TOP TECHNOLOGY NEWS

At Apple’s tablet event last week, there was one noticeable absence: games.

Apple frequently uses games to show off the computing power of its mobile devices, but this time, Steve Jobs was driving home the message that the iPad is a tool for creation, not just a fancy plaything.

“This is not a toy,” Jobs said after a demonstration of iMovie for iPad. “You can really edit movies on this thing.”

Later, after a demonstration of GarageBand for iPad, Jobs repeated it: “Again, this is no toy.”

Priced at $5 each, iMovie and GarageBand were the only apps demo’d last Wednesday on the iPad 2.

For downloading data, the Verizon iPhone is slower than the AT&T iPhone, and it’s also slower than most other Verizon smartphones, according to a study published Monday.

Mobile analysis firm Metrico performed a comprehensive study on several AT&T and Verizon handsets, including the iPhone on both networks. The data suggests the differences between AT&T and Verizon are greater than we initially thought.

The debut of the iPhone on Verizon sheds light on more subtle differences between the Verizon and AT&T networks.

Gadget Lab Notes is an eclectic roundup of gadget news briefs and intriguing products that catch our eye.

Olympus TOUGH TG-810 Claims to be the First 100kg Crushproof Camera
Accidentally step on the Olympus TOUGH TG-810? Not a problem, as long as you weigh less than 100kg (about 220lbs). The 14 MP TG-810 is shockproof, waterproof up to 10m, and freezeproof up to -10 C. It features a 3-D shooting mode, 720p HD recording, underwater scene modes, and a variety of other modes and filters to enhance stills and video.

Thermaltake Level 10 Super Gaming Modular Case, an Epic Home For Your Gaming Rig
For $280, you can get the Thermaltake Level 10 Super Gaming Modular Case, whose design was inspired by the work of BMW Group Designworks.

Have you given up on the ridiculous saga of the white iPhone 4? It’s probably safe to say we’ll never see Apple’s embarrassing white elephant, but fear not: We have a new white iDevice rumor to replace it. Behold: the white iPad.

The rumor comes courtesy of iFixYouri, last seen leaking photos of the entire iPad 2 screen. Now the gadget-repair company has gotten hold of this white iPad 2 screen digitizer.

It looks like it could be the real thing.

The fumbled introduction of in-app subscriptions shows that when it comes to charging for subscription services online, Apple is just as confused as everyone else.

The widely anticipated policy allows publishers, including Wired, to charge subscription fees for recurring content. But while this is in principle a feature that both publishers and readers actually want, the announcement has been met with derision and complaints about the extortionate rates Apple is charging.

Remember the Peel? It’s a case for the iPod Touch which adds a vibrator, mic, speaker and cell-radio, turning the iPod into a phone. No? Don’t worry. You may have blanked it from your memory, your eyes and brain scarred by its utilitarian ugliness. The Peel looked like it was carved an old truck tire by a Linux UI designer with the tremors.

BARCELONA — The expected deluge of tablets has started with Samsung’s Galaxy Tab 10.1, a big-screen version of the seven-inch Galaxy Tab which has sold about two million units. The Tab 10.1 — named somewhat awkwardly for its screen size — is the first hot ticket at the Mobile World Congress 2011 in Barcelona, and we went hands-on.

The most important part of this tablet is the operating system. It’s running Android 3.0 Honeycomb, the first version of Android designed for tablets.

Future Verizon phones might rely on a web connection to place calls.

Verizon wireless is preparing a new calling service that uses the new 4G data network to initiate voice and video calls. Unlike traditional VoIP web phone services, Verizon’s internet calling feature would be tied to a person’s phone number rather than a username or e-mail address on a service such as Skype, CNN’s Mark Milian reports.

Early in the morning of February 3rd, 2010, the Verizon version of the iPhone went on sale. The handset was available for pre-order to existing Verizon customers only. Hours later, Verizon had sold them all. If you go to the Verizon store page, you are met with the message above: “We are no longer taking pre-sale orders.”

In fact, this has been Verizon’s best handset launch in history. “In just our first two hours, we had already sold more phones than any first day launch in our history,” said Verizon CEO Dan Mead in a press release.

AT&T is dying for you to try out its newly branded 4G network,  and you’ll finally be able to with a new phone.

AT&T announced its HTC Inspire 4G on Tuesday, the first smartphone able to access the company’s HSPA+ 4G network. The phone will be available beginning Feb. 13, retailing for $100 with a two-year contract.

The phone comes with the list of standard features we’ve been seeing in 2011 smartphone debuts: a 1-GHz Snapdragon processor, 4GB of internal storage and microSD card storage expandable up to 32GB.

It’s also got the obligatory back facing 8-megapixel camera for glamor shots, front facing camera for video chat and general vanity purposes, and a fat 4.3-inch super AMOLED screen to admire all of those photos you’ve taken. (Welcome, everyone, to the age of Narcissus.)

The Inspire also has mobile hotspot capability, the first AT&T smartphone to include it.