1. No Home Button

First noticed by reader BenAmirault, the lack of home button on the iPad shown in the invitation has been the primary focus of attention. While many leapt to the conclusion that Apple may be getting rid of the home button (Steve Jobs famously didn’t like buttons at all), others quickly pointed out that the iPad could just be in in landscape mode. However, some other clues may prove it’s not that simple…

Click here to view this gallery.

In case you’ve been living in the analog world for the past few days, Apple sent out invitations Tuesday to an event to be held next week. And the Internet exploded, right on schedule.

Apple, true to form, has not said anything about what products or services it’ll unveil next week, or if it’ll unveil anything at all. Nonetheless, based on past history, a nonstop cavalcade of rumors, and third-party sources, Apple is all but guaranteed launch the next iPad, aka the iPad 3, at its March 7 event.

That much was effectively confirmed by Apple’s invitation, which shows a picture of a finger reaching out and touching what can only be an iPad screen, along with the words, “We have something you really have to see. And touch.”

That’s all we have to go on, at least officially. That’s when we turned to you, faithful Mashable readers, to see if there were any clues in the invitation that might not be obvious. It wasn’t much to work with, but that one image and those 10 words prompted a frenzy of digital forensic examination the likes of which could only be matched by an entire season of CSI.

SEE ALSO: Forget the iPad 3 — I’d Still Buy an iPad 2

From the wording to the visible apps to the pattern of droplets on the screen, readers extracted clue after clue as to exactly what the iPad 3 might be. Keep in mind that all of this is highly speculative, that Apple could have easily Photoshopped the image extensively, and the company is notorious for its misdirection over rumors.

Still, the invite is real, and it really came from Apple. Here’s what our readers were able to extract. Feel free to share any more theories in the comments.

More About: apple, ipad, ipad 3, itv, tablets, trending

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Samsung’s redesigned 10.1-inch Galaxy Tab is thinner and lighter than an iPad 2. But can it compete against the Apple juggernaut?

The numbers are all there for the specmeisters, with this reworked Galaxy Tab rocking a slightly larger touchscreen over the iPad 2, higher resolution, a 1GHz dual core processor and lighter 595g weight compared to the 601g of the iPad 2 Wi-Fi. But the most important number of all is its price. Unlike Samsung’s overpriced predecessor, the 16GB Wi-Fi Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1 will cost exactly the same as the iPad 2 Wi-Fi 16GB: $499. Bam!

The first Galaxy Tab didn’t fare too well. In fact, the day of the iPad 2′s rollout, even Samsung’s Executive VP of its mobile division Lee Don-Joo admitted its shortcomings: “We will have to improve the parts that are inadequate… Apple made [the iPad 2] very thin… The 10-inch (tablet) was to be priced higher than the 7-inch (tablet) but we will have to think that over,” he said.

We didn’t care much for the first Samsung Galaxy Tab, either. When we got our hands on it earlier this year in Barcelona, it was flimsy, felt cheap, and we thought its much-ballyhooed Android 3.0 (Honeycomb) interface was confusing and buggy. And, the device got uncomfortably hot in one corner.

While this thinner, redesigned model reportedly felt much better in all respects, it’s still missing one key number, and that is the hoard of software Apple offers for the iPad 2, more than 60,000 apps specifically created for the platform. But that impressive number also includes the fart apps, too. Even so, Apple has a huge head start.

Meanwhile, Samsung introduced another contender it calls the Galaxy Tab 8.9, a little more than an inch smaller than its big brother. It includes the same 1GHz dual-core processor, and looks just about the same as the 10.1-inch model, as you’ll see in the gallery below.

Both of Samsung’s new tabs beat the iPad 2 easily in the camera spec department, with a 3-megapixel rear camera and a 2-megapixel up front, both shooting 1080p video. In what could be the clincher for many users, the Samsung tablets boast another capability lacking in the iPad 2: Adobe Flash playback.

Want to try one? You’ll have to wait until June 8 for the Galaxy Tab 10.1 Wi-Fi, priced at $499 for the 16GB version and $599 for 32 gigs. Samsung was not as specific with the release date for the Galaxy Tab 8.9 Wi-Fi, which it said would be available in “early summer” at $469 for 16GB and $569 for 32 gigs.

So is the Galaxy Tab 10.1 an iPad 2 killer? I don’t think so, but it’s a lot closer to being competitive than Samsung’s first attempt. Tell us in the comments if you agree.

