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Feb
03
German Court Allows Samsung to Continue Selling Galaxy Tab 10.1N
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The battle between Apple and Samsung, fought in the courts of Germany, has taken a new turn and Apple is counting the losses. The court has ruled the newly redesigned Galaxy Tab 10.1N does not infringe on any of Apple’s patent rights and its touchscreen technology. Judge Andreas Mueller said while delivering the ruling at the Munich Regional Court: “Samsung has shown that it is more likely than not that the patent will be revoked because of a technology that was already on the market before the intellectual property had been filed for protection.”
Apple had filed a suit against Samsung stating that the technology by which the scrolling effect on the screen occurred had been copied by Samsung. Samsung on their part argued on the basis of the time period that is mandated for a patent was active and hence sale of their tablet shouldn’t be banned before the nine months period has elapsed.
The Tab10.1 N is Samsung’s response to an earlier law suit by Apple wherein they claimed their iPad had been copied in the Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1. Samsung had tweaked a bit of the outer design of their Galaxy Tab and came up with the 10.1N variant. Now the court has freed Samsung from the ban on the 10.1N model. Samsung has, however, been barred from selling its Galaxy Tab 10.1 in Germany, though Samsung will remain unscathed as it had already stopped selling that particular tablet.
via bloomberg
Feb
03
BlackBerry PlayBook for $199 Is Back Again
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Perhaps RIM has made more experiments with the price of its PlayBook than anyone with a tablet device anytime before. However, of all the prices that the PlayBook can be associated with so far, it seems it is the $199 price tag that suits it best. Which is perhaps why the BlackBerry PlayBook tablet is up for sale at just $199 one more time. Last month, the same tablet had been made available for $299 and the price covered any of the 16, 32, or 64 GB PlayBook model. However, you have until the 11th February to avail of the special prices, after that the prices won’t be this low again, though you never know when RIM will start it all over again.
For those in Canada, wireless carrier operator Telus is offering an even better PlayBook deal. They are offering the 16 Gb and 32 Gb PlayBook model for $150 and less starting from the 3rd of February.
The much awaited PlayBook OS 2.0 is expected this month, while RIM has already announced they are also developing a sequel to the current PlayBook device. Looks like the worst for the PlayBook is already well past it and the beleaguered tablet can only grow from here.
via pcworld
Feb
03
New Asus Tablet – TF300T Revealed
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Asus is working on a new tablet device with the model number TF300T. Now this is one of those pieces of news that need to be ingested with some salt though just to add some respectability to it, the model number does rhyme with those associated with other Asus tablets such as the Transformer Prime. The original Transformer carries the model number TF101 while the same for the Transformer Prime is TF201.
Meanwhile ASUS has also announced their upgraded Transformer Prime would be carrying the model number TF700. The tablet would be running on a Tegra 3 quad core processor and will have a screen resolution of 1920 x 1200 pixels.
Not surprisingly, almost everything about the new tablet is in the dark except a few photographs which shows a read textured background.
Feb
02
US Cellular Launches LTE network With Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1
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Cellular services in the US has hit a new high with Regional player US Cellular all set to enter the LTE scene in that country. US Cellular however isn’t offering a pan American service as yet but they mention their network will grow quickly over time. In the meantime, they are offering the Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1 with built in LTE capabilities to mark the upgrade.
Further, US Cellular isn’t revealing the tablet’s price just yet though it would supposedly be declared only when the 4G LTE network service will go live in March. However, pricing is expected to be competitive vis-a-vis other established players such as AT&T and Verizon. US Cellular will also have the Samsung Galaxy S Aviator smartphone to offer as well.
via slashgear
Feb
02
Rumor: Apple iPad 3 to Feature A6 Quadcore Chip, Global LTE
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The iPad 3 isn’t officially announced yet, which means the next gen Apple tablet is still very much on speculation and rumor territory. Also, given the Apple way of doing things, there are a lot of expectation from the iPad 3 as well. However, while Apple is lip locked on details about the new tablet, some information obtained through sources who claim that they have access to the tablet state that it would be based on the A6 chipset which is patented by Apple itself and is quadcore in architecture. Further, the new iPad will also have GSM/CDMA/LTE radio abilities built into it. The model would have the J1 and J2 references as was seen in the iOS beta and is believed to refer to the Wi Fi only and Wi-Fi + 3G/4G models of the tablet.
