Once the iPad went on sale, and sold in a big way (3 million units in under 3 months), it was just a matter of time until other hardware manufacturers scrambled to come out with tablets to compete. Tablet fever is spreading, and spreading fast. Apple CEO Steve Jobs wanted to position the iPad as the flagship of a new category of device, between a smartphone and a laptop. This new category is now starting to fill up with more devices, including a couple that were announced recently – the Stream TV eLocity A7 and the ViewSonic ViewPad 7. (The 7s are not in homage to Windows 7, but in reference to each device’s screen size.)

Both devices boast very iPad-like characteristics, but they both seem to have found ways to differentiate themselves. Over the next several months leading into the Holiday buying season, we can expect to see similar devices from a host of manufacturers, all trying to be similar, but different. It will be difficult to beat the iPad since it was born into a rich family of hundreds of thousands of existing apps, inter-operable siblings (iPhone, iMac, Macbook, etc.), and a cult following. But both the eLocity and the ViewPad 7 are doing their best.

ViewSonic ViewPad 7

The ViewPad 7 comes in as an Android contender,  which is quickly gaining momentum among consumers and developers alike. It will run on Android 2.2 (Froyo), and will likely work with many of the applications already developed for the mobile OS. This will potentially seamlessly connect the tablet to other Android devices such as mobile phones and Google TV devices. That could be a pretty cool trio.

But the ViewSonic also brings a couple more features to the table that were left out of the iPad. It has a VGA forward-facing camera for video chat, and rear-facing 3 megapixel camera. And, perhaps most significantly, the ViewSonic makes phone calls. Why this is not enabled in the iPad still escapes me. It wouldn’t make sense to use it as a conventional handset – after all, few but Chuck Norris would have the strength to hold an iPad up to their ear for more than a minute – but it would make sense in a Bluetooth or ear bud scenario. The combination of all these features could dethrone the iPad as the coolest device in the keyboard-less netbook/oversized smartphone category.

Stream TV eLocity A7

The eLocity A7 focuses its features around its powerful Tegra 2 chips which enable smooth gaming experiences and capacity to output 1080p video. It could be used as a companion device to an HDTV, where you could connect it via HDMI, control it via a wireless keyboard (provided with the device) and watch content from the device on a TV. It is unclear whether the device could be used to pull content from the cloud like the Roku, Xbox Live, or the rumored Apple TV, but coming from a company called Stream TV, you’d certainly hope so. It also runs on Froyo. (So do I, by the way. Three meals a day.)

The eLocity and the ViewPad do seem promising, as do other Android tablets such as the Samsung Galaxy tablet. However, they do have one seemingly fatal flaw – they aren’t iPads.

Well friends, it’s that time of year again. Apple is holding a “Special Event” on Wednesday September 1st. Rumors are flying about what will be revealed at the event. Typically the fall event focuses on music, so we can expect iPod refreshes. Engadget has an overview of all the product rumors that have come out thus far.

Images of third party cases have been popping up that seem to confirm some of the rumors. The iPod Nano appears to be getting a 1.7 inch touch screen and the iPod Touch is getting a make over with a front facing camera.

We may also see an announcements regarding a iTV/Apple TV and possibly an iTunes move toward the cloud.

Now we’ve done our part to spread the rumors and generate more Apple buzz. The event will take place on Wednesday at 10:00 AM PST and there will be lots of organizations live blogging as it happens. And remember to keep an eye out for your obligatory Apple email after the event confirming how amazing their new products really are.

With all that happened this week, we wanted to provide you with a quick rundown of tech news to get you through the weekend.

Microsoft Co-founder Paul Allen Sues Everyone within earshot – including Apple, Google, Ebay and eight other companies for copyright infringement. A Google spokesperson’s take on the lawsuits? “It reflects an unfortunate trend of people trying to compete in the courtroom instead of the marketplace.” Read more on WSJ.com.

