Asus Eee Pad Slider gets delayed in the UK, will launch “this autumn”

In January, Asus announced no less than three different Android-powered tablets that it said it would release this year. Of those, only the Eee Pad Transformer has made it to consumers as of now. About a month ago, we heard that the Asus Eee Pad Slider would become available in the UK in August, which was good news for those into tablets with unique form factors.

However, today Asus, through its UK arm, issued word on Facebook that the Eee Pad Slider will be in shops “this autumn” – without any actual mention of a delay. Yet since August clearly isn't one of the autumn months, a delay is exactly what this is. Asus apparently also wants “to understand what is important for our customers”, and has posted some surveys relating to that.

Without even acknowledging that this is a delay, Asus obviously hasn't said why it happened. Or why the Eee Pad Slider will end up launching at least nine months after its original announcement (that's got to make even Nokia jealous, since it has so far been the master of letting many months pass between announcement and release).

Pricing information and actual release dates will become available later this month, according to Asus. Let's hope that by the time that happens, “autumn” doesn't turn into “December”. It would be a shame, especially since the market desperately needs more Android tablets that aren't indistinguishable from one another. We'll keep you posted.
source: Unwired View

8-inch Vizio Android tablet now on pre-order at Amazon for $349.99

Vizio is getting ready for its first ever tablet to reach the market. Vizio's 8-inch Android Gingerbread-running tablet has been up for pre-order at its manufacturer's website for exactly one week, and the release is expected to happen on July 18.

Vizio's first entry into the tablet space is unique in its own ways. First off, it has an 8-inch screen, which is very rare in today's tablet market. Second, it doesn't run Android Honeycomb, the tablet-optimized version of the OS, but rather Gingerbread, a release designed for phones. On top of that though sits Vizio's own custom interface. Oh, and the tablet comes with an infrared port and can act as a remote control to 95% of the electronics currently available in the US market. So an interesting proposition, surely, and not just another run of the mill Android tablet then.

If Vizio's asking price of $379.99 for its tablet seems too high for you, you're in luck. The tablet is now also available for pre-order at Amazon, and the well known retailer has priced it at just $349.99. So that's $30 that you can instantly save just by getting it from Amazon. A pretty neat deal for a device that isn't even available yet. Amazon doesn't say when it will start shipping, but there's no reason why it wouldn't happen on July 18 – after all that is the official release date for the tablet.

If you're interested, Amazon is just one click away.

Vizio's tablet has an 8-inch touchscreen with 1024x768 resolution, Wi-Fi, GPS, Bluetooth, a front-facing VGA camera for video chat, a 1 GHz processor, 512 MB of RAM, 4 GB of built-in storage (of which 2 GB are user-accessible), a microSD card slot, micro HDMI, and a 3.5 mm headset jack.
source: Unwired View

Panasonic to launch e-book/tablet hybrid in Japan

Thanks to Panasonic, consumers in Japan will be getting an e-book reader/tablet hybrid that has been specially designed for the Japanese market in mind. The e-book/tablet hybrid will be getting its source of e-books from Rakuten, which is a leading online shopping mall operator in Japan, who in turn will be distributing e-books from booklista Co., which is a joint venture established by Sony and Toppan Printing Co.

In what appears to be a pretty neat tie-up with Rakuten's core competency, customers who purchase e-books will be given bonus points, which in return can be redeemed while shopping for items on Rakuten's marketplace.

The e-book/tablet hybrid is said to be running on Android's Froyo 2.2 with a 7-inch LCD touch screen sporting a 1,024x600 resolution, while being powered by a dual-core CPU (specs still unknown at this point), a camera (no mention of megapixels), a microSDHC slot, and 16 apps pre-installed (a browser, mail client, Adobe reader, etc.) as well as WiFi connectivity.

The price of the device has yet to be announced, and Panasonic is looking to launch the e-book/tablet hybrid as early as next month.
source: Ubergizmo

Android 3.2 may become available for the Motorola Xoom in a few days

In the Android world, right now there are two versions of the operating system. Android 2.3 Gingerbread is the latest version designed for phones, and Android 3.1 Honeycomb is the latest tablet-optimized release. However, it looks like the latter may not hold that title for long. Android 3.2, a new minor update to Honeycomb, may be released for the Motorola Xoom in a matter of days, if a comment by a Google employee is to be believed.

Said comment was made in the discussion thread for one Android issue at Google's official bug tracker. The Googler's comment in its entirety was:

“There should be a 3.2 update coming within days, and that should help those of you with the Xoom.”

So there you have it. Huawei may have been right after all about the imminent release of Android 3.2 that its upcoming MediaPad tablet will supposedly run.

Android 3.2 won't bring any major new user-facing features, at least not that we know of right now. It will, however, apparently be the first Honeycomb version to fully support 7-inch tablets (or, better said, tablets with screen resolutions lower than 1280×800). It will also be the first Honeycomb build to support Qualcomm processors. Up until now Android Honeycomb tablets have all had 1280×800 screen resolution and used Nvidia's Tegra 2 processors. So the new version will make room for some differentiation on the part of tablet manufacturers, and that can only be a good thing. Who knows, we may even see the HTC Flyer get updated to Honeycomb 3.2, since it has a Qualcomm processor and 1024×600 resolution. After all, HTC has promised an update to Honeycomb back when it launched the Flyer, but the reason why that hasn't happened yet may just have become obvious.

While we can't know for sure what will happen, let's just wait a few days and see. Maybe Android 3.2 is closer than we ever thought.
source: Unwired View

Asus Eee Pad Transformer 3G gets priced in Italy, hopefully still coming in August

The Asus Eee Pad Transformer may be the company's only Android-powered tablet to have already hit the streets (of the three it announced in January), but there's a catch. So far only the version of the Transformer lacking 3G connectivity has been sold, and that's true in all markets.

Needless to say, some people are anxiously waiting for the Transformer 3G to be out. Last month, Asus announced that the 3G Transformer would be available in August, in the UK at least. There have been no more official announcements so far about release dates elsewhere, so the only thing we can do is assume that most major markets will get it in August, or perhaps September at the latest. Anyway, it's coming soon.

And now that thought is being reinforced by Asus, with its Italian arm already listing two 3G-enabled Eee Pad Transformer tablets. Unfortunately, they're up on the Web without any hint of a release date, but they do come with recommended prices.

The 16 GB version will cost €499, and the 32 GB version will be €599 – at least in Italy. Prices for electronics vary a lot even inside the European Union, never mind the fact that they're generally way more expensive than in the US. So don't just convert those amounts into US Dollars – the resulting numbers are meaningless as of now. From past experiences, we can speculate that we may see the tablet launch at the same prices in the major continental European markets such as Germany, France, and Spain. Elsewhere though (and basically wherever a currency conversion needs to be applied) – we aren't so sure.

