Motorola rumored to be hard at work on high-res, 4:3 Ice Cream Sandwich tablet

Apparently, when Motorola was trying to figure out why their Xoom has struggled so mightily in against the iPad 2, the company didn't focus on its high starting price or slightly heftier hardware. Instead, it decided the issue was the screen — in particular the format — and rumor has it that Moto is working on a new tablet that ditches the 16:9 ratio for the more square 4:3 found on Apple's slate. Supposedly the non-widescreen device will sport an extremely pixel-dense 2048 x 1536, 10-inch display and run Ice Cream Sandwich when it lands later this year or early next. We're not entirely convinced this will pan out and, honestly, we've always preferred the more modern widescreen format — but, if the iPad sells with its old-school ratio we suppose it's worth a shot.
source: 2DayBlog.com

Amazon Android tablet coming before October?

We've heard lots of rumors about an Amazon Android tablet, but till now there are no leaked documents and photos/videos of the thing, but yet the rumors still stream on like nobody's business. The only solid evidence is a little teasing from CEO Jeff Bezos back in May, and now The Wall Street Journal's adding flames to the slate fire saying the hotly anticipated tab could be on its way before October. Yes sir, but we've heard this aplenty time already.

According to those oh so familiar “people familiar with the matter,” the Android-based slate would rock a nine-inch screen and, surprisingly, lack a camera, making it ill-suited as an iPad competitor — the tablet would apparently be focused on offering media purchased from the online retailer. What's more, those sources are also spreading word of two new Kindles coming in Q3 — one with a touchscreen, the other a budget version of the current e-reader. Of course, it's all just rumor for now, but that's a whole lot of rumor to swallow, and I don't think this will stop people from going to buy the iPad 2, if they still haven't.
source: 2DayBlog.com

ASUS promises fix for Eee Pad Transformer power drain

ASUS's mighty 2-piece morphing Eee Pad Transformer might be a commercial success, even despite early delays, but it seems there's something amiss with the shape shifting earth-saving tablet nicknamed 'Autobotsus'. Earlier today, the company admitted to an issue relating to the slate's keyboard dock. A post to ASUS' UK Facebook page reads:

“Apologies to anyone who has encountered issues with their Transformer keyboard dock (power drain and charging). The issue is related to the way we configured the device's power management in/out of sleep mode. We will shortly be announcing details on how this will be resolved for our customers.“

Well, hopefully they'll fix it ASAP before the product's name gets tarnished even further.
source: 2DayBlog.com

Amazon Tablet to Launch ‘By October'

Hopefully Amazon's tablet will lose the stupid little keyboard. Photo illustration Charlie Sorrel

An Amazon tablet is pretty much inevitable but now, according to the Wall Street Journal, we have a launch date. Citing the ever-present “people familiar with the matter,” the WSJ reports that the Amazon tablet will launch by October. It is also planning to introduce a touch-screen Kindle alongside another regular Kindle.

Amazon's tablet will have a “roughly nine-inch screen” and run Google's Android OS. This is no surprise, given that Amazon's App Store already sells Android apps. In fact, Amazon also sells movies, music and Kindle books, all of which put it in a great position to take on iOS and Apple's App Store Juggernaut.

Interestingly, the first Amazon tablet won't have a camera. This also makes sense. With the Kindle, Amazon got a basic but good product on the market and then iterated year by year, just like Apple does with the iPod iPhone and iPad. Keeping it simple will also mean that Amazon can keep prices competitive with the iPad.

Apparently, Amazon is still confused about how to market tablet, according to “a person familiar with Amazon's thinking” (I know, right?). The company wonders if it can seel both a Kindle and a tablet to the same customers. I'd say just take a look at all of the people who already have both an iPad and a Kindle (like me — the iPad is hopeless on the beach) for the answer.

This is great news. Amazon, with its huge content library already hooked up to a single sign-in (and to your credit card details) is in a unique position to put the heat on Apple. And that's good for everyone.

Amazon to Battle Apple iPad With Tablet [WSJ]
source: Gadget Lab

iCookbook for Android launches on Amazon Appstore today

If you're a fan of preparing meals in the kitchen and love to have your tablet handy whenever you're cooking, you're going to be delighted at this upcoming announcement. iCookbook, a popular cooking app available on the Apple iPad and HP TouchPad is finally making its way over to the Android platform today. iCookbook has announced that it will be debuting its app on the Amazon Appstore, free for just one day.

Following in the footsteps of previously released apps like Angry Birds Rio, and Plants vs. Zombies - iCookbook will start off as an Amazon exclusive before it hits the Android Market or anywhere else. iCookbook is an app that does more than just give you recipes - it breaks down all the steps required into an easy to follow guide, and provides tools such as timers and unit convertors to aid you with the cooking process. With over 2,000 recipes available, you'll never run out of recipes to try out.

iCookbook will be available free on the Amazon Appstore only for today; starting tomorrow its price will go back to being $4.99. So if you love cooking, own and Android device and you're looking for a cooking app - why not give it a shot? It won't cost a thing.
source: Ubergizmo

SwifyKey X and SwiftKey Tablet X launched

The previous beta release of the popular SwiftKey Android keyboard has now become the full, official version of the app, with both SwiftKey X and SwiftKey Tablet X now available on the Android Market.

