KGI Securities analyst Ming-Chi Kuo, who has published several prospects on Apple products, says Apple is looking to [..]]]> Apple could very well release a cheaper iPad mini this year that starts at the competitive $199, according to one analyst.

KGI Securities analyst Ming-Chi Kuo, who has published several prospects on Apple products, says Apple is looking to expand its iPad family lineup in order to be more competitive with Amazon’s Kindle and more affordable Android-based tablets.

The move would make sense, as many believe Apple will release a Retina display iPad Mini this year, and potentially lower the price of the first-generation iPad Mini. From Kuo’s report:

Prior to iPad mini 2 launch, Apple might roll out a more affordable iPad mini to compete with Android products. To cut costs, Apple might push for lower component prices, use a more advanced process to produce the A5 processor, simplify metal casing production, remove the rear camera, cut storage to 8GB and find more component suppliers to lower costs. We think this cheaper iPad mini retail for US$199~249.

While the analyst says it wouldn’t make a huge impact on Apple’s overall iPad sales, it would help keep the competition at bay.

Apple has pulled this iPad trick before. It dropped the price on its first generation iPad with the second-generation model was announced and did the same with the third- and fourth-generation iPad.

Amazon has been fairly snarky its advertising, arguing the best part of the Kindle is its price. When talking about the HD display on both tablets, the ad says, “You won’t even notice the difference, but your wallet will.” The tablets both show their price tags, with Apple iPad starting at $499.

Android-based tablets – and there are plenty of them out there — finally drove Apple’s market share below 50 percent this year.

Some Apple fans believe Apple will drive the current iPad Mini price down to $229 and keep all new iPad mini models at their $329 starting price.

Even a year or so after it came out, it only had a few select popular titles. Today, however, there are thousands of magazines and newspapers to choose from — and many [..]]]> If we’re being honest with ourselves, when Apple released Newsstand, it was lacking in content.

Even a year or so after it came out, it only had a few select popular titles. Today, however, there are thousands of magazines and newspapers to choose from — and many of them are very good.

Here are 20 Newsstand apps that you must download today:

1) The New York Times

Hands down, the best journalism you’ll ever read. This app transforms your app into a familiar looking newspaper.

2) Wall Street Journal

Just like the New York Times, the WSJ’s app makes the newspaper modern again. It’s business and news alerts are also very well done.

3) The Washington Post

It’s important to keep up on what’s up on the Hill. This app, like the Times and Journal, also gives that newspaper vibe.

4) Bloomberg Businessweek

Every week, Bloomberg opens its digital magazine with a video on why it chose the cover it did for its cover story. The magazine is very interactive and makes reading business news fun.

5) The Economist

The Economist is on this list, because it’s cheaper than a print subscription. If you like this content, download it, but don’t expect to see pretty pictures. It is the economist after all.

6) Forbes

Forbes is filled with interactive content that you’ll love to devour.

7) Columbia Journalism Review

If you download the Times, Journal and Post, chances are you love journalism. Learn about the best in journalism from CJR, which recently updated its app for easier use.

8) Esquire

Esquire opens its magazine with a video — sometimes a sexy video — from its cover photo, which is very good. The app uses a left-to-right and up-and-down scrolling motion, making thumbing through this digital mag a breeze.

9) Macworld

Macworld has great content, but it’s app still needs some work. It’s essentially a PDF you can flip through.

10) Time Magazine

Time allows you to read stories and share your thoughts via Facebook or Twitter.

11) U.S. News Weekly

If you’re a print reader at heart, U.S. News Weekly updates each week to give you stories that matter most. It could replace your Google News feed.

12) Vogue

Fashionistas will love Vogue’s bright colors and extravagant designs on their iPad.

13) Bon Appétit

The iPad is quickly becoming a must-have tool in the kitchen. Bon Appetit shares the best recipes with you.

14) People

Catch up on your celebrity gossip and share with your friends on Facebook what you found out.

15) Real Simple

Need to be inspired to redecorate your house? Or maybe you’re moving? Real Simple has a ton of great ideas and the app allows you to do some pretty interactive things.

