Hasta La Gadget!

Now that Apple has announced that it will hold a special event on Tuesday, just about everyone believes that the show will be used to unveil the iPad Mini. That device, which has been rumored for months, will complement the current iPad and take on the Nexus 7 from Google and Amazon’s Kindle Fire HD.

As with every other Apple announcement, the excitement surrounding Tuesday’s event is palpable. Both Apple lovers and haters are wondering what the company will offer up, and chances are, many of those folks are getting their wallets ready to plunk down cash to preorder whatever it is the iPad Mini becomes.

I recently held impromptu discussions with iPad owners I know to see if they’ll be buying an iPad Mini. I figured that they wouldn’t, since they already own an iPad, but thought it was worth asking. The results of my informal survey were shocking, to say the least.

Nearly every person I spoke to, including those who bought an iPad just months ago, said that they would at least consider buying an iPad Mini. I was shocked. Why in the world would folks who own high-end iPads want to buy a cheaper, low-end iPad?

Surely thinking that it had something to do with my friend list, I surfed the Web to see if others in Apple forums held the same beliefs. Once again, I came across many folks who said that although they already own an iPad, they would likely buy the iPad Mini.

Those responses have led to me a simple question: how many tablets do we really need?

“Some said their kids constantly play with their expensive iPads, so a cheaper mini is worth it”

Admittedly, I understood some of the points the could-be buyers were making. A few respondents said that their children are constantly playing with their expensive iPads, and they’re concerned that more use might render it useless after a bad fall off the counter. To those folks, buying a cheaper iPad Mini for the kids is worth it.

Although that was the best reason I’ve heard, I was willing to accept that some folks like the idea of having a smaller, lighter iPad with them on the road, and then switch over to the bigger model at home. To those users, it’s about convenience. And as someone who enjoys convenience as much as the next guy, I can appreciate that.

But beyond those reasons, I can’t justify buying a smaller, underpowered iPad if I already own the larger model. What is the benefit? The device will ship with iOS 6 and its feature set will likely be sub-par compared to its bigger brother. Plus, it’ll cost at least a few hundred bucks, making the addition to the tablet family awfully pricey.

The way I see it, for the vast majority of customers, having a single iPad is just fine. The device is extremely capable and helps folks get work done without much fuss. To have another iPad handy for no other reason but to have it makes little sense.

It’s an amazing feat when a company can get customers to buy a product they don’t really need. But time and again, Apple has done it. And before long, Apple will be touting preorders or sales to current customers.

My hat’s off to you, Apple. If nothing else, you’re a capitalist inspiration.

How Many Tablets Do You Really Need? is written by Don Reisinger & originally posted on SlashGear.
© 2005 – 2012, SlashGear. All right reserved.

I often look at Apple and what it has been able to accomplish over the last decade with amazement. Who would have thought that a technology company – especially one that was extremely close to failure – could become the world’s most valuable firm? But Apple has. And with over $100 billion in cash on hand, the chances of it going back to the old days of failure and despair seem unlikely.

[Original image: Photon_de]

Still, Apple’s meteoric rise from obscurity to household name is by no means unique. Several companies over the years have been able to land themselves at the top of the corporate world with a proper combination of innovation and outstanding leadership.

Realizing that, I can’t help but wonder if there will ever be another Apple. I’m not saying that the next Apple will be another company that builds smartphones and tablets, but one that can see the future and deliver it now.

Of course, many Apple fans would say that there isn’t any room for another Apple. After all, the company has the innovative insight to deliver the latest and greatest products already. And with enough cash on hand to buy up, well, just about anybody, Apple can insulate itself from losing ground to another firm.

“Apple might be big and popular, but it’s not invincible”

But holding such beliefs on the ultimate power of corporations is a dangerous game. Major companies can be huge and powerful, but a few wrong moves, and they will fail.

Make no mistake – Apple might be big and popular, but it’s not invincible.

So, that’s precisely why I think there can be another Apple. In fact, I’m a firm believer that there eventually will be another Apple. The company will find a way to innovate beyond what others in the industry have. And with a loyal following, it might just be able to surpass what Apple has achieved so far.

