Monthly Archives: March 2011

tablets

ASUS Eee Pad Transformer and Eee Slate EP121 Officially Out in The UK

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Asus officially rolls out their latest and greatest Eee Slate EP121 and Eee Pad Transformer for the European market. The two, which are scheduled to start selling before the end of April 2011, are part of a fascinating high-end tablets lineup, and the first to incorporate the new Android Honeycomb / Windows 7 platforms into their budget priced models. And while the Transformer version (the one with the sliding keyboard) is said to go for £379 (16GB) and £429 (32GB), the powerful Core i5-compatible EeePad slate will set you back for a whopping £999 with a 12.1-inch IPS capacitive display, 4GB of RAM, 64GB SSD, WiFi, Bluetooth 3.0, HDMI output, a  2 megapixel front facing camera and a SD/SDHC card reader slot. Still no word on a US  release for these two mobs.

Update1: Oh! What do you want to know? US prices? Looks like we’ve unofficially managed to get ’em for you, as US retailer Best Buy just posted them online for couple of seconds and then pulled them off. And while details aren’t confirmed yet, we’re looking at a $400 price for the 10.1-inch Honeycomb tablet (the Transformer) and another $149 if you really must have the dock. Sounds very attractive, isn’t it?

Update2: And looks like we finally have an official product page for the upcoming Asus Eee Pad Transformer slate, complete with the full software details and a list of hardware specs which apparently include a 10.1-inch IPS 1280 x 800 capacitive touchscreen display (178-degree viewing angles), alongside 1GB of RAM, a Tegra 2 processor, WiFi, GPS, dual camera on front and at the back, surround stereo speakers, SD card reader and a battery pack that is capable of delivering up to 16 hours of continuous work. Software wise, there’s an Honeycomb platform running on board, together with Polaris Office suite application (for spreadsheets, presentations and documents editing), Asus own Waveshare app, a launcher UI and Adobe’s Flash 10.2 support.

Update3 The good guys over at Slashgear have finally managed to put their hands on a brand new Eee Pad Transformer slate and leaked it to the web in a nice and short walkthrough video which can be found after the break.

[via Slashgear]

Continue reading ASUS Eee Pad Transformer and Eee Slate EP121 Officially Out in The UK →

tablets

Ainol Honeycomb Tablet Sprouts Out In The Wild

We haven’t seen a whole lot of Ainol stuff lately, but luckily the guys over at MP4 Nation did manage to spot this brand new Honeycomb tablet which is believed to be launching sometime next month. As far as hardware goes, the whitish device which packs an ARM Cortex A9 processor on board, is basically a low-end started slate with a very thick chassis and a 1,280 x 800 IPS display with an unknown size on the top. Other then that, for an undetermined price tag, we’re also likely to find WiFi and 3G connectivity, HDMI out, a set of hard buttons on the right side of the screen bezel and a microSD card slot, to read your media files wherever you go. Who’s up for it?

 

[via Android Community]

Mobile, Operating Systems, Phones, software

Apple Officially Releases iOS 4.3.1, Grab It Now!

Apple has just rolled out a new firmware update for the myriad of iDevices, with the latest release of iOS 4.3.1 which should fix several pesky bugs that users have been experiencing in AV-out, enterprise apps, iPod touch graphics and mobile network connections. The new update is now available for download via iTunes, so hook your stuff and get it done right.

tablets

HTC’s EVO View 4G Tablet Officially Breaks Cover

We must welcome the rain of tablets that falls down on us so that the seed will grow. And the way it looks right now I think it’ll really take off. For instance, take a look at HTC’s latest and greatest 4G Evo View tablet, which has finally turned official with a 7-inch, 1024 x 600 multi-touchscreen display, WiMAX radio,  a 1.5GHz processor, and a microSD card slot. Has any of you ever thought of it this way? probably not. But it’s here, live and kicking’, and will be offered housing 32GB of storage and duo cameras on the back (5MP) and up front (1.3MP). At this point, we’re still waiting to hear details of pricing and availability, and it remains to become accessible somewhere, hopefully, this summer via Sprint’s 4G network. And it’s Honeycomb by the way. Hit the jump for the full specs, along with PR blurbs.

