Apple announces the iPad.

The highly anticipated slate-type device has been revealed to the world by Steve Jobs yesterday. I must admit that it is the first time that an Apple product gets my attention to the point that I'm planning on actually buying the device. With prices starting at $499, it's worth considering. Why? Well, it's thin as opposed to the devices in that category; Has wifi and, most importantly, 3G connectivity. And here are the specs:

Weight: 1.5 pounds
Display: 9.7 inch with multi-touch; 1024x768 resolution
Connectivity: Wifi, UMTS/HSDPA;Bluetooth.
For more specs, check it out here.

All you need to know about the iPad including Steve Jobs keynote and videos can be found here and here.

What do you think about the iPad? Is it worth the purchase now or wait for 2.0 to come out or Apple to drop prices?

Announcing SPB Quads contest.

In order to participate, you must be the owner of an iPhone and of course, a Windows phone.

That said, to participate, just play the game on the device in "time quad" mode and publish the result on SPB website. The contest will last from 12:00 PM GMT January 20 to February 8 at 12:00 PM GMT.

3 players will be awarded with the following prizes:

1. Amazon certificate worth $150.
2. Amazon certificate worth $100.
3. Amazon certificate worth $50.

More prizes will be offered by SPB.

To learn more, visit www.spb.com/pocketpc-software/quads/contest.

Good luck and have fun.

Sent from my HTC Touch Pro 2.

Bill Gates launches new site

The idea of this new website is to share what's on his mind, share information from trips, talks with world leaders, experts in various fields including namely, philanthropy, science, environment etc. The website address is www.gatesnotes.com.

Also, you may want to follow Bill Gates on Twitter:

http://twitter.com/billgates

Sent from my HTC Touch Pro 2.

Download your free apps in one place with OpnMaket.

So, you are already familiar with Microsoft's MarketPlace for Windows Phone. What about a similar app that let you download and install free apps to your device?

OpnMarket from Freewarepocketpc.net is one free application for downloading free software for your Windows phone in one place. It does have the same look and feel like MS MarketPlace. I'll post a short review soon.

Download a free copy from www.freewarepocketpc.net/opnmarket/

Sent from my HTC Touch Pro 2.

Android-based app helps catch thief.

Phandroid.com, a Android fan website, reports about how a couple living in Oregon in the US were able to catch a thief with the help of an application called Lookout. The thieves broke into their house at night and among the stolen stuffs, took the couple's Motorola Droid phones. The thief and his accomplice used the device to take pictures of themselves and this is where the LookOut applications does something that the thieves could not have possibly known. The application simply did an automatic backup to the cloud and the pictures got uploaded to the web. Read more at phandroid.com

I chose to relay Phandroid's report here because my wife and I experienced the same four years ago when a thief broke into our house at night and stole my wife's purse and phone - a Windows Mobile phone as it was known at that time. We were able to get the thief arrested with the help of an application called Eye on Thief that I had installed on the Smartphone. You can read the story here.

HTC introduces the HTC Smart powered by Brew Mobile!!!

The HTC Smart is a new feature phone from the Taiwanese phone maker. As such it does not run Windows Mobile or Android. Instead, Smart is powered by Brew mobile, an OS I'm not familiar with.

This new touch phone is compact and easy to use according to the overview posted on HTC's website. It also features HTC Sense. Looks like a phone for the non-geeks out there.

The device does look small and stylish; a bit like the Touch2 but smaller. It has 256MB of ROM and RAM; supports HSDPA/EDGE/GPRS/Bluetooth; 1100mAh battery; 2.8 inch TFT-LCD touch screen.

For more, go to www.htc.com/www/product/smart/overview.html.

No word about the price yet.

Sent from my HTC

The Nexus One is here.

The highly anticipated Google phone is finally available in some countries via Google's own store. Mauritius is, obviously, not on the list.

Want to know more about the phone and get a demo? Go to www.google.com/phone/. You'll get a demo for each app, a 3D tour of the phone itself and more.

Do you already have the Nexus One?

Sent from my HTC

Google Nexus video posted at Engadget.

Engadget got their hands on the Google Nexus and provides a hands on, video and first impression of the device. No word yet about availability and pricing of the device. It seems Google will be holding a press conference soon to officially introduce Nexus.

Until then, click the link below to watch the Nexus in action:

www.engadget.com/2010/01/02/exclusive-google-nexus-one-hands-on-video-and-first-impressio/

Enjoy.

Sent from my HTC