The A6 processor is supposed to have better graphic rendering capabilities which should prove enough to support the ‘Retina display’ that the upcoming iPad 3 is believed to come with. The display will have an exceptional resolution of 2048 x 1536 pixels. Ironically, the A6 chip is being manufactured by Samsung with whom Apple is embroiled in legal tussles all around the globe.
via bgr
Feb
01
Here is Why Notion Ink Choose TI OMAP Over Tegra 3 For Adam II
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Notion Ink has recently announced a successor to its Adam tablet device which is being called the Adam II. However, unlike its ancestor, Adam II is making far less noise and that’s hardly surprising. This since the Adam has failed to live up to the kind of hype that it had generated during the time of its launch. However, the upcoming Adam is still in news which can be attributed to NI’s choice of processor for the new tablet — the TI OMAP SoC processor that has raised many an eyebrows.
The normal choice should have been the Tegra 3 quad core chip and that was what had also been announced initially. The switch to TI OMAP therefore has been a reason for intrigue to many people out there. Notion Ink though explained the swap claiming the actual usage of power of the processor is more optimal in case of the TI OMAP rather than the Tegra 3 chip. They further clarified that even though Tegra 3 has a better GPU or the OMAP have more memory than Tegra 3, these issues have a lower precedence than the actual usage of available resources.
Where TI OMAP beats Tegra 3 chip is the plethora of documents, use-case models, white papers that are available on it. These in tun makes it easier to draw out the most from the capabilities of the TI OMAP chip. For firms that do not have the ability to carry out its own R&D, relying on such documents and case models could be the only way out. Another great reason to opt for the TI chip is that those who developed the TI OMAP are placed in Bangalore, which is where Notion Ink is also located.
Further, the fabrication of the TI OMAP chip is based on the 28 nm process while that of the Tegra 3 is based on the 40 nm process. The advantage of this for TI OMAP is that the process is cheaper as also less taxing on the power consumption aspect. Battery life of the devices based on TI OMAP would naturally be more than those based on the Tegra 3 chip.
Surely most of the reason mentioned above are purely technical in nature and hence well beyond the scope of the average tablet buyers. For them, what matters most is a device that is well put together, has decent battery life and has the performance to boast of. Let’s just hope the Adam II delivers on these aspects.
Feb
01
3G Variant of Sony Tablet S and Tablet P Now Available in India
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Stores in India now have the 3G enabled Sony Tablet S and Tablet P for sale. Both the 3G versions will join the Tablet S that Sony had launched last year though in its Wi-Fi avatar.
The Tablet S 3G is the same configuration as that of the Wi-Fi only version with just the 3G feature added to it. This one was supposed to be available in India in mid January, but has slipped some days.
The Tablet S 3G has been priced INR 33990 while the Tablet P 3G will cost INR 36,990.
Also, both the tablet devices run Android 3.2 Honeycomb though Sony has already announced the upgrade to Android 4.0 ICS would be launch this Spring itself.
Click here for the comprehensive review of the Sony Tablet S.
via androidos
Feb
01
Samsung Might Launch Two Android ICS tablets at MCW
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Samsung, it must be said is not the usual flamboyant self in the tablet scene ever since the series of setbacks it received in its court battle with Apple. It also maintained a somewhat low profile at the CES event early in the year though all of this surely does not paint a true picture of the Korean giant and its intentions and plans in the tablet segment. In fact, we might well be seeing the company come right back in the thick of things as far as Android tablets are concerned and the upcoming Mobile world Congress scheduled a few weeks hereafter might serve pointers of what lies ahead during the rest of the year as far as tablet devices from Samsung is concerned. The situation is more telling after the emergence of the Kindle Fire which has settled down as the top selling Android tablet after having displaced the Galaxy Tab 10.1.
