Apple will launch its iPad on April 3 and you can pre-order it via Apple’s online store on March 12. No doubt many will plunge into their pocket in a bid to show off their latest and coolest gadget, the first iPad is still ‘work in progress’ to us judging from pre-release info and rumors. Here are the 5 ‘missing pieces’:

1. No video camera. Video camera is suspiciously missing for iPad’s form factor and intended audience. There are however reports that ‘there really are slot hidden beneath’ the iPad that is the size of an iSight video camera component. We are hopeful that iPad 2G in 2011 will have iSight video camera.

2. Missing standard apps. From Apple’ press release, iPad will comes with 12 apps Mail, Safari, iPod, App Store, Videos, Maps, Photos, iTunes, YouTube, Contacts, Calendar and Notes. The five missing ones that are standard in iPhone 3G and iPhone 3GS are Calculator, Stocks, Clock, Weather and Voice Memos. Many have speculated that these apps did not make the cut and were axed last minute internally at Apple. We expect these apps to appear in later firmware upgrade.

3. iPad WiFi+3G version will not be available worldwide. iPad is available in WiFi or WiFi+3G version. WiFi version will be released worldwide later this year but not the WiFi+3G version.

4. Is there a compass? Digital compass is standard in iPhone 3GS but there is no mention of it in Apple’s press release and there is no Compass app in sight. It looks like digital compass might not in iPad’s roadmap at all.

5. Will there be Push Notification? It is not clear if iPad will support Push Notification, which is widely used by many iPhone apps. Apple’s Push Notification service is never as reliable if your device depends only on WiFi to be online, such as on an iPod touch. It is much better when you are always connected using iPhone and your carrier’s 3G service. We suspect Push will be supported in iPad, and Apple never made a headline out of this feature due to the ‘reliability factor’ on iPad Wifi only version.

Wi-Fi Alliance has announced the near completion of Wi-Fi Direct, a new specification that allows devices to connect to each other without joining a Wi-Fi network.

“Wi-Fi Direct represents a leap forward for our industry. Wi-Fi users worldwide will benefit from a single-technology solution to transfer content and share applications quickly and easily among devices, even when a Wi-Fi access point isn’t available,” said Wi-Fi Alliance executive director Edgar Figueroa. “The impact is that Wi-Fi will become even more pervasive and useful for consumers and across the enterprise.”

Wi-Fi Alliance expects to begin certify devices with Wi-Fi Direct specification in mid-2010. Compete directly with Bluetooth for peer-to-peer networking, Wi-Fi Direct is expected to be 30 times faster than Bluetooth (with 802.11n) and has a wider coverage of up to 300 feet radius. Wi-Fi Direct can be implemented as a software upgrade for existing Wi-Fi devices. And Wi-Fi Direct device is able to create connection to hundreds of millions of legacy Wi-Fi devices currently in use.

Apple is a sponsor corporation for the Wi-Fi Alliance, so it is likely that Apple will adopt Wi-Fi Direct on Macs, iPhones, iPod and future Apple equipments.

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Canon has released Canon Easy-PhotoPrint for iPhone (Canon iEPP), a free app that allows you to print photos from your iPhone or iPod touch to Canon PIXMA printer via local Wi-Fi network.

Canon iEPP works with Canon PIXMA printers with wireless features such as PIXMA MP560, MP640 and MP990 models. The app will automatically detect compatible printers on your Wi-Fi network. You can select paper size and paper type supported by the printer, and select to print multiple photos from your iPhone or iPod touch. Other print option you can select include borderless printing.

Canon iEPP iTunes Link

Apple has released iPhone OS 3.1.2 update which fixes a number of issues reported by users including not able to wake up from sleep and battery life hit.

If you do not have enough money for an iPhone/iPod case, consider Case-Mate iPhone 3G/3GS Recession Case at $0.99 each. It is a legit cardboard case. You can even buy the “BAILOUT BUNDLE” with 10 cases for $7.99.

The case is not waterproof, flammable if you light on it, and comes with animation instruction on how to assemble it. You can order the “Sharpie Script” customization at the back of your case when you order. In case you are wondering, shipping is free.

Via Geekologie

Bowers & Wilkins (B&W), the high-end audio speaker system manufacturer, is launching a smaller version of its popular awards-winning Zeppelin iPod based audio systems. Called Zeppelin Mini, the new audio system has a new docking arm which can rotate your iPod/iPhone for landslide display. USB connectivity adds the ability to sync your iPod/iPhone and stream music from PC or Mac. Price is $399.

Visit B&W Zeppelin Mini Website.

Via TechDigest

Apple updates its key iPhone OS, iTunes and iPod products during its Sep 9 “annual iPod event”. Here is a quick summary:

iPhone OS

• Version 3.1 is out today free for iPhone and iPod touch with OS 3.0.

• App Store app will include a new Genius feature that will recommend apps based on your past purchase.

• Over 30,000 ringtones from 4 major music labels now available for $1.29 each.

iTunes 9

• iTunes 9 is released today and has a “beautiful new look” that makes exploring the vast music, movies, TV shows, apps, games easier.

• New Genius Mixes feature that plays endless mixes of songs from your iTunes library that are great together.

• New options to select what you want to sync for your music, based on playlists, genres, artists etc.

• App Management - arrange your iPhone home screens and move apps around using iTunes.

• Home sharing: allow you to copy your music, TV shows etc for up to 5 computers in your home.

• iTunes LP - digitizes the era before CD with lyrics, liner notes, essays, photos and video together with music album.

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A number of evidences point to the likelihood that Apple will announce The Beatles catalogue on iTunes during its annual iPod event on Sep 9:

• the Apple event is titled “It’s only rock and roll, but we like it”
• The Beatles is releasing its entire catalogue remastered on Sep 9
• The new game The Beatles:Rock Band will release on Sep 9
• and Yoko Ono told Sky News that Apple will announce The Beatles in the iTunes Music Store in the Sep 9 event. But the news was shortly removed by Sky News.

But shortly after the Sky News leak, EMI’s global catalog president Ernesto Schmitt is on record claiming that the Fab Four’s catalogue will not be available on iTunes on Sep 9, although the company is in talks with Apple to make it happen.

Apple has sent out invitation to its annual iPod event which is on next Wednesday Sep 9 at the Yerba Buena Center for the Arts Theater in San Francisco.

The invite features Apple’s standard iPod silhouette graphic with the text “It’s only rock and roll, but we like it”. We are certain to see new generations of iPod players, the following are some rumors for this annual event:

• New iPod touch featuring camera. Some site even speculate the iPod classic to get a camera too.

• The Beatles catalog on iTunes. It is probable as The Beatles is set to re-releasing its entire catalog and the game The Beatles:Rock Band next week.

• Possible introduction of iTunes 9 with social networking features.

It is unlikely that Apple will reveal its rumored tablet device at an iPod event. We expect Apple to hold a special event to unveil a new product range.

Facebook has submitted the latest major revision of its iPhone app to iTunes App Store for review and approval. There are lots of improvement and new features in version 3, check out the video:

Follow Facebook engineer @joehewitt where he twits about the development of the Facebook iPhone app.