Just a minor makeover to our logo, folks. Thanks to Devon from Epik Creative for helping us out. If you’re looking for the complete solution for web design, print design, and branding–check it out here.

Also, special thanks to RoryPiper for designing our original logo.

So I go on vacation for a couple of weeks, and I come back to what seems like the world gone awry. Amazon AWS going down, Sony’s PSN network outage and subsequent data leak (I replaced my credit card, have you?), and last but not least, another Apple scandal.

Naturally, Apple’s not new to scandal nor are they unfamiliar with bad press (remember Antenna-Gate). What bugs me most about it ... Read More]]>

So I go on vacation for a couple of weeks, and I come back to what seems like the world gone awry. Amazon AWS going down, Sony’s PSN network outage and subsequent data leak (I replaced my credit card, have you?), and last but not least, another Apple scandal.

Naturally, Apple’s not new to scandal nor are they unfamiliar with bad press (remember Antenna-Gate). What bugs me most about it all is that there is always this love-hate relationship between Apple and the press. On the one hand, the media continually praise Apple for its innovative products and services. On the other hand, they are quick to pounce on Apple whenever there’s a flaw in their systems. Not simply that though, it almost appears that the media would actively target Apple for certain disgraces, but are willing to give other companies a pass for almost the same thing.

Now, I’m not here to defend Apple, but let’s take, for example, the location-tracking issue inherent in iOS devices. Regardless of the reasons, Apple did build-in geo-tracking in as a part of iOS’s core functionalities. And yes, Apple did issue a non-apologetic apology attempting to explain the facts. Now, Apple may not have done everything right in this instance, but let’s not delude ourselves of the fact that geo-tracking is exclusive to iOS devices. Up to a certain extent, all smartphones track your location, but where’s the press investigating Android or WebOS? Who’s looking into similar geo-tracking issues in Blackberry OS and Windows Phone 7? Even the reports of the class action lawsuit against Google for geo-tracking is scant compared to the same action against Apple. Where’s the fair-handed journalism in this case?

The same parallels can be drawn in the Antenna-Gate scandal too.

Granted, much of today’s journalism uses a story-telling technique to drive home a point, and what makes a better story than villainy. Still, when much of a company’s profitability and market capitalization revolves around having good PR and news coverage, one must wonder if there isn’t an agenda (hidden or otherwise) to shame Apple for simply having a different way of doing business.

As the dust settles from the Blackberry Playbook launch, the damage reports have started to come in.

In an analysis done by RBC Capital Markets, the Playbook sold 45,000+ units on launch day. This sales figure is less than one-sixth of Apple’s 500,000 iPads sold on launch day last year.

While there was no beating the iPad, the tablet did sell better than some Android-based tablets such as Samsung’s Galaxy ... Read More]]>

As the dust settles from the Blackberry Playbook launch, the damage reports have started to come in.

In an analysis done by RBC Capital Markets, the Playbook sold 45,000+ units on launch day. This sales figure is less than one-sixth of Apple’s 500,000 iPads sold on launch day last year.

While there was no beating the iPad, the tablet did sell better than some Android-based tablets such as Samsung’s Galaxy Tab and Motorola’s Xoom.

The analysis further indicates that based on poor initial reviews of the Playbook, a device that lacks email, calendar, and contacts out of the box, the 45,000+ units sold is a solid number, with some retailers reportedly sold out by the end of the day.

According to Analyst Peter Misek of Jeffries & Co, the distribution of unit sales was approximately 25,000 units through pre-orders and 20,000 units through retail outlets.

In the end, the iPad is still tablet king.

[Economic Times]

For the past few weeks, I’ve been thinking a bit about developing something for the iPad, and realized how little I knew about it – where to start, what I can or can’t do, what tools are out there to help. So I did a bit of digging, and here are a handful of thoughts about iOS development [from a purely amateur perspective].

Where Do I Even Start?

