Good news (maybe) about Hulu on the Apple iPad. Some rumors confirms that the company is working to port Hulu on the Apple's tablet. Right now, the lack of Flash support on the iPad seems to close the doors to the millions of Hulu's fans (myself included) dreaming to watch Hulu's videos on the iPad. But the whole situation could change if Hulu starts supporting HTML5. The compression format used by Hulu for its videos is the H.264, widely recognized by QuickTime. The real challenge, a small one to be sincere, is to allow the video to play without Flash support, something quite easy to do with HTML5.

If you don’t have one hour of time to watch the full Apple iPad event then this video is for you.

Source: Flickr

Well, now we can finally enjoy the new iPad in its full glory. Being just a Lego version you don’t have to worry about Flash support, multitaking or the lack of camera!

The 3G version of Apple's iPad will use a new kind of SIM Card commonly known as "Micro SIM" or "3FF SIM". A SIM Card (Subscriber Identity Card) is a small detachable smart card containing the user's subscription information and other data (phone book, SMS messages, etc.). The card allows great flexibility for the user that is able to retain his/her information after switching handsets.

Standard SIM & Micro SIM

The SIM Card we all know is the "standard" one, measuring 15 x 25 mm, while the new Micro SIM measures only 12 x 15 mm.

Purpose of Micro SIM

The main purpose of the Micro SIM is, obviously, to fit small and tiny devices. Considering the fact that we cannot consider the iPad a "tiny" device, it's quite strange Apple decided to use the small, unpopular Micro SIM for the new tablet. A possible reason for this choice could be the attempt to avoid, at least for the first period, the usage of standard SIMs (read: data subscriptions) with the device. That would also prevent exchange of the Micro SIM, and its bounded data plan, with existing phones.

Key points:

• Developed by ETSI (European Telecommunications Standard Institute)
• Used for the new 3G version of Apple iPad
• Micro SIM is smaller (52% smaller) than standard SIM Card
• Also known as 3FF SIM
• Created to fit smaller and tiny devices and phones
• It holds the same data as standard SIM
• Measures 15 x 25 mm
• Not compatible with previous SIM versions and phones

Tabletized Team

The new Apple iPad created a huge amount of comments. Let’s analyze in detail some of the critics, trying, where possible, to find if they have a reason to be or if they simply are a question of personal choice.

• The Apple iPad is not able to substitute a laptop or a netbook
  That’s absolutely true and we do believe the device stands just in the middle of two categories, the mobile phones and the standard laptop computers, as stated during the official presentation. No need, then, to duplicate the functions of an iPhone or a MacBook, they are separate devices doing different things. A tablet is just a tablet. No more, no less.
• The bezel around the display is big and ugly
  A device like a tablet needs some extra space around to be physically “held” in safe and comfortable way. Actually, I have never seen someone holding a book without “wrapping” the fingers around the object. The device needs to be safely held in real-life situations and sufficient space around the edges, without the fingers covering the display, is absolutely needed in my own opinion.

• No camera
  That’s a real problem and we do think that a camera would be greatly useful for the tablet. But, from another point of view, we already have a phone with a camera and, likely, a camera itself. We can live without the extra camera right now.
• No multitasking (no apps running in background)
  This is a delicate point. Well, it depends by the way you think a tablet device must be. Again, a tablet is not a laptop and managing many apps running simultaneously on a device with limited hardware resources and running on battery power could be a disaster. In this situation we think that the solution adopted by Apple is appropriate for the category of the device.
• The virtual keyboard is not comfortable
  We do agree that typing on a real keyboard is far better than using a virtual one. But let’s consider that a tablet is basically a device where the act of typing is not the first and most important type of “action”. Tapping, moving, dragging and swiping are much more predominant for the standard user. Imagine browsing the web. Type the URL using the virtual keyboard just takes few seconds. The rest of the time is spent tapping, scrolling, zooming and, of course, reading! For complex texts or for a lot of input just pair a bluetooth keyboard to the iPad and you are done! Without real keyboard for the maximum portability and with the keyboard when you need to type a lot.

