Apart from the chuckles (if not outright guffaws–puppy-training pad?) the name inspires, this looks like what the iPad ought to have been in order to appeal to anyone who wanted something other than a large format, less capable iPod Touch:
Yeh, my German’s way, way out of date, but I caught enough to spur my interest.
More…
And
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vdz_TX2qDZQ&feature=player_embedded
OK, so all the loan phrases imparted a lot of info on top of what little German I caught, but it does look intriguing. Price point’s apparently a slight tad over the iPad, but it answers nearly all the objections I had to the iPad, so that’s a Very Good Thing. Can it gain traction in the US? Well, it’s not even for sale here, so there’s no way to tell yet. And, of course, there’s the Apple “mystique” that appeals to those with more taste for sizzle than for steak, and there are more lobotomized Americans that fit that characterization than I find comfortable to contemplate, so that’s another barrier. Still, I’d kind of like to get my hands on one…
The WePad is a Google Android tablet with 11.6 inch touch screen display, 1.66GHz Intel Atom processor, 16GB of flash storage, Wi-Fi and Bluetooth 2.1, and 1.3 megapixel camera starting at $611 and will have another model with a 3G-32GB version that will be available for $774 USD. The We-Pad launch date according to the company is August 2010.
Other notable features include memory card reader, two USB sockets, audio output, accelerometer, ambient light sensor, stereo speakers and Flash and Adobe AIR support. Additionally, the WePad will also come touting HDMI out as well as a Broadcom Crystal HD video accelerator for 1080p video playback.
Add the fact that multitasking is a part of the mix, and that’s LOTS more usability than the iPad!
*heh* I’d probably use it as a entertainment room “surf tablet” and media controller, for the most part, or as a notebook replacement (which would call for an easily added–via USB–wireless keyboard and mouse), and most of the add-on mobile capabilities would be something I’d probably not need. But that’s just me. Yeh, a convertable multi-touch tablet/netbook would probably suit me better, anyway, but still… nice to know that–if these videos are any indication at all–somebody has built a more sensible and more capable iPad-like device at a competitive price point.
Oh, and back on the videos now, I liked the presenter’s shirt cuffs and the nice, cool 54 degrees Fahrenheit day in Hamburg. *heh*