Both versions feature developer TouchType's updated Fluency 2.0 “language inference engine” which analyses your typing style to predict your next word, with the app sifting through your past Facebook, Twitter, SMS and Gmail messages to work out if you're the sort of person who says “would have” or “would of” in your messages. We can only hope it is the former.

The new SwiftKey Tablet X app uses the split-screen thumb-friendly typing system we've seen shown off before, plus both come with support for themes, the weird little special characters and letters used in over 20 other languages and “real-time” touch analysis to enhance accuracy.

The “Neon” theme is fantastic. Plus it's very useful having cursor keys along the bottom of the keyboard for text editing, as long as you have a screen large enough to cope with the increased layout size.

To celebrate the launches, both versions of SwiftKey X are on sale for the next 48-hours at $1.99, before rising to $3.99 for the phone version and $4.99 for the tablet release. Read more and get your Android Market download links over at SwiftKey HQ.

They've literally just gone live at 2.00pm UK time, so you may need to F5 the Android Market links if they're not accessible right this very second.
source: Eurodroid

SwiftKey X and SwiftKey Tablet X Predictive Typing App for Android

Swiftkey Tablet X with Split Key layout - theme dark

SwiftKey is a predictive typing app for smartphones, launched a year ago on the Android Market, and it counts now over one million downloads. Today, TouchType is releasing Swiftkey X, the new version for Android smartphones that features an updated version of the AI engine that analyzes and learns users' typing habits (Fluency 2.0), cloud learning which monitors how users type on Gmail, Twitter and Facebook by scanning the feeds (users opt-in in the settings), supports 22 languages and up to 3 languages in simultaneous use (that is the feature I was waiting for!), typing precision optimization (tailored to each user), support for various look and feel themes of keyboard and more...

Users can also get Swiftkey Tablet X for the Android tablets, with the similar features and a clever keyboard layout nicknamed "Split Key"that allows thumb typing (see picture above)

SwiftKey Tablet X - regular keyboard layout with Light theme

SwiftKey X supports all Android 2.x smartphones and costs $3.99. SwiftKey Tablet X all Android 2.x/3.x tablets and costs $4.99, downloadable from the Android Market and Amazon Appstore. You can get each application for a discounted price ($1.99) during the next 48 hours.

I tried the new application briefly both on the Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1 and on an Android smartphone, the accuracy of the word prediction is impressive, especially when rapidly switching between two languages in the same sentence! The "split key" layout is innovative and enables fast typing with the thumbs, you just need to get used to the key positions.
source: Ubergizmo

OtterBox Defender Case for Motorola Xoom

OtterBox is known for making extremely protective cases for electronics. Owners of the Motorola Xoom will be interested to know that OtterBox is now offering the Defender Case for their device. The Defender has a polycarbonate case that snaps around the Xoom and a silicone case that slides over the case. There's a snap-on cover to protect the screen while not in use; it snaps on the back of the case to become a stand for typing or horizontal viewing. The Motorola Xoom Defender Series Case is $89.95 at OtterBox.
source: The Gadgeteer

Forget Slates: Sony's Android Tablets Come in Funky Shapes

Sony's two new Android tablets, codenamed S1 and S2, come in form factors different than most others on the market. Photo: Mike Isaac/Wired.com

Sony is betting you'll buy one of its upcoming tablets for one big reason: They look like nothing you've seen before.

Codenamed the “S1″ and “S2″ for now, Sony's two unreleased Android tablets depart from the usual square, flat slabs we've seen so far in 2011. Instead, the S2 design comes as a dual-screen, clamshell device, while the S1 is similar to many current tablets with one significant deviation — its funky, wedge-shaped form factor, which tapers from one end to the other.

“It looks like a magazine with the cover folded backwards," a Sony spokesman said at a Wednesday event in San Francisco. “And the tablet's center of gravity rests on the wider end with the hand holding the device.”

Sony's S1 looks like a wedge-shaped slab, a magazine with its cover folded around the back. Photo: Mike Isaac/Wired.com

The stakes are high for Sony, as the company is one the of latest entrants to the tablet market. Of course, the iPad remains the market leader with a year-plus head start on other tablets, and over 90 percent of the tablet market share. The first Android tablet to debut this year was Motorola's Xoom, which received lackluster reviews and complaints on the lofty price. A host of other tablets followed in Motorola's footsteps, but compared to the iPad, customers aren't opening up their wallets for Android devices. Sony hopes its drastic departure in design will differentiate its two tablets enough for you to snag them up.

To be sure, the changes are drastic. The clamp-down S2 device is wide enough to display five inches of visual real estate when opened, while still small enough to fit in your pocket — “or a purse,” says Sony — when closed. And considering the open-and-shut form, reading e-books on the S2 makes a certain amount of sense. Flipping between pages was effortless, mimicking the act of thumbing through an actual book. It would have been nice to see an animated page flip from one side to another; as it stands, the text only changes without any sort of virtual page flip. Still, it works for what it is.

