| Last Saturday, one of our lucky staff members won | | | | which should provide plenty of power and diversity |
| the prize of coming in to the office to pick up our | | | | to the device. Also, the Windows Phone OS app |
| new toy: Apple's® new iPad™. We opted for all | | | | development uses XNA, .NET and Silverlight, which |
| the bells and whistles, so that we can use it for | | | | are used in the development of Windows and gaming |
| testing and developing applications. | | | | software, which should make courier apps very |
| We are pretty excited, and have been working on | | | | powerful and versatile. |
| app development for the iPad since the developer kit | | | | HP Slate Windows 7 Tablet |
| was released. The media is abuzz about the new | | | | Another US contender, Hewlett Packard™ |
| device and next few weeks will be an iPad frenzy as | | | | announced their Slate™ tablet set to be released |
| they begin to arrive. | | | | as early as June. This one also comes with an |
| The iPad is a great new device that takes mobile | | | | estimated price of $540, which is right in line with the |
| computing and application development to a whole | | | | iPad. However, the HP slate also boasts Flash |
| new level by being ultra portable, mobile and | | | | capability, a faster processor, and runs on a Windows |
| convenient. However, there are many other tablet | | | | 7 Platform, meaning that it should be able to run |
| devices set to come out this year that are really | | | | anything that you can run on Windows 7, including |
| amazing as well, and definitely deserve some | | | | any internet browser, Photoshop and games. |
| attention. | | | | However, managing traditional Windows applications |
| For this week's column, we've decided to tell you | | | | with only a multi-touch screen may not be the best |
| about some of the other tablet options and why we | | | | solution in all cases, and so it also has Bluetooth |
| are pretty excited about them too. | | | | capability and USB ports for easy attachment of a |
| WePad | | | | keyboard or mouse. |
| German Company Neofonie™ announced a new | | | | We are slightly surprised that HP went for Windows |
| entry to the the tablet market: the WePad™. Not | | | | 7 instead of the Windows 7 Phone OS, but in either |
| to be confused with the iPad, the WePad has a very | | | | case it presents some exciting capabilities and |
| impressive arsenal of features and hardware. Based | | | | considering it comes from an already well known |
| around Google's open Android operating system, the | | | | brand and beats the iPad on specs, it could become a |
| WePad boasts a 11.6" display, a 1.66GHz Intel Atom | | | | very popular platform. |
| N450 processor, a webcam, USB sockets, a flash | | | | Dell Mini 5 Android Tablet |
| card reader, and many other impressive features. | | | | Unveiled at CES earlier this year, Dell® announced a |
| With the Android operating system, it will be able to | | | | concept 5" tablet that runs on the Anroid OS. It |
| download and run apps from the Android | | | | also comes with 3G, Wi-Fi and Bluetooth connectivity |
| Marketplace, as well as its own WePad AppStore, | | | | and is a mix between a large phone and a tablet. Or |
| which means that current android apps should be able | | | | in other words, it is a really very smart phone. |
| to run fine on the WePad, or have WePad specific | | | | Dell is also running with Android, which makes it |
| applications. Also, unlike the iPad, the Android OS | | | | another platform for Android apps and those that |
| allows multitasking which creates a much better user | | | | develop for them. The Dell Mini 5 also boasts a |
| experience. | | | | 1GHz Snapdragon processor that should give it plenty |
| Even though Neofonie has a working prototype that | | | | of power without sacrificing batter life. |
| they showcased last week, they have yet to | | | | Spring Design Alex Ebook Reader |
| announce a release date or purchase price. But | | | | Spring Design™ combines a traditional E-reader with |
| even so, if it can do everything they say it can, it is | | | | a second LCD screen, based off of Android OS. |
| going to be one of the most impressive tablets on | | | | This beats out other dedicated E-readers because it |
| the market, and it provides encouragement to those | | | | has a web browser and provides the best of both |
| looking to build apps for android phones since they | | | | worlds. It also comes with Wi-Fi connectivity and |
| will also get to play with tablet devices. | | | | Ebooks from Borders bookstore. |
| However, the WePad isn't the only upcoming | | | | The combination between and E-reader and LCD |
| Android-based tablet. | | | | provides for some cool combination applications as |
| ARCHOS Home Tablets | | | | well as improved battery life and better readability of |
| Announced earlier this month by the French company | | | | web page content. |
| Archos™, the ARCHOS 7 Home Tablet and | | | | Once again, the Android OS means some |
| ARCHOS 8 Home Tablet are the latest in their mobile | | | | compatibility between other Android powered |
| computing options. The Archos Home Tablets are | | | | devices, which provides even better distribution for |
| each designed for specific applications, and each | | | | Android applications. |
| targets a different market. | | | | JooJoo |
| The Archos 7 is the smaller of the two, sporting a 7" | | | | Singapore based company, Fusion Garage™, |
| touch screen, but it comes packed with power, and | | | | announced the JooJoo™ late last year. According |
| is probably the least expensive of all the tablets listed | | | | to their website, JooJoo is based off of the African |
| here, at just $200. The Archos 8 Home Tablet is | | | | word "joujou," meaning magical device. And this |
| larger and is intended to display like a picture frame, | | | | device is magical. |
| which is meant for the home or kitchen. | | | | With a 12-inch LCD screen, the JooJoo boasts the |
| For example, you could prop it up in the kitchen and | | | | ability to play HD videos and has Wi-Fi capability. |
| use it when preparing a meal to access the Internet, | | | | This product is currently available for pre-order, for |
