Warren Buffett is one of the richest guys in the World and his fortune was made entirely on the Stock Market… He buys and sells common stocks that anyone could’ve thought about (Coca Cola, IBM, Wal-Mart, to name a few), but unless you are inside the financial sector you’ll probably miss most of his new picks and drops, so this App turns very useful to do just that: Track down Warren Buffett’s stock picks!

Warren Buffett Tracker gives you all the latest Buffett news from the best Financial sources and stock sites, interviews, latest TV appearances, lots of stuff about the man, and of course his current stock portfolio always updated so you can copycat him!

Here’s a great infographic about the “Oracle of Omaha”:

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What do you think?
Don’t forget to like us on Facebook to follow up the next super cool infographics we’ll be publishing

Since a few days ago theres already at least one Broker that allows you to trade Bitcoins the way you trade in stocks, in the form of CFDs, you can buy or sell short on margin, that means that you can win with the rise and fall of the digital currency !

Trading on margin enables you to leverage your trades, in this case you can start a trade with just 25% of the face value of BitCoin, but then the maintenance margin is just 10%, so theoretically you can be 10 times leveraged, not sure if thats recommended though… A simple 10% move on your way can get you 100% profit the same way that going 10% against you could mean you’re wiped-out, and by the way, take a look how volatile the BitCoin is these days:

The broker in question is Plus500, regulated by the FSA and specialised in micro trades since anyone can open an account with just 100 bucks, they even get you 25$ free with no deposit required:

So, if you’re in for the BitCoin trading frenzy the best move could be taking their 25$ No-Deposit Bonus before they change their mind and test the water risk-free… You can test their trading platform (PC, MAC, iOS and Android) and maybe if you’re lucky you can make a few bucks while trying

If you’re already a BitCoin expert, you can benefit of their 30% deposit Bonus, up to 7000$ depending on how much is your first deposit.

Also, check this interesting BitCoin 101 Infographic:

Tell us what you think, and if you find a good trading strategy let us know !

For better or worse, Apple has been peddling digital wares for ten years through its iTunes store. What started as a 99 cent, iPod-centric music seller has evolved into the billion dollar behemoth we know today.

Tomorrow will be just another day of downloads and syncing, but today you can reminisce about the top albums and songs from every year that iTunes has been around, and continue to be nonplussed by the fact that the iTunes store eventually got to sell Beatles music. [MacRumors, AppAdvice]

This Article was originally posted in Gizmodo

Bloomberg Businessweek is reporting that Amazon will soon be announcing its own streaming box to pair up with its Amazon Instant Video and video on demand.

This rumor comes on the heels of Amazon’s recent release of 14 original series pilots, which shows its commitment not only to video, but to original video. It only makes sense that the same people who brought you Amazon-centric content delivery devices like the Kindle and the Kindle Fire would want a piece of the set-top box pie as well. And given how everything else in the Kindle line eschews hardware profit in favor of piping sweet, sweet Amazon content directly to your face, you can bet this sucker will be cheap.

Among the many questions is whether or not this box would let services like Netflix and Hulu on board, and if the Kindle Fire is any indication, the answer is yes. There’s also no certainty that the box would bear the Kindle name, but a “Kindle TV” would fit just nicely into the “Here are all your Amazon goodies” ecosystem created by the original Kindle reader and advanced by the Fire. But when it comes to all the juicy specifics, we’ll just have to wait and see. [Bloomberg]

This Article was originally posted in Gizmodo

Fake Apple stores are nothing new. China has a slew of them, all polished and shiny, appearing almost as if they are the genuine article at a glance. Quartz dug up some details on Afghanistan’s (fake) Apple store, and though it’s a bit more frumpy than most, it still gets the job done.

Located in Afghanistan’s largest mall in Kabul, the country’s lone, fake Apple store has got the geniune goods, and they move fast. The store’s manager, Mohammed Nasery, told Quartz he manages to sell a couple of laptops ever day, and about a half a dozen iPhones, all at just slightly above their American prices. Considering he buys them from Dubai for about retail price, that little boost lets him carve out a small but existant profit.

