Techrcrunch:The bizarre WePad launch 13. April 2010
Posted by Gerhard W. Loub in devices, WePad.add a comment
The only demo device in the room was running Windows 7 and a fullscreen video to give an impression of the WePad UI – although the journalists were told, the WePad OS was Linux.
viaThe bizarre WePad launch – A chaotic press demo, only video of the UI.
WePad as iPad 2.0? 13. April 2010
Posted by Gerhard W. Loub in devices, iPad, WePad.1 comment so far
iPad starts the tablet computer revolution, will be the priming of a real media revolution, merging multimedia, newspapers, radio, television and web in one single device. It will be the end of editorial deadlines and another base for the 24/7 society. But in technical respect the iPad is just 1.0 scrap: No webcam, no real interaction, no multitasking and of course brutal censorship by Steve Jobs instead of open-minded base for a Web 2.0 society, citizen journalists and a democratic society.
In Germany the so called “WePad” was presented: Based on linux it allows different apps, multitasking, open for many platforms and own software – chosen by the user, not by the manufacturer. Maybe a sort of iPad 2.0? We´ll see…
The WePad gets a price and launch date update: Now with a demo of the interface!.
WePad: Newspaper of Tomorrow? 30. March 2010
Posted by Gerhard W. Loub in devices, iPad, Media, Video, WePad.add a comment
Apple, Microsoft, Google and other ones: Only a small number of companies are – relatively succesfully – trying to monopolize the web. While it was possible for everyone to provide software for Microsoft´s Windows e.g. Apple decides, which applications are allowed to be used on an iPhone or in the near future on the iPad. A situation, which could become quite dangerous for diversity of opinion as the editorial of the german magazine “Stern” had to discover, when they were removed from the App Store without any warning – due to photo galleries allegedly featuring too much nakedness.
So the german media landscape is looking forward to Apple´s iPad not as chance, but more as danger for their diversity. And as a reaction the so called “WePad” should be a sort of “Anti-iPad”: As TechCrunch editorial writes:
The Neofonie WePad has similar form and function as the wet dreams of our Crunchgear editors, but facts are that the German Android device has a bigger multitouch screen and a faster CPU than the iPad. Also it runs Flash, has USB ports, an inbuilt card reader and expandable memory. Additionally it allows complete multitasking and has a webcam. Beat that baby.
Europe´s biggest publisher Gruner&Jahr will publish his products on the WePad – not only not to loose control over their own content and not become the next victim of Apple´s censorship but also to avoid the “absurd side effect of Apples prize policy”. For example the german magazine “Der Spiegel” is available for €3.80 in the print version – but should be sold for €3.99 for the iPhone version.
The future of newspapers and magazines soon will be found on slate pcs and epaper. You will be buying Your iPad, WePad or whatever similar epaper-provider together with the contract with Your mobile network operator and Your newspaper-, magazine- and videochannel-subscriptions as an all-in-one package. Maybe You´ll only read some articles from traditional mass media – and be informed about other interesting news by relevant bloggers. But You´ll find Your newspaper, Your magazine, Your TV-Channel and Your radio in one device. And companies, who cannot be found on this device, will not be part of our future media landscape.
Further information: TechCrunch: Europe’s biggest publisher embraces the WePad.
