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Acer Iconia Tab A200 now available to order in the UK for �299

Friday, December 30, 2011

Acer Iconia Tab A200 now available to order in the UK for �299
If you're in the UK and have been waiting for Acer's new and affordable Android tablet to become available, the wait is finally over. With a slight caveat.

The Acer Iconia Tab A200, which was announced at the beginning of this month, can now be ordered in the UK. It is quite a bit cheaper than similar tablets, but it will be shipping “by January 6, 2012″. We don't know if that “by” in there is supposed to mean that there's a small chance you'll get it earlier than January 6, but we wouldn't risk hoping for that. So just assume it will be at your doorstep in ten days.

As for the price, it's £299 as you can see, which is about £100 cheaper than similarly specced tablets. That said, those similar offerings do usually come with 16 GB of built-in storage, whereas the Iconia Tab A200 only has 8 GB. And it doesn't have a rear camera, like the competition (yet it does come with a front-facing unit for video calls and such). So take that into account when deciding whether to purchase one or not.

Because aside from that, this is basically your run of the mill Android tablet. The Nvidia Tegra 2 processor is in there, as are 1 GB of RAM, Wi-Fi, GPS, and Bluetooth support, a 10.1-inch 1280×800 touchscreen, a microSD card slot, and a 3.5 mm headset jack.

Very.co.uk is where you should go to order yours in black or red.

Asus Eee Pad Transformer gets a software update, sadly not ICS

Asus Eee Pad Transformer gets a software update, sadly not ICS
The Asus Eee Pad Transformer (the original tablet, the Transformer Prime‘s predecessor) has just received a software update. And it isn't going to make your tablet run Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich, sadly. But if you own a Transformer, you really shouldn't lose hope. That's because so far Asus has been the best when it comes to Android tablet OS updates, so there's no reason to think that the original Transformer won't be the first (or second, if its successor has a say in this) tablet to be updated to ICS. Perhaps all that's needed here is a little bit more patience.

Back to the update. It's a minor affair, containing bug fixes and various performance enhancements. After you apply it, your tablet will be on software version 8.6.5.21, and Android version 3.2.1.

If you have root access on your Transformer, it's best to refrain from updating until your favorite developers verify that you won't loose root by doing so.

The update naturally is of the over-the-air variety – no computer needed to download and install it. If you manually check for updates, it should be there waiting for you even if your tablet hasn't yet notified you that it's available.

HP TouchPad Go receives its first and possibly only review

HP TouchPad Go receives its first and possibly only review
The HP TouchPad Go was canned by HP when they decided to stop making webOS devices a few months ago, but fortunately, a handful of the TouchPad Go prototype devices managed to make their way into the wild, surfacing in the hands of various people. Well the folks over at webosnation managed to get their hands on one of these rare webOS tablets and decided to review the tablet after spending a few days with it.

According to them, “The TouchPad Go will not be the saving grace of webOS, and we doubt it could have been. It's a fine tablet for what it is, but it would have had serious trouble competing with the likes of the Amazon Kindle, Nook Tablet, and Samsung Galaxy Tab 7 Plus”.

Taihe era's 7″ tablet is a pretty convincing Galaxy Tab clone

Taihe era's 7″ tablet is a pretty convincing Galaxy Tab clone
China has produced some pretty innovative phones of their own, such as the Meizu and Xiaomi, but they have also managed to pull off some pretty impressive clones, and upon first glance you could be forgiven for thinking that the tablet pictured above is the Samsung Galaxy Tab Android tablet.

In fact what you are looking at above is Taihe era's attempt at creating a Samsung Galaxy Tab clone, which the company boasts will be able to support both GSM and China's very own TD-SCDMA EVDO 3G standard. As far as its specs are concerned, it features a 7x800×480 display with a Qualcomm 7627 processor under the hood. It will also feature an Adreno 200 GPU, 512MB of RAM, 512MB of internal storage that can be expanded via an SD card.

It will also feature a rear-facing camera, four capacitive function keys much like the original Galaxy Tab and based on the screenshots of the device, it appears to be running on Android 2.3 Gingerbread. No word on how much it will cost, but then again it's highly unlikely we will be seeing this device arrive stateside anyway.

Sony Tablet S and Tablet P to get Ice Cream Sandwich updates

Sony Tablet S and Tablet P to get Ice Cream Sandwich updates  
Sony has confirmed that the Tablet S and Tablet P devices will be on the receiving end of the Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich update, making that announcement over their online community forum. This is definitely not the first Ice Cream Sandwich announcement from Sony, where they do have the intention of introducing Android 4.0 for the Sony Ericsson Xperia handset range from March next year. Better late than never, of course, as the Galaxy Nexus is the first smartphone that ships with Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich, and while the rest of the Android-powered phones catch up with Google (and Samsung, of course). Well, at least it is nice to know that Sony is doing their part to keep their customers happy – as far as we know, the Tablet S and Tablet P are not exactly flying off the shelves, so this bit of news is definitely encouraging if you happen to own either tablet device from Sony.