Last year, in an interview with students from USC Annenberg, Nasery described his business this way:

The store has been doing well thanks to local demand, and is currently looking forward to some expansion down the line. If Apple ever decides it’s time to bring an official presence to Afghanistan, they’ll know who to ask. Or who to promptly put out of business. [Quartz]

This Article was originally posted in Gizmodo

A recent Wall Street Journal article posits an interesting question: Is Apple a hardware company or a software company? Does it sell iPhones or iClouds? The answer has deep meaning for the analysts who evaluate the company’s worth. It’s framed as an identity crisis, one with dangerous implications for the most dominant consumer electronics company in the world. There is much gnashing of teeth.

What Apple realized before anybody—and what Amazon, Google, and Microsoft have slowly but aggressively come around to—is that the act of buying a phone or a tablet or a computer isn’t an isolated incident. Gadgets don’t exist on islands. They’re one-way tickets to platform archipelagos, to fiercely guarded fiefdoms where everything works in harmony within walls that are high and strong. And the longer you’re inside, the harder it is to leave.

An iPhone isn’t just an iPhone. It’s access to nearly a million apps that only work on Apple products, to 1.5 million books that you can’t read on a Kindle. It’s a remote for your Apple TV, a place to pluck your iTunes music and movies out of thin air. You don’t buy an iPhone for the A6 processor or for iOS 6. You buy an iPhone for Apple, every bit as much as you buy a Chromebook Pixel for Google or an Xbox for Microsoft.

It’s true—and wonderful—that Android is giving Apple the best competition it’s had in the mobile space since forever. And that Microsoft is pursuing relevance with the dogged patience that Gerard pursued Dr. Richard Kimble. But breaking up with Apple isn’t as easy as divorcing Dell. We’re willing captives of our gadgets of choice these days, and the ransom for leaving—new chargers, new apps, even the time spent just getting set up—is often too damn high.
Why do these categorizations—hardware company, software company, neither, both—matter in the real world? They don’t much, day to day, not to you and me. But to Wall Street analysts, pressured to quantify every aspect of a company’s performance and impact, it matters a great deal. Hardware companies are vulnerable to consumer wanderlust and technological leapfrogging; just ask Sony how many Walkmen it’s sold lately. Software companies, though, are nimble, and they have more opportunities for repeat business.

This Article was originally posted in Gizmodo

China Business is reporting that Apple has returned up to a mind-boggling 8 million iPhones to Foxconn because of quality issues.

Of course, those returned phone will almost certainly torn down for parts. In the meantime, though, such a large return could impact Apple’s stock levels—something the company will have been keen to avoid at all costs. [China Business via Register via 9to5mac]

This Article was originally posted in Gizmodo

The much-rumored iCar may have never made it into existence, but VolksWagen’s Apple-themed car has finally been made official: the iBeetle offers up some pretty deeply ingrained Apple tech. But who’s actually going to buy one?

In terms of, you know, functions, then apps provided by VolksWagen allow for Spotify integration, as well as the use of a G-Meter, oil temperature gauges, fuel economy diagnostics, and a variety of social features from the comfort of the dash. Probably best to use most of them when parked up, though. Available for advance sales in October 2013, with the car finally being made available in 2014, it’s designed around the iPhone 5. A shame there will be a new iPhone by the time you can buy it, then. [VolksWagen via Verge]

This Article was originally posted in Gizmodo

You thought that time you asked Siri about the weird mole on your toe was just between the two of you? Wrong. According to Wired, Apple hangs onto your Siri data for two years.

