Here’s a quick look at what we’re reading today:

The internet is all abuzz this morning about Apple’s iPad Mini. Will it be even more popular than the iPad?

Chatter from Apple’s overseas supply chain indicates that the company has not been cutting corners in its efforts to keep the iPad’s diminutive sibling price-competitive with what will surely be its two greatest rivals in the seven-inch tablet space, Google’s Nexus 7 and Amazon’s Kindle Fire. Apple’s “we just want to make great products” ethos will be as evident in the iPad mini as it is in all the company’s hardware.

Tokepa analyst Brian White, who’s been travelling around Taipei talking to component suppliers, says the mini — or whatever Apple chooses to call it — may even be slicker than the new iPad.

“Apple did not skimp on the aesthetics of the much anticipated ‘iPad Mini,’” White says. “In fact, we believe the ‘iPad Mini’ could outshine the new iPad in terms of how the device feels in a consumer’s hands.”

Will the iPad Mini be sleek enough (and cheap enough) to compete with the Kindle Fire? We’ll soon know. The iPad Mini is expected to be available soon (one rumor says October 10th!) and will retail for around $299.

How many of the things in your office are on Linked In’s Office Endangered Species list?

LinkedIn today is illustrating this trend as part of its “Office Endangered Species,” study of more than 7,000 professionals that looked at what office tools and trends will most likely go away by the year 2017.

Here are the top 10:

1. Tape recorders (79 percent)

2. Fax machines (71 percent)

3. The Rolodex (58 percent)

4. Standard working hours (57 percent)

5. Desk phones (35 percent)

Click through to Tech Crunch to see the rest. Looking at the list, it occurs to us that most of the first five things are already gone from our office. Well, we DO have desk phones, and we hear we have a fax machine, but we have no idea where it’s located. Possibly in the basement.

Meanwhile, over at Twitter, it appears that co-founder Jack Dorsey’s day-to-day role has been reduced.

The role of Twitter co-founder Jack Dorsey, who returned to the company as executive chairman after a two-and-a-half-year hiatus from day-to-day operations, has been “reduced” after co-workers complained he was “difficult to work with” and “repeatedly changed his mind about product directions.” Although he is still involved in strategic decisions as executive chairman, no one directly reports to him anymore.

That’s according to The New York Times, which published a profile of Twitter CEO Dick Costolo over the weekend. The profile describes Costolo’s leadership style and background in standup comedy.

To be fair, who wouldn’t prefer a stand-up comic as a boss? Especially when the alternative is a driven-but-reportedly-difficult visionary who’s already invented two products that have changed tech forever? Steve Jobs was reportedly no bed of roses to work for, either. Here’s to hoping some of the people working under Dorsey get an apparently much-needed reprieve. And kudos to tech giants who aren’t afraid to shake things up for the good of their employees.

Finally, we love this Sunday Comic from Mashable:

Happy Monday!

The post What We’re Reading: iPad Minis, Endangered Offices, and Facebook Funnies appeared first on 435 Digital.

A very happy birthday to our supreme overlord, Google, who turned 14 yesterday and celebrated with a special Google Doodle:

If you’re one of the people who’s not too happy with the Apple Maps experience, a new Google Maps app might sound the pick-me-up you needed this week. That is, until you use it. Mashable’s Chris Taylor discusses the Google Maps app and how it doesn’t live up to the Google Maps we know and loved on iOS 5 and earlier.

Sadly for iPhone users, it looks like the best use you’re going to get out of this is as a means to fool your Android-toting friends: look, I got Google Maps for iOS 6 early!

Because if you’re expecting anything like the Google Maps iPhone app we knew and loved in iOS 5 and previous releases, you’re going to be disappointed

That’s sad. If it makes you feel any better, iPhone users, Apple is really REALLY sorry:

At Apple, we strive to make world-class products that deliver the best experience possible to our customers. With the launch of our new Maps last week, we fell short on this commitment. We are extremely sorry for the frustration this has caused our customers and we are doing everything we can to make Maps better.

We launched Maps initially with the first version of iOS. As time progressed, we wanted to provide our customers with even better Maps including features such as turn-by-turn directions, voice integration, Flyover and vector-based maps. In order to do this, we had to create a new version of Maps from the ground up.

There are already more than 100 million iOS devices using the new Apple Maps, with more and more joining us every day. In just over a week, iOS users with the new Maps have already searched for nearly half a billion locations. The more our customers use our Maps the better it will get and we greatly appreciate all of the feedback we have received from you.

