Lucky Android fans could get their Nexus 7 tablets as soon as July 13th

Android fans who preordered Google's flagship Nexus 7 tablet through the Google Play store could get a nice big treat in the mail as soon as Friday. DroidMatters reports that Google has started shipping Nexus 7 preorders and some customers could see their tablets arrive as soon as July 13th. The site discovered that some tablets were arriving on Friday through a posting on the XDA-Developers forum showing an order sheet for the Nexus 7 with a scheduled delivery time of July 13th between 2:15 pm and 6:15 pm. DroidMatters speculates that other retailers will start shipping their own Nexus 7 preorders now that Google got the ball rolling.

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Kouziro crafts wired-only, 21.5-inch Android 4.0 mega tablet

We're wondering if Kouziro saw the ASUS Transformer AIO and developed a little Freudian envy. That would certainly help explain the company's FT103 tablet, which at 21.5 inches is one of the biggest devices running Android 4.0 without veering into full-size TV territory. If you're having sudden flashbacks to the Toshiba Excite 13 and dreading the thought of lugging around all 11 pounds of this slab, you'll breathe a sigh of relief knowing that Kouziro doesn't make any pretenses surrounding portability: there's no battery, and a kickstand keeps it upright on a desk rather than crushing your lap. The lackluster 1GHz TI OMAP 4428 processor and 8GB of storage certainly won't do much to draw attention, though. All the same, the HDMI input and 1080p screen resolution could make it a very clever secondary display for another device, and the extra-extra-extra-large size lets it stuff in two full USB ports and Ethernet along with the usual front camera and mobile expansion. The late July release in Japan and the ¥34,800 ($437) price aren't outlandish for what's in the box — just brace yourself for psychoanalysis from friends and family after taking the FT103 home.

Le Pan II receives Android 4.0.4 Ice Cream Sandwich update at long last

 
Earlier this year at CES 2012, the world was introduced to yet another Android-powered tablet (which frankly, has flooded the market by the dozens, making it rather tough to pick out one that is very different from the rest) in the form of the Le Pan II. Half a year ago, it ran on Android 3.2 Honeycomb which was a tablet-centric version of Android, and we are pleased to announce that from July 15th onwards, the Le Pan II is on the receiving end of the Android 4.0.4 Ice Cream Sandwich operating system update.

This operating system update will introduce recent tabs when you press the home button, making life far easier whenever you are working on the tablet itself. Not only that, users will be able to benefit from the NFC feature thanks to the inclusion of Android Beam, letting you share content wirelessly with other compatible devices. In addition, we ought to be able to see an improved battery life, better and more stable Wi-Fi connectivity, better processing performance, and the ability to adjust the usage of RAM automatically while freeing up additional internal memory space. Your camera on the Le Pan II should also work in a faster and smoother manner.

There are also whispers that this holiday season, we could be looking at a third generation Le Pan tablet with Android 4.1 Jelly Bean in tow. Time will reveal all rumors, so let us sit out on this one and wait.

Nexus 7 tablet receiving Android 4.1.1 update

Android 4.1.1 just made itself available on the AOSP servers yesterday, and evidently it's wasting no time in heading towards the world's first Jelly Bean tablet. The ASUS-built Nexus 7 is now receiving the update — a 12.6MB download that boosts the version number to 4.1.1. Our in-house unit isn't pulling down the new edition just yet (nor is our Galaxy Nexus), so it seems to be one of Google's typical phased releases. At any rate, Android Central is reporting that the code “improves performance and responsiveness system wide,” while also adding Google Wallet to your app library.

Hyundai reportedly launching three Android tablets in Russia this year

It seems that Lamborghini isn't the only car manufacturer interested in expanding its business to mobile devices. According to a Russian blog, Hyundai will be launching three tablets running Ice Cream Sandwich this year in Russia. Interesting isn't it? One of the three is a 7-inch Kindle-like tablet dubbed as Hyundai HT-7B. This tablet will reportedly sport a 1024x600 display and a 1 GHz Samsung CPU. Other purported features of the tablet include a 1 GB RAM, Wi-Fi and GPS support, a 2-megapixel rear-facing camera, a 3-megapixel camera, 8 GB built-in storage, and a 4000 mAh battery.

Another tablet is the Hyundai HT-9B. This 9.7-inch tablet will feature a 1024x768 IPS display, a 1.2 GHz Cortex A8 CPU, and a Mali-400 GPU. Other features will include a 1 GB RAM, 16 GB storage, 2-megapixel rear and 3-megapixel front cameras, GPS/ Wi-Fi/ Bluetooth support, USB 2.0, HDMI and a 5600 mAh battery. Last but not the least is the 10.1-inch Hyundai HT-10B. This large tablet, also running Ice Cream Sandwich, will be powered by a 1.2 GHz Cortex A8 CPU and Mali-400 GPU. Notable specs will include a 1 GB RAM, 16 GB storage, 2-megapixel rear and 3-megapixel front cameras, built-in 3G, GPS/ Wi-Fi/ Bluetooth support, USB 2.0, HDMI, and a 5600 mAh battery.

Nexus 7 tablets now shipping to pre-order customers

 
To those of you who've pre-ordered a Nexus 7 tablet and you've been holding your breath waiting for it to arrive at your doorstep, well it looks like the wait is finally over. According to a post on the official Nexus Google+ account, it looks like the very first Android Jelly Bean tablet will be arriving at some of your doorsteps today. The Nexus 7 is officially shipping out to pre-order customers, so some of you might be coming home (or staying in and waiting by your doorstep) for a big surprise.

