Category Archives: tablets

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?

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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 →

tablets

Archos Rolls Out Arnova 8 and 10 Android 2.1 Tablets

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A known fact is that high-end tablets such as the Apple iPad or the Motorola Xoom are by far the most popular technology headline figures nowadays, but keep in mind there are also some lower cost devices that still make it out into this overcrowded sphere, and frankly speaking, they’re getting better and better every day. Such new arrivals, like the Archos Arnova 8 and Arnova 10 are enjoying the benefit of a market that is growing stable and somewhat predictable, in terms of who’s dominant and who’s the average player. That being said, you can still get affordable and quality in the same sentence, and that’s exactly what these companies (like Archos) are aiming for, aren’t they? In general, the two cheap Archos slates, which had already received approval from FCC to operate within the States, boast a 600MHz Rockchip RK2818 processor, paired with a USB 2.0 hub, MicroSD slot expansion, WiFi, inbuilt accelerometer, integrated speakers, resistive touchscreen displays, sized 8-inch and 10-inch respectively, and last but not least, a preloaded Android 2.1 platform, also known as Eclair. Storage capacities are at 4GB and 8GB only, but that’s what you basically get for paying 150 and 199 US dollars, or just under $350 for the pair. In addition to the above, the French corp is planning to release a 1GHz ARM Cortex-A8 Rockchip RK 2918 version with a more convenient capacitive touchscreen, sometime this April, for roughly the same amount of dough. And till then you can definitely dig in the two hands-on videos after the break.

[ARMdevices via Engadget]

Continue reading Archos Rolls Out Arnova 8 and 10 Android 2.1 Tablets →

tablets

Motorola Xoom Officially Live On Verizon (Update: Also in Germany and The UK)

For the last few months we have been talking and writing a lot about the Motorola Xoom, and now it’s all official at Verizon, available for grabbing for $799.99 off-contract sans Adobe flash support, or $599.99 with a two-year commitment package. The 1GHz dual-core-powered device which packs Google’s latest and greatest Android Honeycomb platform will be available on Best Buy’s shelves later today, but the 4G LTE feature, which many of you are probably waiting for, will show up for an update in 3 months or so, free of charge. The bad news is that we’re still required to pay considerable amount of money for an off contract slate, but the good ones are that Motorola has changed its WiFi lockdown policy, and customers who are willing to pay 800 bucks for the tablet, will now no longer need to register for a one month Verizon data plan (additional $20). Thank god!

Update: UK retailer PC World has just listed the 10.1-inch Honeycomb-powered Motorola Xoom for online pre-order, with 10% off at checkout compared to the $800 price we’ve already seen Stateside. That means the Brits will have to shell out only £580, which are roughly about $980, in order to get the Tegra 2 Xoom device, with 32GB of storage, sans 3G connectivity, or £480 (about $785) for the WiFi only version. Meanwhile, German’s biggest telecom company T-Mobile, has published its own 3G-enabled Xoom pricing, which stands at €699.95 – starting mid-late April. Full PR after the break.

Continue reading Motorola Xoom Officially Live On Verizon (Update: Also in Germany and The UK) →

tablets

Dell’s 2011 Tablets Slide Unveiled

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Considering the fact that we’ve already seen a couple of leaked Dell roadmap slides in 2010, doesn’t mean we’re not interested to see a few slides more; on the contrary, we’d love to get ’em if you have any, in particular those planned for 2013, 2014, and on and on. As for 2011/2012, the Androidcentral guys have somehow managed to obtain Dell’s tablets forecast, and it’s here presented to you with much enthusiasm and galore. According to the roadmap we’re seeing, Dell’s Streak 10 is only few days away from launching, as far as the Q1 “storyline” goes, while in Q2 we should expect the Dell Gallo tablet, with a Honeycomb flavor attached, and a Streak 7 update somewhere in the late July. Staying in that Q2 framework for a moment, we’re also looking at Dell’s 10-inch Windows 7 slate, planned under the codename Rosemount and scheduled for June, with a 1366 x 768 pixels resolution display that supports HD 720p video transmission. Jumping forward to Q4 and Q1 of 2012, there’s a number of entries worthy of a mention, including the Honeycomb-powered Dell Sterling device (due out in late October), the Dell Opus One and Dell Silver Oak, both are due to go on sale in 2012 running Android Honeycomb platform within, and last but not least, the Dell Peju that makes a grand entrance with Windows 8 on board.

So there you have it, fellow readers; It’s definitely going to be an interesting year for the tablets form factor, at least as far as Dell is concerned.

tablets

Rumor: Sony is Prepping An Android PlayStation Tablet

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It’s a bit odd that we still haven’t heard anything from Sony about a possible launch of a tablet device, but somehow you always get the feeling there’s something cool they are working on at the moment. And if Engadget’s latest report should be taken into consideration, and it should, then the Japanese corp is currently working on some sort of a Playstation tablet, running Google’s android Honeycomb on board. Sounds almost unbelievable, right? And yet, it might be true. The name of the presumable device is “S1” and according to various sources, there’s a good chance it would boast a 9.4-inch screen with 1280 X 800 resolution, front and rear-facing cameras, USB hub, a Tegra 2 processor, volume on / off buttons and an IR emitter for the use of Sony TVs control. Rumor has it that the S1 will go for a $599 price tag with a planned September ship, or maybe even before. Stay tuned for a whole lot more.

tablets

HTC Flyer 7-inch Android 2.4 Tablet With 1.5GHz CPU Debuts

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Today at MWC in Barcelona, HTC officially announced the Flyer, an Android-based tablet with a 7-inch 1024 x 600 pixel resolution capacitive touchscreen display and a 1.5GHz single-core processor on board. Titles aside, the Flyer will reportedly ship in Q2 2011 with an Android 2.4 platform (AKA: Gingerbread), alongside a 1GB of RAM, 32GB of internal storage, a 1.3 megapixel front-facing camera and another one, at 5 megapixels, attached to the back. Moreover, the good looking aluminum unibody tablet offers inbuilt Wifi connectivity, paired with a 4000mAh battery pack, Bluetooth 3.0, a microSD card reader, HDMI out, a micro USB hub and DLNA support. No prices available at the moment, but the Full PR is somewhere down the road.

Update1: Also, make sure to stop by and check out the two “first-look” Flyer tablet videos we’ve just added after the break.

Update2: Not sure I like this all “pressure sensitive” thing, It feels a bit dubious. That said, the Flyer does seem to include a stylus pen for taking onscreen notes, or playing back audio recordings from the time a note was written.

Update3: What’s this? Looks like Amazon.de has just listed HTC’s latest and greatest Flyer tablet at €669, which means a little more than 700 US Dollars. Expensive, isn’t it?

Update4: And just in case you were wondering, HTC’s WiFi-only Flyer tablet is set to be released Stateside somewhere “this spring”. And while prices remain vague at the moment, the 7-incher is said to run exclusively via Best Buy’s nationwide retail stores, while others may join the selling later on.

Update5: HTC has just posted a Flyer demo video that seems to demonstrate the level of qualities the tablet has to offer. Check it out after the break (3rd video).

Update6: HTC confirms Flyer tablet will get Honeycomb sometime this year or so. Hopefully. According to the company’s Twitter account it “will be offering a Honeycomb upgrade when it’s made available.” A bit vague, especially when it comes to launching dates, but still good enough to give us all a ray of hope.

