.png)
Archive for Android
Asus Transformer Pad Infinity Reaches FCC
Posted by: | Comments
The Asus Transformer Pad Infinity can be considered the Taiwanese company’s answer to the ongoing pixel war unleashed by the iPad 3. The tablet, an improvement over the Transformer Prime, has made it past the FCC strictures. The device is all set to storm into the markets soon, not too long after the tablet first made its public appearance at the CES event in January.
Formally labelled TF700T, the tablet that cleared the FCC formalities is Wi-Fi only, leaving the 4G version for another day. As for specs, while not much is revealed as of now, the Transformer Pad Infinity is believed to be built on the Transformer Prime with a few enhancements here and there. Of course the biggest if them will be the 1920 × 1200 pixel resolution, which is less than the 2048 x 1536 pixel resolution of the iPad 3, but is still a nice improvement over the 1280 x 800 pixel display that the Transformer Prime has.
The Transformer Pad Infinity will (most likely) be based on the Tegra 3 chipset, will run Android 4.0 ICS, and will have a 8 and 2 megapixel webcam at the rear and front of the tablet.
Watch this space as we track development on this.
via engadget
Sony Tablet P to Get Android ICS on May 24
Posted by: | Comments
The Sony Tablet P has been one of the most unique tablet devices, and it takes a lot to stand out in the world of tablets. Now Sony has announced the update to Android ICS starting May 24 for the twin display device. The domestic consumers in Japan will be getting the upgrade before anyone else, and its not known when users of the Tablet P elsewhere in the world can consider themselves as lucky.
Sony has also announced that users will get to enjoy the “small apps” feature as part of the update. “Small apps” allows users to use other apps, such as a calculator, in a miniature window on top of the app currently in use and without first requiring to close or minimize the app in use. Another nice feature of the update will be the way users will get to use the camera straight from the lock screen and start clicking images.
Sony had earlier announced the Android ICS update to be made available to both the Tablet P and Tablet S back in April, though for reasons best known to them, only the Tablet S received the ICS update while Tablet P continued with Android Honeycomb for another month. Also, with Sony, all domestic and international releases are rolled out on the same day. So it’s worth checking for the update manually all over the globe on May 24 just in case the the update is available for download.
via the verge
Asus Eee Pad Slider Receiving Android ICS Update
Posted by: | Comments
The Eee Pad Slider is another tablet offering from Asus that also incorporates a slide out keyboard. This appeals to those who’d like to have the benefits of a tablet device but also need to type on a physical keyboard. The Eee Pad Slider mimics a mini laptop when the keyboard is fully deployed, but the tablet never garnered the same attention that the Transformer Prime had enjoyed. Sales of the Slider have never been impressive.
Nevertheless, Asus has shown its commitment in supporting the device and has started pushing an update for the Slider that will allow it to run the latest Android ICS. The Slider is pretty late in getting the Android ICS update, but better late than never. Currently, the update is only being pushed via WiFi to residents of the USA. International users should expect it in the coming week. The update will bring the firmware version up to 9.2.1.21.
However, the best way to find that out is hitting the update button on your Slider if you haven’t yet received any notifications. If you received the update, drop us a line and let us know what country and region you are in, so others can check for the update.
Toshiba Excite 10 Now Shipping, Price Starts at $450
Posted by: | Comments
Here is some exciting news from the Tohsiba camp! The company’s latest tablet, the Toshiba Excite 10, is now shipping with the base model priced at a quite reasonable $450. There are two other versions with 32 and 64 GB, priced at $530 and $640 respectively.
The Excite line of tablets will offer the latest Google Android 4.0 ICS OS and have powerful processing power with the Nvidia Tegra 3 quad core setup. The base model boasts of specs such as a 1 GB RAM along with 16 GB of storage space. Further space can be added via full sized micro SD card,s while a 2 and 5 megapixel camera adorn the front and rear of the tablet. The 10.1 inch display has a resolution of 1280 x 800 pixels with a layer of Corning Gorilla glass for added strength. As for battery life, Toshiba is claiming it to be no less than 10 hours, which isn’t bad. A miniUSB and microHDMI ports complete the connectivity options for the Excite 10 tablet.
