Its like an iPhone on Steroids

Here are some of the comment and details spoken at the Apple Launch Event

“AT&T’s throwing in free WiFi hotspot use, too.” Great, because their network certainly won’t be working well enough to depend on this. “There’s no contract — it’s pre-paid. You can cancel at any time.”

“If you feel you need more, we have an unlimited plan for just $29.99. Real breakthrough prices. We’ve got a breakthrough deal with AT&T who is providing the service.”

“We built the iPad to run virtually every one of these apps unmodified right out of the box. We can do that in two ways — do it with pixel for pixel accuracy in a black box, or we can pixel-double and run them in full-screen. This is really cool.”

“Environmentally, the iPad is a good citizen. That’s a little bit of an overview of the iPad’s hardware. Let’s go back to software. We’ve seen great built-in apps. But let’s talk about 3rd party apps.

“In addition to this battery life, it’s got a month of standby life. It’s remarkable.”

“What’s the battery life on this remarkable device?” Pauses. “We’ve been able to achieve 10 hours of battery life.” Big applause.

“iPad is powered by our own custom silicon. Our own chip. It’s called the A4, and it screams.” 1GHz. 16, 32, or 64GB of flash storage. “It’s got the latest in wireless: 802.11n, WiFi, and Bluetooth 2.1 + EDR.”

“As you know, Apple builds the best capacitive multi-touch sensors in the world — married to our great display, it’s super responsive and super precise.”

“It’s 0.5-inches thin, weighs just 1.5 pounds. Thinner and lighter than any netbook. 9.7-inch IPS display.”

Showing movies and TV shows. Widescreen looks a little awkward because the screen is more square than widescreen, but it’s still damned fine. “Let’s pick another movie I love: Up.” chuckles. “Awesome movie.”

 iTunes store. The UI on this thing is pretty intense, so far. Everything is familiar, but it’s all totally different from iPhone and OS X — this is a big launch for Apple. As if you hadn’t already noticed.

“iPad is an awesome way to enjoy your music collection. And, of course, we have the iTunes store built right into the iPad.”

Photos: “Flick through them, it’s a wonderful way to share your photos. Built in a calendar. Address book, great maps app with Google Maps.”

Email with a giant on-screen keyboard: “It’s a dream to type on.”

“You can see the whole page in front of you and you can manipulate it with your fingers. You can turn it any way you want — it adjusts however you want it. You can see the whole page — it’s phenomenal. It’s an incredible experience.”

“It’s very thin. You can change the home screen… what this device does is extraordinary. It’s the best browsing experience you’ve ever had.”

It also expected that Apple planed to launch iPhone 4.0 Beta with new features soon. Here is a leaked news of  a possible apple Tablet .

According to Apple’s theory: “Hype it, to Ripe it” Apple Tablet, the mythical tablet device from Apple is the most anticipated device in the gadgets history.

The new device Apple Tablet could very well be a new iPhone with much larger display and high-end capabilities. Apple Tablet comes with a large screen for crisp videos and movies, the phone is capable enough to handle few tasks at a time and no one is certainly going  to replace a high-end PC or a netbook from his workspace, for an iPhone.

In an early morning interview with business channel CNBC, McGraw-Hill CEO Terry McGraw appeared to reveal some details of the tablet’s inner workings, the subject of much industry speculation and gossip in recent weeks.

“We have worked with Apple for quite awhile—the tablet is going to be based on the iPhone operating system,” said McGraw.

McGraw said that’s significant because it means the tablet will be compatible with content and apps that McGraw-Hill and other publishers have already created for the iPhone.

“We have 95 percent of all our materials that are in e-book format on that one,” said McGraw.

Magazine and newspaper publishers may look to Apple’s tablet as a delivery mechanism that could help them regain their competitive advantage against online blogs and news services. Its presence could also help them extract better terms from the makers of rival devices, like Amazon’s Kindle.