 

Continue reading HTC’s EVO View 4G Tablet Officially Breaks Cover →

tablets

Blackberry Playbook Now Available for Pre-Order at $499, Launches April 19th (Update: Now On Sale)

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It was Apple that set the price of the iPad at a standard $499 for a 16GB WiFi only version, and now it seems to work fine for all major players in this overcrowded market. RIM was the latest manufacturer to adopt this new pricing model. The Canadian company, originally known for their Blackberry smartphones, has just announced an April 19th release date for their BlackBerry PlayBook line of tablets, both in Canada and the US. And as you might be able to understand from the above, RIM’s average sales price followed the same pattern that Cupertino had already begun to offer: $499 for the 16GB version, $599 for the 32GB model and $699 for the 64GB flavor. Canadian retailers such as Best Buy and Future Shop are also expect to sell the Playbook for around the same price, only in local currency. Full PR after the break.

Update1: And the rumor was right on spot, RIM just announced that its upcoming Playbook tablet will support both BlackBerry Java and Android apps. Great news, considering the fact this would actually include native C/C++ development support, HTML5, Flash and AIR support. Clearly a move that significantly impact the Playbook apps market. More about it after the break.

Update2: And looks like RIM’s latest and greatest dual-core Playbook device is finally up for a purchase, both in Canada and the US, while prices on Uncle Sam’s biggest electronic retailer, Best Buy, start at $500 for the 16GB model, and climb up to $600 for the 32GB model and $700 for the 64GB flavor. Tablet wars are definitely on the rise, now!

Update3: According to analysts, the Playbook sold an estimated 25,000 tablets in pre-order stage and another 20,000 in retail stores. “If correct, 45K+ sell through on the first day would be a success,” Misek wrote in his research note (Analyst Peter Misek of Jeffries & Co).

 

Continue reading Blackberry Playbook Now Available for Pre-Order at $499, Launches April 19th (Update: Now On Sale) →

tablets

Samsung Galaxy Tabs 8.9 and 10.1 Tablets Now Official

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As promised earlier this month, Samsung has officially announced their two new Galaxy Tabs, with the expected 8.9-inch and 10.1-inch models in line. The new Honeycomb Tabs which herald Samsung’s entry into ultra-thin and ultra-light tablets market – both measure only .33-inches thick- will be available starting June 8 of this year, featuring a 1GHz dual-core processor on board, alongside WXGA 1280×800 HD displays, a 2 megapixel front-facing camera and another at 3 megapixel on the back, 3.5mm headphone jacks, SIM card compartments, 802.11 b/g/n wifi connection, Bluetooth 2.1 and microSD card reader slots. Further more, both Sammy’s new devices are said to include gyroscope, accelerometer, a digital compass and an ambient light sensor, whereas the smaller version houses a 6000mAH battery pack and the bigger one boasts a 6860mAH cell under the hood. Remember, these are WiFi only flavors, though Samsung does plan to release 4G-enabled models later in the year to go. On the cost department, Samsung’s prices seem to finally be getting competitive and more affordable for the average consumer, as the 8.9-inch Galaxy Tab is claimed to be offered at launch at $469 (16GB) and $569 (32GB), while the 10-incher Tab will set you back for $499 (16GB) and $599 (32GB) and not a single dime more. So there you go ladies and gentlemen, two revamped Galaxy Tabs on the stake and one PR announcement half past the break.

Update1: We’ve just added a few introduction videos of the Galaxy Tabs, courtesy of the Android Community fellows who recently had a chance to play with the new tablets.

Update2: And just in case you wanna get into the full spirit of the event, we’ve also added Samsung’s CTIA Wireless 2011 keynote after the break.