The Excite range of tablets is quite stunning with the aluminum case adding to the style quotient. The tablet is also a delight to hold and operate with a lightweight frame (1.3 pounds) and a super thin profile (0.4 inches thick), which is a far cry from the thick and rubberized Thrive range of tablets that Toshiba promoted.
Other tablet devices forthcoming from Toshiba include a 7.7 inch and a massive 13.3 inch device, which are expected to debut next month.
New iBall Slide Tablet Launches for INR 11,999
Posted by: | Comments
A new tablet has emerged in the budget tablet scene. The new kid on the block is named Slide by iBall. This is the second type of mobile computing device the company has released and is a different model than what they released in September of 2011.
The iBall Slide features a 7 inch capacitive display and has cool curved sides that make it look somewhat like the discontinued Dell Streak 7. Things tend to speed along fine with the 1GHz processor and it runs on Google Android 2.3. The processor is a little disappointing when compared to several new entrants, such as the Ainol Paladin 7 or the Micromax Funbook. These two tablets also run an updated version of Android ICS, in spite of being much cheaper than the Slide.
Regardless, the Slide i7218 boasts of 8 GB of on-board storage, which is further expandable to 32 GB via micro SD card slot. As for connectivity, the new Slide is Wi-Fi and Bluetooth enabled, and the 3G network can be reached via an USB dongle. Also, among the apps that come pre-loaded with the Slide, it has Money Control, Facebook, Gmail, Skype, and so on.
Coming to the price, a nice aspect with the new Slide is that the tablet is now cheaper at INR 11,999 (MRP is INR 12,499), which is a downward revision from the erstwhile price of INR. 13,995.
Samsung Might Launch Dual Screen Tablet
Posted by: | Comments
Tablet devices we have come to see of in a lot of shapes and sizes. However, that does not mean creativity is waning and we will see a whole lot of court cases where everyone is suing everyone else for having copied their tablet’s look and feel. Of course there are limitations (since how can each new tablet be different from the other each time), and it’s good to see Samsung trying something new.
This is still very much in beginning stages, though a recent Samsung patent does point to a dual screened tablet device. Sony already has a product of the same type, though what the Samsung patent reveals is a tablet concept with a flat back. It resembles a closed book and is very much unlike the Sony Tablet P, which looks like a glass holder with its curved exterior. The tablet will carry two 7 inch screens so that both, when laid flat will resemble one big 14 inch display. The bezel will interrupt any continuous display in the middle and the thinner it is the better in this respect.
Another area of concern for Samsung is the performance of the battery, since two displays will consume twice as much power. The choice of operating system is also something that we are keen to know, though Google’s Android does seem to be the obvious choice. Obviously, we can’t rule out Windows 8 as a possibility. However, irrespective of the choice of OS, the challenge for Samsung will be to ensure the OS is well tuned for it to optimally use both the displays simultaneously. Cost is another factor for Samsung to keep in mind if it wishes to transform the concept into a market reality.
Microsoft is also teasing the tablet loving crowd with a dual screened device named Courier, which it brought to an abrupt halt when consumer expectations surrounding it were at an all time high. Acer has also introduced a tablet device with twin displays, though it is priced prohibitively high and has a pretty dismal battery life.
via alltouchtablet
Archos Arnova G3 Tablet Details Revealed
Posted by: | Comments
French manufacturer Archos already has quite a few tablet offerings in the budget segment, and two more tablets—Arnova 9b G3 and Arnova 10b G3—are going to be added to that list soon.
Specs are basic, which isn’t unusual for a tablet that promises to be kind to your wallet. The 10b G3 is built around a 1 GHz single-core chip, which is fast becoming obsolete with the advent of quad core processors. A gig of RAM is the saving grace, which should ensure things remain speedy enough, while an 8 GB internal memory takes care of storage requirements. Operating system is Android 4.0 ICS, while as the name suggest, the tablet comes with a 10.1 inch 1024 x 600 pixel display. Price is a comfortable $200.