Why Windows 8 Tablets Might Surprise Everyone

Why Windows 8 Tablets Might Surprise Everyone
At Microsoft's Build conference, Michael Angiulo, corporate vice president of Windows Planning, Hardware and PC Ecosystem, displays a prototype Windows 8 tablet. Image: Microsoft

Windows-based tablets haven't been treated kindly by the test of time. Those released in the Windows XP era relied on wonky, stylus-based data entry, and even modern, touch-based tablets running Windows 7 are poor performers.

Indeed, Microsoft has a troubled tablet history that the public isn't soon to forget. This November, Forrester released a study that showed consumer interest in a Windows-based tablet dropped significantly this year. At the start of 2011, 46 percent of potential tablet owners wanted a Window device. By Q3, that number slipped to 25 percent.

Forrester's report stated, “Windows 8 hasn't entered the consciousness of tablet buyers yet.”

That's a shame because Gadget Lab has seen a Windows 8 tablet in action, and the experience opened our eyes to just how useful — and, yes, even fun — a Windows 8 tablet might be. Sure, Microsoft was demoing a mere reference design, but what we saw was so intriguing, we're legitimately excited to see final, shipping products.

Windows 8 is being developed from the ground up to elegantly run on both traditional computers (desktops and notebooks) as well as touch-based tablets. The OS can run on either ARM or x86 processors, though apps written specifically for the x86 desktop environment won't be able to run on ARM-based mobile devices.

Is this a terrible handicap? No, not based on what we've seen. Windows 8 tablets will run an updated version of the Metro UI found on Windows Phones, and the UI appears to transfer remarkably well to larger touch screens. You'll get that same fun, friendly and animated “Live Tile” home screen found on Windows Phones, but with (theoretically) much more processing power to drive more powerful apps.

Windows 8 will go beta in February, which would peg a full software release around June 2012. Everything we've seen thus far suggests that Microsoft has really taken the time to develop a platform that will succeed on tablets, without abandoning the company's PC roots.

Still a skeptic? You should be. Windows tablet wanna-haves have been burnt before. But please consider these four reasons why Microsoft's upcoming push into the tablet space may surprise everyone by ultimately proving successful.

“If Windows is to have any hope, its product strategists must not only bring new features to the platform but also must fundamentally reinvent the experience,” analysts J.P. Gownder and Sarah Rotman Epps say in the Forrester report.

Many current upstart tablets are just iPad copycats. They share essentially the same UI (multiple pages of identically sized home screen icons), they operate with nearly identical touch gestures, and they basically look the same. But by being such a relative latecomer to the modern tablet party, Microsoft has a great opportunity to look at what's not being done, what can be done better, and what can be done differently.

And all this observation can inform a better Windows 8 tablet. Take, for example, Windows 8's ability to switch from a tablet UI to a desktop UI. This could be a winning innovation.

“We are reaching a point where ARM platforms can deliver us desktop experiences in mobile form factors,” mobile developer Kelly Sommers told Wired.com. If this is true, and if Windows 8 tablets in desktop mode can overcome the performance issues that plagued Windows 7-based tablets, Microsoft might strike gold by delivering two operational environments for the price of one.

“In my opinion, the ideal user experience allows both [a desktop UI and touch-based UI], but not at the same time,” Sommers told Wired.com. “What if you dock your tablet, and it becomes a desktop experience on your monitor, with keyboard and mouse, for non-power uses? Undock your tablet, and it transitions to a tablet experience.”

Indeed, who wouldn't want a dual-OS device that can serve as both a casual tablet, and as a no-excuses productivity computer? Neither Apple nor the Android contingent have answered this very real consumer problem.

The Nokia Lumia 800 runs the Windows Phone OS with great aplomb. Photo: Ariel Zambelich/WIred.com

Microsoft had a rocky start entering the mobile space, but has finally found its footing with Windows Phone 7 (and in Mango, Windows Phone 7.5, in particular). Consumers aren't flocking to Windows' new mobile OS like they are to iOS or Android, but if you haven't gotten a chance to try it out, you should — it's very well done. For a first-hand look, open up http://aka.ms/wpdemo in your mobile browser to give it a whirl.

