Cool Stuff for the Mac Pro.

It’s a large helping of the Macalope this week, as he takes on non-sensical iPad analysis, Apple doomsaying, and other crimes of punditry.

Panasonic and Sony have shown new cameras that mix compact size with interchangeable lenses.

Several MacRumors readers have noticed that Apple has posted information on its iPad Battery Replacement Service, which allows users to receive a replacement should their device’s battery no longer hold a…

On Saturday, the Game Developers Conference wraps up at San Francisco’s Moscone Center. By all accounts, it’s been a very exciting week for Mac gaming.

The competition between Apple and Google has reached “incendiary” levels that aren’t likely to cool down anytime soon, a detailed story from within the two companies has shown. While signs of the split have become increasingly public, a Bay Area investor claims that the two sides, particularly Apple, are getting “emotional” as it becomes a personal battle between Apple CEO Steve Jobs and his Google equivalent, Eric Schmidt. At Apple, Jobs’ infamous attack on Google at a post-iPad town hall has been followed by repeated shots at Android in d…

It may soon be difficult or impossible to get an iPad without having pre-ordered, information from retail sources indicates. Apple itself has confirmed that all shoppers are currently being limited to two iPads, even if they represent a business client. The restriction on businesses could imply that quantities are limited enough that Apple is reserving as much as it can for the general public….

South Korea is considering banning access to the Android Marketplace to its residents if Google continues to offer game apps that are not approved by the country’s regulator. According to a Thursday report, South Korea’s Games Ratings Board officially requested that Google Korea abides by the law, requiring all video games to be rated by the governing body. Google is reviewing the South Korean government’s request but has not yet made any decisions public….

Vodafone today said it has shut down Wayfinder, the company providing its subscription GPS service. The move has cost 90 jobs and is characterized as a direct reaction to the availability of free Ovi Maps on Nokia phones and, to a lesser degree, Google Maps Navigation on Android. The two render Wayfinder redundant as they offer the same or better turn-by-turn but without the monthly rate….

The initial rush of iPad pre-orders may have seen sales as high as 20,000 or more per hour, according to early estimates. The CEO of Phanfare, Andrew Erlichson, notes that his company bought two iPads in the space of 30 minutes. Despite the short interval, the order numbers were about 10,000 apart, which extrapolates into the 20,000 figure. Though accuracy may be affected non-iPad orders, these are likely to be in the minority given the early hour at which they were placed….