Tony Hawk for iPhone? Let’s just him do the tweeting… er… talking:

In the PR world, this is considered “going rogue,” but I’m too excited to contain it. This is real & dropping soon.

Happy?

Tony Hawk for iPhone “Real” and “Dropping Soon” is a story by TiPb. This feed is sponsored by The iPhone Blog Store.

TiPb - The #1 iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch Blog

Something has changed on Apple.com’s revamped iPad specs page — the mute switch is gone and in its place, a physical hardware button for “screen orientation lock”. That’s right, now you can sit or lounge without fear of the iPad spinning around willy-nilly every time you shift one way or ‘tother. However, you can’t quickly turn the sound off. (We’re guessing you’re supposed to hold down the volume rocker for that function now).

We’ve long hoped for a Settings option for that, but hardware is certainly more convenient to rapidly turn it on and off at whim. Sacrificing the mute button though? Couldn’t it be (will it be?) user assignable like the home button? And what’s with the last minute change? Focus groups give feedback, or did Steve Jobs get tired of his screen flipping around, stormed down to the underground lab, and demand the change? Will it be confusing to have orientation lock on the iPad where mute is on the iPhone? Or will the 4th generation iPhone get the same change?

Are we reading too much into this, or is Apple not reading enough into what’s being hailed as the next great leap forward in personal computing?

[via the Loop]

Goodbye iPad Mute Switch, Hello iPad Orientation Lock Switch is a story by TiPb. This feed is sponsored by The iPhone Blog Store.

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iPod + iTunes is dead on the Apple.com menu, long live iPod | iPhone | iPad | iTunes. (And yes, Mac is still there too).

The all new iPad section coincides with the launch of pre-orders and pickups today, and links to all the content previously available at apple.com/ipad via the homepage. The broken out iPod and iTunes section lets Apple focus on the devices (with the iPod touch front and center) on the former, and the iTunes software and store on the latter.

So what do you think of the new navigation, cheers or jeers? And is iPhone, iPad, iPod, and iTunes taking the place over?

Apple.com Adds iPad to Menu, iPod and iTunes Now Separate is a story by TiPb. This feed is sponsored by The iPhone Blog Store.

TiPb - The #1 iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch Blog

Not in the US, can’t pre-order an iPad via store.apple.com/us, willing to travel by plane, train, or automobile to the closest Apple Retail Store on April 3? Then reserve your iPad for pick-up now and be sure get one when you get there!

You’ll need an Apple Online Store ID to reserve one, but my Canadian Apple Online Store ID worked just fine. If yours works too, let us know in the comments!

Note: If you buy an iPad from the US, you’ll likely need to have to go back to the US for any warranties or repairs. Keep that in mind.

International and Want an iPad on April 3? Reserve for Pickup and Get Traveling! is a story by TiPb. This feed is sponsored by The iPhone Blog Store.

TiPb - The #1 iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch Blog

Attention US shoppers, the iPad in both Wi-Fi and 3G flavors are now available for pre-order. Just head on over to the Apple Online Store and you can arrange to have your very own iPad Wi-Fi in 16GB, 32GB, and/or 64GB shipped to you or made ready for pickup at your local Apple Retail Store on April 3. iPad 3G 16GB, 32GB, and 64GB are also available for pre-order but won’t ship until late April.

Did you pre-order? If so, which one did you get?

Apple iPad Wi-Fi + 3G Now Available for Pre-Order in the US is a story by TiPb. This feed is sponsored by The iPhone Blog Store.

TiPb - The #1 iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch Blog

The US Apple Online Store is down in advance today’s US iPad pre-order kick off. It should be back up by 5:30am Pacific, 8:30am Eastern so shoppers around the country can nab themselves a magical new iPad for delivery or pick-up on April 3. We’ll post the direct link as soon as it’s live.

Now Apple Online Stores in other countries like Canada and the UK… well we’re not sure why they’re down since they’re not getting iPad pre-orders (or iPads until “late April”) so keep your eyes peeled and let us know what they come back with… if anything.

[Thanks to everyone who sent this in!]

Apple Online Store Down! US iPad Pre-Orders Imminent! International… iWhat Now? is a story by TiPb. This feed is sponsored by The iPhone Blog Store.

TiPb - The #1 iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch Blog

Live from GDC 2010, Rene talks with Jonathan Kromrey, General Manager of Apple Games at Namco about Pool Pro Online 3 [$4.99 - iTunes link] for iPhone and iPod touch… and coming to the iPad as well!

