The titular beer store idiot is the loud woman with the bluetooth earpiece, right?

Something like this actually happened to me once.
That was before bluetooth--and she was crazy--but similar.

Impressive device. I hope the laptop-dock also has a large battery in it.

would be nice if it supports usb or bluetooth mouse too, since it doesn't look like the larger screen is touch capable. I, for one, couldn't play Angry Birds with only a touchpad...

>> ^Yogi:

It's amazing how perceptive, funny, and intelligent Brian Williams can be...and yet still I couldn't watch his program without stabbing forks in my eyes. How can you be this way and not see that your own network...your own show is soo full of shit?


I think he's like this because of the people that surround him; how could you not be. I would also try to make many a joke that they don't understand unless they look up a turn of phrase--on their iPad (a glorified non-cellphone/unless you really need/want to spend that much money on one-"buggy and slow"-device).

Yes, I've used my Dad's. It certainly has some nifty features (which have all been invented or used already), but since it's Apple and it has the name i"x", it must be a game changing, revolutionary, cutting edge, never crashes, solves: world hunger, bi-polar, cancer, Fox News, heralds baby Jesus's return to Earth in North Western Missouri; and it has a shelf/I'm mean battery life of 30.62 days--or so I've heard.

It was semi-slow (that wasn't very surprising); slow in two departments: switching and starting between and new apps or processes. Second, the Wi-Fi connection was flaky (either not downloading or when downloading, even including the occasional burst speeds, it averaged 22 KBps (as I say below it should at least be going 100-200 KBps [this is still incredibly slow], as his connection has a download rate of 1.2-1.5 MBps). I'll play with that a bit more (as I think it may have been the wireless router as he has a 14-Megabit connection).

The games were fun and a few of the apps were great. But, I'd rather have a lightweight fully functional notebook PC with a 16:9 screen, atleast 720p, and a fully customizable network adapter. ...And to be blunt, I'd much rather have Windows 7 or even Vista (fully patched), as both have great functionality and support plus their 64-Bit support is great. Plus I can put in a full Blu-Ray drive that comes with PowerDVD.

Better applications, better games and support. Yes, this is an anti-apple rant as I think all of their once "highly revered" features: functionality, non-crashing, no hacking (hah!), graphical editing applications (which is a "contract" feature), sound editing applications (same as the last), and it's "ease-of-use" (which is now a completely moot point). Apple is still successful, because they find niche products that do well; like the Nintendo DS. The iPod (although the screens break a bit to early, my only complaint) and the iPhone are great products and fill a gap in a niche market. The iPad does the same thing, but from what I've tried it needed another year (plus some spec changes like a 16:9 screen going up to 720p (which is HD not this stupid licensing agreement so they can use the logo on a nice, but NOT HD screen (I think it's XGA or 1024x768), a connection port that could handle a multitude of devices: usb, 1394, ethernet, gamepads, speakers, etc I know it does some of this already, especially in the bluetooth department.

But, I feel that it should have come with the large flash/ssd drive, cell phone features (which they do have, it just costs an arm and a leg), more functionality for the "touch pen" (some mouse-like buttons etc...), FLASH & FULL browser SUPPORT (not having flash, plus other regular features "kills it" in a lot of ways)--Apple has to have their money/way though; I don't think they've got any clue when they shoot themselves in the foot), and a slightly faster (or duo-core) processor to help the experience feel more smooth; they have a: "1GHz Apple A4 custom-designed chip" were as a Intel Atom that has an nVidia extension may have been a better choice (I'm not to sure about battery usage for these guys, but from the devices it was used in it wasn't too bad).

So in the end (damn this was WAY longer than expected) I think they should have refined it for another year. Got some REAL user feedback; give it to people that don't work for the ass-kissing mainstream Apple press-core (yes, I'm talking about the likes of Engadget). Then, actually work on their gripes! People already seem willing to pay an arm and a leg for their stuff, so if the price goes up one-hundred, don't worry all your loyal'ii will still buy it. Anyway...this didn't happen, so I was left feeling underwhelmed by it and would instead by a nice laptop.

BTW, Brian Williams is the shit!

/This post may seem anti=Apple and in a lot of ways it is, but I would like them to make a good tablet (or awesome tablet--if they'd pull their collective heads out of their asses). It seems to me that any company, right now, that takes some time and makes a fast, reliable, easy-to-use, with 720p (and lots of video/codecs support)...will destroy Apple's iPad longterm (right now I just see Android tablets, but the ones I've seen are underwhelming).

//If someone has seen a good tablet coming out that has some of the features that I'm talking about, please throw in a reply.

