Apple’s big press event has come and gone, and unless you have been living under the Internet equivalent of a rock, then you are now more than familiar with the new iPad device which is scheduled to launch this spring from our friends in Cupertino.  Now that Apple has answered the burning question of what is it going to be, the next question is should you buy one.

Sadly, here at JAMM, we will not be able to offer you all of the answers right away.  We will not receive a pre-release version of the iPad like some other media outlets.  So, we will be waiting for the release, right alongside all of you.  Though it is a pretty good bet that at least one or more of our team members will be among the earliest shipments of the new device, that does not do you much good during the next 60 days or so while you ponder whether to add this to your arsenal of mobile devices. 

Even though we have not been able to handle one, we can already start to form a picture of whether this will meet your needs, starting with the official specs from the Apple website.

Dimensions: Let’s start off with a look at the dimensions.  Like the iPhone and MacBook Air, this one is almost a mere half inch thick.   As a result, it is also impossibly light at only 1.5 pounds (1.6 for the 3G model).  That makes it a full pound or more lighter than the average netbook.  Impressive!  Most impressive!  But then again, thin and light seems to be Apple’s modus operendi these days.

Screen and Display: The screen is 9.7 inches, which is pretty close to the same size as the MSI Wind I currently use.  I was pretty happy to find such a large screen.  When netbooks first started coming around, the screens were closer to the 8.6 inch range, which proved to be far too small.  I think 10 inches is the real sweet spot for portable devices.  Any smaller and the screen just becomes unusable.  Larger and the device becomes unwieldy and awkward to carry. 

Unlike many of today’s video playing devices, however, this holds fast to the same (or similar) LED backlit screen which has graced the iPhone and iPod Touch.  It would have been nice if Apple had updated its new device to include an OLED or even AMOLED screen for better resolution and clarity.   Then again, I have never had any complaints about the clarity of the iPod Touch’s screen, which is one of the best I have used, so I will reserve judgment on this decision until I have a chance to see it in person. 

The screen boasts 1024×768 resolution.  While this is extremely nice, I was surprised to find that it does not support true HD.  It can only playback up to 720p at 30 frames per second.  I also found it odd that the screen does not play movies in a 16:9 ratio, which is the standard display for widescreen videos. 

Battery:  I have always said that the battery is the weak link of pretty much every device I have ever used.  They just never pack enough power to really handle everything you need to do with a device.  Apple boasts that the 25Whr rechargeable lithium-ion battery will last 10-hours.  That is not terrible.  The battery on my MSI Wind lasts 6-8 on average depending upon my use, so 10 is a little better.  Still not good enough, but then I am not sure any battery could ever be “good enough”.  Still, with all this device is expected to do, I can envision far too many scenarios in which users get stranded at just the wrong time with a dead battery.

Memory: Like the iPhone, the iPad boasts 16, 32, and 64 GB models.  While this may sound like a lot, I suspect users will burn through this memory in no time flat.  I was disappointed to find that there will be no opportunity to add external memory either through an SD card slot or a USB port to allow the connection of a thumb drive or external hard drive. 

Processor: The processor in the iPad is an impressive sounding 1GHz Apple A4 custom-designed, high-performance, low-power system-on-a-chip.  Like I said, that sounds great, but we’ll see how it works in person.  Though that 1GHz sounds fast, fast, fast.

Input and output:  I already noted the lack of an SD card slot or USB port.  In addition to not allowing external memory, this also makes it difficult to connect peripherals such as printers, CD-ROM drives, and more.  I also noted that the specs indicate a VGA adaptor (which requires the use of a dock to access), but no HDMI.  A modern device which is designed for multimedia (among other things) has no business offering such a low quality video out connection.  an HDMI connection should be mandatory on this device. 

Wireless and cellular: As has been widely advertised, in addition to the Wi-fi radio, there will also be a version of the iPad which connects via AT&T’s 3G network.  So, for just $30/month, you can receive unlimited data on AT&T.  Snide comments aside, I am a little concerned about this.  AT&T’s network troubles have been well documented, and their infrastructure has not shown any ability to keep up with the demands of iPhone users.  So, it is not clear, exactly, how AT&T’s struggling network will handle the additional projected demands of iPad users.  I am really surprised that Apple did not opt for a different network, like Sprint or Verizon (as had been widely rumored) for this device.  Though it will be interesting (though potentially in the watching a car wreck sort of way) to see how AT&T holds up to the vast demand of a legion of iPad users, all armed with unlimited video downloads.  Still, $30 for unlimited access is just an incredible offer.  By comparison, most mobile broadband cards and Mifi/mobile hotspot devices require $60/month, for what is rarely unlimited use.  Additionally, the iPad comes with no contract,which means you can drop the 3G connection at any time and rely solely on the Wi-fi connection.

Price: Based upon Apple’s track record, I fully expected this one to top out at well over $1000.  boy was I wrong.  I was really amazed to find that the entry level model would cost only $499.  The highest end model with 3G connectivity and 64 GB of storage comes it an only $829.  When you think about this, the iPad would likely replace (for me at least) both the Kindle and MSI Wind, which cost close to $900 combined.  I never thought this day would come, but great job with pricing on Apple’s part.

