Sony Launches Sony Tablet S

I got an e-mail today from Sony announcing the launch of their new Android tablet, the Sony Tablet S. I’ll quote the press release:

Available for pre-sale today and on shelves in September, Sony Tablet S is optimized for rich media entertainment on its 9.4-inch touchscreen display. With a powerful NVIDIA®Tegra™ 2 CPU processor, Sony Tablet S allows consumers to enjoy the web and their favourite content and applications on its large high-resolution screen. Weighing in at just about 590 grams, its unique asymmetric design allows for hours of comfortable use. Built-in Wi-Fi® compatibility allows for Internet connectivity virtually anywhere there is a hotspot.

The Sony Tablet S runs on the latest version of Android™ – version 3.1. This model features front and rear facing cameras that allow for video recording and capturing still images. The device also supports USB (micro A/B) interface and SD card for transferring files and data.

Sounds good so far, but there are four things that Sony feels will set it apart from the iPad competition:

The device is distinguished by four key features that set them apart from any other tablets on the market. These include: optimally designed hardware and software, a “swift and smooth” experience, embedded network entertainment services and cross-device functionality.

“The Sony Tablet S delivers digital content, rapid performance, and remote access functionality in a unique and convenient product,” said Doug Wilson, President & COO of Sony Canada. “This device demonstrates a seamless Sony entertainment experience offering consumers smooth access to videos, games, books, and more by combining Sony’s premium network services.

I’ll have to get my hands on one to judge for myself, but it sounds like a tablet that I would be interested in seeing. Expect to pay $500 for the 16GB version and $600 for the 32GB version when it hits stores.

Rogers Lights Up LTE Network In Toronto On September 28th

I got an e-mail from “my best friends at Rogers” with the news that LTE is coming to Toronto in late September:

“Starting on September 28, you will have access to the Rogers LTE network. At launch, the Rogers LTE Rocket™ stick will be available so that you can plug into your laptop to access top speeds.  Today, LTE devices are capable of maximum theoretical download speeds of up to 75 Mbps and Ottawa LTE customers are experiencing typical download speeds ranging from 12 Mbps to 25 Mbps. Later this year, Rogers will offer an LTE device will be capable of maximum theoretical download speeds of up to 100 Mbps. As device selection evolves, maximum theoretical download speeds on the Rogers network will increase to up to 150 Mbps.”

So Toronto citizens who were a bit ticked that Ottawa got LTE first will get some LTE love shortly. As for devices, Rogers had news on that as well:

“And new LTE devices are coming to Rogers soon. Later this fall, more LTE devices will be available such as: the Samsung Galaxy S II LTE Smartphone; the LTE Rocket™ mobile hotspot (Sierra Wireless AirCard® 754S); Rogers LTE RocketTM stick (now available in Ottawa); LTE Tablet from a leading manufacturer; and the previously announced HTC Smartphone. More details about these devices will be available closer to launch.”

If you want to score yourself an LTE device, surf over to www.rogers.com/lte. If you’re not in Toronto or Ottawa, Rogers will be heading your way eventually. When I get news, I’ll post it here. But for now, check out the details on Redboard.

Why Is Tim Cook’s Sexual Orientation Relevant To Him Being Apple’s CEO?

I came across a posting on Valleywag titled “Meet Apple’s New Boss, The Most Powerful Gay Man in Silicon Valley” and the first thing that popped into my head were two words: Who cares? I say that because Tim Cook’s sexual orientation has no relevance to anything important. Don’t agree? Consider the following:

• Is the fact that Cook might be gay have any effect on Apple’s product development? No.
• Does it help make Apple more money? No.
• Will it affect sales of Apple products by making them more desirable to the LGBT community? No.
• Will it affect sales of Apple products by making them less desirable to straight people? No.

Face it, this is 2011. We shouldn’t be having this conversation. After all, nobody called Steve Jobs the most powerful straight main in Silicon Valley? And when you look at visible minorities, nobody called John Thompson the most powerful African American in Silicon Valley when he was CEO of Symantec. So why are we calling Cook the most powerful gay man in Silicon Valley? It’s time to get past this need to label people and get back to the issue in hand. Can Tim Cook run Apple as good or better than Steve Jobs?

That’s the only thing that matters.

Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1Hits Stores

I got an e-mail announcing the arrival of the Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1 in stores. I tried the previous Samsung Galaxy Tab and was very impressed, so it’s a safe bet that this will equally as impressive. Here’s the key stats that you need to know:

• Adndroid 3.1 Honeycomb Preloaded
• Android Browser with Flash Support
• WXGA TFT LCD Display with Corning’s Gorilla Glass
• 1280 x 800 Resolution
• 10.1″ Display Size
• Full HD (1080p) Playback
• Full HD 720p MPEG4 Recording Available

You can score one for $499 at your favorite big box electronic store. Samsung would really score some points with me if the tossed one my way to try out.

Dutch Court Rules That Apple’s “Slide To Unlock” Patent Invalid

Just one day after halting sales of a bunch of Samsung phones, Apple has been hit with a ruling from a Dutch court that their slide to unlock patent is likely invalid. According to Foss Patents, the deciding factor was a Swedish phone manufacturer by the name of Neonode who released a Windows CE phone in Europe that featured a slide-to-unlock mechanism before Apple even filed its patent in late December 2005.

I guess the iLawyers missed that one when they filed this patent.

 

Hey IT Nerd… Is Apple Dead Now That Steve Jobs Is Gone?

