If you were following this morning’s Apple announcement, it may have been quite overwhelming and your head could be spinning in confusion. We’re here to clear things up and give you additional details over what we posted this morning. What we know so far is that the device itself, in terms of hardware and software, doesn’t disappoint. Out of the box, it can support every single application available in the iTunes App Store right now. There is a new version of iWork available for the iPad — with each application going for $9.99 (which means $30 for the whole kaboodle). The Wi-Fi only version will be available in 60 days, and the 3G and Wi-Fi versions in 90 days. Hit the break as we break it down for you!

First, Connectivity and the Internet

The iPad comes with Wi-Fi — duh. What everyone was waiting for is a 3G version with carrier support. For better or worse, most of you will think the latter, the iPad will be on AT&T in the U.S. Data plan pricing, however, is respectable: $14.99 for 250MB per month, or $29.99 for all-you-can-hoard data. However, Steve Jobs did mention that the iPad is unlocked and supports micro-SIMS – this means if your carrier supports micro-SIMS, there’s no real reason for the inability to connect to the Internet.

Different Strokes For Different Folks

If you thought there was only going to be one version of this device, perhaps you haven’t been keeping up! There will be three different storage capacity options in one of two possible categories: Wi-Fi only and Wi-Fi + 3G. As we mentioned earlier, there will be 16GB, 32GB and 64GB versions to choose from depending on your needs.

The Price Is Right

Most analysts were throwing around high numbers for iPad pricing, usually starting around $1,000 and working their way up. However, when Steve Jobs said, “Grab the iPad that’s in the kitchen,” we were thinking that this is going to be a really accessible and affordable device if you can leave it lying around the house. Sure enough, the iPad starts at $499 for the 16GB Wi-Fi only version. The 32GB and 64GB Wi-Fi only versions go for $599 and $699, respectively.

For the Wi-Fi + 3G versions, the price gets a little bit higher, but we would rather spend the extra cash to have the 3G. After all, it’s better to have it and not need it than, well, you know where we’re going with this. So, for 16GB, 32GB and 64GB you’re looking to dish out $629, $729 and $829, respectively.

An E-Reader To End All E-Readers

Hardcore bibliophiles need their books. It’s part of the reason why the Amazon Kindle and the Barnes & Noble Nook are such hot commodities right now. But would you pay for a Kindle or Nook if, for just a little extra, you can have an e-reader that supports over 140,000 applications and offers real web browsing and media playback? Probably not. The iPad features iBooks, an application that looks strikingly similar to the “Classics” app available for the iPhone now. Books are displayed on a bookshelf and selecting one opens the book, just like on the iPhone app. It’s a very slick and clean interface and easy to read. There is the argument that e-Ink is so much easier on the eyes, but we spend all day reading blogs and news on the Internet without too many complaints, especially with LED-backlit displays which the iPad makes use of. And with 10 hours of battery life and a month of stand-by time, you won’t be rushing to grab your charger just before you find out what happens to Alex Cross in the last chapter.

One More Thing…

So we have a giant iPhone with long battery life and a faster processor — Apple’s very own 1GHz A4. It supports all the iPhone apps, has an oleophobic touchscreen, ambient light sensors and an accelerometer. But come on, Apple! Where is multi-tasking? Where are the front or rear facing cameras? Apple wanted to fill in the gap between the iPhone and the Macbook, and Jobs said that netbooks were definitely not the answer — “cheap, underpowered laptops.” Going by that logic of fill-in-the-gaps, we should at least be able to expect multi-tasking and cameras for video chat. Throw in these few, critical extras and we’d be jumping up and down.

The Apple iPad is a hot device, no doubt about that. Our only concern is its current 3G options are limited to AT&T right now and there is no multi-tasking. Are these dealbreakers? Well, that all depends on you and how important these features are. It also depends on whether AT&T does something about its network performance and what coverage is like in your area (if you’re considering the Wi-Fi with 3G version). Barring those few issues, if they’re not a big deal to you then we really can’t see why you wouldn’t want to pick up this slick new device from Apple. For what it is, and especially compared to what’s out there, they definitely just moved the goal posts for almost every other competitor in category.