Still, a careful reading of the features and technical specs indicates several notable omissions.  First, there is no indication that Apple is ready to bring multi-tasking to the masses.  While this may have worked OK for a device like the iPhone, something like the iPad, which is intended to compete for the same niche as a netbook, must be able to switch easily between tasks.  What happens if you are working on a document and need to look something up on the Internet?  Or need to switch between several different sources?  The lack of multitasking, I suspect, will be even more noticeable on the iPad than it ever was on the iPhone.

I was also disappointed by the lack of a built in camera.  With the growth of online video conferencing, the lack of a built in webcam really strikes me as a significant problem. 

Finally, like the iPhone, there is no support for Flash based video.   I am not sure whether this came from Apple or whether this is something Adobe is currently working on, but it is a disappointment.  The Internet is becoming increasingly dominated by Flash, and the inability to view it will limit or cripple many modern websites.  I would also point out that my Windows 7-based netbook can handle flash video-based websites with no problem in three different web browsers.

There also does not seem to be any kind of handwriting recognition.  Most of the tablet users I know today rely heavily on a pen-based handwriting program for making notes and entering data.  I know Steve Jobs has a documented aversion to the stylus, but I think it would have made good sense to include (or at least make available) a digital pen for this purpose.

In addition to the official specs, although JAMM has not been able to get an early look at the iPad, plenty of others have.  Their views are all well discussed in this article, with the ultimate conclusion seeming to be that it is a good device, but not necessarily revolutionary…or even magical (though I did here a rumor that it can perform some basic card tricks).   Personally, I think PC World summed it up the best when they said:

There are many more reasons, both pro and con, regarding an iPad purchase but the best one may be the simplest: You’ve either got to have one (and have the spare cash) or the iPad doesn’t do much for you.

So, what do you all think?  Do you plan to be an early adopter of the iPad?  What do you like or find disappointing about Apple’s latest device?  Personally, I have always been intrigued by the tablet form factor, and I am excited to see one that could really fit many of my needs.  Join in through the comments and let us know what you think.

If you are even remotely interested in gaming on your portable device, you know who Astraware is. Bringing us such quality game titles as Bejeweled 1 and 2, Tank Wars and Casino, these guys from the UK have been tops in the industry for quite some time.

A short time ago, however, Astraware became a part of the Handmark portfolio, a mobile software distributor located in the United States. The Astraware site and brand continued to function during this time, but Handmark was definitely the parent company.

Fast forward to present day: Astraware is now Astraware again. Handmark and Astraware have separated, allowing Handmark to focus on their distribution business goals for the future and the latter to get down to the business of making great games. I can hardly wait to see what they turn out!

See the full press release below:

Handmark Spins Off Mobile Games Studio as it Refines Focus

KANSAS CITY, MO and LONDON, UK - (January 27, 2010) – Handmark®, the world’s leading developer and distributor of mobile applications and services, today announced it has spun off its mobile games studio, Astraware, as the company streamlines its business to focus on other strategic areas of mobile development and support.

Astraware returns to the management of Howard Tomlinson and David Oakley, two of the original founders, and will remain a Handmark preferred partner. Handmark will continue to support Astraware on a variety of distribution and promotional opportunities.

“We saw a great opportunity to join forces with Astraware to help create and extend a collection of fun, well-designed mobile games titles to a new audience, and we did just that,” said Paul Reddick, Handmark CEO. “I still see a great opportunity for their team to continue proving their leadership as a major player in mobile games and we will continue to work alongside them.”

Handmark acquired Astraware in January 2008. Together the companies have launched more than 20 games, including the popular GTS World Racing and Platypus for iPhone, as well as its multi award-winning Astraware Sudoku for BlackBerry smartphones.

“Handmark has always been and will continue to be a trusted partner,” said Howard Tomlinson, Astraware CEO. “We look forward to continuing to deliver the very best in mobile games, focusing on the core of our business which is making your mobile experience fun and exciting across new platforms and technologies!”

This follows a recent announcement in which Handmark publicized its aggressive plans to take more than 500 publishers mobile in 2010. The company is refining its focus to lead the rapidly growing mobile publishing market, as the only partner to offer a full-service mobile solution for newspapers, magazines and other content providers.

The financial details of the agreement were not disclosed.

About Handmark
Handmark is the leading developer and distributor of mobile applications and services, specializing in mobile solutions for publishers and other media companies. Handmark is the only company to support development across all major mobile platforms, as well as distribution, monetization and ongoing innovation for its partners. Handmark has proven its leadership in delivering fun, engaging, valuable experiences for mobile customers over the last 10 years. For more information, visit www.handmark.com.

