A WiFi-only version of the XOOM tablet will be available for $600. Is the price low enough for you? You know how to answer — in comments or by emailing joewilcox at gmail dot com.

Surprisingly, Verizon, which will carry the 3G/4G model, is doing so unsubsidized — so that previously leaked $800 price still applies. The Verizon model does WiFi, too, but based on leaked Best Buy documents buyers must use at least one month of data service first; then WiFi is enabled. How whacked out is that?

Yesterday I complained that carrier contractual commitments for data put Android tablets at unfair competitive advantage to Apple’s iPad. In January, I posted “5 things every tablet needs to succeed” –”right price” and “no carrier commitment” appeared as items one and two. The two points are intertwined, since Apple offers WiFi-only iPad for $499. That puts the XOOM just one hundred bucks higher. Again, is that cheap enough for you?

Certainly XOOM’s specs are compelling: 1GHz dual-core nVidia Tegra 2 processor; 10.1-inch display with 1280 x 800 resolution; 1GB of RAM; 32GB internal storage, expandable with MicroSD card; 5-megapixel back-facing and 2-megapixel front-facing cameras; 720p video recording; 1080p video playback; HDMI and USB 2.0 ports; accelerometer; barometer; gyroscope; Android 3.0 (Honeycomb).

The comparably-priced ($599) WiFi-only iPad: 1GHz single-core Apple A4 processor; 9.7 inch display with 1024 x 768 resolution; 256MB of RAM; 32GB internal storage (non-expandable); 720p video playback; accelerometer; and iOS 4. There are no cameras, there is no HDMI port and external USB connector costs $29 extra. Another option: Spend $100 less for the 16GB WiFi-only iPad.

Fans of the iPad are quick to claim apps are an advantage, but that’s a gap Android is closing. Google One Pass set against Apple’s more subscription plan should open the floodgates of content, including video as well as written information. Apple says that the average selling price for iPad is $600, so surely someone is willing to pay that much? Is it you, for the Moto XOOM?

Last week in comments, Betanews reader Utomo wrote: “I believe $599 is best price for this gadget. More than that it will not [be] big success.” OK, Utomo, XOOM is $600. Are you buying? Commenter Tom Kyne made a smart prediction: “This could be part of their marketing scheme. Shock everyone with a leaked $800 price, but on the day it’s revealed, it’s only $600, so we are all relieved we save $200.” Well, the price is both ways, but Kyne’s speculation feels about right.

That’s a wrap. Please share your reaction with us all — and answer not just “would you pay” but “will you pay” $600 for the Moto XOOM tablet, meaning are you ready to buy one. Again, please answer in comments or e-mail joewilcox at gmail dot com.

Pink might be the new black, but black is the new silver — at least, if Intel’s ad containing what appears to be a previously unseen refreshed MacBook Pro model ends up being accurate. 9 to 5 Mac drew attention to the ad this morning, which depicts a slim black MacBook Pro unlike anything currently available from Apple. The ad is for Intel’s new Core i5 processor, and this isn’t the first time Intel has let details of an unreleased Mac slip in one of its advertisements — the chip giant also ran ads discussing an unreleased MacBook Pro with a Core i5 processor in late January. Apple is expected to begin shipping new versions of its MacBook Pro laptop computer line in early March, though the company has not yet made any announcement regarding the refreshed models.

Called the HP TouchPad, the tablet is the result of Palm being absorbed into the world of HP with webOS beating at the heart of the device. With more sliding and swiping than you can throw a stick at, this new version of Palm’s webOS brings the software up to version 3.0 and it’s never looked so good.