Update7: And looks like the HTC Flyer has finally made it into the UK market with pre-order prices starting at a whopping £600 (about $985) at Carphone Warehouse. This amount will grant you a 7-inch tablet device, powered by a 1.5GHz Qualcomm CPU, 32GB of storage, 3G connectivity and Android Gingerbread running on top. Did someone say expensive?

Update8: And if you’re looking for more reasonable prices, US retailer Best Buy is said to begin selling the Flyer on April 24th with a $499 starting price and all the good things we’ve already talked about, running on board. Regretfully, It’ll ship with Android 2.3 (Gingerbread), but we’re told an Honeycomb upgrade is something we should all look for.

Continue reading HTC Flyer 7-inch Android 2.4 Tablet With 1.5GHz CPU Debuts →

tablets

LG Optimus Pad Becomes Official

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Looks like it didn’t take LG that long to make its newly born 8.9-inch Android 3.0 tablet, AKA: Optimus Pad (or T-Mobile’s G-Slate) official – and it all happened today, at the MWC 2011 event in Barcelona, Spain. The Optimus Pad, which boasts a 1GHz NVIDIA Tegra 2 processor along with a 1280 x 768 screen resolution and a special 3D camera array on the back, is LG’s first real foray into the tablet market place and frankly, dear fellows, it’s doing quite a nice job, isn’t it? Availability wise, the South Korean giant says that the Honeycomb-powered slate will go live worldwide somewhere around March, while prices are yet to be determined.

Update: Engadget has the hands-on video, from Spain, which can be found right after the break.

Continue reading LG Optimus Pad Becomes Official →

General, tablets

Motorola Xoom Confirmed for Europe in Q2

Motorola Xoom has already gone official Stateside (WiFi only version), back at CES 2011 in early January, and moments ago the company has officially confirmed a Q2 European release of its 10.1-inch Honeycomb wonder – both in WiFi and WiFi plus 3G flavors. Prices still remain undisclosed to the public, despite those early whispers from Best Buy and co. Full PR after the break.

Update: Nope, you still can’t buy the new Motorola Xoom on Best Buy (or other retailers) yet, but you can download the company’s Honecomb tablet manual guide – all parts of it -64 pages that will teach you how to handle the upcoming device, and how to navigate through the Android 3.0 platform. The guys at Droid Live have somehow managed to obtain it, and you can have it right away from the following link below.

Download: XOOM_Manual.pdf

Continue reading Motorola Xoom Confirmed for Europe in Q2 →

tablets

Samsung Galaxy Tab II Breaks Cover at The Mobile World Congress in Barcelona (Update: Now Official)

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It wasn’t so long ago that Samsung launched its new 7-inch iPad killer, also known as the Galaxy Tab. And although we haven’t had much time to play with it, as much as we wanted, the Android-powered device has definitely won us over. But as you all probably know, good things with technological advances move forward at light speed, and so does Samsung, that seems ready and set to roll out a Galaxy Tab successor at the MWC 2011 event, which kicks out today. Well, that’s what the rumor says, and so does the following picture that features Sammy’s second-gen tablet (Galaxy Tab II), running an Android 3.0 Honeycomb platform, along with a 10.1-inch display, at 1280 x 800 resolution, 16/32GB of internal storage, and a 1GHz processor attached on board. Word on the street has it that it’d also include an 8 megapixel camera with HD video capabilities, but there’s no official confirmation yet either way. Please stay tune as we gather more information about Samsung’s upcoming tablet.

Update1: It looks like the rumors that were flying around about a new Galaxy Tab II device have finally been confirmed, as multiple media outlets are reporting that Samsung has officially unveiled its latest and greatest 10.1-inch Android Honeycomb tablet, namely Galaxy Tab 10.1 (and not Galaxy Tab II as we first thought), with a 3.5mm jack, a SIM card slot, an inbuilt gyro plus accelerometer, 16GB or 32GB of storage, a front-facing 2 megapixel webcam alongside a rear 8 megapixel camera, boasting a LED flash and 1080p capturing capabilities, WiFi, Bluetooth 2.1, a pair of stereo speakers and a powerful dual-core Tegra 2 processor on board. Pricing details are to be released closer to the market launch, which according to Samsung, is set to take place in Asia and Europe somewhere this March.  Full PR and specs chart are right after the jump.

Update2: We’ve just added a quick hands on video of Samsung’s new Galaxy Tab 10.1, courtesy of the phonedog YouTube page. Check it out after the break.

Update3: If any of you have been waiting for Samsung’s second-gen Galaxy Tab pricing or availability details to show up, it seems like Vodafone has just got the news for you and the Tab II will be hitting Vodafone Portugal sometime this March for €699, while the Spanish branch will offer the new Samsung tablet for €349 on-contract sometime this spring.

Update4: We’ve just added a great and thorough Galaxy Tab walk-through video. Check it out after the break.

[via Samsung Hub]

Continue reading Samsung Galaxy Tab II Breaks Cover at The Mobile World Congress in Barcelona (Update: Now Official) →

tablets

HP’s 9.7-inch Palm TouchPad Announced: 1.2GHz dual-core Snapdragon, Beats Audio engine and webOS 3.0 Platform

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We’ve already seen a glimpse of what HP’s 9.7-inch Touchpad device looks like, and today it finally sees an official announcement. And while the tablet itself doesn’t break any design ground, the new webOS 3.0 platform is simply mind blowing. Weighing in at 1.6 pounds and measuring only 13.7mm thick, the Palm TouchPad, which used to be called Topaz, also includes a dual-core 1.2GHz Snapdragon processor, along with a very sharp  9.7-inch 1024 x 768 touchscreen display, an integrated gyroscope, accelerometer, your choice of 16/32GB of internal storage, 802.11b/g/n WiFi, Bluetooth 2.1+EDR, A-GPS capabilities, and a 1.3MP front-facing camera, for audio/video conferencing support. Also, as far as music entertainment at this new Hewlett-Packard tablet goes, you get yourself a set of inbuilt stereo speakers, powered by HP’s own Beats audio engine that produces a  ‘Jump Smokers Sound’ that will make you dance, shake and rock.

Software wise, HP/Palm’s webOS 3.0 is beating everything easily so far. Generally speaking, it does kick Apple’s ass in some of the places, and certainly a lot nicer to use than any Android-powered devices we’ve ever had a chance to experience. Not only is the UI slick and geared toward public consumption, it is probably the only one out there to feature a true multitasking, to date (you hear that Apple?). Besides that, there’s a very cool email app preloaded inside, as well as a virtual keyboard, VPN capabilities, touch to share integration, wireless printing, and well established QuickOffice, Google Docs, Dropbox, and Box.net support.

Regretfully, price wasn’t announced yet (someone’s probably waiting for Apple to announce iPad 2 first) and the ship is set for this undetermined “coming this summer,” date…but that doesn’t mean we are any less excited, right?

While waiting, make sure you hit the jump to watch the video.

Update: We’ve just added another quick hands-on video, courtesy of TechnoBuffalo.

Continue reading HP’s 9.7-inch Palm TouchPad Announced: 1.2GHz dual-core Snapdragon, Beats Audio engine and webOS 3.0 Platform →

tablets

Motorola Xoom Hits Best Buy on February 24th For $800, Says New Ad

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Oh! What’s this? Looks like Best Buy is done trying to hide the one secret (actually two) that Motorola’s been keeping from us for quite a while. And when we say ‘secret’ we’re actually referring to price and availability, the two missing parts in the Motorola Xoom Android Honeycomb tablet, which were recently detailed in Best Buy’s new ad – black on yellow. So, $799 for a 10-inch android 3.0 tablet, that’s pretty expensive, isn’t it? Not to mention there’s a WiFi “lock-down” which binds to a 1 month of 3G mobile broadband data at Verizon ($20 per month for a 1GB package or $80 for the 10GB flavor). That’s one major flaw! and someone from the big M needs to intervene. As a matter of fact, there’s plenty of time to fix that crap – We are now less than two weeks, away from the official roll out, which takes place on Thursday, February 24th. C’mon guys, let’s have a little tablets competition around, shall we?