About Astraware
Founded in 1994 and incorporated in 2000, Astraware® is a UK-based games studio that develops, publishes and distributes games for a wide range of smartphones and mobile devices, including iPhone™, Windows Mobile®, Android™, S60®, and BlackBerry®. Some of the titles to come out of the Astraware studio include multi-award-winning Astraware Sudoku, Tradewinds 2 (developed under license from Sandlot Games), and Pazzazz Games’ GTS World Racing. Mobile gaming enthusiasts have downloaded more than 70 million copies of Astraware’s products, and the company has customers in more than 100 countries.

© 2009 Handmark, Inc.; Handmark® and the distinctive hand design are registered trademarks of Handmark, Inc. in the U.S. and other territories. All rights reserved. All other trademarks belong to their respective owners.

Introduction

While I love Windows Mobile, the operating system does have a few annoying quirks. Of these, one that always got to me in the past was after engaging Bluetooth, the need to jump all the way into settings to set it as discoverable. Let’s face it, Bluetooth that isn’t discoverable is hard to work with at times. Enter a very small, simple utility created by XDA-Developers forum member “Aqrab”.

Installation

First, once you’ve downloaded the file from the post, extract it’s contents on your device. Next your favorite file manager to manually move the DLL file to /Windows. Please the second file anywhere you like. I recommend creating a shortcut and pinning it to your Start Menu.

Usage

When ready to engage Bluetooth, follow the shortcut or tap directly on the program in a file browser. Instant Bluetooth, instantly discoverable. Brilliant. Tap it once more, Bluetooth is toggled off. I

highly recommend this simple utility. In terms of size, you’ll hardly even know it was installed. In terms of functionality, it could save you many repetitive steps and aggravation.

Details

• Price: Free
• Download*: http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=362115

* To download, you need to be a registered forum member for XDA-Developers.com.

So, yesterday you lost the iPad presentation by Steve Jobs? Don’t worry, Apple uploaded it to its site.

Visit the Apple Special Event January 2010 page on Apple.com and choose the video quality you prefer to:

Watch Apple CEO Steve Jobs unveil the revolutionary new iPad. See the video-on-demand event right here, exclusively in QuickTime and MPEG-4.

You can also see the video podcast directly from the iTunes Store.

Maybe you are not willing to buy an iPad soon, but Steve Jobs’ presentations are always great shows!!

Via: MelaBlog

Via: Engadget

Resco Photo Manager 7 for Windows Mobile Main UI Screen

Introduction

Resco recently introduced Photo Manager version 7 for Windows Mobile phones. Version 7, a major upgrade to an already top-notch photo viewer program, is aimed at better serving the touch screen of user’s devices. Resco was kind enough to provide a complimentary copy for me to review, and I’ve been spending some time with the update on my HTC Touch Pro. After grabbing yourself a glass of iced tea, sit back and join me as we look at how Photo Manager 7 may quickly become an essential app on your Windows Mobile device.

Installation

Resco Photo Manager 7 can be installed via CAB to either internal storage or an external card without issue. It seems to work fine in both locations, with neither taking a hit on performance. You will also note that after installation, Resco’s screenshot utility is installed and available to you via Start Menu / Programs. The size of the installation weighs in a little under 2 megabytes, which is very respectable for a program of this quality.

General Usage

Launching Photo Manager 7 presents the user with a touch oriented interface, large finger friendly icons and kinetic scrolling included. The traditional Windows Mobile task bar is hidden from the user. The major portion of the screen is dedicated to shortcuts to your device’s images. These shortcuts are set up to take you directly to your My Documents folder, the images from your device’s camera, photos that you have set as “favorites” and My Albums, a shortcut into your defined albums.

Resco Photo Manager 7 for Windows Mobile Main UI Screen

The bottom of the screen is populated with buttons to program menus and a shortcut to the camera.

As you dive further into the program, pressing one of the shortcuts with your finger, you are taken to a display of image thumbnails. Easily scrolling vertically with the flick of a finger, users can stop with the press of a finger. A second press and your taken into a full screen display of the image. Here you have the option of simply viewing the image or performing some basic edits using Resco’s nicely integrated controls.

Resco Photo Manager 7 for Windows Mobile Thumbnails

Resco Photo Manager 7 for Windows Mobile Edit Controls

Resco has wisely included support for uploading of images to some of the more common social networks, including Flickr, Facebook, Picasa and Twitter. A present day photo viewing application also wouldn’t be considered as highly without the ability to tag images with GPS positions.

Strengths

User interface all the way, here, guys and gals. Resco has thoughtfully planned and materialized on a touch driven photo viewing experience.

Suggestions for Improvement

My main gripe is also one of the features of Photo Manager 7 – the full screen display. The traditional Windows Mobile task bar needs to be able to be toggled via a preference… at least that is my preference. Without it, the multi-tasking that is capable with Windows Mobile is dimished somewhat.

Final Comments

I recommend giving Resco Photo Manager 7 a home on your Windows Mobile device, especially if your device is a newer touch optimized phone. The user interface is intuitive. The feature set is impressive, with the editing tools, GPS and social network support allowing you get the most out of your handheld computing experience.

Details

• Current Version: 7.03
• Trial Limit: 7 Days
• Price: $24.95
• Company: Resco
• Product Info: http://www.resco.net/pocketpc/photomanager/