Mashable is reporting from a verified source that Amazon Kindle Fire Pre-orders are up to 250,000 in just 5 days.  Definitely an impressive mark.  The Kindle Fire is set to release on November 15.  A great cheap alternative to most tablets but definitely not a replacement for the iPad – Via Mashable

Yes Yes we are all excited, at least the ones that have been able to pick up an HP Touchpad for 99 bucks.   I didn’t get it for 99 but definitely close enough. ($108)  I picked two for family members and two for development.  HP has said they will any production of devices but they also said WebOS is not dead.  It not clear what exactly HP plans on doing for WebOS but they might as well donate it and make it opensource platform.  I would hate to see a pretty well developed phone operating system go to waste.

Didn’t think touchpad was worth the 99 bucks for a dead technology? think again.  HP spent $328 to produce each device, this doesn’t include all the R&D and marketing that took place.  Also the specs on the device are comparable to any other tablet device that are currently available for 500+.

Specs revisted

• 9.7 LED display
• Qualcomm snapdragon dual-CPU 1.2 GHz
• 1 GB DDR2 SDRAM
• 16Gb or 32GB

Good news if they do kill it off WebOS
- Hackers are in the works of getting an Android build on the touchpad – http://rootzwiki.com/showthread.php?t=3327.  Current development is to port Android to the device.  Many have requested that a emulator for Android be created like on the BB Playbook.

Kara Swisher from All Things Digital is reporting Apple will announce iPad 2 on March 2! The upgrade in display is one of the most anticipated features.

In the mist of the iPad 2 just around the corner.  Bestbuy site earlier today showed dummy sku’s for iPads.  The sku’s are no longer appearing on the site.  Excitement of a new iPad. Boy its hard to keep up with Apple and its new refreshes yearly. I would be ok if they didn’t release a new one until August or early 4Q. (Just bought mine in Nov eek!)

So I finally got my hand on the iPad and I must say I am quiet impressed with the device.  It is quite great for basic surfing, checking fantasy news, scores, and watching videos on it is just excellent.  I was told to wait for iPad 2, but me being impatient and getting a decent deal on it on Black Friday made me pull the trigger on the purchase ($458 special at Apple.com – 5% cashback bonus from Discover).   I am sure iPad 2nd generation is right around the corner but in the mean time I can get a good grasp on if I will use the device.  I’ve had the device for about now a week..

What I love:

• Surfing
• Emailing – you can write a long email without breaking your fingers on a phone.
• Games built for iPad are great
• Youtube, other videos
• Airplay
• Battery Life is solid
• Reading docs

What I hate:
Not all are true hates, but they hate enough that they bother me

• I only bought the 16GB version in mist of that I will upgrade to the new device when available
• Only 256 MB ram on board, can be seen to have sluggish when multiple apps are “running”
• Not true multitasking
• Resolution – Can’t wait for the retina display

1. Spirit Jailbreak
2. PC/Mac
3. iPad, iPod, or iPhone
4. iTunes 9.1+

-Simply connect your device to your computer.
-Once iTunes pops up exit it.
-Start the Spirit Jailbreak
-Select Jailbreak, should take under a minute. Your device will restart and you will have cydia installed on your dashboard.

Twitter announced today that it will buy Tweetie.  Tweetie is the very popular iPhone App.  The new application will be renamed to Twitter for iPhone.  Currently Tweetie sells for 2.99 in the app store.  Once Twitter takes over the app will be Free.  Twitter hopes to use this platform to build Twitter for Ipad.

via New York Times

iPad was released on Saturday April 3 2010, and its working its way on making a huge splash in its opening week.  Some 300,000 iPads were sold on Sat. and the total was at 450,000 on Thursday.  Jobs Mentioned that 3.5 million downloads for the iPad apps.  I didn’t buy one just yet because I wanted to wait to see what iPhone OS 4.0 had in store.  I did go check out the iPad at my local Apple Store and I was pretty amazed by its performance.  To many it appears as an useless large iPod Touch but really its not that large. Possible 4 iPod Touches put together.  The iPad has a beautiful display, its fast and smooth, the apps available on it are pretty amazing.  So its all perfect no.  Thing I hate: The Black outline, no direct usb inputs, apps are overpriced.  I spent about 30 minutes messing around with the iPad, and I overheard many customers mentioned the iPad being overpriced, a Large iPod, and apps being overpriced.  The App Store brought success to the iPhone and iPod Touch, but many of the programs on the iPhone are completely free.  iPad was released with only 3500 Apps, which is a lot for opening day, but choices are not as abundant as the iPod.  Will I buy an iPad? Eventually, upset that iPhone OS 4.0 doesn’t hit the iPad till Fall 2010.   Also if you are wondering, many Apple Stores have the iPad in stock.