iPad menus: Restaurants look to cash in

(CBS News) 

There's a new addition to your dinner table at some restaurants across the country: iPads. Some eateries are trying out the high-tech devices as menus, while others are making forays into iPad ordering.

But is the tech route the best way to serve customers?

On "The Early Show," Julie Watts, of CBS San Francisco station KPIX-TV, reported that some restaurants are weighing the pros and cons of the tablet technology in the dining sphere.

Pictures: The evolution of Apple products

The Lark Creek Steak Restaurant in San Francisco is in the preliminary testing stages of interactive iPad menus. And so far, the reactions have been favorable. In addition to high-resolution photos, there are detailed descriptions of each dish along with prices, wine parings, and even the temperature of your meat.

Rajit Marwah, who developed the iPad menu now being tested there, says he's working on the future of dining.

But he's just one of many looking to capitalize on the emergence of tablet technology.

From other steak houses in Atlanta and Chicago to burger joints in Los Angeles, touchscreen menus are popping up from coast to coast. And while the tablets do vary in design and function, there seems to be one common denominator. So far, Marwah says, sales nationwide have increased by as much as 10 percent.

He says, "The reason is because when consumers have more information, they feel more comfortable."

At Barbacco, in San Francisco's Financial District, they've had iPad wine lists for more than a year.

Barbacco manager Umberto Gibin told CBS News people buy more wine by the glass with the iPad menus. He says sales are up between five and seven percent.

Although Lark Creek Steak Restaurant saw an initial jump in sales, they're not completely sold on the device, which is projected to cost about $2 per day, per menu.

Charles Low, general manager of Lark Creek said, "It's gonna take a lot of extra steaks to be sold to pay for a technology that is as advanced as this."

And at the San Francisco establishment Low runs, customers still order through a waiter.

Rob Black, of The Golden Gate Restaurant Association, says waiters may be irreplaceable.

Black said, "There will always be a role for the human component. When done well, they complement each other. I think it goes back to, what experience does that customer want?"

Watts added that the customers she met still want a waiter -- with the technology on the side.

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iPad, iPhone tracking app haults thieves

Sometimes when expensive technology disappears, a real-time tracking device can significantly improve the situation.

Apple’s iPads—increasingly prevalent on campus and in tester classes—can be easily equipped with an application called “Find My iPad,” which enables users to track their iPad on a map, password protect their device from afar, display a message on the screen and increase its privacy protection with the ability to wipe the iPad’s memory.

“It’s great technology to have that tracking option on,” Duke Police Chief John Dailey said.

Dailey said there were three instances during the past year where an iPad or iPhone was stolen, but Duke Police was able to recover it because of tracking software. The most recent occurrence of this was August 26.

“An individual did steal an iPad from an office [in the Bryan Center],” he said. “The tracking was on on the iPad, and we were able to find the person who stole it on the Main [West] Quad[rangle].”

In one case, Dailey said, the iPad was in a suspect’s car on campus. Another stolen iPhone was tracked to an off-campus address, where Duke Police obtained a search warrant and found the phone.

This tracking software has become all the more relevant with the recent move by Duke to incorporate iPads into teaching and learning. The Duke Digital Initiative and the Center for Instructional Technology collectively purchased 100 iPads last Fall for loan to students and faculty, according to the Duke Digital Initiative 2011 report. The report noted more than 4,000 loans were made in the 2010-2011 academic year, with iPads in a large demand.

CIT also purchased 20 iPad 2 devices for use in undergraduate classes, according to the report.

Professors have incorporated iPads into classes as diverse as the Pratt School of Engineering’s “Machine Shop”, Music 49S: “Bach, Beethoven & Brahms” and Religion 20S: “Muhammed and Prophecy.”

Steve O’Donnell, senior communications strategist for the Office of Information Technology, said there has not been an issue with DDI iPads being stolen.

Duke administrators also have signalled their enthusiasm for iPads.