Let's just hope that the 3G Transformer won't suffer the fate of the Asus Eee Pad Slider, which was also supposed to finally come out in August, but got delayed to ‘autumn' just today.
source: Unwired View

Samsung Galaxy Tab Android 2.3 Gingerbread update out “within the next couple of weeks” in the UK

While Samsung has announced the Galaxy Tab 10.1 and 8.9 this year, and may even have a new 7-inch offering coming in the future, it hasn't forgotten about the original Samsung Galaxy Tab. That was the first Android-powered tablet that the manufacturer released, way before Android had a version specially optimized for tablet use. The Samsung Galaxy Tab launched with Android 2.2 Froyo, which was the newest version of Google's mobile operating system back then.

In the meantime, though, we've seen both Android 2.3 Gingerbread (designed primarily with phones in mind) as well as Android Honeycomb (optimized for tablets) get released by Google. So Samsung is busy working on updating the original Galaxy Tab. However, it won't be getting Honeycomb, but Gingerbread.

An update is still an update, and can't hurt, even if some (most?) Galaxy Tab owners would love to see Honeycomb on their tablets. The update to Android 2.3 Gingerbread has started already for the tablets sold by Sprint in the US, and now it looks like those in the UK will get it soon.

According to a source at Samsung that spoke to Recombu, the Gingerbread update will become available in the UK “within the next couple of weeks”. That obviously includes tablets purchased unlocked and SIM-free, and not necessarily those bought from operators. For subsidized tablets, you may have to wait longer for the update (so the operators can vet it) or, worst case scenario, it may never come. Let's hope it doesn't get to that.
source: Unwired View

ASUS Eee Pad Slider delayed until September

ASUS' Eee Pad Slider can't be said to have had a smooth transition from the drawing board to the store shelf – in fact, this Android 3.0 Honeycomb powered device has seen its launch date being pushed all the way back to September this year, at least according to a post that is on the ASUS UK Facebook page. According to ASUS, it will confirm launch dates and pricing of the hybrid tablet sometime later this July, and prior to its launch, ASUS hopes customers will take their time to complete some surveys in order for ASUS to get a better ‘feel' of what customers look for in future products.

The Eee Pad Slider is actually the love child of a netbook and a tablet, where it does seem to resemble an oversized slider handset in the end. No idea on whether this amalgamation in design is capable of working out in the end, so we will just have to keep our fingers crossed that everything is fine and dandy come September.
source: Ubergizmo

Acer Iconia Tab A500 Android 3.1 update has reached Canada

A couple of days ago, we reported that the Android 3.1 update for the Acer Iconia Tab A500 had apparently started rolling out in the US. That was pretty much on time, since Acer previously said that the update would be available on July 5.

And it looks like the update has also rolled out in Canada. Acer Iconia Tab A500 owners have told MobileSyrup that they have received and applied the update already.

In the US, updating wasn't all smooth sailing, with several people reporting either getting older software (still newer than Android 3.0, but not 3.1) or getting their devices bricked. That includes one of our commenters. So be careful. Of course should anything happen, it's clearly covered by warranty, but you will lose a few minutes, hours, or days, talking to Acer support and getting things fixed or getting a replacement.
source: Unwired View

Nextbook Next6 eBook Reader Tablet Review

Dedicated eBook reading devices tend to fall in one of two categories: E-ink or Color. Examples of E-ink eBook readers are the Amazon Kindle, Barnes & Noble Nook (the original and new Simple Touch version) and various Sony Readers. The most popular color reader is currently the Barnes & Noble Nook Color. But today I'm going to show you another, the Nextbook Next6 tablet. Is it a better choice than the Nook Color? Let's see.

Note: The images in this review can be clicked to load a larger size.

Hardware Specs

Android OS 2.1

CPU: ARM926EJ Dual Core 600MHz

7" TFT 800×480 Capacitive Color Display

WiFi 802.11 b/g

Built-in 4GB Memory Storage

Built-in G sensor

Build-in Speaker

SD/MMC Card Slot for Memory Expansion

Ebook Supported Formats: PDF, EPUB (open and Adobe DRM), TXT, FB2, PDB, RTF

Music Supported Formats: MP3, WMA

Photo Supported Formats: BMP, JPG, GIF, PNG

Video Supported Formats: FLV, MKV, MOV

Built-in Rechargeable Li-polymer Battery

Dimensions: 7.48 x 5.11 x 0.44″

Weight: 0.92 lbs

Package Contents

Next6 Multimedia tablet

Protective case

AC Power Adapter

USB Cable

User's Manual

The Next6 is a very nice looking device with its completely flat top surface that reminds me of an iPad. I love that it doesn't have a raised bezel. The top is a very shiny Black plastic, while the back surface is also Black, but with tiny sparkles.

The display is bright and vivid. It doesn't have has high a resolution as the Nook Color – 800 x 480 vs. 1024 x 600, but this didn't cause me to have problems reading books, webpages or viewing videos. Of course, color eBook readers have a big disadvantage over E-ink readers – glare and outdoor visibility. Unfortunately, you're not going to be able to use the Next6 to read your favorite novels out in the direct sunlight. The display washes out and is very hard to read. If you're an avid outdoor reader, stick with E-ink.

There is a button on either side of the display that can be used to page forwards and backwards through your ebooks. These buttons are generously sized and have very good tactile feedback.

All of the ports and switches are located along the bottom surface of the device. There's a power button with a tiny LED that glows red while charging and turns green once charging is completed. Next the power button is a somewhat old fashioned mini USB connector that you can use to copy files to and from the reader. Next in line is an earphone jack, a full sized SD card slot and the power port. The two horizontal slots that you see are the built in speakers.

I have no major complaints as far as the Next6 hardware goes. This device looks nice, has a quality feel to it and is very solid. There's no flexing, creaking or cracking of the case while you use the reader.

The Next6 is powered by Android OS version 2.1. The good news is that the interface is easy to navigate if you're already familiar with Android.

There is a bar at the top of the display that has icons that will take you back to the Home screen, back one ‘screen' and bring up the menu for the currently running application. You have 4 home screens that can be customized with widgets and app icons just like you're used to with your phones and other Android tablets.

The bad news is that the Next6 doesn't have a full installation of Android. Some important (to me) apps are missing.

What you see above minus the Android Pipes game, Kindle reader, app and Aldiko reader apps, which I installed, are all the apps that come installed on this device. Missing are the calendar, contacts, Gmail and Android App Market.

I did test the photo viewer, music player, video player and web browser apps, which all worked pretty well. I did experience a few random app force closes though.

