Apple iPad Mini Wi-Fi 16 GB - Black & Slate   $329 online    71 reviews  

    October 2012 - Apple - Handheld - 16 GB - iOS - Wi-Fi Only - 7.9 inch - With Camera - 10.9 ounces（1 pound =16 ounces）

With a touch screen and the ability to take an awesome 360-degree picture from the top of a mountain, its 7.9-inch display more than measures up to the complete iPad experience. View web pages. See where you are and what's around you using online maps. Flick（瀏覽） through your photos and watch videos in vivid detail. And wave hello to the family on a video call. With the same LED backlight technology and the same fast, fluid performance that the iPad is known for, the iPad Mini doesn't disappoint customers. And with automatic shake-resistant video, your videos are instantly ready to share.

 

 

         Apple iPad 2 Wi-Fi 16 GB – Black       $350 online     2,564 reviews

    March 2011 - Apple - Handheld - 16 GB - iOS - Wi-Fi Only - 9.7 inch - With Camera - 10 hour battery -1.32 pounds

    This device has two cameras, a dual-core（雙核） A5 chip, and the same battery life – all in a thinner, lighter Multi-Touch design. It makes surfing the Web, checking email, watching movies, and reading books feel natural. LED backlighting makes everything you see remarkably vivid and bright. With every turn of the device (even upside down), the display adjusts to fit. It has a wide, 178° viewing angle.

 

         Apple iPad 1 Wi-Fi 32 GB        $600 online     454 reviews       

May 2010 - Apple - Handheld - 32 GB - iOS - Wi-Fi Only - 9.7 inch - 1.5 pounds  

Apple iPad 1 Wi-Fi is a magical and revolutionary product and the best way to experience the web, email, photos, and video. Taking advantage of the large multi-touch screen and advanced capabilities of the iPad, you can do things that you can't do on any other device. The high-resolution（分辨率）, 9.7-inch LED-backlit display on the iPad is remarkably vivid. Thin and light and with a wide viewing angle, it automatically locates available Wi-Fi networks.

 

1.According to the advertisement, which of the following statements is TRUE?

A. The Apple iPad 2 has a single core and 360-degree viewing angle.

B. The Apple iPad Mini can store as much information as the Apple iPad 2 can.

C. The Apple iPad Mini’s performance is disappointing compared to that of others.

D. The Apple iPad 1 is the oldest, the most expensive and the smallest of all three.

2.According to the advertisement, which one probably attracts most attention?

A. Apple iPad 2    B. Apple iPad Mini

C. Apple iPad 1   D. Dual-Core A5

3.We know from the advertisement that____________

A. we can’t voice chat with friends using the Apple iPad Mini.

B. we need to locate available Apple iPad 1Wi-Fi networks ourselves.

C. with the Apple iPad Mini, your videos always remain relatively smooth.

D. the Apple iPad 2 display only adjusts when the device is turned upside down.

 

BEIJING—Apple Inc. is one step closer to beginning sales of iPad2 tablet computers with cellular  network compatibility （兼容） for the first time in the Chinese mainland, where the consumer-electronics giant is in the midst of an aggressive expansion．
According to China’s Telecommunication Equipment Certification Center, a device by Apple with third-generation high-speed wireless data capabilities was issued the network access license needed for the company to begin official sales in China．The device, listed under model number “A1396”, is compatible with the 3G standard WCDMA, and would work with the cellular network operated by Apple’s local iPhone partner, China Unicom （Hong Kong） Ltd．
China Unicom declined  to comment．
Apple already offers the 3G iPad2 in Hong Kong through its partners, but currently only offers Wi-Fi versions of the device in the Chinese mainland．Still, consumers in China, which according to research firm IDC surpassed  the US as the world’s largest PC market in the second quarter, have been purchasing 3G tablets through unofficial channels．
Separately, Apple spokeswoman Carolyn Wu said Sept 6 that the company’s first Hong Kong store, set to open this quarter, will be located in the city’s central shopping and business district in the International Finance Center’s upscale （高檔的） IFC mall, a commercial center and sightseeing spot along the city’s waterfront．Wu also said that Apple is planning a new store in Shanghai later this quarter, which will be its biggest store in China．She declined to give more details or to comment on the 3G iPad2．
Apple currently has four full-service Apple stores in the mainland, which receive the most traffic of any Apple stores in the world．The company otherwise relies on resellers to get its products into the market．
The new stores reflect Apple’s confidence in rising demand for its products such as smart phones and tablet computers．Sales in the Chinese mainland, Hong Kong and Taiwan helped boost （增長） the company’s third-quarter results, newly appointed Chief Executive Tim Cook said in July．China revenue （收益） surged （激增） six-fold to about $3．8 billion during the three months ended June 25．
“This has been a substantial （重大） opportunity for Apple and I firmly believe that we’re just scratching the surface right now,” Cook said at the time, referring to strong sales in China．“I see an incredible opportunity for Apple there．”
From China Daily 2011-09-08
【小題1】According to the news, which of the following statements is true?

A．WCDMA is not the only 3G standard in the world．

B．Apple Inc. sells its products in the market of the Chinese mainland all by its own stores．

C．The consumers in China can only get iPad2 of Wi-Fi versions．

D．Chinese mainland is the second largest PC market in this year’s second quarter．

【小題2】Which one of the following phrases can replace the underlined word in paragraph 1?

A．in the interests of	B．in the front of
C．in the process of	D．in the case of

【小題3】How many full-service Apple stores in China?

A．4

B．6

C．8

D．Unknown

【小題4】What’s the probable meaning of “six-fold” in the last but one paragraph?

