Intel announced their latest revamp to the Classmate PC. In essence it is a tablet PC which looks like a Netbook, but it is quite formidable if you look closer. It features an Atom N450 processor, a 160 GB hard drive, Wi-Fi, GPS and allows OEM’s to include 3G or WiMax connectivity. It is also EnergyStar 5.0 compliant and is touted as having an eight and a half hour battery life. But the real kicker is the 1366×768 touch screen.

The screen responds to touch and to a stylus. It can also be rotated so that it lies flat on the keyboard, essentially turning it into a tablet PC. Orientation of the screen is automatically handled by an accelerometer. Intel has also made a smart decision by putting the webcam and microphone on a pivot mount, which allows users to capture themselves or the background.

The PC is quite rugged in design and is made of thick plastic so that young users need not be extra careful when using it. The rubberized surface provides users with an excellent grip. The cooling vents have been placed thoughtfully and the stylus has a neat recess that it can go to as well as having a place to be tethered to. The screen also features some buttons around it, which enables certain quick tasks when it is used in the tablet PC mode.

All in all, Intel seems to have done a good job in thinking things through and providing features that appeal to the target market. Look for it to hit the market soon!

Losing a phone is traumatic enough for most people, but if you happen to work for Apple and the phone you lost was a prototype iPhone 4G, then you probably will have a heart attack. Gray Powell recently went to German beer garden to celebrate his 27th birthday and promptly lost his iPhone 4G. The person who found it apparently tried to locate the owner and upon failing to do so sold it to the gadget blog known as Gizmodo.

According to Briam Lam, the editorial director, the iPhone 4G was soon remotely shut down by Apple. This led to the interesting question of what type of control Apple has in store for us with the 4G or even now with the devices we have. After the news broke, Apple sent a letter to Gizmodo asking them to return the device. The website complied after making a few observations.

The prototype has a camera with a bigger lens at the back and includes a flash as well. A front facing camera was also present which hinted at video conferencing capabilities. An extra microphone was also spotted at the top of the device and this will probably be used for noise cancelling purposes.
Although the device looked more “boxy” than the 3GS, it is widely acknowledged that this may not be the final design. There are also several conspiracy theories going on about the find, including one that suggests that this was a plant by Apple to generate interest in the upcoming product.

The Apple iPad is doing well in sales; selling over 300,000 on the first day seems to be a good indication of its popularity. Another good indication is how much the hackers are interested in it. The device was jailbroken in less than a day giving Apple a bittersweet experience. The positive side is that the tech community and hackers want the device and the negative side is that Apple is starting to become a bit like Microsoft, having to release fixes on a fairly regular basis.

The software used to hack the iPad seems to be a variant of “Spirit”, an application that is used to crack iPhones. Apple has not reacted to the reports of the jailbreak and it is not known if users of jailbroken iPads will be treated like some users who have jailbroken Apple products. In the past Apple has rendered devices useless and even banned some users from the Apple App Store.

While all this drama ensues, HP decided to seize the moment and release a tiny sneak peek at the new Slate Tablet. The device in the video appears to be about the same size as the Apple product but in features it differs significantly. It has two cameras, one in front and one behind, and it also has USB and SD card support. None of these features are found on the iPad. The Slate runs Windows 7 as the OS and features touch controls and supports Adobe Flash and Air. The latter software is also not supported on the iPad.

With over 300,000 units being sold on the very first day, the iPad is very hot at the moment. Whether Apple will hit it big with this product is still a big mystery. The initial boom in sales can be mainly attributed to the “techies and gadget freaks” factor that have to have the newest technology available. However, the future of the iPad solely rests on how relevant it can be to users and how word of mouth spreads, especially from the initial tier of buyers.

The problem with the iPad, as perceived by many, is that it looks and functions like an iPod Touch. So the hesitation to go out and get an oversized iPod Touch is only natural. Add to this that there is still no multi-tasking support, no flash support and no camera and the appeal for Apple’s new über gadget begins to drop.

Users need to give the product a chance. The iPad is a new approach at the Netbook and eBook reader market. What Apple is trying to do is give users a lightweight device with a large display which is uncluttered and familiar to use. The lack of certain features is, in Apple’s case, only to be expected; think about how long it took for them to include cut, copy and paste in the iPhone! While the debate runs strongly over the virtues and failures of the iPad, it is only prudent to wait and see what Apple offers us in the next iteration.