Apple gets back on Consumer Reports’ good side with the iPad 2. Apple In a decidedly different outcome from recent Consumer Reports findings regarding Apple products, the iPad 2 has topped the Consumer Reports charts for tablet computer devices, handily defeating all the new iPad competitors. Despite a wide array of highly touted and heavily …

GadgetsDNA In yet another example of amazing human spirit and goodwill after the tragic events in Japan a couple weeks ago, one of the country’s largest telecommunications and media corporations, SoftBank, will give orphans from the earthquake and tsunami free iPhones. According to GadgetsDNA, an iPhone and iPad-centric blog site, SoftBank will also cover all the communications fees until the …

Patently Apple A recent patent application, found by Patently Apple, shows Apple’s concept for using Spaces on future installments of iOS on the iPad. Anyone following the rumor mill and development patterns surrounding Apple’s iOS platform may not be entirely surprised by this patent, though its emergence may signal an arrival soon. According to the patent, “In some embodiments, the …

AppleInsider According to AppleInsider, Apple may be looking into building its own external battery pack for iOS devices and Macs, a popular third-party accessory for many Apple product owners. A patent filed by Apple and found by AppleInsider shows how Apple would build a rechargeable battery into its power adapters, allowing anything from MacBook Pros to iPods to get an …

Apple abolishes Liquid Contact Indicators in iPad 2. Apple According to French Apple site Hardmac, Apple’s infamous (to some) Liquid Contact Indicators–sensors responsible for allowing Apple technicians to determine if your device has had substantial contact with liquids–are not present in the newly released iPad 2. Many problems have come about because of Apple’s liquid sensors, even resulting in lawsuits, …

iChair Recent successful funding efforts from many independent designers, including Dan Provost and Tom Gerhardt’s iPhone 4 accessory The Glif, have inspired many new projects seeking to cash in on Apple’s vastly popular accessory market via crowd-source funding Web site Kickstarter. The Glif A simple search on Kickstarter for “iPhone” or “iPad” yields quite a few results. These projects are, …

Apple According to sources from music news site The Music Void, Apple is pushing hard for labels to get on board with Apple’s new MobileMe service for music storage and streaming called “Locker.” The service, the site reports, will cost $20/year and be ready for launch sometime in April. Informed sources say that Apple has sealed its deal with Warner …

To counter AT&T’s offer of a free month of data with the purchase of a new iPad 2 or original iPad, Verizon stores are offering the first-generation iPad at a heavy discount–the Wi-Fi-only option is priced at just $299. Checking online, AT&T’s offer is clearly available, but there is no mention of the deal on Verizon’s Web site. The news …

Apple Though rumors about the next iPhone, expected to be released this summer, have consistently contained mentions of near field communication technology, The New York Times has confirmed that Apple has indeed been working on the feature, though how soon it may debut is still up for speculation. The information comes to the paper from two people who say they …

Expect an update to iOS in the next two weeks. Apple Apple is reportedly set to release an update to its iOS mobile operating system within the next two weeks to address minor bug fixes and jailbreaking vulnerabilities. According to Boy Genius Report, Apple’s iOS 4.3.1 update should fix some minor bugs and increase stability for iPhones, iPads, and iPod …