Tablet Computer

It's the big day, fanboys and girls (as if you need to be reminded). If you'll just keep your shirts on a few hours longer, all will be revealed. Apple's iTablet -- or possibly the iSlate or iPad or whatever it's going to be called -- will be officially introduced Wednesday at 1 p.m. Eastern time. The anticipation about Apple's Next Big Thing has been excruciating, the hype never-ending. That Apple will introduce a tablet computer with spiffy new features (does windows, folds laundry)

Tablet adoption is on the rise — nearly doubling in the past year alone. That's put tablets in the hands of just over one in three Americans, according to a study from the Pew Internet and American Life Project . Last year, about 18 percent of American adults ages 18 and older owned a tablet. And just three years ago, the study noted, only 3 percent of Americans had opted for a tablet, which most used as an intermediate device between their smartphones and their computers. The center, which...

R oger Fidler , in jeans and a black turtleneck, is watching Steve Jobs , in jeans and a black turtleneck, introduce the iPad. Fidler is sitting in his stark white office — the late Apple co-founder adored white's simplicity — and Jobs is strolling on stage in a 2010 video playing on Fidler's MacBook. "There's laptops and smartphones now," Jobs says. "But a question has arisen lately: Is there room for a third category of device in the world, something that's between a laptop and a smartphone?"

The speed with which the world embraces new technologies never ceases to astound me. Seemingly overnight, the PC appears passé. A tech forecasting outfit called International Data Corp. last week predicted that tablet sales will exceed annual laptop and desktop shipments by 2015. It seems like just yesterday we were lusting over netbooks! I still prefer my PC and its big screen for many things, but the versatility of a tablet is undeniable. It holds my book collection.

Tablet adoption is on the rise — nearly doubling in the past year alone. That's put tablets in the hands of just over one in three Americans, according to a study from the Pew Internet and American Life Project . Last year, about 18 percent of American adults ages 18 and older owned a tablet. And just three years ago, the study noted, only 3 percent of Americans had opted for a tablet, which most used as an intermediate device between their smartphones and their computers. The center, which...

We're here in San Francisco for Apple 's event today where they're expected to unveil their new tablet computer which may or may not be known as the iPad, iSlate, iBook, iTablet, the Apple Tablet or some other variation. The event starts at 10 AM PT. Be sure to check back in. For now, follow the CrunchGear guys do a little pre-show commentary starting at 9:30 AM PT.

The title of the latest lowbrow yukfest to try and sneak into theaters without being noticed by critics appears, on posters, as "InAPPropriate Comedy," a reference to the fact that its grab bag of short sketches pop up as if they were being haphazardly generated by a tablet computer app. That much, at least, is truth in advertising. The 20 or so skits — featuring headliners Rob Schneider, Adrien Brody, Michelle Rodriguez and Lindsay Lohan, along with a supporting cast of nobodies — are like that freebie quote-a-day-app...

There's a lot of news happening in the world that we could tell you about in this space: ●President Barack Obama gave a speech to schoolchildren saying the country's future is in their hands. ●NASA announced that the schoolbus-size satellite we told you about last week has landed harmlessly in the Pacific Ocean. ●Amazon.com announced its new tablet computer that is meant to compete with the iPad. We could tell you more about those stories, but instead we're showing you a picture of a...

We just received an anonymous tip containing some supposed pictures of the interface for Apple 's forthcoming tablet computer . Are they real? Who knows. There are some peculiarities, like the keyboard jumping all over the place on the screen. And the menu system looks a little un-Apple for what is clearly a movie trailer section. Also, why is the play/pause area so transparent? I think I prefer this video still. But again, who knows. Says our tipster, "this is very early stuff, and it is all about...

Apple has agreed to pay $60 million to electronics company Proview in order to continue using the iPad name for its popular tablet computer in China. The Associated Press reported that the Guangdong High People's Court said the case had been settled and that Apple had transferred the money into the court's account. Proview, a struggling Chinese electronics company that held the "IPAD" trademark for a desktop computer, said that Apple had misrepresented itself when it originally sought to buy the name before the iPad...

Fairfax County These were among incidents reported by the Fairfax County Police Department. For information, call 703-246-2253. FAIR OAKS DISTRICT THEFTS/BREAK-INS Bickley Ct., 9900 block. A cellphone was stolen from a residence. Calkins Rd., 2700 block. Watches and medication were stolen from a residence. Centreville Rd., 3900 block. Credit cards were stolen from a business. Fair Lakes Shopping Center, 13000 block. A DVD player was stolen from a business.

The title of the latest lowbrow yukfest to try and sneak into theaters without being noticed by critics appears, on posters, as "InAPPropriate Comedy," a reference to the fact that its grab bag of short sketches pop up as if they were being haphazardly generated by a tablet computer app. That much, at least, is truth in advertising. The 20 or so skits — featuring headliners Rob Schneider, Adrien Brody, Michelle Rodriguez and Lindsay Lohan, along with a supporting cast of nobodies — are like that freebie quote-a-day-app you...

Prince William These were among incidents reported by Prince William County police. For information, call 703-792-7245. DUMFRIES AREA ROBBERIES Graham Park Rd., 4000 block, 11:20 p.m. Feb. 18. Three males, one with a knife, demanded cash from a man making a deposit at a bank, then drove away in the victim's vehicle. The vehicle was abandoned. A 15-year-old from Dumfries and a 16-year-old from Woodbridge were arrested. An investigation was ongoing. Jefferson Davis Hwy., 17500 block, 11:01 p.m....

Anne Arundel These were among incidents reported by police in Anne Arundel County. For information, call 410-222-8050. GLEN BURNIE AREA ROBBERIES Aquahart Rd., 200 block, 11:06 a.m. Jan. 22. Two males robbed a gas station of cash at gunpoint, then fled on foot. ODENTON AREA ASSAULTS Annapolis Rd., 1600 block, 1:25 a.m. Jan. 19. During an argument in a bar, a man fired a gun at a bouncer, striking him several times in the lower body.

Apple is doing a fine job keeping shush about the tablet computer it has been working on for several years and which is due to be announced later this month in California. But just in case anyone was still in doubt about its imminent launch, France Télécom/Orange executive Stéphane Richard this morning confirmed on air that the device is to debut in the 'next couple of days'. Richard, number two at the telecommunication services giant, told French journalist Jean-Pierre Elkabbach that...

The new iPad doesn't hit shelves until March 16 but Apple says it's already seeing high demand for its tablet computer. Hayley Tsukayama reports : Pent-up demand for the next iPad has sent customers clicking the "pre-order" button on Apple's Web site in droves. In a  statement to USA Today, Apple said that customer response to the new tablet has been "off the charts" and confirmed that the pre-order devices have sold out. As of this weekend, buyers will have to wait two or three weeks to get...