webOS Tablet Coming Early 2011

Pre|Central reports that during HP's conference call, HP responded to a question asking if tablets are impacting the sales of netbooks.  For the first time, HP confirmed that they will be shipping a webOS based tablet in early 2011.  webOS is the platform that HP acquired when they purchased Palm.

Data Hog Uses An Impressive 2.7TB In A Month!

Ars Technica reports that a single user of the Begian ISP Telenet used a massive 2.7TB of data in a single month.  There were other users that consumed extreme amounts of data, 1.9TB, 1.5TB, 1.3TB, as well.  Telenet published the data in a forum, to persuade users to update their limited bandwidth service to plans with higher monthly data allowance.

Well, 2.7TB is a lot of Linux distributions to download in a single month!

iPad Shortage Begins To Ease

 

If you are thinking about purchasing an iPad, there is some good news.  Expected ship time on Apple.com has been reduced from 7-10 business days to 3-5 business days.  Additionally, it seems most accessories are available within 24hrs with the exception of the extremely popular camera connection kit which now ships in 5-7 business days (down from 4-6 weeks).

Magazine Subscriptions Come To The iPad

Apple and Time Inc. have agreed to allow print subscribers free access to the iPad version of People Magazine, according to a report from CNNMoney.  Other Time Inc. magazines such as Time, Sports Illustrated, and Fortune are expected to adopt the same model within the next 30 days.  

With this new policy change, expect other publishers to ask for the same deal from Apple.  Hopefully, subscriptions for all magazines will be available on the iPad very soon.

DVD reVIEW: Back To The Future

This past weekend, I watched Back To The Future for the first time.  In this tragic coming of age tale, hero BiffTannen (Thomas F. Wilson) is tormented by his childhood rival George McFly (Crispin Glover).  The 25 year old movie starts off in the then current year of 1985. As George McFly's supervisor, Tannen is constantly having to go over to McFly's house to follow up on George's sloppy work habits.  George McFly's son, Marty, hangs out with a crazy white haired mad scientist, Dr. Emmett  Brown, (Christopher Lloyd) that keeps inventing useless things.  Through a freak accident, Dr. Brown invents a time machine in the shape of a car (1978 Ford Pinto).

Marty steals the time machine from Dr. Brown and proceeds to travel back to 1955 to ruin Biff's life.  The junior McFly prevents his mother from falling in love with a young gentlemanly Biff.  In addition, Marty vandalises Biff's new car.  After ensuring Biff's future will be in shambles, Marty travels back to 1985 to rub it inBiff's face.  The movie ends with Dr. Brown pulling up in the pinto yelling at Marty and his girlfriend to get in.  The car starts to fly in the air and proceeds to travel through time with "To Be Continued" displaying on the screen. 

In Back To The Future 2, I predict that Biff was wearing a "Doctor Brown" mask in the last scene of the 1st Back To The Future.  He is probably taking Marty and Jennifer back to 1955 to take care of business!  I guess I will know next weekend.

Chrome OS Based Tablet Coming November 26th?

 

In a report from the downloadsquad, Google is apparently building a Chrome OS based tablet.  The tablet is rumored to be built by HTC, the same company that built the Android based smartphone, the Nexus One.  Additionally, the tablet is expected to be heavily subsidized by Verizon, which would make the initial purchase price cheaper than the iPad (not counting the monthly data service).  Downloadsquad's source did not provide any specs for the tablet.  The reported ship date is Black Friday 2010. 

Google Having Trouble Selling GoogleTV To Media Companies?

Extra Extra..... From the land of dinosaur media companies, Google having trouble selling the idea of GoogleTV!

We knew it would be difficult to negotiate content deals for GoogleTV.  The Wall Street Journal is reporting media companies are worried about cannibalizing the traditional broadcast model with online video.  Media companies are concerned because they currently earn less money with online advertising.  In addition, GoogleTV would enable more competition for content displayed on TVs.

I believe all video will be web based someday. Content owners that adapt to this new business model early will be in a better position to compete in this market.