Namco’s Apple group, known as Order of Magnitude, started with the iPhone version but since much of the game runs server side, and they’ve got high resolution art for the PC and Mac versions, moving it over to the iPad is something they can do very quickly. (It will also allow them to bring it to Android — already in beta — and other platforms). Due to the server-side nature of the game, you can also play it across platforms with your settings and customizations linked to your username. That means if you play on the iPhone now, when you get the iPad you can log in and just keep playing.

Multiplayer is supported over Wi-Fi and bluetooth and you can chat (i.e. trash-talk) in any language supported by the iPhone via their Unite SDK, the same system that allows cross-platform challenges to be sent and received. (And you can wager with virtual cash to make it a little more interesting).

We’ve been promised this kind of multi-player, multi-platform gaming for a long time now but Namco looks like they’re delivering. The performance and real-time rendering are slick and swift and the controls and customization are precise and robust.

Check out the video below, and if you’re playing Pool Pro Online 3 let us know how you’re liking it!

YouTube link

TiPb Apps 4.5: Pool Pro Online 3 for iPhone (GDC 2010) is a story by TiPb. This feed is sponsored by The iPhone Blog Store.

TiPb - The #1 iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch Blog

Tapped on App Store and what did I see? Updates for Tweetie, Loopt, Foursquare, and Flickr — and a couple of those say iPhone OS 3.2 (aka iPad) right there in the What’s New listing. (Yeah, that doesn’t mean 3.2 is coming to the iPhone or these are 1024×768 versions, likely just that they’re built using that SDK for maximum blackboxing on the iPad).

Tweetie [$2.99 - iTunes link] has just hit version 2.1.1 and brings iPhone OS 3.2 compatibility(!), Foursquare (4sq.com) integration, Vodpod video uploads, Post ‘message’ parameter to TwitPic, and Instapaper Mobilizer. See our previous Tweetie coverage for more on the app.

Loopt [Free - iTunes link] expands the product’s Pulse feature to include tens of thousands of local events, and allows check-in to events, public Tips, and the ability to RSVP to events posted on Facebook. It’s also got you covered for SXSW, and adds content from SonicLiving, Zvents and Metromix.

Foursquare [Free - iTunes link] brings a whole new look and feel (see below), faster, better checkin, and categories for Places view. Also, it has history for Places, and uses Tweetie-style pull-to-refresh.

Flickr [Free - iTunes link] iPhone OS 3.2 support (!)

Quick App Updates: Tweetie, Loopt, Foursquare, Flickr — Including iPhone 3.2 Compatibility(!) is a story by TiPb. This feed is sponsored by The iPhone Blog Store.

TiPb - The #1 iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch Blog

TUAW played hero today, riding to the rescue of would-be iPad pre-orderers everywhere with firm news from Apple PR of just when exactly those iPad pre-orders would start:

“Customers can pre-order online at apple.com at 5:30am Pacific time on Friday, March 12.”

So that’s 5:30am PT, 8:30am ET, 1:30pm GT. Of course, the Apple Online Store might go down first, and who knows what delays might spring up between now and then, but for what it’s worth that’s currently go time.

So now the question remains: who’s placing an order?!

Apple iPad Orders Start Tomorrow 5:30am PT, 8:30am ET, 1:30pm GT is a story by TiPb. This feed is sponsored by The iPhone Blog Store.

TiPb - The #1 iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch Blog

You knew with a name like the iPad, the jokes they would follow but Hiphandmaids on Etsy takes it to a new level.

They have developed a real, usable case which is in the form of a feminine napkin — and yes it has wings. Etsy is selling these “cases” for $30.00 US for the month of March as a promotion.

Here is how Etsy describes the case on their website:

>With its durable vinyl outer layer and plush, quilted-cotton sleeve, the iMaxi helps keep your iPad clean and dry. Plus, the iMaxi’s Velcro-latched, advanced wing design wraps snugly around your device, so your iPad always stays where it should. Best of all, it shields it from all those unsightly and embarrassing data leaks that would make any motherboard worry!

>Each handmade iMaxi can be easily customized to fit your active lifestyle. Please view other listings for different color options including our “lived in” red thread interior. If you don’t see a color you like, just ask!

So if I bought one for Rene, which should I get, white or lived in ?

A couple more pics after the break!

iMaxi Maxi Pad iPad Case from Etsy is a story by TiPb. This feed is sponsored by The iPhone Blog Store.

TiPb - The #1 iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch Blog