I got four variations of this question in my inbox today. The short answer is no. The long answer is this:

• The product pipeline is set for the next two years or so. Therefore expect the same innovation from Apple that you’re used to. Beyond that is an open question though. I guess that we’ll have to see what influence new CEO Tim Cook has on that.
• While Jobs is not going to micro-managing every activity in Apple, he is still going to be there as the chairman of the company, so he still has influence. Besides, the talent behind their products is still there. That has to count for something.
• Tim Cook has had time to grow into the job and he is part of the culture. I believe that he knows what needs to be done and how to make it happen. He’s not the enigma that “El Jobso” is, but he’ll get the job done.
• Regardless of what they’ve said publicly, it’s likely that Apple has been preparing for this eventuality for a very long time.

So for those reasons, there’s no reason to whip out your iPhone and key in the word “sell” into your portfolio management app or into an e-mail to your broker. Apple will be just fine. You can take that to the bank.

Steve Jobs Resigns From Apple

Here’s a bombshell. Steve Jobs has left Apple. Here’s his letter to the board of Apple and Apple Fanbois everywhere:

To the Apple Board of Directors and the Apple Community:

I have always said if there ever came a day when I could no longer meet my duties and expectations as Apple’s CEO, I would be the first to let you know. Unfortunately, that day has come.

I hereby resign as CEO of Apple. I would like to serve, if the Board sees fit, as Chairman of the Board, director and Apple employee.

As far as my successor goes, I strongly recommend that we execute our succession plan and name Tim Cook as CEO of Apple.

I believe Apple’s brightest and most innovative days are ahead of it. And I look forward to watching and contributing to its success in a new role.

I have made some of the best friends of my life at Apple, and I thank you all for the many years of being able to work alongside you.

Steve

As can be expected, the fanbois are in mourning. Here’s a post from Canadian fanboi site ehMac and MacRumors has fanboi reaction as well. Tim Cook will become the new CEO and Jobs will remain as chairman for the time being. But this is a major shock people inside and outside the computer industry.

I for one wish Steve well in his post Apple existence.

Sales of Samsung Galaxy S, S, & Ace II Halted In Holland

This has to suck for Samsung. A Dutch judge has decided to halt sales of the Samsung Galaxy S, S II, and Ace smart phones at Apple’s request. The smart phones in question may no longer be marketed or sold by Samsung’s Netherlands-based companies in numerous countries across the European Union as a result of the ruling. Foss Patents has the full details of this. The judgement comes from the fact that Samsung has been judged to have violated Apple patent numbers 2,058,868 and 2,098,948, which cover a method of scrolling in the UI and a method for unlocking a phone from a locked state. Expect either an appeal or a settlement of some sort shortly sometime before October 13 when this ban starts.

HP Claims WebOS Isn’t Dead…. Except They’re Wrong About That

I came across this blog post today on the official HP Blog from Jon Zilber who claims that WebOS isn’t dead:

HP has made these tough decisions to ensure that our efforts with webOS remain tightly focused. Far from burying webOS, our goal is to ensure the platform’s evolution as a robust operating system for an increasingly mobile and connected world. We have received positive feedback from our customers and our developers about their enthusiasm for webOS — powerful, elegant, and like no other — and we intend to enhance the platform as we explore the options for webOS in today’s marketplace. We’ll take care of our existing customers and, as always, we appreciate your support for our platform. We encourage you to stay tuned as we write the next chapter in front of us.

Sorry. You’re wrong about that. HP only had WebOS for about a year and a half. They put out a few new devices in that time. Now they aren’t putting out anything new and HP Touchpads are now being liquidated at deep discounts. Best Buy isn’t going to take a bath on that alone, so you have to expect that HP chipping in some cash too. So a company would have to be pretty stupid to want to either buy or license the OS from HP as it’s pretty clear that HP has given up on the platform. Thus, why should anybody else take the platform seriously.

HP must have figured that they wouldn’t be able to beat Apple with WebOS. So they decided to eat the $1.2 billion that they spent on Palm. Now they’re just trying to spin it. The problem is, they can’t. They killed WebOS, a company called Palm that had a big hand in creating PDAs and what eventually evolved into smart phones, and screwed users of WebOS devices in the process. WebOS can be considered damaged goods now. Thus it’s dead as the Charleston.

Consider this a #fail moment for HP.

Have Allegeries? Need Help Coping? There’s An App For That.

I got something in my inbox today from Reactine which is an over the counter allergy drug, announcing their new iPhone app:

As many as nine million allergy sufferers across Canada now have a new tool to tackle hay fever season. Launched today, the REACTINE^® Allergy Forecast for iPhone^®, is the first and only iPhone app in Canada that provides three-day allergy and weather forecasts. Now sufferers can take control of their allergies by planning ahead, knowing when allergy symptoms are likely to be at their worst.

Being an Allergy sufferer myself, I could use this app. Too bad I’m a Blackberry user. Perhaps they’ll come out with a version for Blackberry (and Android too).

I digress.

Here’s the rationale behind this app:

“We keep hearing patients complain of worsening allergy symptoms that are lasting for a longer period of time,” says Dr. Susan Waserman, Professor of Medicine, Division of Clinical Immunology and Allergy, McMaster University. “What many people don’t realize is how factors such as changing weather patterns can have an impact on how people are experiencing their symptoms.”

And:

“We know that one of the best defenses against allergy symptoms is regularly taking allergy medication,” says Dr. Waserman. “The REACTINE^® Allergy Forecast is a great tool that provides an early-warning system for sufferers so they can act proactively, rather than waiting until the symptoms are already in full effect.”

The app is free and available for download today. If you’re an allergy sufferer, you should check it out.