On Wednesday (January 27, 2010) Apple® is expected to unveil a new product. Rumors are circulating on the Internet that describes it as everything from a piece of the Allspark™, to a cure for lupus, although nobody is quite certain as to what it will be.

Like millions of others, we’ve donned our dry-cleaned turtlenecks and followed the rumors with keen interest to see what the next new thing from Apple will be. Even though we do not describe ourselves as an “Apple” or a “PC”, since we tend to do a good mix of both, we are excited about a new platform for development. We’re hedging our guesses that it will be a new tablet design, which we are calling iSlate.

Since there are lots of rumors, with virtually nothing confirmed, we’re basing our hopes off of many of the more likely and more exciting possibilities of the iSlate.

#1 Multitouch

Although nothing is known about the iSlate, multitouch capability seems like a freebee and it is extremely unlikely that any tablet would be released without it. Nevertheless, we are still excited about multitouch because it increases usability and user experience ten-fold. Multitouch interfaces are also the transitional step to fully natural user interfaces (NUI) that recognize gestures without the need for input devices, such as a mouse or keyboard.

Multitouch is the future of user interfaces for consumer devices and something that we are excited to develop. Amadeus Consulting is already developing user applications for the Microsoft Surface™ and iPhone™, both of which use only user gestures and object recognition for input.

#2 OS 3.2

The iPhone currently runs on OS 3.1.2. If the iSlate runs on a modified or scaled-up version of OS 3.1 (we’re calling it OS 3.2), then the iSlate will be compatible with all current iPhone applications and will be able to download apps from Apple’s App Store.

This is a huge bonus to developers, as they will not have to start over to develop apps for the iSlate (it runs off of the iPhone SDK) and to consumers who will be able to access the App Store to find inexpensive or free apps for the iSlate.

Also, this means that businesses that have invested in app development will be able to reach an even larger audience and receive a greater ROI for their investment in Apple app development. For example, retail stores that have invested in an app for the iPhone will be able to offer the same app to owners of the new Apple tablet, which is expected to sell up to 35 million units in 2010 (if rumors are true). Bundle that with number of iPhones sold to date (~40 million) and any app has the potential to reach a huge number of potential customers.

#3 It’s a Giant iPhone!

We’ve been jokingly calling it the Mark McGuire of iPhones (e.g. The iPhone on Steroids), which may not actually be a bad thing. Most people seem to think of a giant iPhone as a throwback to the early 1990s 12-pound cellular phones, which were unwieldy and hardly a convenience. However, we are actually pretty excited about the possibility.

To clarify, we don’t expect anyone to actually use them like they would a traditional phone, but being able to use existing 3G networks to access the internet, instead of using only Wi-Fi, would be incredibly convenient. You would not need to visit your local coffee shop in order to check your e-mail, and since tablets are so portable, you could catch up on the news from anywhere.

Also, it means that you can read the online version of the New York Times without having to squint. A “giant” 10-inch display would make viewing video and reading your favorite e-book a little less painful on your eyes. This gives customers a vast amount of power and connectivity in such a little device.

#4 More Power!

One of the downfalls of smart phones is their lack of processing power. Well, on second thought, it is that we tend to push them to their maximum capacity, and insist on increasing the abilities of these tiny devices. We are excited by the new 1GHz+ Snapdragon processors by Qualcomm, which are being employed in some of the newest smart phones, including HTC’s Nexus One. Still, for everything we try to use our phones for, 1 GHz may not be enough.

The new Apple Tablet may help solve this. It is said, by “people who know people who know”, that it may have up to a 2.2GHz processor, which will be more than enough for streaming video, running Flash applications, games, and doing almost anything that your desktop currently does. Sitting in bed streaming the latest episode of 24 on Hulu would be much more comfortable with a tablet than it would with even a laptop.

It also means that we can develop extremely powerful applications that could be used for advanced inventory control, ecommerce, retail, or maintenance applications could greatly increase efficiency. Not to mention the improvement of end-user applications.

