Sabtu, 05 Maret 2011

What's new on SlashGear.com

What's new on SlashGear.com

iPad 2 Unlimited Data Plan on AT&T Grandfathered in for iPad 1 Customers

Posted: 05 Mar 2011 01:13 PM PST

So you’re thinking of picking up the iPad 2 on the same network you’ve got your original iPad on, and you’re bumming that you’re unable to get that same unlimited data plan – turns out you CAN have that unlimited data plan, just so long as you already have it (and you’re on AT&T, of course.) This news is official, straight from AT&T’s lips over the phone, and you can bank on it. What does this mean for you if you’re planning on rolling with a Wifi-only model? Jack!

This news is obviously just for those hoping to move from their unlimited data plan on AT&T to a brand new AT&T unlimited data plan, both on your iPad, original version to iPad 2. You’re golden. This pumps us up immensely since we’d been hearing rumors that everyone would be out of luck, having to pay more once you’d gone over a limited plan – which is a big bummer for those of us who use their tablets every single day – data runs deep!

We had the opportunity to get our hands on the iPad 2 this week at the special Apple event out at their normal Apply haunt – good times had by all. Take a peek at our big giant [iPad 2] portal, or go straight to our iPad 2 Hands-on [with video], an article by Ben Bajarin entitled iPad 2: Another Step Forward for Tablets, or the brand new column by Avi Greengart that addresses Why It’s So Hard to Compete with the iPad. Hardcore battle!

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Why It’s So Hard to Compete with the iPad

Posted: 05 Mar 2011 10:35 AM PST

With few surprises, techies were underwhelmed with Apple's iPad 2 announcement, but I'm confident that consumers will be thrilled with the product. Apple already had a massive lead in the consumer tablet market it created, and these “underwhelming” upgrades should keep the company comfortably ahead. Apple has given competitors an opening by sticking to 3G, and it did not further pressure them with a lower entry price point or higher-resolution display. However, Apple has three critical advantages.

1. Brand: When consumers are thinking about tablets, they say they are buying an “iPad,” not a “tablet.” The iPad was already the category and volume leader, and the iPad 2 builds on that. In this respect, Apple actually benefits from the crowd of new tablets hitting the market. If there were only one or two strong competitors, consumers would be able to weigh the pros and cons of each offering, but with dozens and dozens of options hitting the market over the next few months, decision paralysis can set in and many consumers will throw up their hands and make the "safe" choice: the iPad.

2. iTunes: The iPad is still the only tablet on the market with a huge digital marketplace for movies, TV shows, and music. Some competitors are taking steps in this direction (e.g., Samsung’s Hub), but iTunes remains a significant competitive advantage.

3. App Store: If all you want to do is browse the Web and check e-mail, any tablet will probably suffice. However, Apple has an enormous lead in purpose-built apps. The Android ecosystem is strong and app availability should improve significantly over time, but the iPad 2 is considerably more versatile than any of its competitors right now, and it appears unlikely to lose its lead any time in the near future.

So if you are competing with Apple, what should you do? Rather than copying Apple's products, copy its old advertising tag line and Think Different.

Apple's brand is focused on creative types (or those who aspire to be), which is why it spends so much effort creating things like GarageBand. Competitors should target IT managers, knowledge workers, outdoorsy people, or some other group and build software and hardware combinations better suited to those use cases. Of course, this will take imagination and the ability to tie hardware, software, and services together to build unique experiences. There are some companies thinking outside the box (HTC and RIM have clearly differentiated products on their roadmaps), but for the vendors who are trying to out-Apple Apple… good luck. Here are some pointers, you're going to need them:

• Based on Apple's financials, it is clear that the iPad with WiFi is Apple's volume product and 3G versions are merely gravy. Why is the competition only targeting the gravy?

• iTunes remains a significant competitive advantage for Apple – I cannot easily explain to novices how to get a movie onto the XOOM. Rivals need an "iTunes" of their own, but having one just achieves parity with Apple, so partnering is an acceptable approach. However, half measures are not enough; digital media stores must include movies (including rentals) and TV shows and music. If multiple partners are used, the tablet vendor still needs to provide a common interface and single account/billing relationship.

• Nintendo has a significant base of game developers targeting the 3DS; if you cannot muster equivalent resources (for gaming, media playback, or some other use), adding 3D to your tablet is just a gimmick.

• Apple's rivals can compete on 4G, higher-resolution displays, or a lower price. Even speed is a potential differentiator from a technical perspective; NVIDIA has quad-core processors sampling this month, so rivals could build even faster tablets for this holiday season. However, I must still caution vendors that all of these factors are irrelevant if consumers do not want your product.

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Inside The Mitsubishi Mobile Marketing Showroom: Massive 82 and 92-inch 3D TVs

Posted: 04 Mar 2011 03:10 PM PST

Currently the world's largest mass-produced rear-projection flat screen, the Mitsubishi 92-inch 3D TV was first unveiled at CES earlier this year. But this morning we got an up close and personal look at the mammoth flat screen along with its 82-inch sibling at the Mitsubishi Mobile Marketing Showroom. It is truly an immersive cinematic experience to be had if you can afford the price, the space, and don’t mind looking like a complete dork sometimes—as illustrated below.

Mitsubishi’s 3D Home Cinema TV series uses an integrated 3D emitter that functions with special battery powered 3D viewing glasses. The pair I was donning was a super durable rubberized set used for high-volume demo purposes. For regular home use there’s a slightly more flattering alternative as well as third-party options. However, the glasses are not included with the purchase of the TV. They come in a bundled kit for $399 that includes two-pairs of glasses and a Blu-Ray Disc of 3D Disney content. You can also purchase single pairs for $149.

The minimum comfortable viewing distance is roughly 9 to 11 feet away for the 92-inch model and likely greater for those prone to motion sickness. I was able to sit about 6 feet away from the 82-inch model without any discomfort and that may have been due to the sharpness of the picture quality. The series employs the same DLP technology used in most 3D cinema screens with a 1080p resolution and 1000x faster pixel response time from a 120Hz sub-frame rate for smooth and crisp fast action scenes.

The image below of the 82-inch model gives you a better idea of just how big are these displays. The 92-inch model—not pictured—measures a whopping 4 feet tall, 6 feet wide, and almost 2 feet deep.

Connectivity features include StreamTV that lets you access the internet for various services including VUDU 3D movie streaming, Pandora, Facebook, and Twitter. The TV is Bluetooth enabled so that music can be streamed from cellphones or other Bluetooth enabled devices. The Mitsubishi TV Control app is available for download from iTunes that converts your iPhone, iPod Touch, or iPad into a TV remote. Future developments may allow for streaming content from your mobile devices. Other connectors include four HDMI inputs, a USB media player, and a PC/DVI port.

As for sound, the series features Mitsubishi's Unisen 5.1 Surround Sound that consists of 16 to 18 speakers beamed separately for an immersive audio experience without requiring additional speaker components. And should you wish to add a subwoofer, it can be connected wirelessly. This eliminates the usual mess of speaker cables and wires, and should keep the missus happy.

Mitsubishi's Director of Product Development, David Naranjo, was kind enough to talk with us and confirmed that pricing would be $6000 for the 92-inch model, which won’t be available until mid-summer. The first video below is a short interview and the second video is a demo of the Unisen 5.1 Surround Sound.

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