The S2 fits well in a jacket pocket after you close its clamshell form. Photo: Mike Isaac/Wired.com

The company is also boasting two of its software accelerated enhancements that come with the tablets: QuickView and QuickTouch Panel. With QuickView enabled, Sony claims web pages load much faster than they would on non-QuickView enabled tablets. In a demo on Wednesday, we saw the same web page load five seconds faster on a tablet with QuickView turned on compared to one without the software.

The QuickTouch Panel enables speedier scrolling on the devices, letting you move up and down a browser page faster, less jerky than you'd be able to on another device (or so Sony says). Scrolling seemed smooth in our demo, though we didn't have another non-Sony tablet on hand to compare.

Sony's tablets stack up to others in certain respects. They come with DLNA compatibility, Android Honeycomb, Adobe Flash capability — all mainstays in the Android tablet field.

But other than those broadly sketched features, Sony isn't saying much more about their devices. We got zero information on hardware specs, pricing, specific release dates or even the actual device names.

We do know, however, that the S1 will be available in a Wi-Fi only version first, and the S2 will come carried on AT&T's 4G LTE network. As a further perk of going with a Sony device, you'll have full access to Sony's PlayStation Suite, where you can access a library of 40 to 50 older PlayStation games on the Sony device.

What's more, the clamshell-modeled S2 uses the bottom screen as a touch-sensitive, virtual control pad, while the top screen displays your game. It's like Sony's Xperia Play smartphone, only in tablet form.

Sony says to look forward to the tablets come the fall of this year.
source: Gadget Lab

What's Going on with Motorola's Next Tablet?

It’s no secret that Motorola is already working on their followup to the Motorola XOOM. Some have been referring to it as the XOOM 2, others insist it will be the XOOM 4G, but no matter what you want to call it no one quite knows any solid details on the device that hopes to wash the bad taste of the its forerunner from our mouths. New rumors have surfaced suggesting Moto will ditch the 16:9 aspect ratio found in their debut tablet in favor of a 4:3 display. The move is a departure from the 1280×800 widescreen look found on most 10-inch Honeycomb slates and echos the design of the iPad, which compared to Android 3.0 slates sits a bit shorter and stouter in portrait mode.

Unlike the current generation of iPads, the new screen is rumored to host double the resolution at 2048×1536 and be capable of displaying 1080p video. The trade off means the new XOOM would lose some of its landscape widescreen video viewing appeal, but gain in other areas.

When we might see Motorola’s next tablet is another question entirely. Some have suggested it could launch this summer, while other rumors say the device will ship with Ice Cream Sandwich and be available later in the year. In the meantime we can hope Motorola makes the most desirable change of all: a more competitive introductory price.
source: Android Phone

Adobe and Sony create contest to put Air apps on Android tablets

It's common to see companies holding contests to promote their new products and to expand their brand. But what we have here is a rather unique contest. It's held by Sony and Adobe, called the Air App Challenge, and it's all about Adobe's latest product Air and Sony's latest product, the S2.

For one, Air hasn't exactly taken off quite like the Flash makers had hoped — especially in the mobile space. And two, that new S2 tablet is going to need some apps that are designed to take advantage of its dual screens. The $200,000 in cash prizes will be awarded to developers who whip up the best creations specifically for the forthcoming Sony Honeycomb devices, using Adobe's Flash-plus-browser environment.

Challenges have proven successful in the past to spur interest in platforms from Android to New York City's vast databases of information. If the contest is successful it could turn that little folding Sony from a novel design into a unique and compelling product.
source: 2DayBlog.com

Touchscreen demand to grow by 90-percent, led by mobile, tablet markets

People of this generation really love touchscreens, and their tastes aren't going to change anytime soon. That's the takeaway from a new report from market research firm DisplaySearch, which predicts that revenue from touch panel sales will hit the $13.4 billion mark by the end of this year, before soaring to nearly $24 billion by 2017. Shipments of capacitive touch displays, in particular, are expected to increase by 100-percent over last year, accounting for a full 70-percent of all tactile revenues. The mobile market still accounts for most of this industry-wide growth, but demand for touch-based tablets is accelerating considerably, with more than 72 million panels expected to ship this year, and 100 million projected in 2012.
source: 2DayBlog.com

Sharp upgrade its GALAPAGOS Tablets to Android 2.3

Sharp's Android based Galapagos e-Book readers still struggle to attract customers. But regardless of the demand, Sharp announced that it will propose an OS Upgrade of all its Galapagos Tablets to Android 2.3 within July 25 in Japan.

Still don't expect much since you won't have the chance to really enjoy Android that much here due to Sharp's heavy remodeling of the OS.
source: Akihabara News

Panasonic intros rugged Toughbook H2 tablet, gives you Core i5 so that you won't lag behind in war

When Panasonic unveiled the Toughbook H1 tablet last year, it at least got the tough part down pat. This Windows 7 slate had a magnesium alloy chassis and met the military's MIL-STD-810G standards for shock, dust, heat, water, and cold resistance — comforting claims for construction workers, soldiers, and pretty much anyone used to working in the wild (or, at least, standing up).