Update1: Motorola just launched the Xoom portal. Let the game begin!

Update2: Reuters is citing Motorola’s CEO, Sanjay Jha, who has just confirmed a $799 price tag  for the 32GB Honeycomb tablet, also known as the Xoom (WiFi+3G). While a WiFi-only version will run for merely $600, which is roughly equal to 32GB iPad. Is anyone surprised?

Update3: The Motorola Xoom is finally up for pre order at Best Buy, titled as “the world’s first tablet to run Android 3.0” platform on board. And the Feb. 24th release date and integrated front-facing camera for video calling makes this a perfect Valentine’s gift, don’t you think? Well, depends if you’re willing to spend $800 on your partners in exchange for a 3G-enabled 10.1-inch Honeycomb tablet and some LOVE.

Update4: According to Verizon‘s web page, the Motorola Xoom that we’ are all expecting to see out on Feb 24th, won;t have flash support on launch. What? Yes, that’s exactly what the small caption down left says: “Adobe Flash expected Spring 2011.” BUMMER!!!

Update5: Motorola has just confirmed the release of its 10.1-inch Xoom sans Adobe Flash support:

“Motorola XOOM will include full support for Adobe® Flash® Player® for accessing the rich video and animations of the web, to be available after launch.”

[via Engadget]

Applications, tablets

Dell Streak 7 Has a Secret Phone Feature

Is Dell hiding secrets from us? Well, one can pretty much assume that if the 5-inch Streak comes with integrated 3G phone capabilities, its bigger sibling, the Streak 7, most definitely has them too – but regretfully it doesn’t. Not exactly. According to the good guys at Streak Smart, Dell’s new 7-inch Android Froyo tablet does seem to have this hidden phone application transplanted under the lid, only that no one has been willing to share it with us, at least until now. True, it doesn’t really work the other direction. In other words, there’s not much to do with it right now, and calls just won’t go through or get connected. Still, it’s really something to hope for, right? Well, can’t wait till it finally happens (and be sure it would). Until then, make sure you hit the jump and watch the video.

 

[via Streak Smart]

Continue reading Dell Streak 7 Has a Secret Phone Feature →

tablets

Google’s Android Honeycomb OS and Android Market Website Officially Announced

Looking back on early January 2011, we catch a glimpse of an awesome experience of the Android 3.0 video teasers. Looking forward to what’s ahead of this year let us capture a vision of the great Honeycomb OS which will inevitably make Android the dominant Smartphone and Tablet platform of the future. The rapid ascent of Android has prompted Google to go ahead and announce the official release of its latest creation, made by Palm’s former UI designer, Matias Duarte, and best known as the Android Honeycomb – Google’s answer to many of tablet -based OS out there. And while there wasn’t much news about it, it is still worth watching – especially for those that widgets, finger gestures, or 3D rendering matters spark their interest. The one thing however, that caught most people’s eyes was Google’s Android Market which has finally turned official, as a web client, and gone live couple of hours ago with a very neat and simple Market catalog to browse (more than 50,000 apps inside) with both free and paid Android applications preloaded on board. Move forward after the break to catch up with Google’s full event.

Continue reading Google’s Android Honeycomb OS and Android Market Website Officially Announced →

tablets

LG G-Slate With Dual Back Cameras (3D) Gets Detailed

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LG is finally entering the Android tablet market in the US with the upcoming release of its latest and greatest 8.9-inch Android 3.0 G-Slate, which is based off of Google’s most anticipated Honeycomb platform, and consists of many high-end components including a 1GHz dual-core Tegra 2 processor, 32GB of internal flash storage, built-in gyroscope and accelerometer elements, WiFi, 3G HSPA+ network (over T-Mobile’s 4G infrastructure), adaptive lighting integration and HDMI out for 1080p video support. Definitely sounds good, but wait ’till you hear this – The front and rear cameras is essentially what distinguishes LG’s future tablet from other similar devices available in the market today and is a big bonus for someone shooting quite a lot of video conference chats or high quality images, instead. In short, The LG tablet will be one of the first to market with a stereoscopic rear-facing video cameras, capable of 3D 1080p capture, while there’s one on the back (overall there are two rear cameras) featuring a 5 megapixel camera plus LED flash capabilities, and another at 2 megapixel, which the Korean corp has placed up front. A US release is set for March of this year with solid price and date details to be announced very shortly. Hit the jump for the full PR read along with another image reflecting the back.

Update: We’ve just added a quick LG the Optimus Pad video, featuring the 8.9-incher running with Google’s Android Honeycomb platform on board.

Continue reading LG G-Slate With Dual Back Cameras (3D) Gets Detailed →

tablets

Is That HTC’s Next Android 2.3 Flyer Tablet?

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Well, according to several reliable Amobil sources it probably is, and most importantly, designed to include a 1GHz Qualcomm MSM8255 chip along with a 7-inch, 1024 x 600 capacitive touchscreen, 1GB of RAM, 4GB of internal flash storage, dual webcams (1.3MP on the back and a 5MP up front), HDMI output, 3G connectivity and DLNA support. And while there’s no official confirmation yet, nor any info about price or availability, the general feeling upon this upcoming/speculated device is pretty positive overall, and that we’re only few months away from seeing it out on the market, running Google’s Android 2.3 OS under the hood and preloaded with HTC’s Sense UI platform on board. In addition, there are other rumors about a larger, faster 10-inch LTE slate hitting the streets in the second half of the year, but that just seems too early to report.

tablets

MSI Introduces a Win 7 Tablet With an Integrated Projector

If you think you’ve seen it all, think again, because the way it looks we are only at the very beginning, at least as far as tablets world’s concerned. No, seriously, has any of you people ever thought about the idea of adding projectors to your slates? Well, MSI did, and it seems they have been able to put together a demo unit and present it to everyone during the CES show, back in early January. Basically, it’s just the same MSI tablet we’ve already seen before, with a 10-inch display, Intel’s Atom processor and a Windows 7 platform on board. Only this time, with an integrated swivel projector added on top. And while most details are scarce, it is said to include wall screening capabilities, along with rotation features and even some sort of a virtual laser projected keyboard that will work on any surface at your choice. Remember, this is just a concept version, but we’re very excited to see the outcome. Make sure you check out the video, right after the break.

[via TBreak]

Continue reading MSI Introduces a Win 7 Tablet With an Integrated Projector →

tablets

Apple’s iPad 2 Rumored to Have Camera, Facetime and Photobooth Support

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Oh the rumors keep flying in about the most anticipated iPad 2 for 2011. And no, we’re not surprised at all, just wanted to keep you up to date with the latest news. OK, then. So according to recent iOS 4.3 beta 2 release, you might indeed be able to take camera snapshots with Apple’s next-gen iPad tablet native camera, use it for video conference purposes with Cupertino’s most amazing Facetime feature, and even record those beautiful images you’ve taken or any other video footage via the PhotoBooth app (A Mac OS X software that Apple is presumably shifting to the iPad). Well, what do you say? I guess that leaves us with the fervent hope that these rumors would turn out to be true, no?