For 9b G3, the specs are almost the same, except it has a smaller 9.7 inch display with an aspect ratio of 4:3. On board storage is halved at 4 GB for the same processor. Pricing is still anybody’s guess for the 9b G3 device, though it could be more than the 10b version owing to a better display.
via androidcommunity
Karbonn Taking Pre-Orders for Smart Tab 1, Price Starts at INR 6,999
Posted by: | Comments
Kobonn, the India based mobile communications company, is out to test the waters in the tablet segment. Karbonn is starting out with a budget device, which is the company’s forte, as it already enjoys a sizable presence in the mobile handset segment.
The tablet named Smart Tab 1 comes with a 7.01 inch capacitive multipoint touchscreen display and runs the latest Android 4.0.3. Its spec sheet further includes a 1.2 Ghz processor, a 3700 mAh battery, 2 megapixel front facing camera, and is capable of playing back 1080p quality video with ease. The Smart Tab 1 is Wi-Fi enabled and connect to 3G networks via an USB dongle.
This tablet sounds great, and costs an affordable INR 6,999. You can head over to the company website that is already accepting pre-orders. Karbonn hasn’t revealed the exact launch date quite yet.
Philips to Enter Tablet Business with Multiple Devices
Posted by: | Comments
Philips is the latest consumer electronics company to go public with its ambitions in the tablet segment. They are intending to offer multiple devices in the 7 inch segment, though the tablet PCs from Philips should not be expected to be any thing new or different than what we have seen in the last 2 years.
Full details are of course not available at the moment, though from information currently available, the tablets will run Android 4.0 ICS and is slated to arrive in China before anywhere else. There is no time frame available, though that should serve as a pointer of when the tablet is expected to make its debut.
Further, the tablets are likely to have a battery life of around 4 – 5 hours, which isn’t particularly notable. As for the tablets’ displays, they can be either of 1024 x 600 pixels or 800 x 480 pixels or both. The tablet will also be compliant with different media types such as MP4, H.264, and WMV.
However, one of the biggest distinguishing factors of the Philips branded tablets is that they are believed to be based in MIPS processors and not the x86 or Arm based chips that has been making up the heart of almost every other tablet device. Google is not averse to using MIPS processors and has also pledged more support for it in future in a clear indication of more MIPS based devices running Android coming our way in the future. Until then, the Ainol Paladin 7 device happens to be one of the early tablet devices to have been built around the MIPS chip.
Also, going by the not too exciting specs that the Philips tablet is believed to carry, the tablet’s price will be crucial for them to make a mark in the ultra competitive tablet market. That is, unless Philips has other surprises up its sleeve.
via androidcommunity
Asus Transformer Pad Now Shipping, Prices Start at $379
Posted by: | Comments
Those who cannot afford the Transformer Prime need not despair. Asus has come along with a cheaper alternative of its Prime in the form of the Transformer Pad TF300. Of course, there are some compromises to be made, but those have been ameliorated with a quite affordable $379 price tag. That amount of money will fetch one the base 16 GB versions, while twice the storage space will see the price jack up to $399. However, while online tablet retailers in the US have been listing the 32GB Transformer Pad for $399, the 16 GB version has yet to make an appearance.
The corners that have been cut to keep costs low include a smaller battery than that on its big brother Transformer Prime. Similarly, the processor on the TF300 is also a bit slower while the Led flash has been done away with completely. Though not as fast as the Transformer Prime, the TF300 comes with a 1.2 GHz NVIDIA Tegra 3 quad core processor. It will have a display resolution of 1280 x 800 pixels, while for connectivity, the tablet is 802.11b/g/n WiFi capable while also featuring Bluetooth 3.1. Other features of the TF300 include a 1 GB RAM, a micro HDMI slot, and a microSD reader for memory extension.