Unfortunately, according to ... Read More]]>

For the past few weeks, I’ve been thinking a bit about developing something for the iPad, and realized how little I knew about it – where to start, what I can or can’t do, what tools are out there to help. So I did a bit of digging, and here are a handful of thoughts about iOS development [from a purely amateur perspective].

Where Do I Even Start?

Unfortunately, according to Apple, iOS development can only take place on an Intel-based Mac. So if you’re stuck on a Windows or Linux device, you may be out of luck. But there may be a way out… ManiacDev has a quick guide for the non-Mac faithful.

When I discussed in my article last week regarding Apple providing support for developers, I meant it. iOS development all starts from the Apple Developers portal at developer.apple.com. Here, you’ll find the latest information about not simply iOS development, but also Mac and Safari development too. Not only does the Developer Portal discuss the basics, they also update the site with video walkthroughs covering advanced topics, as well as sessions from the WWDC.

Access to the Developer Portal is free, but you’ll need to invest a bit more in order to become a full-fledged developer.

Ok…So What Else Do I Need?

Access to the portal is a good first step to get a sense of what can and can’t be done. But to actually start development, you’ll need XCode [XCode 4] to be precise. XCode is the primary tool that Apple provides for iOS development, and you can grab it from the Mac App Store. You’ll be able to code, design and test your apps on the simulator provided.

Ready for the big show though? You’ll need an Apple Developer Account. For $99 a year, you’ll get access to all iOS betas and a free copy of XCode too. You’ll be able to register your devices for development and upload your apps for testing on the device itself.

Ok…So What’s Next?

While the Developer Portal provides a lot of good information, the problem is that oftentimes, there’s too much information. Sorting through it all is a major task, and there’s plenty of help online to start. Still, Apple’s provided a number of iBooks that may help. Load it up on your iPad and search for iOS and Cocoa development on the store, and look for the free books.

So Why Should I Care?

At the end of the day, I’m not entirely sure I’ll develop anything substantial for the device. However, going through this exercise has really gotten me to appreciate the time and effort it takes to develop on iOS. Furthermore, it’s also gotten me to understand the constraints of the hardware and the OS, answering a lot of the ‘Why doesn’t this app exist?’ or ‘Why can’t my app do this?’ questions I often have. At the very least, it gets me back thinking about coding; something I haven’t been involved with in a few years.

Are you a professional iOS developer? What other resources would you want to share to other amateur developers out there who would like to get into the space? Any tips, tricks and hacks? As always, let us know in the comments below.

I just found my new Apple gadget and it’s called the iBox. Coming straight from Apple HQ in Cupertino, California, the company has released a revolutionary new product.

The iBox has no touchscreen and no software. It also has no battery, meaning it never needs charging! As Apple’s press release states, “iBox is pure imagination — the first Apple product that can be whatever you want it to be.”

Amazing.

The new iBox ... Read More]]>

I just found my new Apple gadget and it’s called the iBox. Coming straight from Apple HQ in Cupertino, California, the company has released a revolutionary new product.

The iBox has no touchscreen and no software. It also has no battery, meaning it never needs charging! As Apple’s press release states, “iBox is pure imagination — the first Apple product that can be whatever you want it to be.”

Amazing.

The new iBox is also extremely small and lightweight, measuring at 10 x 14 x 2 with a new unibox design machined from a single piece of cardboard. Since most users will use the iBox for storing things, the 280 cubic inches of iBox can hold over 26 million item combinations.

“This is light years ahead of other containment devices,” raves Morgan Stanley analyst Harrison Gerber, “No tabs, no slots, nothing tricky. To open it, you just lift the lid. Pure Apple genius.”

When using iBox, the new product can be purchased in glossy or matte finishes. The iBox can also be viewed from any angle and includes a new invisible polymer coating to resist finger sweat.

There are also two iBox accessories available: The Smart Cover and iBox Box.

The Smart Cover is a cover built to protect the top of the iBox. The cover further enables users to fold the cover and give the iBox a better viewing angle.