The Nexus 7 has been well received by many blogs (including ours) so we're just as excited as you are about the tablets finally shipping out. For those of you who get your hands on it today, do drop us your first impressions in the comments below, we'd like to know what you think about it.

Hot start for Nexus 7: Major chains report quick sellouts

Reuters reports that some major retail chains have been running out of Google Nexus 7 tablets on the device's first day of availability. According to Reuters, customers have already ripped all the Nexus 7 tablets out of GameStop's inventory while both the Sam's Club and Walmart websites list the device as out of stock as well. While GameStop would not specify the exact number of Nexus 7 tablets it had ordered, a company spokesman told Reuters that it ”blew through the first two allotments,” meaning GameStop won't have any more Nexus 7s to sell until a third allotment becomes available in August.

CyanogenMod Alpha 0.05.1 on NOOK Tablet

 
It is not a week after Barnes & Noble rolled out the latest software version 1.4.3 for the NOOK Tablet and you can say that the developers who worked on an unofficial port of CyanogenMod 9 for the NOOK tablet have wasted no time at all, having updated their version of the software, too. Known as CyanogenMod Alpha 0.05.1, you can tell by the version number alone that this is still a potential diamond in the rough. Forget about enjoying official support for Netflix, YouTube HD, as well as other tasks that have need for hardware video acceleration. In addition, you will find that the microphone in the NOOK Tablet is pretty much useless in CyanogenMod Alpha 0.05.1, so no point speaking to it.

What makes CyanogenMod 9 Alpha is the fact that it delivers Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich on a silver platter to the NOOK Tablet, not to mention the ability for you to access the Google Play Store – and subsequently, opening up the door to hundreds of thousands of apps, is worth having a closer look at.

Samsung loses appeal to lift Galaxy Tab 10.1 sales ban

A judge with the United States District Court for Northern California has rejected Samsung's appeal to a lift a sales ban of its Galaxy Tab 10.1 tablet, Reuters reported. The rulings is the third and latest legal setback to hit the South Korean manufacturer over the past week. “Samsung is disappointed with the court's decision that denied our motion to stay,” the company said in a statement. “We believe today's ruling will ultimately reduce the availability of superior technological features to consumers in the United States.” U.S. District Judge Lucy Koh on Friday also banned sales of Samsung's Galaxy Nexus smartphone; the move reportedly enraged Google, which then rushed to its partner's aid.

Google's Nexus 7 tablet hits the iFixit teardown labs

We can always count on iFixit to get down and dirty with its spudger and the latest tablet tech, and we're not going home empty handed today. The latest victim happens to be Google's recently announced Nexus 7, which has achieved a “repairability score” of 7 out of 10 (the Kindle Fire squeaked one notch past with an 8), with many accessible components including a replaceable battery and standard Phillips screws. While the site's ultimate goal is to illustrate the delicate process of opening our gadgets while leaving them unharmed, the good folks at iFixit never fail to entertain us in the process, with two dozen high-res photos of the Nexus 7′s innards littering the 21-step repair guide. The most disappointing discovery appears to be the display, which is permanently affixed to its Corning glass covering, but given the tablet's $200 price tag, replacing such a component is not likely to be a cost-effective proposition. There's plenty more to gawk over, but you'll need to head to iFixit to, well, get your fix.

Samsung Galaxy Tab 7.7 GT-P6800 getting Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich now?

As reported not long ago, Samsung plans to upgrade many of its Galaxy tablets to Android 4.0 ICS starting this month. It looks like the first to get the update is the Galaxy Tab 7.7 GT-P6800.

According to SamMobile, owners of the Tab 7.7 GT-P6800 are getting ICS (via Samsung Kies) as of yesterday, July 3. This, however, seems to happen only in Austria for now.

In case you don't know yet, the GT-P6800 is the 3G version of the Galaxy Tab 7.7. There's also a Wi-Fi-only version (GT-P6810), and an LTE one (i815 - sold in the US by Verizon). These will probably taste ICS pretty soon, too.

Acer's Iconia Tab A210 Android tablet hits the FCC

Acer wasn't divulging much about availability when we first caught sight of its Iconia Tab A210 at Computex last month (beyond a general "Q3"), but the 10-inch Android tablet has now at least cleared one hurdle on its way to a release. The device has just passed through the FCC, which could indicate that it's headed for stores sooner rather than later. Unfortunately, there's not much else to be found beyond the tablet's label and a few test reports, so you'll have to wait for a future filing if you were hoping for a peek inside the device - feel free to revisit our hands-on in the meantime.

NEC Japan introduces the LifeTouch L, its first Android 4.0 Tablet

Here you are NEC new Android Tablet the LifeTouch L. Announced for a July launch across Japan this B2B tablet will come by default with Android 4.0 and will be sold at around 40,000 Yen in its 16GB version and around 50,000 Yen in its 32GB version. The LifeTouch L will come with an Dual Core 1.5GHz TI OMAP 4460 CPU, 1GB of RAM, a 10.1" IPS Screen with a 1280×800 resolution, WiFi, BLuetooth 2.1+EDR, GPS, DLNA… with a size of 257x181x7.99mm, a weight of 540g a a 7,400mAh batter offering up to 13h of continues web browsing.

Microsoft and Barnes & Noble to announce tablet with Xbox Live streaming, report claims

Microsoft announced this past April that it acquired a 17% stake in a newly-formed Barnes & Noble subsidiary that will focus on Nook tablets and eReaders. What the company may not have mentioned at the time is that the new partnership might also yield a line of Microsoft-branded tablets. Microsoft sent out a last-minute invitation to a press conference late last week, and multiple subsequent reports have suggested that this event will see Microsoft unveil a new line of own-brand tablets powered by Windows RT. According to a recent report from TechCrunch, however, the Redmond-based company plans to take the wraps off a Barnes & Noble joint effort. The site's sources claim the new tablet will be an eReader-media tablet combo, and it will focus on entertainment thanks to the inclusion of Xbox Live streaming support. Microsoft's event begins at 6:30 p.m. Eastern, 3:30 p.m. Pacific, and BGR will be on hand to cover the press conference live.