The Unreal Engine is perhaps the easiest engine to create levels in, at least for me. I never got the hang of making levels in Source or any of the id Tech engines. Of course I am just talking the base level design. After that I don't know which would be easiest to add the effects and like to as I never got that far with the other two major ones. I like the looks of this, but agree that it is hard to judge it until we see it in action with AI and character animation. I love Rage and what id is doing with id Tech 5, but the character's look like they are deep in the uncanny valley at the moment.

I also agree that consoles really need a good midterm refresh. Not a full new system, more like a 360.5 and a PS3.5. For the 360 upgrade it to XBox 360 Blue.
This hypothetical 360 features not just a Blu-Ray drive, but one ups it by going for Blu-Ray XL compatible. Controllers/remote etc. upgrade to bluetooth, though the old controllers would still have to work for now, the idea is more to setup for the next generation. Tie in with Win 7 mobile devices so you can pick plays on sport games from them, have a remote control in them, and some other games may tie to them as an option as well in whatever form developers feel like they can do. If possible without breaking compatibility with old 360 games (360 Blue exclusive games would be available so they wouldn't work on the old 360 as they come on Blu-Ray) a mild refresh to the graphics, more memory mostly, but if possible a Direct X 11 compatible chip, of course at that point you are nearly at a full refresh and not just a mid-generation refresh. I would say make Live free so you can do Netflix and online play for free, and user replaceable hard drives, but I doubt Microsoft sees that as part of their plans.
The PS3 would be much the same, upgrade to XL and if possible more memory and a slight graphics increase...
With both you can't really do too much for a mid-term refresh without moving to what is essentially a new machine.
Computers are always ahead of consoles on what they can do, but this new 7-10 year cycle is starting to show its age more than usual. I sure hope they don't go 10 years, 2 more years would be more than enough...though if they were 2 years out I would think there would be more rumors of what they are doing by now, so we probably do have more than that.

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IF this IS future stuff, why is he carrying anything? Forget Bluetooth, why is he not jacked in?

It is an interesting segment, however.

+1 for Barcode Scanner (it's not great at 1D codes, but very good with 2D QR-codes)
Dolphin Browser HD (better than the built in browser)
PdaNet (allows single laptop usb or bluetooth tethering, instead of paying $30 extra per month for Wifi hotspot)
Angry Birds (highly addictive game)
Andoku (best free sudoku of the several I tried)
Fring (multi protocol chat)

Also, in defense of Advanced Task Killer - it only kills what you ask it to. If you don't get overzealous with the settings, it's useful in killing some of the provider-installed crapware that seems to randomly run in the background for no reason (Sprint Zone, ESPN, Nascar, Amazon MP3 - all apps that I can't delete without "rooting" the phone).

oooooh, gimme gimme gimme. This is sweet! Here are the specs:

Processor: 1 Ghz ARM Cortex A8 with PowerVR SGX540 (a graphics processor)
RAM: 512MB RAM
Screen: 7-Inch / WSVGA TFT / 1024 x 600 / multitouch
Storage: 16GB or 32GB onboard / micro SD Slot (up to 32GB)
A/V Input: Back side camera 3 MP with Auto focus and LED Flash / 1.3 MP Front side camera for video calls
A/V Output: Headphone / Speakers / TV out through TV out cable
Network: Wifi a/b/g/n / Bluetooth 3.0 / 3G (HSUPA 5.76 / HSDPA 7.2Mbps/EDGE/GPRS)
Connectors: USB / 3.5mm Audio jack / 30-pin Data and Dock connector
Sensors: G-Sensor / Geomagnetic Sensor, Accelerometer / Light Sensor
Battery: 4000 mAH / 7 hrs movie play
Extras: Android 2.2 (Froyo with 10.1 Flash support) / SIM card slot / Android Samsung UI TouchWiz 3.0 / LED flash / GPS / 1080p video playback / 720×480 30fps video recording / additional TV out cable/ video calls possible / multitouch software keyboard/ car dock planned
Size and weight: 190 x 120 x 12mm / 380 grams

Comment hidden because you are ignoring dag. (show it anyway)

That sucks. I've heard of that hinge flaw. I hope, at least, they are fixing it for free. To be honest- I've always thought the MBA was a bit of an inferior product. Sure, it's thin and light- but what else does it have going for it?

I'm starting to notice some definite bruises on other Apple products. Things that have pissed me off lately:

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That, I think, is the fatal flaw with this series. PC is the loveable underdog. Mac - is douchey, sarcastic hipster. Entertaining, but frames the argument poorly.

In my subjective experience- Mac users tend to be the nerdy misfits in the office. Windows is the gum-chewing sales and marketing guy with the shiny suit and bluetooth headset.