• No phone
  No need to have a giant phone when we have already one perfectly suited for that. Why to pay for a phone embedded on the tablet? I do prefer to keep the two things separate: leaving at home the tablet when I just need the phone and using only the tablet when I don’t need the phone. Duplicates are just a waste of time, energy and money.
• No USB
  We do believe that Apple wanted to keep the object as simple as possible. USB could have been a nice addition but it’s not that great to have such a thin, portable device and have to carry around a bunch of USB cables, adaptors, card readers, etc. The iPad has been created to be a mobile device, light and efficient and, likely, without too many cables and stuff attached to it.
• Price is too high and the entry level model is useless
  The final price of the device will go down in the next months, at least we hope so! We believe that the entry level device priced at $499 is a good buy (hey, we are not paid by Apple to write that!!). We can live without 3G and 16 GB of memory is enough for a typical user on the go. For the same price we can buy a smartphone with a small display while a tablet offers much more space for software and multimedia. A tablet adding much more stuff than needed would have costed 2 or 3 times more and we surely want something affordable and of good quality.
• The name iPad
  Who cares? Names are just names, no more, no less.
• No Macromedia Flash
  This is quite a serious problem. Many websites do need Flash to run smootly and thinking the web without Flash is not natural.

The Apple iPad is finally (almost) among us and we are really excited about what it's possible to do with the device. Let's see some good reasons to get one of those babies.

1. It's great for web browsing Most of the times the "standard" web browsing experience is just a sequence of tapping+reading, with occasional need for keyboard to enter a URL or type a note or comment. Using the iPad web browsing would be very similar to reading a book, an interactive one though, possibly with video and audio and update in real time.
2. It's a fantastic device for reading eBooks It looks like the ePad is the perfect device for reading eBooks. Surely the screen cannot compete with the static ePaper screens like the ones we currently experience e on Kindle and Nook but, definitely, how many of us need to read continuously for 4 or 6 hours? Plus, ePaper technology is only black & white while we surely want vibrant colors in our eBooks. The iPad also uses the open ePub format and that *could* mean that it may be possible to use our own eBooks or to convert the documents we already have.
3. Very good multimedia device We don't need a physical keyboard for watching a movie or listening to some good music. Think about the iPad like a small tv, you have everything you need, no need for extra stuff. Not yet. It's also great as a digital photo frame.
4. Thin and lightweight With only 1.5 pounds (.68 kg) and 0.5 inch (13.4 mm) it's really "portable". If you need something smaller then it's much better to use the iPhone or the iPod Touch.
5. Great price Well, we did expected something costing more than $700 USD and the starting price of $499 is really amazing for such a device. For that price, though, we would have included a bigger, standard or solid state HDD.
6. Good connectivity The iPad has wi-fi built-in, as well as 3G (optional) and bluetooth. Basically all your need today. Plus, the data plans are not that bad (and you don't need subscriptions to long terms contracts like with cell phones) and the standard wi-fi model is quite good for a standard usage.
7. Use a real keyboard (if you want) Ok. The tablet is great but what about typing a long and complex document? It's very interesting the fact that you can actually connect a real keyboard to the device and use the tablet just as a standard LCD display! Use the virtual iPad keyboard for occasional typing and a real keyboard for the serious stuff, that's it.
8. iWork works Without the possibility to do some "serious" stuff on it the iPad the device would be missing something. But the fact we can actually use iWork makes the iPad extremely good in a productivity environment.
9. Tons of Apps More than 100,000 apps and more to come. It's a good, promising beginning for a brand new device.
10. Up to 10 hours of battery life It surely depends by the way we use the device but it sounds promising. We are curious about the battery performances in eBook mode.