Mike Schoenfeld, vice president for public affairs and government relations called himself as an “iPad evangelist,” adding that Provost Peter Lange and President Richard Brodhead are also extensive iPad users.

Schoenfeld said his iPad is more portable and easier to use than a laptop—and more fun.

“I can do email, web, take handwritten notes, listen to music, edit documents and do PowerPoint presentations, as well as play some games,”he said. “I haven’t used a laptop since I got the iPad 2.”

Schoenfeld added that he set up the iPad tracking software when he first got the device, noting that it is useful to be able to track the device if lost or stolen.

A similar version of the iPad tracking software is also available on the iPhone—“Find My iPhone”—and is frequently used by Duke students.

Sophomore Helen Cai said she was able to use this software to track her iPhone’s journey down Anderson Drive after she left it on a C-2 bus.

And in something out of a Harry Potter movie, sophomore Andy Chu said he and his girlfriend have used Find My iPhone to find where the other is on campus.

“When she was in class, instead of texting and trying to get a surreptitious answer, I could just find her on my iPhone,” he said. “It’s actually been very useful.”

Freshman Bridgette Alanis, an iPad and an iPhone user, said she used the tracking feature on her iPhone shortly before she left for Duke.

“I dropped my iPhone in downtown [Los Angeles] and wanted to see where it was.... I used my mom’s iPhone to track my iPhone and watched it travel through downtown L.A.” Alanis said. “I’m definitely going to use the software at Duke.”

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Bin lorry iPad proposals criticised: Cost-cutting Bury council's £9k plan - Daily Mail

By Daily Mail Reporter

Last updated at 10:05 AM on 30th August 2011

A cash-strapped council is fitting its bin lorries with iPads so it can monitor households who aren’t recycling.

Bury council – which needs to save ?18million and cut as many as 400 jobs – is buying 22 of the state-of-the-art gadgets, 19 for its regular lorries and three for spare vehicles.

The Greater Manchester authority refused to say what the scheme will cost. But at a retail price of around ?399 for each iPad, the total bill is likely to be almost ?9,000.

Great idea, or rubbish? Waste bosses say kitting out binmen with iPads will improve services, while critics say the idea is a waste of money

The council is to issue the iPads and train binmen to use them as part of a plan to move to fortnightly collections from October.

The Labour-controlled authority said the tablet computers will enable it to contact those who aren’t recycling more easily.

It also claimed the devices will prevent binmen getting lost, as well as allowing them to report vehicle faults more quickly.

Glenn Stuart, head of waste management, said it would lead to ‘a much-improved and more efficient service’.

Moving with the times: Bury Council intends to by 22 iPads for their binmen, at an estimated £9.000

But the TaxPayers’ Alliance branded the iPads ‘expensive gimmicks’.

And David Nuttall, Tory MP for Bury North, said: ‘There are  far cheaper ways of recording names and addresses, such as the old-fashioned pen  and paper.’

Critics have claimed the iPads will do little to increase services, merely being used to collect data on residents.

Robert Oxley, of the Taxpayers' Alliance, said: 'It beggars belief that a council making huge savings can find this money to splash out on iPads.

'Residents want bin services that are reliable and efficient, not council staff monitoring what they're throwing out with expensive gimmicks.'

Bury council in Greater Manchester is ordering 22 iPads, one for each waste-collection truck.

The council, which is looking to make savings of ?18m over three years, refused to reveal the exact cost due to 'commercial sensitivities'.

But the Apple devices retail at ?399 each, meaning Bury might be forking out ?8,778.

Added to this will be cost of mounting the tablets in the trucks, and the training of binmen on how to use the devices.

Glenn Stuart, head of waste management, said: 'There are 19 front-line refuse vehicles out every day and three spare vehicles.

'The scheme is replacing paperwork, which can get lost in cabs or get wet. Waste collection is a dirty operation. Nothing will be lost. It is captured and retained for future benefit.

'The iPads will be pre-loaded with all-round information, and streets and houses can be seen on the screen.'

He said all routes would be uploaded, with properties needing an 'assisted collection' highlighted on screen.

