Tablet wars and a Glee-gasm on the horizon

Apple has confirmed a product launch event for Jan. 27, and the consensus is that they will be unveiling a tablet device based somewhat on the wildly successful iPhone.  Speculation on the device has run rampant, from the name (iSlate? iTablet? iPad?) to hundreds of artist renderings of what the device may look like, but many analysts expect the following features:

• It will be dominated by a single, 10-11 inch OLED or LED touch screen, meaning it will look and function like a large iPhone;
• Support for magazine and newspaper publishers as well as a book service similar to the Kindle and Amazon, using the popular App Store for the iPhone as a model;
• It will run on a modified version of the iPhone software, suggesting that it will be able to use all apps currently listed in the App Store;
• There are rumors there will be two versions of the device, one with a webcam similar to the MacBook iSight, and one for educational use;
• The price will be somewhere between $700 to $1000.

So fans should expect a big iPhone — and an expensive one at that. As a Mac-lover, I find this information a bit disappointing.  I love my MacBook Pro and my iPhone, but the idea of lugging around what equates to an iPhone with a larger screen just doesn’t grab my attention. Especially when Microsoft is possibly pimping the Courier:

Compared to such a device, an oversized iPhone seems a bit lacking. And the fact that innovative tablets like the Lenovo IdeaPad U1 Hybrid debuted at the Consumer Electronics Show this year, I am left with the sinking feeling that Apple may be a little behind the game on this device. I hope I am proven wrong.

Speaking of the iPhone, if you have one in D.C., you are have probably watched the network get worse and worse over the past year. And if you’re anything like me, you’re reaching the point where you need to decide what is more important: having your iPhone, or having the ability to actually make phone calls.

Fear not. It looks like AT&T could be loosing their exclusive contract  for the iPhone as early as Wednesday.

NPH + Joss Whedon + Glee = I can die happy

According to ew.com’s Michael Ausiello, this next season of Glee is going to be gay-tastic:

Remember that giant scoop I told you (via Twitter) I had gotten at the Golden Globes? This is it: Neil Patrick Harris is nearing a deal to appear in the May sweeps Glee episode that’s being helmed by his Dr. Horrible’s Sing-Along Blog director, Joss Whedon.

In retrospect, maybe I should’ve called this particular scoop “ginormous.” I think it’s warranted, don’t you?

Anyway, Harris wants to do it, and Glee creator Ryan Murphy sure as hell wants him to — he’s creating a role especially for the How I Met Your Mother scene-stealer. And yes, the part includes a little song-’n’-dance.

The geek parts of my brain are all aquiver with excitement at this news. And if you haven’t watched “Dr. Horrible’s Sing-Along Blog” yet, you really should: