According to a report, Apple could launch an Internet-connected high-definition television set by the end of 2011, expanding into the $100 billion LCD TV market. Analyst Brian White with Ticonderoga Securities said in a note to investors that he picked up “data points” that point toward a “Smart TV” launch by Apple, possibly as soon as by the end of this year.

If Apple does want into this market, (which seems inevitable) will an Apple HDTV take the world by storm like their other products? Maybe. It could be paired with a subscription service to iTunes, allowing users to access content and services at a flat subscription rate so that a cable box and digital video recorder will no longer be needed. That would make a lot of folks happy.

Hey, we love anything that turns your iPad into a mini arcade system. So we cheered when we learned that Ion Audio’s iCade Arcade Cabinet for the Apple iPad, passed through the FCC today. Just slide your iPad into the $100 cabinet, connect to the iCade via Bluetooth, and you’re ready to relive your arcade days.

The iCade packs in an arcade-style joystick, six numbered buttons and two “enter” buttons. And you can download free games for the iCade from Apple’s App Store. The Atari Greatest Hits app is already configured to work with the iCade, and you can download additional games through the Atari Greatest Hits app. It takes 2 AA batteries.

This generation’s console cycle is already longer than usual. However even though we are getting a successor to the PSP, it looks like we are going to have to wait for the PS4. Sony has stated that a PS4 isn’t in the works for launch “anytime soon.” They remain confident in the ten year life-cycle. Apparently very confident.

One analyst says that this could leave the door open for others to enter the console market. Maybe even Apple. Apple TV for instance could use an SDK and App Store to deliver games to television sets. The next generation Apple TV might just have the same hardware and software improvements that accompanied the iPad 2. That could be very interesting.

Do you know many 5 year olds who have an iPad? Whatever you answered, there are soon to be more small people sporting Apple’s tablet. School officials in Maine’s Auburn Schools Committee have voted unanimously to provide all kindergartners with a brand new iPad 2 next year. They will repeat this process for each new incoming class as well.

That’s gonna be expensive, but they feel it is worth it. It will cost the school system about $200,000 next year, including Apple’s $25 discount from the tablet’s regular retail price. No wonder this school is already looking for a 5 percent budget increase.

JBL has now started shipping their new On Air Wireless Speaker System which is specially designed for iOS devices. This is among the first AirPlay-enabled speakers capable of streaming iTunes 10 music or Internet radio directly from your computer. We also love that it looks like it belongs in a spaceship cockpit.

This speaker system can use your existing Wi-Fi or Ethernet to connect to your PC or Mac iTunes library and makes the link with Apple’s AirPlay technology. It also sports a small LCD screen so you can see the album artwork and song info when an iOS device is not docked.

Remember when iPhone owners complained about AT&T’s network and could not wait for the day they could use their Apple devices on Verizon’s network? It wasn’t so long ago. Well, we have iDevices on Verizon now and guess what? It isn’t all it was cracked up to be. The grass always seems greener on the other side.

Verizon iPad 2 users are having reboot problems. Apple calls the number of users with problems “small”, but they have acknowledged the problem after message boards went crazy this week with customers complaining they are having difficultly accessing Verizion Wireless’s 3G data network.

Looks like Verizon-based Apple gadgets have a recurring reboot problem. Owners of Verizon’s native iPad 2 with both Wi-Fi and 3G (in 16, 32 and 64GB memory configurations) are complaining that they have to reboot their devices if they want to connect to 3G after previously switching that feature off.

Wi-Fi works just fine apparently, but 3G connections can take several minutes or just never happen. It doesn’t seem like all Verizon iPad 2 users are having this problem, but the complaints from those who are affected are very similar. It just goes to show that Verizon has it’s own set of problems with iDevices, much like At&t

Microsoft has released a new version of their Bing app. This time it’s for their rival’s device, the Apple iPad. It comes with many cool new features that will allow you to view news articles, search for photos, check out movie listings and everything else.

Some of the new features you can expect in the Bing for iPad app include weather, stock quotes, Bing Maps, and voice search, and you can also view websites that you are searching for inside the Bing app. Sounds like some good improvements.

iPad 2s may be in short suppky right now, but despite this, some training material for Toys ‘R’ Us staff has revealed that the toy store could offer the device. Why not? Get kids thinking about Apple early from childhood and they will grow up to spend their money on Apple products.

The question on the training material reads: “The iPad 2 features a what size LED screen?” Together with the branded product sheet, these photographs seem to show that a Toys ‘R’ Us launch of the device could be happening soon.

The already controversial GrooveShark music streaming service is not finding it easy with mobile platform vendors. GrooveShark’s mobile music streaming application was already booted out of Apple’s App Store last year, and now they have been booted from Google.

GrooveShark for Android was removed from the Android Market this week. But don’t worry, the GrooveShark for Android application is still available from the company’s website and can be installed on any Android device that allows sideloading. The iPhone version is also available, though only installable on jailbroken devices. It ain’t easy getting your mobile Grooveshark on. It seems there are too many sharks in the water and not enough chum.

According to Digitimes, the iPad 2 supply may be strained due to cover lenses needed for the touch panel modules. Apple has sold between 2.4 to 2.5 million iPad 2s in March alone, and obviously they want to keep on selling as many as possible so this could really mess things up.

That is, unless manufacturers ramp up their production of the necessary lens component. TPK Touch Solutions and G-Tech Optoelectronics are trying to produce more cover lenses for the iPad 2, along with competing devices. Apple’s sales may be in their hands. Hopefully they can get more lenses produced.

If you are looking for a more old school way to type, check out the new Typescreen from Spinning Hat. It’s a typewriter style keyboard dock for the iPad and iPad 2 that allows you get all retro and actually type as if using a typewriter.

The Limited Edition Typescreen won’t allow you to rip a page out and toss it away in frustration, but it will allow you to experience the next best thing to writing on a typewriter. And you won’t have to replace any ink ribbons.

A new image may point to the iPod nano’s seventh generation regaining a camera. The part shows what looks like the current iPod, but with a cutout area that looks designed to fit a camera lens on the back.

If this is anywhere near the final product, it looks like Apple has found a way to include a camera in the touchscreen iPod nano redesign. You might remember that the last tall iPod nano actually had a video camera, but it was dropped in the new version, probably because of size and battery life problems. We don’t know if it will include still photography.

Amazon.com is considering the introduction of a service that would let customers pay for goods in brick-and-mortar stores using their mobile phones. This info comes from “two people with knowledge of the project” so we don’t have any confirmation just yet.

This service would use near field communication (NFC) technology, which allows devices to transmit data like payment information, loyalty points and coupons by simply tapping them against special cash registers. It makes sense for Amazon to venture into this field since Microsoft, Apple and Google are said to be planning software, devices or services with NFC themselves. If this does happen it should happen within six months time.

Thanks to an internal corporate memo, we know that Apple is planning a deal with Radio Shack. About 500 stores US-wide are due to start carrying the iPad 2 on Tuesday, March 29. This is apparently a last-minute plan that had only been agreed upon in the “last few days.”

The company had a much wider launch with the iPad 2 than it had previously. Usually Apple waits until supply shortages have settled down or until it gets closer to the holidays, when the expansion can have a maximum effect. The more aggressive launch is likely due to battling Android tablets like the Motorola Xoom.