NEC annonces LifeTouch L tablets for individual and business users

 If you're in the market for a couple of new tablets, NEC has recently announced two new tablets dubbed the LifeTouch L. Yup, you read it right, both tablets will be known as the LifeTouch L but the difference between them is that one will be aimed at regular consumers like you and I, while the other will be aimed at the business user. However the difference only comes in the software, with the business version sporting an additional security software suite which will aid in the prevention of loss or in the case of theft. The ones intended for regular consumers will get a software suite of its own which will help parents protect their kids from certain websites online.

As far as hardware is concerned, both tablets will feature the same hardware which is a TI OMAP4460 1.5GHz processor, a 10.1x1280×800 IPS display, a battery capable of lasting 13 hours, WiFi and storage options of 16GB or 32GB (the business version will only sport 16GB) and will run on Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich. No word on pricing just yet, but the tablet aimed at individual users is expected to see a release on the 5th of July.

‘Xbox Surface' 7-inch tablet said to be on tap for Microsoft event

Rumors and speculation have been flying since Microsoft announced last week that it was hosting a press conference in Los Angeles on Monday, and that might be exactly what the Redmond-based company was hoping for. Early well-sourced reports indicated that a Microsoft-branded tablet is on tap for the event, and a number of subsequent reports have said much of the same. TechCrunch later reported that we should expect a Barnes & Noble collaboration, but B&N squashed that rumor relatively quickly. Next up from the rumor mill? An “Xbox Surface” tablet with a 7-inch display, an ARM based TI processor, full HD 1080p-output and a 28-nanometer AMD graphics processor. An an interesting side note, Microsoft insider “MS Nerd” reported earlier this year that Microsoft would unveil an ARM-based “Xbox Lite” in the near future ahead of a full-fledged next-generation Xbox console, and this very well could be the device his sources were referring to.

Live from Microsoft's tablet event!

After saving things for the very last minute in an effort to keep today's news under wraps, Microsoft is finally ready to get the show under way here in Los Angeles, California. The topic of today's event is still something of a mystery, though a pair of well-sourced reports from last week suggest Microsoft is about to enter the the tablet game with its first own-brand offering. Microsoft is no stranger to hardware, though it has seen mixed results in the past; the Xbox 360 is still the best-selling console in the world seven years after its 2005 debut, but the Zune player was a mess from start to finish. Nothing is confirmed until we hear it straight from the horse's mouth, however, so hit the jump to follow BGR's live coverage of today's event, which is scheduled to begin at 6:30 p.m. Eastern, 3:30 p.m. Pacific.

Microsoft unveils Surface tablet

Microsoft on Monday announced the Surface tablet during a press conference in Los Angeles, California. Rumors leading up to the event suggested that the Redmond-based company had an own-brand tablet in store, and a leaked spec sheet that emerged on Monday pointed to an Xbox-focused slate that would merge entertainment, gaming and high-definition output into a 7-inch tablet that would mark Microsoft's premiere entry into the market. Bits and pieces of various rumors ended up panning out, and Microsoft unveiled its first Windows RT tablet.

Developing… “Surface fulfills the dream of working anywhere,” Microsoft said of the 9.3-millimeter thick tablet, which includes a magnesium case that weighs less than 1.5 pounds and features an integrated stand to prop the device up while watching videos or typing on a Bluetooth keyboard. The face of the Surface is covered with Corning Gorilla Glas 2, and it includes a magnetic connector to hold a case in place.

The new Surface tablet ships with a number of popular Microsoft apps, including Xbox live, and it includes a native Netflix app as well. USB 2.0 and HDMI-out ports are both on board, as are rear and front-facing cameras. An Intel Ivy Bridge Core i5 processor powers the Surface along with a unique vented active cooling system.

Microsoft's Surface tablet supports both finger and stylus input, as well as 600 dpi “Digital Ink” for drawing, writing and marking up documents.

Microsoft Surface tablet hands-on

Microsoft's mystery event is finally over and considering the flurry of leaks that piled up ahead of this evening's press conference, we can't say were entirely surprised by the announcement of the company's first own-brand tablet. BGR was on hand reporting live as Microsoft took the wraps off the Surface tablet, a 9.3 millimeter-thick magnesium slate intended to set the stage for Windows 8 and Windows RT. We managed to fight our way through the crowd for a quick hands-on look, and Microsoft's new tablet shows some serious promise. Hit the jump for more and be sure to check out our hands-on photo gallery linked below. First, there's the design of the device itself. Microsoft has tried to make Surface into a Swiss Army Knife type of tablet that features both a kickstand and a snap-on keyboard. The good news is that neither of these features are terribly obtrusive as the kickstand just slides right back into the tablet and the keyboard can be either snapped off or flipped over like a book. There are two types of keyboards that Microsoft is selling with the device, called the Touch Cover and the Type Cover. The Touch Cover is a pressure-sensitive pad that can pick up on your keystrokes and is only 3 millimeters thick. The Type Cover is more of a traditional keyboard with fully embossed keys that press down and is slightly thicker at 5 millimeters. I have to admit that the Touch Cover felt somewhat alien to me at first when I was playing around with it, but that could be due to the fact that I didn't have a lot of time to play around with it - Microsoft was really herding reporters quickly through the line. The Type Cover did feel quite natural as a keyboard should, however, so at the very least, there should be one strong option for people who prefer traditional keyboards. The tablet's 10.6-inch display screen looked gorgeous, although Microsoft was being weirdly evasive when asked what the exact screen resolution was. The tablet's “VaporMg” casing is extremely solid, and the tablet feels very strong in your hands. Despite being 9.3 millimeters thick, the Windows RT version of the Surface is in no danger of bending under pressure. In terms of software, Windows RT brings some cool new capabilities to the tablet form factor, including the ability to run two apps on the same screen simultaneously. One Microsoft rep, for instance, demonstrated how to have Outlook email on one half of the screen while having sports scores on the other half. And of course, the home screen on both versions of the Surface tablet features Windows 8′s Metro UI that is significantly more intuitive, colorful and user-friendly than past editions of Windows. So what's the bottom line here? Well, Microsoft didn't let me spend nearly enough time with its Surface tablets to write a comprehensive review and since the devices are still a long way from being released, I'm going to assume that's because Microsoft is still putting a lot of finishing touches on them. But what I saw looked really intriguing, and Microsoft has at least in concept created a tablet computer that can also double as a PC. While this alone certainly won't be enough to help Microsoft compete with the mighty Apple iPad, it does breathe some much-needed life into Microsoft's mobile product line.