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If an apple a day keeps the doctor away, what does an Apple tablet rumor a day do for you? We don’t know but if these Apple tablet rumors continue their current pace, we may just find out. Today we have some fresh Apple tablet information courtesy of the Taiwan Economic News. The Tawainese newspaper is reporting that Apple’s upcoming tablet will feature a 9.6-inch “finger friendly” Wintek touchscreen, HSDPA connectivity (no Verizon Wireless), and a processor from Apple-owned P.A. Semi. The information comes from battery maker Dynex, which claims it has a contract to produce 300,000 long lasting battery packs per month for the upcoming Apple tablet. According to this rumor, the tablet will retail for $799 to $999 and will arrive sometime in February 2010. Check back tomorrow when all of these details change yet again at the hand of another wave of rumors.

Thanks to everyone who sent this in!

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While the world waits with bated breath to see what will become of Symbian in the hands of the Symbian Foundation, another Nokia-owned OS is the talk of the town today: Maemo. Maemo has a home on only three devices that are currently available — the Nokia 770, Nokia N800 and Nokia N810 Internet Tablets. These MIDs haven’t been very well received by consumers so we find it a bit curious that China-based electronics house Optima would choose to go a similar route. The OP5-E does boast much better specs than Nokia’s Tablet trio however: 5.6 x 2.9 x 0.69 inch frame, 806MHz Marvell PXA320 CPU, 128MB RAM, 256MB ROM, microSDHC support, 4.3-inch WVGA resistive touchscreen, GPS, EV-DO, 802.11b/g Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 2.0, a 3.2-megapixel camera and a 2600 mAh battery. The saving grace may very well be the fact that this MID is said to have phone and SMS functionality coming in the future, likely meaning it will be upgradable to Maemo 5. Maemo fans looking for a new fix might be interested in checking it out but we’re holding out for Maemo 5 and the seemingly sexy N900 before we bother playing with Maemo again. Hit the jump for more shots.

[Via Pocketables]

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• Maemo 5
• Dimensions: 59.7mm x 111mm x 18.2mm
• Weight: 180g
• 3.5-inch 800×480 (WVGA) touchscreen
• OMAP3430 500/600 Mhz processor
• 5.0 MP Carl Zeiss camera with dual-LED flash, auto-focus and sliding cover
• 1GB total virtual runtime memory
• Wi-Fi, HSPA, GPS, accelerometer

The official N900 announcement will reportedly come in June — a period of time where it will easily and quickly be overshadowed by everything else going on next month — and target launches are scattered throughout 2H. We’re certainly anxious to play with Nokia’s new tablet but that’s really all we can expect from it… Play. Nokia continues its attempt to fill the space between smartphones and netbooks but for the time being, it’s a hole that the market doesn’t seem to want filled. Will the N900 be more successful in filling this imaginary gap? A few reported carrier deals might help spread sales out a bit more but we’re not sure why anyone would want to pay for a second data plan; any capable smartphone can likely take care of the bulk of tasks the N900 would be used to perform. Anyone excited for it or are we looking at another IT destined to be lost in a retail wasteland?

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OQO UMPC owners, it’s official: You now own a collector’s item. After running into OQO SVP of sales and marketing Bob Rosin, GottaBeMobile is reporting that the company can no longer afford to support its products in any capacity, let alone build new units. From Rosin:

We are sad to report that due to financial constraints, OQO is not able to offer repair and service support at this time. We are deeply sorry that despite our best intentions, we are unable to provide continued support for our faithful customers. Please accept our sincerest apologies.

Rosin went on to say that OQO is currently working on a deal with a parts vendor that might keep its team and — perhaps more importantly for OQO fans — its technology alive to some extent. For the time being however, the only certainties are that OQO is done building and supporting UMPCs, and its stock is depleted so it’s done selling them as well.

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We were filled with envy when COWON announced that its higher capacity S9 would grace South Korea’s gadget freaks, but it looks like it’s finally going to be our turn. Better yet, the bump to 32GB only sets you back $299 compared to $239 for the 16GB version. There is really no complaining with this one because we were practically gleaming with our review unit. Audio quality from the S9 is tops and the AMOLED screen just pops. As you can see, the COWON S9 is being shipped and sold from JetAudio, Inc. and while the actual JetAudio site shows 16GB as the largest capacity S9 you can get, we’re not going to argue with what’s shown on sale through Amazon. Grab one while you can because these units are just so PMP.

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More bad news for OQO fans we’re afraid, as a recent conversation with Senior Vice President Bob Rosin basically confirms worries that had been circulating regarding the longevity of the UMPC maker. Long story short, the company is in dire need of a knight in shining dollars. Regarding a recent rumor that suggests OQO is canceling pre-orders from vendors, Rosin had this to say:

While we haven’t canceled the orders, it is unlikely that we will be able to produce additional model 2+ units, so it did not seem worth trying to police that story, as it is accurate in a long-term sense.