Also speaking on CNBC, in an interview from the Davos economic summit, WPP Group head Sir Martin Sorrell appeared to have an inside track on the device’s name, referring to it as the “iTablet.” Whether that’s the name Jobs will announce later Wednesday remains to be seen.

Apple has scheduled a press conference in San Francisco for Wednesday at the Yerba Buena Center for the Arts Theater. The conference is set to get underway at 1 pm Eastern time.

Apple Computer  presumably is planning to unvail a tablet computer which in fact may be more  than a breakthrough in the technology of consumer devices. This new device may also make tablet computers a standard part of the business computing  toolbox.

Although tablet have been used in business for many years. I have to say the quality of the user experience has been a bit lacking. Handwriting recognition, a key for many business applications, has been very sore point.

I don’t think Apple will solve that problem. Its been stated that the new Apple device will not do hand writing.  In all actuality I think the new Apple device will be a  consumer product with the same business applications as the iPhone but optimized for the larger screen.

Over time, tablet-specific business apps will be developed and some enterprises may find Apple’s tablet a cost-effective replacement (or enhancement) to what they are currently using. The Apple tablet is likely to cause developers to take a serious look at developing specific vertical market applications that don’t exist for the iPhone.

This will definitely be another case where Apple didn’t invent something ie.like MP3 players or smartphones… and as usual they seem to always find a way to humanize and popularize thier devices.

There is said to be features that may be included or excluded from the tablet that will make business adoption easier or more difficult. Obviously at this point we do not know. Just for example … if the tablet lacks decent battery life, it will be hard for business users to carry it around with them.

I am not expecting a 3G tablet, though the idea of a giant iPhone is intriguing and might improve its adoption by businesses, especially for the types of mobile applications that tablets are used for today.

We are not saying that the tablet will be a run – away business success, but just as users have accepted business applications for their iPhones, the tablet will be most  likely be accepted. It will also be somewhat  interesting to see the sorts of business apps that will be developed specifically for the larger screen and whatever capabilities Apple builds around it.

Finally, I am very much counting on Apple to create the tablet that consumers will want and expecting that business use will naturally follow.

Its very likely that the Apple tablet may give a boost to PC laptop tablets and other current and future form factors.

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It is simpler than ever shoot high-definition (HD) video. This can be accomplished using traditional  camcorders, and also with cameras that designed to take still photos. Cameras that range from high-end “digital SLRs” to cameras that slip into your shirt pocket.

Here are 6 recommendations in all three categories from least to most expensive. All 6 of these record HD video and have “HDMI” output connections that let you view your video on an HD display.

Kodak Zi8 -  about $180

Full HD in your pocket for under $200

Kodak delivers this bargain by asking you to supply the memory card it needs to store footage.  8-gigabyte cards can be bought (enough for two hours of HD video) for less than $50, which means you could still come out ahead with this model over the other inexpensive HD cameras from Flip or Creative.

The Zi8 performed well, although its focus is fixed and it doesn’t have good depth-of-field for close-ups. It’s a little bigger than rival units, but still is comfortable to take on the go.

Creative VADO – about $230

The Creative VADO also fits in your pocket, but keeping it there is a waste. It’s just too much fun The VADO has 8 gigabytes of built-in memory and has a quality lens that performed well in low light. It comes with polished, easy-to-use software that allows for quick uploading of your video to YouTube and a few other hosting services.

It has a  recessed control button that was fairly intuitive to use. The footage it produced was near great. Jitter-free pans from left to right and good sound quality can be had from this camera.  It also comes with a proper rugged case to protect against accidental drops and bumps. The VADO is the best shoot-and-share out there.

Flip MinoHD  about $230

Flip has pretty much dominated its category with its easy-to-use video cameras. What sets them apart is their FlipShare software that is all about social networking. It allows for pain-free uploading to Facebook, MySpace and YouTube.

The latest model has backlit buttons that are flush with the shiny controls surface. This is awesomel in low light because you can’t really feel the buttons — although in low light the MinoHD’s video quality wasn’t  all that great.

