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Week in iPad: Newsstand woes, 7-inch usability, Google Currents and carousels

By Rene Ritchie, Sunday, Dec 11, 2011 a 3:41 pm

Missed a compelling piece of iPad news, a great app review, or a killer how-to? We're not collecting absolutely everything in iPad here -- you can hit up TiPb.com/iPad for that! -- but we're carefully picking what we think is the best of the last 7 days and presenting it here. For you.

And hey! -- these double as show notes for our iPad Live! podcast tonight at 9pm Eastern. So join us and follow along!

Vote now for iOS feature of the year [2011 TiPb Awards]

By Rene Ritchie, Sunday, Dec 11, 2011 a 10:30 am

iOS 5 is one of the biggest software updates Apple has ever released for their mobile operating system, with changes almost too many to enumerate (we've tried!).

Siri is the first step in taking the digital assistant out of sci-fi and into reality. iMessage bypasses the exorbitant carrier text charges and brings iOS users, all over the world, one step closer to BBM-like instant messaging. Notification Center finally brings iOS alerts out of the dark ages. Newsstand put most of our newspapers and magazines all in one place. PC-free along with Wi-Fi sync cuts the cord to iTunes and takes us to the iCloud, where all our data gets stored and pushed and backed up. Reminders brings task management to iOS. The camera app is now fast to access and faster to take shots with.

While there will always be features we wish for next time, from message previews to fast text response to themes to a whole lot more, this year, these are your choices.

iOS 5 and iCloud walkthrough

Vote up top and tell us why you voted they way you did in the comments! These are your awards, so get to it!

iPhone 4S two months later

By Rene Ritchie, Sunday, Dec 11, 2011 a 10:11 am

The iPhone 4S has been on the market for two months now so it's time for us -- your TiPb and Mobile Nations editors, writers, and podcasters -- to take a second look at it. Has it lived up to our expectations? Has our appreciation for the iPhone 4S grown deeper with time, or is the honeymoon over and the initial sheen long since worn off? Apple typically only releases one new iPhone a year, so how it holds up over time -- especially when competing devices seem to drop daily by the dozen -- is an especially important consideration.

If you're still the considering the iPhone 4S, if you're still on the fence, check out the material below and then read on for our re-review, 2 months later.

2011 Holiday Guides: iPad and iPhone gifts for travelers

By Rene Ritchie, Saturday, Dec 10, 2011 a 9:33 pm

Have a loved one on your holiday shopping list who's going to take their iPhone, iPod touch, or iPad on a special trip? Not sure exactly what to gift them? Not a problem, TiPb has you covered! From the traveler off to fun in the sun, to the family going home for the holidays, to the couple going out on the town, here are some of our favorite device, accessory, and app picks for the business user in your life!

Don’t need anything for a travel? Check out the recommendations anyway, something great might still catch your eye. If not, no worries, check out one of our other 2011 holiday gift guides!

TiPb Picks of the Week for December 10, 2011

By Leanna Lofte, Saturday, Dec 10, 2011 a 3:31 pm

Every week a few of us from team TiPb will bring you our current favorite, most fun and useful App Store apps, WebApps, jailbreak apps, even the occasional accessory, web site, or desktop app if the mood strikes us. As long as they’re iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch related, they’re fair game.

To see what we picked, and to tell us your pick, follow on after the break!

Om Nom Stories and Om Nom plushie giveaway!

By Leanna Lofte, Saturday, Dec 10, 2011 a 12:35 pm

Here's a cute little video, called Om Nom Stories, of the candy-eating little creature from the popular iPhone and iPad game Cut the Rope. Admit it, this video makes you want a pet Om Nom!

Vote now for iOS device of the year [2011 TiPb Awards]

By Rene Ritchie, Saturday, Dec 10, 2011 a 11:54 am

Last year Apple introduced a new product category with the original iPad, redesigned their signature handset with iPhone 4, refreshed the iPod touch, and unveiled the all new Apple TV 2.

This year they didn't introduce a new iPod touch -- though they did add white -- or Apple TV -- at least not yet. They also kept the same design for the iPhone 4S, but did make the iPad 2 thinner, lighter, and faster.

In addition to the new casing, iPad 2 got two new cameras (low-end as they may be), and was first to get the new, dual-core, Apple A5 system-on-a-chip.

iPhone 4S also got the powerful A5 SoC, a new, intelligently switching antenna, and a much better rear camera at 8mp and 1080p.

While visions of Retina display tablets, 4-inch phones, and full on televisions, this year you need to choose from what we got.

Vote up top and tell us why you voted they way you did in the comments! These are your awards, so get to it!

Apple Store 2011 holiday display

By Rene Ritchie, Saturday, Dec 10, 2011 a 11:40 am

Apple Stores always have interesting displays around the holiday season and 2011 is no exception. While it might not be as fancy as the FaceTime Santa and elf chat from last year, the iPad side does show off a lot of what you can do to with your Apple tech this winter.

Giveaway: TAB Rests make using your tablet or e-reader more comfortable - Enter to win 1 of 10!

By Michelle Haag, Saturday, Dec 10, 2011 a 1:06 am

While we know you're all iPad people, no matter what kind of tablet you use, holding it for an extended period of time while playing games, reading, watching movies, or web browsing will make your arms tired. And typing out long emails can prove difficult if you're using one hand to hold your pad while trying to type with the other. Laying the tablet down flat on your lap or table isn't much better.

Forums: Element Case giveaway, iTunes Match, Contacts problem, official TiPb wallpaper

By Chris Parsons, Friday, Dec 9, 2011 a 9:29 pm

We've been rocking and rolling all week here at TiPb and no better way to say hello to the weekend then by kicking off the second week of our Win the iOS device of your dreams contest! The week 2 thread can be found in the TiPb forums make sure you get your entries in, it's the only way you can win! You can register now for the forums and while you're in there entering, be sure to check out some of the other threads as well: