iPad fingered in mini-notebook decline

iPad fingered in mini-notebook decline
DisplaySearch is calling this, naturally, the "iPad Effect" in the portable PC market. Notably, the effect might have been even worse were Apple able to fill demand for its tablets. Its supply chain was slow to fill orders for the iPad during the spring and summer, causing long wait times. But recently it appears to be catching back up.But not all is lost for mini-notebooks, according to John Jacobs, director of notebook market research for DisplaySearch."The end of 2007 witnessed the launch of mini-notes. The first quarter of 2010 signaled the birth of the tablet PC, and possibly by extension, the beginning of the end of the mini-note market, especially in developed regions," he said.Emerging markets, or regions where people are just now buying their first PC, will likely find the features, price, and portability still quite useful, according to the study.But the "iPad Effect" is likely to be even more pronounced in Apple's major markets when the third-quarter numbers are revealed. Besides the company likely selling more after catching up with demand, it also only recently began selling the iPad in China and Japan.Looking ahead, the mini-notebooks are going to have more competition than from just the iPad. Samsung, Dell, Research In Motion, Hewlett-Packard, and many others have started selling their own touch-screen tablets or announced plans to later this year and in early 2011.

iPad can double as skateboard

iPad can double as skateboard
The iPad just got a whole lot more intriguing. The tablet can not only help you surf around the Web and check e-mail, it can also serve as a pretty useful skateboard.Jeff King, who hosts the Fuel TV show "Built to Shred," took a 64GB iPad and, using some innovative techniques, transformed Apple's tablet into a fully operational skateboard. King asked professional skateboarder Chad Knight to try to ride it down a half-pipe.After attaching wheels to the iPad, Knight took it for a ride. Unfortunately, the iPad's screen cracked in the first try and the skating didn't work so well. After making a few minor adjustments to the way the iPad sat on the wheels, Knight gave it another try. This time around, he was able to ride the iPad up and down the half-pipe without any trouble. He didn't try to perform any tricks, but it certainly worked.Move over multitasking, the iPad has a new feature that's much more fun.Check out the video:

iPad buyers can now grab more than two tablets per order

iPad buyers can now grab more than two tablets per order
iPad buyers can now buy as many tablets as they want in one shot.Apple has lifted its long-standing restriction of limiting iPad buyers to only two tablets at a time. Citing an internal Apple memo, 9to5Mac says the change has already gone into effect at Apple's global retail stores (with the exception of those in Hong Kong).But online buyers will have to wait a few more days. Apple's online store will reportedly drop the limit of two iPads per order starting Monday, June 11, the same day the company's Worldwide Developers Conference gets off the ground.A sales rep at an Apple retail store confirmed to CNET that the limit has been lifted. A spokesman for Apple also confirmed the news for Apple's retail stores but wouldn't comment on the status for the online store.Related stories Apple iPad reviewApple's iPad favored among vast majority of would-be tablet buyersApple looks to open two more stores in ChinaThe timing suggests the removal may have something to do with WWDC. But 9to5Mac believes it just means Apple has enough stock of the popular tablet to satisfy customers who want more than two per order.That seems a likely explanation as Apple's online store now shows the iPad in stock, meaning no wait time for online buyers.Updated 9:15 a.m. PT with response from Apple.