(Insert obligatory comment about how this never would have happened under Steve Jobs)

While we’re on the subject of Apple, maps aren’t the only thing that don’t work with iOS6. Apple’s UDID replacement for iOS 6, a more private ad tool dubbed the Apple Advertising Identifier that users can opt out of, isn’t working according to mobile app marketing platform Trademob. Any iOS 6 users who updated over Wi-Fi are showing IDs that are all zeros, instead of the unique number sequences being sent by those who plugged their devices in and updated via iTunes or Xcode.

So that should be lots of fun.

Speaking of maps, Google Maps has released an underwater street view option that allows you to have a closer look at the Great Barrier Reef, Hawaii, and the Philippines. Watch here.

Happy Friday!

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The post What We’re Reading: Some Maps Work, Some Don’t appeared first on 435 Digital.

While we prepare for our big afternoon. here’s a look at what we’re reading today
Our web development guru, Christy, is keeping tabs on touchscreen interfaces, which are sprouting up all over:

“Google has been sprucing up its Hangouts video calling service with an updated API for features like private messages, and the ability to block people and change a Hangout from private to public. A video celebrating Hangouts gives us a glimpse of even more changes that could be coming up ahead. . . .

— simplifying moves that could point to a more touchscreen-friendly version of Hangouts in the future.”

Over at Business Insider, they’re bemoaning the fact that Facebook took so long to get into ad retargeting:

… [I]n recent weeks, Facebook has begun selling ads in a new way that makes its massive inventory much more valuable—three times more valuable, according to one company buying the inventory and reselling it.

This new method is called re-targeting. It has been used by ad-sellers outside of Facebook for years now. 

Facebook, however, only began selling re-targeted ads this summer, when it opened something called the Facebook Exchange, better known as FBX in the industry. 

Happy Birthday to Firefox (web browser), who turns 10 years old this week! The first version launched on September 23^rd, 2002. Time flies when you’re busy browsing the internet.

Check out these ten secret features of Apple’s iOS 6. While the maps could use some work, these other features are pretty cool, but not very well-known.

Need some help getting organized? Here are 13 free iPhone apps to help improve your productivity. Your co-workers will love you for it.

Finally, we leave you with this great bit of advice from Social Media Week Chicago:

“Trust your social media voice, and don’t be afraid of a mistake. Be transparent; people are human.”

We couldn’t have said it better ourselves.

The post What We’re Reading: Wednesday, September 26, 2012 appeared first on 435 Digital.

Apple has made it easier for its customers to access Apple information by bringing it to Facebook. Apple has an entire Facebook page dedicated to apps. The featured tab gives a summary of the most popular apps. It is the same information one with find on  iTunes or on the App Store application on an iPhone, but it’s all in Facebook.

A 2008 American Consumer Satisfaction Index (ACSI) study compiled by the University of Michigan’s National Quality Research Centre gave Apple a market leading score of 85—the highest ever recorded for a company in the personal computer industry.

Apple isn’t the only company turning to Facebook to build brand loyalty. Sears took advantage of the tough economy by offering  exclusive deals to its Facebook fans on Black Friday—the biggest shopping day of the year. Sears gave out coupon codes offering fan-only deals on electronics and other products. They promoted a Black Friday VIP Sweepstakes, where Facebook fans could enter to win a $500 gift card and is currently running a sweepstakes to win 500 points or $500,000 to spend at Sears. Sears relies on its Sweepstakes to recruit its more than 160,000 fans.

Research shows that 60% of Facebook fans will recommend a company or product once they “like” the page, how’s that for brand loyalty?—DANNI WYSOCKI

Related links:

http://www.itwire.com/opinion-and-analysis/core-dump/20603-apple-tops-for-brand-loyalty-report

http://www.v3.co.uk/v3/news/2270833/ipad-hurting-notebook-sales-say

http://mashable.com/2010/03/29/app-store-facebook/

The post Why Electronic Stores Need a Facebook Page appeared first on 435 Digital.

Facebook adds the “Not Now” option to delay awkward tension after a rejected friend request.

Pepsi Refresh social media campaign generates more votes than the last presidential election.

Apple CEO Steve Jobs tells journalism student to leave him alone!

New study says iPhone users will not switch from AT&T service if iPhone comes to Verizon

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