Although the official App Market is not included, you can install 3rd party apps through the SlideME Marketplace. Weird name huh? There are many paid and free applications available for download through your wifi connection, but you won't find all the apps that you can find in the App Market. For example, searching for Angry Birds yielded a whole bunch of apps that have absolutely nothing to do with the ever popular game. But, I was surprised to find the Kindle and Aldiko apps. The Kindle app is a pretty old version (1.1) though. However, the Aldiko app is up-to-date.

I should note that the SlideME Marketplace app is a bit buggy. More often than not, it would freeze up on me with a syncing routine when I would try to do searches.

Since the Next6 is being sold as an Android tablet and not just an ebook reader device, it's unfortunate that the full version of Android hasn't been included. Another gotcha is that this device can't be upgraded to newer versions of Android.

Let's read some books…

The Next6 is preloaded with 2 eBook reader applications and 25 free books. The books include classics such as Huckleberry Finn, Dracula, A Tale of Two Cities and many more. These books are read using the main reader app that you see above. The interface is attractive and easy to navigate.

Reading using this application is pretty straight forward as it lacks any advanced features. Basically, all you can do is change the font size (not type or color) and turn pages. The hardware buttons can be used to turn pages or you can use the touch screen. If you're familiar with the page turning animation that the iPad has, where it looks like you're turning an actual physical page, this app does that too. The biggest problem with this app is that it doesn't save your place in the book and saving a bookmark doesn't work at all. You can create a named bookmark, but when you try to use it, it doesn't take you anywhere. I ended up creating a bookmark and naming it the page number that I wanted to remember. When I would go back to reading, I'd have to look at the bookmark name and then use the go-to feature to go to that page number. Not very elegant to say the least.

Another problem I noticed with this reader app is that when you turn the reader to landscape mode and back to portrait, it will skip ahead a page. Argh.

There is another reader included with the Next6. It's the Kobo reader and book store app. You can use this app to buy current books as well as download a large selection of free books. It works better than the other reader in that it accurately saves your place when you leave the app. But, it feels pretty sluggish to me and it seems that I was always staring at the spinning timer when turning pages and going from chapter to chapter. My advice is to use Aldiko.

The Next6 claims to get about 10hrs battery life per charge. I didn't do any detailed tests to verify this claim, but 10hrs does sound about right. I know I was able to read a couple hours a day for several days without needing to recharge.

Nook Color on the Left, Next6 on the Right

I like the Next6 hardware quite a bit. Sometimes it actually feels a little snappier to me than the Nook Color and I found the multi-touch capacitive display to feel more responsive than the Nook as well. The things that bother me about this player are the buggy reader and market apps and the fact that it can't be upgraded to newer versions of the OS. For these reasons, I'm torn as to whether I can really recommend the Next6. Although the advertised price for this reader is $279.99 on the Nextbook website, I have found it for $100 cheaper on Amazon. That makes it more attractive. As is, I wouldn't pay $279.99 for it and would be more likely to pay $249 for a Nook Color because I am more confident that it will be supported with firmware updates. I'm not confident that the Next6 will be supported with any updates at all. Since receiving this reader to review, Nextbook released the Next7, which has a 1GHz processor and Android 2.3. Sounds like that one is the better choice…
source: The Gadgeteer

BlackBerry PlayBook now part of Justice League, is a sidekick in the police car

D&R Electronics has apparently thrown a BlackBerry PlayBook into a Canadian Dodge Charger, signified by a red maple leaf. Put simply, the 7-inch slate has been coded up to flip on the overhead / side lights, search police databases for names and faces, accept commands wirelessly from an in-car keyboard, and even fully detachable for those times with mobility is of the utmost importance.
source: 2DayBlog.com

Augen calls it a day

Have you heard of Augen before? Perhaps not, if low end e-book readers and Android-powered tablets are not your cup of tea. For those who tend to be more budget minded where the mentioned niches are concerned, then surely you would have heard of Augen before. This outfit has finally called it quits, as they could not be contacted for more than a month now according to The Digital Reader, and their website has also been persona non grata for an equally long time.

There is no official word at the moment on whether the company is well and truly shut down, but then again how many companies do you know which are still operating, but failed to provide a response to emails after a month?

Augen did carve out a name for themselves last year in terms of pricing, offering a $99 smartbook and a $150 Android tablet landed at Kmart, although those were mostly ignored by the market since the internal components failed to impress consumers as they were looking for something more powerful, and did not mind to fork out the additional dough, never mind the recession. Nice knowing you, Augen.
source: Ubergizmo

Toshiba Thrive 8GB and 16GB On Sale at Newegg

There were moments when we wondered if Toshiba's Android Honeycomb tablet would ever see the light of day, but months after we caught a glimpse of prototype units at CES the slate now known as the Thrive has started showing up for sale at several retailers. We got word some Best Buy locations had units for sale earlier in the week, and it now looks like Newegg has begun selling Toshiba's baby. Toshiba is pushing this thing pretty hard, and from everything we have seen the Thrive won't disappoint those searching for a polished Android 3.0 device at a wallet-friendly price. You can snag the 16GB version for $479.99 or the 8GB model for only $429.99.
source: Android Phone

Toshiba Thrive now available at Newegg, $429.99 for the 8 GB model, $479.99 for 16 GB

The Toshiba Thrive is the company's first foray into the Android tablet space. The Thrive became finally official in June after many months of leaks, for most of which it didn't even have a name. You've been able to pre-order one for quite a while, and a release was expected around the middle of this month. Yet the Thrive is already being sold by some stores, as we reported a few days ago.

And now it seems that you're able to get a Toshiba Thrive not only in brick-and-mortar stores, but online too. Well known retailer Newegg has put two versions of Toshiba's tablet up for grabs on its website. The difference is only in available storage space.

There's an 8 GB model which retails for $429.99, and a 16 GB version that goes for $479.99. Interestingly enough, Newegg hasn't (yet?) listed the 32 GB Thrive. But if you don't want or need 32 GB of internal storage on your tablet, and have been looking forward to the Thrive's release, perhaps you should head over to Newegg right now and place an order. Free shipping is included by the way.

The Toshiba Thrive has a 10.1-inch 1280×800 capacitive touchscreen, a 1 GHz Nvidia Tegra dual-core processor, 1 GB of RAM, a 5 MP autofocus rear camera with video recording, a secondary front-facing 2 MP camera for video calls, Wi-Fi 802.11n, GPS, microSD card support, a 3.5 mm headset jack, stereo speakers, and it weighs 771 grams. The Thrive runs Android Honeycomb.
source: Unwired View

Ballistic Tough Jacket Case arrives for BlackBerry PlayBook

Bear in mind that good functional hardware is handicapped without proper software, and unfortunately, the BlackBerry PlayBook falls under this category. For those of you who decided to be an early adopter and are disappointed with your purchase, perhaps you might want to consider fitting it out with the $69.99 Ballistic Tough Jacket Case? Why so, you ask? Surely after making such a decision, you can at least express your dissatisfaction with the device by dropping it “accidentally” or knocking it against the wall, but without breaking it since you can't afford to get a different tablet.

