Since a couple videos have started floating around on YouTube I figured it was about time I spoke up a little about my brief experience with the HP Slate. I had an opportunity to play with one about 3 months ago. HP apparently has a couple of these prototype devices they ship off to customers to tinker with and get feedback.

Now, my impressions have to be taken with a grain of salt since I am comparing a prototype, non-production device to the iPad, but I think certain truths will remain. For starters, the device is rather bulky, about 2-3 times thicker than the iPad. Once you get past the difference in physical thickness, your hands start to hurt, not because of the weight, but because the thing runs so hot your hands are burning after holding it for a few minutes.

Let’s talk features. I was curious to get the camera working. So, I looked for a physical hardware button to take a picture (because just about everyone other than Apple does that). Well, no photo button to be found. I was in the Windows 7 interface and could not find an camera app to launch. So I had to hunt for an alternative. HP has apparently built a custom skin for Windows 7 that gives the device a much more mobile feel with big buttons to launch apps and services. So, I launched that skin and found the camera app. The camera seemed to work well based on the fluorescently lite cubical environment, but hey, what can ya do. I now know why spy cam shots are always blurry and video is shaky.

I did not see the physical keyboard button when I had my time with the device, though I am sure it works fine. I did have the same difficult time scrolling (actually in this video, I don’t think he actually got it to scroll, but kept saying how fast it was. No comment there). Overall it was very lethargic and a challenge to use. Speaking of which, when in Windows 7 mode, it is impossible to do anything on screen as it is still using the mouse metaphor and there is a cursor on the screen; you don’t get the ease of use or speediness you get with iOS on iPad.

Again, these are my impressions of the prototype from a few months ago. Hardware changes, software changes and who knows what the final product will look like if it ever ships, but HP sure doesn’t appear like they are going to let this one go…

Here’s one of those videos from the ‘net, after the break.

HP Slate prototype from an iPad user’s perspective is a story by TiPb. This feed is sponsored by The iPhone Blog Store.

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Apple has released iTunes 10.0.1,and 86.4MB update that, in addition to bug fixes, brings the new Ping social music network its own sidebar and allows you to start Ping activities right from your library.

iTunes 10.0.1 makes it easier to share your favorite music with your friends on Ping. You can now Like or Post about music right from your iTunes library. You can also easily see the recent activity of selected artists in your library, or of all artists and friends you follow on Ping using the new Ping Sidebar.

Previously users could only access Ping via an gray icon in the gray menu list and in some cases likely just forgot it was there. Will this latest update get you to use it more?

Apple releases iTunes 10.0.1, gives Ping a boost is a story by TiPb. This feed is sponsored by The iPhone Blog Store.

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Target has announced it will indeed start carrying the iPad in its retail stores across the country starting October 3rd:

As a way to drive traffic to stores this holiday, Target also announced it would begin carrying six models of Apple Inc.’s iPad, starting $499, starting Oct. 3.

Target will be the largest retail chain to carry the iPad. Its shares rose $1.20, or 2.2 percent, to $54.97. The models include 16-, 32-, and 64-gigabyte versions of both the Wi-Fi and Wi-Fi + 3G models.

Customers who have a Target credit card will also be eligible for a 5 percent discount on the device, once the card launches on Oct. 17.

Will you go buy an iPad from Target using your Target card for a discount? Sound off below!

[Associated Press]

This is an official entry by BrianT in TiPb's next top blogger contest. Think you have what it takes to join Team TiPb? Bring it!

Target To Carry iPad Starting Oct. 3rd is a story by TiPb. This feed is sponsored by The iPhone Blog Store.

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Looks like Apple, Google and others will have to put a stop to their handshake deals over not hiring each others employees, thanks to the US Justice Department:

According to the complaint, the six companies entered into agreements that restrained competition between them for highly skilled employees. The agreements between Apple and Google, Apple and Adobe, Apple and Pixar and Google and Intel prevented the companies from directly soliciting each other's employees. An agreement between Google and Intuit prevented Google from directly soliciting Intuit employees.

"The agreements challenged here restrained competition for affected employees without any procompetitive justification and distorted the competitive process," said Molly S. Boast, Deputy Assistant Attorney General in the Department of Justice's Antitrust Division. "The proposed settlement resolves the department's antitrust concerns with regard to these no solicitation agreements."

The government was concerned that the deals prevented employees at the companies involved from getting competitive salary and job offers via “cold calls” aka poaching or active solicitations.

The proposed settlement between the DOJ and the companies prevents them entering into any no-poaching agreements, or any agreements against cross-hiring, for 5 years.

So we pretty much figure the iOS teams’ phones are going to be ringing off the hook from now until 2015, right?

[DOJ, thanks to everyone who sent this in]

Justice Department orders Apple, Google, others to end ban on cross-hiring is a story by TiPb. This feed is sponsored by The iPhone Blog Store.

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