MacRumors

Last month, we reported that Apple was dominating the market for individual download and streaming movie content in the United States, representing nearly 65% of total spending. We noted at the time that the survey did not include streaming services such as Netflix and on-demand streaming offerings from cable companies, but new data from NPD on the broader market now puts those omissions into context.

According to NPD's data, Netflix represented 61% of movies downloaded or streamed in the U.S. during January and February, easily topping second-place Comcast at 8%. Apple finished in a three-way tie for third at 4% with Time Warner Cable and DirecTV.

NPD also compared consumer-reported satisfaction with four modes of digital-video acquisition: electronic sell-through (EST), Internet VOD (iVOD), cable VOD, and subscription streaming. Consumers clearly recognize that EST services like iTunes have the most "current releases available," while Netflix streaming gets credit from customers for providing the best "overall shopping experience" and "value for price paid."

According to NPD, digital video now makes up one quarter of the entire home video market in the United States, with customers increasingly embracing the instant and easy access aspects of digital video.

Reuters reports that Apple has delayed the launch of the iPad 2 in Japan following last week's earthquake and tsunami that have devastated significant parts of the country. The iPad 2 had been scheduled to debut in Japan as part of a broad international to over two dozen countries on March 25th.

"We are delaying the launch of the iPad 2 in Japan while the country and our teams focus on recovering from the recent disaster," said Apple spokeswoman Natalie Kerris.

Apple has yet to announced a rescheduled Japanese launch date for the device.

The delay comes as Apple continues to accept donations via iTunes to support aid efforts by the American Red Cross in Japan.

Meanwhile, Digg founder Kevin Rose yesterday shared an email from a friend in Japan relaying Apple's efforts to support its customers and employees in the aftermath of the earthquake. In the hours after the earthquake, the company's retail stores served as point of connectivity to allow people to gather information and contact friends and family, while the company also allowed employees and their families to temporarily seek shelter in the retail stores and offered to assist those attempting to return to their homes.

The Register reports that performance of web apps saved to the home screen on iOS devices running iOS 4.3 is significantly crippled compared to those loaded directly through the Safari browser for iOS, although it is unclear if the issue is caused by bugs or a conscious move by Apple to favor App Store apps over web app experiences.

If a web app is run from the iOS 4.3 home screen - in other words, if it is saved to the screen alongside local apps downloaded from the Apple App Store - it runs roughly two to two and a half times slower than it does in the browser, according to various tests. It appears that whereas Apple has updated the iOS 4.3 Safari browser with its high-speed Nitro JavaScript engine, Nitro is not used when web apps are launched from the home screen.

"Essentially, there are two different JavaScript engines," says Alex Kessinger, a mobile application developer and blogger who has focused on building web-standards-based apps for the iPhone. "They're not using the new JavaScript engine with applications that launch from the home screen."

In addition, web apps saved to the home screen are unable to take advantage of HTML5 web caching capabilities, preventing them from running while offline.

One example given in the article is the Sunspider JavaScript benchmarking test, which was demonstrated running in 4047 ms when loaded within Safari but taking 10747 ms when loaded as a web app from the home screen.

The report notes that developers have filed multiple bug reports with Apple regarding the issues, with Apple apparently aware of at least some of the limitations currently being experienced with web apps saved to the home screen. Apple has reportedly acknowledged, however, that at least some of the issues, including ones related to the use of lower-quality synchronous mode rendering for home screen web apps as opposed to asynchronous mode used for content loaded directly in Safari, are not scheduled to be addressed by the company.

A pair of chip teardown firms this weekend stripped down the new A5 system-on-a-chip used in the Apple's iPad 2, finding that the package is indeed being manufactured by Samsung. Several rumors in recent weeks have claimed that Apple is shifting production from Samsung to TSMC, and while that may still be the case for future production, Samsung is clearly responsible for early production runs.

UBM Techinsights performed a complete teardown of the iPad 2, with a special focus on decapsulating the A5 package.

Based on analysis performed by UBM TechInsights Lab and Process Analysis personnel, we can say that the A5 in our possession is definitely manufactured by Samsung using their 45nm process. UBM TechInsights used optical die and SEM cross-section images to analyse important features such as die edge seal, metal 1 pitch, logic and SRAM transistor gate measurements. These features were then compared to other manufacturers in our database, including other Samsung 45nm parts. The previous generation Apple A4 processor was also fabbed on Samsung's 45nm process.

UBM TechInsights also discovered that the A5 packages from two iPad 2 units used DRAM from two different sources, Samsung and Elpida, indicating that Apple has tapped multiple suppliers even for portions of the complex A5 package in order to meet demand.

Chipworks has also performed a decap of the A5, similarly revealing that the package is being manufactured by Samsung.