Update: The 4.3 beta 2 release also suggests the existence of a rear 1MP webcam, alongside a 0.3MP flavor upfront. Rumors, you know.

[via MacRumors]

tablets

HP webOS Tablets Rumored For a March 2011 Arrival

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Well, it looks like we don’t really need to wait until February 9 to get details about one of the most anticipated webOS products in the HP lineup – they’re right here, courtesy of Engadget tipsters, and we couldn’t be pleased more with this, could we? Generally speaking, we’re looking at two new webOS slates that HP adds to its most impressive burgeoning portfolio, a 9-inch codenamed Topaz and a 7-inch going by the name Opal. And while we couldn’t help noticing a certain similarity between Palo Alto’s future slabs and Cupertino’s trendy and fashionable iPad device, there are yet several differences distinguishing the two species from each other – the lack of “home” button, for instance, or the presence of a micro USB port on the bottom along with a 1.2GHz processor and a front-facing camera upfront. In addition to that, we can also spot a set of three stereo speakers for audio layout (in landscape and portrait modes) on both Hewlett Packard units, while their back side seems to be getting a black glossy coating material of some sort.

Aside from the minor details, and the fact that the first webOS tablets family may start shipping in March of 2011 (unconfirmed), we do not have much to say, except that at least one version, out of the two that HP plans to release, will be offered in three optional paths: as a WiFi-only model, as part of an AT&T 3G plan or with Verizon’s Wireless’ LTE network. Either way, we hope these rumors turn out to be true. Stay tuned.

Update1: As far as measures go, rumor has it that the Opal will be sized at 180 x 144 x 13mm while the Topaz slate is a bit bigger, at 241 x 190 x 13mm. Screen wise, we’re looking at a 1,024 x 768 pixel TFT LCD multitouch display, instilled on both versions, along with a “premium audio” system based on HP’s most  advanced Beats audio platform. Other than that, we also hear that potential buyers are likely to be given “tens of gigabytes” of cloud storage, which frankly sounds pretty neat as well, but then, you’ll have to wait for February 9 in order to get even more savvy.

Update2: The good guys over at Pre Central have managed to put their hands on an internal paper with a list of specs of HP’s upcoming tablet. As it turns out, the 9.7-inch HP Topaz is likely to include a 1.2GHz Qualcomm processor on board, along with 512MB of DDR2 memory, an Adreno 220 GPU for the graphics, a mic,  802.11b/g/n WiFi, Bluetooth 2.1+EDR, a 1024 x 768 touchscreen resolution, a front-facing 1.3MP webcam and either 16GB, 32GB or 64GB of storage at your choice. Besides that, we also expect some neat goodies under the lid, such as a built-in accelerometer, paired with a gyroscope, and a light sensor for auto background colors, while battery wise, we’re looking at somewhere around 8 hours of continuous work.

[via Engadget]

Continue reading HP webOS Tablets Rumored For a March 2011 Arrival →

tablets

Gigabyte’s S1080 Windows 7 Slate Shows Up in Taiwan

In a bid to steal some thunder, a few companies that opted to unveil some of their products at CES, have chosen to stick with a more solid plan of action and show their stuff a few days after the show. One of them is hardware manufacturer Gigabyte that recently announced its latest S1080 revelation – a 10.1-inch 1024 x 600 capacitive touchscreen slate, powered by Intel’s dual core Atom N550 processor and seems patched to work with Microsoft’s Windows 7 platform on board. And while this $699 device appears to be Gigabyte’s first attempt to push a well established tablet into the pond, the list of specifications covered is quite impressive and would definitely pose a threat to other upcoming slabs from all over the world. In that context, we speak about a huge 320GB hard drive, along with an ethernet, SD card slot, a 1.3 megapixel webcam, WiFi connectivity and Bluetooth 3.0 support. Besides that, we’re looking at a VGA display connector (no HDMI?) and a top notch USB 3.0 port. The first shipment is scheduled to leave on February, but in the meantime, you’re all invited to hit the jump and read the full PR note.

Update: And looks like the 3G-enabled 10.1-incher is finally up for a purchase, East side, for a whopping NT$22,900 (about $785). Just a bit higher than a first-gen 3G iPad with 64GB of storage that runs for NT$22,800. It’s a no-brainer scenario for us.

[via geek]

Continue reading Gigabyte’s S1080 Windows 7 Slate Shows Up in Taiwan →

tablets

Enspert Identity Tab E301 Android Tablet Officially Out In South Korea

In the inevitable storm of Android tablets set to rain down on us this coming year, one thing’s for sure: it won’t be easy for smaller manufacturers to distinguish themselves apart. Not to mention creating a buzz. But that doesn’t mean we won’t see them, right? Right. Korean Enspert, for instance, is a good way to illustrate our thoughts, because most people have probably never heard of them before, and yet thankfully, it didn’t stop them from launching an Android tablet of their own. And if you’re still reading, here’s what the company’s 7-inch Identity Tab E301 slate (yep, that’s the full name) is going to boast: Generally speaking, we’re looking at a $350 tablet with 1024 x 600 capacitive touchscreen resolution, alongside a 1GHz ARM Cortex A8 CPU, 512MB of RAM, 8GB of internal flash storage, 802.11 b/g/n WiFi, Bluetooth 2.1, a mini USB hub, and HDMI port. In addition to that, there’s a 4100mAH battery pack preloaded inside, a microSD, optional 3G-enabled version, and last but not least, dual webcams – a 5 megapixel unit on the back, and another at 1.3 megapixel, up front. In a first move, the Asian corp says it has already started selling its latest and greatest merchandise locally, while US invasion is expected to take place in cooperation with a major wireless carrier during a back-to-school launch, in the coming months or so. And while you’re waiting, make sure you check out the quick hands-on preview along with the full PR announcement, half past the break.

Update: There seems to be one or more than one Identity Tab models out there, as it would appear on a recent pre-order page that has recently emerged at  Dynamism‘s online store. The other version, Identity Tab E201U, which will run on Google’s Android Froyo platform (with both Gmail and Android Market preloaded inside), boasts that same 7-inch 800 x 480 touchscreen display on top, along with a 1GHz Hummingbird processor, 512MB of RAM, 8GB of storage, 802.11 b/g/n WiFi, Bluetooth 2.1, PowerVR SGX540 for the graphics and one single SD card slot. Ship date pushed back to February 1st while pre-order price tag is standing at $349. Full specs after the break.

 

[via liliputing]

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tablets

MSI WindPad 100W and 100A Tablets Officially Introduced

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We’ve first seen them back in June as the WindPad 100 and 110, and now at CES 2011, they will actually come out as the WindPad 100W and WindPad 100A, as MSI recently announced it. And while there’s really nothing new in terms of design, spec wise there seems to be signs of great improvement (though it still feels a bit sluggish). As said, this is going to be another addition to MSI’s 10-inch portfolio of Windows 7 and Android slates, which due to ship within three months or so. The first model, the WindPad 100W, is said to sport a 1.66GHz Atom Menlow Z530 CPU along with 2GB of RAM, 32GB SSD and Windows 7 OS on board. While the second, which boasts an Android platform under the lid, together with a full Android Market access, packs a ARM Cortex A8 chip, paired with 1GB of RAM, duo webcams, HDMI out, SD card and USB ports. Prices are yet to be announced, but ’till then, hit the jump to watch the video or read the full PR.

Update: It looks like MSI’s 10-inch 100W slate is now being offered on Simply Electronics for a whopping $709.95. That’s way too much for a Windows 7 Starter device, if you’re asking us. Anyway, it’s your call, but you’d probably better wait until mid-February or so.

