“Amazon today dropped the price of the Kindle to $189 from its previous $259,” Electronista reports.

“The drop is virtually the first since the switchover to the international Kindle and is an obvious reaction to the cheaper Nook 3G, which now costs $10 more. Barnes & Noble’s Nook Wi-Fi is still the least expensive with some form of Internet access, at $149,” Electronista reports.

Electronista reports, “Pricing for the 9.7-inch Kindle DX remains the same $489 as it did when the hardware launched more than a year ago.”

Full article here.

“iOS 4, previously known as iPhone OS 4, is a major update to Apple’s mobile OS which brings a handful of significant changes—namely Apple’s implementation of ‘multitasking’ plus the opening up of thousands of APIs to third-party developers—while the rest of the improvements are basically tweaks to existing functionality,” Jacqui Cheng reports for Ars Technica.

“For iPhone 4, iPhone 3GS, and iPhone 3G users (as well as second- and third-generation iPod touchusers), iOS 4 will add useful functionality that will make your device more useable than ever,” Cheng reports. “For the purposes of this review, though, we used iOS 4 on an iPhone 3GS—the most current iPhone available ahead of the iPhone 4 launch.”

“The most exciting part about iOS 4 is really what third-party developers will do with the 1,500 new APIs. After all, the iPhone experience has become one that is almost defined by its apps, and Apple has opened up a new world of possibilities with its latest API offerings. As we go into the second half of 2010, we’re sure to see plenty of new apps that do creative things with Game Center, multitasking capabilities, the camera, and more,” Cheng reports. “So, unless you have a specific reason to hold back—jailbreakers, we’re looking at you—or you’re a poor, abandoned original iPhone owner, we can’t see why you wouldn’t want to upgrade your iPhone or iPod touch.”

Read the full, comprehensive (as usual) review here.

Source: MacDailyNews

PC Magazine makes the new Mac mini an Editors’ Choice (4.5/5 stars), writing that it now “defines its category.” Citing the new aluminum unibody construction, HDMI port, SD card slot, and improved energy efficiency — and noting that Mac mini “blew away” the competition in 3D performance testing — the reviewer calls it “the compact PC you’ve been searching for.”

Download the new Apple Store app free and you can do all things Apple from your iPhone or iPod touch. Buy Apple products and accessories, read customer reviews, find an Apple Retail Store, stay up to date with in-store events, and make Personal Shopping, Genius Bar, or One to One appointments.

The completely redesigned Mac mini features up to twice the graphics performance, a new HDMI port, a new SD card slot, and industry-leading energy efficiency — all in an amazingly compact aluminum enclosure. Starting at $699, Mac mini is the most affordable way to enjoy Mac OS X, iLife, or Mac OS X Snow Leopard Server.

Engadget reports that ESPN on-air analysts are using iPad as a telestrator to control graphics, overlays, doodle input, and shading on live telecasts. Writes Engadget: “…a broadcasting company that is oft hailed for having some of the best graphics and on-screen technology in the universe is using the same tablet that you gave your mom for Mother’s Day to do it.”

“In general, Apple iPad apps cost almost four times as much as iPhone apps. But when it comes to the most expensive apps, the iPhone is still beating its larger cousin,” Dan Frommer writes for The Business Insider. “While you can spend $1,000 in one pop on an iPhone app, the two most expensive iPad-only apps cost ‘only’ $100.”

“And, we don’t mean to be rude, but at least one of those $100 apps doesn’t seem to be worth the money,” Frommer writes. “That app is called ‘Fine Luxury Wallpapers,’ and is basically a bunch of nice looking photographs that you can use as the background image for your iPad. That might be worth a few dollars, but $100? Probably not.”

Frommer reports, “The other $100 iPad app is called Crestron Mobile Pro G, and is a home automation utility, which plugs into your high-tech home so you can control things like security, entertainment systems, etc. This is part of a hardware system that will cost a lot more than $100, so the extra money for the iPad app may not seem too excessive.”
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