Here’s a gallery featuring both new Samsung Galaxy Tabs:

Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1, 2-shot

Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1 — Front

Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1 — 3/4 angle

Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1 — Back

Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1 — Side View

Samsung Galaxy Tab 8.9 — Front

Samsung Galaxy Tab 8.9 — Back

Samsung Galaxy Tab 8.9 — Side View

Samsung Galaxy Tab 8.9 — Two-shot

More About: 8.9, iPad 2 Killer, Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1, tablet pcs

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AT&T announced new data plans for mobile internet and smartphone tethering. While the company claims the new plans will make “mobile internet more affordable to more people,” there’s also a glaring downside to the new pricing: no unlimited data plan for iPad customers.

AT&T now offers two mobile data plans: DataPlus, which provides 200 MB of data for $15 per month (additional 200 MB chunks of data also cost $15), and DataPro, which provides 2 GB of data for $25 per month, with every additional GB costing $10. Furthermore, smartphone customers can enable tethering for an additional $20 per month, but only if they use the DataPro plan.

Existing iPad customers, who already have the $29.99 unlimited monthly plan can choose to keep it, or switch to the DataPro plan.

New pricing is good news for smartphone customers, who won’t go bankrupt if they exceed their monthly data limit. But from the iPad user’s perspective, AT&T’s new pricing is a big letdown compared to the previous, unlimited data plan. Even the most active iPhone users won’t burn through more than a couple of gigabytes every month, but iPad is a far more demanding device traffic-wise, and activities such as Netflix streaming will quickly exceed the limit in AT&T’s DataPro plan. 2 gigabytes per month is just not enough data for a device such as the iPad, and we sense that many users will feel let down by AT&T’s new data plans.

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Tags: apple, att, ipad

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Though the Apple iPad has been out for a little over a month now, it is still nearly impossible for customers to find stores that have them in stock. Carnegie Digital Computers knows exactly why these devices are selling so well. Besides the iPad’s sleek design and visual appeal, Carnegie Digital Computers explains why certain features are drawing customers in.

The iPad offers a lot of choice as far as meeting consumer needs, says Carnegie Digital Computers. The tablet computer is available in both a Wi-Fi only version, as well as a Wi-Fi plus 3G compatible version. The 3G compatible version, explains Carnegie Digital Computers, would allow users to access the web anywhere—even where wireless Internet access is not available. Carnegie Digital Computers continues that the iPad is also available with 16, 32, or 64 GB memory. This lets customers pick the iPad that is perfect for them without paying for unnecessary extras.

Another favorite feature of the new iPad is the web and e-mail experience it offers, says Carnegie Digital Computers. For example, when viewing a webpage, users can view it in both landscape and portrait. Carnegie Digital Computers explains that customers love that when they rotate the iPad, the page automatically rotates too and expands to fill the screen. Also, the multi-touch features of the screen are astounding, says Carnegie Digital Computers. Users are able to double tap the screen to enlarge particular portions of websites. Carnegie Digital Computers says that new iPad owners constantly comment on its ease of use and intuitiveness.

The iPad also changes the way users can view photos and video. Carnegie Digital Computers explains that the iPad display is brilliant and vibrant, while high-definition videos show up bolder than ever. According to Carnegie Digital Computers, YouTube is already a working component of the iPad. The iPad also supports iPod and iBook functions. Come in to Carnegie Digital Computers and try out the new iPad—once you experience it, you will definitely want one.

Facing increasing pressure from Apple’s red-hot iPad, Amazon intends to fight back with a thinner, sharper and more responsive Kindle that will be introduced later this year.

According to Bloomberg, Amazon will introduce a new version of its popular e-reader in August. It will boast a thinner build, sharper contrast, and faster page-turning. However, it will not be a touchscreen device, nor will it boast color.

Apple is gunning directly for Amazon’s e-book business with its iBooks store, which publishers have embraced as an alternative to Amazon’s long-standing dominance in the e-book space.

The iPad’s multitude of uses and starting price point of $499 are a threat to the Kindle, although the iPad’s LED screen isn’t as well suited as the Kindle for extended reading. The Kindle utilizes black-and-white e-ink technology to make reading on the device less strenuous on the eyes.

While the upgrade should help Kindle stay relevant, we’re likely to see color and a touchscreen on Amazon’s e-reader device at some point. In February, the company acquired Touchco, a startup specializing in color touchscreen technology. It’s going to be some time though until Amazon is satisfied with a touchscreen interface that is also easy on the eyes.

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Tags: amazon, apple, ipad, Kindle

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The iPad has finally made its international debut, meaning that thousands and thousands of new users will be enjoying Apple’s latest device over the coming weeks.

With the launch of the iPad comes the international launch of the iPad App Store, making it possible for us to play Words With Friends with our friends in Australia. There are already thousands of apps available in the App Store, and with the exception of apps focused on media services like Netflix, ABC or Pandora, most are also available internationally.

We’ve been fortunate enough to have the iPad in our screen-smudging paws for the past two months and in that time we’ve surveyed well over 100 apps and games for the new platform. While this list could easily be four or five times as long as it is, we wracked our brains and decided to pick ten of our favorite iPad apps for the new iPad owner.

