It was shocking news when I read the local paper report that Apple products cannot be sold at the IT Show 2012! Apple Australia that oversees Singapore market decided that it was damaging to Apple’s image when its products were sold at IT fairs.

It seems to be pure arrogance that motivates the ban on Apple resellers. Apple stands to lose millions of dollar of sale during the 4-day IT Show 2012.

However, I think Apple is trying to hurt their resellers so as to bolster its own online store sales in Singapore. Or Apple is about to open own store in Singapore. It’s a lose-lose for Apple, Apple resellers and more importantly Apple fans in Singapore.

What do you think?

Please comment below.

The internet is rife with stories and reports about Apple iPad 3 launch. Even Channel NewsAsia carried a very brief report on AllThingD.com article on the probable iPad 3 launch in the first week of March 2012 at the Yerba Buena Center for the Arts.

There is no leaked photo or spec yet – I couldn’t find any – only speculations. The new iPad 3 is said to be faster and has a higher resolution display, possibly 2048 by 1536.

If the rumors were true, we can expect the iPad 3 release date in late March or early April for USA market and possibly iPad 3 release date in Singapore to be May or June.

I used the iPad and iPad 2, also the iPhone 3GS and iPhone 4S. Unless the iPad 3 has some revolutionary features at an attractive price point, I don’t think I will buy it. I will rather go for an Android tablet, especially a 7″ Samsung tablet.

Why Not a Smaller iPad 3?

I am already using the MacBook Air. I don’t want to carry another 10″ device. I want something smaller than my MacBook Air but more powerful, faster and has a larger display than the iPhone 4S. I also want the battery life to last more than 12 hours so that I don’t have to charge it every day. I am not concerned about Siri and USB port or external card slot. I just want to be able to read a book, watch a movie or reply a full length email on a small, thin, lightweight and long lasting tablet.

Is that too much to ask for?

The HP Touchpad was officially launched in Singapore on 12 Aug 2011. You have seen the HP Touchpad ad in the newspaper and TV Commercial. So you are tempted by the cheap price as compared with the iPad 2 and the rest of the copycats.

So, should you buy the HP Touchpad?

The answer is NO.

The several HP Touchpad reviews that I’ve read indicated that this is an “obsolete” tablet.

Why is it Obsolete?

Because it was developed with iPad (1st generation) in mind and to compete with a product obsoleted by iPad 2.

Heavier, Thicker & Few Apps

HP Touchpad is a Brick — BusinessInsider

If you compare the HP Touchpad to the iPad 2, physically, the former is heavier and bulkier. And, of course, it has very few apps compare to what you could install on an iPad.

The HP Touchpad and the WebOS is doomed.

In fact, I just got the news that HP will kill off this 6-week old product.

Unless you are an ultra-geek or a collector, don’t waste the money to buy the HP Touchpad because of the aggressive ad campaign.

[Latest Updated - 1 Sep 2011] Comex 2011 – HP Touchpad Sale – Now you can get the HP Touchpad in Singapore at sale price. Be the first 200 to grab it at the Comex 2011 beginning 1 Sep 2011 at Suntec Singapore. The price of the Touchpad 16GB has been slashed to SGD118 and Touchpad 32GB to SGD188.

[Latest Updated - 22 Aug 2011] HP Touchpad Sale – Major electronics retailers are trying to clear the now obsoleted HP Touchpad. 16GB model price is slashed to $98 and 32GB model at $148 in Australia. — Source: current.com.au

SingTel iPad 2 will be available from Sat, 14 May 2011. The cheapest iPad 2 with data plan offered by SingTel starts at SGD399. The mobile broadband plan costs SGD40 per month.

SingTel iPad 2 Mobile Broadband Plan at $40/mth

If you have made up your mind to get the iPad 2 64GB WiFi+3G, it will cost only SGD599 – you save SGD509. Factoring the data plan cost for 24 months which total to SGD960, you end up paying SGD18.80 per month for the 7.2 mbps data plan. I think the SingTel iPad 2 offer is reasonable and quite attractive.

To be among the first to get hold your iPad 2 from SingTel, go register your interest before 12pm, 13 May 2011 at

www.singtelshop.com/ipad/register.html

It was announced last month that Singapore will get it’s Apple iPad 2 in April 2011. Finally, the iPad 2 was launched on April 29, 2011. The cheapest iPad 2, the 16GB WiFi model costs S$668 and the most expensive 64GB with 3G costs S$1,108.

There were rumours that the new iPad 2 price will be lower than that of the iPad in the initial launch due to the stronger Sing Dollar. But who’s complaining about the price? It’s the delay of the launch in Singapore that upset Apple fans in Singapore.

Apple to ship iPhone 5 in September?

According to a report at Yahoo Finance, iPhone 5 will be available in September 2011.

Now that the date of iPhone 5 is drawing near, will people wait to see what new features iPhone 5 has to offer before deciding whether to buy the iPad 2?