Here’s how it works: when you talk to Siri, your conversation is sent to Apple for analysis. Random numbers are generated to represent you and the voice data associated with the virtual assistant. This code is different from both your Apple user ID and your UDID, but it’s filed with your Siri logs. Once a specific file is six months old, Wired says the number is “dissociated” from the clip, but the clip is still kept on hand for up to 18 months. And if you turn Siri off, all of the identifying factors are deleted. So even though it’s all anonymous, perhaps you’ll think twice about what you’re gabbing with Siri about next time. [Wired]

This Article was originally posted in Gizmodo

Apple has admitted that some of its third-generation Apple TVs have Wi-Fi issues—but owners with affected hardware are now able to exchange it for a fully functional replacement.

The affected units struggle to locate a Wi-Fi network, are sometimes unable to join a network, and experience dropped or intermittent connections, reports 9to5mac. As Apple explains:

Official retail stores, AppleCare employees, and authorized resellers have all been informed of the problem. If you have an Apple TV with Wi-Fi issues, check the serial numbers of devices with recognised issues below—if you’re affected, go visit Apple and you should probably be able to get a replacement. [9to5mac]

This Article was originally posted in Gizmodo

According to Bloomberg, Facebook is currently in talks with Apple to bring Facebook Home to the iPhone. Mind you, that doesn’t mean we should expect Facebook Home to actually come to the iPhone (as that seemingly wouldn’t jive with Apple’s MO) but it does show Facebook’s obvious desire to bring more Facebooking to more phones.

Facebook has also been talking with Microsoft about Facebook Home which makes it clear that Facebook—for the moment at least—would much rather create Facebook-centric experiences through software on other company’s phones instead of making a real Facebook phone. [Bloomberg]

This Article was originally posted in Gizmodo

While the news of four out of the five highest-paid execs in the US being from Apple isn’t entirely surprising, it’s hard not to marvel at their collective success. Which leads to the question, “Who are these gazillionaires? And what does it look like when you blend all of their faces together?” We’re so glad you asked. Please meet the Platonic ideal of an Apple exec or: what happens when you morph together the faces of 10 obscenely wealthy white men.

This Article was originally posted in Gizmodo

If you already feel a little hard done by when it comes to your pay check, brace yourself. Bloomberg reports that four of the five best-paid executives across the whole of the US are employed by Apple—and just wait until you hear how much they earn.

Tim Cook ranks way down the list, coming in at number 1,016 with a mere $4.17m package. But that’s a bit misleading: he’s rewarded in long-term restricted stock, which comes good over a decade, so it’s not included in the figures. The other player in the top five? Oracle CEO Larry Ellison, who claims $96.2m for himself. [Bloomberg via 9to5mac]

This Article was originally posted in Gizmodo

A very ingenious new kind of high-tech scam has been going down in China, where clever thieves are returning fake iPhone components to Apple and claiming they’re broken official parts, receiving genuine Apple-made pieces in return. And making a nice profit in the process.

The scam, reported by TechWeb, sees people involved in the mobile selling industry taking advantage of Apple’s faulty goods return system. The quoted case features a retailer who returned 121 fake iPhone 4S internal boards to Apple for replacement last year. Apple then issued genuine replacements, before discovering, a month later, that the returned parts were in fact fakes.

The police got involved, leading to store engineers and other staff members being accused of working on the fake scam and numerous arrests. Presumably they assumed Apple is so rich it’d just chuck all the broken bits in a bin and not bother checking. [Tech in Asia via The Register]

This Article was originally posted in Gizmodo

The Wall Street Journal is reporting that Microsoft is working with suppliers to develop a new touch-enabled watch device, which sees it jumping on the same rumored bandwagon as Apple and Samsung.

Citing executives from Microsoft’s suppliers, the Journal reports that Asian manufacturers have been shipping
components to Ballmer and co so that the company can start developing “a watch-style device”. Apparently those components include a 1.5-inch display, but other details are scant.

The sources go on to point out that it’s “unclear whether Microsoft will opt to move ahead with the watch”. But with the emergence of wearable tech gaining attention and—to some extent—traction, it’s certainly believable that Microsoft is lending the idea some serious thought.

