SAN FRANCISCO - The Apple iPad has been available for pre-order for more than 24 hours now. Initial demand seems promising, although not everyone has embraced the concept of dedicating $500 or more to be an early adopter of a device that nobody really has all the details on just yet.

Not to sound like a broken record, but the iPad is a consumer device. Actually, as far as I am concerned anything with an Apple logo is–by default–intended primarily for a consumer audience. Despite the passionate zeal of the Apple faithful, you won’t see any Fortune 500 companies lining up to dump Windows-based PC’s for Macs, or BlackBerry smartphones for iPhones any time soon.

That said, the iPad–and other Apple devices–can be more than functional business tools as well. Most business professionals will need a little something more from the iPad than a music playing, e-book reading, Web surfing, movie watching tablet device.
The following is a selection of apps that business professionals can use to transform the media-consuming toy into a productive business tool:

• Salesforce Mobile. Salesforce.com’s app provides on-the-go access to Sales Cloud. Sales Cloud give business professionals the ability to log calls, respond to leads, access critical customer data, and view dashboard information from the iPad.

• FedEx Mobile Web App. Mobile and remote workers need a convenient way to schedule and track package shipments. The FedEx Mobile Web App lets you create shipping labels, locate the nearest FedEx office, or monitor the progress of shipments in transit.

• Meebo. Instant messaging has become an essential means of business communication. Meebo supports all major instant messaging networks and enables you to keep in touch through instant messaging from your iPad. Meebo overcomes the lack of true multitasking with Push notifications that work even when the app is closed, and it automatically reconnects if the signal is lost to make sure you stay in touch.

• Freshbooks. Business professionals that need to track and log their time for billing purposes will appreciate Freshbooks, especially if managing multiple clients simultaneously. The Freshbooks app is another example of an app developed to function properly in spite of the lack of multitasking. The Freshbooks task timer will continue to run in the background while you use your iPad for other functions. It also works even with no Web connection–queuing time entries until a connection is available.

This is an exceptionally small sampling of what is available. Granted, out of 150,000 plus apps available, there are far too many that make fart noises, or display a flickering lighter, or some other moronic thing. However, despite the repeated mantra that the iPhone and iPad are not for business, there is also a diverse and growing selection of apps designed specifically to change that perception.

Aside from standalone apps, there are also much more comprehensive solutions that can deliver a more complete business environment to the iPad. Accessing Google Apps from the iPad via the Web, and the new Google Apps Marketplace, offers business professionals cloud-based access to a plethora of valuable business and communications tools.

Organizations can use Array Networks Desktop Direct, along with the Desktop Direct client app, to establish a remote desktop connection from the iPad, directly to the user’s desktop. Desktop Direct provides a direct portal to the desktop–so the user can access all data and run all applications on the desktop directly from the iPad.

Devices like the upcoming HP Slate–built on the Windows 7 operating system–seem like a more logical fit for business use. However, the world has changed and the line is blurred between consumer and business devices. The bottom line is that people will buy an iPad as a consumer, but will naturally want to figure out how to integrate it as a business professional.
Fortunately for them, the tools are out there to make that work. To each their own.

SAN FRANCISCO - If you’re one of the folks (or as others have said, “idiots“) who have already decided to hand over a few Benjamins for an iPad pre-order, chances are you haven’t given much thought to what happens if your battery goes bad. Rest assured that Apple is one step ahead of you.

According to a recently-posted FAQ, Apple will replace your iPad if it “requires service due to the battery’s diminished ability to hold an electrical charge,” for $99 and a $6.95 shipping fee.

Before you get too excited, this doesn’t mean that you could pull the old switcharoo if you’re tampering with your iPad or using it as a coaster.

Apple added, “Your iPad is not eligible for Battery Replacement Service if the product has been damaged, for example, as result of an accident, liquid contact, disassembly, unauthorized service or unauthorized modifications, or if the product is not operating correctly as a result of a component failure.”

A little more than $100 for a new, or as Engadget points out “possibly refurbished,” iPad may seem like a decent deal to some, considering Apple services iPhones when they start to lose their charge. But the swap comes with one big disadvantage.
Apple warns that replacement iPads won’t come with any of your personal information and suggests you sync your old device with iTunes to backup your data before sending it in.

Apple says the service could be done within a week if arranged by calling Apple Technical Support.

Apple may be trying to prevent future fallout from consumer rights groups by posting the FAQ now. In 2007, the Foundation for Consumer and Taxpayer Rights attacked Apple and AT&T for not describing the fees and methodology for the battery replacement scheme before the original iPhone was launched. And remember, battery problems are not unfamiliar to Apple; some iPhone users reported hassles after a software upgrade. This time, Apple is spelling out its intentions up front.

SAN FRANCISCO - Dell’s upcoming Mini 5, which was first shown publicly at this years CES, will be made available in a range of colors and will also feature integration with a host of Amazon services, according to a recently leaked internal document.

The leaked information, which was originally posted on Engadget, details that the Android-powered tablet may be available in a number of “premium finishes.” The document also mentions that the Mini 5 will be available in a range of colors and designs.
Beyond the personalization options, the first leaked page sadly didn’t offer any other new information about Dell’s upcoming tablet , simply listing its features, such as the front-facing video camera, dock connector, and capacitive touch-screen. However, a second leaked page offers some more interesting tidbits that were previously unknown.