Image taken by Google Nexus Tablet appears in Picasa

Excited about the rumored 7" Google Nexus tablet that might be making its way to the upcoming Google I/O Conference happening later this month? As Google's developer conference is drawing near, it looks like more and more news about the company's very own tablet manufactured by Asus are leaking out. The latest leak is an image purportedly taken by the Google Nexus tablet that appeared in Google's image sharing service - Google Picasa, according to the EXIF information at least.

There's nothing special about the picture though, no image of the actual tablet has been revealed – it's only a lousy and boring image of partition ceiling and lights; I've never been fond of cameras found in tablet devices anyway. This new leak suggests that the tablet could really be on its way to the conference. Feel free to check out the image on Picasa, it's still up and available on the photo sharing service by Google, do you think it's the real deal?

More proof of a Nexus tablet launching at Google I/O this month emerges

 
You've probably heard about the rumor mill surrounding the Nexus tablet and its rumored launching at the Google I/O later this month. Well, if you've been waiting for an update, the Taiwanese publication that is DigiTimes is reporting that the said tablet will be unveiled at the Google I/O annual developer conference in San Francisco. The Google I/O will commence on the 27th of June and will end on the 29th. Sources reportedly told Digitimes that the 7-inch Nexus tablet PC will start shipping in June and is estimated to be available in the retail stores in July, with the device's total shipments expected to reach at least three million units in the second half of the year.

Furthermore, the publication added that the initial price of the device is expected to be around the 199-dollar mark. “Due to its low price, the 7-inch Nexus tablet PC only supports a Wi-Fi connection and does not feature a back-side webcam, but will equip with a front-side webcam for video conference,” DigiTimes wrote. It's important to note that we are merely citing reports from unknown sources. Until we can prove its veracity, it's best to keep our fingers crossed.

Tablets and smartphones are turning handheld gaming devices into a niche

A new study from ABI Research found that Sony and Nintendo are struggling against the rise of smartphones and tablets in gaming. The two companies are expected to ship more than 38 million handheld gaming devices in 2013, a number significantly lower than the previous peak of 47 million units in 2008. Shipments after 2013 are expected to continue to decline, and the firm says handheld gaming devices will only survive as a niche, while smartphone and tablet sales continue to increase. "Mobile devices will compete with dedicated handheld gaming devices, but select consumer segments like core gamers and those individuals who do not want or have a smartphone or tablet will still provide some demand,” senior ABI analyst Michael Inouye said. “The addition of mobile gaming is not necessarily a zero sum situation; in fact, many feel there is plenty of room in the gaming market for both portable and mobile gaming." Read on for ABI Research's press release.

Handheld Gaming Devices in Downward Spiral to Niche Status Thanks to Tablets and Mobile Devices

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. - June 7, 2012

​ Over 38 million handheld gaming devices from Sony and Nintendo are expected to ship in 2013 -a maximum that is significantly lower than the previous peak of 47 million units in 2008. Unit shipments following 2013 are expected to decline slightly, but dedicated handheld gaming devices are a sustainable niche, with forecasts relatively flat through 2017. Smartphone and tablet use for gaming continues to expand, making the mobile gaming market an increasingly important companion to dedicated handheld gaming.

Senior analyst Michael Inouye comments, "Mobile devices will compete with dedicated handheld gaming devices, but select consumer segments like core gamers and those individuals who do not want or have a smartphone or tablet will still provide some demand. The addition of mobile gaming is not necessarily a zero sum situation; in fact, many feel there is plenty of room in the gaming market for both portable and mobile gaming."

Following an initially strong 1Q 2011 launch, Nintendo's 3DS experienced a far weaker second quarter, prompting the company to dramatically lower the price of the handheld (from ~$249 to ~$170). The lower price, with additional titles, spurred sales to over 15 million through the 2011 calendar year. In late 2011, Sony launched the Vita in Japan with a wider launch in February 2012 to decent sales, although the price might prove an issue for Sony as well, despite significantly more robust hardware.

Inouye adds, "The mobile and tablet markets have increased consumers' price sensitivity. First party developers and key game franchises will be vital cogs for the industry in the future, since hardware alone is not going to cut it given the shorter upgrade cycles for mobile devices." Recent announcements at E3 from Nintendo and Microsoft, coupled with past mobile-centric initiatives by Sony, make clear that mobile experiences will be integrated into "dedicated" gaming experiences (both console and portable).

