Apple iPad - Huge Disappointment

For months we've been hearing rumors about a tablet coming from Apple, and today we finally got our answer!!


Apple iPad

The Apple iPad?? Wait, did they just call that thing an iPad? Very unoriginal!! When the rumor-mill was buzzing about what it may be called; iSlate seemed the most appealing. I was like 'nice, sounds like a product that seems interesting!' But naming it the iPad is so blah that even a CNBC anchor had a go at it. "The iPad reminds me of Feminine Products."

Features

• Half-inch thick and weighs just 1.5 pounds, with a 9.7-inch capacitive touchscreen IPS LCD display
• Custom 1GHz Apple "A4" chip
• "10 hours" battery life
• 16, 32, 64GB sizes
• Speaker/Microphone
• 802.11n WiFi (optional 3G)
• Bluetooth
  
• Runs iPhone Apps

It is very disappointing they left out the following in the iPad:

• No multitasking
• No camera
• No video
• No Flash support!! (I thought this was an "internet" device)
• No USB slots?
• No removable battery
  

With a fast processor in the "A4", it's surprising to see that multitasking wasn't added into the unit. And with Apple's impressive iChat software, a camera/video would be a no-brainer. Maybe when the next version comes out (knowing Apple, probably next year), they'll slowly add features that should have been standard so they can nickle and dime you further.

Pricing

The Pricing of the iPad was the most surprising thing announced during the press conference. It starts at $499 for 16GB, 32GB for $599, and $699 64GB. Adding 3G costs a $130 per model, so the most expensive model (64GB / 3G) is $829. The WiFi-only model will ship in 60 days, and the 3G models will come in 90.

The 3G version runs on AT&T and comes with new data plans: 250MB for $14.99 and an unlimited plan for $29.99 a month contract-free. Activations are handled on the iPad, so you can activate and cancel whenever you want. Every iPad is unlocked and comes with a GSM "micro-SIM," so you can use it abroad, but there aren't any international deals in place right now. Steve Jobs says they'll be back "this summer" with news on that front.







WiFi-only vs 3G

If you're one of the ones suckered into buying the product, I would save my $130 plus monthly payments and opt for the WiFi-only model. Since the Apple iPad 3G is only on AT&T's network, you're going to get spotty 3G coverage. There are plenty of WiFi hotspots these days to accommodate a WiFi-only device. If you're on the road and needing to use the internet, you most likely have a phone to do your surfing, or if you must use the new iPad; you can easily pull into a McDonald's parking lot and use their WiFi.


iBooks

The Apple iPad will also have a new e-reader app called iBooks. From the looks of the app, it seems very fitting, especially for the size of the iPad; which is about the exact size of the Amazon Kindle DX. It will also have its own iBooks Store. Apple has teamed up with some top publishers to bring their books to the iPad; Penguin, Macmillion, Simon & Shuster... and more.




The iPad is very competitively priced, and a smart move on Apple's part. But is it worth it? I think not!! Lack of USB ports, multitasking, camera and Flash support make it a tough sell as a PC or Macbook replacement.

Sadly, the iPad was a huge disappointment. Is the iPad a revolutionary product? Not even close. Apple will make its share of profits from the product, but it's not a game-changer. Maybe we'll be more satisfied with the Apple iPad 2?

[UPDATED] Verizon Wireless to K.O. AT&T?

I've been a Verizon Wireless customer for nearly 7 years now. The one major complaint from many devoted Verizon customers was the lack of phones. Every 'cool' phone introduced was passed up and signed to another carrier or "dumbed" down to Verizon. If a carrier was selling 'Phone A', then Verizon got 'Phone A' a few months later calling it 'Phone B', but lacked Wi-Fi or any other usable feature.

When the iPhone was first introduced January 9th, 2007, it created a frenzy in the tech world. Even today, 3 years from the introduction, the iPhone is still the phone to beat. Many phones have attempted and failed, and only a mere few have attempted and stood next to it. but not a single phone has yet surpassed the iPhone, except for the iPhone 3G and then the iPhone 3G S.

Any phone that had a real fighting chance against the iPhone was either brought to Sprint or T-Mobile. Verizon assumed that their coverage and service would speak for itself and the type of phone didn't matter.

But Verizon seems to be a different company today than it was in 2007, both more open-minded and shall I say, even "cool"? Even though Verizon has the largest 3G coverage and the most subscribers of any carrier, they needed to do more, and now they have!!

The past few months, Verizon has beefed up their phone line-up. Samsung Omnia II, Blackberry Storm 2, HTC Droid Eris, and the Motorola Droid. The Motorola Droid is the closest phone to rival the iPhone. But with the lack of apps on a newly developed Google Android OS, it still falls a little short.

As I'm sure you all have seen, Verizon and AT&T have been at each others throat lately with ads slamming each other. The fight isn't over yet, but it may be over soon. On January 27, Apple may introduce the iPhone 4G for Verizon debuting in June 2010, with an iPhone 4G LTE coming in 2011. Now if the rumor holds to be true, it would be a massive blow to AT&T since the only thing keeping the company afloat is the bragging rights of having the iPhone exclusively.

The #1 Network to carry the #1 Phone? I think so!!

[UPDATE] It seems as though Apple decided to keep today's (1-27-10) press conference only to debut the Apple iPad. Hopefully we'll hear news about a new 4G iPhone for different carriers (Sprint, T-Mobile, & Verizon) at Macworld in February. Stay tuned.

Future of NBC Late-Night in the Air

Conan O'Brien refused NBC's plan to move "The Tonight Show" to a 12:05 am slot to accommodate Jay Leno's return back to late-night.

In a statement O'Brien released Tuesday titled "People of Earth", he states:

"...that delaying the Tonight Show into the next day to accommodate another comedy program will seriously damage what I consider to be the greatest franchise in the history of broadcasting. The Tonight Show at 12:05 simply isn't the Tonight Show. Also, if I accept this move I will be knocking the Late Night show, which I inherited from David Letterman and passed on to Jimmy Fallon, out of its long-held time slot. That would hurt the other NBC franchise that I love, and it would be unfair to Jimmyy....It was my mistaken belief that, like my predecessor, I would have the benefit of some time...But sadly, we were never given that chance. After only seven months, with my 'Tonight Show' in its infancy, NBC has decided to react to their terrible difficulties in prime-time by making a change in their long-established late night schedule."

O'Brien is expected to cash in approximately $30 million if he is either replaced on "The Tonight Show" or canceled; but if the show merely moves time slots from 11:35 pm to 12:05 am, his salary stays intact.

Leno's move back into late-night would not only affect O'Brien, but both Jimmy Fallon and Carson Daly as well. If Leno comes on at 11:35 pm with "The Jay Leno Show", "The Tonight Show with Conan O'Brien" would shift to 12:05 am making "The Late Show with Jimmy Fallon" shift to a 1:05 am slot, leaving Carson Daly's program canceled.

Other late-night hosts have also chimed in on the entire NBC late-night debacle. Both David Letterman and Jimmy Kimmel have taken Conan O'Brien's side while targeting Jay Leno as the cause.






So now we come to the fate of Conan O'Brien. Should he stay on NBC and negotiate a deal or should he leave NBC and go to rumored Fox who currently does not have a late-night show? I believe Conan should kick NBC where it hurts by taking the $30 million and moving to Fox. There is a challenge of moving to another network of course, but with the predicament NBC and Jay Leno have thrown onto him, I don't see how this could be any worse.

I wish Conan the best of luck in whatever he decides to do with his career, because this Conan fan will either stick with him on NBC or follow him to wherever the road leads.