Continue reading Samsung Galaxy Tabs 8.9 and 10.1 Tablets Now Official →

tablets

Creative’s 7-inch ZiiO Tablet To Finally Receive Android 2.2 Froyo Update

It looks like Creative is about to push out a firmware update for the latest Ziio tablet that launched in the last couple of months, with Google’s Android 2.1 OS already preloaded on board. And while we highly recommend getting a new Android tablet with Honeycomb platform installed, the 7-incher on the other hand will have an Android Froyo upgrade, coming this Friday, and another one for the 10-inch model in the next few weeks or, so. The new update looks like it will be bringing greater language compatibility, as well as new passcode options, a text-to-speech engine and external storage app installation support. And if you don’t have any plans to switch to the current Android 3.0 operating system anytime soon, you can get this update either from Creative’s website or the ZiiO Space portal, once it’s finally released.

 

[Creative]

Continue reading Creative’s 7-inch ZiiO Tablet To Finally Receive Android 2.2 Froyo Update →

tablets

ASUS Eee Slate Gets a Whole Bunch of Interactive Ads

Whether you’re an artist, a blogger, a mom or just a business owner, looking to be productive and efficient, the Asus team seems to have a brand new Windows 7 slate to offer. That’s right folks, there is a new player on the field and it plays for all the marbles. With a 12.1-inch display and a Core i5 processor on board the new high-end Eee Slate combines Microsoft’s Windows 7 platform along with Wacom’s digitizer technology and a special dedicated whitish stylus pen to design and execute your very own storyline through drawing and rendering shapes, figures and models. Too bad it’s more than twice the cost of Apple’s iPad 2 wonder. Hit the jump to watch the action.

 

[via Electronista]

 

Continue reading ASUS Eee Slate Gets a Whole Bunch of Interactive Ads →

tablets

Dell Streak 7 Finally Gets a $379 WiFi-Only Version

We’re not so sure how many of you would actually be quite happy to pay $450 for a brand new Dell Streak 7 off-contract, given the fact that iPad 2 will cost as much as $50 more. That being said, a WiFi only version of this Android Froyo tablet had been certified, earlier this week, and been listed on Amazon for a $379.99 pre-order – Which are $70 less than the 3G-enabled flavor, or $120 under apple’s latest and greatest second-gen tablet. Is that good enough? I’m thinking this price now will make it worth the purchase. Hit the jump to read the specs.

Update: Now officially shipping throughout the States.

 

 

[via AndroidOS.in]

Continue reading Dell Streak 7 Finally Gets a $379 WiFi-Only Version →

General

HP TouchPad Release Rumored For June

There are a lot of juicy TouchPad rumors floating around these days and the latest one, at least according to PreCentral, suggests that HP’s most expected 9.7-inch WebOS 3.0 tablet will probably go live Stateside somewhere this June, with prices in the range of $499 for the 16GB model and $599 for the 32GB flavor. While there’s still no official confirmation from anyone in Palo Alto, those prices do look pretty reasonable for us. Wait, does anyone else think this has nothing to do with Apple’s iPad prices?

 

[via PreCentral]

tablets

Motorola Xoom $599 WiFi Only Version Goes Up For Pre-Order on B&H

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If you’re thinking of looking more into this Motorola Xoom Android Honeycomb tablet, but paying $800 isn’t exactly your kind of thing, then you’ve just come to the right place because New York-based retailer B&H has just listed the much anticipated wifi-only Motorola XOOM version online, and it allows people pre-order theirs today for only $599. And while shipping dates are yet to be determined, the number of units offered for sale is said to be very limited. We’re guessing that a “1st week of April” time frame was just made for the fools, eh?

Update1: It looks like B&H isn’t the only one to sell the Motorola Xoom sans 3G connectivity for the bargain price of $599. As a matter of fact a few other giant retailers including Amazon, Best Buy, Costco, RadioShack, Sam’s Club, Staples, and even Walmart are said to be offering the Honeycomb tablet, starting March 27th of this year, and not a single day before. Full PR after the break.