Google buys social media startup Angstro and hires its founder, Rohit Khare, to help build social networking service, Google Me. What does this mean? Google really, really wants to be in the social networking fight, and are trying to figure out how. More at LATimes.com

The iPod Touch 4G will be shaped more like the iPhone 4G, sans the shatter-prone glass on the back, a source familiar with the matter reports. The shape will be “similar the top of a MacBook Pro, only smaller,which is to say flat rather than curved at the center. Reported by iLounge.com.

Netflix Instant comes to the iPhone and iPod Touch. Netflix announced an app that allows Netflix users to stream Netflix Instant content on their iPhone or iPod Touch devices similar to their app for the iPad, but  re-jiggered for the smaller screens. It will be convenient for some, irrelevant for others. Check out our post here.

CollegeOnly launches as a social network only for college students. Kind of like Facebook 5 years ago. The site’s founder, Josh Weinstein, says that CollegeOnly and Facebook can happily coexist. This is likely true, as Facebook happily coexists with the thousands of other niche social networking sites with their minuscule  market shares. Reported in NYTimes.com.

Amazon launched a slimmer, quicker version of the Kindle. Verdict? It’s an eBook in an iPad world. But that’s what some of use need. Here’s Engadget’s review of the new device.

Microsoft will invest $500 million in the launch of Windows Phone 7 this Holiday season. Time will tell if that will work for them, although I won’t be betting money on it. At least not half a billion dollars. Crunchgear.com reports.

Today Netflix announced an app that allows Netflix users to stream Netflix Instant content on their iPhone or iPod Touch devices. A similar app was already available for the iPad, but has now been re-jiggered for the smaller screens. There has only been moderate excitement about this online, but I personally am ecstatic.

About a year ago, I cancelled both my cable and internet in my apartment. Although living without the internet at first seemed impossible, it has been remarkably simple. Most of the casual surfing that I did on my laptop I can do on my iPhone, and any heavy computing I can do on my work computer before going home for the night.

I started spending time on other leisurely pursuits such as riding my bike, reading, and talking to real people. That has been moderately amusing. I have learned to wait for my iPhone’s 3G to load, and to navigate away from sites that require flash. However, to me the biggest down side is a lack of much-needed mindless entertainment – the kind I need when I can’t sleep or when I am lonely on the weekends. I would be willing to watch it on my iPhone, but there really wasn’t any way that I could do that barring a Hulu Plus invite and subscription.

But today Netflix announced that Netflix Instant movies are available on the iPhone and iPod touch through 3G (iPhone, not iPod touch of course) and wifi. I think they are a match made in heaven. Since the Netflix Instant catalog is so limited, it is only for casual viewing. (Although I appreciate the extensive lineup of Magnum PI episodes available through Netflix Instant, I would hardly consider it truly competitive.) Since the iPhone’s screen is so small, it is for casual viewing as well. No one is going to watch 2 hours and 42 minutes of Avatar on a 4-inch screen.

So what the announcement brings is casual viewing content to a casual viewing device. Sounds perfect to me. What do you think – will you watch movies on your iPhone?

Image courtesy of CrunchGear

Image via Engadget

Looks like the days of happy go lucky Jailbreaking may be short lived. Apple has filed a patent that would effectively kill jailbroken devices should certain activities be detected. The patent is being presented as a means to increase user security and protect against lost or stolen devices. The security enhancements are detailed in this report.

Beyond basic jailbreak detection and termination, this patent strives to identify unauthorized users via heartbeat and “phone home” if an unauthorized user is detected. When security is breached the phone could take pictures of its surroundings and log GPS and then send them to the owner. The phone would also start keeping a log of any activity by the unauthorized user.

Adding these features to “i” devices will greatly increase security and protect users from theft, but they seem extreme. What if you want to Jailbreak a device you own? It’s not illegal. And do you feel comfortable with a device that can broadcast so much real time user data at the flip of the switch?

via mashable