[via NetbookNews]

Continue reading MSI WindPad 100W and 100A Tablets Officially Introduced →

tablets

Panasonic’s Android-Powered Viera Tablets Series Announced

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Panasonic is about to join the overcrowded group of international tablet doers, and tinge everything with something of its own color. The Japanese Corp, that recently held a press conference at CES 2011, has officially announced a new line of three Android Froyo tablets, equipped with either 4, 7, or 10-inch displays on top of the slate, and similar hardware specs under the hood. The company, that is well known for its unmatched expertise in the field of screening technology, is said to put its latest and greatest Viera Connect software solution in all three models, which means a seamless connectivity between tablet content and your big flat TV screen. In addition to that, Panasonic has also added a very convenient home theater remote controlling feature within, so that you won’t miss the many fun and entertaining events that take place around the globe. And while price and availability details are still missing, full PR is just after the break.

Continue reading Panasonic’s Android-Powered Viera Tablets Series Announced →

tablets

Dell Streak 7 Finally Gets Official, With Dual-Core Tegra 2 and Android Froyo On Board

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Of course we’ve already seen Dell tease us all with its upcoming 7-inch Android tablet, back in September. But today we finally get a chance to see a real unit of Dell’s production model, this time with a few more details, worth knowing, attached and the oh-so-not-surprising “Streak 7” moniker. And while availability or pricing are still particularly vague – excluding the rumors that indicate a release “in the coming weeks” – other specifications include an Android 2.2 platform (and potentially upgrade to 3.0?), paired with a Gorilla Glass-protected touchscreen, 16GB of storage, a 1.3MP front-facing camera (plus 5mp on the back) and a powerful 1GHz dual-core Tegra 2 processor to improve your overall graphics and let you watch high-res content on board. Full PR plus Dell’s commercial video right after the break.

Update1: Are you curious about the inner part of the hottest Dell Streak 7? Make sure to check out the disassembling video right after the break.

Update2: And yet another quick hands-on video that you can watch after the break. This time in one piece 🙂

Update3: T-Mobile will be offering the 7-inch, Android Froyo slate, powered by 4G capabilities and equipped with NVIDIA’s Tegra 2 graphics, starting February 2nd, for $199.99 on a two-year contract (including a $50 mail-in rebate), or just $450 off contract.

Update4: And looks like Dell’s WiFi-only Streak 7 tablet officially goes live in the UK, with prices starting at £299 (about $485), and specs that include pretty much the same lineup (3G capabilities aside): a 7-inch (800 x 480) touchscreen, paired with a Tegra 2 dual-core CPU, 16GB of storage, a rear 5 megapixel camera, and another one at 1.3 megapixel up front. Regretfully, there’s “only” Android 2.2 running on board, but hopefully a Honeycomb update will be available for this device, somewhere before the Fall.

Continue reading Dell Streak 7 Finally Gets Official, With Dual-Core Tegra 2 and Android Froyo On Board →

tablets

Fujitsu’s Unnamed Windows 7 Slate To Include Intel Oak Trail CPU Inside (Update: Stylistic Q550)

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Fujitsu is no stranger to the world of portable devices. As a matter of fact, the company has already released a few of them during the last few months. The latest one, which doesn’t have an official title yet, is said to arrive with a 10.1-inch touchscreen, powered by a Windows 7 platform along with Intel’s new Oak Trail Atom Z670 processor that is capable in providing low battery consumption for a long period of use. Besides that, the 1.5 pound tablet boasts 2GB of RAM, removal battery pack and a pair of VGA webcams, one on each side. Software wise, the device sports a new breed of layer that Fujitsu skinned atop of the Windows 7 OS, but that’s probably the only thing that the company was willing to share at the moment and frankly, we need to know more before committing our limited financial resources. In any case, availability is expected for Q2 of this year, so stay tuned for plenty more to come.

Update: Now that Fujitsu’s 10-inch mystery tablet is finally making its way out to the market, we’re glad to learn that the Windows 7-powered device was finally given a name – and is now known as the Stylistic Q550. And while we’re still unfamiliar with price and availability details, other specs include this aforementioned Oak Trail processor, along with smartcard slot, front and rear cameras, 32GB / 64GB SSD storage at your choice, USB hub, optional 3G connectivity and fingerprint reader for security log. Hit the break for a quick introduction video.

Continue reading Fujitsu’s Unnamed Windows 7 Slate To Include Intel Oak Trail CPU Inside (Update: Stylistic Q550) →

tablets

WiFi-only Samsung Galaxy Tab Coming Stateside in Q1

Samsung has some very good news for those of you who can’t afford themselves spending over $600 on a very expensive tablet, or simply could not conceive of the idea of signing up a 2 years contract with a mobile carrier. As per a plan that the Koreans are currently working on, Samsung will soon have its very own 3G-free Galaxy Tab machine, that will carry 16GB of storage on board, along with up to 32GB of expendable microSD slot. And while Sammy is vouching for a Q1 release in the US, pricing details are still unknown. But be sure it’s going to be a lot more cheaper. Press release after the break.

Continue reading WiFi-only Samsung Galaxy Tab Coming Stateside in Q1 →

tablets

Motorola Xoom Android 3.0 Tablet Gets Official at CES 2011

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If you think you’ve seen it all, then you need to check out Motorola Xoom that has recently been unveiled at the company’s stand at CES 2011 and surely looks quite promising. The 10.1-inch tablet that runs Google’s most anticipated Android 3.0 platform (Honeycomb) inside its bowels, along with a 1GHz dual-core Tegra 2 chip for extended graphics use, and a high-resolution screen (1280 x 800) for 720p video quality, is likely to go live somewhere around Q1, while 4G connectivity will hopefully become available in Q2 of this year. Other then that it is yet another tablet with 32GB of storage, integrated WiFi, Bluetooth 2.1, a 5 megapixel HD video camera at the back plus a front-facing camera, up front. Pricing details are yet to be determined, but there’s couple of videos and PR blurbs just after the break.

Update1: Motorola’s Latin America GM, Maurizio Angelone, has just confirmed the upcoming release of a WiFi-only Xoom tablet. According to Infobae, the company’s most hyped Android 3.0 device, that is claimed to include a built-in barometer alongside  an accelerometer, magnetometer, ambient light sensor and gyroscope, will first arrive in April of this year, which is almost a month earlier than Motorola’s 3G-enabled Xoom edition. Still no word about prices though.

Update2: Android Central has managed to obtain an inside document that lists Motorola’s flagship Android Honeycomb device (AKA: Xoom) along with some other cool products, at $800 bucks. Are you willing to pay that much for an Android tablet?

Update3: And latest news say that the Motorola Xoom (powered by an Android 3.0 platform) is finally set for official US release on February 17th, priced at $699.99. Stay tuned.

Continue reading Motorola Xoom Android 3.0 Tablet Gets Official at CES 2011 →

tablets

Velocity Micro Busts Out Cruz Tablet L37, P38 and L510 Android Tablets at CES 2011

The Consumer Electronics Show 2011 (CES) is perhaps the best place to introduce your brand new products, especially when it comes to tech and gadgets. Velocity Cruz, a company that has already launched a couple of Android devices before, is one firm that wisely showed up in order to launch and promote its latest and greatest Android tablets lineup, which comprises of three different models: the 7-inch Cruz Tablet L37 that packs a 1024 x 600 capacitive touchscreen, along with 4GB of storage, 802.11n WiFi, Bluetooth 2.1, GPS, dual webcams In the back and in the front, a bunch of brightly colored buttons on the left edge, and a a microHDMI output port. Up next, we have the Cruz Tablet P38 that boasts pretty much the same specs, only with a slightly higher screen resolution – a 1024 x 768. and finally, the flagship version, Cruz Tablet L510, that features a 10.1-inch 1366 x 768 display, paired with a 1GHz dual-core processor and NVIDIA’s Tegra 250 chipset for the graphics. All three versions are expected to arrive in different markets, sometime this year, preloaded with Amazon’s Kindle app and Google’s android OS platform running on board. Hit the jump for full PR.

