These days NPD issued another "fact sheet" for the holiday consumer electronics buying season, which has some interesting facts on Apple's devices. Here are they:

• Last quarter became the most successful for iPad, as Apple reach a record figure of 4.19 million units sold over this three-month period.
• Those, who already bought an iPad at least two months ago, are using it 18 hours per week on the average.
• 58% of all the iPad buyers have Wi-Fi model, other 42% chose to purchase 3G-enabled model.


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Apple announced that 2 million songs have been sold since The Beatles recent iTunes launch. Additionally, 450,000 whole albums were downloaded by customers on iTunes.  The Beatles' best selling album on iTunes in the US was 1969's "Abbey Road," while the top selling song was that album's track, "Here Comes the Sun."

iOS 4.2 was released only a couple of days ago, but Apple is rumored to plane to release the next major update of its mobile operating system, iOS 4.3, this December. New update, as expected, will allow users to subscribe to content and address initial issues with AirPlay. Apple is reportedly planning to hold special media event on December 9 where they will announce the subscription plans. After the special event, on December 13, Apple should release iOS 4.3. As rumored, the reason for the launch of new iOS version is Apple’s massive data center in North Carolina, the purpose of which remains unknown. In addition to supporting of the new payment mechanism, 4.3 version will also include the capability to automatically push out fresh content to tablets.

According to the recent Wall Street Journal report, at least 5 RIM's former employees made a switch to Apple in the last year and a half and thus updated information in their resumes. Here are their names:

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Yesterday Marco Boglione, who is an Italian private collector and businessman, bought at Christie's auction house in London one of the Apple's first computers for $174,000. According to the Associated Press, the Apple I was in superb condition and Boglione will pay something like $210,000 after tax.

When Apple I was released in 1976, its price was $666.66. There were only 200 units made, and only from 30 to 50 are assumed to still exist. Earlier Christie's estimated that their Apple I computer will be bought for $160,000-$240,000. Now it will be shipped to its new owner in the original box and with a signed letter from Apple CEO and cofounder Steve Jobs.

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In addition to release of new iOS 4.2 Apple updated their software bundle iWork for iPad, which includes Pages, Keynote and Numbers. So, what is new in this version of iWork? The most significant changes include:

For all programs:

• Wireless printing with AirPrint using iOS 4.2;
• Support for iOS 4.2 multitasking;
• Localized in Portuguese, Danish, Finnish, Korean, Norwegian, Polish, Swedish, and Traditional Chinese;
• Improved usability and reliability;
• Improved PDF export using iOS 4.2;

Pages

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DevTeam hacker MuscleNerd tweeted that they after releasing redsn0w jailbreak for 4.2 the team can start working on iPhone unlock. Users can expect the unlock for the iPhone 3G and iPhone 3GS this week. The iPhone 4 unlock will take more time and no concrete info is available about that yet.

The ultrasn0w unlock will be released for iOS 4.1 firmware. So is you need unlock, do not update to iOS 4.2.1.

DevTeam worked hard for the last several hours and released jailbreak tool for iOS 4.2.1. It is redsn0w 0.9.6 b4.

As usual we remind all ultrasn0w unlockers please stay away from this official firmware. Wait for the ability to create custom 4.2.1 IPSWs that don’t update your baseband!

New redsn0w 0.9.6 b4 uses limera1n exploit and will successfully jailbreak all devices. The only problem is that it is a tethered jailbreak, which means you will have to plug it to a computer and rerun redsn0w on every reboot. This so called tethered or semi-tethered jailbreak. This condition applies to iPhone 3GS (new bootrom), iPhone 4, iPad, iPod touch 2G (MC model), iPod touch 3G and iPod touch 4G. Hackers are working hard to create untethered jailbreak for these devices. To use future untethered jailbreak you need to save SHSH keys for iOS 4.1 using TinyUmbrella utility or directly in Cydia.

Old devices like iPhone 3GS (old bootrom), iPhone 3G and iPod touch 2G (non-MC model) can be jailbroken-untethered right now using this latest version of RedSn0w.

