iPad

Of all the questions surrounding Apple's forthcoming iPad tablet, the one I find the hardest to answer is, "What can it do that my laptop and smartphone don't already deliver?"

The question is tough to answer for two reasons. For one, until we see how developers are able to tailor their apps, we really can't say to what degree the iPad experience is going to differ from the iPhone or iPod Touch. More importantly, but harder to communicate, is how much the iPad's 9.7-inch touch screen fundamentally changes the nature of how we … Read more

In today's episode we talk malware coming out of China, GPS being used to get out of speeding tickets, and Opera's new browser for iPhone--which could, or could not be coming to an Apple device near you. We also talk about the U.S. Air Force testing a new jet fuel based on animal fat and plants, along with a mysterious, new 7-inch 3G-enabled device coming to AT&T users this year. Tune in to get the whole story. And, as always, all the links from today's stories can be found below.

Today's stories:

Symantec finds China top source of malware… Read more

AT&T is already expanding its selection of products in the nascent tablet market. In addition to the upcoming Apple iPad, AT&T will market a tablet based on a future version of Intel's Atom processor.

At the CTIA trade show in Las Vegas this week, AT&T announced a tablet that will run, like the iPad, on its 3G broadband network. The tablet is based on a design from Boca Raton, Fla.-based OpenPeak, which designs and develops products for companies like Verizon and Telefonica--two of its current customers.

Inside OpenPeak's "OpenTablet" … Read more

Here's some bad news for folks who were expecting iPad media subscriptions to be cheaper than the real thing. A report from The Wall Street Journal (on itself), points at a monthly price tag that costs more than it would to actually get the newspaper delivered to your house every day. So much for cheap, digital delivery.

We also talk about the alleged Twitter hacker who leaked those Twitter internal documents last year; getting busted by the FBI; as well as GoDaddy no longer selling .cn domain names in China. Tune in to hear more about these stores and … Read more

iPad buyers face a difficult decision: to 3G or not to 3G? After all, the entry-level 3G iPad costs $629, plus $14.99/month for a 250MB data plan or $29.99/month for unlimited. You don't have to sign up for a contract, which is great, but the fact remains you're paying yet another wireless bill for service on a single device.

There is another option. With a Verizon MiFi card, a combination wireless modem and Wi-Fi router, you could choose the cheaper Wi-Fi-only iPad and still enjoy 3G Internet just about anywhere. Plus, you get to share that connectivity with up to four other users/devices.

However, that's a much pricier solution: The MiFi locks you into a two-year Verizon contract and charges you a minimum of $39.99 per month--$59.99 if you choose the unlimited data plan.

That's why I'm hitching my wireless wagon to Virgin Mobile's Broadband2Go, a pay-as-you-go service that requires no contract and no monthly minimums. (Here's my hands-on review of the service in case you're interested.)

Broadband2Go works with a Novatel-made USB aircard that sells for $99.99 (or $88.54 at Walmart). Obviously you can't plug it directly into an iPad (the modem was made with laptops in mind), but there's a workaround: the CradlePoint PHS300.

Plug the Broadband2Go into this compact, battery-powered Wi-Fi router and presto: You've got MiFi-style functionality from a pay-as-you-go provider.

Plus, the PHS300 supports up to 16 simultaneous users/devices, versus just five on the MiFi. It's not quite as elegant a solution, but it's definitely cheaper in the long run.… Read more

The Wall Street Journal has reported on itself by saying that "according to a person familiar with the matter," their monthly iPad subscription will cost $17.99 a month. Now, I'm no Yank, nor plan on buying an iPad, but that seems high, no?

That's about nine bucks more expensive than a monthly subscription to the dead-trees version. Too bad print readers are a dying breed.

The WSJ article also addresses advertising on the iPad--apparently Time magazine will debut its iPad version with adverts from Unilever, Toyota, Fidelity Investments and three other companies, with each ad … Read more

Not long after the iPad was announced back in January, I wrote a column titled, "Which e-readers will the iPad Crush?" For the article, I came up with a list of several e-reader hopefuls that I thought would be most profoundly affected by the arrival of the iPad. Not surprisingly, all of them were more-expensive e-readers with price tags approaching--or even exceeding--the cost of the entry-level 16GB Wi-Fi-only iPad ($499).

You don't exactly have to be genius to speculate that products like the Plastic Logic Que proReader, which starts at $649, will be jeopardized by the iPad'… Read more

The MacBook fans are getting restless, as evidenced by the ongoing hand-wringing about possible updates to the popular laptop line. After all, the last overhaul of the aluminum MacBook Pro line came way back in June 2009. Since the start of 2010, with a new family of Intel CPUs to draw from, many have said the time seems perfect for some new components, if not a new outright design.

Perhaps more importantly, it seems that Apple's Steve Jobs has taken to e-mailing curt answers to some of the inquires he receives from fans. None of these typically monosyllabic responses … Read more

He's sitting at home. The thighPad is just where it's supposed to be, gently warming his lap. Who knows if he takes his sneakers off?

But in another subtle gesture to market his "magic and revolutionary" product, Steve Jobs is reportedly already using an iPad to answer customer queries.

According to Tuaw, having already begun to personally answer customers' iPad questions just a couple of weeks ago--the Apple CEO has gravitated away from replying to them on an iPhone and whipped out an iPad.

One customer reportedly asked whether he could transfer his Google Docs to … Read more