Update2: And the WiFi-only Motorola Xoom is finally up for preorder from both Best Buy and Future Shop in Canada, and set to ship on April 8th, with the same US price tag ($599.99).

Update3: Word on the street is that the 10.1-inch WiFi-only Xoom tablet should be getting Google’s latest and greatest Android 3.1 update “within the next several weeks.” In that regard, we’re guessing that the upcoming upgrade will not skip the 3G-enabled devices, which are more expensive, to say the least. More details at the official Motorola support forum.

[B&H]

Continue reading Motorola Xoom $599 WiFi Only Version Goes Up For Pre-Order on B&H →

Media Players

Microsoft Discontinues Zune

Microsoft is going to kill the Zune player, if a Bloomberg report is to be believed. According to “A person familiar with the decision” the Redmond giant will stop the Zune production entirely, and will put considerable effort into the Zune software that already has a good and seamless integration with the Xbox 360 and Windows Phone 7 platform. And while uncertainty remains regarding Microsoft’s final decision, the stakes unfortunately are extremely high. That being said, we’re definitely likely to see Microsoft keep on selling you their Zune product piece-by-piece until the stock runs out.

 

[Bloomberg]

software, tablets

Motorola XOOM Update Brings Adobe Flash 10.2 Support

Motorola-Xoom-Android-tablet

We were so fed up with the fact that we couldn’t have a descent flash player running on the Motorola Xoom, out of the box. Thankfully, the company (in partnership with Adobe) now has announced a new release update that will fix this well known issue, once and for all. Starting on March 18th, Adobe/Motorola will officially begin rolling out their latest OTA software upgrade, which supposedly includes required enhancements to support the upcoming Adobe Flash 10.2 player and many other things more. Huzzah!

Update1: Apparently, the OTA will hit XOOM tablets earlier than expected, and is likely to support Android’s most recent platforms, such as Android 2.2 Froyo, Android 2.3 Gingerbread and a beta version for Android 3.0.1 Honeycomb, which will soon enjoy the benefits of a smooth Android browser rendering engine that significantly improves the efficiency of data between images, H.264 playback, HTML coding, and GIF animation control.

Update2: There seems to be a manual OTA upgrade for the Motorola XOOM which can be downloaded directly from Verizon’s system update platform. The update is classed as version 3.0.1. An unofficial leaked update is now available for download here.

Update3: Meanwhile, before you rush and get your updates installed, feel free to hit the jump and take a look at the videos below. Full PR is also there for a read.

 

[Adobe]

Continue reading Motorola XOOM Update Brings Adobe Flash 10.2 Support →

Hardware, tablets

Apple iPad 2 Gets Dissected by iFixit

Well, looks like it didn’t take the good fellows over at iFixit a long time to get their hands on a brand new iPad 2, and then tear it apart into several small bite-sized pieces. To put things in a nutshell, their findings suggest (at least when it comes to the WiFi-only version) that Apple’s second-gen iPad device (model number A1395) includes pretty much the same size battery as the iPad 1 – a 3.8V, 25 watt-hour unit, alongside a 1GHz A5 CPU, 512MB of RAM, 16GB of Toshiba TH58NVG7D2FLA89 NAND Flash, and a Broadcom: BCM43291HKUBC WiFi controller. Furthermore, there’s also a clear evidence for the existence of a S6T2MLC N33C50V Power Management IC, tucked with a tiny biny gyroscope (AGD8 2103), and a small pair of integrated speakers. And if you’re seriously interested in this fascinating topic, head on past the break to watch iFixit’s full-fledged explanatory coverage.