It’s not the first time Microsoft has been associated with watches. You may dimly remember that it launched something called Smart Watch a decade ago which delivered—for a subscription fee—news headlines, sports scores and instant messages, beamed over FM radio, to the wearer’s wrist. It failed. Maybe this time round could be different. [WSJ]

This Article was originally posted in Gizmodo

It’s funny how fondly we look back at classic ads—print, commercials, anything—compared to how we react to ads today. That Apple 1984 commercial? Perfection. Those old VW Bug print ads? Soooo cute! Today? Ew banner ads. Ugh Flash. ZOMG what happened to my ad block!? There’s no room for art in advertising anymore because we’ve all been conditioned to ignore the pixels dedicated to advertisements. Or from another perspective, ads are so tainted because they’re all plastered with social media links that we can’t take them seriously anymore.

Dublin copywriter Eoin Conlon played with the idea of classic ads versus current ads by imagining how those famous ads of yesteryear would look like today, which means what it would look like on the Internet. That Apple 1984 ad we breathlessly talk about? We’d totally skip it on YouTube to watch Gangnam Style for the billionth time. Those VW Bug ads? Yeah VW would totally add social media tags and QR tumors linking to all their different pages. It’s a mess!

Maybe advertising companies need to bring it back to the old days where the ads just stood for themselves. It’s not an ad to get you to Like the Facebook page, it’s not an ad to force you to autotweet some inane hashtag to your followers, it’s just an ad that you’ll just remember (instead of blindly hate). You can see more of Conlon’s work here.

1955 vs 2013

This Article was originally posted in Gizmodo

Apple has agreed to pay out a weighty $53 million to settle a lawsuit which saw the company accused of not correctly honoring warranties of iPhone and iPod Touches, reports Wired.

So, if you were refused warranty service over water exposure for a the original iPhone, iPhone 3G, iPhone 3GS, or a first-, second or third-generation iPod Touch, you could be in for a payout. The sums are expected to be in the region of $200. [Wired]

Apple Warranty Settlement

This Article was originally posted in Gizmodo

Places you expect to see an iPad: in an Apple store, at a coffee shop, on an airplane, near your home restroom, on a nightstand, in someone’s hands, you get the point. Places you don’t expect to see an iPad: at an outdoor concert being used as a camera, in Bill Gates’ office, inside a jail cell and FREAKING WEDGED TO A CAR BUMPER.

The woman, who managed to turn on the iPad, found the owner of the iPad’s contact information and returned it to him. Apparently, he had left his iPad on top of his car and drove off, thus creating the flying iPad stuck on her car bumper. Amazing. [ABC 57]

This Article was originally posted in Gizmodo

Since the launch of the iPad mini, there’s been some speculation that the next full-size iPad might ape its looks. Today, French site Nowhere Else has published an image of what it claims to be the bezel of the next iPad—which does indeed look a little like the mini’s.

While it’s certainly worth taking a rather large pinch of salt along with the picture, it’s worth pointing out that Nowhere Else does have previous good form when it comes to Apple rumors—correctly spotting the Lightning connector and the iPhone’s nano-SIM cradle in the past.

As for the bezel, it certainly appears to be narrower down the sides than the current iPad, and feature a slightly chamfered edge. That might, maybe, possibly suggest that the next iPad will have a slightly smaller footprint. Or it might just be a hugely misleading rumor. Tough to know for sure—but we can’t wait to find out. [Nowhereelse.fr via 9to5mac]

This Article was originally posted in Gizmodo

With the OS X Mountain Lion 10.8.4 beta release currently in the hands of developers, some of the more eagle-eyed nerds have noticed references to code which appear to confirm rumors about Apple’s plans to roll out super-fast Wi-Fi to its Macs.

9to5mac reports that devs have stumbled upon code in the OS’s Wi-Fi frameworks folder which explicitly references the 802.11ac Wi-Fi standard. That reference is new, and didn’t appear in OS X 10.8.3—the latest public release of the operating system.

Previous rumors suggested that Apple was working with Broadcom to offer the speedy—1.3Gbps throughput with three antennas—802.11ac Wi-Fi in its computers. This software reference goes some way to confirming that it’s at least a very strong possibility.

