Cisco Announcement: CRS-3 Platform – Many were disappointed about the recent release of a new gadget from Cisco Systems Inc, the CRS-3 platform. The big announcement from Cisco did not unveil a new smartphone or e-reader, though the hype says much of what many expected.

On Monday, investors sent Cisco a large amount of share after releasing a statement about their newest equipment, the CRS-3 platform.

According to Marketwatch, John Chambers, Chief Executive Officer of Cisco, revealed that they will unveil  ”a significant announcement that will forever change the Internet.”

But what exactly did most people expect the company, whose core business is routers and switches, to announce? The new routers promise 12 times the traffic capacity of rival routing systems. Ultimately, as they are deployed by carriers such as AT&T Inc. and others, this much-needed capacity will help move the additional traffic burden from all the smartphones out there, plus fat video files.

Cisco’s announcement of their new high-capacity router wasn’t worth the hype, they overplayed instead. That’s according to various news websites and product reviews.

Clearly, investors don’t have the same tolerance for hyperbole from Cisco chief executive John Chambers as they do from Apple Inc.’s Steve Jobs.

Check out Cisco’s newest product here.

Photo credits: Google

Popcap Games — Yes, PopCap is at it again and this time, it’s Plants vs. Zombies for iPhone.

This time, their crazy addictive (just like all of their games) take on the tower defense genre, Plants vs. Zombies, is headed off to the iPhone. They just tweeted confirmation a little while ago, and released this trailer showing all of the flower vs. undead action that we enjoyed so much in the other versions of the game, squeezed into the smaller screen of the iPhone.

They don’t mention a price point, but I’m guessing it’ll come out at $4.99, since that’s what most of their releases have debuted at (though if you’re patient, it’ll probably drop down in price after a while). I’ll tell you that yes, if you’ve never played it, the game is more than worth $5, but even if you don’t believe me, you can go play it online for free and see what you think.

PopCap is the master of dropping colorful graphics, sparkling gameplay, and constant little rewards on your plate, so PvZ on the iPhone will probably be yet another meal you won’t want to stop eating.

iPad – While many people waited for the launching of the controversial iTablet (officially called as iPad), it looks like that techies are a bit lukewarm on Apple’s iPad.

Last night Apple launched its newest addition to its roster of innovative technology devices, the iPad. However, for many, it was a big disappointment. Unlike Apple’s wildly successful iPhone, for which people lined up when it was introduced back in 2007, reaction to the iPad is lukewarm. During the press conference, it was observed that there was more silence than applause for the Apple product.

“Our latest super gadget, iPad, is better than laptop and a smart phone”, said Steve Jobs, the Chief Executive Officer of Apple Inc. Nonetheless, the product did not fulfill its promise. One of the more disappointing parts of the iPad tablet computer today was the absence of Flash, Adobe’s technology for web video and other media.

Adobe’s Adrian Ludwig commented by saying, “It looks like Apple is continuing to impose restrictions on their devices that limit both content publishers and consumers. Unlike many other ebook readers using the ePub file format, consumers will not be able to access ePub content with Apple’s DRM technology on devices made by other manufacturers. And without Flash support, iPad users will not be able to access the full range of web content, including over 70% of games and 75% of video on the web. If I want to use the iPad to connect to Disney, Hulu, Miniclip, Farmville, ESPN, Kongregate, or JibJab — not to mention the millions of other sites on the web — I’ll be out of luck.”

The following are some of the important features that are missing in the iPad (which gained so much disappointment): iPad Flash, iPad Multi-tasking, iPad Camera, and iPad USB ports.

Apple’s Steve Jobs: iPad has built-in calendar and address book

Photo credits: www.apple.com

Apple iPad — Now that the Apple iPad has officially been announced, we can tell you some more details about it, including the full specifications and features.

The Apple iPad features a 9.7 inch diagonal LED backlit glossy widescreen multi-touch display, with the breakthrough IPS technology, in 1024 x 768 resolution. The iPad screen is designed to be fingerprint resistant.

Processor is 1GHz Apple A4 custom designed high performance, low power processor on a chip, which features a built in accelerometer and an ambient light sensor.

Battery is a built in 25Whr rechargeable Lithium-polymer battery that will give you up to ten hours of usage, whilst browsing the web, watching a video or listening to music over WiFi.