The iBox Box is plastic case that allows users to carry their new iBox around without any scratches or damage.

“Once again, Apple owns a new category,” says Gene Munster of Piper Jaffray. “It’ll take competitors a year to get in the game, and by then Apple will have a second-generation iBox.”

iBox is available for $69 and is available immediately online and at Apple Retail stores.

[Scoopertino]

Note to readers – before you begin reading this blog I would just like to inform you that it is a much longer and more technical blog than what you normally read on iPadinCanada.

Many business users want to know if the iPad is secure enough to implement in a business environment. This topic has created a lot of chatter within the security community. It has now become a heated ... Read More]]>

Note to readers – before you begin reading this blog I would just like to inform you that it is a much longer and more technical blog than what you normally read on iPadinCanada.

Many business users want to know if the iPad is secure enough to implement in a business environment. This topic has created a lot of chatter within the security community. It has now become a heated discussion due to the impending launch of the new BlackBerry Playbook, which is targeting enterprise business users. 

What prompted me to actually sit down and write this blog is an article that came across my desk from the Communications Security Establishment Canada (CSEC). CSEC is a Federal Government Department that provides IT Security Services for Canadian Federal Government Departments. CSEC just released an “unclassified” three page document titled “An Initial Security Analysis of the Apple iPad”.

The information in this article has navigated many officials in Federal Government Departments away from using the iPad. I think that the CSEC article is touting the iPad as some horribly insecure product and as a result I would like to voice my opinions on the article.

In an attempt to limit the length of this blog, I have highlighted the conclusions from the CSEC article as follows:

In general, CSEC does not recommend use of the Apple iPad for the transmission of sensitive government information or for connection to government networks, due to the vulnerabilities of Bluetooth, IEEE 802.11 (WiFi) and the cellular network:

• Bluetooth is known to be vulnerable to eavesdropping, which could result in the exploitation of data being transmitted over this medium.
• IEEE 802.11 (WiFi), if not properly configured, can be vulnerable to eavesdropping, password guessing and man-in-the-middle attacks, and therefore data being transmitted with this technology could be vulnerable to exploitation.
• The cellular network transmits data over the air in unencrypted form, and therefore information transferred over this medium is vulnerable to intercept.

 The vulnerabilities of Bluetooth, IEEE 802.11 (WiFi) and the cellular network are well understood.  For further information, refer to existing CSEC documentation listed at the end of this document.

 The Apple iPad (all models) currently uses iOS 3.x as its operating system.  From initial analysis of the iPad device through Apple published documentation, CSEC does not recommend the processing of sensitive government information on the iPad, due to the following:

• IT policy settings for iOS devices lack ability to control all aspects of the device, and also lack sufficient granularity for the aspects that can be controlled.
• IT policy settings can only be “pushed” to the device if using MS Exchange.

IT Policy can be set on the iPad in two ways:  automatic, or manual.  If the device is configured to use a MS Exchange account, IT Policy can be pushed (over-the-air) to the device without user interaction.  This automatic over-the-air policy distribution is only available if MS Exchange is being used.  Otherwise the administrator can manually distribute the IT Policy to the user, but then it will be up to the user to ensure the policy is installed.

3rd party applications available in the iTunes App Store, despite being digitally signed by Apple, have not been vetted to ensure security and hence could contain malicious code that could compromise the entire device.

• The “jailbreaking” of an iPad serves to further compromise security as devices that have been modified in this way would be capable of running unsigned code.
• The iPad has built-in encryption for all data stored on the device, but the cryptographic engine has not been laboratory validated to the accepted standards (FIPS 140-2) and therefore cannot be depended upon to protect sensitive GC data stored on the device, in the event of loss or theft of the device.
• The iOS operating system has been widely known to be vulnerable to conventional network exploitation, and traditionally Apple has been slow to provide security patches for known exploitable vulnerabilities.

