According to FBR Capital analyst Craig Berger, Apple is prepared to build 5 million iPads for the first half of 2010, a higher estimate then most previous analysis.
Says Berger in an investment note: “We believe various news articles and competitor notes calling for a build delay were just false alarms.”
Additionally, Berger gave estimates for other Apple devices, including iPods and Mac notebooks.
The analyst expects builds of 9.3 million iPods for the March quarter, 1.7 million notebooks and 1 million desktops.
The iPad has an April 3rd release date for models with only Wi-Fi support. 3G versions are expected in the coming months.
Result for: release date
The Examiner has reported today, and confirmed that Apple store employees will receive the iPad tablet for sales training starting March 10th.
The report says the date is confirmed by a manager in SoCal that wishes to remain anonymous.
Although the rest of the facts are not confirmed, the anticipated release date is set for March 26th, with 3G versions not available until mid-April at the least.
Commercials for the device will begin airing nationwide on March 15th, with e-reader capabilities being “emphasized.”
Additionally, anyone who camps outside Apple Stores for the launch with receive “a special gift,” although it is unclear whether that will be a gift card, a free e-book or something else.
Result for: release date
James Burt of Queensland, Australia has agreed to pay Nintendo $1.5 million in damages as compensation for lost revenue caused when Burt uploaded a game before its official release date.
Burt made New Super Mario Bros. for Wii available online in early November, one week before its official Australian street date. As is the case in most countries, distributing games without permission is illegal and carries a hefty fine.
Rather than head to court, Burt and Nintendo settled and came to the $1.5 million figure, which also includes $100,000 to pay for Nintendo’s legal fees.
“Nintendo will pursue those who attempt to jeopardise our industry by using all means available to it under the law,” says the company.
Adds Nintendo Australia managing director Rose Lappin: “It wasn’t just an Australian issue, it was a global issue. There was thousands and thousands of downloads, at a major cost to us and the industry really. It’s not just about us. It’s about retailers and if they can’t sell the games then they have to bear the costs associated with that. Once it’s on the internet it’s anyone’s really.”