It also features an Apple dock connector so you can hook it up to your PC or Mac, built in speakers, a microphone, a 3.5mm audio jack, and a SIM card tray on the WiFi + 3G model.

Apple iPad measures 9.56 inches tall by 7.47 inches wide by 0.5 inches deep and weighs in at just 1.5 pounds for the WiFi model, and 1.6 pounds for the WiFi and 3G Model.

It comes with a range of built in features which include Safari for browsing the web, email, access to iTunes for downloading music, videos and iBooks, and also access to the Apple App store where you will be able to download thousands of applications just the same as the iPhone.

The Apple iPad will begin shipping in March, with the WiFi only model available initially. There will be three versions available, a 16GB ($499), a 32GB iPad ($599) and a 64GB iPad ($699).

Apple will also be selling another version which will come with WiFi and 3G connectivity, the 16GB 3G iPad will cost $629, $729 for the $32GB version and $829 for the 64GB version.

The Apple iPad 3G will be available through AT&T in the US, although you wont be tied into a long contract like the iPhone, you will be able to cancel it at at time.

There will be two data plans available $15 a month gets you 250MB of data plus acess to AT&T’s wiFi hotspots, and $30 a month will get you unlimited data plus free access to WiFi hotspots.
The Apple iPad with WiFi and 3G will be sold SIM free, so basically you can use it with any mobile provider, that is a pretty smart moves on Apple’s part.

There are no details as yet on data pricing plans for the UK or Europe, although Apple said that these should be in place by June of 2010.

Source: Apple & Geeky Gadgets

Apple iTablet — Wanting to watch Apple Live Announcement? Here’s a free live streaming.

Catch Apple Tablet Press Conference live online. Among the topics of Apple’s “Come See Our Latest Creation” event include iLife and iPhone OS 4.0.

The company has not revealed any other details about the highly-anticipated product, but an event, in which its Apple tablet computer will be unveiled, at the Yerba Buena Center for the Arts in San Francisco, for reporters has now been confirmed by the company.

Update: “iPad” is the final name of the official Apple tablet.

Check out this live video streaming free for you.

Source: Macbreak Weekly

APPLE – Catch Apple Tablet Press Conference live online. Among the topics of Apple’s “Come See Our Latest Creation” event include iLife and iPhone OS 4.0.

Steve Job, the Chief Executive Officer of Apple Inc., will unveil the much-awaited Apple iTablet (also known as iPad and iSlate) computer today at an event in San Francisco. The said press conference will begin at exactly 10 a.m. PT, or 1 p.m. ET.

Job reportedly said that the launching of the Apple Tablet will be the most important thing he would ever do. However, Apple will not be live-streaming the event online, and it has historically discouraged attendees from video- and audio-streaming the event.

On the lighter note, there’s going to be a live coverage from a handful of great live blog technology websites like Gizmodo and Gdgt, which are known to feature live blogs for Apple events, including the best photos, good commentaries, fastest updates, and great live blog technology. There’s also going to be a live coverage from famous technology sites, including Ars Technica, Engadget, Macworld, etc. You can also try to visit Justin.tv or Ustream for possible live video streamings.

Photo credits: Google

Apple iTablet — With all the recent talk about the iSlate, iPad, iSlab, it seems like the obvious candidate for the name of Apple’s rumored tablet computer is being completely overlooked… iTablet.

Apple’s first phone that later came to be called the iPhone, maybe the most obvious name for an Apple tablet the iTablet. A certain picture was taken by an Apple Store employee’s corporate email after receiving information about the time and place of Wednesday’s Apple event.

While the content of the email wasn’t very enlightening, note the word used in the filename of the second attachment: “iTablet.” Now this doesn’t prove a thing. The administrative assistant who sent the mass email could have been using “itablet’ much in the same way that we’ve been using the term for years as a generic placeholder for the rumored device.

Got any guess about the upcoming tablet? Share them.

Source and image credits: Engadget

Hope For Haiti Now Concert - Haitian-American multiplatinum musician-rapper-record producer Wyclef Jean will be on your TV tonight at 8 p.m. ET/PT to raise money made by the devastating earthquake that happened last Tuesday in Haiti.

Wyclef Jean said during his performance at the said benefit show, “I have my sister with me, Melky, my cousin with me, Jerry. I have [producer/musician] Papa Jube; he’s in charge of those traditional horns that you see. It’s definitely a family vibe you’ll see tomorrow.”