At this scale even electron microscopes start to run out of steam, so not the clearest of images in either case, but good enough to see the similar shape of the transistor gates and the dielectric layers. So at least this sample of the A5 is fabbed by Samsung, just as all Apple's processor chips have been for the last while.

Also of interest, iOSnoops discovered that the while the A4 chip found in the original iPad clocked in at a consistent 1 GHz, each of the two cores in the new A5 seems to run at a variable speed between 861 MHz and 894 MHz depending on the app being run, suggesting that Apple has built in more advanced power management features for the A5.

iPad 2 availability continues to get worse with Apple's online store citing 4-5 week ship times for new iPad 2 orders. Several Apple Retail stores are planning on opening early tomorrow to accommodate the continued high demand for the iPad. Based on what we've heard from readers, retail stores have remained sold out since the initial launch day. Apple has not released official numbers but it seems supplies have been limited since launch day. Apple's only statement on the matter has been that there has been "amazing" demand for the new product.

Meanwhile, at least some of the first online orders are arriving. One reader reported to us that his first day AT&T order for the new iPad arrived on Monday. Many who have ordered through Apple's online store are still waiting for their initial orders.

Apple today seeded a new version of Mac OS X 10.6.7, termed Build 10J869, to developers for testing. The update comes six days after the company pushed Build 10J868 to developers.

According to those familiar with the new build, Apple continues to list no known issues and asks developers to again focus their testing on Safari, Mac App Store, AirPort, Bonjour, SMB, and Graphics Drivers .

With the build increment increasing by only one since the previous build and very little change in file size, Apple may be nearing completion of work on the update and preparing for a public release in the relatively near future. This new build marks the eighth version of Mac OS X 10.6.7 to make its way into developers' hands since seeding began in late January.

The Associated Press reports that cable and Internet giant Time Warner will release a new iPad application tomorrow morning that will allow subscribers to the company's services to watch live television on their tablet devices. The app is said to initially support 30 basic cable channels, and access is limited to the customer's home Wi-Fi network.

The app will be free to download on Tuesday morning, but it will only work for people who subscribe to both video and Internet service from the New York-based cable company. Even then, it only works in the home, when the iPad is connected to the company's cable modem via a Wi-Fi router.

Rob Marcus, the company's chief operating officer and president, said the app will play 30 basic cable channels in high definition to start, but that number should expand soon.

"For all intents and purposes ... this enables you to convert any room in a house into a TV room," Marcus said.

On-demand content and support for using the iPad as a remote control will not be included at launch, but will be added in the future.

Time Warner Cable is the second-largest cable company in the United States, with 12.4 million customers across 28 states.

Update: The TWCable TV iPad app is now available in the App Store.

Apple Bitch reports that some Apple retail stores around the United States will be opening an hour early tomorrow in anticipation of receiving more iPad 2 shipments after quickly running dry this weekend.

While no official announcement has been forthcoming from Apple, anecdotal reports from shoppers across the country trying get an iPad 2 this morning, say they were told by retail staff that even if the Apple Stores were re-stocked today, the iPad 2 would not be sold until tomorrow and for this reason, the Stores would open early for dedicated iPad 2 sales. We have confirmed this with three retail stores.

With most retail stores typically seeing 10:00 AM openings, the change means that these stores will be opening at 9:00 AM tomorrow.

We've independently checked with ten Apple retail stores, but only four of them disclosed plans to open early tomorrow. All stores note that shipments are unpredictable, and even those expecting to receive shipments tomorrow do not know what mix of models they will be receiving. All sales are first-come, first-served, so customers may experience lines should they be hoping to pick up an iPad 2 tomorrow.

Fortune provides a nice summary of feedback from research analysts regarding the iPad 2 launch weekend in the United States, with the analysts weighing in with sales estimates ranging from 500,000 up to one million units.

Most analysts were cautious, fearing perhaps that whatever they wrote would soon be overtaken by an Apple (AAPL) press release. Most, like Piper Jaffray's Gene Munster, stuck with 500,000 units. But Baird's William Power estimated that Apple sold "roughly 1 million" the first weekend, Wedbush's Scott Sutherland "wouldn't be surprised" by that number and Global Equities Trip Chowdhry thought Apple "may have sold" three times as many iPad 2s as iPad 1s its first weekend, which amounts to the same thing.

Launch supplies of the iPad 2 were obviously concentrated at Apple's own retail stores, where the longest lines were also seen. Headcounts at Apple's flagship Fifth Avenue store in Manhattan ranged from 1,200 to as high as 3,000 customers. Meanwhile, third-party retailers such as Best Buy with smaller stocks typically saw units sell out in just a matter of minutes at their stores.

For its part, Apple has yet to announce specific iPad 2 sales figures, although a spokesperson did issue a statement to The Loop calling demand "amazing".