The problem was, it ran on a dinky Atom processor, and left the rugged types using it with just one miniature port for attaching peripherals. Clearly, Panny agreed those were some serious shortcomings, because the brand new H2 goes a wee bit beyond mere spec bumps. The latest generation leaps forward to a 1.7GHz Core i5-2557M ULV processor with Intel's vPro technology, along with USB 2.0 and serial sockets, and space for either a second USB port or an Ethernet jack.

At the entry-level (!) price of $3,449, you'll get a 10-inch (XGA), 6,000-nit display, 4GB of RAM, a removable 320GBGB 7200RPM shock-mounted hard drive, WiFi and Bluetooth 2.1 radios, and twin swappable batteries that promise up to six and a half hours of runtime. After that, the list of possible add-ons runs long for corporations and government agencies with deep pockets.

Also, if you're wondering, this thing weights at 3.5 pound. Not the lightest around, but will have to do, with all those warfare-ready stuff. These include up to 8GB of memory, a 128GB SSD, Gobi 3G or 4G radio (the latter's coming in the fall), GPS, barcode or RFID reader, 2 megapixel camera, an insertable or contact-less SmartCard reader, or a fingerprint sensor.
source: 2DayBlog.com

Android 3.2 Honeycomb being delivered to tablet makers soon?

The next version of the Android operating system, Android 3.2 Honeycomb, is said to be on its way to tablet manufacturers by the end of this month of by early August according to some rumors online. This means that tablet manufacturers will soon be able to release tablets with the latest version of Android Honeycomb installed - which means we might start to see more 7″ Honeycomb tablets.

Android 3.2 Honeycomb was first announced when the Huawei MediaPad was unveiled not too long ago, and was said that it would be the first version of Honeycomb designed for smaller tablets. Regardless of whether all this is hearsay or not, Android 3.2 being rolled out to OEMs seems inevitable anyway – it's not like Google will want manufacturers to continue producing tablets with an outdated operating system. Now hopefully manufacturers like Samsung will be rolling out the Honeycomb updates to its smaller tablets like the original Galaxy Tab.
source: Ubergizmo

No Mango for Windows tablets, go eat your bananas!

Andy Lees says no to Mango on Windows tabletsMicrosoft's Andy Lees quashed dreams of Windows tablets running a Mango-style OS during a talk at the company's Worldwide Partners Conference today, saying the mobile operating system would conflict with the outfit's ideas of what makes a slate. According to Electronista, Lees said the computing giant sees tablets as PCs, making the mobile OS incompatible with its vision. He went on to say that Windows 8′s networking and printing functions make it more suited to the needs of tablet users. So, if you're looking for the sweet style of Mango, it looks like you'll have got your hands on one of these bad boys.
source: 2DayBlog.com

Office Depot Begins Shipping Lenovo IdeaPad K1 Orders

The Lenovo IdeaPad K1 had a long and bumpy road to travel in order to make its US release. The dual-core Honeycomb tablet has been making the rounds for the better portion of the year, finally scoring a pre-order at the beginning of the month. If you count yourself among those that put your money down early in hopes of being among the first to hold Lenovo's baby in your hands, you're time has come. Reports are in that Office Depot has begun shipping the slate to customers. For some, the IdeaPad will be arriving on doorsteps as soon as today. Now the real question: how does Lenovo's latest stack up to the current crop of Honeycomb powerhouses.
source: Android Phone

Sony S2 Tablet Headed for AT&T

Buzz around Sony’s S1 and S2 tablets has been growing by the day, and the company has finally coughed up a bit of information on where we can expect to find their first venture into the world of Honeycomb devices. AT&T will carry an exclusive on the HSPA+ capable version of the S2, a codename for Sony’s dual-screened tablet. While rumors have been circulating that September will be the month to watch, no further information on availability or pricing was revealed. You can read the full press release below, but it’s mostly marketing fluff. Nary a detail to be found.

AT&T to Connect “Sony Tablet” S2 on Nation’s Fastest Mobile Broadband Network

DALLAS, July 13, 2011 /PRNewswire/ — AT&T* today announced that AT&T will be the exclusive U.S. mobile broadband provider for the “Sony Tablet” S2 (codename), a dual screen, multi-functional tablet ideal for mobile communication and entertainment, that Sony Corporation plans to launch later this year.

“We’re pleased to be working with AT&T on yet another unique mobile device,” said Mike Lucas, senior vice president of Networked Technology and Services Division at Sony Electronics. “AT&T provides the speed and coverage that are integral to the different features and functions of our tablet. We value our relationship as they share our commitment to growing the ‘Sony Tablet’ S2 and the tablet market overall.”

The “Sony Tablet” S2 will be 4G** capable and Wi-Fi compatible. With a qualifying data plan, users of the “Sony Tablet” S2 will have access to AT&T’s mobile broadband network and unlimited access to AT&T’s more than 20,000 hot spots nationwide. With both 4G and Wi-Fi, users can browse the Internet, access digital content including videos, games, and check e-mail, while on the go, nearly anytime.

“With its unprecedented, completely portable form factor, the ‘Sony Tablet’ S2 offers tablet enthusiasts a convenient and unique entertainment experience,” said David Haight, vice president of business development, AT&T emerging devices. “Users will be treated to exceptional graphics and the touch-screen capabilities will enable a fast and efficient website experience.”

AT&T will offer monthly data plans for the “Sony Tablet” S2. Distribution and pricing will be announced at launch.