However, while experts believe there would be no major announcement by Samsung at the MWC event as well, there are reports though about at least two Samsung tablets making it to the market. Both would be running on quad core CPU and be Wi-Fi certified units. Details of the upcoming tablets are not yet at hand, but it can be expected that the tablet would be 11.6 inch in dimension and sport a display of 2560 x 1600 resolution. It is quite possible that Samsung may showcase the tablet at the Mobile Web Congress. The OS should be Android 4.0 ICS, given that’s the latest version on offer.
Meanwhile, there is news of a Samsung tablet with the code name GT-P3100 having received its Wi-Fi certification. Given the codification process that Samsung has followed, the 10 inch model from them had the model code of GT-P7510 while P1010 represented the original 7 inch Galaxy Tab. As rumors and speculations begin to rise as we approach the Mobile World Congress event, there is probability of Samsung launching two models code named P3100 and P5100. Of the two, the latter is likely to sport a higher resolution display of 1920 x 1200 pixels. Further, out of the two models, one for sure would be priced reasonably while the other will be higher up in the price rung.
via androidcommunity
Feb
01
BlackBerry PlayBook OS 2.0 to Launch Feb 17
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We are fast approaching the Feb 17 deadline that RIM had set for its much awaited BlackBerry PlayBook OS 2.0 to arrive onto the big scene. While we do hope RIM would be keeping to their words, early indication coming in point out its going to be a reality after all. Like the Developers team at RIM have also confirmed this. The most important feature of this upgrade would be the inclusion of the ability for android apps to run on the PlayBook tablet thereafter.
The other advantages that the upgrade would offer its users are native email, calendar and contacts features being available to the PlayBook here on. RIM has issued notices for all developers of Android Apps top submit their content by February 6.
RIM has placed some strictures on the applications that would be allowed upon their PlayBook, which have to be adhered to by developer. For one there can be no reference to the term Android in the application while all links leading to the Android Market will have to be truncated too. Also the minimum platform that the application should be able to run has to be the BlackBerry OS 2.0. They have also asked the developers to code sign the application they develop.
For porting the application to the device RIM have provided two tools, namely the BlackBerry Packager and BlackBerry SDK. The tools are supposed to be easy to use as per RIM. Developers will also be able to post their applications at a later date though by calling on them to complete their submission by 06 Feb, RIM has given a strong hint about the upgrade will be on time.
RIM has already showcased a preview of the PlayBook OS 2.0 during the recently concluded CES event and the response has been overwhelming. With the coming of the new OS version along with the new upgraded PlayBook device itself later in the year, we might well see RIM mark a turn around in the tablet scene this year.
via devblog.blackberry
Feb
01
Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1 Stands Banned in Germany
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Apple has won the tablet battle in Germany against rival Samsung, which means the Korean conglomerate can’t sell its Galaxy Tab 10.1 in that country. A higher regional court in Duesseldorf, Germany has upheld the temporary ban that was imposed on the Samsung tablet in an earlier judgement. However, the victory can be considered as largely symbolic as Samsung had already replaced the particular tablet with a reworked version named the Galaxy Tab 10.1N. Apple has sought a preliminary injunction on the sale of the Galaxy Tab 10.1N, though the court clearly wasn’t impressed enough. A final ruling on that is expected on February 9.