"Demand for the next generation iPad 2 has been amazing," Apple spokesperson Trudy Muller, told The Loop. "We are working hard to get iPad 2 into the hands of every customer who wants one as quickly as possible."

Apple should be restocking iPad 2 units at its retail stores on a nearly-daily basis, but the timing of those shipments is unknown and potential customers may find lines as other shoppers seek to bypass the 3-4 week wait now in place for new online orders.

Noted teardown firm iFixit reported today that it has performed a teardown of the Apple's highly-publicized Smart Cover for the iPad 2, revealing a plethora of magnets inside the device to keep it aligned on the surface of the iPad and to turn the iPad on and off.

There are a total of THIRTY ONE magnets within the iPad 2 and Smart Cover: 10 magnets in the iPad 2, and a whopping 21 magnets inside the Smart Cover. They're the reason why the cover works so well with the iPad 2.

Long, thin magnets are embedded in the sides of the iPad in order to hold the Smart Cover firmly in place on the left side and keep the cover closed on the right side.

A single round magnet in the rightmost panel of the Smart Cover interacts with a sleep sensor embedded in the right edge of the iPad to turn the iPad on and off as the cover is opened and closed.

The Smart Cover is broken into four panels to allow it to fold into a triangular shape to serve as a stand. A total of 15 magnets in the rightmost panel of the cover are used to bond to a steel plate in the leftmost panel to stabilize the stand.

Apple offers polyurethane Smart Covers in five colors priced at $39 each, with leather covers also available in an additional five colors for $69 each.

Over the weekend, Apple has set up a donation system that allows iTunes customers to easily donate to the Red Cross' Japanese earthquake and tsunami relief efforts. The donation page is linked from the iTunes Store and can be accessed by following this link.

Donation amounts range from $5 to $200, and the entire amount is sent to the American Red Cross.

Apple set up a similar system last year to support victims of the Haitian earthquakes.

In January, Apple was rumored to be including NFC (Near Field Communication) hardware in the next generation iPhone and iPad to allow customers to use those devices to make purchases at retail stores.

Clearly, the iPad 2 was released without any NFC technology, and it seems now that the upcoming iPhone 5 won't be getting it either. According to a report from The Independent (via 9to5mac), Apple has decided it will not be including this "wave and pay" system in the iPhone 5 this year.

One source close to the discussions said: "The new iPhone will not have NFC, Apple told the operators it was concerned by the lack of a clear standard across the industry." Yet Apple is understood to be working on its own NFC proposition, which would link payments through iTunes.

Instead, Apple is said to be working on the technology for introduction "next year", which would presumably be introduced alongside the iPhone 6 (2012).

It's clear that Apple has been working on the technology over the past year or two. Apple has hired NFC experts and published a number of patent applications related to the technology. One patent detailed how the iPhone could be used to pay a bill at a restaurant with the NFC system.

For those who ordered the iPad 2 from Apple's Online Store, the first orders have started shipping overnight. The early shipment notifications seem sporadic and are primarily of Wi-Fi and Verizon models. Readers are reporting on their ship notifications in our discussion forum. The earliest arrival for the first orders seems to be March 17th.

Those who didn't make it in the initial wave of orders will now have to wait 3-4 weeks before shipments. Apple retail locations will likely continue to get stock on a daily basis if you are looking to pick one up sooner.

The iPad 2 launched on Friday to massive lines and quickly became sold out. Fortune reports on a surveys conducted by Piper Jaffray's Gene Muster surrounding the iPad 2 launch.

According to Munster's survey of 236 respondents in New York and Minneapolis lines, he found that 70% of iPad 2 buyers were new to the iPad. Assuming this survey can be generalized to the iPad 2 buying audience, Munster believes this high percentage of new customers as a positive sign for Apple's continued growth in the tablet market:

"We believe this shows Apple is expanding its base of iPad users, which is critical to maintaining its early lead in the growing tablet market. As the user base grows Apple's lead widens, and the company has a proven track record of building unmatched brand loyalty, which we believe will be a potent combination as the tablet market evolves."

Meanwhile, one of the reasons that the iPads were in such high demand on opening weekend was due to international resellers who were buying up as many iPads as possible to ship to other countries.

MICGadget profiles one such Hong Kong reseller who took orders for 200 units before the launch and prepared eight couriers in New York, Chicago, San Francisco and Los Angeles to stand in line and then hop on a plane back to Hong Kong. The reseller was marking up units to $1025 for the base 16GB Wi-Fi model and up to $1525 for the Wi-Fi/3G 64GB model.

ChipChick also was contacted by a couple of different Russian resellers who had a similar scheme with up to 8 line-holders in place in New York City to buy the early iPad 2 models.

Apple is expected to replenish stock on Monday to its retail stores. Online ordering is still available but new orders are currently seeing 3-4 week delays.