Tabletized Team

Technical specifications of the iPad from Apple:

Size and weight

Display

• 9.7-inch (diagonal) LED-backlit glossy widescreen Multi-Touch display with IPS technology
• 1024-by-768-pixel resolution at 132 pixels per inch (ppi)
• Fingerprint-resistant oleophobic coating
• Support for display of multiple languages and characters simultaneously

Capacity

• 16GB, 32GB, or 64GB flash drive

Processor

• 1GHz Apple A4 custom-designed, high-performance, low-power system-on-a-chip

Sensors

• Accelerometer
• Ambient light sensor

Wireless & Cellular

Wi-Fi model

• Wi-Fi (802.11 a/b/g/n)
• Bluetooth 2.1 + EDR technology

Wi-Fi + 3G model

• UMTS/HSDPA (850, 1900, 2100 MHz)
• GSM/EDGE (850, 900,1800, 1900 MHz)
• Data only²
• Wi-Fi (802.11 a/b/g/n)
• Bluetooth 2.1 + EDR technology

Location

• Wi-Fi
• Digital compass
• Assisted GPS (Wi-Fi + 3G model)
• Cellular (Wi-Fi + 3G model)

Audio Playback

• Frequency response: 20Hz to 20,000Hz
• Audio formats supported: AAC (16 to 320 Kbps), Protected AAC (from iTunes Store), MP3 (16 to 320 Kbps), MP3 VBR, Audible (formats 2, 3, and 4), Apple Lossless, AIFF, and WAV
• User-configurable maximum volume limit

TV and Video

• Support for 1024 x 768 with Dock Connector to VGA adapter; 576p and 480p with Apple Composite A/V Cable, 576i and 480i with Apple Composite A/V Cable
• H.264 video up to 720p, 30 frames per second, Main Profile level 3.1 with AAC-LC audio up to 160 Kbps, 48kHz, stereo audio in .m4v, .mp4, and .mov file formats; MPEG-4 video, up to 2.5 Mbps, 640 by 480 pixels, 30 frames per second, Simple Profile with AAC-LC audio up to 160 Kbps, 48kHz, stereo audio in .m4v, .mp4, and .mov file formats

Mail attachment support

• Viewable document types: .jpg, .tiff, .gif (images); .doc and .docx (Microsoft Word); .htm and .html (web pages); .key (Keynote); .numbers (Numbers); .pages (Pages); .pdf (Preview and Adobe Acrobat); .ppt and .pptx (Microsoft PowerPoint); .txt (text); .rtf (rich text format); .vcf (contact information); .xls and .xlsx (Microsoft Excel)

Languages

• Language support for English, French, German, Japanese, Dutch, Italian, Spanish, Simplified Chinese, Russian
• Keyboard support for English (US) English (UK), French (France, Canada), German, Japanese (QWERTY), Dutch, Flemish, Spanish, Italian, Simplified Chinese (Handwriting and Pinyin), Russian
• Dictionary support for English (US), English (UK), French, French (Canadian), French (Swiss), German, Japanese, Dutch, Flemish, Spanish, Italian, Simplified Chinese (Handwriting, Pinyin), Russian

Accessibility

• Support for playback of closed-captioned content
• VoiceOver screen reader
• Full-screen zoom magnification
• White on black
• Mono audio

Battery and Power

• Built-in 25Whr rechargeable lithium-polymer battery
• Up to 10 hours of surfing the web on Wi-Fi, watching video, or listening to music
• Charging via power adapter or USB to computer system

Input and Output

• Dock connector
• 3.5-mm stereo headphone jack
• Built-in speakers
• Microphone
• SIM card tray (Wi-Fi + 3G model only)

Mac system requirements

• Mac computer with USB 2.0 port
• Mac OS X v10.5.8 or later
• iTunes 9.0 or later
• iTunes Store account
• Internet access

Windows system requirements

• PC with USB 2.0 port
• Windows 7, Windows Vista; Windows XP Home or Professional with Service Pack 3 or later
• iTunes 9.0 or later (free download from www.itunes.com/download)
• iTunes Store account
• Internet access

Of course, there is also a new version of iWork for the Apple iPad. Some details:

• completely new user interface (probably with some new gestures)
• new version of Keynote (presentation) designed just for the iPad
• new version of Pages (word processor)
• new version of Numbers (speadsheet)

