The New iPad 3 is a hit

HONG KONG (AP) — Apple-mania gripped Asia on Friday as the company's latest iPad went on sale, drawing hordes of die-hard fans to shops selling the highly anticipated tablet. Gadget fans lined up in Tokyo, Hong Kong and Singapore so they could be among the first to get their hands on the device.

The third version of Apple's iPad also went on sale in Australia and it will be available in the U.S. and five other countries beginning at 8 a.m. local time, with 25 other countries getting it a week later. The new model comes with a faster processor and a much sharper screen. It also boasts an improved camera, similar to that of the latest iPhone.

For many customers, visiting a store in person — instead of having one shipped — offers consumers a chance to mingle with die-hard Apple fans. About 450 people lined up outside Apple's Ginza store in downtown Tokyo. Some had spent the night sleeping outside the store to be among the first when it opened at 8 a.m. — two hours earlier than usual. "I wanted to be able to show it off to my friends," said Norio Nakayama, a 33-year-old computer consultant outside Apple's crosstown shop in the trendy Shibuya district. "I think I'll give my older iPad 1 to my wife." In Hong Kong, a steady stream of buyers picked up their new devices at preset times at the city's sole Apple store after entering a random drawing online.

The system, which required buyers to have local ID cards, also helped thwart attempts by visitors from mainland China — Apple's fastest growing market — who have a reputation for scooping up Apple gadgets to get them earlier and avoid sales tax at home. "I'm happy I won the lucky draw," said Kelvin Tsui, a 26-year-old hospital worker who was allowed to buy two. Tsui said he would use the opportunity to make some money. "If I've got more than one, of course I'll sell the other one." The iPad's release date in China has not yet been announced.

Two years after the debut of the first iPad, the device's launch has become the second-biggest "gadget event" of the year, after the annual iPhone release. A year ago, thousands lined up outside the flagship Apple store on New York's Fifth Avenue. The device sold out on launch day, even though it didn't go on sale until 5 p.m. For some customers, standing in line will offer the only chance to get a new iPad on Friday. Apple quickly ran out of supplies it set aside for advance orders.

The company was telling customers Thursday to expect a two- to three-week wait for orders placed through its online stores. Some buyers feared even longer waits. "I knew that if I didn't buy it today it may be difficult in the future," said Anfernee Au, 33, who spent more than three hours outside a Hong Kong Apple reseller the day before for a ticket that allowed him to buy one iPad. The new iPad is called just that: "the new iPad." Apple declined to give it a name like "iPad 3" or "iPad HD." That is consistent with its naming practice for iPods, MacBooks and iMacs, but a break with the way iPhone models are named. Despite competition from cheaper tablet computers such as Amazon.com Inc.'s Kindle Fire, the iPad remains the most popular tablet computer.

Apple Inc. has sold more than 55 million iPads since its debut in 2010, including some 40 million last year. Researchers estimate that the iPad has more than 60 percent of the market for tablets. The iPad's accomplishments have contributed to the company's success on Wall Street. Apple's stock touched $600 briefly for the first time on Thursday.

Apple is the world's most valuable company, with a market capitalization of nearly $555 billion. It topped $500 billion for the first time in late February, a market value peak where few companies have ventured. ___ Sharon Chen in Singapore and Malcolm Foster in Tokyo contributed to this report. Svensson contributed from New York.

Europe fights Google, Atrinsic readies launch

Google Inc. (GOOG)’s changes to its privacy policy don’t meet European data-protection standards, France's National Commission for Computing and Civil Liberties said after a preliminary analysis. This could not have come at worse time for Google that's in a race with competitor Atrinsic Inc (ATRN) said to debut its latest product, also on March 1, known as "Spyder." The Wall Street Journal shows, "The company develops marketing media networks... consisting of proprietary content and licensed media to attract customers, corporate partners and advertisers." 

  

The tussle between Google and European privacy regulators comes at a delicate time for the search giant, whose business model is based on giving away free search, email, and other services while making money by selling user-targeted advertising, according to CNBC. Similarly, Atrinsic increases market share by helping users acquire more customers, more cost-efficiently while providing the highest level of brand protection.

In January Google stated it was simplifying its privacy policy, combining 60 guidelines into a single one that will apply for all its services, ranging from YouTube, Gmail and Google+.  

 

This will also allow the web search giant to pool all the data it collects on individual users across its services. Google has said this will help it better tailor search results and improve services although users cannot opt out of the new policy if they want to continue using Google's services. 

On March 1, Atrinsic launches "Spyder," a state of the art marketing tool that prioritizes data management of over 100 million websites. It would not come as a surprise with "Google's one company a week" purchasing frenzy to take notice of potential streaming revenues.