Tag Archives: eclair

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]

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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

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.

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Mobile, News, tablets

Dell Streak Caught On Video Running Android 2.1 OS

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While Dell is still being elusive when it comes to when we will be able to pick up its wonderful 5-inch Android-based tablet/phone device from local US retail stores, Dell’s Kevin Andrew has taken the burgeoning conversation into the vids and uploaded a Youtube vlog where he talks openly about the Streak and demos the Android 2.1 platform running with Dell’s customized build, in front of the camera. Hopefully, it would go on retail (somewhere this summer) running Froyo 2.2 inside and painted with cherry red colors from the outside, but at the meantime, until it happens, you’ll have to settle with your Android 1.6 version (if you happen to have a Dell Streak machine already) and the 2.1 flavor presented on the web.

On a different note, we hear that Dell will be offering the Streak in the US for $299.99 with a two-year contract at AT&T or $549.99, free of any obligations. Checkout the video after the break.

Update1: Guess what? Dell is officially going to start selling the 5-inch Streak In the US, through AT&T, coming this Friday morning. How much? $299 with a 2 years contract or $549.99 in case you prefer the “no obligation” relations. We are still to confirm whether it would sell with the usual Android 1.6 platform, an Android 2.1 or anything better (AKA: Froyo). PR after the break.

Update2: I guess it was too good to be true. Turns out the aforementioned $549 off-contract version is…how should we say, not exactly unlocked as some of you might have thought. According to official Dell sources the “free” Dell Streak tablet, “will not be SIM unlocked”, which means you stay connected to AT&T whether you buy the more-expensive version or not.

Update3: And if you can’t wait anymore for Dell’s official Android 2.1 update to come out, you can download it, at your own risk, from this address – apparently, it works! Otherwise, you can downgrade back to the good ol’ Android 1.6 flavor from here.

[Dell]

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News, tablets

SmartQ T7 and T7-3G Android Based Tablets Introduced

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What’s this? Another Android tablets? Yes, and you’re going to see a plenty of them coming out in the next couple of months, plenty. The latest news in this hot and highly evolving category comes from Chinese manufacturer SmartQ, that seems to have two brand new android 2.1 tablets to offer for local merchants. First one in this series is the SmartQ T7, which comes equipped with a fast 720MHz processor, along a 7-inch 800×600 touchscreen display, a WiFi connectivity and 4,700mAh battery – all priced for ¥1,480 (about $220) in Asian markets. The second one, the T7-3G, which boasts pretty much the same impressive components that basic T7 model would offer, adds a cellular connection to its line of features and said to be valued at ¥1,880 (about $280) for the EVDO version and ¥1,980 (about $29o) for the WCDMA style. Both flavors are said to come out later this year, with no hint for western distribution in the foreseeable future, but with nice range of HD video files support.

[via iTech News]

CES, Computers, Internet, News

Dell's Slate Makes First Appearance at CES With Android 2.0, 3G And Wireless Connectivity (Update: Mini 5)

Nothing much to share at this point, but Dell has revealed a new slate/tablet device at its keynote speech at CES in Vegas. Designed like a business smartphone, and some would say it is one considering the SIM slot it boasts, the new Reddish device  includes an Android platform preloaded inside, and a 5-inch touchscreen on top. There’s also an integrated 5MP camera at the back and three clickable buttons on the right – Home, Back and (maybe) apps. Furthermore, up the hill, it houses three additional buttons which looks like ON/OFF, camera and volume support. We’ve also spotted a built-in mic and Bluetooth, but that’s all we have for now.

Update1: engadget guys were lucky to sit around the table with Dell’s representative who was kind enough to give a quick tour and show them Dell’s new mysterious slate in a snap. From first impression we’re guessing it’s an Android 1.6 platform that runs inside, but quiet positive there’s a nice numpad add-on included in the keyboard and a tiny face camera right on front. We’re not sure whether it’d be called Mini 5 or codename Streak, but color us impressed from the way it performed. Vid and thumbs, after the break.

Update2: Turns out it’s a 5-inch mid, boasting 800 x 480 capacitive touchscreen,along integrated WiFi and 3G WWAN connectivity. It runs Android 2.0 (Eclair) instead of that 1.6 flavor and seems to endure a dual-LED flash 5mp camera behind and a 1,300mAh battery within. We’ve added another video after the break, courtesy of Slashgear and some Vietnamese chaps.

Update3: The Tinhte team has taken Dell’s Android-based Mini 5 slate/mid to a teardown session, and guess what they’ve found under the hood – a 1GHz Snapdragon processor, two microSD slots, integrated SIM card with 3G radio and a 1,530mAh battery, stronger than expected. Dissecting video after the break.

Update4: TechCrunch guys have managed to catch up with Michael Dell himself somewhere outside Davos conference halls, and look what he got, a “Mini 5” slate, in his words, which suppose to go live “in “a couple of months” with an Android based platform, 3G connectivity, 5MP camera and other good stuff. Dell refused to disclose any details about price or chipset.Checkout the third video after the break.