Of course, on the other hand, there will be a smattering of folks who love the BlackBerry PlayBook to bits, touting it to be the next best thing since sliced bread. Well, the Ballistic Tough Jacket Case offers the same level of protection for the PlayBook, never mind your intentions or feelings toward it.

Offering three layer protection that includes an inner silicone layer, impact resistant hard plastic, and a shock absorbent polymer layer, they have all been specially constructed to deliver advanced protection against the worst of drops. Anyone wants to vent their frustrations on the PlayBook?
source: Ubergizmo

Motorola Xoom Getting Android 3.2 “Within Days?”

According to a supposed Googler, Android 3.2 might be coming to the Motorola XOOM in a matter of days. Buried in the comments of Android Open Source Project Issue 16992, a one line response states, “There should be a 3.2 update coming within days, and that should help those of you with Xoom.” The issue the comment is referring to concerns problems with Exhcnage support arrising after the Android 3.1 update, and while a fix is welcomed that's not what has us excited.

This is one of only a handful of times we have heard mention of Android 3.2, an update that is said to bring support for a wider range of screen sizes and help bridge the gab to Ice Cream Sandwich. The update was first mentioned alongside Huawei's upcoming tablet, and later more information was detailed. This is the first we have heard of it going to the Motorola XOOM, but it wouldn't surprise us to see the flagship Honeycomb device receive the update. We wouldn't even be surprised if the rumored XOOM 2 ships with the new version out of the box.
source: Android Phone

MSI WindPad 110w tablet pre-orders being taken

Taiwanese computer manufacturer MSI has already started taking pre-orders for their upcoming WindPad 110w tablet, but for those who were thinking that you could get your hands on it this month, we will have to disappoint you as it will ship only on August 1st. Well, you know that waiting is well worth it if it is for something that you really, really want, so those who are interested might want to make a virtual bee-line and place your $599 pre-order for this 10″ Windows-powered tablet that runs off an an AMD Z-01 processor which churns at 1GHz in a dual-core configuration.

Keeping the clock speed down while introducing more cores is more efficient than a single core but high clock speed processor – not only do you save energy and extend the battery life of the device, it is also more efficient, only if the code takes advantage of such a situation, of course.

Other hardware configurations of the MSI WindPad 110w include a 10.1″ capacitive touchscreen display at 1,280 x 800 resolution, HDMI output, USB connectivity, and headphone ports, an SD memory card slot, a G-sensor, light sensor, and front and rear cameras in addition to Wi-Fi and Bluetooth connectivity.
source: Ubergizmo

Motorola LTE tablet meets up with the FCC

Those working at the FCC must surely experience the tension of knowing what's coming up next, having played with the device at work, and yet are not at liberty to tell the world everything just yet. Just like Hector Hammond in the Green Lantern movie, he was drafted into a highly covert extra terrestrial program, but was sworn to secrecy. Well, he met his end in the jaw of Parallax anyways, quite unlike the FCC employees who do not have the threat of a hungry cloud waiting to devour their souls. The latest device to hit the FCC? A Motorola LTE tablet with the FCC ID IHDP56LU2, having picked up FCC approval for its Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, CDMA and LTE connectivity.

Measuring 259mm x 166mm, it is a wee bit longer than the XOOM, albeit being slightly shorter – making this a prime candidate for a tablet device since a phone would be far too unwieldy. Some might even say that a LTE tablet from Motorola can only mean one thing – the Motorola XOOM 2. What do you think?
source: Ubergizmo

Eee Pad Slider delayed, while Asus has a think about it…

The maker of the popular Eee Transformer tablet has delayed the launch of its Eee Pad Slider, with the slide-out keyboard Android 3.X tablet now pushed back to “Autumn” from the previously scheduled August date.

Here how it broke the news:

Eee Pad Slider will be coming to the UK this Autumn. We'll confirm dates and pricing later in July. In the meantime we're running a couple of surveys to understand what is important for our customers. We'd love to hear your input. Surveys will follow in a minute or two.

That sounds a little bit like it's having second thoughts about releasing it here at all, to be honest. Here are the questions its asking users over on its Facebook page:

Perhaps the price tag of the Slider is looking rather ominous and it's having second thoughts?
source: Eurodroid

Panasonic Android-based e-Book Tablet For The Japanese Domestic Market

At e-Book Expo Tokyo, Panasonic exhibited an e-book tablet that's currently being developed. This tablet will support e-commerce site Rakuten's e-book store, which will open in early August. The price and release date will be announced soon.

The demo tablet weighs 400 g, and has a 7-inch screen, with a resolution of 1,024 x 600 pixels. This demo device has a dual-core CPU, built-in camera, and microSDHC slot. The specifications of the actual product, though, haven't been decided yet.

“This tablet mainly handles e-books for the Japanese market. What's distinctive about it is the software, rather than the hardware. It has an API that can receive information from Rakuten and show it on screen. We'll be offering a service where all you need is a Wi-Fi connection to get book information and rankings in real time.”

The device has 600 previewable e-books pre-installed, so you can enjoy some content as soon as you buy it. And because it's Android-based, this tablet also provides basic applications like browsing and e-mail.

The home screen features a unique interface, resembling a desktop. It shows books you're partway through, your favorites, and books you haven't read yet. When you flick each icon, the thumbnails change, and when you pinch out, a list of thumbnails is displayed.

“This e-book tablet is aimed mainly at people in their 30s and 40s, who tend to read a lot, as well as older age groups.”
source: Akihabara News

Motorola giving away free wireless keyboard & mouse with its XOOM tablet

Motorola UK has started a summer promotion where it's giving away its wireless keyboard and mouse accessory bundle with every XOOM it sells. The promotion is live now, and applies to all XOOMs bought in the UK from the beginning of July.

It'll run “while stocks last”. We suspect stocks of XOOM accessories are running pretty high, so there's probably no need to rush.

It's a mail-in thing, where you send your XOOM receipt to Motorola then it sends you the toys in return. Not bad for a freebie. Here are the full terms & conditions:

Free keyboard and mouse offer runs from 1st July, while stocks last. For full terms and conditions and to register go to www.motorolaxoompromotion.co.uk using the XOOM™ purchased during July. Up to 64GB of storage with 32GB SD card. Android and all Google products are registered trademarks of Google, Inc. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners. MOTOROLA and the Stylized M Logo are trademarks or registered trademarks of Motorola Trademark Holdings, LLC. © 2011 Motorola Mobility, Inc. All rights reserved

MOTOROLA XOOM PROMOTION TERMS & CONDITIONS

1. This Promotion is open from 1 July 2011 to individuals ("Customers") aged 16 years or over who are resident in the United Kingdom and Ireland who purchase any Motorola Xoom device from 1st to 31st July 2011 inclusive, excluding employees of Motorola and its affiliates, contractors, agents and their families, and anyone else directly or indirectly connected with this Promotion.