Continue reading Velocity Micro Busts Out Cruz Tablet L37, P38 and L510 Android Tablets at CES 2011 →

Operating Systems, tablets

Google’s Android 3.0 For Tablets Gets Demoed on Video

Wel…well…well, what do we have in here? Guess it’s Google’s future android 3.0 platform (Honeycomb) that Mountain View has specifically designed to compliment and match tablets UI. To put it in different words, the 3.0 version is “Entirely for Tablet” – and boy! it looks great! But instead of crafting words, just checkout Google’s video to get a better impression.

Update: Looks like Google has just issued an early build of its upcoming Android 3.0 Honeycomb operating system. So if any of you Android Developers just so happen to log on, make sure to check out the platform’s uncompleted SDK version including the APIs. Video preview after the break.

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hPUGNCIozp0[/youtube]

Continue reading Google’s Android 3.0 For Tablets Gets Demoed on Video →

tablets

Acer’s 10-inch Iconia Tab A500 Android Tablet Officially Unveiled

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Remember Acer’s mysterious 10.1-inch android-tablet which we’ve already seen in New York City back in November, last year? Well, there it is, live and kickin’ in NVIDIA’s booth at CES 2011, rising up again – this time with a brand new name – Acer Iconia Tab A500. Generally speaking, this is Acer’s first serious attempt to take on the iPad, and it’s a worthy one, no doubt. With “10 point multitouch” screen, Nvidia Tegra 2 chip, a built-in gyroscope and hopefully, Google’s android Gingerbread running inside, you can’t go wrong, can you? Especially when it’s going to take advantage of the Verizon Wireless 4G LTE Mobile Broadband network. As for the UI, we’re looking at “Acer UI 4.5” that the company has skinned atop the the Android OS, while other specs include a bunch of embedded ports such as HDMI out, a full-sized USB plus a micro-USB one, a dock connector on the bottom, and 1080p along with 3D gaming support. Still no price or availability dates to share at the moment, but ’till then, Engadget has the hands-on video that you can find along with the Full PR, after the break.

Update1: Acer has just confirmed the UK pricing for its forthcoming Iconia Tab A500 tablets lineup and it’s pretty much within the iPad range: The WiFi-only flavors (Windows 7 or Android OS) will run you for £449 each, while the 3G-enabled W500 version will set you back for £529 when it officially gets out in the UK on April 8th. Still no word about the A500 pricing numbers.

Update2: And looks like the US official price is going to be more competitive than we originally thought, or in other words, the 10.1-inch (1280 x 800) Android Honeycomb tablet which boasts a 1GB of RAM along with a dual-core 1GHz Tegra 250 and dual cameras on the back (5MP) and up front (2MP), will set you back for only $450 on Best Buy retail stores while shipping starts on April 24. Let the competition begin!

Update3: It seems that Acer’s new Iconia Tab A500 is finally listed for sale on Best Buy. Apparently, this is the WiFi-only version of Acer’s brand new tablet and it will set you back for $450. In exchange you’re getting all the good specs we’ve already mentioned, including a Tegra 2 chip, paired with a 10.1-inch display, 16GB of storage, USB 2.0 hub and 802.11b/g/n WiFi connectivity.

Continue reading Acer’s 10-inch Iconia Tab A500 Android Tablet Officially Unveiled →

netbooks, tablets

ASUS Eee Pad Slider and Eee Pad Transformer Android 3.0 Tablets Make Official Appearance At CES 2011

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Asus just kicked out two new 10.1-inch tablets, powered by Nvidia Tegra 2 for the graphics and a pair of QWERTY sliding keyboard mods that miraculously  turn them into light and portable laptops. Sort of. But you have to admit it’s still convenient to type on physical keys rather than the virtual alternative. Basically, there are two models that fall within this category: The Eee Pad Slider (to the left) that boasts a IPS, 1280 x 800 resolution touchscreen with some sort of mechanism that looks exactly like a slider mobile phone (where the screen slides in and out), and the Eee Pad Transformer which probably got its inspiration from Lenovo’s U1 Hybrid laptop – and that means a detached screen which you can reattach to the typing base at your own will. And while the slider weights only 2.2 pounds and packs up to 1 GB of memory along with 16/32GB of storage, WiFi, Bluetooth, optional 3G connectivity, HDMI out, mini USB, a 1.2mp front facing camera plus a 5mp one (with LED flash on the back) and a MicroSD card slot, the Transformer on the other hand, boasts pretty much the same, only with one extra USB hub, a card reader and battery pack that is claimed to deliver up to 16 hours of work. And best of all, both devices will arrive preloaded with Google’s android 3.0 platform, which you might also know as Google’s Honeycomb. As for prices, Asus says that you’ll have to shell out between $500 to $800 for the Slider and about $400 and $700 for the Transformer flavor. availability is rumored for early Q2. Full specs after the break.

Update1: We’ve added a couple of  hands-on videos, courtesy of JkkMobile. Check ’em out after the break.

Update2: We now hear rumblings that Asus’ latest and greatest hybrid model, known as the Transformer, is going to live in the UK around May or June for £379 ($595), while the base unit will cost you a £100 ($155) more. As for the Slider version – which seems even more attractive IMHO – word on the street is that we’re looking at a July / August release with a whopping £429 ($675) price tag.

Continue reading ASUS Eee Pad Slider and Eee Pad Transformer Android 3.0 Tablets Make Official Appearance At CES 2011 →

tablets

ASUS Eee Slate EP121 Officially Introduced, Has Core i5 CPU Inside

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We’ve all seen the teaser ads and now, the much anticipated Eee Slate EP121 tablet from Asus is finally here. The 12.1-inch wonder that comes with a very impressive 1280 x 800 IPS display and said to include a Wacom digitizer support, will be offered by the Taiwanese giant with a Windows 7 OS on board. Yes, a Microsoft Windows platform for a change. Specs wise, we’re looking at one of the most powerful tablets ever manufactured, with Intel’s Core i5-470UM processor, paired with up to 4GB of RAM, and a 64GB SSD. WOW! in case you’re wondering, the stylus pen which Asus has also included can serve you better when it comes to freehand sketching or simply for taking notes. Wanna make a video conference or pump your HD videos on your flat screen TV? No problem at all. The EP121 comes fully equipped with a front facing camera and a single HDMI port. Sounds great, isn’t it? Absolutely yes, but not if you are broke. To put it into numbers, it’ll actually start at $1,000 for the basic unit, with availability in stores set for later this month. Full specs after the break.

Update: Asus is currently offering via Amazon a pre-order deal for its upcoming Eee Slate EP121, that will save you some green on a future purchase. The 12.1-incher, that was recently introduced, has just arrived to amazon’s online store, and for a limited time is being offered for only $999. We all want it badly, aren’t we?