>> ^chtierna:

Which character is more lovable? The funny and crazy PC guy or the obnoxious Mac twat? Also, did you know that these days Steve Jobs lives on a diet of 100% raw human meat? His cult followers fight for the chance to offer their fat and bloated bodies to him.

I'm waiting for the OMG cat, standing cat, dog banging a cat mashup. I'll set it up: Standing cat sees the dog grab the cat first. Standing cat then calls OMG cat from his bluetooth headset. OMG cat then does his thing while standing cat fills him in.

Go!

Tags for this video have been changed from 'bluesnarfing, bluejacking, bluetooth' to 'bluesnarfing, bluejacking, bluetooth, real hustle' - edited by Zifnab

They won't miss these added features because those primarily exposed to Apple's mass marketed products won't expect them by default. If Apple can define tablet PC to lack or not require GPS, a camera, possibly even Flash then that will define their expectations. I'm sure more are and will remain oblivious to the likes of the Archos 5G/9 which is superior to the iPad and does everything it should:

Archos 9 - $600
1.76 lbs.
1.1Ghz ATOM Z510. Runs Windows 7.
8.9", 1024 x 600 pixels resistive, LED backlight.
10.08" x 5.28" x 0.67" thick
7.4v Lithium-Polymer battery, 5 hours, removeable. 36W (12v @ 3a) power adapter.
HDD 60GB (1.8")
WiFi (802,11b/g), Bluetooth 2.0 (EDR)
Microphone.
Stereo Speakers.
Headphone jack.
1.3mp Webcam,
Optical trackpoint mouse,L/R mouse buttons.
Built-in Stand, 2-positions.
USB port.
Lotus Symphony included: Documents, Spreadsheets, Presentations.

iPad - Starting at $500, but $700 for that amount of hard drive space.
1.5 lbs.
1Ghz A4. Runs iPad OS 3.2.
9.7", 1024 x 768 pixels, capacitive, LED backlight, IPS, Oleophobic
9.56" x 7.47" x 0.5" thick.
25Whr Lithium-Polymer battery, 10 hours, fixed. 10W (5v @ 2a) power adapter.
16GB, 32GB, or 64GB flash memory.
WiFi (802,11a/b/g/n), Bluetooth 2.1 (EDR)
Microphone.
Speakers: Mono Audio.
Headphone jack.
iPad versions of iLife apps: $9.99 each (x 3).

Also I think the user utility associated with Apple's products is exaggerated. It's simplicity that they do well, and again the kind of people who are not aware of the customization they might appreciate, are missing out on and might benefit from are the same people that laud it. That and the fact that user utility feels like it's too often conflated with style. The scroll wheel on the iPod sure was a fancy marketing gimmick but having used a 5G iPod now for over a year, I would gladly get tactile controls back. There's simply no comparison, and really the only thing I can assume is Apple users who claim it's efficient have no frame of reference. The same can be said with OS X, sure it's full of stylish transitions, animations and some good features, but I'd wager especially with how familiar everyone is with Windows, it's no more of an efficient work tool. I see Jobs made a big deal about pointing out that the iPad will have a similar user interface to the iPhone. I think that drives home the point that there's nothing that immensely intuitive about Apple devices. They still must be learnt. People are simply more willing to invest time into learning to how to use an interface of a device that is more popular and they predict will be around for a longer time.

Coming back to the iPad, I still think even the average consumer is going to be pissed off by the lack of some features. It's pretty clear that they didn't just want to make a portable internet device that surpasses the iPhone in usability, they wanted to make something that clearly doesn't eat into the market share of their budget MacBook and MacBook Air. They could have loaded a desktop OS on it, but they purposely didn't. I think many will struggle with the idea that an internet device like this can't do Flash, doesn't have a USB port and can't run their favourite PC/Mac programs.

That may be it's downfall or marketing, and simplicity as you mentioned may win out. If Apple says 'revolutionary' enough, maybe they won't realise this device is bested by something that came out in October 2009.

>> ^budzos:
I wonder if this could make a good substitute for a cintiq? It lacks pressure sensitivity, but aside from that... and if it accepts USB peripherals (does it?) then a pressure sensitive stylus could be employed. Boom, you got a Cintiq that's lighter, sturdier, more portable.
Hell, even if it doesn't accept USB peripherals, it could interface with a pressure sensitive stylus over Wi-Fi or bluetooth, the way AirMouse2 does.


It wont have the resolution to do annything of the quality that you would get with Evan the cheapest of wacoms.
lol if it was capable then apple would take the touch pad market over night.

cinteequ is like £1200 and needs a stand to hold it , evan the small cinteequ looks like a clumpy old school 14" TFT . apple could actualy do a good job wacom is a bit shitty on the design side of things , well untill recently annyway.