Meet:Mobility Podcast 41 is now available. Recorded on 1st Feb 2010, JKK, Sascha and Chippy talk around the iPad and other mobile computing news including the Aspire ONE 532H, Archos 7, Dell Mini5, iPad, ExoPC, NetbookNavigator, Firefox for N900 and Adobe Flash.
Detailed show notes below.

SUBSCRIBE:
You can also find the podcast on iTunes (Please rate the show on iTunes.) You can also subscribe via RSS.

Full show notes available at Meet:Mobility.

Meet:Mobility Podcast 41 is now available. Recorded on 1st Feb 2010, JKK, Sascha and Chippy talk around the iPad and other mobile computing news including the Aspire ONE 532H, Archos 7, Dell Mini5, iPad, ExoPC, NetbookNavigator, Firefox for N900 and Adobe Flash.
Detailed show notes below.

SUBSCRIBE:
You can also find the podcast on iTunes (Please rate the show on iTunes.) You can also subscribe via RSS.

Full show notes available at Meet:Mobility.

Back in Dec 2008 I laid out the specifications for an iPod Plus. It was where I thought Apple would go next. I got the device size completely wrong; 5 inch is nothing like 9.7 inch but at least I predicted correctly that they wouldn’t be silly enough to bring out a netbook.

Apart from the from the sizing error though, I got most of the rest of it spot-on including the entry-level pricing, the ebook capability, the data-only 3G, the storage and most of the software elements. I also predicted that Apple could divert 5-10% of netbook sales and sell 1 million devices per year. We’ll see about that next year!

Unfortunately, Apple left out a few of the things I was expecting.

Hardware (can not be fixed until next model is released)

• Web cam
• Digital video out
• FM transmitter and receiver

Personally I can live without all of those but I’m still surprised they weren’t included.

Software

• Turn-by-turn navigation included.
• Multitasking
• Live widgets on home page
• Video/Voice over IP s/w.

Multitasking is the big personal disappointment.

I think Apple could still push out a 5-7 inch version of the iPad (iPad Mini) and include the missing elements (just like the 2nd-gen iPhone did) and of course, most of those missing software elements can be enabled through software updates.

That’s enough of me though, how about you? What were you expecting and what are you wishing for on the iPad?

Some might say MSI is mad to try and get tablet news out there right now but I think otherwise. There’s a huge wave of new tablet-focused customers searching and learning today so it makes sense to try and get news and images out.

Digitimes is helping them out today with news that their tablet, a Nvidia Tegra2-based device seen running Android with a 10″ colour touchscreen in the image above, will be out in the second half of 2010 for a price of about $500. Clearly MSI are a long way away from any formal commitment saying only that they will have different models based on customer demand.

We have this one on the ‘watch’ list.

MSI plans to launch an US$500 tablet PC in 2H10.

We shouldn’t be surprised that the Ipad is going to set new standards for user interfaces on a tablet-style device and that it allows you to access media in such a intuitive and fun way but somehow, it’s exciting and new to see it all happen. This video gives you a good overview from the marketing department’s perspective!

It’s impossible to talk about everything the iPad (specifications) represents in just 25 minutes but JKK (JKKMobile.com) and I had a good go. We’ve followed the event, had time to digest all the specifications and had a great chat with some readers in the UMPCPortal live chat channel. The iPad is going to be great for a subset of users. Maybe they arent the same hi-tech-oriented users we usually see reading our blogs but it’s a huge number of people all the same. Books, Video, Music, Games. Perfect for the coffee-table! Not so perfect for other scenarios though. Have a listen…..

You can download the podcast here or listen on the live player at Mevio.

More podcasts from JKK, Sascha and myself at MeetMobility

We’ve followed the event, had time to digest all the specifications and had a great chat with some readers in the live chat channel so now it’s time to summarize what the iPad is and where it fits. JKK and I spend 25 minutes going over the main points.

I’ve posted details about  (and will be following) the iPad at Carrypad. It’s also in the database.

You can download the podcast here or listen on the live player at Mevio.

It looks pretty much like everyone expected. 10 inch, thin, iPhone OS (based.)

Update: Specs now in database.

Image from gdgt.com

Spec-guessing based on the sizing. Update: Some confirmed. Update 2: All specs now in the database along with image and article links.

• 9.7″ ‘IPS’ technology screen, multitouch. (confirmed)
• 1024×600 1024×768
  
• 12mm thick (confirmed 0.5 inch, 13mm)
• 10wh battery 25wh battery.
• 3hrs online battery life (‘up to 10 hours’ confirmed)
• 400gm (corrected: 1.5lb 670gm)

Full specs, gallery and links in the database.

Check out the 8 minute presentation video.

Mentioned in the event:

• 1Ghz Apple A4 CPU (Could be PA-Semi or ARM-based or both)
• 16, 32, 64GB storage.
• Bluetooth
• 802.11n
• Accelerometer
• Docking port
• HD YouTube (720p we guess)
• New OS designed around similar feature set to iPod Touch. (Photo’s, YouTube, iTunes
• App store.
• Apps run pixel for pixel center screen or pixel-doubled (from iPhone app store.)
• iBooks store.

Info from others.

• No multitasking
• No flash.

Pricing.

• 16GB, Wifi : $499
• 32GB Wifi:  $599
• 64GB wifi:  $699
• Add 3G (unlocked) for $130

Availability: 2 Months.

Docking station:

Via Engadget

Not mentioned: Dimensions, cam details. Update: Dimensions now in the database. No cam!