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1. Air Video

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The iPad is a great media player. The size of the screen coupled with the quality of the display really makes it a great way to catch up on lots of content. Although you can use iTunes to transfer movie and music files to your iPad, converting and transferring can be a complicated and tedious process. This is why Air Video is so great — it makes it extremely simple to stream video from your Mac or PC to your iPad.

Just install the free Air Video server client on your PC, tell it what folders to watch or include and then fire up the app. Now select your computer and feel free to go through your lists of available content and watch it in great quality on the iPad! Air Video does a really terrific job of “live conversion,” meaning your video is converted as it plays, which saves time and makes it really easy to enjoy your video collection on the couch.

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2. Real Racing HD

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Real Racing for the iPhone was a great racing game. Real Racing HD is even better. The use of the accelerometer for turning and maneuvering might make you look a little weird to your friends, but the graphics, sound, controls and gameplay are all top-notch.

Seriously, this is a great racing game and its a great game to really show off the power of the iPad!

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3. GoodReader for iPad

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We’ve written about our affinity for GoodReader both on the iPhone and the iPad in the past, but it bears a repeated mention. Simply put, GoodReader is one of the best document readers/file managers out there. Period. You can connect to Dropbox, Box.net, Google Docs, FTP servers, and local computers, and download files directly off the web.

More than just a PDF viewer (though it is a great PDF viewer), the app can read a variety of different file types and can even let you open documents inside other apps to make editing a breeze.

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4. Mondo Solitaire

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Mondo Solitaire was one of the apps we highlighted in our early roundup of iPad video previews. In practice, the app is extremely addictive and extremely entertaining.

Mondo Solitaire comes in two varieties, a pack of the most popular games or the whole shebang. If you like card games, we recommend getting the full package and then having a blast playing through tons of variations of Solitaire and Freecell.

I have personally spent many hours playing Mondo Solitaire that otherwise could have been spent sleeping or being productive.

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5. Wired Magazine

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Released earlier this week, Wired for the iPad has already sold over 24,000 copies. For good reason too: Wired for the iPad is a great example of what publishers and content creators can do when they really fire on all cylinders.

While we aren’t sure if we would buy Wired every month without some sort of better subscription plan, the first issue, which includes a look at the making of Toy Story 3, is really worth checking out.

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6. Kindle for iPad

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Apple’s iBooks application is fantastic, but when it comes to content selection, Amazon still has the lead. Kindle for the iPad is a really good e-reader app, and makes it easy to browse through books. It seamlessly launches the web-based book store to make purchasing a snap.

We think Apple has the edge in overall presentation, but you can’t beat Kindle in price or selection. Also, while not as utterly beautiful as iBooks, Kindle for the iPad is still great to look at.

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7. Epicurious

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Even if you’re like me and cooking consists of re-heating take-out and making reservations, there is something to love about the Epicurious app. There are so many recipes and ideas, not to mention gorgeous pictures, that this is a great app to have on hand before hitting the market or just to gaze at while waiting for the pizza delivery guy.

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8. Dropbox

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If you are a Dropbox user, you owe it to yourself to get the Drobox app for the iPad. It brings all of what makes the iPhone app great and makes it even better. You can save content directly to your device, you can upload content off your device and you can view and playback media content all in the app.

Dropbox is a great way to stay connected to the documents on your computer no matter where you are.

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9. The Guardian Eyewitness

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UK publication The Guardian released a really terrific iPad app that features its stunning photography. Visually, this app is one of our favorites. The form factor of the iPad makes it perfect for really enjoying and studying the art that accompanies news stories.

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10. NewsRack

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NewsRack is our current pick as the best newsreader available for the iPad. It syncs with Google Reader seamlessly, so if you add a feed, it is added to Google Reader — if you remove it, it’s removed there too. However, you can selectively sync only certain feeds or categories, which can make news reading on the iPad more manageable.

The iPad is a terrific way to browse the web, and that includes RSS feeds. NewsRack is a top-notch app that also works on the iPhone, if you want to keep everything in sync across devices.

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Your Picks

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You’ve seen our list of ten must-have apps, now tell us your picks! What apps do you love the most on your iPad, let us know!

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More iPad resources from Mashable:

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- 10 Awesome Apple iPad Cases
- 10 Great Sites for Watching Video on Your iPad
- iPad Accessories: A Quick Guide to Apple’s Official Add-Ons
- 10 Insanely Great iPad Apps We Can’t Wait to Use

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Reviews: App Store, Australia, Dropbox, Facebook, Google Docs, Google Reader, Pandora, Twitter

Tags: apple, apps, ipad, ipad apps, Mobile 2.0, tech

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