With a shiny new OS, HP had to come up with some impressive hardware to partner it, and just feast your eyes on this specs sheet…

• Weighs 1.6lb
• 9.7″ Touch Screen
• 1024×768 resolution
• Dual-Core 1.2GHz SnapDragon CPU
• 1.3 MP front facing camera
• Beats Audio technology

The first thing that jumps at me screaming ‘PlayBook beater’ is the 1.2GHz dual-core CPU HP has packed into the TouchPad. With BlackBerry’s PlayBook being powered by a similar chip running at 1GHz, we expected the Canadian tablet to be the king of speed, at least until the iPad 2 gets announced. But now it’s clear, HP is the one pushing the envelope when it comes to cramming the fastest CPUs into a tablet device. For now at least!

Another interesting spec is the screen size and resolution. That’s the same screen that’s currently used in Apple’s iPad, which probably explains why the TouchPad bears more than a slight resemblance to the wonder-tab. Whether the second-generation iPad will use the same screen or go pixel-mad remains to be seen with rumors and opinions falling on both sides.

Obviously people will draw comparisons with the iPad when looking at a TouchPad, and with good reason. Both are the same size, same color, same form factor and both are gorgeous. The similarities even stretch to some of the apps HP have put together, with their email app in particular looking all too familiar. Whether that’s a bad thing or not, I’m honestly not sure. The email app on the iPad works a treat, so why re-invent the wheel? Granted, the TouchPad version does sport some interesting additions such as draggable pains ala Twitter for iPad too.

The real action comes from the impressive webOS. Many have said for a while now that Palm’s operating system was let down by poor hardware in the shape of the original Pre, and few could argue. Anyone who’s spent any time with a Pre will admit the OS showed promise but was hamstrung by a slow CPU, not enough RAM and a poor screen. Now however, things are different.

Watching the videos posted by Engadget, it’s clear that the beefy CPU gives webOS the power it needed since day one. Panes slide smoothly, zooms are effortless and the ‘real’ multitasking (at least appears) to work beautifully. Whether this fluidity continues after hours of heavy use though, we just don’t know as yet.

Notifications are one area Apple’s iOS has fallen down, and with each major revision, the Apple faithful have hoped and prayed for a fix for the software’s achilles heel. This is an area the TouchPad looks to be getting things right. When a notification arrives, it’s placed under an icon in the upper-right of the screen. Tapping the icon brings down a list of notifications sorted by type.

Speaking of notification type, have I mentioned the integration with Palm, I mean HP’s phones? No? Well if you’re rocking a TouchPad and one of the new phones announced today then the two can talk to each other. That might not sound so hot, but how about leaving your phone on the counter and routing all your calls, emails, SMS and anything else your phone can do through your tablet? That NEEDS to be in the next iPhone/iPad and BlackBerry/PlayBook.

Final thoughts

I’ve just thrown together a few hundred words, rambling about the TouchPad and it occurs to me that I might have come across as a raving Palm (damn, I mean HP!) lunatic and/or fanboy that’s getting ready to dump my iPad into the nearest river. I’m not. Yet.

Allow me to clarify.  I like love tech. I love new tech, and I really love new tech that does something new. To me, the TouchPad is just that. Palm (oh I give up!) could have thrown out a standard tablet, used a middling CPU and shoehorned webOS 2.0 onto it. But they didn’t. They’ve gone out and found the fastest dual-core CPU currently announced for a tablet and paired it with what in videos at least, appears to be the most unique, eye-catching OS in a long while (I don’t really count the Pre!). And I like that. A lot.

Now this doesn’t mean Apple won’t come out in a few weeks and blow the TouchPad out of the water. They might have a 1.4GHz CPU up their sleeve, coupled with a new form-factor and more gestures than we know what to do with. But what about the OS? I’m going to stake my not-so-stellar reputation on us being given a version of iOS not too dissimilar from the one we’re using today. And were using last year for that matter. We’ll get some new transitions and sliding windows, sure, but where’s the innovation? Apple wowed us all last year when they announced the iPad, but now it’s time to step up a gear and show the world what they can really do.

Why is it time? The competition is starting to hot-up, Google, RIM, Microsoft and now HP are all in the game, and Apple need to show they’re up for the fight.