Apple has initiated legal proceedings against Samsung in various countries around the world and had tasted success in almost all the cases. However, things have started to change and after a couple of court rulings that stated in clear terms the Samsung tablet can’t be considered an exact replica of the iPad. However, the damage may well have been done as the Galaxy Tab 10.1 remained off market during the crucial holiday season. The tablet itself may well be out of date by now as we’re expecting the next gen version of almost all other tablets, including the iPad. We have already heard rumors of Samsung developing a sequel to the Galaxy Tab 10.1 and it will be interesting to see what the tablet will look like. Surely the last thing Samsung will like to engage in is another court battle with Apple.
via reuters
Jan
31
Asus Padfone to be Launched During MCW Event
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The Padfone tablet + smartphone concept has been doing the rounds for quite sometime now though we never got to know for sure when the device will actually be seen reaching markets. However, things finally seem to be reaching the culmination stage at Acer so that the company has at last confirmed the Padfone will be there to be seen in action at Mobile World Congress. The event gets underway at Barcelone from Feb 27 to March 1.
Coming back to the unique Padfone, Asus isn’t in the mood to reveal anything right now. So details like what the tablet will cost or when exactly it will be making its market debut is anybody’s guess right now. It is however believed the tablet will be powered by a Tegra 3 chip though its almost a surety the device will run Android 4.0 ICS. This since the latest Android version is compatible on both a tablet and a smartphone.
Keep watching as we bring you more on this during the coming weeks.
via androidcentral
Jan
31
Mercury mTab Neo Launched in India
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The budget tablet segment in India just got boosted with the introduction of the Mercury mTab Neo from Kobian. The mTab Neo will join its sibling, the Mercury mTab2, which went on sale in India during the last quarter of 2011. The new mTab Neo boasts of 3G capability, which definitely is an improvement over the mTab2, which was only Wi-Fi capable.
Among the other features that marks the new mTab Neo is its 1 GHz Cortex A9 Dual Core CPU, which is a downgrade from the 1.2 Ghz processor that powered the mTab2 tablet. Unfortunately, the mTab Neo is running the Android 2.2 Froyo OS that comes out of the box with the unit and the OS cannot be upgraded anytime later to the very in demand Android 4.0 ICS, which indefinitely traps the mTab Neo in Froyo.
The rest of the tablet specs go like this: a 7 inch capacitive multi-touch screen having a resolution of 480 x 800 pixels (another area which could have been improved), 4 GB internal storage, micro SD card support which can up the storage by another 32 GB, mini-USB port, dual speakers, and dual camera (front 0.3 megapixel and rear 2 megapixel), with a 4000 mAh battery providing the juice. The tablet also comes with a HDMI out port, along with support for Bluetooth 3.0, and EDGE/GPRS. Inclusion of SIM card also brings with it both video and voice calling functionality.
“mTab Neo summaries convergence and convenience. The product combines functionality of two devices and makes the experience and usage more convenient and friendly. SIM calling, Bluetooth, in-built 3G, dual camera and overall a strong processor and battery pack up – it’s a complete package needed in the growing market of tablets” said Sushmita Das, country manager, India, Kobian.
The mTab Neo has been priced at INR. 15,999,and is up against other tablet devices, such as the Reliance 3G Tab, Beetel Magiq II, and HCL Me X1.
via siliconindia
Jan
31
Android ICS Coming to Lenovo ThinkPad Tablet
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With Android 4.0 ICS now a firm reality, it’s time all tablet makers (who until now have been relying on the Android Honeycomb version) to make the transition to the latest and greatest Android OS. Joining the list of those who have already made known their commitment to Android ICS is Lenovo, with the Chinese hardware maker announcing they would introduce the ICS update for its ThinkPad tablet by Q2. Until that happens, users will have to make do with Android Honeycomb, which the tablet currently runs. The ThinkPad is aimed at the business segment and had gone on sale in July 2011. Specific dates for the ICS update are being kept under wraps right now.
Android 4.0 comes along with wide ranging enhancements and improvements, which cover several aspects such as interface, connectivity, application, and multimedia. The latest Android version also promises better overall stability, along with enhanced security for data and e-mail with encryption layers built into it, something that should appeal to the ThinkPad’s enterprise clientele.
via electronista