Drivers will log households who do not leave bins out, do not recycle, or with damaged or overweight bins.

Binmen will also to report vehicle defects to maintenance garages while on the road - speeding up repairs.

The scheme is due to be presented to councillors in a report but has already been signed off.

Figures reveal Bury has slipped to one of the worst recycling councils in Greater Manchester. All councils are facing a huge increase in landfill costs if recycling rates do not improve.

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New Talking Tom Cat and Ben app tops International iPad app charts

A new application featuring characters from the popular 'Talking Tom Cat' series of apps has proved popular over the last week, being the most downloaded, free iPad app in a number of countries. The application features Tom the talking cat and his mischievous friend Ben the dog in their new role as newscasters. Users of the app can interact with Tom and Ben using a variety of objects or listen as they repeat back the user's voice in a humorous way. Details of other top free iPad applications by country* for the week, by number of downloads, recorded on October 17 can be found below.

01. USA 
Talking Tom & Ben News for iPad (entertainment)
Characters Tom and Ben from the ‘Talking Tom Cat' series of iOS applications take on the role of TV anchors in this new iPad application released October 15. Speak to the characters and hear your words repeated in a funny voice or interact with them using water pistols, air horns and other objects. 
http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/talking-tom-ben-news-for-ipad/id444947784?mt=8

02. UK
Talking Tom & Ben News for iPad (entertainment)
See ‘Talking Tom & Ben for iPad'.
http://itunes.apple.com/gb/app/talking-tom-ben-news-for-ipad/id444947784?mt=8

03. France
Programmes TV par TVMag (entertainment)
Users of this iPad application can view the TV guide for 200 channels up to 40 days in advance. The app also enables users to watch trailers for upcoming programs and create alerts for their favorite programs.
http://itunes.apple.com/fr/app/programmes-tv-par-tvmag/id448925571?mt=8

04. Canada
Talking Tom & Ben News for iPad (entertainment)
See ‘Talking Tom & Ben for iPad'.
http://itunes.apple.com/ca/app/talking-tom-ben-news-for-ipad/id444947784?mt=8

05. Japan
Download- Free Tube Universal Downloader & Download manager, download anything fast and easily (utilities)
This download manager for iOS enables users to quickly and easily download files across a variety of formats including video.
http://itunes.apple.com/jp/app/download-free-tube-universal/id432038380?l=en&mt=8

06. Australia
Talking Tom & Ben News for iPad (entertainment)
See ‘Talking Tom & Ben for iPad'.
http://itunes.apple.com/au/app/talking-tom-ben-news-for-ipad/id444947784?mt=8

07. Germany  
CHIP (news)
Technology magazine CHIP is available on the iPad with this newly updated application. While an initial edition is available for free download, users will need to take out a paid subscription in order to receive future editions.
http://itunes.apple.com/de/app/chip/id414468283?mt=8

08. China
Talking Tom & Ben News for iPad (entertainment)
See ‘Talking Tom & Ben for iPad'.
http://itunes.apple.com/cn/app/id444947784?mt=8

09. Italy
National Geographic Magazine - International  (news)
This application, updated October 12, is the official digital version of National Geographic magazine. In addition to National Geographic's regular content, users of the iOS app also get access to regularly updated twitter and daily news feeds.
http://itunes.apple.com/it/app/national-geographic-magazine/id436582479?mt=8

10. Korea ** 
K???? for iPadKBS (entertainment) 
This application, which roughly translates into English as ‘K Player for iPad KBS', gives users access to a variety of Korean Broadcasting System (KBS) programs in real time.
http://itunes.apple.com/kr/app/id464236346?mt=8  

*The countries listed are those markets in which the most iOS devices have been sold worldwide. The list of top ten countries is based on Admob's April 2010 estimate of the worldwide iOS User Distribution.  