 

[iFixit]

Continue reading Apple iPad 2 Gets Dissected by iFixit →

tablets

Samsung Galaxy Tab’s WiFi-only Version Confirmed

It certainly took Samsung long enough to come up with the idea of a WiFi only Galaxy Tab. However, if  the following flyer may be trusted, then we should very quickly be seeing a 7-inch Tab sans 3G connectivity, going live in the near/distant future. When exactly, you’re asking? In the first week of April. How much? Only 399 US Dollars – A Benjamin cheaper than Apple’s 16GB iPad 2 flavor. Will it work for Samsung this time? Probably, and that’s because most manufacturers are motivated by the increasing competition on the tablet market to come up with more affordable high-end tablets. And let’s say it loud and clear: $399 is a much more attractive price for the average tablet user. Let the competition begin!

Update: And looks like Sammy has just confirmed a wifi-only Galaxy Tab version, priced at $349.99 in exchange for a 7-inch 1024 x 600 display, 32GB of internal storage, SD slot, dual cameras, Android 2.2 with Flash 10.1 support – due out April 10 and not a single day before. Hit the jump to read the  details.

[via Droid-Life]

Continue reading Samsung Galaxy Tab’s WiFi-only Version Confirmed →

tablets

iPad 2 Lines are Popping Up all Over The US

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Credit: Marguerite Reardon/CNET
Credit: Marguerite Reardon/CNET

OK, so It’s Apple’s iPad 2 first day of sales over there, in famous Uncle Sam’s land, with downtown stores opening their doors somewhere at sunset, roughly 5:00 PM, as brave people start gathering around, while average (solid) queues length varies from small town to big city. Although, this definitely isn’t the crazy scenes we’ve seen in iPad’s first-gen / iPhone 4 debuts, back in 2010, there’s still quite a bit of potential there, assuming those queues are only going to grow bigger and longer. We’ve been busy gathering for you a few examples of images, taken by random Twitter users. More pictures after he break.

Reminder: Appe’s iPad 2 will launch in Australia, Austria, Belgium, Canada, Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Luxembourg, Mexico, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland and the UK on March 25.

Update 1: We’ve just added a couple of videos from The Cube in New York, Alderwood Mall in Lynnwood, WA, and another one from the Walden Galleria . Check ’em out after the break.

Update 2: We’ve also added a few unboxing videos after the break.

Continue reading iPad 2 Lines are Popping Up all Over The US →

tablets

iPad 2 Now Available For Online Purchase

So It’s iPad 2 launch day in the US of A, fellow readers, and that means long waiting queues outside Apple, AT&T, Best Buy, Target, Verizon Wireless, and Walmart retail stores, which are all expected to start selling Cupertino’s latest and greatest 9.7-inch wonder at about 5:00 p.m local time, and not a moment earlier. But for those looking to skip the hassle of lining up in front of crowded places, you can actually do it without leaving your couch – simply login at Apple.com at 1am PST/4am EST, pickup your favorite second-gen iPad 2.0 tablet (whether in Black or White flavors), browse through the optional accessories around, and play your online orders before the sun rises. In addition to that, you’re also getting the option to put a two line personalised engraved message on the back of the iPad, and dedicate it to your beautiful girlfriend or your most beloved mother. Full PR is half past the corner.

Update1: Well, it looks like the demand for iPad 2 is on the rise, ladies and gentlemen, and If you missed the first wave of online purchasing, you don’t want to miss the second one (assuming you do have plans to get yourself a brand new iPad device), which isn’t expected to ship for the next 3-4 months! Yes, it’s out of stock for online homies, at least for the time being. In store sales are still going as usual, with analysts predicting over 600,000 iPad 2 record sales over launch weekend only. Still want one and don’t have a retail store around? I guess you can try your luck over at eBay, though we hear that prices have already reached a whopping $2600 in there.

Update2: According to a Reuters citing industry analysts, Apple sold close to 1 million iPad 2s over the launch weekend alone. The profile of iPad 2 buyer is said to be composed of approximately 60% existing iPad owners and 40% of first time iPad customers. 100% percent of them claim to own at least one Apple product somewhere in their homes.