The 802.11ac standard is both faster and more robust than current Wi-Fi according to Broadcom, offering extended range and the ability “to watch HD-quality video from more devices, in more places, simultaneously”. Apple won’t be the first to use the standard—Asus released a gaming laptop with it last year—but it would be the first company to introduce what’s sometimes referred to as 5G Wi-Fi on a broad scale.

As for timing, well, that’s a tough call. MacBooks are due for a spec bump in the coming months, but it’s unclear if the tech is ready to roll out commercially yet. Let’s wait and see. [9to5mac]

This Article was originally posted in Gizmodo

Apple, which hates Google, is supposedly working with Yahoo, who will take anybody’s love at this point, to figure out how “Yahoo’s services can play a prominent role on Apple’s iPhone and iPad”, according to the WSJ. This actually shouldn’t be too much of a surprise as data from Yahoo Finance and weather already pops up on the iPhone.

The WSJ says Yahoo has also “contemplated ways” to replace Google as the search engine for iOS but the idea “remains a long shot” because of Yahoo’s partnership with Bing (Bing powers Yahoo, after all). That would be a bad thing. A non-Google search engine would make for a worse experience. More content—especially if it’s the good Yahoo content—on the iPhone could be a good thing. Siri needs to get better. Can Yahoo make it better? [WSJ]

This Article was originally posted in Gizmodo

Gaming nostalgia appears to be more bitter-sweet than other forms. Interactivity seems to induce in us a much more complex set of emotions. The Star Wars comparison is valid, because it is one of the only movie franchises to have a fan-base dedicated enough to cross the boundary from “How do I feel?” to “What shall I do?” In other words, to perform the kind of obsessive tinkering that has always been associated with the gaming community.

Age of Empires II: Age of Kings was originally released in 1999, and it is one of the most influential titles in one of real-time strategy’s most celebrated franchises. It holds a special place within gaming history as a solid, meat-and-potatoes RTS generously drizzled with rich historical gravy.

The timing and reasons for an HD re-release say much about the current state of the industry. After the demise of series creator Ensemble Studios in 2009, competition from fan editions prompted Microsoft to seize the reins. December 2012 saw the release of Forgotten Empires, a fan mod for Age of Empires II that added new civilisations, units, and even campaigns. Forgotten Empires also used workarounds to produce a high resolution option, a favorite with today’s widescreen gamers.

Enter Hidden Path, the fledgling developer somewhat mysteriously entrusted with the redesign of the most commercially successful mod of all time, Counter-Strike. After the achievements of Counter Strike: Global Offensive, the studio established a reputation as a responsible landlord of valuable gaming properties, quietly fixing the shower and re-doing the kitchen as necessary.

Age of Empires II: HD’s main changes are updates to the graphics engine, allowing the game to be compatible with modern machines. The game has been overhauled to allow players to take advantage of HD displays and multiple monitors.

But one of the strongest elements of the re-release is the score, which has been lovingly remixed. The music now evokes a more sophisticated mood than it did previously, and it’s something that adds greatly to the feel of the game.

This edition of Age of Empires II includes The Conquerors expansion, so fans wanting to replay the campaigns will find hours of familiar scenarios. These haven’t aged particularly well; the scripting system compares poorly with other titles, particularly Blizzard’s Warcraft III and StarCraft II. There are many instances of breaking the fourth wall, where victory and activation conditions are very obviously scripted rather than fitting seamlessly into gameplay.

The new textures added to water, fire, and earth add a nice new look to the terrain. It’s subtle, but the overall impression is refined and almost painterly. The terrain itself has been one of the biggest changes, with a mesh system now used to give a more even natural landscape.

Also gone are the 256 colour UI elements, and the icons have been updated to a more rustic feel to go with the softer 32-bit colour scheme.

IT LOOKS VERY CYNICAL WHEN PUT IN PLAINEST TERMS: MAKE A BIT MORE MONEY FROM FANS, AND THEN GIVE THEM THE TOOLS NEEDED TO DESIGN FRESH CONTENT THEMSELVES.

