It’s been an exciting time in the technology world this week. Here’s a couple of stories that have caught our eye here at Sortable.
Apple Sells 5 Million Units in First Weekend, but Consumers are not so happy with their Maps
It was a busy weekend for Apple, with the release of the iPhone 5 on Friday, September 21. Apple smashed previous sale records by selling 5 million iPhone 5s in the first weekend of the device’s release. Experts predict that Apple will sell 58 million iPhone 5s before the end of the year, making it the most successful quarter for Apple in history.
Unfortunately the reaction to Apple’s new Maps app that comes with iOS 6 has been less than steller. Tim Cook was forced to issue an apology, saying
“At Apple, we strive to make world-class products that deliver the best experience possible to our customers. With the launch of our new Maps last week, we fell short on this commitment. We are extremely sorry for the frustration this has caused our customers and we are doing everything we can to make Maps better.”
Tim suggested using Google maps in the meantime.
Jelly Bean is coming to your HDTV
Bring Jelly Bean, the latest Android OS to your television! FAVI, a Michigan based company, announced the SmartStick, which allows you to plug the device into your television’s HDMI port and access movies, games, apps and music, all from your HDTV. The SmartStick features an internet browser, 4GB of memory, and support for services like Netflix and Pandora. With a $50.00 price tag, it will be available this November, just in time for the holiday shopping season.
Toys R Us Gets Sued by Former Supplier
Fuhu, the makers of the Nabi tablet, are suing Toys R Us for allegedly stealing trade secrets when they released the Tabeo last month. Toys R Us entered into an agreement last year to be the exclusive retailer for the Nabi, but argued that Toys R Us did not properly promote that tablet and only ordered enough for one day worth of sales, and not enough for the Christmas season. They were surprised to see Toys R Us release a similar tablet a year later, with a similar “butterfly bumper” on their tablet.
Specs Leaked for HTC One X+
The specs for HTC One X+, a hotly anticipated Android device, were leaked in a UK phone carrier’s latest catalog. According to the catalog, the HTC One X+ will feature 64 GB of storage, an 8 megapixel camera, a 1.7 GHz quad core processor, Beats audio, Jelly Bean and 25 GB of Dropbox storage. Check out these comparisons: HTC One X+ vs iPhone 5, HTC One X+ vs Samsung Galaxy S III
Barnes & Noble Releases Nook HD+
American book giant Barnes & Noble announced the release of its latest tablet, the Nook HD+. Looking to compete with Amazon and the Kindle Fire HD, the Nook HD+ features hi-res graphics, a 9 inch screen, HDMI out capabilities and a dual-core 1.5 GHz processor. Available in late October online, the 16 GB version will retail for $269 and the 32 GB version will shop for $299. See how the Nook HD+ compares to the Amazon Kindle Fire HD.
Sony and Olympus Enter into Joint Venture
Sony has bought $644 million worth of shares in Olympus, a camera and optics manufacturer. Under the terms of the agreement Sony will receive 11.28% of shares in Olympus and a 51% stake in their “business and capital alliance”. Known as a camera manufacturer, Olympus is also a global leader in cameras used for medical purposes. The joint venture between the two companies will focus on medical devices.
