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Here we have the Motorola Xoom, released a few weeks ago with beta software to steal mindshare from Apple's iPad 2 release. It is a very fast machine, overclockable to 1.5 Ghz. For non-techies, that means fast as hell for a handheld device - the fastest to date.

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Panasonic tablets with wireless media sharing via Panasonic flatscreens. Whoever is impressed by this, or Apple Airplay, or any similar tech should realize that that the vast majority of media sharing services are already available for free on most Windows, Apple, android and iOS UPnP™ and DLNA®-certified devices - which is most of them. Then again, nothing like reinventing the wheel and marketing it as a sportscar, right?. I must admit that Panasonic has extended this a little, though. I wrote in January, If You Need More Proof Of Apple’s Inability To Keep Up With Google’s Android & Over 100 Other Android Hardware Vendors…- explaining that the sheer technological weight and might of all of these companies innovating full steam, and in real time will rapidly overcome Apple. Well, check out the future of the TV remote control.

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And it finally looks like RIM is going to release the Blackberry Playbook. I have lost faith in this company's management in this new touchscreen era. They don't seem to get it, not does their stuff come across as sexy or capable as the new crop of iOS or Honeycomb products, but you never know.

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Samsung has admitted publicly that they will drop the pricing on their 10.1 inch tablet for they don't feel it is competitive enough with the iPad 2. Many took that as meaning the Tab would be inferior to the iPad 2, but after looking at the video below it becomes apparent that Samsung's goal is to absolutely outdo the iPad 2, not simply match it. Inadequate is definititely not an adhective to be used with this device.

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An interesting comparison of a (now, remember admonitions about margin compression) $190 Nook Color (or $290 customized as is) vs the $400 iPad 1. Guess which is faster?

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Keep in mind that most of these competing tablet products haven't been released yet, and they are just the JV team - not the heavy hitters. In a few months you will see even harder hitting tech at a fraction of the current prices, and these prices are actually dropping in real time.

On a side note, the Microsoft Kinnect has sold over 10 million units, making it by far the fastest selling retail consumer electronics device in the history of the industry. It is being hacked to perform all types of functions from replacing a mouse to creating CGI characters, ala Smeigel (from Lord of the Rings) style. Remember, don't count Microsoft out just yet.

More on this topic:

1. The Tablet Pricing Wars Have Commenced, Targeting Apple’s iPad 2 Which Is Not Even For Sale Yet…
2. Steve Jobs Calls End Of the PC, We Call The End Of The Fat Margin Tablet – Including The Pretty iPad, With Proof!
3. The Potential Equity Investments Most Likely To Prosper From the Google/Apple/Microsoft Mobile Computing Battle
4. One Reason Why Software Developers & Tech Firms Should Pay Close Attention To Research Boutiques Such As BoomBustBlog
5. Comscore’s Latest Stats Show Android Wiping The Floor With Its Competition, Besting Apple & Everyone Else By Ever Greater Margins
6. Microsoft Finally Making Smart Moves – Is It Too Little Too Late, Though? Here’s How To Make Money Regardless
7. The Tablet Competition Gets Serious For Business: IBM Lenovo Full-powered Windows Tablet w/Keyboard & 24hr Battery Life
8. The Nokia/Microsoft Alliance & Android’s Commoditization Of The Mobile Computing Platform…
9. Apple Gears Up To Combat The Margin Compression That Apparently Only It, Google & Reggie Middleton Sees Coming
10. The Best CEO Memo That I Have Ever Read…

Monetizing the Mobile Computing Race

We have a pretty firm idea of who is in the pole position as of now, but that position is both risky and volatile, not to mention medium to long term in nature – see Navigating BoomBustBlog Subscription Material To Find The Google Valuation Drilldown.

A more risk averse strategy is to go long on the component vendors who supply those battling for pole position. Last week we released the document Long candidate #1 – Hardware: The Mobile Computing Wars to subscribers that outlined who our number one pick was after an initial scan. This is not necessarily the absolute final say on the matter since we have yet to perform a full forensic analysis, but the company does look good in comparison to over 120 peers. Non-subscribers should reference The Potential Equity Investments Most Likely To Prosper From the Google/Apple/Microsoft Mobile Computing Battle.

I am releasing the draft of the full shortlist of prospective long candidates as of now (17 pages, 5 companies) to subscribers. Please be aware that is a draft document and work in progress, but it is quite informative nonetheless.  See Mobile Computing Vendor Long List Note WIP. Those who wish to subscribe should click here.

Click here to read up on all of Reggie Middleton’s Mobile Computing War opinion, analysis, and research.