That said, I have no clue what company will be able to be the next Apple. And as much as I’d like to see a startup climb its way to the top of the technology world, I’m starting to think more and more that the next Apple will be a company that has already solidified its position as a trustworthy vendor in the marketplace. The way the industry works at this point, there’s really no easy way to reach the top without an already trusted brand behind it.

Still, it’s possible. Apple might own the mobile space for the next several years, but what’s to say some other company might not do something similarly special in the living room? Or perhaps a firm will come along that transforms how we use computers. It’s easy to say that no more innovation is possible beyond what Apple can deliver, but such claims are nonsense. This is the technology industry. With the right mind and enough cash, anything is possible. And to not believe so is to not acknowledge how far we’ve come over the last few decades.

Apple is special. Apple is impressive. But it’s not the end. And we must all remember that.

Can there ever be another Apple? is written by Don Reisinger & originally posted on SlashGear.
© 2005 – 2012, SlashGear. All right reserved.

A war is brewing in the mobile space.

No, that war isn’t Apple against Samsung or Google versus Microsoft. Those battles have been raging for months, and chances are, they won’t end anytime soon. The latest – and perhaps most vicious battle – is now being waged between Apple fans and Samsung fans.

If you’ve been following the mobile space lately, you know that Apple fans have taken it upon themselves to target Samsung smartphone fans, discounting their choice in product, hammering the Android operating system, and criticizing them in nearly every way imaginable. In some forums across the Web, even Mama jokes aren’t off the table.

The trouble started last week after Samsung released an ad showing the differences between its Samsung Galaxy S III and the iPhone 5. The company claimed that its product comes with all of the bells and whistles Apple’s alternative doesn’t, making it the better choice for consumers.

Apple fans, of course, responded with outrage, taking aim at every Samsung fan they could. They argued that Android is a loser, Samsung “copies” Apple’s products, and the only reason any company has been able to make some cash in the mobile market is because of the iPhone maker’s innovation in 2007. Without Apple, the fans say, there would be no Samsung or Android.

“It’s clear that a real war is on”

Of course, the Apple reaction to Samsung’s fan charges is nothing new. For years, Apple’s fans have been taking anyone to task that would even come close to criticizing their favorite company. What has been most surprising, however, has been the swift and vicious attacks Samsung has leveled against Apple, making clear that a real war is on.

But does that war make much sense? Sure, Apple’s fans believe the iPhone 5 is the best smartphone on the market. And while there are countless Android-based devices, Samsung’s faithful fully believe that the Galaxy S III is tops. Both sides are loyal. And they are flanked by millions.

Still, the fact remains that if you buy an iPhone 5, you’re going to be pleased with the device. And if you pick up a Samsung Galaxy S III, you’ll be just as happy with that product. If either side is getting anything right, it’s that the products they support really are the best in the world.

So, why fight so hard for something that, at the end of the day, just doesn’t matter? Apple fans can’t change the minds of Samsung fans, and vice versa. For some people, Apple’s products, no matter how nice, will never grace their homes. For others, the same holds true for Samsung devices. And believe it or not, it’s fine if people disagree on the smartphone they most desire.

Call me insensitive to the plight of iPhone owners, but I think there are much bigger problems in the world than dealing with the oh-so-awful Samsung Galaxy S III owners.

So they like a different device than you. Who cares? It’s not like they’re espousing the values of owning a BlackBerry.

Is there really a good reason for Samsung and Apple fans to hate each other? is written by Don Reisinger & originally posted on SlashGear.
© 2005 – 2012, SlashGear. All right reserved.

If you’re a gaming fan, you had quite a nostalgic moment on Monday: it was the 20th anniversary of what might just be the greatest racing game ever made: Super Mario Kart.

For those in the dark (or too young to remember the game), Super Mario Kart launched in 1992 on the Super Nintendo Entertainment System and is the first in the go-kart racing series. It featured all of today’s Nintendo favorites, including Mario and Donkey Kong, and kept gamers engaged for hours at a time.

I can still remember breaking Super Mario Kart out of the box and playing the game for the first time. At the time, it was state of the art. And after playing it for minutes, I knew that it was special. I was rounding corners with ease, picking up items, and enjoying it with friends. It was the very best option out there for what I needed at that time.

Super Mario Kart became the inspiration for many games over the years. In just a few short months, other developers were lining up titles that would, in one way or another, try to compete with Nintendo’s.

