China-based company scrapes plans to sell Steve Jobs action figure

Some companies want to make a quick buck from the iconic inventor, Steve Jobs. A China-based firm has scrapped plans to market an action figure made to resemble the late Apple founder Steve Jobs following "immense pressure" from lawyers.

Chinese firm In Icons had planned to offer the one-foot-tall, lifelike figure dressed in Jobs' trademark black mock turtleneck, rimless glasses and jeans.

But the company posted a statement on its website on Sunday saying it had received 'immense pressure' to drop the plan and made the decision out of 'heartfelt sensitivity to the feelings of the Jobs family'.

The company's website (inicons.com) shows the figurine in lifelike poses alongside famous Jobs quotes, such as: "If you live each day as if it was your last, someday you'll most certainly be right."

The company manufacturing the dolls, Hong Kong-based DiD Corp, insisted earlier this month that the doll was not a toy, but a sincere tribute to the iconic innovator.

"We didn't put anything related to the Apple brand or Apple products, nor did we smear the image of Jobs," a DiD Corp official told AFP earlier this month. "We are making this for Apple fans."

Last year Apple -- the maker of iPhones, iPads, iPods and Macintosh computers -- blocked the sale of unauthorized Steve Jobs bobble-head dolls made by a different company in China.
Jobs died on October 5 at the age of 56 after battling cancer for several years.

DiD Corp also offers military action figures and one of US President Barack Obama, according to its website.

Woman bought a fake wooden iPad

A US woman thought she had snared a bargain when she forked out $168 for what she believed was an iPad, only to discover she had just purchased a very expensive piece of wood.

Ashley McDowell, 22, bought the item from two men in the parking lot of a McDonald's restaurant in Spartanburg county, South Carolina overnight.

The men said they had bought the iPads in bulk and were selling them for only $280, a sharp reduction from the $465 US retail price.

Ms McDowell told the men she only had $168, which they accepted, giving her a FedEx box which they assured her had an iPad inside.

It was not until Ms McDowell was driving home that she opened the package and realised she had just bought a block of wood with a painted on Apple logo.

The screen was also painted on, framed with black tape and had stickers attached representing a web browser, email inbox and iPhoto.

"Basically what they'd done is taken a screenshot of an iPad screen turned on, with a copy of a Best Buy sales ticket on front. On the back they'd pasted a cut-out of the Apple logo," Lieutenant Tony Ivey, a public information officer at the Spartanburg County Sheriff's Office said, The Smoking Gun reports.

Now I would call that an iPlank!

News source: ninemsn

Steve Jobs resigns as CEO of Apple

Silicon Valley legend Steve Jobs on Wednesday resigned as chief executive of Apple Inc in a stunning move that ended his 14-year reign at the technology giant he co-founded in a garage.

Apple shares dived as much as 7 percent in after-hours trade after the pancreatic cancer survivor and industry icon, who has been on medical leave for an undisclosed condition since January 17, announced he will be replaced by COO and longtime heir apparent Tim Cook.

Analysts do not expect Jobs' resignation -- which had long been foreseen -- to derail the company's fabled product-launch roadmap, including possibly a new iPhone in September and a third iteration of the iPad tablet in 2012.

"I have always said if there ever came a day when I could no longer meet my duties and expectations as Apple's CEO, I would be the first to let you know. Unfortunately, that day has come," he said in a brief letter announcing his resignation.

The 55-year-old CEO had briefly emerged from his medical leave in March to unveil the latest version of the iPad and later to attend a dinner hosted by President Barack Obama for technology leaders in Silicon Valley.

Jobs' often-gaunt appearance has sparked questions about his health and his ability to continue at Apple.

"I will say to investors: don't panic and remain calm, it's the right thing to do. Steve will be chairman and Cook is CEO," said BGC Financial analyst Colin Gillis.

Apple shares slid to $357.40 in extended trading after a brief halt. They had gained 0.7 percent to close at $376.18 on the Nasdaq.

Analysts again expressed confidence in the Apple bench, headed by longtime company No. 2 and supply-chain maven Cook.

"Investors are very comfortable with Tim Cook even though Jobs has been a driver of innovation and clearly an Apple success. Tim has shown Apple can still outperform extremely well when he's been acting as CEO," said Cross Research analyst Shannon Cross.

"I don't know if it's a health issue. I don't know if it is a shock. Most likely it was going to happen at some point. Why today versus another day? I don't know."

News source: yahoo

World's most expensive iPad2

Want something special to treasure for your entire life? Are you a millionaire looking for something glossy and unique to fill up your hunger for luxurious things? Maybe this one will finally end your hunt for expensive gadget – introducing the iPad 2 Gold History Edition.

The first question that comes into our mind about this very expensive gadget is what’s the difference of it from the normal one? Is playing Angry Birds and Fruit Ninja much enjoyable on this one? Will it be much easier to get 3 stars on this gadget? Obviously, the answer is no but having this gadget will definitely going to complement to the status of your life.

Anyway, here is an overview of why it is so expensive and luxurious. First, it has diamonds encrusted on it. There are flawless diamonds which formed the logo at the back of the iPad 2. Plus, it has gold to perfectly craft the most expensive back casing of a gadget in history.

Next is the front frame which surrounds the gadget’s LCD has been revamped into something really unexpected. They put Ammolite to make this one much more extravagant and super special. The rarest gemstone on Earth can now be found on this gadget. How elegant and grand can that be to have an iPad 2 which has the presence of the oldest rock our world has.

Finally, the most shocking ingredient of this elite gadget is the 65-million year old T-REX thigh bone which they crash into bits and shaped as part of the iPad. Look, no doubt this thing is very rare and there is no way to acquire such a device without forking over a large sum money.

To have a gadget with a slice or even dust of this T-REX is truly amazing.

This iPad 2 is so extraordinary and apparently, only a few people have the ability to purchase this one. It would cost you £5,000,000.00 or $8,000,000.00 in order for you to have this very exclusive iPad 2. Imagine that, you could buy a great house plus great cars for this huge amount but of course if already have that both why not purchase this limited edition iPad 2 by Stuart Hughes.

Picture and news source: thetechscoop.net