2. Registrations by agents or any party acting on behalf of the Customer will not be accepted. Customers are deemed to have accepted these terms and conditions and agree to be bound by them when taking advantage of this Promotion.

3. Only one entry per Customer is permitted. Cannot be used in conjunction with any other promotion or offer.

4. To be eligible to for the Promotion, Customers must submit Proof of Purchase of their Motorola XOOM by registering at www.motorolaxoompromotion.co.uk using the Motorola Xoom purchased during July.

5.Customers will receive a verification email from support@motorolaxoompromotion.co.uk . Customers will receive a Wireless Keyboard and Mouse (RRP £74.99 / €89.99), shipped to the address supplied on registration. Goods are as stated and are non-transferable. No cash alternatives will be offered.

6. All costs associated with hardware and software required to successfully complete registration for this Promotion is entirely the responsibility of the Customer.

7. The Offer is open while stocks of the Wireless Keyboard and Mouse last. Motorola reserves the right to cancel, amend, terminate or temporarily suspend the Promotion in the event of any unforeseen circumstances or technical reason outside its reasonable control, with no liability to any Customers or third parties.

8. Your information will be collected and stored by 368 Limited on behalf of Motorola for the purposes of administering the Promotion, and will be stored on servers residing in the United Kingdom, and shared with Motorola Mobility, Inc., and its affiliates and subsidiaries, some of which reside outside of United Kingdom. Motorola respects the privacy of its Customers. For further information on Motorola's privacy practices, please visit http://www.motorola.com/Consumers/US-EN/About_Motorola/Legal/Privacy_Policy

Promoter: Motorola Mobility UK Ltd, Chineham Business Park, Basingstoke, RG24 8WQ.
source: Eurodroid

Acer Iconia Tab A500 Android 3.1 update has started rolling out

Before Google gets round to releasing Ice Cream Sandwich, the next version of Android which will be one and the same for both tablets and phones, there still are updates coming in for Honeycomb, the company's current tablet-optimized OS release.

Such is Android 3.1, the minor update to Android Honeycomb that was announced back in May during Google's annual developer conference. Since then, this update has made its way onto the Motorola Xoom, the Asus Eee Pad Transformer, and we've heard that the Acer Iconia Tab A500 may start receiving it starting on July 5.

And even if perhaps missing that exact date, Acer seems to be delivering around that time frame. According to Android Police, Acer Iconia Tab A500 owners in the USA are already seeing the update pop up on their tablets. Undoubtedly, more markets will follow. Unfortunately, it isn't all smooth sailing, as some users are only getting updated to Android 3.0.1, which is (obviously) an older version. Still an update to 3.0, but not Android 3.1. At least that's what GottaBeMobile is reporting.

So at this point we can only say that an update to Android 3.1 for the Acer Iconia Tab may be on its way. Some have received it already, and if you haven't, it's probably coming. Since this is an over the air update, what will happen is that the tablet will notify you about the update. You then choose to Install it (right?), at which point your Iconia will download the update, then reboot and apply it. That's it.
source: Unwired View

Cregle PenBook tablet seems out of the ordinary

When it comes to the world of tablets, there are the movers and shakers whom I like to call Tier 1 tablets (iPad, Motorola XOOM, HP TouchPad perhaps?), followed by Tier 2 models that are churned out by mid-range manufacturers such as those from Vizio (who are pretty good at budget-friendly TVs, I must say) and Archos. Well, where do we place the Cregle PenBook tablet? I'm not sure myself, although this tablet runs on Windows 7 which goes against the grain of either being on the Android or iOS side.

Well, stripping the Cregle PenBook tablet apart will lead you to an Intel Atom Z530 1.6GHz processor, a maximum of 2GB RAM (it ships with half that amount), a touch bar that lets you manipulate various functions including brightness control and page up/down, a choice between a 16GB or 32GB SSD, and a 10.1″ digitizer surface at 1,024 x 600 resolution. No idea on the kind of digitizer supported, although from the image itself, the pen does seem stylish in its very own way.

With a battery life of 6 hours, that is kind of sad since tablets ought to have something longer than that, especially for those who multitask on them. At least the battery is replaceable, although I would have preferred to see a longer battery life. There is no word on pricing or availability at press time.
source: Ubergizmo

Wi-Fi only Motorola Xoom now only $499.99

The Motorola Xoom was widely expected to be the first Android tablet to give the iPad 2 a run for its money. It had a difficult time since there were some flaws with Honeycomb and Motorola made the poor decision of pricing their tablet higher than that of competitors.

Motorola has finally caught onto things and has decided to drop the price of the Wi-Fi only Xoom from $599.99 to the standard tablet price of $499.99. This was probably due to the recent release of the Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1($499.99), which was a more viable choice to Android customers due to its lower price point since the Xoom and Galaxy Tab 10.1 have nearly identical specs, but the Galaxy Tab 10.1 is $100 cheaper.

It was defintely a smart move by Motorola to drop the price, although the Verizon version of this tablet is still priced at $599.99 with a two year contract. If you happen to be looking for a good Android tablet, I highly recommend the Xoom as one of the top tablets now due to its lower price.
source: Unwired View

Asus Eee Pad Transformer now available for purchase Office Depot

It has been very difficult to find an Asus Eee Pad Transformer since the high demand for the tablet created inventory shortages in most retail and online stores despite the factory still producing tons of tablets which have yet to catch up to the high demand.

Those who are interested in the Transformer will be glad to know that the tablet is now available for purchase in Office Depot's online and retail stores. Randy Wick, Vice President of Technology Merchandising for Office Depot, mentioned his opinion on the tablet in the press release: "The ASUS Eee Pad Transformer truly stands out from other tablets currently on the market with its great price point and unique features, including the expandable keyboard dock. Customers who purchase this tablet will have access to thousands of Android apps, hours of entertainment, and the ability to remain productive when away from the office - all in a single device.” I agree with Wick: the Transformer has plenty of great features including a NVIDIA® Tegra™ 2 dual-core processor, a 10.1" IPS screen made with Gorilla Glass, and the fact that the device also runs on the latest version of Honeycomb, Android's tablet optimized OS.