** Due to regulations on application classification there is no 'games' category in the Korean iTunes store.  

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New iPad joystick promises more precise gaming actions

 

This joystick uses suction cups to anchor itself on an iPad touchscreen for more precise gaming controls.Logitech is releasing a joystick for iPad games
Anchored with suction cups, the joystick works with "Madden," "Call of Duty," 30 more games
One review notes the product looks similar to the Fling Joystick, already available

(CNN) -- Need proof that the iPad and other tablets are geared toward playing games? Now they've got their own joystick.

Logitech has leapt into the gadget-accessory fray with a tool it claims will help you avoid a poorly aimed rocket blast or a pass that sails over your wide-open receiver in the end zone.

The Logitech Joystick is clearly aimed at making the gaming experience on the iPad closer to what gamers have come to know and enjoy on more dedicated gaming devices.

"No one likes to lose a point or go down to defeat because their thumb misses the control area," the company says on its Web page for the $19.99 gadget.. "The Logitech Joystick gives you a thumb-stick style game controller for iPad that you can use with just about any game with an on-screen joystick or d-pad."

The joystick attaches to the iPad screen with suction cups, letting the user move it around depending on the game. A coiled spring keeps the stick centered.

The site lists 32 games that the joystick is currently compatible with. That list is heavily weighted toward sports games and shooters that made a splash on traditional gaming consoles before being reworked for the iPad.

Among them: "Madden NFL 11," "Call of Duty World at War: Zombies," "FIFA '11," "Prince of Persia: Warrior Within" and "Resident Evil 4."

More casual titles like "Cut the Rope" and "Fruit Ninjas" are nowhere to be seen, a likely nod to the fact that many of those games require swiping at multiple spots instead of being focused largely in one place.

The Wall Street Journal notes that the product is part of an increased focus on tablet accessories by Logitech, which has struggled somewhat as Apple's ascendance has hurt its PC-accessory trade.

CNET noted that the joystick, which is available for pre-order and set to ship in September, looks similar to the already available Fling Joystick, which performs a similar function and is offered at the same price.

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iPad app aids Autistic boy

Home » Technology
Aiden Thober, 4 1/2, of Maumee uses an iPad to learn at Mercy Autism Services. With him are his mom, Alicia Cramer, left, and Michelle Nagle, clinic coordinator and speech and language therapist. THE BLADE/JETTA FRASER Enlarge Loading… Published: 10/16/2011 - Updated: 13 hours ago BY JULIE M. MCKINNON
BLADE STAFF WRITER

A few months ago, 4 1/2-year-old Aiden Thober couldn't say his colors.

But with the help of an Apple iPad, the autistic Maumee boy with severe language and speech delay is able to name them while using an app featuring a friendly face that changes colors. Aiden also can name some farm animals or mimic their sounds after he "knocks" on a barn door appearing on the touch screen. He solves jigsaw puzzles on another app, eliciting praise from both the gadget and his mother, Alicia Cramer.

Anything to do with animals or food is Aiden's biggest learning motivator -- plus, the boy loves puzzles -- and someday such technology may be what Aiden uses to "talk" with strangers, Ms. Cramer said.

"We don't know where Aiden's going to be years from now," she said of his development. "He might need something like this to communicate with the outside world."

Aiden is one of a dozen students in Mercy Autism Services' most intensive therapy program daily using iPads, devices that delight youngsters, therapists, and parents alike.

Some of the apps used by therapists with the students are designed for autistic or other special-needs children, said Michelle Nagle, clinic coordinator and lead speech/language pathologist.

"There are all kinds of apps," Ms. Nagle said. "We really try to match the apps with a particular child."

Studies are under way nationally to determine the educational benefits of iPads, including some aimed specifically at autism, Ms. Nagle said.

Anecdotal evidence of benefits with autistic children, meanwhile, is mounting locally.

Brooke Olson of Perrysburg noticed a couple of years ago how her now-6-year-old son, Amick, was able to expand his speech from five words to complete sentences after playing with her iPhone. She found a flash-card app to build his vocabulary, and Amick moved on to other apps and devices, and now he can do some spelling, reading, and math, she said.