HBO GO now available for Amazon Kindle Fire

HBO on Wednesday announced that its popular video streaming app HBO GO has launched for the Amazon Kindle Fire. Available immediately as a free download for Amazon's tablet in the Amazon Appstore, HBO GO allows HBO subscribers with service through certain cable providers to stream HBO content such as Game of Thrones, True Blood, The Sopranos and a variety of movies to their mobile devices. "We are thrilled to offer HBO GO to the growing community of millions of Kindle Fire owners," said Aaron Rubenson, director of the Amazon Appstore. "The HBO GO app will offer instant access to HBO's incredible lineup of shows. Kindle Fire owners already download and use apps and games frequently on their devices, and we expect that only to increase with the addition of HBO GO and all of its popular content." HBO's full press release follows below.

HBO GO® LAUNCHES ON AMAZON'S KINDLE FIRE 

More Than 1,400 HBO® Titles Available for Streaming Via HBO GO App,

Downloadable From the Amazon Appstore for Android

New York, N.Y., June 6, 2012 - HBO GO, the wildly popular streaming service from HBO, is launching on Amazon's Kindle Fire, beginning today.  Available via the Amazon Appstore for Android, HBO GO consumers will be able to instantly access more than 1,400 titles, including every episode of every season of the best HBO shows. HBO GO is available at no additional cost to HBO customers who subscribe through a participating television provider.

HBO subscribers can use the HBO GO for Kindle Fire for on-the-go viewing of current critically acclaimed and award-winning series like Game of Thrones

"We are thrilled to offer HBO GO to the growing community of millions of Kindle Fire owners," said Aaron Rubenson, Director of the Amazon Appstore. "The HBO GO app will offer instant access to HBO's incredible lineup of shows.  Kindle Fire owners already download and use apps and games frequently on their devices, and we expect that only to increase with the addition of HBO GO and all of its popular content."

The best-selling Kindle Fire is the most successful product launch ever on Amazon.com and already a major platform for content providers and app developers to reach millions of people who love entertainment, whether its books, movies, music, apps or games. Kindle Fire offers customers a fully-integrated service with instant access to over 20 million movies, TV shows, magazines, newspapers, books, songs, apps and games. And, all of your Amazon content is always backed up and stored for free in the Amazon Cloud. Kindle Fire is available for $199 at www.amazon.com/kindlefire.

Subscribers can also personalize HBO GO through a custom "Watchlist" that keeps track of bookmarked content for later viewing and the "Series Pass

Acer unveils sub-$200 quad-core Android tablet

Acer on Wednesday unveiled its latest tablet, the Iconia Tab A110, during the Computex Taipei trade show, The Verge reported. The 7-inch 1280 x 800 resolution slate is equipped with an NVIDIA Tegra 3 quad-core processor, 1GB of RAM, a microSD card slot, a front-facing camera, HDMI connectivity and Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich. The kicker, however, is its sub-$200 price tag. The A110 looks to be one of the first tablets that will be part of NVIDIA's low-priced high-power Kai strategy. Google and ASUS are also expected to unveil a similar 7-inch tablet running the next version of Android, known as Jelly Bean, at the company's annual i/O Developer Conference that is scheduled to take place in San Francisco from June 27th through June 29th. Acer's Iconia Tab A110 will be released in the third quarter this year.

16GB Blackberry Playbook appears to have been discontinued

 
If you were hoping to get your hands on the 16GB version of the Blackberry Playbook, you might be out of luck. According to an email sent from RIM to a consumer, it seems that the company will be discontinuing the 16GB Blackberry Playbook model. This means that if you wanted to get the Playbook, you will have to go for the more expensive 32GB and 64GB versions. Some have speculated that the reason behind the discontinuation is due to the recent price cuts, and this caused the 16GB Playbook to barely return any profits for RIM who were just breaking even. Then again with all the media-heavy applications and files we store on our smartphones and tablets these days, 16GB is admittedly not enough. According to the email, 16GB models will still be offered while they are still in stock so assuming this email is to be believed (RIM has yet to step forward and announce this themselves), you might want to move fast if the 16GB model Blackberry Playbook tablet is really what you're after.

Has RIM canceled the 16GB PlayBook?

 If you're an indecisive fan of the BlackBerry PlayBook, your purchasing decision might just have been made a little easier. We're hearing reports that customers have been advised only existing stocks of the 16GB variant remain, and the firm will be offering just the 32- and 64GB models going forward. The speculation is that this is down to the lower profit margins on the smallest memory version, however this is not confirmed. We've contacted RIM for the official word in the meantime, and will update accordingly.