For more information on AT&T, please visit www.att.com.

*AT&T products and services are provided or offered by subsidiaries and affiliates of AT&T Inc. under the AT&T brand and not by AT&T Inc.

**4G speeds delivered by HSPA+ with enhanced backhaul. Available in limited areas. Availability increasing with ongoing backhaul deployment. Requires 4G compatible device. Learn more at att.com/network.

***Access includes AT&T Wi-Fi Basic. Wi-Fi enabled device required. Other restrictions apply. See www.attwifi.com for details and locations.
source: Android Phone

Motorola XOOM WiFi Drops $499 in Canada

Canadians might not be privy to Android 3.1 (let alone the 3.2 update that just began rolling out), but those still interested in picking up the Motorola XOOM can now score the tablet for $100 less than they could yesterday. The XOOM WiFi has dropped to $499.99, in line with price drops the slate has been experiencing across the board. Most believe the drop in price signals a new XOOM could be right around the corner, and rumors have been picking up on that front. So get the original while it's hot. The price sure is right.
source: Android Phone

Wi-Fi Motorola Xoom now just $499.99 in Canada

The Motorola Xoom has been available in Canada in its Wi-Fi-only incarnation since April. Up until now, the price being asked for the first tablet to run Android Honeycomb has been a bit steep at $599.99 (but it being more expensive than the competition was pretty much in line with its pricing elsewhere).

Now, however, Motorola has decided to make the Xoom cheaper in Canada. It's already available at Future Shop for just $499.99. So that's a $100 price cut. Nothing extraordinary, but decent nonetheless. It also (finally) puts the Xoom in the same (price) league as the Apple iPad 2, RIM BlackBerry PlayBook, and the upcoming HP TouchPad and Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1.

So if you're in Canada and are interested in a tablet running Android Honeycomb, the Xoom is now definitely one model to consider. If you're interested, go to Future Shop now and order yours.
source: Unwired View

AT&T announces the Sony S2 Android tablet with 4G

As surprising as it may seem, AT&T has officially announced that it would exclusively offer the Sony S2 Android tablet to customers in the US. The news comes less than 24 hours after AT&T unveiled the upcoming release of another new Android device, namely the Sony Ericsson Xperia Play.

Unlike Sony's S1 tablet, which has a 9.4 inch display (and should be available for pre-order in the UK starting September), the S2 has two 5.5 inch screens, each with a 1024 x 480 pixel resolution. It also features a dual-core processor, Wi-Fi, and 4G connectivity - which doesn't mean it's an LTE device, but an HSPA+ one.

According to AT&T, the S2 will run Android 3.0 Honeycomb.

"With its unprecedented, completely portable form factor, the Sony Tablet S2 offers tablet enthusiasts a convenient and unique entertainment experience. Users will be treated to exceptional graphics and the touch-screen capabilities will enable a fast and efficient website experience," declared David Haight, vice president of business development, AT&T emerging devices.

AT&T didn't say how much the Sony S2 would cost, and neither when exactly it's going to be available. It did mention that it'll offer monthly data plans for the tablet. The S2 will be AT&T's second 4G tablet, after the webOS-based HP TouchPad.
source: Unwired View

Adobe and Sony work to deliver special Android apps for new Sony tablets

We do know that Sony has a couple of tablet devices which are being prepared to rock our world – namely the S1 and S2. Well, it is nice of Sony to work closely with Adobe, as the former launched the ‘Adobe AIR App Challenge Sponsored by Sony' that intends to see a breakthrough when it comes to innovative Android applications for either tablet. To put it in a nutshell, there is $200,000 worth of cash prizes to be picked up by developers as long as they manage to take full advantage of Adobe Flash technology and HTML5 in an app on the S1/S2.

Hideyuki Furumi, Deputy President VAIO & Mobile Business Group, Consumer Products & Services Group at Sony Corporation, says, "Adobe's creative tooling brings digital experiences to life on small screens and large, unleashing the imagination of millions of the industry's best designers and developers on a new breed of devices. We are thrilled to empower these cutting edge creatives to be the first to bring innovative content and apps to our "Sony Tablet" devices later this year."

We are stoked to see what this initiative will bring about to the table. Now, if only the tablets could be hurried up and delivered to our doorsteps.
source: Ubergizmo

Sony S2 tablet to debut on AT&T

Has AT&T finally come to the realization that they could never have relied on the golden goose known as the iPhone alone, and would do well to diversify their range of communications device offerings to the masses? Well, good news for those who hate Apple for no other rational reason apart from fanboy-ism – there is a bevy of devices out there on AT&T which does a similar job to that of the iPhone in terms of communicating. For more normal people, however, this snippet of news might be worth checking out – Sony's S2 tablet will be arriving over at AT&T.

This clamshell tablet might be known as the S2, but bear in mind that this is just a code-name only at the moment, and the final, released device might actually be called something else. Of course, we hope not since most folks would have gotten so familiar with the name S2, Sony might as well let it stick and not rock the boat.

AT&T is said to offer monthly data plans for the Sony S2, although distribution and pricing details will be announced later when it rolls out.
source: Ubergizmo

Another Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1 coming, targeting Asian markets this time around?