Ouch. You can’t bring home the bacon if you can’t keep building a product, but OQO’s woes are hardly all off in the distance. In fact, the company seemingly can’t even afford to support its products right now. Rosin confessed that support services were currently unavailable, leaving current OQO owners to fend for themselves, but stated “there will be a solution to that available soon.” The shame of it all is that OQO’s evolutionary model 2+ was shaping up to be quite an exciting UMPC, albeit pricey. If the company can’t find a way to turn things around soon, it looks like very few people will ever get the opportunity to find out just how exciting it really is. We’ve also independently confirmed the above with OQO, but what we’re still not clear about is if any or how many OQO 02+ models have been already manufactured.

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News from OQO has been a bit scarce since the company unveiled its model 2+ at CES earlier this year. In the UMPC market, however niche it may be at this point, the model 2+ was essentially positioned to be a game changer — the specs speak for themselves: 5-inch WVGA OLED touchscreen display, Intel Atom processor (up to 1.86 GHz), 802.11a/b/g Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 2.0 with EDR, global HSDA and EV-DO along with up to 2GB of DDR2 RAM and a 60GB, 120GB hard drive or a 60GB SSD. So what’s the problem? We’re in the midst of a recession and the model 2+ — a luxury device that certainly wouldn’t be a necessity for anyone really — starts off at $999 and tops out around $3,100. Apparently, even those who indulge in the UMPC market are hesitant and interest is dwindling quickly. This, from an OQOTALK forum moderator:

I have been told by a few people in the know and also just from watching whats going on with OQO from reports on this forum. OQO is attempting to sell the company. It lacks the funds to keep going, cash is tight and work hours have been reduced. One has to wonder if it can still meet warranty claims as it starts to buy stock to build the 2+. I’m sorry to say this, but the 2+ might be the last OQO we see made. I don’t even think we will see it.

To compound matters, major retailer Expansys has apparently made the decision to remove OQO products from its site and is currently canceling pre-orders. Not good. We’re big OQO fans here at BGR so we hope the company finds a way to pull through but we’re also realists… The market for luxury items like this wasn’t that big to begin with and now that people wake up each morning wondering if they still have a job, the market is basically non-existent.

[Via jkOnTheRun]

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If these newly-leaked docs turn out to be authentic, Toshiba has apparently gone Snapdragon and Windows Mobile 6.5 crazy! The reported 2009-2010 roadmap reveals two new TG-series mobile phones, two K-Series MIDs and one larger L-Series Internet tablet. All five devices pack the 1GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon processor and run Windows Mobile 6.5. Expected release dates start in Q4 2009 and extend to Q1 2010. Hit the jump for a full rundown and mock-ups of these five rumored mobile devices.

First off is the Toshiba TG02, a slim handset with a massive display, targeted for the mobile warrior:

• 4.1-inch WVGA touchscreen
• 1GHz Snapdragon processor
• Windows Mobile 6.5
• 3.2 megapixel camera
• HSDPA
• Integrated GPS
• IPX4 water resistant
• Thickness of 9.9 mm

Next is the multimedia-centric Toshiba TG03 handset:

• 4.1-inch WVGA touchscreen
• 1GHz Snapdragon processor
• Windows Mobile 6.5
• 5 megapixel camera
• 5.1 channel speaker
• HSDPA

Following the handsets, we have two smaller and three MIDs starting with the Toshiba K01:

• QWERTY slider
• 4.1-inch display
• 1GHz Snapdragon processor
• 3.2 Megapixel Camera
• Windows Mobile 6.5

The Toshiba K02 is a smaller and presumably more affordable MID:

• 3.5-inch display
• 1GHz Snapdragon processor
• 3.2 megapixel camera
• Windows Mobile 6.5

Last but not least is the larger Toshiba L01. Details are sparse on this model:

• 7-inch screen
• 1GHz Snapdragon processor
• Windows Mobile 6.5
• What looks to be a removable or separate wireless keyboard

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WiMax is still around and kickin’, believe it or not, and Clear (formerly Clearwire, formerly Xohm) is planning to expand its networks soon. As such, it only makes sense that manufacturers are gearing up for the US expansion with some WiMAX devices, right? Samsung has dropped a few snippets of information on its SWD-M100 Mondi, which the company claims is the first handheld WiMAX device for the States. Burn. Judging by the popularity, or lack thereof, of the Nokia Internet tablet, we’re not quite sure how well this slider device will do or how Sammy plans to market it. We’ll have to wait and see, but if your 3G device isn’t cutting it for your Internet addiction, this device packs a slide-out QWERTY keyboard, a D-Pad and a touchscreen. No official announcement or pricing on this device but we’re not exactly on the edge of our seats for this one.