Tactus' morphing smartphone and tablet display hands-on

Tactus Technology, a small start-up out of Fremont, CA, made a big splash at this year's Society for Information Display (SID) conference. The company, which came to Boston, MA toting a single product, showcased an early prototype of its morphing touchscreen display. The screen, which looks and acts like all other smartphone and tablet displays, has a very special and unique feature: it can dynamically create and remove tactile keys on demand. Tactus utilizes a specially designed window that sits directly on top of a display's touch sensor - which we're told can be fitted to almost any touchscreen - that has specially designed channels. A "proprietary oil" is, at the behest of the underlying operating system, forced in and out of these channels to raise the display surface and create a tactile interface for the end-user. It's a concept that, much to the delight of ardent smartphone and tablet keyboard lovers, can provide a physical input experience without sacrificing screen real estate. Have a look at our hands-on gallery then saunter past the break to see this tactile touchscreen in action and read our impressions. The buttons created by Tactus' screen have a very distinct feeling and resistance. The small plateaus that protrude from the screen almost look wet and, when pressed, require a fair amount of pressure to push all the way down to the touchscreen. Although you can push the buttons flush, it's not necessary to register input; just tapping the screen (as with all non-resistive panels) will register your choice. As you may be able to see from several of our photos, the screen does seem to add some thickness to the display panel. While the added size is irrelevant, it does seem to add a certain finish or sheen to the screen that we're not used to seeing; it almost looks like a mash-up of matte and glossy. The device we got to fondle was a 7-inch Android tablet, although - as we mentioned above and can see in the company's promotional video - the technology can be shoehorned onto a variety of display form-factors. We're not exactly sure how useful (if at all) raised keys would be on a smartphone-sized QWERTY, but it is something Tactus says is completely possible. Tactus' screen is truly impressive, but its main draw - at this early prototype stage - is its newness. Refinements will definitely have to be made before OEMs are clamoring for this window, but we, along with SID's organizers (who gave the company a "best of show" nod) agree: this is a great launchpad for a technology with a fair amount of promise.

Microsoft reportedly bars HTC from making Windows 8 tablets

HTC is reportedly being shut out of Windows RT development due to lack of experience in the tablet market, according to Bloomberg. The news doesn't bode well for the Taiwanese vendor, which on Wednesday cut its second-quarter revenue projection by 13.3%. Microsoft's decision to lock HTC out of Windows 8 development was due to concerns about the company's tablet sales, or lack thereof; the publication's sources suggest the software giant is worried that HTC may diminish and tarnish the Windows RT experience. HTC engineers were reportedly interested in building a Windows device with a customized home screen, similar to what the company does with its Sense UI on Android. Microsoft refused, however, and will instead work with other vendors that have achieved greater sales. HTC may still release a Windows device in the second round of products expected to launch next year.

RIM axes 16GB PlayBook

We hardly knew ye, 16GB BlackBerry PlayBook. The demise of the 16GB PlayBook, first reported by N4BB and later confirmed by Engadget, means that RIM is only offering the more expensive 32GB and 64GB versions of its tablet. A RIM spokesperson told Engadget that the company is still “committed to the tablet space” but simply feels that “there is more value for our customers in the higher capacity models (32 GB, 64 GB).” N4BB, however, speculates that the real reason for dumping the 16GB tablet boils down to value for RIM, since “there is barely any profit on every 16GB PlayBook sold,” especially “given the price cuts putting the PlayBook to its relative production cost.”

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Google tablet spotted in the wild?

 
We do know that there are whispers of a new Google Nexus tablet in the pipeline, where previous reports point towards a June release in addition to having NVIDIA's Tegra 3 chipset powering it, but so far we have yet to see the device in action – unlike the alleged backplate of the iPhone 5 earlier this morning. Well, all of that is set to change right now, where PhoneArena claims to have received the first images of the alleged Google tablet, where it does seem to point towards a glossy white front (can you say fingerprint magnet here) alongside a two-tone back cover, complete with Asus branding emblazoned across the back of the device.

There are a couple of cameras located as well, in addition to an earpiece which is located at the top of the device, so some might think that this has something similar to the Galaxy Note by Samsung. So far, the best guesstimates on the Google tablet's hardware specifications include a 7″ display and 1GB RAM. In all probability, do expect to see the latest version of Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich running on it.

Huawei MediaPad 10 FHD also on its way to Japan, to be released in August as the Emobile GT01

The Huawei Ascend P1 isn't the only device made by the Chinese company to be on its way to Japan. It will be joined by the MediaPad 10 FHD, the tablet first shown during MWC in February. Like the Ascend P1, the MediaPad 10 FHD will be launched under another name by Emobile. GT01 is what the tablet will be called, and we're confident that it makes more sense in Japan(ese) than “MediaPad 10 FHD”. The specs seem to have remained unchanged, as is the design. So we're looking at a tablet with a 10.1-inch 1920×1200 IPS touchscreen, a quad-core Huawei processor clocked at 1.5 GHz, an 8 MP rear camera, a 1.3 MP front-facing camera, 2 GB of RAM, 16 GB of built-in storage space, microSD card support, and a 6,400 mAh battery. It will run Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich. The GT01 will be offered by Emobile in August. The price hasn't been announced yet.

Acer Iconia Tab A210 and A110 spotted at Computex

 Recently at Computex, the folks at Engadget came across a pair of Android tablets by Acer – the Iconia A210 and the A110 and based on their model numbers, these are presumably the successors to last year's A200 and A100 tablets. The good news is that they have been upgraded and both models will feature NVIDIA's Tegra 3 quad-core processors under their hood and will come with Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich preinstalled. According to an Acer rep, these tablets are expected to go on sale in Q3 of 2012 although no word on how much it will cost or which regions it will be sold in.

As far as the specs are concerned, the A210 will sport a 10.1x1280×800 display much like its predecessor. It will also come with a USB 2.0 port and a microSD card slot which will augment the 8GB or 16GB of internal storage on board. It will also feature a 3,620mAh battery. The A110 on the other hand will feature a 7x1024×600 display and will come with 1GB of RAM, 8GB of internal storage, a microSD card slot and micro HDMI and micro USB connectors. Once again no word on pricing just yet, but we will be keeping our eyes peeled so stay tuned for updates.