With the new eBook store you can:

• buy eBooks easily
• flip the page
• change the size
• drag the page manually
• skip directly to chapters
• enjoy full color photos, of course
• using ePub (open format)
• (it’s not clear if you can import your own eBooks on the device)

Apple iPad. First specs:

• 9.7-inch IPS display with a great viewing angle
• weighs: 1.5 pounds
• powered by a 1GHz Apple A4 chip
• 16GB to 64GB of flash storage
• multitouch sensors
• 802.11n (Wi-Fi)
• Bluetooth 2.1 + EDR
• speaker
• microphone
• accelerometer
• compass
• up to 10 hours of battery life
• runs iPhone applications in real, original size and double size
• new SDK posted today, including iPad simulator
• Apple will highlight apps that are created explicitly for the iPad in the iPad store

Gizmodo is reporting in this article about leaked shots of the upcoming Apple Tablet, sent to Engadget by a tipster. Is it the real thing or something else?

• TheAppleBlog.com – Link
  Coverage provided: TheApple Blog Live (text & photos), TheAppleBlog Twitter
• TechzTalk.com – Link
  Coverage provided: Text
• Gizmodo.com – Link
  Coverage provided: Text & photos
• Engadget.com – Link
  Coverage provided: Not specified
• Gdgt.com – Link
  Coverage provided: Text & Twitter
• MacRumors.com – Link
  Coverage provided: Twitter

Be sure to get there on time!

• 08:00AM – Hawaii
• 10:00AM – Pacific Time
• 11:00AM – Mountain Time
• 12:00PM – Central Time
• 01:00PM – Eastern Time
• 06:00PM – London
• 07:00PM – Paris & Rome
• 09:00PM – Moscow
• 03:00AM – Tokyo (January 28th)

Some key poins:

• Presented at CES 2010
• Running Windows 7
• Delivered in 2010
• Ebook reader
• Movie and media player
• “Affordable” price

]]> http://www.tabletized.com/2010/01/26/hp-slate-special-report-with-video/feed/ 0 http://www.tabletized.com/2010/01/26/apple-tablet-to-redefine-printed-media/ http://www.tabletized.com/2010/01/26/apple-tablet-to-redefine-printed-media/#comments Tue, 26 Jan 2010 06:25:21 +0000 Tabletized Team http://www.tabletized.com/?p=326

Gizmodo reports about the possibility for the new device from Apple to redefine the concept of digital printing. The Tablet could be a fast and easy way to facilitate access and sharing of digital media in schools and a further step in the direction of substituting the traditional books with their digital versions.

If you are curious about the official invitation card Apple sent out to press and other lucky folks, here it is!

“Please join us for an invitation-only event at the Yerba Buena Center for the Arts Theater in San Francisco on January 27 at 10:00 a.m. Registration begins at 9:00 a.m. Please arrive early.”

As you can see from this photo the Yerba Buena Center in San Francisco is “getting dressed” for the big event! The staff is working to decorate the building like a big canvas.

Flurry Analytics has detected up to 50 “Tablet devices” running different types of apps in Cupertino. Their analytics stats seems to point to the fact that this, unidentified, device is running iPhone OS 3.2 (and not version 4.0 as some rumors reported). About 200 apps were tracked, most of them games. If the rumors were true that means that developers are already building apps for the new device.

Gizmodo at CES 2010 reports about a prototype dual screen tablet  from MSI. It’s a nice looking dual-screen tablet device running Windows 7 but it’s not supposed to be on sale in the future.

In this article from Gizmodo at CES 2010 we can see the first images of the tablet from Nvidia, named Tegra.

Key points:

• 7-inch display  (1024 x 600 screen resolution)
• Runs Android OS
• TV-out supporting 1080p
• Wi-Fi
• Web browser
• eBook application
• Not clear if it can run Android App (lack of certification, not being a phone)

Gizmodo at CES 2010 reports that Steve Ballmer has presented the new tablet from HP. It’s not the much awaited (and dreamed) Courier, tough. “They’re more powerful than a phone and almost as powerful as a PC. Perfect for reading, surfing the web and taking entertainment on the go,”, Ballmer said in its opening keynote. The tablets will be available on stores late this year.

