Given that there really wasn't much wrong with the TG01, it's no surprise to see that the Toshiba TG02 doesn't mess around with the formula too much. The large 480 x 800 pixel panel remains, but this time it has been upgraded to a capacitive touchscreen. The TG02's operating system is now Windows Mobile 6.5 with Toshiba's own 3D interface on top. There's no indication as to whether or not the TG02 can run Windows Phone 7, but it does have the right sort of specification for Microsoft's new operating system.
Also announced is the Toshiba K01, which is really the TG02 with a slide out QWERTY keyboard. In this case, the K01 comes with a 4.1" OLED touchscreen display (Toshiba's first), and at only 12.9mm thick it will one of the slimmest devices of its type on the market.
The K01 and TG02 show that Toshiba are very committed to the Windows platform, although we can't help but feeling that they might have more market success with these type of handsets if they were running Android.
There's no word on pricing or availability for either of these two devices, although we would guess that they will sell for between €550 to €600 including taxes when they arrive at retailers sometime later this year.
Apple are pricing the iPad in the US at just $499 for the basic 16GB WiFi model, up to $829 for a 64GB iPad with WiFi plus 3G support, with lots of price points in between including a 32GB variant. Apple say that the iPad should be available in 60 days for the WiFi only version (so the very end of March) and 90 days for the 3G + WiFi variant (end of April).
Apple's raison d'être for the iPad is that phones are often just too fiddly for web browsing, watching videos and carrying out everyday tasks like email, but a traditional laptop computer is often overkill. To this end, the iPad is designed to be simpler to use and comes with an interface similar to the iPhone's, including the famous "slide to unlock" gesture that users start with.
From initial indications, it looks like there's a heavy emphasis on games and content from the likes of the New York Times and similar publications, and the iPad can also be used as an e-book reader.. although you probably would be very upset if you left your iPad on the bus or dropped it in the bath. Everything is available for purchase directly through the iPad itself.
There's no built-in keyboard on the iPad, but the large touchscreen leaves plenty of space to have a virtual one on-screen which should satisfy most casual users. Of course, the Apple iPad has WiFi built in, but it also has optional cellular connectivity which should be a lot easier than the traditional messing around with dongles, cards and Bluetooth connections.