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Following a couple of blurrycam shots that surfaces last week, Lenovo has apparently decided to cut subsequent leaks off at the pass and issue official shots of its upcoming ultra-portable laptop, the Pocket Yoga. The design is most definitely unique and interesting, though usability may be sacrificed a bit by the incredibly short and wide display. Full specs are still a mystery but there is plenty to be gleaned from the images and descriptions posted by Lenovo. First and foremost, the display is indeed a stylus-operated touchscreen that can rotate around to the back of the device to be used as a tablet. Another fine example is the odd looking belt clip that can be removed from the outer case to be used as a wireless mouse. While we definitely wouldn’t recommend wearing this thing on your belt — please, for the love of God, don’t — the concept of a removable wireless mouse worked into the case itself is pretty intriguing. Hit the jump for a few more images and let us know what you think.

[Via Electricpig]

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Rumors of Apple’s entrance into the world of tablets were brought back into sight this morning as a recent Apple patent revealed the possible design for an upcoming tablet offering from Cupertino. You’ll likely recall rumors that flew around in late December, originating from three separate TechCrunch “sources close to Apple”, stating that Apple was working on a larger-scale iPod Touch-like device slated for a Fall 2009 release. While the patent illustrations don’t necessarily depict a bulked up iPod Touch as described by TechCrunch, they certainly do appear to feature a touchscreen computer with no physical keyboard in sight. A few of the illustrations in Apple’s patent application show a bottom plate on the device that appears to have lines very uncharacteristic of Apple’s current crop. As such, we’re lead to believe this device, if it ever sees the light of day, may possibly be branded entirely separately from Apple’s current offerings (as opposed to being dubbed, say, MacBook Touch). Well, it’s no ModBook Pro but it’ll certainly turn heads and have digital designers dying to break out their credit cards.

[Via Electronic Pulp]

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Yes, yes, y’all! Another BGR giveaway weekend extravaganza. Ok, that was a bit much, but we’ve just got a hold of Sony’s latest and greatest (and only, really) ultra-portable on Friday and we’re done reviewing it. What does that mean? Well, a full review is coming soon, but more importantly for you, we’re giving this bad boy away! Want to win this VAIO P loaded with a 64GB SSD? Sure you do! Here’s how you can win it:

• Send us a picture of your current laptop that needs replacing. (Maybe you’re constantly on the move but have to lug around a 17″ notebook with you, send a picture of that in!)
• You can send in as many photos as you like, but it won’t increase the chance of you winning
• Email the pictures to laptop at boygeniusreport dot com to enter
• Leave a comment that you entered so we can keep track of it. Make sure to comment from the same email address you sent in the photo/s from!
• We’ll run the giveaway until one Sunday from now, February 8th at 11:59PM ET
• The contest is only open to residents of the USA. Sorry!

Good luck everyone!

Who knew that dropping a “0″ and adding a “+” could have such an impact on a portable PC. Ok, ok – maybe there was a tiny bit more work that went into updating OQO’s latest handheld, but oh wow was it worth it. It wasn’t exactly a complete surprise thanks to prototype demos and a Digital Experience email, but OQO officially unwrapped its model 2+ this morning at CES and it really is a thing of beauty. Talk is cheap – let’s move right to the specs:

“Zii is a super computer in a nano size.” Now that everything is out there in the open, we’re not entirely sure everything we know has changed, as was the teaser claim on Creative’s Zii landing page. On the other hand, the ZiiLabs ZMS-05 SoC (System on Chip) is indeed pretty big news. According to Creative, the ZMS-05 is 100x smaller, 100x cheaper and 100x greener than a typical super computer, while capable of achieving the same impact on its target market – portable consumer electronics. The tie-in to “Stem cell Computing,” we imagine, is the fact that a virtually unlimited number of chips can be chained together to allow for petaflops of processing power. Mmm. With media in mind, the ZMS-05 will supposedly take portable electronics a tremendous leap forward but as always, seeing is believing. Once we start to see prototypes of devices built around the ZMS-05 that knock our socks off, we’ll reach our own conclusions. As an aside, Creative – you’d think that with all that money spent on manufacturing the surrounding hype and launch of your new SoC, the creative teams behind the project could have managed to make those Zii videos easily embeddable. Maybe your creative agency could use a few ZiiLabs-powered devices… Hit the jump for the full press release.

Creative Launches the Zii Platform and Ushers in the Era of StemCell Computing

Creative Forms ZiiLABS and Ushers in the Era of StemCell Computing Where Nano-Sized Super Computing Will Be Available in Our Daily Lives through Flexible, Tiny, Powerful and Scalable SoC

CES, Las Vegas, NV – Jan. 8, 2009 — Creative Technology Ltd. today announced the formation of ZiiLABS™ (a wholly owned subsidiary of Creative), with the combination of 3DLABS — which has a 25-year history as a leading innovator in programmable graphics, media and applications processing — and resources drawn from the largest product group in Creative, the Personal Digital Entertainment group.

The formation of ZiiLABS, the launch of the new ZiiLABS ZMS-05 SoC (System-On-Chip) and the new Zii™ Platform today usher in the new era of StemCell Computing™. The new ZiiLABS ZMS-05 SoC (System-On-Chip) will be unveiled and demonstrated from January 8-11 at the Consumer Electronics Show, South Hall booth #30651.

“We have invested a billion dollars and 10,000 man years of R&D effort over the last 25 years in platform solutions,” said Sim Wong Hoo, chairman and CEO of Creative Technology Ltd. “The combination of the technology from 3DLABS and the product development prowess of our Personal Digital Entertainment group delivers a complete, powerful and energy efficient platform with a very rapid time-to-market for our partners – the Zii Platform.”

“We now look to shaping the future of computing with the introduction of the integrated ZMS-05 media-rich processor, and ushering in the new era of StemCell Computing where we will bring the incredible benefits of nano-sized super computing right into our daily lives,” said Hock Leow, president of ZiiLABS.”

This StemCell approach has benefits in terms of:
· Flexibility — Utilizing a breakthrough technology comprising of programmable Processing Elements (PEs) which are basically Software Defined Silicon
· Scalability — 10Gigaflops to Petaflops (1015 floating point operation per second)
· Energy Efficiency — Huge processing power of the ZMS-05 SoC enables it to perform more in less time, equating to low power consumption
· Complete Solution — Ready-for-Market Zii Platform Solutions

Unlimited Flexibility
Stem cells are the basic building blocks of life, possessing the unique ability to develop into the specialized cells and tissues required by organisms to function effectively. Inspired by this concept, the ZMS architecture uses an array of media-optimized Processing Elements (PE) as its stem cells that can instantly develop into any of the specialized acceleration functions required of today’s media rich devices and offering advantages in terms of flexibility, performance and features when compared to the fixed function silicon blocks traditionally used in SoC designs.

Incredible Scalability
The scalability of the ZMS architecture is highlighted in the first Teraflop Accelerator with the footprint of an A4-sized sheet of paper, consuming less power than a desktop PC. By utilizing the virtually unlimited chaining capability of the ZMS chips, a state-of-the- art ‘hypercomputer’ with many Petaflops of processing power can be realized, which can be 100 times smaller, 100 times greener and 100 times lower cost than conventional super computers.

High Energy Efficiency
Due to the compute density of each Processing Element, the ZMS-05 SoC is able to do an immense amount of media processing in far less time — and with far less energy — than taken by standard processors; which translates into longer battery life. Intelligent power control means the speed and power consumption of the processor can be matched to the task in hand and unused features can be turned off completely, put in deep stand-by and reactivated instantly after weeks of shut down, helping to lengthen battery life even further.

Complete Zii Platform Solutions
The ZMS-05 processor combines the media processing array, dual ARM cores and a rich set of integrated peripheral controllers with hardware platforms and advanced SDK and middleware. This will enable Software Developers, OEMs, ODMs and System Integrators to create unlimited possibilities and develop a broad range of highly innovative products.

ZiiLABS Launch Partners
With the excitement about the ZiiLABS platform now public and the ZMS-05 in production, the Company is pleased to be working with many OEM partners worldwide announcing products based on ZMS including: MicroStar International, Perception digital, F&S Electronic, MediaNet, ASTAK, PowerLinux and Grandeye.

For more information, please visit Zii.com

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