While the Apple iPad provides an attractive platform for use within the GC, the processing of PROTECTED information on the device and the connection of the iPad to GC networks are not recommended.

So in a nutshell, what this article implies is that the iPad is not secure. Well here is my opinion:

Many remote users today use their home computers or are given corporate laptops to do their work.  The majority of these laptops and computers have built in wireless capability. Many businesses and government departments have, or will be, implementing wireless networks in the near future. As a result, the wireless connectivity is usually enabled and often in use on these devices. In addition, most home networks today are using wireless connectivity. So how is wireless in the iPad any different?

Citrix is a common application widely used to connect securely to internal networks by the Government of Canada (GC) and is currently deployed in many Federal Government Departments. The iPad supports several Virtual Private Network (VPN) protocols i.e. Cisco IPSec, L2TP/IPSec and PPTP. Citrix has an iPad application that provides secure VPN connectivity to networks.

It is known that Bluetooth can be secured and as for cellular data networks I can’t believe that everything spoken today using hand held devices is 100% unclassified. Currently, the new BlackBerry Playbook device will have to connect to a cellular device in order to communicate to the Internet or to internal networks. Now doesn’t that open up a whole new set of questions regarding the use of the Playbook?

CSEC endorses the use of the BlackBerry device for connectivity to GC networks. Does CSEC validate all BlackBerry applications before departments use them on the device?  No they don’t.

The CSEC document states that policies can only be pushed to the device if using MS Exchange. Well, what about the BlackBerry? All their policies are controlled by a BlackBerry server known as the BlackBerry Enterprise Server (BES). So what’s the difference? A BES or MS Exchange server? In this sense, there really is no difference. Both are using “pushed” policies.

Did CSEC even review the Apple document “iPad in Business Security Overview “? 

The iPad supports SSL v3 as well as Transport Layer Security (TLS) v1, the next-generation security standard for the Internet. Safari, Calendar, Mail, and other Internet applications automatically start these mechanisms to enable an encrypted communication channel between iPad and corporate services.

Application developers have access to encryption APIs that they can use to further protect their application data. Data can be encrypted using proven methods such as AES, RC4, or 3DES. In addition, iPad provides hardware acceleration for AES and SHA1 encryption, maximizing application performance. The iPad supports RSA SecurID, X.509 Certificates and more authentication methods.

As for “jailbreaking” well you can control what a user can install on the iPad. So how can you jailbreak an iPad if you can’t install the application that performs this function?

Applications on the iPad are “sandboxed” so they cannot access data stored by other applications. In addition, system files, resources, and the kernel are shielded from the user’s application space. This “sandboxing” could be compared equally to virtualization which is something that is also being widely used within the GC.

I’m disappointed with the CSEC article and how they released a document with facts based exclusively upon the review of  “publicly-available Apple product documentation” only. They have not performed an in-depth analysis of the iPad and to me it appears that they really don’t know very much about the product and its capabilities.

I would really like to know what your views are about the iPad in an Enterprise environment.

I’m a new writer here on the site and thought introductions were in order.

My name’s Dan. Nice to meet you.

I spend my days as an Art Director at a fancy-pants ad agency and my nights talking about geeky things like typefaces and Doctor Who. I’m a technology junkie and spend most of my free time listening to podcasts and scouring RSS feeds.

My iPhone and iPad are pretty much permanently ... Read More]]>

I’m a new writer here on the site and thought introductions were in order.

My name’s Dan. Nice to meet you.

I spend my days as an Art Director at a fancy-pants ad agency and my nights talking about geeky things like typefaces and Doctor Who. I’m a technology junkie and spend most of my free time listening to podcasts and scouring RSS feeds.

My iPhone and iPad are pretty much permanently at my side. I relish smartly designed interfaces, polished user flows and new ways of interacting with technology. Thankfully, the iPad offers these things in spades.

Over the coming months I intend on sharing reviews of apps, hardware and other unique experiences that I find particularly exciting on the iPad. I hope you like it. And or course, feel free to follow me (@dangaede) on Twitter if you like.