Continue reading ASUS Eee Slate EP121 Officially Introduced, Has Core i5 CPU Inside →

CES, netbooks, tablets

Lenovo LePad Tablet and IdeaPad U1 Hybrid Officially Out Again with Android 2.2

So, Lenovo is officially back to this netbooks/tablets game after freezing its high-end U1 Hybrid project for a while in order to do some serious thinking. And as we’ve said, they are back again, appear ready and able to kick some real ass with what’s now being called the IdeaPad U1 Hybrid with LePad tablet. So what has changed, you’re asking? The new skin version is now powered by Google’s Android 2.2 version (called LeOS) instead of the sluggish Linux Skylight platform. Additionally, you’ll be getting even more powerful processors inside, as the U1 base unit is now equipped with a 1.2GHz Intel Core i5-540UM (optional i7) and the LePad tablet boasts a 1.3GHz Snapdragon flavor. Design wise, the netbook station now has a nice and more efficient chiclet keyboard within, along with a dimpled trackpad at the bottom and an overall sense of high and lavish style. Other than that, we’re glad to see substantial improvements in the LePad screen as well. The 10.1-incher is much more responsive than its sluggish and resistive predecessor, and seems to have a 1280 x 800 capacitive multitouch panel on board. Switching between Windows (base unit) to Android (tablet) is as simple as docking and undocking the LePad unit from its U1 platform. The process for itself often seems super fast when it comes to disconnecting between the two devices, while a bit slower the other way around. As for pricing and availability, the LePad is coming at ya (in case you live in China) sometime this quarter with a base price of $520, while the full package, including both the tablet and the U1 unit will run you for a whopping $1300. Expensive! Regretfully, there’s no further info about US availability at the moment, but you can take a look at. Engadget’s Joanna Stern hands-on video or read the full PR after the break.

Continue reading Lenovo LePad Tablet and IdeaPad U1 Hybrid Officially Out Again with Android 2.2 →

tablets

AOC Breeze Tablet Boasts 8-inch Display and Android 2.1 Platform

The more we’re getting closer to CES 2011, the more we’re going to hear about new products that join the world’s biggest tech celebration. AOC’s 8-inch Breeze is just the latest in that series. The new tablet, which was recently unveiled by one of the largest LED / LCD monitor manufacturers, runs an obsolete Android 2.1 platform within, along with an 800 x 600 screen resolution, and a slew of physical keys, up right, on top of the screen bezel. In addition, there’s a Rockchip chipset inside, paired with 4GB of internal storage, a microSD card slot, a battery pack that is claimed to deliver up to 12 hours of audio or 6 hours of video, WiFi connectivity, an internal speaker, and a single USB 2.0 port. More information should be forthcoming in the next few days, while shipping is due later this month and price is only few cents sub $200. Full PR after the break.

Continue reading AOC Breeze Tablet Boasts 8-inch Display and Android 2.1 Platform →

tablets

Toshiba Honeycomb Tegra 2 Tablet Announced (Update: AKA ANT)

Shocking! Toshiba has just announced yet another NVIDIA Tegra 2 tablet and oddly, it ain’t the 10-inch Folio slab we’ve all seen before. Details are scarce at the moment but we do know that the package includes a 10.1-inch 1280 x 800 display, with an integrated accelerometer, Adaptive Display technology (whatever that means), dual webcams (5mp at the back plus 2mp up front), Google’s Honecomb Android 2.4 platform and myriad types of ports , such as full sized USB and HDMI hubs, a mini-USB socket, and an SD card slot. Obviously, we’re very excited about it, and hopefully we should expect to see a working version in the coming days or so. There’s another image at the other side of the post.

Update1: Quick measures update: The slate is said to weigh about 1.7lb and will feature a 0.6-inches body.

Update2: PCMag’s Lance Ulanoff was lucky enough to take a closer look at one of Toshiba’s unnamed working units at the CES show in Vegas and you can watch his quick “first-look” video right after the break.

Update3: And looks like Tosh has finally started rolling out its latest and greatest Android 3.0 tablets lineup, now available for a purchase over at Newegg‘s online store and known as ANT. Apparently, there are three Honeycomb tablets in stock: ANT-100 ($449.99), ANT-102 ($499.99) and ANT-104 ($579.99). Each one of them boast that 10.1-inch (1280 x 800) touchscreen on top, along with NVIDIA Tegra 2 chip, and either 8/16/32GB of storage at your choice. Cool!

[via Engadget]

Continue reading Toshiba Honeycomb Tegra 2 Tablet Announced (Update: AKA ANT) →

tablets

Vizio 8-Inch Via Tablet Introduced, Only Days Ahead of CES

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CES 2011 is only couple of days ahead and that’s probably the best time to attract a few headlines and announce the release of new products. Actually, there are plenty of them, but we’ll save you the fuss this time, and let concentrate on this cool 8-inch Vizio Via Tablet that has recently been announced. This nice and slick Android device, which seems to be Vizio’s first attempt to push a compact, well designed, tablet into world’s most overcrowded market, is claimed to have a “high resolution” display, along with three speakers, WiFi connectivity, a front facing camera and HDMI port. The manufacturing company also plans to include inside the Via Plus internet service, which means you’ll be getting yourself plenty of interesting goodies such as Netflix, Twitter, Facebook, Android market access, and Vizio On Demand movie feature, preloaded on board. Neat! Stay tuned.

Update1: Vizio has officially confirmed the details that recently appeared across the interwebs, regarding its upcoming plans to launch an 8-inch Via tablet. The company, that seems to be trying to bring its Android slab up to par with Apple’s iPad and Samsung’s Galaxy Tab, has just issued a PR update that indicates the presence of  WiFi N connectivity within the slate, along with GPS, MicroSD slot, HDMI output and a pair of webcams, one at the back, and another up front. Additionally, we’re looking at 2GB of embedded storage along with a built-in accelerometer and 1,024 x 768-pixel capacitive touch panel on top. Regretfully, there’s no cellular service included, but on the long run, that surely won’t affect our excitement over this device.

Update2: We’ve just added a quick hands-on video, courtesy of Cnet. Check it out after the break.

[via Wall Street Journal]

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tablets

Onkyo To Launch a Pair of 10.1-inch Android Tablets with NVIDIA’s Tegra 250 Inside

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There is definitely a lot of momentum behind Android tablets these days, and Onkyo is one company seeking to take advantage of the burgeoning blitz. From what we know, their latest revelation, TA117 series, which has no price tag or availability details to share at this point, comprises of two models, namely TA117C3 and TA117C1, that will pack a 10.1-inch 1024 x 600 display, NVIDIA’s Tegra 250 chip, a 1.3 megapixel front-facing camera, WiFi, Bluetooth 2.1, HDMI output, two USB 2.0 ports, and microSD card slot. And while the C1 is claimed to pack 512MB of RAM along with 8GB of storage, its sibling, the C3 flavor, features 1GB of memory, paired with 16GB of NAND, on board. Android Froyo is the dominant OS platform in both versions, but word on the street is that we’re likely to see a Windows 7 support. Stay tuned for even more.

[via Akihabara News]

tablets

Asus “Eee Slate” EP121 Video Teaser Highlights Windows 7, 12-Inch Display and HD support

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CES 2011 is just around the corner, and companies are starting to throw some chum in the proverbial waters. In a new one-and-a-half-minute video that recently showed up across the pond, Asus is teasing us with its most anticipated 12-inch Windows 7-based tablet, which according to officials, is set to take off  in exactly eleven days, at the most famous electronic show around the world. We’re still not sure whether this is the EP121 tablet we’ve already seen earlier this year, or something completely new that the Taiwanese have been working on, behind the scenes, for a couple of months or even more. One way or another, the pictures below clearly indicate that Asus’ next “Eee Slate” device will be packing a Core i5 Intel processor, along with an HDMI output, usb port, an integrated webcam, SD card reader and a Microsoft office package that the laptops-giant is planning to preload on board. And this is just a teaser, remember? Make sure to checkout the footage half past the break.