"The iPad was fun," said Mrs. Olson, whose son also benefitted from Mercy's intensive program at the time and is quick to say the Apple devices cannot replace intervention. "He thought he was playing a game, but he was learning."

She added: "His language all of a sudden just meant something to him."

Now Mrs. Olson is heading a nonprofit foundation, iTaalk, that raises funds to award Apple devices to autistic children through its Web site, itaalk.org, and offers training sessions to families and professionals.

Last week, iTaalk received a $10,000 donation from the Great Lakes Collaborative for Autism to award devices to needy families in northwest Ohio and southeast Michigan.

Bittersweet Farms near Whitehouse, which works with autistic adults, has one client who recently started working with an iPad, and there is a lot of interest in using them, said Jan Cline, Bittersweet's training and consultation director.

"It's part of the future, I believe, for people who need communication support," Ms. Cline said.

At Mercy Autism Services, iPads also are used to teach students social skills, such as taking turns. With board games, students often do not pay attention unless it is their turn, but they carefully watch and sometimes comment on classmates' moves when sharing an iPad, behavior consultant Heidi Bleyer said.

iPad apps also help the students with finger isolation, hand/eye coordination, understanding cause and effect, and other skills on one compact device, Ms. Bleyer said.

Ms. Cramer said she has applied to get an iPad through iTaalk or another source, but until then she occasionally works at home with Aiden on a device borrowed from a relative. Aiden has shown an incredible aptitude for doing puzzles, which helps with his fine motor skills, critical thinking, and other abilities, but he can get frustrated with fitting three-dimensional pieces together, she said.

A sliding finger or two is all it takes for Aiden to move a puzzle piece into place on an iPad.

"It shows that he has the ability to learn great things," Ms. Cramer said. "It shows he has the power for great things, and being able to unlock those things really is the key."

Contact Julie M. McKinnon at: jmckinnon@theblade.com or 419-724-6087.

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The best keyboard options for your iPad

Cnet rating: 4 stars out of 5 (excellent)

The good: Can also be used in folio mode without the keyboard getting in the way much; keyboard itself is excellent and responsive.

The bad: Slightly floppy, flappy design might not appeal to some; when the iPad 2 is in the case, it's much thicker than a regular case without a keyboard.

The price: $85

The bottom line: Unlike many cases that stick the keyboard onto the inside cover, Belkin's soft, suede-like case tucks the keyboard underneath when not in use, via a clever folding mechanism. Unfolded, the case offers a comfortable and unencumbered keyboard that rests naturally in front of the landscape-mode iPad 2. It's thick, but it's usable for casual e-reading. The versatile case can also be used as a picture frame/upright display without the keyboard showing.

Read the full review

Cnet rating: 4 stars out of 5 (excellent)

The good: Sturdy feel; iPad-specific control buttons; magnetic slipcover doubles as an iPad stand, tilting to multiple angles.

The bad: Not as portable as a keyboard case; plastic chassis feels a bit creaky on the edges; stand uses a fragile flip-out plastic piece.

The price: $55 to $84

The bottom line: Logitech's is one of the best Bluetooth keyboards optimized for the iPad. The wide, full-size keyboard (nearly the same as Apple's) feels great and comes with iPad-specific hot keys. Typing on it feels as good as typing at a desktop computer. Logitech's keyboard uses AAA batteries. Its most impressive feature, however, might be its sleeve: the magnetically hinged cover folds back and becomes an iPad stand that's perfectly angled for landscape or portrait mode. This stand will support the original iPad as well as the iPad 2. Logitech makes a version for Android too.

Read the full review

Cnet rating: 3 stars out of 5 (good)

The good: Folio-style case has an excellent keyboard and docks the iPad 2 perfectly into its design; back cover's breakaway lower section adds support for the iPad 2 when in keyboard mode.

The bad: Feels flimsy and embedded magnet not that helpful for turning iPad 2 on and is a little annoying.

