Walt Mossberg at All Things D (Wall Street Journal) published his review of the HP TouchPad today. Whilst stating the TouchPad’s user interface was “a joy to use”, Mossberg pointed out a wide range of issues with the device – some more obvious than others. Kicking off the review, he states, “despite its attractive and different user interface, this first version is simply no match for the iPad. It suffers from poor battery life, a paucity of apps and other deficits.”

The HP TouchPad’s email application makes heavy use of a design concept the company are calling “Synergy” – in short, it’s about bringing together the disparate elements of your digital life in to one simple view. Synergy extends across the revised webOS platform on the TouchPad, but with specific regard to the email application, the big difference HP has over its competitors is that is brings together all of your various email accounts in to converged view.

With Apple’s iPad the de-facto leader in tablet device aesthetics, it has been remarkable just how poorly designed competitor devices have been over the last 12 months. The desire to drive the price point down has led to the use of cheap feeling plastics, dim screens with vague touch sensitivity and flimsy chassis. The question is where HP are going to pitch the TouchPad’s design.

In a press release issued yesterday, HP released further details on worldwide availability of their forthcoming TouchPad tablet. The device was made available for pre-order on June 19th, with a US release date of July 1st previously slated.

Forget browsing through App Stores, Catalogues and other mere listings of apps.

For the forthcoming launch of the TouchPad tablet next month, HP has an entirely different idea – a “glossy” monthly magazine (rather clumsily) named HP webOS Pivot.

One of the coolest accessories to hit the market for the HP TouchPad (actually, make that any tablet) will be the HP Touchstone Charging Dock – in short, it’s a wireless charging station for the TouchPad, which is good enough, but it also comes with a few extra tricks up it’s sleeve.

If you’re going to take the HP TouchPad out on the road, a case is an essential accessory to research. Without some hind of protection, that shiny new tablet you bought is going to be looking a lot less shiny after a few trips!

If you’ve been thinking about buying a new tablet, then you may be interested in checking out the specs of the HP TouchPad compared to its rivals. Fortunately, a datasheet is available that lays out the tale to of the tape – well, at least one half of it, anyway. Here, outlined by HP, are some of the features we’ll be talking about in the coming weeks.

HP have confirmed that stock of the HP TouchPad will ship in the UK on July 4th.