There was difficulty in keeping a steady grip on the Flip on a warm day. Its sleek design is nice to look at, but it would be nice if it had few ridges or rubberized edges to hold on to. Buy it for the sleek software, but not because you think it will out-shoot others in this category.

Nikon S70  about $350

It’s compact and slickly designed. The LCD display on the back spans the width of the camera and gives you touch-screen access to the menus and settings. There’s really only one way to hold this camera while shooting video and that is with two fingers on the right edge of the camera and the pinky extended for high tea. Otherwise you will be likely to obscure the lens or trip the shutter button.

The image quality is passable for the price. It’s not the best performer in low light, but the colors held true in transitions from indoors to outside. It also stabilizes the image well while recording. That’s a big plus when trying to avoid that nausea-inducing shakiness that can render even HD footage unviewable. Once you find a comfortable way to hold the Nikon S70, there’s a lot of performance for the dollar.

Canon Vixia HF S11  about $1,400

This is a traditional style of video camera. There’s not a button, dial or contour out of place. It has a useful “hot-shoe” connection for external lights, microphones and other accessories. It zooms smoothly, with “image stabilization” that keeps you in focus. Its menu screens are so easy you can leave the manual in the box. For my money, this is the gold standard for the category.

Panasonic Lumix DMC-GH1  – About $1,500 with 14mm-140mm lens

Among digital SLRs tested, this was the strongest, most versatile performer. The Panasonic Lumix GH1, a 12.1 megapixel camera, delivered true hues and sharp images. It uses a design known as “Micro Four Thirds” in which the lens mount is positioned closer to the image sensor, without a flip-up mirror box in between. The result in this case is crisp HD video.

The GH1 has a flip-out LCD panel, which is easier for shooting video than fixed LCD panels, which can force you to strain or tilt your head as you shoot. From daylight scenes in a sun-drenched park to the glow of the fading evening light, the GH1 handled contrasts nicely. It has stereo sound and is a joy to use.

 The setting is 1191 AD. The Third Crusade is tearing the Holy Land apart. You, Altair, intend to stop the hostilities by suppressing both sides of the conflict. You are an Assassin, a warrior shrouded in secrecy and feared for your ruthlessness. Your actions can throw your immediateenvironment into chaos, and your existence will shape events during this pivotal moment in history.

Next-gen gameplay The proprietary engine developed from the ground up for the next-genconsole allows organic game design featuring open gameplay, intuitive control scheme, realistic interaction with environment, and a fluid, yet sharp, combat mechanic.

Eliminate your targets wherever, whenever, and however. Stalk your prey through detailed and historically accurate environments. Scale buildings, mount horses, blend in with crowds

This game immerses you in the Holy Land of the 12th century, featuring life-like graphics, ambiance, and the detail of a living world

Find action blended with fluid and precise animations. Use a wide range of medieval weapons, and face your enemies in sword fight duels

The new solar-powered product by Solis Energy can run small 12 volt “non-critical” electronics in remote locations or anywhere grid power isn’t available. All that’s required is an electronic device with a car power adaptor (cigarette lighter interface) and the sun.

“It’s exactly the kind of product I’ve been in search of for years,” said Thyhsen, owner of Fast Duck Motors, a marine supply and boat retailer. “When the hunting is good, the last thing you want to do is leave the field. This product extends your hunting time and is adaptable to just about any situation.”

The Power HotSpot™ can go anywhere grid power is unavailable. “There are literally hundreds of products that can be powered with this product,” said Solis Energy Founder and CEO Robert Reynolds.

At work, the Power HotSpot™ can recharge tools, notebooks and cell phones, or provide power to inverters for AC power. At home, it can power a shed or gazebo light, an aerator or fountain. And for recreation, the Power HotSpot™ brings convenience to the campsite, from re-charging lights to continuous play for radios and iPods to running boat aerators and re-recharging batteries on a dock.

“Solis Energy has provided our corporate clients with rugged and reliable solar power solutions since 2005, and that gave us the expertise to develop a product for consumer use,” said Reynolds.