16) Sports Illustrated

Sports Illustrated should win an award for its app. It’s filled with videos, polls, graphics — really everything an iPad magazine should have.

17) National Geographic

Nat Geo’s photos look stunning on the iPad. Enough said.

18) Distro

Distro is the magazine of Engadget. It’s completely free.

19) The Magazine

This magazine is filled with great commentary that tech enthusiasts will love.

20) Wired

Wired — I believe —has won some awards for its interactive app. All techies must download.

In today’s world, we can use both consumer and business video platforms to communicate with clients and coworkers from around the globe.

Here are 10 mobile [..]]]> Mobile video is a growing technology that takes the expensive plane ride and lodging out of important business trips.

In today’s world, we can use both consumer and business video platforms to communicate with clients and coworkers from around the globe.

Here are 10 mobile video apps and services to consider before booking that pricey airplane ticket:

FaceTime

If your company uses Apple products, FaceTime might be your best option.

It allows anyone with an Apple ID to video chat from a Mac, iPhone, iPod Touch or iPad, seamlessly and in great quality.

Of course, it is limited. Currently, you can only FaceTime with one person at a time. This might not be a problem if you have a group of people working in front of a Mac, and you can communicate with the group as a whole.

Skype

Skype might just be the most popular video chatting and voice over IP phone service out there. After everyone in your business has created a Skype account, you can not only phone and video chat with those people — free of charge — but you can also instant message with them.

Skype also allows for multiple video chats, perfect or clients or coworkers who are in multiple remote locations.

Google Video Chat

Google’s video chat service also allows for multiple video conversations at the same time. Many businesses have switched over to Google’s enterprise account, which allows for easier integration with video chatting and general messaging.

Vonage

Vonage allows users to video chat for free with other Vonage customers, so obviously, the biggest drawback, is that you need to be a Vonage member.

Perhaps some smaller businesses use Vonage… perhaps not.

SeeVogh

The SeeVogh app lets you attend a SeeVogh videoconference. You will need a SeeVogh account or a SeeVogue meeting identifier, but after doing all that, you have quite a powerful business video platform.

SeeVogh is a multipoint, high-definition, video collaboration platform that runs on iOS, Android, Mac, Windows and Linux devices.

ooVoo

ooVoo claims to be the best at video calls. Apparently, 70 million people use the service today.

Most importantly, it provides multi-stream video calls with up to 12 people at the same time. That should be more than enough for even the most important of business meetings.

Oh, and it’s 100% free.

Tango

Tango requires users to make a profile and then you can communicate with other Tango members. It is completely free of charge.

This obviously more consumer-friendly friendly, as you can customize your profile with emojicons and challenge your friends to various games during calls.

It might look a bit goofy, but it’s free and free is always good.

VideoChat BFF

VideoChat BFF is definitely a consumer-friendly video chat app, but if you work in a business where you need consumer feedback, this could be it. You can search and contact more than 50,000 FaceTime and Skype users from around the world for free.

Don’t worry — all contact information is held privately.

WeTalk

There is no video in this app, but I had to slip it in, because it’s a great VoiP app.

Reviewers say quality is quite strong. Could be a great way to cut back on cellphone minutes for your business.

Qik Video

Quik video chat, video mail and video share apps are used by millions of people today. You can do live chats over 3G or Wi-Fi, and the resolution is very strong.

Businesses with social media presence may want to share live videos onto Facebook and Twitter as well.

The rumors are moving ahead quickly. Many say iOS 7 will look completely different because hardware designer Jonathan Ive is now in charge of also designing the [..]]]> When the iPhone 5S releases this summer, many Apple fans are also hoping for a new iOS mobile operating system.

The rumors are moving ahead quickly. Many say iOS 7 will look completely different because hardware designer Jonathan Ive is now in charge of also designing the software that we use on our iPhone, iPad and iPod Touch.

