BENNY's RANTS: WePAD on Android : challenging the iPAD

Tuesday, April 13, 2010

WePAD on Android : challenging the iPAD

Neofonie, a German company is introducing the WePad - which is their words a "fast Internet connectivity, a complete world of ready-to-use applications and easy access to books and photos, as well as magazines and newspapers from various publishers via the WeMagazine ePublishing".

Company website : http://wepad.mobi/en

Specs :

Android O/S
Tablet type - fingers gestures
1.66 Ghz Intel Atom N450 processor
11.6" display ( 1366 x 768 )
1.3MP Webcam
2 USB ports
Sim Card slot
Flash card reader
Integrated WWAN modem
GMA3150 graphics
Battery - estimated 6 hours
Built-in speakers
Adobe Flash and Adobe Air support
Bluetooth/WiFi
Access to Google's Android Marketplace and WePad AppStore

WePad is capable of running Google's Android software. That way, any application offered through the Android Market store - currently more than 30,000, both free and paid, according to Google - will also run on the WePad
This is in contrast to Apple who control the types of apps and most recently its new policy to reject apps needing Adobe Flash support which is used for almost 75 percent of all video streaming on the Web, according to Adobe.

For those who love audio and video - need not depend on iTunes to manage your collection unlike the iPAD

Neofonie says. In addition, the company plans to offer other software as well. "We came up with the new concept of a 'meta app store'", says Hoffer von Ankershoffen, "integrating apps from various sources to give users as broad a choice as possible.

The WePad's basic version, which comes with Wi-Fi and 16-gigabyte storage, is set to cost €449 ($600), the larger 32-gigabyte version with a fast 3G modem is €569.

8 May UPDATE : the WePad folks are changing the name of their device WeTab.
Probably to avoid any potential legal problems down the road over the word “Pad.” Note that Apple claims it has a trademark, but others say they don’t.

Comparison with iPAD:

All specs points it to be a much better product with so many additional hardware features builtin and flash support compared to the iPAD. However the smaller disk storage is disappointing but can be overcome as it supports external flash drive. It will be the underdog against the hegemonic Apple iPAD

UPDATE : 26 apr