The Power HotSpot™ features a rugged design that can handle extreme temperatures. It is easy to install on a wall, dock, truck tool box, tree or post with sturdy mounting feet and brackets. The Power HotSpot™ also appeals to the eco-conscious.

The Power HotSpot™ retails for $375. For more information http://www.SolisEnergy.com or 407-339-6786.

First introduced in early June, the Omnia II will take over for its predecessor, the Samsung Omnia, and brings a number of enhancements and new features, such as a 3.7-inch WVGA AMOLED touch screen and Windows Mobile 6.5 Professional Edition.

The Omnia II will sport Samsung’s TouchWiz interface, allowing you to customize the home screen with various widgets and shortcuts and includes a similar 3D cube interface like the Samsung Behold II. In addition, Samsung has included a virtual QWERTY keyboard with Swype technology, which allows you to input text with a continuous swiping motion onscreen. (Check out a video demo here.)

Other goodies of the Samsung Omnia II include a 5-megapixel camera, support for DivX and Xvid movie files, 8GB of internal memory (expandable up to 16GB), Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, and Opera 9.5.

Aiming to expand beyond movies and baseball, set-top box maker Roku is adding 10 new content channels ranging from social networking to music and podcasts.

Roku, which makes a small, wireless device that can stream content from the Web direct to any TV screen, is expanding from 3 channels to 13, as expected. Channels for Blip.tv, Facebook Photos, Flickr, FrameChannel, Mediafly, MobileTribe, Motionbox, Pandora, Revision3, and TWiT will join the current lineup of Netflix, Amazon Video On Demand, and, more recently, MLB.TV. All of them will be available in the newly christened Roku Channel Store.

Similar to the app stores currently popular among mobile platform providers, Roku users can choose what apps they want on their home screen of their Roku via the Channel Store. Content is sortable by “new,” “most popular,” and “top-rated.” But unlike most app stores, these are all free. Access to the Channel Store and the new content will be rolled out automatically to existing Roku box owners over the next two weeks. New customers will need to sign up for a free Roku account to be able to download and manage their chosen channels.

Roku representatives say that 13 channels in the store is just a start and that there will be a steady stream of new channels showing up between now and the Consumer Electronics Show in January. While this is a good start to compete with the growing wave of Web-connected home gadgetry (HDTVs, Xbox, PS3, Blu-ray players, TiVo, and more), the sweet spot for Roku would be a Hulu channel or even dedicated content channels from cable and broadcast networks. Until then, the main selling point of Roku over those other devices is its price: of the three models, the lowest starts at $80, significantly cheaper than a new TV or Xbox, and all but the most baseline model Blu-ray players

According to the security firm Sophos, which wrote about the exploitation after a Dutch ISP spotted it late last week, the worm attacks jailbroken iPhone and iPod Touch devices only.

The worm “uses command-and-control, like a traditional PC botnet,” Sophos wrote in a blog post on Saturday to warn users about the exploit. “It configures two startup scripts, one to execute the worm on boot-up, and the other to create a connection to a Lithuanian server to upload stolen data and cede control to the bot master.”

Jailbreaking, which has been around for about two years, is a hack that enables iPhone and iPod Touch users to download applications unavailable through Apple’s App Store.

Sophos wrote that the worm attacks users on several ISPs, including UPC in the Netherlands, Optus in Australia, and T-Mobile in several countries worldwide. Worse, the worm spreads faster on a Wi-Fi connection than a 3G connection. Users with affected devices might notice extremely short battery life while on Wi-Fi. According to Sophos, that’s mainly due to the worm engaging in “so much network activity.”

When a device is infected, it’s assigned a unique number so that the attackers can easily pinpoint a single device. It also looks for authentication systems that use SMS, better known as mTANs. mTANs are frequently used by banks that send an SMS message with a password to mobile phones, allowing people to log in to their online accounts, Sophos wrote.

Sophos recommends that people with infected iPhones and iPod Touch devices restore them back to Apple’s most recent firmware update. It appears that there is no other way to fix the problem… for now at least