The changes are welcome, but with higher resolutions the cracks in the engine really begin to show. Just as when playing other classics such as Empires contemporary Red Alert 2, the units seem very small on modern resolutions. The player feels more and more like a distant deity dispensing commands to puny humans, and with no zoom feature, we’re much further from the action.

Hidden Path has stated that many of the original 3D models used to animate the sprites in Age of Empires II have been lost to history, or rather to Ensemble’s collapse. But even if there was a way to remodel from scratch, it is doubtful that the will was there. Hidden Path’s mandate seems to extend no further than graphical changes, and integration of Steam’s multiplayer and social elements, as well as Steam Workshop.

It makes sense, but it looks very cynical when put in plainest terms: make a bit more money from fans, and then give them the tools needed to design fresh content themselves.

The only significant change made at all to gameplay is the raising of the maximum population cap to 500. This is a lost opportunity to fix the kinds of problems that even diehard fans consider simple annoyances. The ability to select more than 20 units would have been a worthy addition, and is simply a control flaw rather than a balance or creative issue. Running at 1920×1080 allows for a huge number of units on one screen, which still need to be divided into small divisions to command in battle.

The most positive change – and one that will justify the US$18 price tag for most players – is multiplayer. Although alternative matchmaking services have done much to keep interest in the online game alive over the years since the demise of Microsoft’s clunky Gaming Zone, Steam integration puts players back onto a universal ladder system. The platform’s social features and existing framework also mean players can come to the game with their own networks firmly in place.

So for better or worse, Steam has come along and is now selling a game it’s quite possible many gamers already own in some form or other. The changes are subtle, but well-intentioned and admirably executed. Multiplayer is excellent.It would be unfair to compare a re-release with current titles. Real-time strategy gaming has come a long way in 12 years. After Age of Empires II, the franchise moved in different directions, to greater or lesser success. There was the under-rated Age of Mythology, before series creator Ensemble Studios returned to the formula with Age of Empires III. More recently its efforts to create a more cartoony, kid-friendly massively-multiplayer iteration have fallen flat with many fans who feel the genre didn’t suit the franchise.

Those who loved Age of Empires II should happily indulge in some nostalgia with this HD facelift. Anyone new to the game will be frustrated by the lack of modern control systems and responsive hot keys.

(Reposted from Gameplanet)

If you’ve been lusting after a new skinny 27-inch iMac but also baulking at the price, here’s some good news: you can now save (a little!) by buying one from Apple’s refurb store.

You can pick up the base model 27-inch iMac—with 2.9GHz Core i5, 8GB of RAM and a 1TB HDD—for $1,530. That’s $270 cheaper than usual. Of if you need more grunt, you can get a 3.2Ghz model for $1,700, and 3.4GHz Core i7 versions from $1,870. They’re given a complete restoration and come with one year of warranty, so if you’re feeling the pinch, hit the store. [Apple via Mac Rumors via Engadget]

This Article was originally posted in Gizmodo

CNET is reporting that Apple is very close to signing deals with both Warner Music and Universal Music Group for its upcoming music streaming service. Apple still would have to sign a deal with Sony but snagging two major music labels makes Apple’s streaming service that much more ready for launch. Supposedly, Apple wants to launch its “iRadio” service during summer of this year.

Apple’s streaming music service is more like Pandora than Spotify. According to CNET:

People have been waiting for Apple to release some sort of music streaming service for years, it looks like this year could finally be the year we really see it. [CNET]

This Article was originally posted in Gizmodo

Back in 2011, when Steve Jobs announced his plans to build a spaceship-like Cupertino HQ for Apple, we all knew it was going to be one ridiculously lavish office. But according to Bloomberg Businessweek, it’s due for a bit of a downgrade before construction starts this June. It’ll still be crazy, just not totally absurd.