Here are some things we hope iOS 7 brings us:

1) iOS 7 And a Brand New Design

iOS has made steady improvements since the iPhone was released, but it has pretty much stayed stagnant.  Apparently, software engineers are pulling some design ideas from Mac OS X 10.9. That’s interesting, because Mac OS X has been pulling tricks from iOS to further bridge the gap between the two softwares.

2) iOS 7 Needs to Take Its Time

Where’s the fire? There’s no need to rush out a buggy software. Work it out behind the scenes first, and release a near-perfect version. We don’t need iOS 7 with the iPhone 5S, although it would be welcomed.

3) Incorporate iOS 7 With Apple TV and iWatch

Apple TV has to be the clunkiest user experience of any Apple product. Don’t worry about fixing that experience, just let us user our iOS device to type and search for movies and TV shows. The same goes for the rumored iWatch. That’s going to be a very specific device — make sure it integrates with iOS devices.

4) Multitasking Redesign is Needed in iOS 7

Apparently the average iPhone has 41 apps, and many of those we use frequently or at the same time. We need to be able to switch between screens that show apps working live.

5) iOS 7 and the Horizontal Home Screen

Now that the iPhone 5 is a tad bigger, and we can expect the iPhone 5S to be just as big, it’s time Apple let’s us organize our home screen horizontally, like we can on the iPad. Of course, you’d have the option to lock the home screen from switching perspectives.

6) iOS 7 Should be More Flexible with Icons

One of the fun parts of the iPhone is being able to put a photo of you and your sweetheart as the background. The bad part? Most of the time, applications cover your faces. Apple can keep the grid, but let us start it from the bottom, or from wherever we want. We don’t like being locked into the standard setup.

7) iOS 7 Needs an Improved Notification Center

Notification Center is really cool, especially when you take your eyes off your phone for an hour at a time and it’s filled with miscellaneous messages. But sometimes it’s overwhelming. It should take a bulleted approach that lets us click and unfold the notifications from each app that we have it set up to notify us about.

8) iOS 7 Needs to Let Us Choose Our Camera App

Accessing the camera on the iPhone from the lock screen was a feature that let’s us quickly take photos. But what if want to do that with Instagram? Or Snapseed? Or some other kind of camera app. iOS 7 needs to give us that option. I fought for this in iOS 6, but it didn’t happen.

9) Make iOS 7 Simple

The bookshelf, and all the other real-looking designs are great, but they’re getting to be too much. Ive promised to give us simple, so I hope he delivers. Basic colors and easy access will make iOS 7 a huge success.

10) Refresh all of Native App Icons in iOS 7.

This is personal preference, but I’m tired of the Systems, Mail, Phone and Messages app icon design. If this iOS is going to be completely overhauled, I want to see something new.

What do you want to see in iOS 7?

Apple CEO appointed Ive to the company’s Human Interface team, which would put him in charge of iOS 7. A Wall Street Journal [..]]]> Now that hardware design mastermind Jony Ive is also in charge of designing software, the next-generation iOS should look familiar, but significantly different.

Apple CEO appointed Ive to the company’s Human Interface team, which would put him in charge of iOS 7. A Wall Street Journal report says that the designer is more apt to develop a “flat design.” What does that mean? From the report:

Some suggested that in Apple’s next mobile operating system, Ive is pushing a more “flat design” that is starker and simpler, according to developers who have spoken to Apple employees but didn’t have further details. Overall, they expect any changes to be pretty conservative. For the past few years, Apple has unveiled versions of its mobile operating system in the summer.

Design is one example of the increased “collaboration across hardware, software and services” that Apple said it was aiming for when Cook pushed senior vice president and mobile software chief Scott Forstall out of the company last year.

Apple wants to get away from real-looking designs (think Newstand and iBooks — physical shelfs, etc.) and more streamlined and modern-looking (think iTunes 11).

A flat design — hopefully — won’t mean Windows 8, as some jokesters in forums and comment threads have talked about.

Apple applied for a patent that does just that:

At first blush, Apple’s invention, aptly titled “Integrated inductive charging in protective cover,” appears to [..]]]> Imagine snapping on a smart cover and hearing that little ring that indicates your iPad is charging. It could be a reality.