Continue reading iPad 2 Now Available For Online Purchase →

tablets

Apple iOS 4.3 Officially Out

Apple officially rolls out its most anticipated iOS 4.3 firmware update for iPhone 3GS/4,  iPod touch 3rd and 4th generations, iPad 1, iPad 2 and Apple TV devices. The new version, which has just gone live ( two days before time) and available for download via iTunes or Apple’s website, features several improvements such as mobile hotspot capabilities for iPhones, Airplay updates, a few Javscript Safari improvements, minor security fixes and the option to determine whether the side switch will act as a rotation lock or mute button, in case you are an avid iPad user. So there you go. Happy update!

[Apple]

tablets

Samsung Unveils an 8.9-inch Galaxy Tab Teaser

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We’ve already heard a few tales about Samsung’s supposed 7-inch Galaxy Tab successor, that will likely arrive with an 8.9-inch touchpanel display, and the folks over at the South Korean corp have just turned up another interesting teaser. That includes a mysterious and dark image that seemingly confirms that Sammy’s slim and curvy forthcoming Tab will be announced on March 22nd, challenging the Apple  iPad 2 outstanding design and its 8.8mm thickness. Stay tuned! We’re only three weeks away.

Update: The guys over at PocketNow have managed to nab a few more details about the 8.9-inch Samsung Galaxy Tab. The first thing you’d notice is that it looks very thin compared to Samsung’s previous models (only .33-inches thick and weighs 1.03 pounds). Second, the 8.9-inch display boasts a 1280×800-resolution, and likely to run Android Honeycomb platform on board. There was a sign with the caption “Live Panel” on top of it and another that said “Mini App” tray, or so. What could it be? stay tuned for plenty stuff more.

tablets

ViewSonic’s Dual Boot ViewPad 10 Tablet Officially Live

It’s been couple of month since Taiwanese corp Viewsonic has officially announced their latest Android 1.6 / Windows 7 dual-booting ViewPad 10 in America, and today it’s finally available and ready for shipping. Of course, as ever, you’ll need to pay for the 10.1 inch, 1.66GHz Atom CPU tablet with hard cash before it actually departs your way, but frankly speaking, the prices aren’t dirt-cheap enough to justify an immediate acquisition. As a matter of fact, they have some pretty high pricing rates, despite the mediocre line of innards specs (e.g 2GB of RAM, Bluetooth 2.1, 802.11b/g/n WiFi, a 1.3 megapixel front-facing camera). In terms of numbers we are looking at $599 for the 16GB SSD version which comes preloaded with Windows Home 7 Premium OS, or $679 for the 32GB drive, which packs inside the Windows 7 Professional flavor. Is it worth getting one over an iPad 2?  Overall I would get one, but it needs to come down in price dramatically. Demo video and full PR after the break.

Update: If by chance you happen to be a proud owner of the 10-inch dual-boot ViewPad device, there is a new update, coming up to the Android 1.6 tablet – Yes, you’ve heard that right boys and girls, the tablet’s getting an Android 2.2 (Froyo) upgrade. However, if you’re still on the hunt for one, you can either choose between the $599 Windows 7 Home Premium and 16GB slate or the $679 Win 7 Professional flavor (32GB) instead.

 

[Viewsonic]

Continue reading ViewSonic’s Dual Boot ViewPad 10 Tablet Officially Live →

tablets

HP TouchPad Sprouts Out in Vietnam With a SIM Card Slot Expansion

Yes, we all have watched the HP Touchpad announcement. We’ve seen the 9.7-incher in action, and carefully learned in great detail everything about the specs. But for those who wanted to hear about it from some other unofficial sources, without going under the scrutiny of PR companions, the guys over at Tinhte managed to get hold of the device they think is HP’s forthcoming WebOS 3.0 tablet. And while we have some uncertainty regarding their findings; the slate boasts a side slot for a SIM card, there is always a glimmer of hope that somehow this will pass into Palo Alto’s end-user model – Which admittedly does look awesome. Video after the break.