[Updated on 8 Mar, 2012] Apple announced today that new iPad, popularly known as iPad 3 and simple called the new iPad at today’s launch event. The good news is, the new iPad 3 Singapore release date is 16 Mar, 2012, same as in the US, Canada, UK, France, Germany, Switzerland, Japan, Hong Kong and Australia – definitely a good news for Apple fans.

The official iPad 2 release date is 11 March 2011 in the US and will be available in 26 other countries on 25 March 2011.

And the 26 countries are: Australia, Austria, Belgium, Canada, Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Iceland, Italy, Ireland, Hungary, Japan, Luxembourg, Mexico, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Poland, POrtugal, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland and UK.

No, Singapore is not in the list. There is no exact iPad 2 release date in Singapore yet.

[Updated 23 March 2011] According to a report in The Straits Times, iPad 2 will be available in Singapore in April 2011.

iPad 2 Specifications

As for the new iPad 2 specs…

• Thinner and lighter
• Faster processor, dual-core A5
• 9 times faster graphics
• 2 cameras: 1 front and 1 back
• 10-hour battery life

Detailed technical specs at http://www.apple.com/ipad/specs/

iPad 2 Singapore Release Date

We, in Singapore, usually have to wait until the 2nd tier or even 3rd tier launch date which could be as long as 6 months after the official launch in the US.

I am hoping that the iPad 2 release date in Singapore to be within 45 days of the initial launch and I could pre-order at Apple Store tomorrow.

[UPDATE] Apple released a press release on Mar 22, 2011 announcing that the iPad 2 will be available in Singapore, Hong Kong and Korea in April.

Sources:

Apple confirms March 2 iPad event

Rumors pin iPad 2 announcement on March 2

Before iPad 2 release date there are production issue to be sorted out

The international release date of iPad has been confirmed. iPad release date for UK, Australia, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Spain and Switzerland is on Friday, 28 May 2010. Apple online store in these countries will be taking pre-order from 10 May 2010.

As for diehard Mac and Apple fans in Singapore and Hong Kong, you will have to wait for 2 more months.

iPad Singapore Release Date

The release date of iPad for Singapore, Austria, Belgium, Hong Kong, Ireland, Luxembourg, Mexico, Netherlands and New Zealand will be in July. Apple will announce the exact date, local pricing and pre-order plans for these nine countries at a later date.

However, it was not clear if both iPad and iPad 3G will be both available for the international release on 28 May 2010.

The international release date has been delayed due to the strong demand of iPad in the US market.

In the US, Apple has already sold over one million iPads and customers have downloaded over 12 million apps from the App Store, as well as over 1.5 million ebooks from the new iBookstore. More information on iPad release date at the following press release:

iPad Available in Nine More Countries…

The new Apple iPad was annouced on March 7, 2012. The new iPad, popular known as iPad 3 or iPad HD, will be available on 16 March 2012 in Singapore in both black and white color.

New iPad 3 Price same as the iPad 2

The prices for new iPad 3 priced at the same level as last year iPad 2 starting from US$499. Here’s the US prices all the new models…

New iPad 3 Singapore Price

For the first time since the launch of the iPad in 2010, Apple fans in Singapore is going to get the new iPad at the same time as the US and major European markets. You can pre-order your new iPad at Apple Singapore online from 8 March 2012.

http://www.apple.com/sg/

**Prices in Singapore Dollar

The price of the older iPad 2 has dropped significantly. You could get the iPad2 16GB for S$528 at the Apple Store online.

You can buy the new iPad online at Apple Singapore online store.

New iPad 3 in Singapore by Singtel, M1 & Starhub

If you are buying Wifi+4G models from Singtel, M1 or Starhub with a 2-year plan then you can expect a deep discount of $500 to $600 for the 64G model. Traditionally, Singtel is the first to launch new new models of iPad in Singapore, then follow by M1 and Starhub. So if you can’t wait to see and touch the new iPad then be sure to be the first to register for a Singtel iPad 3.

White iPad & Colorful Smart Covers

Initial Reactions to the 1st generation iPad

Apple sold 15 millions iPads in the first 9 months of the initial launch in April 2010 and generated US$9.5 billions in revenue.

When I first viewed Steve Job’s keynote announcing the iPad and discovered about the affordable iPad price, my reaction posted on Facebook was…

“iPad… Why only $499? I want it now!”

“if you have an iPhone, Life Will Not be Complete Without the iPad!”

However, I also discovered that not everyone loves Apple products. Some of my Facebook friends said:

“iPad, No Multitasking, No Buy”

“guess it is just like iPhone .. just BIGGER”

“The iPad (the name is soooo =_=|||) is disappointing. No SD card slot, no drag-drop, no USB port, no flash (!), no camera…a whole lot of new accessories to buy. Will wait for the Android-powered tablets, Asus is coming up with one soon.”

MrBrown thinks “Apple’s iPad is a giant iPod Touch“.

And people are already mocking at the iPad – the other kind of pad?!

What do you have to say about the iPad?

Please leave a comment below.