#5 Web Cam!

We’d at least like a high quality (at least 5 megapixels, and video enabled) integrated camera. Why?  Web chatting of course!  And for the ability to do high quality object recognition, including motion and facial recognition. Not only is this cool for coolness sake, but also for some very practical applications, although it is hard to say that anything is amazingly new, since laptops can cover for most of these features. But tablets are just a little bit more convenient, with better integrated software and hardware, better portability and a more intuitive interface.

A camera and video capabilities on a tablet is like having a phone built in. Nobody would use them exactly as you would a camera, but being able to use object recognition, facial recognition, or motion detection is a powerful feature. For example, imagine a hearing-impaired user placing the tablet on the counter and signing to the receptionist on the other side as the tablet translates the gesture into audio, eliminating the need for written instructions.

Or simply to be able to web chat with friends while riding on the bus, or on-the-spot video editing before uploading your latest video to YouTube.

In Conclusion…

Yes, we know these are all based on rumors. It might not be called iSlate, and Wednesday’s event might not even unveil any sort of tablet design. Nevertheless, we at Amadeus Consulting are still excited about the possibilities. Our mantra of “everything is possible,” keeps us on the cutting-edge and expecting the unexpected in software development.

Even though we have not seen all of the rumored features in one place before, we have a wealth of experience developing custom software solutions involving each of these features. And we are anxious for the opportunity to put them together into the newest platform, and create a rich experience for our clients and their customers.

About Josh Turpen
Josh Turpen is the Director of Client Engagement for Amadeus Consulting, (www.amadeusconsulting.com) a custom software development company dedicated to creating intelligent technology solutions. As a Microsoft Gold Certified Partner, Amadeus Consulting excels in mobility and data management, content management, e-commerce, social networking, data collection and management, browser plug-ins, and iPhone application development.
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So you’ve looked at your options and evaluated the differences between dial-up, cable, DSL, and satellite Internet, and you’ve decided that satellite is the best fit for you and your lifestyle.  You’ve ruled out cable and DSL because you live in a rural area where wired high-speed access doesn’t reach, and you’ve decided dail-up is just not fast enough.  While satellite is not as fast as cable and DSL connections, it can be up to fifty times faster than dial-up—typical dial-up connections download at 53 Kbps, while satellite connections download at 1.0 to 5.0 Mbps.  With satellite Internet broadband, you’ll be able to work from home, video chat with long-distance friends, shop online, play interactive computer games, plan vacations, and get instant access to breaking news.  The next step is knowing the facts about the equiment you’ll need.

Usually, all the equipment you’ll need is provided by the service provider, or a licensed contractor of that provider, but it’s a good idea to have an understanding beforehand of what you’ll be dealing with.  Two-way satellite Internet equipment includes an approximately two-foot by three-foot dish, a mounting system, a feedhorn, a feedline, a Universal Low Noise Black connector, an NIC card, indoor receiving and transmit units, two modems (uplink and downlink), and coaxial cables that connect the dish and modems (same as the thick cable used by cable television providers.

The satellite modem transforms radio signals received by the dish into data that can be displayed by the computer, and likewise converts the data sent by the computer back into radio signals and then relays those via the dish to an orbiting satellite in the network.

The satellite dish, also known as the parabolic antenna because of its shape, is affixed to the customer’s roof with a mounting system and acts as the middle man between the computer and the satellite network.  The feedhorn is the part that receives and sends signals and can be found at the center of the dish, towards which all signals are “funneled” by the shape of the dish.

The NIC card, or Network Interface Controller, is hardware that enables communication over a network with other computers and comes built-in to the motherboards of most new computers.  The NIC card is used with a satellite broadband connection provided by any high-speed Internet service.

Though some ambitious tinkerers may opt to install their system themselves, normally a technician is sent by the service provider to install the entire system.  Equipment and installation can be free when you buy a package, depending on the type and length of subscription you order.