| pull up recipes and cooking instructions or chat with | | | | around $500. One thing that makes the JooJoo |
| people online. Then when it's not in use, you could it | | | | different is that it runs apps completely through the |
| could just display pictures or video. | | | | Web and runs on its own proprietary operating |
| That's not to diminish the power or portability of the | | | | system. |
| device, however it is meant as a compact | | | | Fusion Garage announced their tablet just before the |
| stand-alone computer that can be displayed in any | | | | iPad and so has become an underdog in the news. |
| room in the house. But for a more mobile and | | | | However, according to Fusion Garage, orders have |
| portable device, the Home 7 tablet may be a better | | | | actually increased since the iPad announcement. In |
| fit. | | | | either case, this probably will not become a |
| Both of these devices run on Google's Android™, | | | | mainstream device, but it is an alternative option that |
| and they each reach a very specific audience. As a | | | | may be worth consideration. |
| software developer, we definitely see the potential | | | | Lenovo U1 Hybrid Notebook |
| for developing custom apps for these devices, | | | | Lenovo® has been working with small netbooks |
| especially since the apps would be available to all | | | | and tablet PCs for some time, but the U1 hybrid™ |
| Android devices as well. | | | | notebook represents a shift in their tablet technology. |
| Archos is also expected to release yet another | | | | The unique feature is that it is essentially a netbook |
| mobile internet tablet later this summer, called Archos | | | | – small portable and similar to a laptop, but then |
| 9, which will also be powered by the Android OS, be | | | | the screen can detach and function like an |
| slightly larger than the Archos Home 7 and include | | | | independent slate tablet. This literally puts two PCs |
| improved web connectivity. | | | | into one device, and each has its own processor and |
| Notion Ink: Adam | | | | operating system, but work together as a clamshell |
| Based out of India, Notion Ink™ was founded with | | | | laptop or a multitouch slate tablet. |
| the express purpose of creating tablet computers. | | | | In this way, the base serves as a hop and docking |
| Notion Ink has cutely called their first creation | | | | station, whereas the tablet can be used in very |
| Adam™, a very impressive tablet that runs on the | | | | mobile instances. The two processors also use |
| Android OS. | | | | Lenovo's Hybrid Switch technology which allows |
| Among its features is that it runs Adobe Flash to | | | | seamless toggling between the two processors. |
| leverage the best of rich internet applications, has a | | | | The U1 runs on the Skylight Linux operating system, |
| 180 degree swivel camera for video chart or taking | | | | designed specifically for small devices, and has a |
| front-facing pictures, multi-touch support and 3G and | | | | user-facing camera and a wealth of features, including |
| Wi-Fi connectivity. In addition, Adam also features a | | | | 3G connectivity, multi-touch, and long batter life. |
| Pixel QI transflective screen. What is that? It is a | | | | Unfortunately all these features cost a bit more than |
| 10.1 inch screen that can switch between backlit LCD | | | | other slate tablets, pricing it at $1000, but still within |
| mode like on other tablets, and a low-power | | | | the range for new laptops. It should be available by |
| electrophoretic reflective mode, which looks more or | | | | June of this year. |
| less like e-ink, making it a great solution for switching | | | | Lenovo also has a few other small notebooks coming |
| between video and ebooks and greatly extending | | | | out this year, including the Skylight Smartbook. |
| battery life while reading. | | | | Lenovo still pairs their slate tablets with a keyboard, |
| Expected to be released this June, Adam claims to | | | | but that may prove to be a positive bonus to those |
| have up to 16 hours of HD video playback, | | | | who are dissatisfied with touch-screen typing. |
| supporting 1080p video, all powered by a dual-core | | | | As a developer, we look forward to continuing |
| ARM processor and an NVidia GPU. | | | | Linux-based development, and it will be exciting to |
| Adam really opens up the door to future application | | | | see if mobile application development takes off on |
| development possibilities for mobile and portable | | | | this type of platform. |
| devices. Needless to say, we can't wait to get our | | | | Conclusion |
| hands on one. | | | | If you noticed, there are a whole bunch of Android |
| Microsoft Courier (Rumored) | | | | powered devices. Market studies show Android |
| Jumping back to the US, Microsoft™ has a "secret" | | | | taking over Apple's iPhone OS as soon as 2013, and |
| upcoming product called the Courier. It still has not | | | | you can see with so many devices running on |
| been officially announced by Microsoft, but the web | | | | Android that the market for Android application is |
| is full of demo videos and pictures all showing | | | | only going to get larger. |
| prototypes of the device. Does that make it true? | | | | We are currently working clients to develop |
| No, not necessarily. But the rumors are so juicy and | | | | applications the iPhone/iPad operating system, as well |
| the Courier looks so good that we can hardly resist. | | | | as the Android OS, and have achieved remarkable |
| What makes the Courier especially unique is that it is | | | | results for our clients. This market is only going to |
| actually not a tablet—it's a booklet. It has dual | | | | grow, and even though we are excited about our |
| 7-inch multi-touch screens, which means that you get | | | | new iPad, and even our Microsoft Surface (a giant |
| a lot of screen space, but it folds down into a very | | | | tablet?), custom software development for these |
| compact size. | | | | new devices is something that can help businesses |
| Not much is known about the exact specs on this | | | | reach and engage users in ways that have never |
| device, but we can be pretty sure that it will involve | | | | before been possible. |
| Microsoft's new Windows Phone 7 operating system, | | | | |