Key points:

• Called “slate” but that’s not supposed to be its name
• Uses Windows 7
• Available in stores late this year

The Fujitsu FLEPia, Gizmodo reports, has been finally released in Japan. The device is actually quite slow (turning a page takes about 2 seconds!) but the technology is promising for the future.

Key points:

• Color display (4096 colors)
• Slow for standard operations
• Runs on Windows CE
• Reads PDFs and Word documents
• Priced at $1000

Gizmodo reports about the new enTourage eDGe, a new device featuring a dual-screen (9.7-inch and 10.1-inch respectively), Android OS and Wi-Fi. The dual-display configuration is great for reading eBooks and for web surfing. It also includes 1.3 megapixels cameras and a noise-cancelling microphone to store the audio files as MP3s. The price will be $490 and it will be on sale in February 2010.

Key points:

• Dual-screen configuration
• Android OS
• Wi-Fi enabled
• 1.3-megapixel camera
• Noise-cancelling microphone
• Reading eBooks in PDF and EPUB format (among other formats)
• Six hours battery life (seven days when using only the eReader)
• enTourage is creating it’s own eBook store
• Available in February 2010 (now in pre-order)
• Price: $490 USD

In this article Gizmodo.com shows the first images of two new products from Samsung. The Samsung E6 and E101 are eBook readers with eInk/ePaper technology using a special electromagnetic resonance stylus that allows the reader to take notes writing directly on the screen. The devices will be introduced early this year and the price should be $399 and $699 respectively.

In this article Gizmodo.com shows the images of the a tablet, the Sony Dash.

Lenovo has just announced a terrific new solution, the Lenovo IdeaPad U1 Hybrid, integrating a standard laptop with a tablet device, all-in-one! In this article Engadget shows the first images of this new dream-device: a 11.6-inch laptop with a retractable multitouch screen. In its standard configuration tablet-screen is integrated in the device and the laptop it’s powered by a Intel Core Duo processor running Windows 7. When the screen is detached it transforms in a multitouch tablet running a Linux OS. Wow!

The new tablet should feature a 10-inch touch display to watch movies, read eBooks and newspapers, play games and surf the Internet. The price should set around $1,000 and it could include a sort of wi-fi subscription. The device should be between the dimensions of the iPhone and a standard laptop. The Apple analyst Gene Munster expects Apple to sell 2 million tablets in the first year.

The French website Mac4Ever thinks that Apple will introduce in January a new tablet and a new version of the iPhone OS. The new SDK will allow the first stage of development and testing of new Apps for the tablet. Mac4Ever also reports that the new tablet should be far advanced for usage and features and it should provide and amazing, new way of interact with the device.

[From Archos website]

ARCHOS once again is leading the way in innovation with the introduction of the Netbook of the future, the ARCHOS 9 PCtablet. The new ARCHOS 9 PCtablet combines the performance of a high end netbook with breathtaking aesthetics, excellent ergonomics and a tactile interface on a superb screen.

Pure lines, extreme thinness (0.67”), 800g and a stunning black finish, the ARCHOS 9 PCtablet pushes the boundaries of elegance and simplicity on a Netbook, fulfilling the expectations of the most mobile users. It provides all the power and comfort needed for daily usage.
With this ultra-light and thin PCtablet, you can watch you videos (including Full HD format), browse the web, “video chat”, or write your mails or documents.

• Play all your multimedia content including HD* videos
• Use all your daily software such as Windows Live™ Messenger or Skype® with Windows® 7, or Lotus Symphony as a productivity suite
• Stay connected to Internet and your emails with the built-in connectivity

Camangi WebStation is the world’s first 7-inch handheld device that runs Google Android. The Camangi WebStation brings a new way to enjoy the Internet and your entertainment all under a stylish Internet Tablet.