And so everyone can leave with a smile on their face, here’s a picture of my cat on an iMac.

Cat on an iMac

We’re hoping that if you’re reading our blog it’s because you love the iPad–along with the plethora of iPad apps in the App Store. We love the iPad as much as you do and we’re currently looking to find people to join us for writing on the blog. We need help is writing about the latest iPad apps, tips and tricks, iPad accessories and all things iPad.

Our current team ... Read More]]>

We’re hoping that if you’re reading our blog it’s because you love the iPad–along with the plethora of iPad apps in the App Store. We love the iPad as much as you do and we’re currently looking to find people to join us for writing on the blog. We need help is writing about the latest iPad apps, tips and tricks, iPad accessories and all things iPad.

Our current team of writers are knowledgeable and are great to work with. If you want to join us, here’s what we’re looking for in new writers:

- Knowledgeable and passionate about the iPad and iPad apps.
– Would like to share their knowledge through reviews and posts about iPad tips and tricks. Do you think you have what it takes?
- Are able to contribute regularly, such as at least 1 or 2 articles per week.
- Your writing doesn’t have to be award winning, but you should be able to write well. We don’t have enough editors to correct basic grammar and spelling so your writing should be polished.

The above is a summary of what we’re looking for in new contributors. Writers here are not paid. Your reward, we hope, is that you’ll get to write about subjects you’re knowledgeable about and ‘strut your stuff’ to the entire iPad community. You’ll also get access to lots of iPad apps and have fun working with our team of writers.

If you think you have what it takes, please contact us via the Contact Form. Tell us about yourself, why you think you’re suited for this, and what level of iPad knowledge you have. Looking forward to hearing from you!

Hello World!

My name is Acwin and I’m a new writer for iPadinCanada. Just to get started, you may be wondering how I got my name. Well, here’s the answer. I have absolutely no clue! So if you ever feel inclined to ask why that is, I may tell you an extravagant tale including sharks, monkeys, and Steve Jobs.

Back to the main topic though, I’ll be keeping myself updated, so ... Read More]]>

Hello World!

My name is Acwin and I’m a new writer for iPadinCanada. Just to get started, you may be wondering how I got my name. Well, here’s the answer. I have absolutely no clue! So if you ever feel inclined to ask why that is, I may tell you an extravagant tale including sharks, monkeys, and Steve Jobs.

Back to the main topic though, I’ll be keeping myself updated, so remember to check back for my posts! I currently own an iPad and some other Apple gadgets and gizmos, and would love to share my opinion on its great (and sometimes not so great) features and add-ons! So feel free to drop a line and let me know what you think or maybe just for a quick hello! I’m always glad to say hi!

If you got any suggestions or would just like to say hello, tweet me @acwinwong!

How are you enjoying your iPad? There are numerous apps to discuss that are “must haves” (such as Flipboard). Which ones are the best? How do you use your iPad? Have a troubleshooting question? Well now you can talk all you want as we’ve incorporated a dedicated section for iPadinCanada.ca within our forums at iPhoneinCanada.ca.

Start Talking About the iPad Today!

It’s easy to get started with ... Read More]]>

How are you enjoying your iPad? There are numerous apps to discuss that are “must haves” (such as Flipboard). Which ones are the best? How do you use your iPad? Have a troubleshooting question? Well now you can talk all you want as we’ve incorporated a dedicated section for iPadinCanada.ca within our forums at iPhoneinCanada.ca.

Start Talking About the iPad Today!

It’s easy to get started with the iPadinCanada.ca forums. Click here to register–it’s completely free.

Then, reply to this thread to introduce yourself and talk about how you’re using your iPad. Be sure to bookmark the following URL as it’ll automatically redirect to our new forums: http://www.ipadincanada.ca/forums

See you on the forums!

PS – We’re going to be holding an iPad invisibleSHIELD giveaway in the forums. Stay tuned!