“I think that what Microsoft learned with Windows Phone will carry over and influence Windows 8,” Display Search analyst Richard Shim says.

Microsoft is working hard to reach out to developers and provide support, marketing guidance, and app visibility through programs like BizSpark and Mobile Acceleration Week to fill out its still meager app offerings. These programs are by all accounts successful, so we can expect that Microsoft will continue them for Windows 8.

Indeed, if Windows 8 is as well-executed as Windows Phone Mango, it will be a positive experience for users. That's something most Android tablets can't claim.

And therein lies a very powerful strong point for Microsoft: The Windows Phone platform may not have a copious catalog of apps, or even that many adoptees, but most everyone who actually uses a Windows Phone enjoys the essential OS experience. So, if Windows 8 tablets can somehow get a foothold among vocal opinion leaders, consumer adoption could self-perpetuate as users evangelize the tablets on Microsoft's behalf.

“I think that ultimately what users are looking for is for their computing experience to follow them around,” Shim says. “Creating a consistent UI across devices is the first step.”

It's not exactly clear whether all Windows 8 experiences will be able to deliver on Shim's vision described above, but if any platform has a chance to execute this, it will likely be Microsoft's. Google doesn't have a desktop environment to speak of (unless you include browser-based apps), and Apple's iOS and Mac OS X environments are cleanly split with no easy paths to unification.

But Windows 8 will be a cloud-powered experience through Windows Live SkyDrive. As a result, data, apps and settings will be synced across Windows 8 devices using your Microsoft account. Much like what iCloud is striving to accomplish with a more unified iOS experience, SkyDrive will similarly do for Windows 8.

“A truly consistent experience across every Microsoft device is something new to the space,” Resolve Market Research analyst Randy Hellman says.

So how will this work? Well, first it's important to note that Metro apps (i.e., Windows 8 tablet apps) are HTML5-based, and will therefore work in any environment — on x86 and ARM devices, on tablets, laptops and full-fledged PCs. This alone provides a windfall for users seeking a harmonious computing experience.

It remains to be seen whether current Windows Phone apps will run on Windows 8 tablets; Microsoft hasn't officially commented on that possibility. Nonetheless, by using HTML5 as a bridge between tablets and computers, Microsoft has a distinct advantage. For the broad swath of software that HTML5 can support, users should be able to appreciate seamless integration.

The Kindle Fire offers its own Amazonian brand of Android. Photo: Jon Snyder/Wired.com

For Windows Phone, Microsoft provides a list of mandatory specs in order to ensure a quality experience across all Windows Phone devices. Microsoft will likely implement the same policy for its Windows 8 tablet devices.

Android, by comparison, lets manufacturers (and carriers) essentially do whatever they want with both software and hardware. This has led to some serious fragmentation issues ranging from OS version incompatibility to inconsistent home button placement. Even the popular Kindle Fire tablet is a huge departure from other Android tablets, with its own Amazon-centric UI.

“Windows 8 tablets will come in different sizes and different orientations, and have different battery lives depending on their capabilities,” Microsoft representative Christopher Flores told Wired.

But fragmentation? “Never software fragmentation,” Flores said. Former Windows Phone 7 GM Charlie Kindel wrote in a recent blog post that Android “enables too much fragmentation“, which “will eventually drive end users nuts.”

This means Windows 8 could become a refreshing, consistent, easy-to-use alternative purchase for anyone not interested in an iPad, whether for philosophical or financial reasons.

Of course, there's still much we don't know about Microsoft's tablet initiative, and all of the what-if'ing above goes out the window once we have real hardware to evaluate.

But Microsoft definitely has the potential to deliver, and from what we've seen of Windows 8 tablets so far, the future is promising. Could a Windows 8 tablet be the focus of Microsoft's final CES keynote? We're excited as anyone to find out.

Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1 with 4G LTE receives major update

Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1 with 4G LTE receives major update  
Awhile ago the Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1 WiFi received a major update that brings TouchWiz and a whole bunch of improvements to the tablet. However, folks who owned the 4G LTE version of the tablet were left out - until today. Verizon has announced the arrival of the EL01 update for the 4G LTE version of the Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1.

The 351MB update includes fixes to the email client, Google Security Patches, TouchWiz user interface updates, WiFi enhanced connectivity, DivX, Bluetooth 3.0 support, new apps and widgets like: AllShare, Memo, Pen memo, Photo Editor, My Files, Social Hub and World Clock, enhancements to Music Player and Video Player, support for additional security policies for Enterprise ActiveSync, and additional Enterprise Application Support.

The update should start rolling out within the next few days so keep a look out for it. As usual, backup your tablet before you attempt anything - you never know what could happen. And let us know how it goes for you when you do get this update.