Is it me, or is it Samsung who loves churning out many variants of the same device? That seems to be the case, what with the Galaxy Tab 10.1 now potentially sporting yet another model after the latest one has passed through the FCC, where it was most likely designed to support Asian markets. Better known as the SHW-M300S if model numbers are your cup of tea, the Galaxy Tab 10.1 will play nice with the GSM 1900 band that is being used by a bunch of carriers in Asia, in addition to folks living Stateside as well as in Europe. It must be noted that Bluetooth listings for the device do point towards the SHW-M300S being dropped off in the Asian market.

There is still no word on when the SHW-M300S will finally make it to (select) Asian markets, but we would say soon is the better bet as Samsung would surely not want to slow down its momentum of tablet releases.
source: Ubergizmo

Barbie Fashion tablet is probably great for kids and collectors

Collectibles don't always have to make sense, since collectors probably go for the name and what it represents, rather than worrying about its practicality and functionality.

Much like Hello Kitty products or TokyoFlash watches, they don't really make a lot of sense but the appeal to collectors is there. What this means is that fans and collectors (or even parents looking to buy something for their child) of Barbie might be interested in adding this Barbie "tablet" to their collection.

The device is far from high tech and it doesn't even feature a color LCD, but at least it has a touch screen that comes with a stylus, and a variety of learning activities such as writing, drawing, music making, vocabulary building, sequencing, memorizing and more. The device is said to even come with a range of themes – fashion, design, pets, party and more, and even features handwriting recognition.

Like we said earlier, this will probably be a great gift for Barbie fans and collectors, or even for your child, and the device will set you back $49.95, and it is available at Oregon Scientific.
source: Ubergizmo

Lenovo's IdeaPad K1 Android tablet has started shipping today

It seems like it was just yesterday when we heard conclusive information about Lenovo's tablet plans centered around Android. And in fact it wasn't that long ago. That was in mid-June. Lenovo sure moves fast, since apparently its first Android-powered tablet has just started shipping in the US.

That's right, the Lenovo IdeaPad K1 tablet, which we saw again toward the end of June, is now on its way to those who ordered it from Office Depot. So it's probably likely that over the next few days it will start to become available everywhere there are electronics (and especially computers) sold.

Competition is always good, yet it's unclear what exactly may differentiate Lenovo's first tablet in the crowded Android tablet market. Perhaps the brand is going to be enough for some. Speaking of which, Lenovo is also expected to release a ThinkPad-branded offering later on.

The K1 being branded IdeaPad is aimed primarily at individual consumers, while the ThinkPad tablet will undoubtedly appeal to corporate environments.
source: Unwired View

HP TouchPad to launch this July 17th, OTA update arriving shortly?

The HP TouchPad seems to be rather elusive at the moment, having popped up here and there as an image or rumor, but never having a true blue release date attached to it. Well, what can be done about the situation? Either HP comes clean with the situation to reveal the exact release dates so that geeks like you and I are able to budget our monthly expenses to accommodate yet another tablet purchase in our lives, or we can always sit down and wait for whispers and rumors to create a befuddled picture.

Todd Bradley (Executive Vice President, Personal Systems Group, HP) might have done us some good by coming out to declare on a Bloomberg interview that July 1st saw the soft launch of the TouchPad, while pointing towards a very real July 17th TouchPad release date – off the record, of course.

Not only that, it must be said that Bradley also let slip that an OTA update will be arriving in around 10 days after the TouchPad is released. How's that for efficiency?
source: Ubergizmo

Acer Iconia Tab A500 to cost just $400 and come with $50 gift card at Target starting on July 17

Here's an amazing deal if it turns out to be real. Android Police reports that Target will start running a promo for the Acer Iconia Tab A500 on July 17. The offer will go on as long as supplies last. You'll be able to buy the 10.1-inch Android Honeycomb tablet for just $400. But wait, there's more. You'll also receive a $50 Target gift card, which will effectively make the tablet's price a mind-blowing $350.

That's by far the cheapest we've ever seen a Honeycomb tablet go for, so needless to say that if you're in the market for such a device, this is one deal that you shouldn't miss. At this price, even if you weren't sure whether you should get an Android tablet or one powered by another operating system, you should probably consider the Iconia Tab.
source: Unwired View

Lenovo U1 arrives at the FCC

At long last, the Lenovo U1 hybrid tablet device has arrived at the FCC, which is a long, long time (in the world of gadgets and consumer electronics anyways) ever since it was first unveiled at CES 2010 – yup, a full one and a half years ago. Nice to know that Lenovo subscribes to the adage of being better late than never, hence pushing the Lenovo U1 over to the FCC so that it can receive an approval before making tis way to the masses.

The filing was done by Lenovo's OEM partner Compal Electronics, and from it we do know that the U1 comprises of a tablet and a netbook-like keyboard dock. Originally, the U1 was powered by Windows when it was docked, alongside a custom Skylight Linux OS in tablet mode. Over the course of the past 500 days, Lenovo decided to ditch Skylight and replace it with Android 2.2 Froyo, which isn't such a bad idea after all since Android is clearly taking over the world by storm.