Camangi WebStation aspires to bring people the most convenient Internet tablet with the simplest design. Unlike most electronic devices, there are no overly complicate functions or navigation process, so you can always stay online by enjoying the simplicity of the device whether you’re familiar with electronic products or not.

Camangi WebStation supports a wide range of features, including web browser, music(video) player, digital frame, eBook reader, and so on. With a sensitive touchscreen and a high-resolution display that barely weights a third of an average Netbook. Camangi WebStation offers you a comfortably sized screen to view and carry around either at home or on the go!

Camangi WebStation is the essential device for a simpler digital life. If you’re looking for a portable device that can fulfill your modern day demands on the go, Camangi WebStation will go above and beyond your need by offering audio, recreational apps, and experience the Internet without ever touching your computer or cell phone. Start embracing the next level of Internet Tablet!

Slim and Light

At only 13.75 ounces, Camangi WebStation is less than 1/ 3 of Netbook’s average weight. And at only 1/2 inch thin, you’ll find Camangi WebStation perfect in your hands. With a 7-inch wide screen with high-resolution 800×480 pixels, your eyes will hardly be tired. Camangi WebStation’s stylish design will grab everyone’s attention.

Your Walking Library

eBook reader is specially featured in Camangi WebStation. Forget about carrying several paperbacks in the past; instead, start downloading eBooks from any eBook store and read your contents in vibrant color through Camangi WebStation.

Enjoy your portable library anywhere while keeping it as easy & comfortable as reading your favorite books just like before.

Bring Your Best Memories on the Move

You don’t need to buy an extra digital frame that will sit idle at home. If you’re looking for a great product offering multiple functions, Camangi WebStation is your best option.

Now you can use Camangi WebStation to display your digital photo collection and carry your best memories wherever you go. Your WebStation is an eBook or an Internet device for your commute; while the next moment, it becomes a picture frame for your precious photos sitting on your desk or next to your bed wherever you are staying.

Portable Entertainment Center

Camangi WebStation gives you a new way to enjoy your media and entertainment all within a portable device. With ultra-thin and simple design, you can easily carry it or relax with your favorite movie or music while surfing the Web.

The 7-inch widescreen with high-resolution display and 2 high quality speakers will be the ultimate gift for your senses.

Stay Online Anytime, Anywhere

With Wi-Fi connectivity, Camangi WebStation enables full web access through Internet browser putting the worldwide web under your fingertips. With the advantage of high portability, it’s no longer necessary to confine yourself into a small screen of a smartphone or carry a heavy notebook just to check your email and facebook while outdoor or on your couch. Stay online anytime and anywhere without turning on your computer!

Camangi WebStation is here to fulfill your needs of an easy-to-use handheld device, while retaining the scalability for you to download more useful apps from the market in the future. Experience the convenience of Camangi WebStation now!

[Source: Camangi Website]

There are rumors reporting the name iSlate could be used by Apple for a new product in the category of the eBook readers. iSlate could be a direct competitor of Amazon Kindle, Barnes & Nobles Nook and other eBook readers. Not a tablet, then. Or, at least, not like the one we expect in the next month or so. iSlate could be based on the same technology of Kindle and Nook, a great product for Apple to enter the exploding market of eBooks. Accordingly to the rumors, Apple could introduce it’s own Book Store, based on the model of the famous App Store.

Gizmodo Australia reports that the winner of seven Tour de France is ready for a new challenge. But not a challenge with yellow and wells involved, not this time. Lance Armstrong is waiting, like many of us, for the new tablet. C’est superb!

According to MacRumors, investigating and researching hidden Trademarks registered by Apple, another candidate for the name of the new tablet from Apple could be iGuide. MacRumors in this article reports about another Delaware-based company “iGuide Media, LLC” whose unique purpose seems to be to obtain a trademark on behalf of Apple.

While iGuide seems to be another possible name for the tablet, it’s also possible it refers to a software product or to something else. Think about a GPS related software or technology, not necessarily the tablet itself.

Source: MacPredictions.com