Apple continues to dominate tablet market, Kindle Fire demand fizzles

ABI Research on Monday revealed the results of a its latest study concerning the global tablet market, which grew a whopping 185% year-over-year. The research firm found that Apple's iPad continued to dominate the market, and after an explosive debut quarter, demand for Amazon's Kindle Fire has begun to slow. Manufacturers shipped more than 18 million tablets in the first quarter of 2012, with Apple accounting for 11.8 million devices, or nearly 65% of the market. Shipments of Amazon's Kindle Fire “fizzled” allowing Samsung to ship the most Android tablets, although it still only managed to move 1.1 million units. “A pattern similar to smartphones is also occurring in tablets," said Jeff Orr, ABI Research group director of consumer research. "Apple and Samsung have demonstrated staying power while other tablet vendors ebb and flow like the tide." The research firm found that only two manufacturers saw shipments increase in the first quarter over the same period a year earlier: Research In Motion, which saw shipments of its PlayBook tablet grow 233%, and Lenovo. ABI's press release follows below.

iPad Remains Dominant in 1Q'2012 While Kindle Fire Fizzles

NEW YORK – June 4, 2012

​ The media tablet market shipped 18.2 million devices in 1Q'2012, which represents a 185% YoY gain and a -33% sequential loss in shipments. Apple's 11.8 million iPad shipments were spurred by the launch of a third-generation lineup and price reduction on iPad 2 models, while Samsung's 1.1 million shipments returned the vendor to the number two spot after Amazon's Kindle Fire shipments fizzled entering 2012.

"A pattern similar to smartphones is also occurring in tablets," says Jeff Orr, group director, consumer research. "Apple and Samsung have demonstrated staying power while other tablet vendors ebb and flow like the tide." Only two leading branded tablet OEMs - RIM (233%) and Lenovo (107%) - bucked the downward first quarter shipment trends, while Taiwan's ASUS remained flat sequentially from 4Q'2011. Several vendors, including Dell, HP, and LG are currently retooling tablet portfolios for mid-year launches of Android 4.0 along with the much anticipated Windows 8 slates debuting later in 2012.

Apple continued to lead the market with nearly 65% of worldwide units and surpassed 67 million cumulative shipments in its first eight quarters of availability. iPad can't claim the highest mobile broadband (3G/4G) attach rate for media tablets, though Apple retains its title of shipping the most 3G-enabled tablets by outpacing the number two competitor by a factor of eight. "The majority of iPad buyers continue to be satisfied with Wi-Fi wireless coverage," adds Orr. The leading model shipments and the ongoing challenges mobile operators face in convincing iPad owners to even try the mobile broadband connectivity once are expected to continue for the foreseeable future.

Samsung Galaxy Tab 2 10.1 and Tab 2 7.0 officially priced for the US, release dates unveiled

Samsung has officially announced that it would bring its new Galaxy Tab 2 10.1 and Tab 2 7.0 to the US market, in partnership with various retailers (including Best Buy, Amazon, and Tiger Direct). The Galaxy Tab 2 7.0 (pictured below) will be launched on April 22 for $249.99 - a surprisingly low price for an Android 4.0 ICS tablet with a dual-core processor and 1GB of RAM. Also running Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich, the larger Galaxy Tab 2 10.1 will cost as low as $399.99 (8GB version) , and is expected to hit the US starting May 13.

POV announces ProTab 2 Android 4.0 tablet for $400

Sometimes a decent tablet does not necessarily have to come from one of the major manufacturers, and based on the spec sheet of European manufacturer POV's ProTab 2, this might be one of them. Featuring a 9.7" IPS display with a resolution of 1024×768, the ProTab 2 will sport a 1.2GHz Cortex A8 CPU with a Mali-400 GPU under its hood. It will also come with 1GB of DDR3 RAM, 8GB of internal storage and a microSD card slot that will support memory expansion of up to an additional 32GB. Other specs of the tablet include dual cameras, a 2MP rear-facing camera and a 0.3MP front-facing camera, a mini USB port, a mini HDMI port, and both Bluetooth and WiFi connectivity options. Best of all it will come with Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich preinstalled, a welcome feature by Android users who'd rather not sit around waiting for an update to arrive. While it does boast some decent low-mid ranged specs, unfortunately its price is on the high side at €393 (~$400) and will be available in the European market.

eGlide Prism tablet from Ematic comes with Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich, 3D glasses

Ematic has jumped headlong into the tablet market with their eGlide Prism tablet that runs off the Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich operating system, making it sound like an attractive proposition right out of the box. The thing is, even with a sleek design, will it be able to overhaul the other more established players around? Let us take a closer look at the 7" eGlide Prism to find out right after the jump. Roy Rayn, General Manager of Ematic, says, "The eGlide Prism is packed with the latest technology designed for an improved user experience. It's also slim in size which makes it the perfect tablet for people who are always on the move." He is not that far off, and I find it interesting that the press release claims that the eGlide Prism's HD video player is capable of supporting up to 2160p resolution for 3D HD videos. Now that is definitely a notch above the standard 1080p resolution even in Full HD videos, so will my eyeballs scream for joy when I check out 2160p? Other than that, this 9mm thin tablet tips the scales at a mere 0.6 pounds, featuring 8GB of internal memory and an additional 5GB of cloud storage space to augment it. Connectivity options of the eGlide Prism include Wi-Fi and USB, while the rest of the hardware specifications comprise of a front facing camera, an integrated speaker and a microSD memory card slot. For just $157.16 at the moment (slashed from the regular $216 price point), the eGlide Prism will ship with a pair of 3D glasses to get you started right out of the box. [Press Release]