As with satellite TV, satellite Internet is more vulnerable to weather conditions than are its terrestrial-wired counterparts.  Bad weather can interfere with your connection, and users sometimes complain about signal latency (the delay between requesting data and the receipt of a response) and rain fade (when the signal is absorbed or scattered by moisture).  All-in-all, though, the benefits of high-speed Internet access seem outweigh the drawbacks associated with the technology, and customer satisfaction is high among converted former dial-up users.

Stop waiting on dial-up and contact hughes internet today.  With hughes satellite, you’ll enjoy the high-speed benefits of DSL and cable, no matter where you are.
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E-readers enhance the reading experience with their design and form, ease of use, and advanced features. With the new Samsung e-readers, supported onscreen note-taking with an enabled stylus is the newest element to entice users. Until the introduction of these multi-faceted Samsung devices, reading has never been as effortless and writing was never in such perfect form.

With the recent announcement about their E6 and E101 readers, Samsung has made an impressive entrance into the e-reader market. Samsung has also confirmed their future plans for the release of two additional e-readers – a 5-inch model and the 6-inch model with a QWERTY keyboard for easier emailing. All four models will have handwriting support and a MP3 player as well as 2GB of flash memory and up to 24 hours battery life.

These readers have the added convenience of built-in dictionaries. If users click on a word with the stylus, its definition will pop up on the screen. The Samsung e-readers use Bluetooth 2.0 for sharing content, are DLNA-enabled, and can share content with other DLNA devices in a household.

Users will reap the benefits from Samsung’s partnership with Google Books. The e-readers incorporate Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g and allow users to download (wirelessly) books and newspapers. Users can locate content and display PDF, plain text, or ePub files. Sony Reader was the first e-reader with direct access to Google libraries. As it is described in the article “E-Readers and their Smaller Brothers and Sisters“, Sony PRS users can upload directories of public domain books, offering them virtually free libraries, and also have access to the Google e-books libraries (Digital Book Readers). The Sony PRS now has a lot of titles to offer which makes its lower price look very attractive, and Google e-books has corrected its one-time weakness in technical books.

Samsung’s introductory models, E6 and E101, (6″ and 10″ screens respectively), point to the company’s innovative spirit. The smaller, more portable E6 has a slide-part (secret controls behind the screen) which reveals a trackpad for easy navigation. The E101 has calligraphy and editing functions such as ‘cut, copy, and paste’ choices. Both models feature Samsung’s Text-to-Speech engine which allows text to be read aloud to a user.

Combined with a virtual eraser, the built-in electromagnetic resonance (EMR) stylus pen transforms a Samsung e-reader into an e-reader/electronic notebook. The special stylus pens (in varied thickness) allow for handwriting. This feature makes the Samsung e-reader suitable for quick notes or leisurely sketching. Users can note their reading selections, create their to-do lists, or update their calendars – directly on the screen.

The Samsung e-readers provide a more natural reading experience. Reflecting light in a more natural manner, these readers are closer to the appearance of the printed page. The Samsung e-readers are not back-lit like other readers and they consume less power. Depending on the daily use, four hours of charging can prepare the battery for up to two weeks of use.

The first two Samsung e-readers will range in price from $399 (6″) to $699 (10″). The design of the E101 is not just a copy of the E6 design. Both devices will sport an unique look. The two additional models (5″ and 6″) will be released at a later date.

The 5-inch reader will not have the slide-out feature – possibly to reduce the purchase price. The low-end device doesn’t have Wi-Fi but the later 6-inch reader will display a Kindle-style integrated keyboard. With the handwriting option, however, the four Samsung e-readers will change forever the art of reading and writing.

Marco Gustafsson is author of articles on ebook readers, e-inc technology and electronic books. Visit Digital Book Readers to find more information and discover new dimension of reading.
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