Update5: Dell says its latest Mini 5 will not run an Android 1.6 platform, but “something newer”, which we can’t confirm yet. In any case, it’s going to be refreshing and upgradable.

Update6: Apparently, the Mini 5 has a docking station which suppose to include HDMI output and a USB port. Check it out in T3 Greek Edition’s video after the break.

Update7: Looks like there’s plenty of stuff ahead. According to Neeraj Choubey, Dell’s tablet division GM, the Mini 5 is part of “a family of tablets” that will “scale up to a variety of sizes.” Some, are claimed to include “inexpensive data plans” in the bundle, some just Android powered.

Update8: Apart from the 5-inch 800 x 480 WVGA touchscreen, 5 megapixel camera, and the 30-pin docking connector, it seems that Dell will offer the Mini 5 (or Streak, depends who you ask) in wide range of premium colors. Hit the break to see your options.

Update9: Michael Dell says his 5-inch Streak “…will be available starting next month, first with our partner 02 Telefonica in Europe, then later this summer with our pretty good partner here in the United States, AT&T.” You hear that. Next month!

500x_dellslate4

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Applications, Mobile, News, Operating Systems, Phones

Google's Nexus One Officially Announced With Android 2.1 Preloaded Inside

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So Google has finally launched the most anticipated Nexus One, and if you happen to live in one of the following 4 countries – the US, UK, Singapore or Hong Kong – you can get it right away from Google’s website, priced at $529.99 without a contract or merely $179 including a T-Mobile two year plan (in the US). Other people will have to wait at least until Spring 2010, when it believes that Google will be adding more countries to its smartphone lineup. The phone itself is an HTC brand, coming with a 3.7-inch 800×480 AMOLED display, which regretfully doesn’t support multi-touch at the moment, although Google says it’s not an hardware issue but a software tweak and it’d consider adding screen gestures capabilities in the future. Besides that, you get a fast 1GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon processor,paired with a 5 megapixels camera including an integrated LED flash that can shoot MPEG-4 video and have it uploaded directly to Youtube. Additionally, this 11.5mm thick device has a built-in compass, GPS, WiFi, A2DP stereo Bluetooth, 3.5mm headphone jack, a multicolored LED under the trackball, an accelerometer for landscape view and two mics, positioned on front, for complete noise cancellation. It runs all common frequencies and compatible with HSDPA 7.2Mbps, UMTS Band 1/4/8 (2100/AWS/900), HSUPA 2Mbps and of course, GSM/EDGE (850, 900, 1800, 1900 MHz). The 1400mAH battery inside is claimed to provide 5 hours of 3G browsing and 7 hours of 3G talk time, while storage wise, you receive only 512MB of internal flash along with a 4GB micro SD card, expandable up to 32GB. See the full specs here.

Moving forward with the details, the Nexus One packs Google’s “latest greatest” Android 2.1 platform – also known as Eclair – which crams some nifty stuff inside, like the voice recognition feature that works throughout the entire UI and activates almost any feature in the phone. That way, you can use your voice to write SMS messages and notes (speech-to-text), or tell the Google Earth search engine where should it go. Other than that, Google has implemented a Cooliris technology into the Nexus One gallery app, so you get 3D visualization whenever looking at images in landscape mode. It has a lot of widgets to offer, such as weather and news RSS, and the smartphone’s homescreen customization is interactive and houses 5 panels to store your apps and shortcuts. Stay tuned. Video is right after the break.

Update1: And looks like Adobe is now jumping on Google’s bandwagon by demoing its Flash 10.1 beta on a Nexus One superphone. Check it out after the break.

Update2: Well, what do you know, the European version of Nexus One, apparently supports multitouch capabilities out-of-the-box, while US devices don’t. We’re not so sure why, but as someone suggested, the trigger for the abyssal differences might be the fact that Apple has a US Patent on multitouch which doesn’t apply on European countries. Maybe. Google says it’s carefully reviewing this issue at the moment.

Update3: Different from what has been reported, Google’s Nexus One seems to be incompatible with “n” draft wireless connectivityand official specs state it supports only 802.11b/g WiFi frequencies. We’ll have more about this soon.

Update4: You knew it had to happen sooner or later, did you? No? then get this – iFixit guys have taken Google’s Nexus One on a mission and disassembled it into small pieces of technology craft. See the results here and after the break.

Update5: We’ve added two more stunning videos right after the break, in which you can watch Nexus One’s manufacturing process with stress tests such as bending, slamming, dropping, and cracking, all over the place. A must see creation!

Update6: Turns out Google now has live person phone support in case your Nexus One has problems that need to be solved. It’s 888-48NEXUS (63987) and said to work from 07:00am to 10:00pm PST. Right now the line will handle only status and shipping issues while tech problems can find answer via Google’s support forums, FAQs pages, email support and HTC/ T-Mobile customer care departments.

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