Two days from the iPad’s US launch, key American reviewers have been given preview devices. The first reviews are now out, and so we turn to the godfather of gadget reviews, Walt Mossberg of the Wall Street Journal. Is the iPad really a game-changer for the netbook market – and for the publishing industry?

In a cool and rational assessment of his trial with the iPad,  Mossberg says the iPad “is an advance in making more-sophisticated computing possible via a simple touch interface on a slender, light device”, but holds off by saying it will take time to see if the iPad presents a major challenge to the netbook market.

Suitable for web readers and light writers

If the bulk of your computer use involves giant documents, highly controlled editing or lengthy writing, the iPad won’t work for you. What it does work for, said Mossberg, is consuming – web reading, video, music, gaming, newspapers and magazines and books, as well as short-form writing and social networking: “My verdict is that, while it has compromises and drawbacks, the iPad can indeed replace a laptop for most data communication, content consumption and even limited content creation, a lot of the time. But it all depends on how you use your computer.”

Battery life

Battery life was 15% better than Apple’s 10-hour claim. Watching four full-length films, four TV episodes and a 90-minute presentation eventually burnt the battery up after 11 hours and 28 minutes, with email, wifi and full screen brightness on.

Specs

• 9.7″ screen
• 1.5lbs
• Nonreplaceable battery
• Memory: 16Gb, 32Gb, 64Gb
• Wifi or wifi + 3G
• Price: $499 to $829
• Data charges for 3G model: $15 to $30 per month

The touch-screen keyboard was easy to adjust to and more comfortable than many of the smaller, physical keyboards on netbook rivals, said Mossberg. It was also accurate and productive, which will be a relief to those of us who spend as much time correcting input text on the small iPhone screen as we do writing it.

The web browser won’t display Flash and has no tabbed browsing, though it has added bookmarks and shows full-screen web pages.

Mossberg also listed a few ‘annoying limitations’: “The email program lacks the ability to create local folders or rules for auto-sorting messages, and it doesn’t allow group addressing… And the Wi-Fi-only version lacks GPS. Also, videophiles may dislike the fact that the iPad’s screen lacks wide-screen dimensions, so you either get black bars above or below wide-screen videos, or, if you choose an option to fill the screen, some of the picture may get cut off.”

Apps

Nearly all the 150,000 apps developed for iPhone will work on the iPad, though they run either in a small box in the centre of the screen or double in size, which can make some of the graphics blocky. At launch, 1,000 iPad apps will be on offer between $3.99 and $49.99 in the US and developers appear to be charging more than they have for iPhone apps.

Testing the Wall Street Journal’s iPad app, Mossberg will set juices flowing: “I found it gorgeous and highly functional – by far the best implementation of the newspaper I have ever seen on a screen.

“Unlike the Journal’s Web site, or its smart-phone apps, the iPad version blends much more of the look and feel of the print paper into the electronic environment.”

eBooks

iPad is heavier than the Kindle and needs to be held with two hands, but otherwise offers a better user experience than Amazon’s ebook reader with no eye strain and a superior colour screen. Kindle still has a far bigger bookshelf however with 400,000 titles compares to 60,000 for iPad.

Netbook market

Lack of some vital features – most notably a camera and USB ports – will make it difficult for the iPad to compete in the netbook market, particularly because consumers won’t really understand the iPad until they start using it as “it’s qualitatively different, a whole new type of computer”. It won’t succeed unless people chose it to replace bulkier, more heavily-featured netbooks.
The New York Times verdict: David Pogue on Apple’s polarising device

David Pogue in the New York Times has a succinct and entertaining review of what he calls “a gigantic iPod Touch” – wisely divided his review into two halves: one for the techies, and one for everyone else.

For the techies: Pogue is dismissive of the bookstore because of its “puny selection”, because iPad is hard to read in sunlight (perhaps Mossberg never leaves his study?) and because ebooks can’t be read on any other device – even a Mac. The screen leaves “grossly apparent” fingerprints and the keyboard experience is “horrible”. Because Apple won’t support Flash, “it will be years before many of the web’s videos become iPad viewable”. There’s no multitasking, no USB ports and no camera, those and other features no doubt being saved for later models in true Apple form.

“The bottom line is that you can get a laptop for much less money – with a full keyboard, DVD drive, USB jacks, camera-card slot, camera, the works. Besides: If you’ve already got a laptop and a smartphone, who’s going to carry around a third machine?”

For ‘normal’ people: The bigger touch screen is a whole new experience for maps, email and iBooks. The books app includes a rotation lock for reading in bed and animated page corners that turn at the same speed as your finger, and it’s good that there’s no need for a contract to cover the iPad’s data. The big deal is the iPad apps themselves, however, from Scrabble to Marvel comics to Hulu. It’s not a laptop, but if you primarily use the web to consume content then it may appeal.

“The bottom line is that the iPad has been designed and built by a bunch of perfectionists. If you like the concept, you’ll love the machine.”

Source: The Guardian

Source: BBC Technology

www.youtube.com/watch?v=n7Te5fcnrUA

Gears of War 3 Ignites Anticipation as the Biggest Blockbuster Game of 2011
Explosive finale to the landmark Gears of War trilogy available exclusively on Xbox 360 in April 2011

The spectacular conclusion to one of the games industry’s most memorable and celebrated sagas, Gears of War 3, is poised to take the world by storm next spring. At this time next year, fans around the world will experience the epic story finale to the Gears of War trilogy, when the third installment in one of the biggest franchises in Xbox history arrives in stores worldwide: April 5, 2011, in North America, April 7 in Japan, and April 8 in Europe and the rest of the world.

“When we released Gears of War more than five years ago, we set out to tell the world an unforgettable story of bravery and sacrifice in the face of insurmountable odds, and a year from now, players will get the chance to experience the final chapter in the story of Marcus Fenix and his companions in Delta Squad,” said Cliff Bleszinski, Design Director at Epic Games. “This is definitely the biggest and most dramatic chapter yet in the Gears of War saga, and we can’t wait to deliver it.”

Developed by acclaimed studio Epic Games and available only on Xbox 360, Gears of War 3 plunges players into a harrowing tale of hope, survival, and brotherhood that will conclude the current story arc for Gears of War. With the last human city destroyed and the remaining survivors stranded, time is running out for Marcus and his comrades as they fight to save the human race from the jaws of extinction.

Gears of War is a blockbuster entertainment franchise that has inspired a full line of toys and collectibles, apparel, an upcoming film, graphic novels, and a book series by New York Times best-selling author Karen Traviss. The award-winning video games have sold more than 12 million units worldwide on Xbox 360, and due to their riveting multiplayer action are some of the most popular games ever played on Xbox LIVE.

To accompany today’s announcement, Microsoft and Epic Games unveiled “Ashes to Ashes,” the first trailer for Gears of War 3. Created in Unreal Engine 3 by the same team behind the iconic Gears of War video spots (“Mad World,” “Rendezvous,” and “Last Day”), the video captures a desperate three-way battle between Delta Squad, the Locust Horde, and the fearsome new Lambent.

Additionally, fans who want to share their excitement on Xbox LIVE will be able to choose from new Avatar items, available on Avatar Marketplace starting April 20, including the new COG armor introduced in Gears of War 3.

Source: Gears Of War Official Site