The second page details a content partnership that Dell may be entering with Amazon. The document states that the Mini 5 will integrate with Amazon’s Kindle, MP3 and Video services, and will include a Kindle reader app

Could this partnership with Amazon be seen as a move to compete with the upcoming iPad? Apple’s tablet has the iTunes and iBooks Stores, so supporting Amazon’s services could help Dell bring something similar to the table.

For those eagle-eyed readers, you may have spotted that the leaked documentation refers to the Snapdragon-powered device as the ‘Streak’, a name that first surfaced late last year. As for whether this is just the internal codename for the upcoming product, or an official change away from the Mini 5 moniker is currently unknown.

Dell have yet to confirm a solid release date or final price for the device.

SAN FRANCISCO - Twitter is finally being proactive about the large number of phishing scams that have plagued the micro-blogging service in the past year. On Wednesday, Twitter introduced its own anti-phishing service designed to protect its users from these types of attacks. The new security measures will focus on Twitter direct messages (DMs) — private tweets addressed to a specific user — and corresponding e-mail notifications. Twitter believes DMs are the primary source of Twitter-based phishing attacks, and has not yet announced any plans to extend the new service to regular Twitter messages.

DMs will now be routed through Twitter’s anti-phishing service to “detect, intercept, and prevent the spread of bad links,” Del Harvey, director of Twitter’s trust and safety team, wrote in a recent blog post. After Twitter has approved a link, it will be delivered to users via a new ‘twit.tl’ URL instead of bit.ly, tinyURL or other link-shortening services. Twitter also claims that if a bad link gets through to a user via e-mail, the company would still “be able to keep that user safe.”

Social Phishing

Phishing scams are often used to harvest log-in credentials for social networks and financial sites by encouraging users to log in to phony versions of legitimate Websites. These types of scams often entice users to click on a bogus link to check out a new video or log in to a particular service to verify some data. The fake Website can then either inject some form of malware onto your computer or steal your log-in credentials to the legitimate site. Typically, phishing messages use URL shortening services to mask the phony site’s actual Web address.

Malicious activity like this has become a regular problem for social networking services and tools, and some are starting to be more proactive about dealing with the issue. Bit.ly checks all links created using its service against three independent malware blacklists to help fight phishing and malware scams. Bit.ly is Twitter’s default link-shortening service.

Another URL-shortening service, Tr.im does not specify how or if it monitors for phishing attacks, as far as I could tell anyway, but it does have a spot on its Webpage where users can report suspicious or spammy tr.im links. TinyURL does not publicly state it protects against abuse of its service, but states at the bottom of its homepage that it forbids illicit uses of its services.

Facebook last month instituted an automated security system in partnership with security firm McAfee, after being targeted with its fair share of phishing scams. The new system is supposed to help detect user accounts that may have fallen prey to malicious activity; however, Facebook’s malware strategy may not be as effective as it could be, especially since it’s designed, at least in part, to sell McAfee security software to its users.

Google’s new social networking experiment Google Buzz is also reportedly proactive about phishing scams. Google recompresses images sent to Buzz and scans all links in Buzz against its blacklist of Websites, according to Webpronews. Google also reportedly has spam detection and abuse monitoring in place for Google Buzz comments.

The Problem with Lists

Of course, the downside of any Website blacklist is that it will never be large and agile enough to catch the newest scam sites. Since the use of blacklists is the most common way modern Web browsers and security services protect users against malware, the best defense is still to trust one’s own instincts.

Be wary of oddly worded or unsolicited messages you receive through social networking sites, and make sure you don’t log in to a site based on a link you received via e-mail. More importantly, make sure the site you’re trying to log in to is the real thing by verifying you have the right URL in your browser’s address bar — Facebook has a brief explanation about legitimate URLs here. Automated protection against phishing scams and malware is a great help, but in the end it’s no substitute for common sense.

SAN FRANCISCO - Facebook users may no longer have to type out their whereabouts in status updates, as the site may soon let them tag their locations automatically.

Several anonymous sources told The New York Times that Facebook will unveil geolocation features at its yearly f8 developers conference in late April. Facebook spokeswoman Meridith Chin wouldn’t confirm the rumor.

Details are scarce, but the Times says Facebook’s geolocation features will have two components: One is offered directly to users for sharing locations with friends, and the other is an application programming interface for third-party developers to build location sharing into their Facebook apps.

My gut reaction is nervousness, given that Facebook doesn’t have a spotless privacy track record. Most recently, the site changed its privacy settings to encourage more public activity that isn’t limited to your friends list. One can imagine a similar fiasco where Facebook springs location sharing on its 400 million users without adequate explanation.

Fortunately, the Times reports that Facebook’s location sharing will likely be opt-in, as indicated by recent changes to the site’s privacy policy. Facebook staff reportedly know that location features could turn into a fiasco, so they’ve been proceeding with caution, working on the project for almost a year.

If handled properly, Facebook location sharing could be pretty cool. Imagine being able to connect with people around you in Farmville to create a sort of hyperlocal commune, or the ability to get pinged by iLike when lots of people are congregating at a nearby music venue. Location services are a tool that Facebook should have by now, but given the privacy concerns, it’s understandable if the site needs time to get it right.