 

[via Tinhte.vn]

 

Continue reading HP TouchPad Sprouts Out in Vietnam With a SIM Card Slot Expansion →

tablets

Samsung to Reconsider Parts and Pricing of the Galaxy Tab 10.1

Samsung’s second-gen Galaxy Tab has already had its first appearance in public, at the MWC 2011 event in Barcelona, Spain, but the last word on that Honeycomb tablet still hasn’t been said. A lot has happened since then; Apple has officially announced the iPad 2, for one – A viable threat, that the South Korean giant couldn’t just ignore. On the contrary, in a recent chat with Yonhap News Agency, executive VP Lee Don-Joo admitted that Samsung needs to do some re-thinking as far as the Tab II inner parts are concerned, and made the pledge to “improve the parts that are inadequate” but didn’t specify what, where or when. In addition to that, Sammy’s top executive has also mentioned that his company will reconsider the new Tab pricing model, and may lower the Galaxy Tab 10.1 -inch price range, in response to the iPad 2 most attractive retail selling prices. A good step towards success.

Update: Looks like Sammy’s Honeycomb tablet will be released on schedule after all. According to Yonhap News Agency that have recently been in contact with Samsung, there are no plans to upgrade or redevelop the company’s next-gen Galaxy Tab in the foreseeable future. Perhaps in some other models.

tablets

LG Optimus Pad Gets a $699 Price Tag Stateside (Update: $529.99 on Contract)

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The 8.9-inch Optimus Pad has already gone official, but its final price was yet to be determined. Now, a New York based online store called MobileCity, has finally listed it for a $699.99 early pre-order, with availability details still missing from the board. And even though we’re not sure of the price, it would probably be very expensive and not worth the buy compared to Apple’s $499 iPad 2 for example. The truth is that LG has actually managed to come up with something fairly fresh, and stuffed inside some really cool specs, including NVIDIA Tegra 2 processor, 32GB of storage, a dual-camera array on the back with 3D video playback capabilities, and Google’s latest Android 3.0 Honeycomb platform preloaded on board. That been said, we’re still looking for that “prince charming” package, this durable and attractive device that will have us believe we can truly make the most out of it without spending so much dough.

Update: And if $700 is far too expensive for you to buy a Honeycomb tablet, fellow readers, there’s a new payment method that will set you back for $529.99 on a two-year contract (after a $100 mail-in-rebate). Wait a minute, is anyone convinced? A 2-year contract plus one time $530 fee? Ok, so it lets you record 3D videos, so what?  Maybe a wifi only version priced comparable to Ipad can do something – You hear that LG?

[via Android Community]

Accessories, tablets

Did Apple Just ‘Borrow’ The Smart Cover Idea From Incase?

17 Comments

Apple has really blown our minds away with their latest and greatest Smart Cover revelation, yesterday morning. Designed specifically for iPad 2 devices, the fabulous and colorful covers – soon to be offered in polyurethane or leather flavors – Are made of durable materials and feature a clean design, elegant simplicity, and convenient use. Just snap-on the magnetic attachment, fold it to a triangle stand or get a full iPad protection cover in the most efficient way. So far so good, right? well, not exactly. To put things in the proper context, it looks like Apple didn’t really come up with the Smart Cover idea first. So who did? It was technology protection accessories leader, Incase, that brought it up with its wonderful iPad Convertible Magazine Jacket. Shocking! This isn’t Apple’s original idea, and all that’s left is to figure out whether the Cupertino designing division got permission to use Incase design, got inspired from it, or just “borrowed” the idea without even asking. A few pictures of Incase’s Convertible Magazine Jacket after the break. What do you think?

Update: Incase has finally gotten in contact with us and said the following:

“we will not be commenting on Apple’s case offering for the iPad 2.”

Is anyone surprised?