Update1: Asus has launched a new teaser for their upcoming Android tablets, the Eee Pad and Eee Slate, with what appears to be a USB 3.0 port, etched into the chassis, along with some sort of a portrait oriented slide-out keyboard panel, accompanied by a batch of Android buttons, stamped onto its top. Nothing official yet, but it definitely looks like the real thing, this time. Image after the break.

Update2: And…we have another teaser from Asus. This time we’re talking about time couple of images featuring the company’s upcoming tablets lineup, pictured in all its glory. The first device in that series appears to be the EP121 that presumably boasts some sort of a stylus pen along with a wireless keyboard support. Up next, is the EP102 with that fancy keyboard, attached into a sliding touchscreen, and then we have the EP101 which looks quite similar, only as a netbook form factor. And last but not least, the EP71 -that seems to be a basic fundamental of any media player. Wanna see them? hit the jump and check ’em out.

[via YouTube]

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tablets

Viliv to Roll Out Two Android-based and One Windows 7-based Tablets at CES 2011

It’s been quite a while since we’ve last heard anything special from Viliv, but with CES 2011 just around the corner in early January, it is rumored to be triple launching a new line of Android/Windows tablets of its own. And while we’re still unfamiliar with pricing or in-depth specs, the header of the following picture, pretty much says it all. In other words, the company will be showing off a couple of Android-based tablets, the X7 and X10, sized at 7-inch and 10.2-inch, respectively, while the third link in that series, the x70, is named by Viliv as the “most slim and light Windows 7 tablet in the world” – Now that’s a one hell of a kick, isn’t it? Regretfully, there’s nothing further to be said at the moment, so stay tuned for a lot  lot more.

[vis jkkmobile]

tablets

Acer’s Android Tablet Gets Demoed on Video

OH! What’s this? Looks like someone has finally managed to put his hands on Acer’s 10.1-inch Android Froyo tablet a lot earlier than expected. While details are still scarce, it appears that the 1GHz dual-core processor machine, which boasts a 1280×800 screen resolution and runs 1080p files stutter free, is having some sort of a new gyro UI that can barely handle preloaded apps for switching between photos, or jumping from one e-reader stuff to another. That said, you’ll have to bare in mind it’s still in a beta stage and that the real thing (which presumably packs Honeycomb OS inside) is likely to run much much better. Hit the jump to watch the three videos.

[via Engadget Chinese ]

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CES, tablets

Motorola Releases a ‘Tablet Evolution’ Teaser, Moments Before CES 2011

With CES 2011 just a couple of weeks away, Motorola is one company that seems to be generating quiet a lot of publicity. Especially when it comes to the company’s future line of tablet machines, which Motorola defines, in a recent video teaser, as the “next chapter in tablet evolution.” Yes, that’s exactly what it’s saying, along with some other interesting stuff such as: good graphics in a portable slate, high durability / flexibility, and high-resolution screen with muli-lingual support. In addition to that, the firm that has brought to the world the BlackBerry phone, is now finding itself head-to-head against some big opponents like Apple or Samsung, and judging by the video, doesn’t appear to be afraid. As a matter of fact, it’s actually mocking them by naming the iPad as a “giant iPhone” or by stating that in practice, the Galaxy Tab runs an Android OS  “for a phone” rather than a suited platform for a tablet device. OH! And this lovely bee that you see at the end…Well, you just never know, there might be an Honeycomb in there, somewhere.

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=quI2I8wLPdc[/youtube]

[YouTube]

tablets

Creative’s Android 2.1 ZiiO Tablet Officially Goes Live

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Creative is finally acknowledging publicly the burgeoning trend of reasonably cheap Android 2.x tablets. Although the company is best known for its wide variety of audio players, it was only a matter of time before a commercial launch of such a device (a tablet) would eventually happen – and the sonner, was probably the better! As of this week, the Koreans are finally offering their very own Android 2.1 slate, known as the ZiiO, with a 7-inch 800×400 touchscreen display on top of the lid and a LABS ZMS-08 HD processor, along with 8/16GB of storage, 802.11b/g WiFi, Bluetooth 2.1+EDR, and a 1.3 megapixels camera, up front. Did we mention cheap? In that case, you should know that the 8GB version is priced at only $249.99, while its bigger brother, the 16GB flavor will cost just $20 more. Will it be a hit or miss for retailers this holiday shopping season? Only time will tell.

[Creative]

tablets

Samsung To Release a $1000 Luxury Galaxy Tab

Samsung’s latest and greatest Galaxy Tab has already been on the market for about three months now, and the company is reporting that the 7-inch Android 2.2 tablet has crossed the one million mark in sales, and still counting. Impressive, isn’t it? Well, not if you’re a rich guy/gal and accessories freak, who can afford a lavish Galaxy tablet that would cost around $1000 (instead of the $649.99 you’d pay for a regular version) and include a very expensive leather case, along with a high-end Bluetooth headset. Yes, that’s pretty much the only things you’d get for the extra cash you’re paying here – no hardware tweaks or fancy diamonds etched cross in 14K white gold, just a regular slate with a bunch of “payload” stuff bundled. Word on the street has it that Samsung plans a very limited domestic release in the next coming days, however, if you’re one of us, ordinary people who depends on their savings to purchase it, mind you there are plenty of cheaper alternatives that are just as delicious as this one.

[TestFreaks]


tablets

eLocity A7 Android 2.2 Tablet Finally Shipping Throughout The States

Still on the hunt for a decent Android 2.2 bargain? Make sure to check out Amazon’s latest eLocity A7 deal, that only recently been released to the pond, according to official sources. The 7-inch 800 x 480 tablet, which was already available for a pre-order over the past three months, and is about ready to finally start shipping throughout the US of A, will cost you only $399 – a very good price for a slate with such specs, including NVIDIA’s Tegra 2 silicon chip, a 1.3 megapixels camera, WiFi, SD card slot, HDMI output, and an Android Froyo platform on board. Don’t wait too long, if you’re keen to buy one before the holidays, something tells us they’re about to really take off. Full PR is down the road.

[Amazon]

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tablets

RIM’s BlackBerry PlayBook Tablet Gets a Comprehensive Video Demo

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The Blackberry Playbook tablet has been pretty elusive so far. But thanks to RIM’s David Neale, who recently gave a talk at Rogers TabLife TO conference, we finally got a huge piece of the pie, and suffice it to say we’re pretty impressed. The 10.1-inch prototype device which was unveiled on stage in a very thorough 17 minute walkthrough video features RIM Playbook’s impeccable HD video playback capabilities, along with the smooth and very responsive multy-touch UI and the fact that this powerful dual-core device will indeed support 4G connectivity. Already curious? Hit the jump to watch the video.

Update: Word on the street is that Motorola’s 10-inch Honeycomb tablet will presumably include a 1GHz Tegra 2 T20 chip, along with a 1280 x 800 multitouch screen, 512MB of RAM, an integrated gyroscope and 32GB of storage. Ports wise, there’s an HDMI out paired with a microSD card slot, a micro USB hub, a 3.5mm headphone jack and some sort of a proprietary output, for a possible future dock. Stay tuned, there’s plenty more to come.

[via Electronista]

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