPOD NANO 16GB – ORANGE
MC074LL/A – IPOD NANO 16GB – RED
MC075LL/A – IPOD NANO 16GB – PINK
MC293LL/A – IPOD CLASSIC 160GB – SILVER
MC297LL/A – IPOD CLASSIC 160GB – BLACK
MC306LL/A – IPOD SHUFFLE 2GB – SILVER
MC307LL/A – IPOD SHUFFLE 4GB – GREEN
MC323LL/A – IPOD SHUFFLE 2GB – BLACK
MC328LL/A- IPOD SHUFFLE 4GB – BLUE
MC331LL/A – IPOD SHUFFLE 4GB – PINK
MC381LL/A – IPOD SHUFFLE 2GB – GREEN
MC384LL/A – IPOD SHUFFLE 2GB – BLUE
MC387LL/A – IPOD SHUFFLE 2GB – PINK

That is what you currently see when you visit the Apple Store.

Before the Store went down Apple had cut their prices of the ipod touch, ipod nano, and ipod classic. The prices were change to the following:

ipod touch -

8GB now $189.00

16GB now $249.00

32GB now $279.00

ipod nano -

8GB now $129

16GB now $149

ipod classic -

120GB now $229

Apple is expected to announce the new generation of ipod touch’s and ipod nano’s, even though there are rumored delays for at least the touch version due to complications of adding the camera. Apple’s Media Event starts today at 11am PST.

Financial Times reports that Beatles music is coming to Itunes, just not tomorrow.

“Conversations between Apple and EMI are ongoing and we look forward to the day when we can make the music available digitally. But it’s not tomorrow,” Ernesto Schmitt, EMI’s global catalog  president, told the FT’s Andrew Edgecliffe-Johnson.

Those hoping to purchase new Ipod Touch’s tomorrow might get a little bit dissapointed. There are reports of Apple having issues with addition of the cameras. Hopefully they won’t be more than a few weeks late.

Photo by Cedric SF.

AppleInsider reports that sources claim the latest Ipod line may be delayed due to technical difficulties.

“A person with a strong track record in predicting Apple’s upcoming product launches recently told AppleInsider that the iPod maker has experienced technical problems (bad parts) with the cameras modules. The person said that it was uncertain whether the new hardware, which has been widely expected to debut at Wednesday’s “Only rock and roll” media-centric event, would make the cut for early September retail distribution.”

For a while now we have been seing reports of 3rd party cases with holes cut out which would allow use of the integrated camera. Hopefully the delay won’t be huge. Seems like Apple would be able to add cameras to the Ipod Touch relatively easily since it has done the same for the Iphone.

Engaget reports that Hama’s booth at IFA in Germany displayed more 3rd Gen Ipod Touch and 5th Gen Ipod Nano cases. With the holes for the rumored cameras.

It will be interesting to see what else the Ipod’s will get at the September 9th Media Event.