All of these great features are included on the tablet, but the deciding factor of this device is the low price point. I highly recommend purchasing this tablet if you are looking for a Honeycomb tablet and want some good hardware, but don't want to shell out the extra dough for an iPad 2 or Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1. Hit the link below to get yourself a Asus Eee Pad Transformer.
source: Unwired View

Archos Gen8 tablets receive software update

When it comes to tablets, French manufacturer Archos is not left behind the game with their offerings to date, although they haven't really made a meal out of it. The Archos Gen9 tablets have yet to roll out as those will sport Android 3.1 Honeycomb, but that doesn't mean the engineers over at Archos have been doing nothing – no sir, they did work on a software update for Gen8 tablets that were released in 2010. The latest software update will target the Archos 28, 32, 43, 70, and 101 tablets, where all of them are still running on Android 2.2 Froyo. Sorry guys, but this means no Android 2.3 Gingerbread anytime soon, although the latest update does bring along with it a bunch of improvements.

You can expect an updated Adobe Flash Player to keep up with the times, while a subtitle wizard is thrown into the mix so that your videos can now be subtitled. Not only that, it will also have an improved battery life estimate, so you need not play the guessing game with what you see on the display, as you might just have better luck at the casino tables.

Other fixes allude to audio, video, and Wi-Fi bugs. Well, what are you waiting for? Go download the latest software update already!
source: Ubergizmo

Sony S1 and S2 Tablets Spotted in Italy

An Italian tech site has dipped its hands on Sony's two upcoming Android tablet devices, which are codenamed S1 and S2. Even if you do not undertstand the Italian being spoken in the source videos, you can clearly see the Playstation Suite that combines both games and movie trailers and a slightly blurry hands-on of the tablets' hardware.

To refresh your memory, the S1 measures 9.4 inches, while the foldable S2 has two 5.5-inch screens. Both tablets are expected to be released in times with Android 3.0 debut later this year, containing a software pack with speed tweaks and Qriocity for music.
source: Gadget.com

Is TabCo a viral marketing stunt by Nokia?

The folks over at My Nokia Blog recently received some interesting tips about the possibility of an upcoming tablet from Nokia. Apparently a company or a group named “Tab Co” has recently sprouted and has been dropping clues about a new tablet that's said to be different from all the other tablets available on the market now.

Some people have speculated “TabCo” to be a fictional company made up by Nokia to generate interest for the tablet. The possibility is there but it's not certain. From the viral videos released by TabCo, here's what we managed to pick up so far: there's going to be lots of swiping (one of the main features of MeeGo's interface), it's supposed to have a fantastic user interface, it's not the PlayBook, it's “way more Apple than Google”, and it's not an iPad either (evident by the WWDC video - “Forget the fruit!”). The TabCo website is just as mysterious as its Twitter account, though the colors (red, black and white somehow give off a Motorola/Toshiba vibe but that's just speculation on my part).
source: Ubergizmo

Wi-Fi Motorola Xoom can be had for just $450 at Staples until July 9

The Motorola Xoom was the first tablet to run Android Honeycomb, the version of Google's mobile operating system optimized specifically for tablets. Because of that, or perhaps in spite of that, the Xoom was expensive. It was, in fact, $100 more expensive than Apple's iPad 2. That's not a good strategy if you want to compete with Apple, a company that's recognized by most as selling its products at a premium compared to competitors (the famed ‘Apple tax'). Motorola may have tried to create its own ‘Moto tax' with the Xoom but the truth is that it failed miserably.

The first iteration of Honeycomb was far from perfect, with many inconsistencies and bugs, and the hardware itself was nothing that spectacular either. So people just decided to skip the Xoom and wait for other Android tablets, such as the Asus Eee Pad Transformer, which has been a lot more affordable since it hit the streets, and as a consequence has seen many stock shortages in the US.

Motorola seems to have woken up to the whole thing and decided to cut the Xoom's price to $499.99, matching the cheapest iPad 2. That price applies, of course, to the Wi-Fi-only version of the tablet. Now though there's a way to get the Xoom even cheaper than what Moto recommends, but only if you act fast.

According to Android Police, all you have to do is print the coupon you see above and take it to the nearest Staples store. As you can see, the coupon will give you a cool $50 off the price of the Wi-Fi-only Xoom. And since that price is now $499.99, the tablet will be yours for $449.99. I bet you didn't see that coming back when Moto's tablet was selling for $599.99.
source: Unwired View

Comcast XFINITY TV Gets Honeycomb Support, Your Tablet is Your New Remote

After months of being relegated to Android smartphones only, Comcast's XFINITY TV app has been updated to support Honeycomb, bringing a retooled tablet interface that will have you ditching your traditional remote in no time. So far Comcast is only officially supporting the Motorola XOOM, but the app should be compatible with any Honeycomb tablet with WXGA resolution (1280×800). Gingerbread users are in luck, too, as the latest update also brings support for the newest version of Android for mobile handsets.

XFINITY TV lets you surf channel listings, schedule DVR recordings, and search through Comcast's lineup of programs. Chances are you've already got your Honeycomb tablet sitting in your lap while taking in the good ol' boob tube, so why not put it to some real use?
source: Android Phone

HP Touchpad has $328 cost price

According to analyst outfit Isuppli, the 32GB model of the HP Touchpad will cost a total of $328 to manufacture – at least that is what Isuppli makes of the Touchpad's bill of materials (BOM), including a $10 thrown in for manufacturing costs. The display and touchscreen segments will cost $132.50, making up the bulk of its cost price. According to Andrew Rassweiler, senior director of teardown services at Isuppli, “The TouchPad in some ways does closely resemble the original iPad, with its use of the same LG display Apple used in the first-generation iPad, and by initially offering a product that only employs Wi-Fi as its exclusive wireless connection.”

Up next in terms of cost? The Touchpad's NAND flash memory which is going for $45. With a market price of $599, the amount of profit is south of $300, which ain't too shabby considering the amount of research and development that had gone into it. Now, if only the Touchpad would be a huge success – that will certainly drive prices further down due to economy of scale.

Will you be getting the webOS-powered device when it arrives?
source: Ubergizmo

Motorola Xoom comes with free keyboard and mouse all this month in the UK

If you're in the UK and are planning to buy a tablet (and won't get the iPad), this might interest you. Motorola's UK arm is holding a promotion all through July. What's in it for you? A free wireless (we assume that means Bluetooth) keyboard and mouse. What do you have to do? Buy a Motorola Xoom Android-powered tablet, of course.

However, you can buy any Xoom version, be that 3G-enabled or plain Wi-Fi, from anywhere. You don't have to buy from one specific place, which is a good thing. After you've bought your Xoom, use its browser to navigate to this page, where you'll register your purchase. You need to send the receipt for your Xoom to Motorola, and it will send you the free toys in return. Not the easiest to redeem offer, but not the hardest either.

