Christmas Articles on TUAW - The Unofficial Apple Weblog

App downloads spike over the holiday, though not as high as expected

by Mike Schramm (Dec 27th, 2012)

The Christmas holiday saw a record number of iOS device activations, and as usual, a nice spike in app downloads for developers (thanks to all of those new devices on the market). But Distimo just shared a report that says Christmas might not have been as merry as we thought for app developers ...

Flurry: 17 million iOS, Android devices activated on Christmas Day

by Mike Wehner (Dec 27th, 2012)

If you received a new smartphone or tablet for Christmas, you're not alone; VentureBeat reports that over 17 million new iOS and Android devices were activated on Christmas day, according to analytics firm Flurry. That's a bump of over 330 percent over the average of the 20 days preceding the ...

New tablet owners share Christmas tweets, iPad on top

by Kelly Hodgkins (Dec 26th, 2012)

Anecdotal evidence from Twitter suggests there were a lot of new iPads under the Christmas tree. According to a graphic spotted by Andy Baio, the number of people proclaiming this is my "First tweet from my iPad" eclipses those tweeting for the first time from their Kindle Fire, Nexus 7 or ...

Holiday iPad magic to start your week

by Kelly Hodgkins (Dec 24th, 2012)

Simon Pierro is back again with his bag of iPad tricks this holiday season. The iPad magician has compiled his 24 Xmas iPad Magic tricks into a single holiday-themed video. You can watch the compilation below or peruse through the individual clips on Pierro's YouTube channel. [Via iMore] ...

Will Ferrell Apple Switch ads are a holiday-themed blast from the past

by Kelly Hodgkins (Dec 24th, 2012)

Remember these fun Christmas ads from Apple that featured Will Ferrell as S. Claus? It's hard to believe they are 10 years old (part of Apple's short-lived Switch campaign, which also launched early Internet celebrity Ellen Feiss). Grab a cup of peppermint-flavored coffee and take a walk down ...

Five apps that put the Merry in Merry Christmas

by Kelly Hodgkins (Dec 24th, 2012)

It's Christmas Eve, which means that it is time to stop shopping and start enjoying the Christmas holiday. Here are five fun apps to help you get your cheer on. The Impossible Test - Christmas Edition (iOS Universal, Free) The Impossible Test is a brain teaser app that asks you questions ...

Talkcast tonight, 10pm ET: Holiday cheer, Apple-style

by Michael Rose (Dec 23rd, 2012)

If Apple fans were shopping for a CEO-worthy Christmas gift (really, what do you get for the man who can buy everything?), they can stand down now. He may not have taken the front cover, but Tim Cook's selection as a runner-up for Time Magazine's Person of the Year certainly will warm hearts and ...

What are you looking for under your iTree on Christmas?

by Erica Sadun (Dec 21st, 2012)

It's the weekend before Christmas, and all through the blogosphere, not a creature is posting, not even here. Are your stockings hung by your chimneys with care? In hopes that Santa Tim Cook soon will be there? We hope that you're nestled, all snug in your beds, while visions of Apple ...

Five apps for the last-minute holiday shopper

by Kelly Hodgkins (Dec 21st, 2012)

Holiday shoppers, your time is almost up! There are only a few days left until deliveries cease and the stores shut down for Christmas. Here are five apps to make this last-minute shopping frenzy a little easier on you and your wallet. Clutch (iPhone, Category: Lifestyle, Free) Clutch is your ...

In the UK or Europe? Yule want Apple's 12 Days of Christmas app

by Randy Nelson (Dec 11th, 2012)

Apple has pushed live an update to its UK- and Europe-only 12 Days of Christmas app for iPhone, iPad and iPod touch, getting it ready for 2012's holiday festivities. The app counts down to December 26, the day after Christmas, and the first of 12 days on which Apple will be gifting free apps, ...

Nielsen reports that iPad is most wanted this holiday season

by Mike Schramm (Nov 20th, 2012)

Nielsen has released its annual report on which electronic goodies consumers in various age groups are looking for this Thanksgiving. Once again, Apple products are claiming most of the top of the list. Kids in the US aged 6-12 are looking for an iPad as the number one item under their ...

6.5 million downloads for Angry Birds on Christmas Day

by Mike Schramm (Jan 4th, 2012)

Rovio says that it saw a whopping 6.5 million downloads of Angry Birds this past Christmas Day, which is just phenomenal, even for this overwhelmingly popular game. That number is very close to the number of iOS and Android devices activated overall, which means that most people who got an ...

Find my iPad saves Christmas

by Mike Schramm (Dec 29th, 2011)

Here's a nice story thanks to Apple's Find my iPad feature. A family in California had their Christmas gifts stolen last week, along with several other items in the home. Seemingly unrelatedly, another man had his iPad stolen soon after, and he called the police to report the theft. He was able ...

Online shopping gets iPad surge on Christmas Day, iOS dominates in December

by Michael Rose (Dec 27th, 2011)

There's no rest for the weary in retail this year, but at least on Christmas Day most of the shopping frenzy was online and not in line. IBM's Smarter Commerce unit, which tracks 500 online stores (but not Amazon, the largest, and probably not Apple's store either) told the AP that Christmas Day ...

TUAW wishes you a Merry Christmas

by Michael Rose (Dec 25th, 2011)

From all of us at TUAW to all of you who celebrate it, our heartfelt wishes for a very merry Christmas. It's also Hanukkah this week, so best holiday wishes there too. Belated blessed Solstice? Early Kwanzaa & New Year's regards? We wish it all for you. In the holiday spirit, we'd like to ...