Fortunately there’s also a lot of characteristically Jobsian perfectionism that can but trimmed without being missed by most. From Businessweek:

For the most part, it seems like the plan will continue on largely as planned, and even after the cost-cutting measures, it’ll still be worlds better than any office you’re likely to have the pleasure of setting foot in. And though it might not be exactly like Jobs would have wanted it, it’s going to be close enough to blow minds anyway. [Bloomberg Businessweek]

This Article was originally posted in Gizmodo

We’ve all generally come to accept the fact that, in using iMessage, our correspondence runs the very real risk of being eternally damned to the iCloud ether. But at least now, we know we’re not suffering alone; a document obtained by CNET has revealed that the DEA has also been whining about their inability to access iMessages—but their problem is encryption.

The intelligence note, titled “Apple’s iMessages: A Challenge For DEA Intercept,” warns that it’s “impossible to intercept iMessages between two Apple devices,” even with a warrant, because of its secure end-to-end encryption. The DEA is only thwarted, however, when the messages are encrypted by Apple, so normal SMS text messaging is still fair game.

Apple asserts that the service was in no way designed to be government-proof. But Christopher Soghoian, a senior policy analyst at the American Civil Liberties Union, admits that “the government would need to perform an active man-in-the-middle attack.” So the next time you start bemoaning the plague that is Apple’s slow, glitchy, and wildly popular messaging service, you can at least be thankful that it’s an equal opportunity tormenter, whatever the nature of that torment may be. [CNET]

This Article was originally posted in Gizmodo

Not sure if an app is appropriate for your kid to use? Now you’ll know for certain because Apple has added age ratings to descriptions to the App Store.

Under the title and developer name, you’ll see a number with a plus sign. Obviously this is very self-explanatory, but now it’s perfectly clear whether or not an app is suitable for your nine-year-old, or if you should wait a few years until he or she plays that game or uses that productivity app. Not that any child should be fooling with productivity apps. [AppleInsider]

This Article was originally posted in Gizmodo

It’s been a scant six months since the announcement of the iPad Mini and the fairly superfluous iPad 4, but it looks like the new generations might be on the horizon. Walmart, Best Buy, and MacMall have all slashed their prices on the devices, as good a sign as any that new ones are on the way.

The trio of retailers cut prices by roughly 30 percent on Wednesday, and these “clearance” sales are a pretty good rule of thumb indicator that something new is on the way soon. If you’re in the market for either device, now is a good time to snag a full-size iPad considering the step up to generation five is bound to be as incremental as the step to four was. If you want an iPad Mini though, it’s best to wait; it’ll be surprising if this next one doesn’t have a retina display, and that’s an upgrade worth waiting for.

Apple’s been getting more unpredictable lately, and with the iPhone announcements bouncing around, anything is possible for the iPad too. But the price cut is a tried and true new-hotness predictor and for now our Apple sense is tingling. Get ready for something to hit soon. [Fortune Tech]

This Article was originally posted in Gizmodo

In a bid to compete more directly with Apple, Samsung has announced that in the coming months it will open 1,400 Samsung Experience shops within Best Buy stores around the US.

Following an agreement made by Sammy and Best Buy in December, the venture will see 900 stores open across the country by May, with many of the stores opening for business as soon as this month. It’s hoped that the entire project will be rolled out by the end of June, reports All Things D.

In essence, then, they’ll be like Apple Store-lites, offering a similar, but scaled-down, version of the services that Jobs and co currently offer. But for a first dabble in the world of physical retails, perhaps that’s no bad thing. [All Things D]

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Unofficial Apple spokesman John Gruber has written a short post on Daring Fireball suggesting that iOS 7 is running well behind schedule—and that as a result Apple is hauling man power from its OS X development team.

iOS 7 would typically be ready for the Worldwide Developer Conference, which is now just months away. Gruber explains:

With plenty of rumors suggesting that Jony Ive is keen to make iOS fresher and flatter, it’s certainly beleivable that the development of iOS 7 could be taking longer than expected. [Daring Fireball]

This Article was originally posted in Gizmodo