Also, the TF300 will continue with the Transformer legacy of being attachable with a keypad dock which will transform the TF300 into a laptop running Android 4.0. The Transformer Pad TF300 will also come pre-loaded with Polaris Office, which will enable users to get started with Word, Excel, and PowerPoint files on the tablet right away.
via electronista
Acer Iconia Tablets to Get Ice Cream Sandwich Update April 27th
Posted by: | Comments
It’s time for owners of the Acer Iconia Tab range of tablets to take a bite out of the very tasty Ice Cream Sandwich. Iconia’s A100 and A500 will be getting the Android 4.0 update on April 27th. The first to get it will be customers in the USA and Canada, and other regions will get it in the coming weeks. If you simply can’t wait for it to be automatically updated, we will host the update ourselves and teach you how to install it on your device.
In other news, Acer’s quad core tablet, the Iconia Tab A510 with Android ICS preloaded is now up for sale for $450. The 10 inch tablet is based on a 1.3 GHz quad-core NVIDIA Tegra 3 CPU. It has solid specs with 1 GB RAM, 32 GB of storage, and a 10 inch 1280 x 800 pixel display. Acer is also claiming a 12 hours of backup time with the tablet, equipped as it is with a 9800mAh battery unit.
The A510 can be picked up from Amazon or Acer stores, though the versions being sold now are the Olympics editions with an Olympic design on the rear. However, apart from the special logo, there is nothing else that differentiates it from the regular Iconia Tab A510s.
Samsung Galaxy Tab 2 10.1 Launch Postponed for Upgrade to Quad-Core CPU
Posted by: | Comments
Samsung has held back on releasing its Galaxy Tab 2 10.1 and with a very good reason. The delays are occurring because the company has taken the wise step to equip it with the more potent Exynos Quad core chip. The Galaxy Note 10.1 is also going to be pushed back for the very same reason.
When the Samsung Galaxy Tab 2 was announced, it met with tepid reactions because it basically had the same specifications as the previous model. The only change was that it shipped with Android ICS right out of the box. Many users want Quad-Core CPUS if they are going to be spending a copious amount of money for a higher-end tablet. The Galaxy Tab 2 10.1 and the Galaxy Note 10.1, both of which were scheduled for launch this month with a dual-core processor at their heart, may now make their market debut sometime next month.
Further, inside sources at Samsung also point out that the new 10.1 inch Galaxy Tab 2 with a quad core chip will be carrying the Espresso tagline, something that we have come to know of thanks to a leak a few weeks ago. Further details, such as the price, are awaited. Samsung has already surprised us by pricing its 7 inch Galaxy Tab 2 at just $250, and it now remains to be seen if the 10.1 inch version is also likely to be as affordable.
Update: It seems the rumors about Samsung holding back the release of its 10.1 inch Galaxy Tab 2 is false. Further, the tablet will come equipped with the dual core CPU as was originally envisioned. Confirmation towards this came from the Director of Public Relations, Consumer Business Division, Samsung Electronics America, Mr. Ethan Rasiel who has stated, “The Galaxy Tab 2 10.1 will come to market worldwide as planned with a dual-core processor. Rumors about production delays or changes to the product are false.”
We hope to have more on this in the coming days. So keep watching!
Asus Transformer Pad 300 Shows Up at Amazon
Posted by: | Comments
The Asus Transformer Pad can be a nice device for those who’d like to have the basic goodness of the Transformer Prime package, but with slightly reduced features as well as a smaller price tag. The tablet has already started to make its appearance in various online stores. Amazon is one popular site that has already featured the device, with a delivery time of around 10 to 12 days since the device is not yet available on the shelves. Users with an Amazon Prime account have also been given a specific heads up on this tablet.
Mobile Advance, an online retailer from California, is claiming to be able to deliver immediately but their cost is $50 over the $499.99 which Amazon is charging for the device. If you would like to be in immediate possession of the Tegra 3 based tablet running Android 4.0 ICS (remember it can also double up as a laptop with 15+ hours of battery life), there be a small cost to pay for instant gratification.
via cnet