Source Redmondpie

Contrary to reports which said they were released in January Microsoft today announced that Windows 7 SP1 and Windows Server 2008 R2 SP1 were released to OEM partners today, and the updates will be available to consumers on February 22.

As we’ve known since back in June when the first beta invites went out for SP1, this is a very minor release. However, the RemoteFX and Dynamic Memory virtualization features in Windows Server are especially noteworthy this time around.

With the release of SP1 today, Microsoft devoted some time to talking about a pair of new features that Windows 7 users can look forward to in the near future: Windows Thin PC (WinTPC) and Microsoft BitLocker Administration and Monitoring (MBAM.)

Windows Thin PC is a smaller, stripped-down version of Windows 7 especially designed for repurposing old PCs and feature-strapped devices into Windows 7 thin clients. This will not require a VDA license that normal thin clients do to access virtual desktops, and it will be available some time within the first quarter of this year.

Wednesday, General Manager for the Windows Commercial business, Gavriella Schuster said, “With Windows 7, we delivered built-in security features such as BitLocker, a full encryption of the operating system to help protect PCs in your organization. Overall, feedback has been positive; however some IT Professionals told us they wanted an easier way to manage BitLocker.”

That is essentially what MBAM is supposed to do, and it builds on top of BitLocker in Windows 7 to simplify provisioning and deployment. Not much else has been said about this, but it will be launched in beta in March, and you can sign up for it here.

Few companies have been as resistant to the economic downturn as Facebook. Just two years ago, the company moved to its current headquarters in Palo Alto, Calif. But with a workforce increasing at a 50% annual rate, moving to Sun’s nine-building campus in nearby Menlo Park makes sense.

The social networking site has a 15-year lease on the property, with an option to buy after five years. In addition, Facebook purchased 22 acres of land adjacent to the campus that could be used for expansion. Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed, and Menlo Park officials did not offer any tax incentives to the social networking site to entice it to make the move.

Following its acquisition of Sun, Oracle began moving most employees to its Redwood Shores campus. While a few Sun employees still remain, they will likely also be moved out once Facebook takes over the location in the early summer. The social networking site also plans to still use its Palo Alto location to house some employees, it said.

Its Menlo Park location would be able to house about 3,600 employees.

Google also is making moves, announcing Tuesday it would lease an iconic building in Venice, Calif. as part of its expansion into the city of Los Angeles. The search engine is planning to add about 6,000 employees this year, and is facing increasing competition for talent in Silicon Valley.

The “binoculars building” — designed by architect Frank Gehry and former home of the Chiat/Day advertising agency — would be the flagship building of Google’s Los Angeles campus

In December I asked: “Should Apple stop selling software in its retail stores?” I reasoned that the Mac App Store greatly diminished the need for Apple retail stores to carry boxed software, which takes up valuable shelf space. In early January, Apple released the Mac App Store, which is part of Mac OS X 10.6 (aka Snow Leopard). I expected Apple would soon go all digital, removing packaged software from its stores. Late last night, MacRumors claimed Apple is preparing to do just that: “Based on what we’ve heard from our sources, however, Apple is planning on making the move to all digital sooner than expected at their retail stores. Apple is working towards eliminating boxed software and presumably focusing sales through the Mac App Store.”

I can’t attest whether or not the rumor is true, or vouch for MacRumors sourcing, but it’s what I expected Apple to do, which is why I asked the question. Not everyone agrees this is the right move. In December, Stephen Baker, NPD’s vice president of industry analysis told me that “only 43 percent of online software buyers want a digital download only; 30 percent want a box and 22 percent want a download and a box.” He didn’t see how Apple could meet consumer preferences by going digital download only. I see it differently: 43 percent represents a helluva lot of people, and right now Apple only needs to be concerned with Mac owners.