George Clooney also lent his hand for the said event and said that the “Hope for Haiti” concert will give the viewers the opportunity to purchase the music afterwards to extend their chance to help Haiti. “We’re gonna have 18 songs, and you’re gonna get to hear Jennifer Hudson sing a song you never heard her sing before,” he said. “John Legend is singing ‘Motherless Child’; it’s just great. We’re gonna have some amazing performances, and I think that’s gonna make it last a little longer than just a telethon.”

Beginning tonight, iTunes clienteles will be able to exclusively purchase the “Hope for Haiti Now” full performance album at $7.99, and the full two-hour video telecast at $1.99. Meanwhile, individual audio performances will also be available for downloads at 99 cents. Apple, the artists, and the record labels will donate their share of the proceeds to Haiti relief funds managed by charities under “Hope for Haiti Now”, including Wyclef’s Yele Haiti Foundation and Red Cross.

Clooney on his interview with MTV News revealed that, “You got about 130 to 140 actors, athletes, singers and television hosts, and they’re all coming up not to be on TV, but simply to answer the phones.”

“It’s gonna be historic”, said artist Wyclef Jean.

“Hope for Haiti Now” is produced by Joel Gallen and Tenth Planet Productions, in collaboration with Viacom’s MTV Networks and George Clooney.

Photo credits: Google

Apple iSlate — The Apple tablet, whether you want to call it the iSlate, the iTablet, or “Betty,” hasn’t even been verified to exist at this point. However, that’s not keeping other manufacturers from coming out with their own competition to the mythical device.

At this year’s Consumer Electronics Show, which runs from Thursday, January 7th through Sunday, January 10th, several vendors may be showing devices to compete with an Apple design that hasn’t even been leaked, cheesy specs notwithstanding.

Mobile handset heavyweight HTC, the same company that will debut the new Google Nexus One Android phone on January 5th, is expected to have a tablet ready to show at CES. HTC is an OEM, so it’s not likely that a tablet will appear under the HTC label. Instead, traditional PC sellers such as ASUS, HP, and Dell will probably announce devices that have been designed and built by HTC or other OEMs.

HTC isn’t the only company jumping into the tablet fray; Freescale Semiconductor will be showing a “tablet reference design” at CES as well. The Freescale device (at right) has a 7″ display and is designed to take up about one-third the volume of a current netbook. Freescale’s tablet will be shown running both Google Android OS and some variety of Linux, and is rumored to have “all day” battery life and instant-on functionality.

While the HTC and Freescale tablets are designed for sale by other companies, an Indian startup called Notion Ink will be showing a 10.1″ touchscreen device at CES that they have designed and will build. Even Microsoft could get into the CES tablet action by having CEO Steve Ballmer demonstrate the Courier device.

The announcements are sure to place some price pressure on Apple: Freescale’s design is intended for retail prices in the $200 range, much less than the $600 – $1,000 expected for Apple’s device. Of course, Apple is all about the design, functionality, and user experience of their devices and software, and the capabilities of the tablet will need to show perceived value to potential customers. One thing is for sure — tablets have sparked the imagination of the public and manufacturers, and we’re going to hear a lot about them in the upcoming year.

Source: TUAW (The Unofficial Apple Webblog)

Consumer Electronics Show — The 2010 Consumer Electronics Show (CES) kicks off this week and analysts are expecting the predominant themes to be connectivity and mobility.

Mobile devices such as new Android devices and tablet computers are expected to be a big focus. Meanwhile, outside of CES, Google and Apple are both expected to make announcements regarding their future plans this month.

The launch of the Google Nexus One phone is planned for January 5th, while it is rumored Apple’s tablet device will be launched around January 26th.

Looking back at 2009, smartphones, 3-D technology, netbooks and e-readers stand out as innovative developments that became quite popular. Of course, we’ll continue to see developments that enhance these technological devices, and many of those will be unveiled at CES 2010.

We can likely expect faster, cheaper smartphones that can do even more stuff. Rumor has it that some home television manufacturers are exploring the idea of getting 3-D into people’s houses. Will we see even smaller Netbooks? Possibly, but smartphones, which act a lot like tiny personal computers, and Netbooks are awfully close in size already. E-readers probably will be able to do more tasks in 2010.

CES 2010 runs from January 7th – 10th.