There’s a New Tablet Player on the Horizon
And the name? HTC-With the help of Google, of course. With the new lineup of Android phones on its way this year, HTC has apparently decided they like Google products enough to use them for more gadgets-namely an HTC Tablet powered by Chrome OS. It looks as HTC & Google will be making an announcement, complete with a working prototype of the HTC competitor to the iSlate-the as of yet still non-existent Apple version of the tablet-at the upcoming 2010 CES about the device and Smartmouth reports that HTC and Google “…has several working models of a touch tablet, including one model based on the new Google Chrome Operating System…”

I’s a Real Tablet-What’s Under the Hood?
Well, some are based with the Android, and another with the Chrome OS, so from that standpoint alone, it will be fast. Combine those with a Qualcomm processor, and you’ve got yourself a lightening fast tablet. It is also said the HTC tablet will incorporate new Adobe software as well, something an Apple device would never have the pleasure of having. Poor Apple, they know what they are missing, yet don’t care what the customers want… But more on that below.

The iSlate Rumor
Over the last 10 years or so, and more so in the last 2 years, the rumors have been flying heavily about an Apple Tablet in the works. The problem is, however, the rumors have yet to see even a patent or an FCC approval. In most cases when rumors start making the rounds, one of those two things usually see he light of day within a few months. But, with the tablet supposedly in the works from Apple, neither of these things have even been heard of.

Yet most people and analysts believe an Apple tablet to be on its way for this quarter of 2010. Some news outlets, analysts and bloggers have even put a price on the non-existent tablet, stating it to be affordable-very unprofessional in my eyes. What is it, an affordable piece of air? Well, yes, that is all it is at this point.

But, what I want to know is what is the iSlate going to be good for? Lets talk about Adobe Flash and Apple… Not allowing flash is part of the iPhone TOS! Clause 3.3.2 of the iPhone SDK TOS agreement specifically states: (Directly from PDF of TOS via Wired Magazine)

“…an Application may not itself install or launch other executable code by any means, including without limitation through the use of a plug-in architecture, calling other frameworks, other APIs or otherwise. No interpreted code may be downloaded and used in an Application except for code that is interpreted and run by Apple’s Published APIs and built-in interpreter(s).”

WTF?!?! That is censorship and complete non-sense if you ask me. Apple is just being a bit old-fashioned. I mean, I really don’t understand how the iPhone does so well if there is no Flash support… Anyway, back to the supposed HTC tablet-that DOES have flash support. How does Apple expect to keep iSlate customers when they now know they will never be able to access 90% of the internet? What the Hell is an iSlate going to be good for? Just to have the Apple name around and be seen as an upper-class citizen? I don’t think so…

The Real Reason for the Tablet
Advertising and Marketing-that’s it! Until Apple even asks for approval from the FCC for the tablet, it shouldn’t be speculated so damn much. There will never be one if there isn’t by now. It’s all just a play on advertising. Every time tablet rumors fly, stocks jump and soar through the roof. And with the recession, of course there are more rumors. It’s the only thing keeping them alive! Why does no one see that?

At Least the HTC “Tablet-to-Be” is Real
I mean, at least HTC has a prototype! No one has even seen so much as a single part, or officially drawn blueprint of the tablet form Apple, have they? Nope! Not a one. HTC has a few working prototypes to boast, and they will at the up-coming conference, rightfully so. So I say forget Apple, and see the rumors for what they are. Just another way for Apple to milk more money out of its customers-without even selling them anything!

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THE Year for Great Mobile Tech
2009 was THE year of Mobile Technology in general. Between Smartphones, Netbooks, Tablets and anything else mobile tech related, 2009 was a great year for mobile tech. The way smartphones took over is a great feat in itself. The Netbook was supposed to take off and it did-at first. But it didn’t gain the ground it was supposed to. Then came the 7″ Netbook and that was where the consumer drew the line in mobile technology and its getting smaller. I mean, who in their right mind is going to want such a small computer? For something better, you might as well get the XP Phone-when it finally comes out anyway… At least it would be worth its smallness.

So 2009 being the year of mobile tech, it makes sense that smartphones took over the world. The battle between iPhone and Android-any Droid phone-took off. And it is still going strong. And now with the upcoming release of the Google Phone-The Nexus One-it remains to be seen if iPhone will finally die, or if Google is just a lot of hot air trying to masquerade as something bigger than it really is. Android as w hole, or as a separate being, so to speak could really be the iPhone killer, but not as the Nexus One. There is nothing good enough-or different enough-about it to compete where others have failed to do so.

So What Will 2010 Bring?
Well, so far as the world knows, it’s supposed to be bringing us many things. Here is my take on a few that are supposed to be out in the first quarter of 2010.

It’s hard to say , really. People are adamant the Apple Tablet will appear, finally, but I don’t think so. Think about this, how many years have people and analysts alike been saying the Apple Tablet is “On its way” or “Apple Tablet Imminent?” It’s been a promise-No a threat- by Apple for over a decade and has yet to materialize. Doesn’t anyone get it? Or am I the only one who sees the promises and failures to release-or even announce-the tablet, for what it really is? A marketing ploy a diversion of something bigger and better. Or that is what it looks like anyway. Just look at all the hype and excitement over something that does not even exist. And then take a look at how much money is being made off of the rising stocks every time someone even whispers the words Tablet or iSlate or iblah blah.. It doesn’t matter what the word is, but it doesn’t exist and probably never will. Give it a rest already!

The Google Phone will not be everything it says it’s going to be. That’s a given already. It hasn’t even been released yet and people are moving on to bigger and better things. If it was all that it was cracked up to be then they wouldn’t have given in to the subsidized plan crap that is T-Mobile and all the rest of the carriers with their contracts for a free or reduced price smartphone. If the Google Phone was really special, it would have been a straight up unlocked phone. Period. No gimmicks, no marketing ploys, just the great power that is Google and Android. But it’s not, and may never be.

Windows Mobile 6.5.3-Probably the biggest joke of the smartphone world coming. What should have been a great half point release (6.5) was an utter failure, making Vista look like an angel. So what could this new one on the horizon have to offer, unless it’s gonna fix all the past mistakes? Nothing. Enough said. They should have put their efforts into WinMo 7 instead of 6.5m then maybe the screw-ups would have only been half as bad.

The Final Word & The Verdict Is?
This year is already looking like a failure. With all the mobile tech coming out in the first quarter, it's surprising that this is all we have to look forward to. It is disappointing, really. With the greatest technological minds in the world working for these aforementioned companies, it is really sad and surprising that they can't do any better. So, I have pretty much given up hope for he first half of the year, and I hope the second half will be better, but as of now, it doesn't look like it. I mean, with all the hype going into the products mentioned above, it doesn't look like anything else is going to happen i these areas.

The only thing I can see happening that will blow people away is the iPhone making it to another carrier. Just not the one that everyone thinks it will. We all think it will be T-Mobile or Verizon, but I am not getting that vibe. I think it will be more like Sprint, maybe. I mean, the irony would be the iPhone jumping form one crappy network to another, wouldn't it? It would be just like Apple to do something like that, wouldn't it…

If anyone has anything to add, drop me a line and let me know. Is there anything you think should get some recognition?

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