But as we all know, none of those games, including Sega’s Sonic Drift or later titles, like South Park Rally, could match up. Super Mario Kart delivered the right mix of fun and excitement, and its graphics and control for the time were unmatched.

As time went on, the Mario Kart series became a huge revenue-getter for Nintendo. The franchise made its way to the Nintendo 64 and GameCube, and had a strong showing on the Nintendo Wii. Simply put, the franchise is an icon in the gaming industry. And most gamers will readily acknowledge the indelible mark it has left on the gaming business.

“It takes a special game to elicit strong emotions 20 years after its launch”

It takes a special video game to elicit strong emotions 20 years after its launch. And I can honestly say that out of the thousands of video games I’ve played over the years, few have been able to leave such a mark on my life the way Super Mario Kart did.

You see, the game wasn’t the best looking I’ve every played nor did it come with the best story. What Super Mario Kart did was help friends bond. Everyone I knew wanted to come over the house and play Super Mario Kart. And when I headed over to a friend’s house, it was the first game we popped in for years.

How many games can you find in your history that did the same? Surely the first time you played a Mario game, you were entranced, and chances are, the original Halo impressed you to no end. But how many more games have delivered such an impact? Moreover, how many more games have delivered that impact for 20 years?

Call me crazy, but Super Mario Kart is one of those games that, when pressed for something to play, I’d still consider booting up.

So, happy birthday, Super Mario Kart. You’ve officially entered the pantheon of old-time gaming greats. And in my book, you’re still in the top ten.

Remembering the Late, Great Super Mario Kart is written by Don Reisinger & originally posted on SlashGear.
© 2005 – 2012, SlashGear. All right reserved.

If you look on Amazon or head over to Best Buy, you’ll find a slew of televisions available. Better yet, you’ll find that many of them are discounted right now. Retailers realize that the summer is a tough time to sell televisions, and getting customers in the door with some deals is a great idea.

As enticing as it might be right now to buy a new television, you shouldn’t do so.

Wondering why? Let’s start with the time of the year.

With football season fast approaching, the chances of finding good deals on really great televisions are slim. Retailers know that we’re entering the time of year when we’ll be spending more time inside watching television, and the very thought of giving away the top-end televisions – which offer the best margins — is enough to make them sick.

At the same time, we can’t forget that the Consumer Electronics Show is just a few months away. Each year, television makers unveil the latest and greatest television technology. And I can tell you from experience that there’s absolutely nothing worse than buying a television in, say, October, only to discover that it’s been replaced by something much better in January.

Samsung and Vizio have for years delivered really outstanding television technologies at the Consumer Electronics Show. And this year will likely be no different. So, waiting until the beginning of January to make a purchase might just be a good idea.

“We need to acknowledge Apple’s impact on TV buying”

Why risk getting something now that’ll be obsolete in just a few months?

Finally, and perhaps most importantly, we need to acknowledge the impact Apple should be having on television buying. The iPhone maker is reportedly working on a television that could rival those delivered by Samsung, Panasonic, LG, and others.

The device will come in sizes of 42 inches to 55 inches, according to Piper Jaffray analyst Gene Munster, and deliver a host of nice features, like Siri integration, iCloud support, and apps.

If you’re an Apple fan or just enjoy using the company’s products, spending $2,000 on a high-end television right now would be a major mistake. If Apple is, in fact, launching a television in the next year, you’ll be looking at a $2,000 device you’ll probably wish you didn’t buy.

Handicapping the television market can be extremely difficult. Sometimes, companies you like deliver something really exciting, while others offer up products that fall flat.

Even worse, you need to determine what time of the year you’ll find the best pricing. Typically, that means waiting until after the Super Bowl to pick up your next television. But with changing market dynamics and the possibility of Apple entering the race, anything can (and probably will) change.

But what won’t change is my recommendation to not buy a television right now. At the very least, wait until January to see what companies offer up at CES. Despite some attractive prices on older TV models or mid-range devices, the products you’ll actually want to buy just aren’t worth buying right now.

Why You Shouldn’t Buy A TV Now is written by Don Reisinger & originally posted on SlashGear.
© 2005 – 2012, SlashGear. All right reserved.