Apple innovates again with iPad — maybe

Apple recently announced their latest offering to the masses, the iPad. Minutes later the web was buzzing with both cheers and jeers for this "innovation" in personal computing.

With all the hype and speculation circulating around Apple's secret project during the preceding weeks and months, the iPad announcement was both exciting and disappointing. Perhaps the most surprising aspect of the iPad is its less than expected entry price of $499.

During Apple's announcement on Wednesday, a wispy Steve Jobs unveiled the new iPad and illustrated its many features (video). On the surface it's very impressive, and tops the chart for its coolness factor.

But is it the tablet computer/e-reader that many were expecting from Apple?

Some were disappointed with the name. It sounds too much like iPod. Many expected Apple to come up with something more creative like iTablet or iSlate (or even just Slate and finally drop the "i" thing). That would've been creative.

But regardless of what it's called, Apple's latest creation is poised to be another must-have Apple product.

My initial reaction to the iPad (which measures 9.5" x 7.5" x .5") was that it's just a huge iPod Touch. It plays and downloads music from iTunes, stores and displays photos and videos, runs and downloads apps from the Apps Store, browses the web, sends and receives email, and displays your calendar and contacts.

What's new about the iPad is the iBooks app (pictured) for reading and buying books from its built-in iBookstore. The iBooks user interface is clever with a somewhat cutesy coolness for storing books and flipping through pages. I wonder if the iBook app would also run on an iPod Touch or iPhone?

The iPad's 1024 x 768 pixel, 9.7" (diagonal) display is gorgeous. The bright multi-touch screen has LED back-lighting for rich blacks, supports H.264 video up to 720p, and is fingerprint-resistant.

The base model includes 802.11a/b/g/n Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 2.1 + EDR, and your choice of a 16GB, 32GB, or 64GB flash drive. And, its 1.5 pound weight makes it an easy carry.

The 3G model has all the base model features, plus an integrated wireless adapter and SIM card tray for Internet access via UMTS/HSDPA (AT&T) and GSM/EDGE data networks. However, there is no support for cell phone service.

Per Apple, the iPad's rechargeable lithium-polymer battery should provide up to 10 hours of power before needing a recharge. All models feature a 3.5mm stereo headphone jack, accelerometer, dock connector, built-in speakers and microphone. However, it lacks a webcam that would have been nice for video chats.

Optional accessories include a small dock, keyboard/dock combo, a unique case/stand, camera connection kit, and additional USB power adapter (one power adapter is included with the iPad). See the iPad's full specs and accessories at Apple's iPad website.

Although I may not rush out and buy an iPad when they become available in a couple of months, Apple will undoubtedly sell millions of iPads to their adoring fans.

By Harry Hiles, HBH Technology LLC — 29 Jan 2010

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CES technology has implications for business

The massive Consumer Electronics Show (CES) is held each year in Las Vegas, Nevada. The 2010 CES show, which ended Sunday, showcased myriad tablet/slate PCs, e-book readers, 3D-TVs, mobile, wireless, and in-car technologies.

Some of the more interesting products chosen by CNET for their Best of CES Awards were Intel's wireless display and Lenovo's IdeaPad U1 Hybrid PC. Other products that didn't make CNET's list are the Skiff Reader and USB 3.0 in an HP notebook.

The Intel wireless display technology known as "WiDi" received the people's voice award. It's an interesting device that allows you to connect select notebooks to a large HDTV monitor, well, wirelessly. Of course you'll need a WiDi enabled notebook PC and the wireless adapter that connects to the HDTV monitor.

Lenovo won best in computers and hardware for their IdeaPad U1 Hybrid notebook PC with a detachable display that doubles as a tablet/slate PC. Although tablet PCs are not new, they have yet to hit the mainstream of PC usage. Perhaps the unique design of the IdeaPad U1 Hybrid will ignite new interest in tablet/slate computers.

Another interesting tablet form-factor device is the Skiff Reader. This super thin large screen e-reader, designed for the upcoming Skiff e-reading service, brings reading newspaper and magazine content into the 21st century. In addition to newspapers, magazines and books purchased through the Skiff Store, the e-reader can be used to display personal and work documents.

Weighing just over a pound, the Skiff Reader has Wi-Fi and 3G wireless connectivity and an 11.5-inch high resolution UXGA (1200 x 1600) touch-screen display. The device features a new e-paper display based on a thin, flexible sheet of stainless-steel foil that's less vulnerable to breakage than the glass screens found in other e-readers.

USB 3.0, which has been in the works for some time now, made an appearance at CES in an HP notebook and WD external hard drive. USB 3.0 is very fast and backward compatible with earlier USB versions. The USB 3.0 spec can reach theoretical speeds of up to 5Gbps, over 10 times faster than the 480Mbps maximum of USB 2.0. Products supporting USB 3.0 will begin appearing in late January this year.