Samsung Galaxy Tab 8.9 gets a limited edition 10 CORSE COMO cover

Samsung Galaxy Tab 8.9 gets a limited edition 10 CORSE COMO cover
For those lucky enough to own the Samsung Galaxy Tab 8.9, if you're looking for a limited edition cover for your device, Samsung may have the answer for you in the form of the 10 CORSE COMO Galaxy Tab cover. The fashion conscious/aware might realize that 10 CORSE COMO is a global lifestyle concept store, and to celebrate the launch of the Galaxy Tab 8.9, Samsung has deemed it appropriate to release a limited edition cover for the device with 10 CORSE COMO's branding on it.

The limited edition cover designed by Kris Ruhs, is expected to arrive in January next year and will be available from the 10 CORSE COMO store located in Chungdam-dong in South Korea. No word on how much it will cost, nor if there are any plans for international availability, but for those who the Galaxy Tab 8.9, living in South Korea and looking for a unique design, this just might be what you are looking for.

Acer Iconia Tab A200 now available in the UK

Acer Iconia Tab A200 now available in the UK  
Remember the Acer Iconia Tab A200 that was launched earlier this month? Well, it looks like Acer has decided to skip the January release date with Ice Cream Sandwich and put the device up for sale this month with Honeycomb onboard. The Android tablet can now be purchased in the UK for $460 (£299) and is available in red and black.

As for the tablet's specs, it's pretty much your run-of-the-mill 10.1″ Android tablet: Tegra 2 dual-core processor, 1GB of RAM, 8x16GB of internal storage, a 10x1″ 1280 x 800 display, 2-megapixel front facing camera, USB port, MicroSD card slot, DLNA, a 3,260mAh battery and Android Honeycomb with preloaded Acer software.

The tablet is scheduled to arrive in the US in January with Ice Cream Sandwich onboard.

Verizon Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1 software update imminent, not Ice Cream Sandwich

Verizon Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1 software update imminent, not Ice Cream Sandwich
Verizon's Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1 is about to receive another software update. Unfortunately though, it's not going to pack Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich. That's probably a long way out at this point.

Instead, this update will generally make your tablet's operation smoother. Many bugs have been fixed, and many things have been enhanced.

The TouchWiz UX will be updated. There will be a new SocialHub widget. Built-in photo editing will be added. The Daily app will be preinstalled. Bluetooth 3.0 compatibility is also in. The music and video players have been enhanced too. DivX support has been added. Wi-Fi connectivity has been improved.

The update's documentation is already available at Verizon, which means that it should start to be pushed to Galaxy Tab 10.1 devices pretty soon. The update will arrive over-the-air, so you don't need to do anything special to receive it – your tablet will simply prompt you when it's available.

After applying the update, your tablet will be running software version I905.EL01.

Pantech Android tablet with LTE to be launched by AT&T next year

Pantech Android tablet with LTE to be launched by AT&T next year
Pantech and AT&T have been good friends throughout the years, with the Korean company launching more than a dozen phones and smartphones via the second largest US mobile carrier.

Now it looks like Pantech is readying its fist tablet for AT&T.

According to JKN (website in Korean), the tablet has an 8 inch display and LTE connectivity, and should be out early next year – most probably with Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich on board.

It's quite possible that the upcoming tablet is the Pantech P4100, approved by the FCC earlier this month (and sketched below). The P4100 features a 1.5GHz dual-core processor, HDMI, MicroSD card slot, a camera on the back and, of course, a SIM card slot.

The new Pantech LTE tablet for AT&T could be announced at CES 2012. We'll obviously let you know if this happens.

JKN also reports that the LG Optimus Pad LTE (which still hasn't been announced) will be out in the US next year, too.

Android Medfield tablet caught in the wild

Android Medfield tablet caught in the wild  
We all know that Intel plans to enter the smartphone and tablet market sometime in 2012 with the release of its new Atom chip codenamed Medfield. We've all seen the render of the Medfield phone before, so if you've ever wondered how Intel's Medfield-powered tablets would look like, you're in luck. The folks over at Android Community managed to get their hands on a Medfield developer tablet that was shown off during the Intel Developer Forum conference in the past and snapped some pictures of it.

The tablet has a 10.1″ display, and has a Medfield dual-core processor that is running at 1.6GHz, with graphics processing capabilities touted to beat the Tegra 2 and Qualcomm's S3 1.5GHz dual-core processors. Since it is a developer tablet, it probably isn't going to be what consumers will be getting their hands on in the future. Besides the tacky design on the back, it looks just like any other regular tablet but I guess it's what on the inside that counts.

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