There is no concrete release date for the Lenovo U1 as at press time, but “soon” would be a pretty good indication for anything that has received FCC approval.
source: Ubergizmo

PlayStation Suite Shown Off on Sony S1 Tablet

After a couple of official promo videos from Sony, the S1 is back in front of the camera, but this time it's starring in a hands-on video.

Sony revealed its S1 and S2 at the end of April but failed to any release dates for the two devices, preferring instead to highlight a vague 'fall' release period. Last month we learned that the devices may hit stores at some point in September, however, we still don't know very much about them.

One thing Sony did reveal at launch is that it will be injecting some of its PlayStation services into these tablets. The devices will support Qriocity media service as well as the PlayStation Suite for users to download and play first generation PlayStation titles. Today we got a look at the PlayStation Suite running on the S1 thanks to a video posted by Notebook Italia. The S1 has a 9.4-inch display and an asymmetric wedge design, which Sony calls an “off-center of gravity design” that “realizes stability and ease of grip as well as a sense of stability and lightness, offering comfortable use for hours.”

Sony's more interesting S2 tablet was also on hand but does not appear in the video. The S2 has two 5.5-inch displays that can be folded like a Nintendo DS. The two screens can be used together to display continuous content, or it can be used for multitasking - such as watching a video while browsing the web. The bottom screen can also function as a keyboard while the top screen is used for messaging.
source: 2DayBlog.com

Toshiba Thrive software update arrives

Early adopters of the Toshiba Thrive, rejoice! It seems as though the Japanese consumer electronics giant has rolled out the first software update for said tablet – which is fairly recent after the Thrive went officially on sale. Just what does this update entail? You can surely expect the standard bunch of “improvements”, where in the Thrive's case would include better support for multi-touch capability amongst others. Someone from the Android Central forums did report that his Thrive no longer worked as it used to since a generic NVIDIA Tegra driver could not have it connect to his computer via the Android Debug Bridge from Google's software developer tools.

Just to get a better idea of how the Toshiba Thrive stacks up against the rest of the tablet crowd, this device will sport a 1GHz NVIDIA Tegra 2 dual core processor, not to mention a rather high resolution 10.1″ 1,280 x 800 pixel display. It also has a removable back panel that enables you to swap the battery, while a USB port and an SD memory card slot is there for expansion purposes. If you own a Thrive, have you gotten your update yet?
source: Ubergizmo

3G ASUS Eee Pad Transformer seen with 499 Euros price tag

I know that this is going to sound rather corny, but surely the 3G ASUS Eee Pad Transformer has been in hiding for quite some time already, ready to be unveiled as one of the Autobots who are out to save the world from humans' themselves with their warring nature. OK, now that the science fiction bit is behind us, it seems as though roving eyes have caught sight of the 3G ASUS Eee Pad Transformer online, where it has been priced at 499 Euros in Europe (where else?).

According to Notebook Italia, both 16GB and 32GB models have already been listed online at €499 for the former and €599 for the latter, after you include taxes and everything else. Not only that, the Italian site also managed to capture an image of the updated product page that you can see above.

Having said that, surely you can expect Italy to receive this device in due time, although those of us living Stateside might just have to hold out for a FCC appearance. What do you think of the 3G ASUS Eee Pad Transformer – is it on your wish list for Christmas this year?
source: Ubergizmo

Pantech Vega N˚5 Tablet/Phone Combo

Pantech Vega N˚5 a.k.a IM-T100K, an Android-based tablet with full phone features, including HSPA+, WiFi BGN, multiple cameras is now available in the South Korea via KT for about 550€. The device also packs 5-inch 800 x 480 LCD screen, a Qualcomm dual Core 1.5GHz MSM8660 CPU, 8Mpix Camera with 1080p video Mode, and 1GB of DDR2 RAM with Android 2.3.3 as the Operating System. [ Via Akihabaranews ]
source: Today Gadgets

Despite UK Delay, Asus Eee Pad Slider on Track for August Launch in Poland

A new twist has appeared in the curious case of the Asus Eee Pad Slider. Despite word of delays that will push the tablet's release back to the fall in the UK, Asus Poland has posted an update to their Facebook page indicating that the tablet is on track for and early August release in the country. The tablet will be available in both 16GB and 32GB versions priced at 1899 PLN and 2299 PLN respectively. That's roughly $670 and $810 in US dollars.

Why the tablet will catch a much earlier release in Poland is beyond me at this point, but users the world over who have been awaiting the unique slide-out full keyboard form factor of the tablet will no doubt be envious. Given the August release timeframe, we suspect September might be a good bet for the Slider in other locations.
source: Android Phone

Specs of Dell Peju Tablet Leaked

We really do not hear much about Windows-based tablets with all the iPad versus Android war going on. But with the looming release of Windows 8, some companies want to hitch a ride anyway, one of which is Dell and its Peju tablet. Recently, new information about the upcoming device was leaked online.

A blog called Dell Peju Insider popped out and its latest (and only) post gave a supposed list of specs for the tablet. This includes a 10.1-inch Gorilla Glass touchscreen with 1,920 x 1,080 resolution, Intel Core i5 processor, 4GB of RAM, 64GB or 120GB of solid-state drive, digitizer pen support, 1.3-megapixel front-facing camera, 5-megapixel rear-facing camera, a docking station with a variety of ports, Windows 7 Pro (which can be upgraded to Windows 8), and up to 8 hours of battery life.