I'm not sure how many people look at a tablet and think something along the lines of you know what this is missing? A keyboard and a mouse!, but for those that do, this will be very interesting. The offer applies to all Xooms purchased in the UK in July, and you need to be 16 or older and a resident of the UK to qualify. Eurodroid has the full terms and conditions up for your viewing pleasure, so make sure to read through before you pull the trigger.
source: Unwired View

Acer releases Android 3.1 for tablets in Germany

Not many Android-powered tablets at the moment run on Android 3.1, with most of them being on Android 3.0 Honeycomb. Well, that's not too much of a loss, as it does not mean the tablet experience is gimped in any way. After all, Android 3.0 Honeycomb is a tablet-specific operating system, and Google has done quite a good job on it. Acer, however, feels that their German friends deserve nothing but the latest in their overture of rolling out an Android 3.1 update for owners of the Acer Iconia Tab A500.

Representatives from Acer Germany have already left a bunch of comments on Facebook, touting that the rollout will be done in phases from today onwards. If you happen to fall under this special category across the pond, be patient – your update is coming in due time if it hasn't done so already.

As for those of us living Stateside, we're sad to report that no official word has been issued from Acer concerning an update. Still, we don't think this is strong enough a reason to pack up your bags and migrate.
source: Ubergizmo

AMD Hondo chipset might target Windows 8 tablets

Microsoft has cast an eye to the tablet market as well, what with their Windows 8 operating system that is still in the pipeline. So you've got the basic software ready, but what about the hardware? AMD intends to fill these shoes with a new chipset known as Hondo at the moment, where the processor manufacturer claims Hondo is ready to see action by the time Microsoft rolls out their Windows 8 operating system.

Just what will the Hondo chipset offer? For starters, you will be able to enjoy a dual-core processor, targeting a lower "app power" of around 2 watts. With a 40nm processor that will comprise of the Radeon HD 6250 graphics chipset, handling 720p HD video playback ought to be a cinch, coupled with DirectX 11 graphics.

Since it consumes little power, you need not worry about heat issues. Leaked information point towards Hondo samples being sent to hardware partners at the end of this year, with production tipped to happen sometime in Q2 next year.
source: Ubergizmo

South Korea plans to convert all textbooks to digital, swap backpacks for tablets by 2015

Well, that oversized Kindle didn't become the textbook killer Amazon hoped it would be, but at least one country is moving forward with plans to lighten the load on its future generation of Samsung execs. South Korea announced this week that it plans to spend over $2 billion developing digital textbooks, replacing paper in all of its schools by 2015. Students would access paper-free learning materials from a cloud-based system, supplementing traditional content with multimedia on school-supplied tablets. The system would also enable homebound students to catch up on work remotely — they won't be practicing taekwondo on a virtual mat, but could participate in math or reading lessons while away from school, for example. Both programs clearly offer significant advantages for the country's education system, but don't expect to see a similar solution pop up closer to home — with the US population numbering six times that of our ally in the Far East, many of our future leaders could be carrying paper for a long time to come. Finally the future generation won't have to turn hunchback due to the overweight bag.
source: 2DayBlog.com

Leaked AMD roadmap reveals next-gen Fusion tablet chips

Until recently, AMD has kept pretty mum on its tablet plans, with it only officially entering the fray last month. It's clear that the first batch of Z-Series chips, codenamed Desna, are not terribly different from the rest of the Fusion line. However, according to a leaked roadmap, that will all change with its successor — Hondo. Supposedly the next gen of tablet APUs will ditch a number features that aren't essential to burgeoning form factor, including VGA output, PCIe support, and couple of USB pathways. It will also add an “active standby” mode for maintaining connectivity while reducing power draw and cut TDP by about a third. Hondo is expected to enter production in Q2 of next year, and be succeeded by Samara which will feature a new generation graphics core.
source: 2DayBlog.com

Samsung Galaxy Tab Gingerbread Update Begins Rolling Out to Sprint Users

The original Samsung Galaxy Tab might not have the hardware to stack up against the newly released Galaxy Tab 10.1, but thanks to an update rolling out today at least one carrier-branded version of the 7-inch slate will get a fresher build of Android that might restore some of its appeal. It isn't the tablet-specific Honeycomb, but the Android 2.3 update should breath some new life into Samsung's first Android tablet.

Maintenance release EF17 is now going out to Sprint users, with the update expected to reach all owners of their Galaxy Tab within four days. Anyone out there receive their piece of Gingerbread yet?
source: Android Phone

ViewSonic 7x Honeycomb tablet shipping in mid August

We thought that the MediaPad was first 7″ Honeycomb tablet to be released later this year, but now it looks like there are other companies in the running in the race as well. Acer and ViewSonic both have their own offerings on the way - the Acer Iconia Tab A100 and the ViewSonic 7x. The 7x has just been officially announced to have a mid-August release date, while the A100 hasn't got a release date yet. Huawei's MediaPad has been said to be available globally by Q3, so August sounds pretty likely as well, we'll just have to see which one arrives first.

The ViewSonic 7x will pack a 7″ 1024 x 600 Gorilla Glass display, Android 3.2, NVIDIA Tegra 2 processor, 1GB of RAM, 8GB of flash storage, 2-megapixel front facing camera, 5-megapixel rear camera, WiFi, Bluetooth, GPS, mini HDMI output, USB 2.0 slot, and will be priced at about $499 for the WiFi-only model.
source: Ubergizmo

Sony teases world with new tablet video

Sony does not want to lose out on the tablet game, as they see a potentially lucrative pie that is growing larger by the day, so getting in quick and ahead of the rest is crucial in carving out a market share for themselves. Well, there are two new videos which surfaced recently (in a series of five, or so it seems) that do not damage their cause, where it brings you to a fantastic world of balls, machines, blue laser beams, and a safari of bleached animal figurines.

It is said that Sony's upcoming tablets will be powered by Google Android 3.0 Honeycomb right out of the box, so that ought to deliver a performance that is dependable at the very least.
source: Ubergizmo

Camangi Taiwan bring its Android 3.1 Mangrove 7 Tablet in Japan

Camangi a Taiwanese based company announced that it will start shipping in Japan later this august its latest Android 3.1 Tablet the Mangrove 7. Announced at 49,800 Yen, the Mangrove 7 comes with Android 3.1, a Tegra 2 Chipset, 1GB of RAM, 8GB of internal memory, a 7" screen with a 1024×800 resolution, Micro USB 2.0, WiFi BGN, MicroSD Slot, mini HDMI, Bluetooth 2.1+EDR, GPS/AGPS, a 2Mpix Font facing camera and a 5Mpix Rear camera with LED Flash.