The price: $100 to $108

The bottom line: Zagg makes excellent iPad keyboards, but its folio-style keyboard case is a mixed bag. When folded into keyboard mode, it's excellent. However, the flimsy-feeling plastic shell pales in comparison with more form-fitting alternatives, and it's hard to remove the iPad 2 once it's in the case. The keyboard can be removed, and the iPad 2 will stand up in the keyboard. Why, then, do you need the case?

Read the full review

Cnet rating: 3 stars out of 5 (good)

The good: Leather case protects the tablet well; Bluetooth keyboard can work separately from the case.

The bad: Bulky with the keyboard attached; keyboard is narrow and keys are hard to locate; back stand elevates to only one angle; iPad has to be stripped of other covers to fit in the leather case's holster; can be expensive.

The price: $69 to $110

The bottom line: This case is leather, and even the keyboard has a leather palm rest. The keyboard is attached with Velcro and can be removed from the folio case. The keyboard, however, is very flat, unlike those on most laptops. The case stays open thanks to an easel-like stand that pops open in the back, and closes with a large flap emblazoned with the iLuv logo. It's a business-friendly leather case, but it not as comfortable or as stylish as some. Its prop-up-style back stand also means it's virtually impossible to use on a lap.

Read the full review

These Cnet staff members contributed to this report: senior editors Scott Stein and Laura K. Cucullu. For more reviews of personal technology products, visit www.cnet.com.

This article appeared on page D - 2 of the San Francisco Chronicle

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iPad 2 Case Review: Bracketron Back-iT for iPad 2

iPad 2 Case Review: Bracketron Back-iT for iPad 2
Reviewed by Tong Zhang

Editor's Ratings (1-5): 4

What's Hot: Thin and light, many color choices, easy to use.

What's Not: The top of the iPad 2 isn't protected.

The Bracketron Back-iT case for the iPad 2 is designed to work with the Apple Smart Cover and protect the back of the iPad 2. There are quite a few of similar type of cases on the market, such as the Case-mate Barely There case or the iSkin solo Smart case, that all work with Apple's Smart Cover. The Bracketron Back-iT case for iPad 2 offers matching colors to your Smart Cover as well as a soft touch surface. The Back-iT case is super light and thin, and comes in 5 stylish colors: orange, green, pink, gray and blue.

Design

The Bracketron Back-iT case for the iPad 2 has a simple design: the case covers the back of the iPad 2 and it's form fitting. The polycarbonate material is reasonably durable and thin enough to have some flexibility. The case is very easy to put on, just slide the iPad 2 in and click on four corners; and it?s easy to take the case off also. The Back-iT has a soft touch surface inside and out, and it?s reasonably grippy which helps with handling of the large tablet. We do like the five color options that match the SmartCover from Apple, and the Back-iT has a perfect cutout for the Smart Cover to attach onto the iPad 2. The soft surface has a matte look, and doesn?t show much fingerprints or hand grease.

Features

The Bracketron Back-iT case for iPad 2 is very light and thin, and it?s hardly visible from the front. The case has perfect cutouts for all ports and buttons, and it?s thin enough for the iPad 2 to dock in charging stations and audio accessories easily. The case holds the iPad 2 in its corners and most of the right side, but leaves out the left side for the Smart Cover. The case has a low cut on the top where it leaves out the power button, top mic and the audio jack out for easy access. The camera hole is just large enough to give the camera enough viewing angles, and the screen lock and volume buttons on the right enjoy a perfect cutout. The case has a cutout for the 30-pin connector on the bottom and a grill cutout for the speaker.

Conclusion

Though simple, the Bracketron Back-iT case for the iPad 2 is a very functional case. It?s a great companion to the Smart Cover for iPad 2, and it?s thin and light. We like the color selection that matches the Smart Covers and the soft touch material feels very nice and helps with handling the slippery tablet better. The case can certainly protect your iPad 2 from bumps, pokes and scratches while in your bag or backpack. The polycarbonate material is reasonably sturdy and the case is very easy to use. The thin form ensures the iPad 2?s compatibility with docking stations and audio speakers. The only concern we have is the top of the tablet isn?t protected at all from scratches and bumps.