With the looks of it, the Dell Peju could be targetting home consumers, especially with the inclusion of the docking station. The “insider blog” claims that the tablet will be released at around October 2011.
source: Gadget.com

Panasonic upgrade its Medical Toughbook Slate with the new CF-H2

Introduced for the first time in November 2008, the Toughbook H1 Series, a Medical ATOM powered Tablet has been replaced today by the new and improved H2. With a revised design, the H2 comes now with a more powerful Sandy Bridge Core i5-2557M vPro CPU at 1.7GHz with built-in Video function and a 2.7GHz TurboBoost Mode, comes with a 10.1 XGA touchscreen, Windows 7 Professional, 160GB of HDD, 2GB of RAM, WiFi ABGN, Bluetooth 2.1+EDR USB 2.0 and even a 3G WAN module FOMA from NTT Docomo.

The H2 can support up to 2 batteries at the same time while Panasonic announces now a 7.5h life on a single battery.
source: Akihabara News

Panasonic UT-PB1 tablet reader introduced

Panasonic has decided to take the plunge into the world of tablet readers as well, seeing that Toshiba did not miss the boat. Their latest effort will come in the form of the Panasonic UT-PB1, which will see a 7″ display at 1024 x 600 resolution LCD screen in action to boot. This model will eschew an e-paper panel that currently sees action in devices such as the Amazon Kindle or Barnes & Noble NOOK, so you can be sure that this LCD panel won't be that nice to look at when you are under direct sunlight.

Having debuted at the e-Book Expo in Tokyo, the Panasonic UT-PB1 will be powered by an unspecified dual-core processor. It does not intend to go up against the iPad according to some analysts, as the target market of this particular device seems headed for e-book buyers who are in their 30s and 40s.

Other hardware specifications include a built-in webcam, Wi-Fi connectivity, a microSDHC memory card slot, an improved user interface as well as browsing and e-mail capability. Each purchase will come with 600 preloaded e-book titles, although we have no idea on how much this will cost, nor will it ever make its way to the US.
source: Ubergizmo

Panasonic ToughBook H2 Rugged Tablet Computer

Panasonic Toughbook H2

The Toughbook H2 is a rugged Windows tablet and the successor of the Toughbook H1. To design this new product, Panasonic gathered customer feedback, and a more powerful processor was the main request from users, mainly to allow better multitasking.

The H2 gets an Intel Core i5-2557M vPro, an Ultra Low Voltage CPU running at 1.7Ghz (with Turbo Boost up to 2.7GHz), to replace the Atom Z540, which is much more powerful while still providing good power efficiency. According to Panasonic, it makes the Toughbook H2 five times faster than the previous model and provides 6.5 hours of battery life, and despite the 2 twin hot-swappable batteries, it weighs only 3.5 lbs (3.25 lbs with only one battery).

The device now offers 4GB RAM, expandable to 8GB, a 320GB 7200rpm hard drive, (128GB solid state drive optional), and a new 10.1" dual touch display that features Panasonic's TransflectivePlus display technology, which can generate up to 6000 nit of transflective brightness, in addition to a circular polarizer, plus anti-glare and anti-reflective screen treatments for a better viewing experience in direct sunlight.

Similarly to the H1, the Toughbook H2 is IP65 certified and MIL-STD-810G tested (6 foot drop), it is designed for all-weather conditions, certified for vehicle use, and fully sealed (no fan) which reduces the risk of contamination of potentially pathogenic microorganisms, and it can be sanitized with the most common products used in the healthcare industry (check the exact list – pending approval).

The H2 gets WiFi connectivity, Bluetooth and optional Qualcomm Gobi2000 mobile broadband technology allowing multi carriers connectivity, and it is certified on the AT&T, Sprint and Verizon Wireless 3G networks. Additionally it embeds 4G support.

The Panasonic Toughbook H2 will be available worldwide in July 2011, for an estimated price of $3,449 in the US.

Panasonic Toughbook H2 Features

Genuine Windows 7 (32-bit or 64-bit)
Intel i5‐2557M vPro™ processor (1.7GHz)
4-8GB RAM
320GB (7200rpm) shock-mounted HHD or optional 128GB SSD
10.1" XGA sunlight-viewable dual touch LCD
TransflectivePlus technology (up to 6000 nit)
Circular polarizer with anti-glare and anti-reflective screen treatments
MIL-STD-810G certified (6 foot drop)
Magnesium alloy chassis - encased in polycarbonate
IP65 certified sealed all-weather design
Wide operating temperature range (-14F ~ 122F)
Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n
Bluetooth v2.1 + EDR (Class 1)
Optional 4G mobile broadband (Fall 2011)
Optional Gobi2000 3G mobile broadband
Global positioning system (GPS) receiver
Barcode reader
2MP auto-focus camera with LED light
RFID reader
True serial
USB x 2
Ethernet
Fingerprint reader
Contactless SmartCard reader
Insertable SmartCard reader - configurable for Common Access Card (CAC) use
source: Ubergizmo