Modmyi has reported today that the iPad 2 is headed to Toys 'R' Us stores, adding to the growing list of retailers which will have the tablet on sale.

Beginning next month, stores will get the iPad 2 along with Smart Covers, the iPad Camera Connection Kit, and a VGA connector.

As proof, the site has a picture of the employee training guide prepping them for the launch.

The iPad 2 is available in Apple stores, Best Buy, Target, Wal-Mart, Radioshack, Verizon and AT&T alongside e-tailers like Amazon.

Although numbers have not been released, the iPad 2 is expected to have sold over 2 million units since launch last month.

Permalink | Comments

---

Microsoft has announced today that it will patch a record 64 flaws for its upcoming 'Patch Tuesday,' fixing vulnerabilities in Windows, IE, Office and other software.

The 64 flaws are attached to 17 bulletins, which ties for the most ever issued by the company in a single week.

Previously, the record for most flaws patched was 49, in October of last year.

9 of the 17 bulletins are "critical," while the rest are "important." Critical is the highest threat level while 'important' is second highest.

One security analyst was very surprised by how high the number was (via CW):

We were expecting the larger release this month, based on the normal cadence. But a whopping 64 CVEs is out of line with anything normal for Microsoft. All hands on deck will be required next week.

Permalink | Comments

---

Google is planning to add up to 20 premium channels to YouTube, with each producing between 5 and 10 hours of original content every week.

The company is willing to spend $100 million on the creation of the content.

Says the WSJ:

The company is planning changes to the homepage that would highlight sets of channels around topics such as arts and sports. YouTube is looking to introduce 20 or so "premium channels" that would feature five to 10 hours of professionally-produced original programming a week, one of these people said. Additional channels would be assembled from content already on the site.

Google seems to be going the way of Hulu and Netflix, which are opting for new, original content, as a supplement to their broadcast and studio content.

The updated YouTube should be available by the end of the year.

Permalink | Comments

---

Hotfile, the cyberlocker which quickly became one of the 100 most trafficked sites in the world, has filed a motion to dismiss the case brought against it by the MPAA, which is accusing the company and its owner of building a business off the profits of digital piracy.

The MPAA and the major movie studios claim the site both directly and indirectly supports copyright infringement.

In the motion, Hotfile denies that it "has the specific intent to promote infringement," or promotes piracy, at all.

Citing MGM v. Grokster, Hotfile also denies the charge of "contributory infringement."

As with other cyberlockers, Hotfile says it complies with every DMCA takedown notice from copyright holders and it does not offer a search function.

Concludes the company (via DMW):

Realizing that the uninterrupted line of active inducement cases all involved sites with built in search capability, the Studios try to twist the absence of a search box into 'concealment'. Thus, according to the Studios, web hosts are damned if they allow search (as 'active inducers') and are damned (as 'concealers') if they don't.

Permalink | Comments

---

Multiple frustrated iPhone 4 owners have complained this week that their device's front-side camera is taking pictures of them when it is supposed to be inactive.

Those photos then show up on the iPhone screen when the user tries to start a FaceTime video call.

One angry owner said her FaceTime picture showed her in her office, despite never using the app while at work.

The glitch also freezes FaceTime, forcing owners to keep trying until it loads correctly.

Apparently those with the glitch are running either iOS 4.3 and iOS 4.3.1.

Video via Wired:

Permalink | Comments

---

Despite their word that ChromeOS would be "for keyboard"-based devices and Android would be "for touchscreen" devices, Cnet has uncovered some source-code that implies Google may be working on a tablet/touchscreen optimized version of the operating system.

In a statement, Google confirmed that "we are engaging in early open-source work for the tablet form factor, but we have nothing new to announce at this time."

However, in the near-term, netbooks will be priority for ChromeOS, explains the search giant:

Chrome OS was designed from the beginning to work across a variety of form factors. We expect to see different partners build different kinds of devices based on Chrome OS, but for this initial release we are targeting the notebook form factor.

A few of the added changes in the ChromeOS source code (according to Cnet) are:

• The "user-agent string" text that browsers supply so Web servers can deliver the appropriate version of a Web site--for touch user interfaces. The string includes the term "CrOS Touch," not just CrOS as before.
"This lets Web sites that are already customizing for tablet experiences easily adapt to support tablet ChromeOS devices," the programming change log notes.
• A "virtual keyboard" with a number of keys--tab, delete, microphone, return, and shift, for example--drawn in SVG so they can be shown by a browser. Screen keyboards are, of course, a necessity with tablets.
• A variety of moves to make the browser more touch-friendly, for example by increasing the space around items to make it easier to select them with a touch interface.
• A revamped new-tab page (which people see when they open a new, blank tab) that's "optimized for touch."

Permalink | Comments

---

Gartner has followed in the footsteps of other research firms by claiming that Windows Phone 7 will become a major player in the smartphone market by 2015, taking as much as 19.5 share and surpassing RIM and Apple.

Android will continue to be a juggernaut and reach around 49 percent in 2012 and holding that number.

Says the firm: "By 2015, 67 percent of all open OS devices will have an average selling price of $300 or below, proving that smartphones have been finally truly democratized."

Overall smartphone sales will hit 468 million units this year, a large 57.7 percent increase year-over-year.

The list:

Android will jump to 539,318,000 million phones sold by 2015, good for 48.8 percent market share. RIM will sell 122,865,000 million BlackBerrys, but market share will fall to just 11.1 percent share.

Apple will sell 189,924,000 iPhones but drop to 17.2 percent share.

Microsoft will be the big winner due to its partnership with Nokia, moving to 215,998,000 Windows Phone 7 devices sold, good for 19.5 percent market share. Microsoft currently has 5.6 share.

Symbian will fall from 19.2 percent share this year to .1 in 2015 as Nokia phases it out.

Permalink | Comments

---

An article from Digitimes today has pointed to an embarrassing reason as to why the RIM PlayBook tablet was delayed.

Short answer: Blame Apple.

The report explains that "sources from touch screen panel makers also pointed out that PlayBook shipments were postponed for about a month from the original schedule due to a delay in software testing as well as shortage of touch panels because Apple already booked up most of the available capacity."

It has been reported that Apple pre-paid for up to $4 billion worth of components, making sure that it can somewhat corner the market and ensure the iPad 2 is produced with no delays.

The RIM BlackBerry PlayBook tablet will hit the US and Canada on April 19th with a price tag of $500 USD.

Permalink | Comments

---