Price: $29.95
Web site: Bracketron

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Check out our iPad 2 case reviews:
http://www.mobiletechreview.com/iPad-Case-Reviews.htm

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NYT Sells Its First Sole-Sponsorship Of iPad App To Ralph Lauren

David Kaplan, On Wednesday August 31, 2011, 10:20 am EDT

The NYT iPad app typically runs ads from about six different marketers in a given month. But in September, all the app’s ad inventory will be handed over to high end fashion label Ralph Lauren for the company’s Polo brand. This is the first time the NYT iPad app has been offered to a single-sponsor for an entire month. Since most of the app’s content beyond the main news section is behind a paywall, the NYT will “unlock” five sections so non-subscribers can view all the ads.

The five sections which will be completely free for viewing are Fashion & Style, Travel, Home & Garden, T Magazine and Sports.

In addition, on September 15, Polo Ralph Lauren will be live streaming its runway show within an expandable ad in the app.

The NYT wouldn’t discuss CPMs for the iPad app or how much it charges the six advertisers it typically features in a given month. However, given the demand from advertisers to appear in the app—in July, the NYT has said that app’s ad inventory was sold out through Q3—and the insistence that the NYT doesn’t grant discounts to marketers, it’s likely that the Ralph Lauren ad takeover is equivalent to a normal monthly run. It’s conceivable that the NYT could charge a little bit more for a monthly run, given the value of an uncluttered environment.

About 2.5 million users have downloaded the iPad app since its debut in April 2010, an NYT rep told paidContent. (The NYT iPhone app, which is about three years old, has been downloaded more than 7 million times, the company said in July). Also, the NYT says that there are currently 850,000 unique monthly users of the app. The company has not released monthly usage numbers before for the app.

During the company’s last earnings report, NYTCo (NYSE:NYT - News) executives said that paid digital subscribers to the interactive packages totaled roughly 224,000 as of the end of Q2. In addition, paid digital subs to “e-readers and replica editions” totaled approximately 57,000, for a total paid digital subscribers of 281,000 when June ended.

Although the NYTimes.com is where the most of the traffic and ad revenues are generated, the digital apps have been a key part of attracting more subscribers. And the print-like experience is considered more valuable to advertisers, and the interactivity that comes with the ads makes it a best of both worlds combination.

The NYT’s Media News Group, which houses the flagship paper and its related apps, could use a bit of a boost. the company had warned that advertisers were pulling pack this past year due to the weaker economy. The recent volatility in the stock market the past few weeks probably haven’t helped marketers’ confidence. Still, it did say that national display ad sales remained strong through the summer.

But with the fall fashions coming, marketers will need to spend heavily and the NYT has made sure to continue to court high end ad spenders.

Related

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Could Apple really be starting production on the iPad 3?

Bet you didn’t expect to see a non-iPhone related Apple story on the launch day of the iPhone 4S. AllthingsD is reporting on a rumor floating around that the iPad 3 might already be heading into production. The idea is based around a higher than expected production of iPads for the fourth-quarter.

Financial analyst Jeff Fidacaro is saying that the boost in production is due to Apple building new iPad 3 models along side the current generation iPad. Fidacaro is seeing between 600,000 to one million iPad 3 units being built, which could bring to total number of iPad units built in the fourth-quarter up to 14 million.

Seeing as the iPad typically launches in March we think it might be a little too soon to start building units. This report is also directly conflicting with an earlier report that Apple might actually be cutting iPad 2 production in preparation for the next generation iPad.

We still have around six months until the iPad 3 is expected to be announced in March, so this might just be the start of iPad 3 rumors. Earlier this week we caught wind of a rumor about an iPad mini in the works. With the popularity of Apple there are going to be more rumors surrounding the iPad 3 than any other tablet, but lets just hope the rumors are a little more accurate than all the iPhone 5 rumors.

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