Continue reading Did Apple Just ‘Borrow’ The Smart Cover Idea From Incase? →

tablets

Apple iPad 2 Officially Announced, Claimed To Be Thinner, Lighter and Faster

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Apple has ended months of speculation by officially unveiling the iPad 2, company’s most anticipated second-gen tablet that will start shipping Stateside on March 11th and March 25th in other countries, with prices as follows: $499 (16GB), $599 (32GB), $699 (64GB), add $130 for 3G. The formal announcement which took place this morning at the Yerba Buena Center for the Arts in San Francisco, California was super exciting, with Apple CEO Steve Jobs surprisingly taking the stage himself.

The iPad2 is only 8.8mm thick, 33% thinner than the original one (and thinner than iPhone 4), weighs 1.35 pounds, and has that same 9.7-inch LED-backlit IPS display (Fingerprint-resistant oleophobic coating) that offers a full capacitive touch screen, supported by 1024-by-768-pixel resolution at 132 pixels per inch. Apple promising a “nine times faster on graphics” 1GHz custom built A5 (dual-core) chip (twice faster on cpu), while tablet capacities are claimed to be the same traditional ones, at 16GB, 32GB, or 64GB of flash storage.

The iPad2 comes either in black or White hues, with 802.11a/b/g/n WiFi and Bluetooth 2.1 plus EDR technology, as well as a large speaker on its back, microphone, 512MB or RAM, and a 30-pin dock connector, downstairs. The new iPad will also be available in a 3G flavor with speeds up to 7.2Mbps, while battery life is estimated at 10 hours or so. In addition, the industry giant and innovator says “…that 2011 will be the year of iPad 2” with 65,000 apps compared to 100 only on Google’s Honeycomb.

So, what else is new in iPad 2, you ask? Well, there are two built-in cameras inside, one on rear, capable recording a 720p video at 30fps, and a front-facing one, supporting 5x digital zoom. Some cool accessories that Apple is tossing, such as the HDMI video out which will run for $39, and a stunning smart cover case, made of materials like micro-fiber and “magnet” elements – that’s $39 for the plastic version or $69 for the leather.

Software wise, iOS 4.3 being announced (available for download on March 11, free of charge) with new iTunes Home Sharing features, Airplay updates, and Nitro Javscript Safari improvements, delivering much faster surfing results. Other than that, we’re looking at the new ability to “share your 3G connection via wifi” which is best known as Mifi personal hotspot, a lovely revamped Photo Booth edition, supporting nine live video streams at once, Apple’s FaceTime feature for video conferencing purposes , a whole new version of iMovie, that takes advantage of the iPad’s big screen (about $4.99) and the most famous “touch instruments” OS X app, GarageBand  that will join the lineup with 8track recording, 250+ loops, effects, amps and plenty stuff more for a very small price tag ($4.99).

So there you go ladies and gentlemen. Who’s buying the new iPad and who’s not?

Hit the jump for the video introductions along some few more pics and full PR notes.

[Apple]

Continue reading Apple iPad 2 Officially Announced, Claimed To Be Thinner, Lighter and Faster →

tablets

Fujitsu Stylistic Q550 Windows 7 Tablet Now Official

Though we’ve already had a chance to see what Fujitsu’s  Stylistic Q550 Windows 7 tablet might look like, an official announcement from the Japanese corp suggests that the 10.1-inch Oak Trail-powered device will go live tomorrow morning, running Windows 7 Home Premium or Professional edition under the hood, alongside a four-finger multitouch WXGA display, 2GB of RAM, Wireless WAN, optional HSPA module, USB 2.0 hub and 30/64GB of SSD storage at your choice. As mentioned earlier, it is supposed to be available across Europe, starting tomorrow, for a whopping €699 (about $965). Pretty expensive, but that just might be changing in the next few months or so. Full PR after the b break.

Continue reading Fujitsu Stylistic Q550 Windows 7 Tablet Now Official →