This tablet comes with a 1,600mAh battery for a size of 195x122x11.92mm and a weight of 380g.
source: Akihabara News

64GB and 4G HP TouchPads landing in August according to leaked roadmap

According to a purported roadmap image obtained by PreCentral, HP will introduce a new 64GB version of its TouchPad this August alongside a 4G model on AT&T. The 64GB model will apparently offer a “glossy white” finish and could come equipped with a dual-core Qualcomm Snapdragon processor that's clocked at 1.5GHz. AT&T's 4G TouchPad is expected to come in a black finish and will offer support for the carrier's HSPA+ network, but will maintain the 32GB capacity of the Wi-Fi model that launched last week. While early reports suggested that HP's new 7-inch TouchPad, codenamed “Opal,” would launch in August, PreCentral says the tablet is expected to launch in the fall instead.
source: Boy Genius Report

Sony's new tablet teaser is just as hypnotic as the first

Sony has yet again published another teaser video for their upcoming Honeycomb tablet. And much like last month's spellbinding ad, this sequel features plenty of balls, levers and bizarre figurines moving together in serpentine synergy. If you look closely, you might even spot one of Sony's Honeycomb slates. This is only the second installation in what could very well be a never-ending series — but we'd be OK with that, because these clips make our brains happy.
source: 2DayBlog.com

Business news portal Bloomberg launches tablet version of its Android app

Add another product to the list of tablet-friendly Android apps thanks to Bloomberg, which has just released Bloomberg for Tablet. It's not a specific Android 3.X Honeycomb app, however, with the maker saying it'll actually work on any tablet device with Android 2.1 or higher.

So it's nothing special, just a little more readable and designed to work better in landscape mode compared to the mobile original:

If you're a business-news-loving Android user, Bloomberg for Tablet is up on the Android Market here. At this point we usually make a joke about all our shares going down, but last week was a good week for the Eurodroid portfolio – some managed to stay level.
source: Eurodroid

MSI WindPad 110W

Tablet PC's still seem to get more media mileage these days. Device makers are increasingly coming up with better tablets in a short span of time to get more and more people attracted. MSI certainly has become quite aggressive in this aspect by coming up with a variety of tablets for the market. One recent entries is the MSI WindPad 110W.

The new MSI WindPad 110W will feature an AMD Fusion APU Z011GHz CPU with Radeon HD 6250 graphics. It will also come with a 2GB RAM, a 10″ IPS touchscreen display, 32GB SSD as well as support for HDMI, Bluetooth 3.0 and WiFi connections. The new MSI WindPad 110W is initially set to arrive in the Japanese market this month. It is expected to cost around 60,000 Japanese Yen or around US$744.
source: Gadget.com

Vizio 8″ Android Tablet Bundle is Available for Pre-Order

The new 8″ Android tablet from Vizio is now available for pre-order. The VTAB1008-1 tablet will have the V.I.A. Plus interface on the Android 2.3 platform. It has 802.11n WiFi, Bluetooth, and a built-in GPS. It has the usual tablet features: capacitive multi-touch touchscreen (1024X768), front-facing camera for video chatting, accelerometer, and 10-hour battery life. It does have a couple of unexpected features. It has three speakers, and the tablet senses its orientation and turns on two of the speakers for stereo sound. It also has an IR blaster and a universal remote control app that lets you control your home theater equipment throughout your house; you can even define a profile for each room. The tablet has 4GB internal memory that can be expanded with microSD cards. The VTAB1008-1 will ship July 18 as a bundle: tablet, folio case, and a 16GB microSD card. You can pre-order the bundle now for $399.99.
source: The Gadgeteer

South Korea Plans on Replacing Textbooks with Tablets

The Kindle may not be the textbook killer that Amazon expected it to be, but one country is gearing for paper-less learning materials for its schools. South Korea has announced this week that it plans to develop digital textbooks, aiming to replace textbooks on all schools by 2015.

The project, which is estimated to cost over $2.4 billion, would have students access their learning materials from a cloud-based system, combining traditional content with multimedia on tablets that the schools will provide. The system would also enable homebound students to participate in lessons remotely, so that they could catch up with the rest of the students while, for instance, recuperating from illness.

Some schools in the country already have digitized education materials, displaying textbooks through notebook computers. But deciding on what tablet to use for its students would be a tough choice for the South Korean government on whether to go for a variant of Samsung Galaxy Tab or iPad (or any non-Korean made tablet for that matter). The government may even have the option of creating its own tablet for school children.

This project has also re-ignited the debate on whether or not students learn better from printer material or from the computer. Another point of discussion is whether devices that are smaller in size than traditional textbooks would make significant learning materials.
source: Gadget.com

Leaked HP roadmap points toward TouchPad and Opal show later this year

Don't you just love leaks? We do, what with all the shadowy operations going around, capturing photos on-the-fly with a shaky hand as there is always the risk of getting caught by your superior or authorities – hence the blurry images of a particular handset or device. Screenshots, however, are not affected by trembling hands, so here we are with a leaked roadmap which points toward HP's plans for their webOS platform in 2011. The current TouchPad will see a 64GB model released later next month, sporting a faster processor, the possibility of a dual-core 1.5GHz Snapdragon processor and taking a page out of Apple's book, coming in a glossy white shade.

There will be a “4G” (in reality, 3G) edition with HSPA+ model of the TouchPad as well which is tipped to arrive on AT&T. Apart from the change in modem, everything else about this model will be the same as the current 32GB model, although we would think that the name can be rather misleading.

A 7″ Opal tablet has also been mentioned for a fall release, in addition to the US-bound Pre 3 during the same period. No idea on who would want to pick up a webOS-powered smartphone with Android and iOS already making leaps and bounds over the rest of the competition – perhaps those who are visionaries?
source: Ubergizmo

VIZIO VTAB1008 up for pre-order

Remember VIZIO's first tablet that was introduced last week? We didn't have a price or a release date back then but it looks like we didn't have to wait too long to find out. The tablet is now up for pre-order from VIZIO with a price tag of $400 and a release date of July 18th. That's not too bad for an 8" Android 2.3 Gingerbread tablet.

The VTAB 1008 features a 1GHz processor, built-in GPS, Bluetooth, 2GB of internal storage, a microSD card slot (supports up to 32GB), micro HDMI output, and a front facing camera for video calls. Consumers will also be able to use the tablet as a remote control for their VIZIO and other compatible devices through the universal remote control app and built-in IR blaster.

The tablet will come bundled with a free 16GB card and a folio style case. If you're interested in picking up one of these tablets for yourself, head over to the VIZIO pre-order page now.
source: Ubergizmo

MSI's AMD Z-01 powered WindPad 110W available in Japan next month

Introduced globally in middle of June, MSI's new WindPad 110W powered by AMD's Fusion APU Z01 (1GHz CPU and Radeon HD 6250 Graphics) is schedule to arrive in Japan later this month. Announced at around 60,000 Yen, the WindPad 110W, comes with 2GB of RAM, a 10" IPS Touchscreen Panel with a WXGA resolution, 32GB of Internal memory (SSD), HDMI, WiFi bgn, Bluetooth 3.0 and a 4,200mAh Battery.

This WindPad 110W is also available in an optional Docking station with both HDMI out and two USB 2.0 ports and will be sold separately at around 7,000 Yen.
source: Akihabara News