There’s also the issue of leverage and exposure. Smaller publishers are likely to get more exposure from placement within the operating system than inside the retail store. Late last month Pixelmator made headlines after announcing $1 million in sales after only 20 days in the Mac App Store. Additionally, by pulling boxed software from retail stores, Apple exerts leverage on bigger developers like Adobe and Microsoft to distribute their products through the Mac App Store.

Over the years Apple and Microsoft have offered special bundles — discounts on Office for Macintosh purchased with a new computer. How can there be a bundle deal without boxed software available in the retail strore? Easy. Provide buyers a discount with their shiny new Mac, which can be redeemed when purchasing Mac Office.

Ten years ago next month, Apple released Mac OS X 10.0, with a scarcity of native applications. The company hadn’t yet opened one retail store. My how times have changed. Built-in software store is barely 30 days old, but transformative. It’s not a question of if Apple stops selling packaged software from its retail stores but when.

By the way, one comment from my December post deserves calling out. Calc_Yolatuh writes: “Given that nasty art-museum feel they’ve already got, perhaps the extra whitespace will serve to further crush the spirits of their customers. Actually if they go 100 percent online, I won’t even have to walk past their stores anymore.” You wish. Not until Apple can materialize/teleport physical purchases is that going to happen.

Considering rumors we’ve heard of a VGA display, we’d assumed that Nokia’s E6 would probably have a large touchscreen — but these shots we’ve just received look… well, a little different. Instead, it seems that Espoo’s planning to gently massage the winning portrait QWERTY formula already well established by the E71 and E72, bumping out a proper big brother to the E5. Around back, you see an 8 megapixel camera (possibly the same EDoF unit that’s in the E7) along with a dual LED flash; on front, that could very well be a VGA display, we suppose, considering the uptick in pixel density that everyone’s been pushing the past year. If we had to guess, this puppy is a lock for MWC — but in light of the crazy rumors floating around Nokia the past few days, all bets are off.

[Thanks, anonymous tipster]

Google on Thursday finally launched a renewed web-based Android Market that integrates with a user’s Google account and lets him shop for applications and send them to the various Android-powered devices linked to the account. This new shop marks the industry-wide trend toward comprehensive device-agnostic software shopping solutions.

Amazon’s Kindle store was the first major shopping outlet to take such a step. Users can shop for Kindle-formatted e-books on Amazon.com, and push their purchases to their Kindle device, regardless of whether it’s a dedicated e-paper reader or a software application.

ABI Research released a study on Friday which said the market for digital content will not be tied to the success or failure of any single gadget, despite the widespread misconception that a single tablet or e-reader could “win” the market.

“Consumers can purchase digital texts through their PCs or smartphones, in addition to buying directly through their eReaders,” said Larry Fisher, research director of NextGen, ABI Research’s emerging technologies research incubator. “The variety of applications that allow people to buy this digital content reassures them that they won’t be tied to a single store–or device–for content.”

Similar to the “write once, run anywhere” ideal, the key to success in future e-commerce will be the ability to list once, buy anywhere.

Using common Web development standards and handy new HTML5 capabilities, mobile network operators, OEMs, and software retailers are taking up this mantra and optimizing their storefronts to be device-agnostic websites.

Though the new Web-based Android Market allows developers to post bigger photos and even videos of their applications in action, and the browsing experience is superior to the native Android Market app, the remote installation feature is by far the most important addition here. It means easier access to apps, easier purchase management, and even potentially innovative uses of the apps that are remotely installed.

Imagine, for example, a user has lost his phone and doesn’t have any emergency tracking devices to locate it. You could conceivably make an auto-launching homing beacon app that users could send to their phone from the Web store; or even more severe, an automatic kill pill that could sync all data back to the Google account and then wipe the phone. Because it works over the web, there’s no need for a mobile device to be anywhere near the user for him to install apps on it.

As Android is picked up as an embedded operating system for devices other than smartphones and tablets, this functionality could also come in extremely handy, as the device would not need a browser or a native market client to receive new applications.