You can download RedSn0w 0.9.6 b4 here.

Finally, Apple released their rumored iOS 4.2. Here is a list of the new features and improvements added in this firmware:

• AirPlay for steaming audio and video content to the Apple’s set-top box Apple TV with access to Netflix streaming.

• Find My iPhone service became free for the current generation iPad, iPhone, or iPod touch.
• AirPrint: the feature allows to print over-the-air directly to certain HP printers. Perhaps, the company is interested in looking into third-party solutions.

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Apple finally released iOS 4.2 for iPhone 3G/3GS/4, iPad, iPod Touch 2G/3G/4G and even Apple TV 2G. Lot's of new features, especially for iPad. Apple calls new firmware 4.2, however the version is actually 4.2.1. Here are the download links:

• AppleTV 2G (AppleTV2,1) 4.2.1 (8C150)
• iPad (iPad1,1) 4.2 (8C148)
• iPhone 3G (iPhone1,2) 4.2 (8C148)
• iPhone 3GS (iPhone2,1) 4.2 (8C148a)
• iPhone 4 (iPhone3,1) 4.2 (8C148)
• iPod Touch 2G (iPod2,1) 4.2 (8C148)
• iPod Touch 3G (iPod3,1) 4.2 (8C148)
• iPod Touch 4G (iPod4,1) 4.2 (8C148)

While we are all waiting for iOS 4.2 release for iPad, iPhone and iPod touch, here is a quick video review of all new iOS 4.2 features:

Here is one about iOS 4.2 for iPad:

And this one is about iOS 4.2 for iPhone:

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Apple recently published a press release stating that new firmware iOS 4.2 for iPhone, iPod Touch and iPad will be available today.

Apple® today announced that iOS 4.2, the latest version of the world’s most advanced mobile operating system, is available today for download for iPad™, iPhone® and iPod touch®. iOS 4.2 brings over 100 new features from iOS 4.0, 4.1 and 4.2 to iPad including Multitasking, Folders, Unified Inbox, Game Center, AirPlay® and AirPrint.

The iOS 4.2 update is available today to download to iPad, iPhone and iPod touch by syncing the device with iTunes 10.1. iOS 4.2 is compatible with iPad, iPhone 3G, iPhone 3GS, iPhone 4, second and third generation iPod touch (late 2009 models with 32GB or 64GB) and new iPod touch. Some features may not be available on all products. For example, Multitasking requires iPhone 3GS, iPhone 4, third generation iPod touch (late 2009 models with 32GB or 64GB) or later.

However users are unable to update through iTunes right now, as well as there are no download links yet. The expected release time is 10 am Pacific Time.

Full press release is under the cut:

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The Telegraph reports that European carriers forced Apple to abandon their plans to introduce integrated SIM-cards in future iPhone handsets. Well it looks like Apple got a little worried over the European carrier’s threats. Carriers recently accused Apple in trying to gain control of carriers’ relationship with their mobile customers, because such built-in SIM card allows customers to switch between operators easily, sign up for mobile service on Apple’s website without having to call a carrier or visit a store. Obviously, nothing has been confirmed, and, doubtfully, will be. Perhaps, Apple will announce their avoidance of implementing an integrated SIM in future iPhone handsets or may be they won’t.

These days high-end fashion journal for women Women's Wear Daily revealed that Apple CEO Steve Jobs and News Corp CEO Rupert Murdoch have been working closely on some project, which is called the Daily. It is said that there is a possibility Murdoch and Jobs together will soon appear onstage to unveil their new product.

The Guardian in the United Kingdom also posted info on that and specified that this is the tablet-only project, which will be allegedly developed with the help of Apple engineers and won't have a web edition or print edition.

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According to a new survey, released this Friday by ChangeWave, every third U.S. smartphone buyer on carriers other than AT&T wishes he could have bought Apple's iPhone.

The aim of the survey was to study what exactly smartphone the customers want to buy next time. As it have been revealed many times before, most of the iPhone's owners are happier than any other group of smartphone users as they are "very satisfied" with their purchase.

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