A．six times

B．one-six

C．60 percent

D．2times

【小題5】By saying “we’re just scratching the surface right now”, Cook means ________．

A．they don’t know much about China’s market

B．they will sell more products and gain more profit in China

C．they need to obtain more permission from China’s government

D．they ignored the rural market in China

Is it wrong to use someone else’s wireless (Wi-Fi) connection? Just recently, a man was arrested for doing just that. At that time, he was sitting in the street with a laptop(便攜式電腦) and using an unsecured(無安全保護(hù)措施) wireless connection to surf the Net. What do you think about this topic? Listen to the following different views on it.
For a start, if someone is using your Internet service or downloading, this will affect your speed of access or download limit. Also, it’s bad for Internet service providers. They will suffer in the long run because fewer people will pay for an Internet service if they know they can get it for free. And finally, just imagine this: what if the person who is stealing your Internet connection is involved in an illegal activity? I think the police are totally right to arrest these criminals.
— by Sandra Wilkins
Basically, if the person who paid for the service still has everything they paid for, what’s the problem? It’s just like using the light from streetlamps to read your book, or watching someone else’s firework display. It’s not stealing.
Also, if you leave your wireless connection unsecured, then it is your own fault(過錯) if someone else uses it. Just as you wouldn’t leave your front door unlocked, or your car door open, neither should you leave your wireless connection open. By leaving your wireless connection open, you are inviting people to use it. Securing your wireless connection is as easy as clicking a few settings on your router(路由器). And finally, haven’t the police got more important crimes to solve? They’re always saying how they haven’t got the manpower to solve real issues. But this is just ridiculous(荒謬的).
— by James Hoarley
【小題1】 Why was the man mentioned in the first paragraph arrested?

A．For stealing someone’s laptop.

B．For surfing the Net in the street.

C．For destroying others’ wireless connection.

D．For using an Internet service without permission.

【小題2】 What does Sandra Wilkins think of people using others’ Internet service?

A．He thinks it is unacceptable.

B．He thinks it is necessary sometimes.

C．He thinks it requires good computer skills.

D．He thinks it is good for Internet service providers.

【小題3】 In James Hoarley’s opinion, ______.

A．Internet service should be improved.

B．it is hard to secure one’s wireless connection.

C．using others’ Internet service is not stealing at all.

D．people should leave their wireless connection open.

【小題4】 What would be the best title for the passage?

A．Wireless connection	B．Wireless worries
C．Internet service	D．Internet users

Directions: Read the passage carefully and answer the questions or complete the statements in no more than 12 words．

The iPad is a tablet computer designed and developed by Apple．It is particularly marketed as a platform for audio and visual media such as books, periodicals, movies, music, and games, as well as web content．At about 700 grams （25 ounces）, its size and weight are between those of most contemporary smart phones and laptop computers．Apple released the iPad in April 2010, and sold 3 million of the devices in 80 days．

The iPad runs the same operating system as the earlier iPod Touch and iPhone．It can run its own applications as well as ones developed for the iPhone．Without modification, it will only run programs approved by Apple and distributed via its online store．

Like iPhone and iPod Touch, the iPad is controlled by a multi-touch display ?a break from most previous tablet computers, which used a pressure-triggered stylus（尖筆）．The iPad uses a Wi-Fi data connection to browse the Internet, load and stream media, and install software．Some models also have a 3G wireless data connection, The device is managed and synced（同步） by iTunes on a personal computer via USB cable．

Media reaction to the device has generally been neutral or positive, with more positive reaction after the device was launched．

（Note: Answer the questions or complete the statements in NO MORE THAN 12 WORDS．）

1．The Marketing Strategy of iPad is to make it ____ for audio and visual media．

2．The programs approved by Apple can only be bought from ____．

3．How do people control some previous tablet computers?

4．What's the media reaction to the device prior to its launch?

 

For those who are tired of doing the laundry, Samsung has found an answer: a washing machine that can tell you when your laundry is done via a smartphone app (application).
Strange though it may seem — "my wife already does that" was a common response among attendees viewing the device when it was introduced at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) this week — Samsung is just one of many appliance makers racing to install a large number of internet-connected features in machines in an effort to make them "smart".
Last year, it was a refrigerator that tweeted. This year, it's Wi-Fi-enabled laundry machines and fridges that can tell you when your groceries are going bad.
The washers and dryers, available starting in the spring, connect to any smartphone through a downloadable application. The phone can then be used as a remote control, so the machines can be turned on and off while their owner is at work or on the bus.
Samsung says it's not just something new — the app connection actually has some practical uses.
"If you started to dry clothes in the morning and forgot to take them out, you can go to your phone and restart your dryer for the time when come home, so your clothes are refreshed and ready to go." said spokesperson Amy Schmidt.
The company also says that with electricity rate (電價) varying depending on the time of day, more control over when the machines are used can help save money.
Perhaps, but what they will probably really accomplish is what all good technologies do — enable laziness. Rather than getting up to check on whether the laundry is done, users will instead monitor it on their phones while watching TV.
【小題1】 What can be inferred from the common response of the attendees at the CES?

A．The machine will be a big success.

B．their wives like doing the laundry.

C．The machine is unrelated to their life.

D．This kind of technology is familiar to them.

【小題2】We can conclude from Samsung's statements that ________.

A．the app connection makes life easier

B．it is better to dry clothes in the morning

C．smartphone can shorten the drying time

D．we should refresh clothes back at home

【小題3】What is the main idea of the last paragraph?

A．The laundry should be frequently checked

B．Lazy people like using such machines

C．Good technologies also cause problems

D．Television may help do the laundry