Samsung Galaxy Tab 2 7″ Unboxing

The Samsung Galaxy Tab 2 7″ has landed in the office, and we are now working on the full review, but in the meantime, here is a photo gallery to show what the device looks like, fresh out of the box. When we played with the Galaxy Tab 2 (10.1 and 7.0) at Mobile World Congress, it was clear that the suffix “2″ wasn't meant as a technological leap. Instead, Samsung has worked on improving the user experience and making the tablets for affordable to all. The Samsung Galaxy Tab 2 7″ is a good example: after looking at how people use their tablets (from the couch), the company has decided to integrate an Infra-Red module that can turn it into a universal remote control. They have also pre-loaded Peel, which is a great remote control software for Android. It also comes with the latest Android 4.0. In terms of design, it is a hair thicker than the higher-end 7″ tablet with the AMOLED display, but I suspect that most people won't notice. The screen resolution is only 1024×600, which is the most noticeable difference with high-end products, along with the 8GB of internal storage (there's an empty microSD slot too). However, with a price of $250, this is a real contender for the casual users, and frankly, I don't see any reason to buy the Kindle Fire which is inferior in just about every way. This tablet will be available on April 22. Stay tuned for the review! Specifications Android 4.0 / Ice Cream Sandwich 1GHz Dual core processor 3 Megapixel  rear camera, 0.3 Megapixel front camera microSD slot (32GB max) Infra-Red blaster 7″ 1024×600 LCD display 8GB of internal storage $249.99 MSRP

Samsung Espresso 10 and Espresso 7 tablets coming in June?

Samsung has a lot of tablets on the market right now (or coming soon). The Galaxy Tab 7.0 Plus, Galaxy Tab 2 7.0, Galaxy Tab 7.7, Galaxy Tab 8.9, Galaxy Tab 10.1, Galaxy Note 10.1… and let's not forget the versions with different built-in connectivity of the aforementioned products. Those are a lot of SKUs. But apparently they may not be enough for the Korean company. Samsung could be prepping to introduce two more tablets in June. They will both run Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich and will apparently launch alongside the Galaxy Note 10.1 (since last we heard, that's been delayed until June). At least that's what the image above says. This apparently is an internal Samsung document outlining the company's new Smart TV range. Samsung's Smart View Android app connects your mobile device to your Samsung TV, and in the box regarding it, we can see that two new tablets are mentioned: the Espresso 10 and the Espresso 7. The Espresso 10 is due to launch in June, and the Espresso 7′s release time frame is currently TBD. As you'd expect with a leak coming from such an unusual place, there are unfortunately no more details about these tablets at this time. One could, however, speculate that they'll be sporting the quad-core Exynos processor that Samsung is currently working on (and which may also show up in the upcoming Galaxy S III smartphone), and probably a Full HD (1920×1200) resolution touchscreen for the Espresso 10. Wishing for it to be a Super AMOLED panel is probably taking things too far right now, but the Espresso 7 could get an AMOLED 1280×800 touchscreen. If these things do happen (and that's a big if), Samsung will get closer to Apple in the new PPI (pixels per inch) race. But it's all speculation at the moment. Also keep in mind that the image above could easily be a fake. That said, Samsung pretty much has to launch some fresh high-end tablets (especially a 10-incher), since its current offerings aren't the cream of the crop, hardware-wise, anymore. The Galaxy Note 10.1 may get a new processor while it's being delayed, but some people will still be turned off by that stylus. Furthermore, because of the wealth of stylus-specific premium bundled software on that tablet, the price is likely to be a tad steeper than what we're used to seeing in the Android world. So Samsung may need another 10″ device to be its ‘mainstream' PPI-leading tablet for the remainder of this year.

Samsung Galaxy Note 10.1 delayed for revisions

While we may finally have pricing and release dates for a majority of Samsung's updated Galaxy line of music players and tablets, launch details for the Galaxy Note 10.1 that debuted at Mobile World Congress in February has remained a mystery. A company spokesperson told The Verge on Wednesday that Samsung has no release date to announce for the device yet, but the slate that was revealed in February may not match the final product that will will ship to end users. The “original” Galaxy Note 10.1 featured a 10.1-inch 1280 x 800-pixel display and was equipped with a dual-core Exynos processor clocked at 1.4GHz, 1GB of RAM and a 3-megapixel rear camera. Earlier rumors have suggested that Samsung may upgrade the slate to a quad-core Exynos 4412 processor clocked at 1.5GHz.

Samsung Espresso 10 and Espresso 7 tablets arriving this June

Yes, we have heard plenty about the two models of the Samsung Galaxy Tab 2 which are touted for an April and May launch (while unboxing the Galaxy Tab 2 7″ model already), but here is more news on yet another two tablets from the South Korean conglomerate – the Samsung Espresso 10 and Samsung Espresso 7. This bit of news will certainly jolt you like a shot of caffeine, and it seems that both Espresso tablets will be released this coming June. They will run on Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich right out of the box, and apart from that, we do not know anything else apart from the speculative bits which can be read after the jump. For starters, word on the street has it that both Espresso devices will feature the quad-core Exynos processor that Samsung is currently developing, and will most probably boast of a Full HD (1920x1200) resolution touchscreen display for the larger Espresso 10, while the Espresso 7 might end up with an AMOLED 1280x800 resolution touchscreen display. Either way, it would clearly place Samsung within touching distance of Apple's new iPad in the PPI (pixels per inch) race.

Asus Eee Pad MeMo benchmarks come out fighting, other slates take note

It's been a long and winding road for the tongue-twisting Asus Eee Pad MeMo ME171, and though we did get a first-hand look back at CES it's finally available to call your own. The team over at Netbook News decided to take the 7″, 1280 x 800 display totin', 1.2GHz Snapdragon powered slab and give a good benchmarking — which always piques our interest. NenaMark and NenaMark 2 landed at 34.5- and 24-fps respectively. Quadrant, on the other hand, came in around the 1,800 mark, about the same as the Transformer TF101. If you're more into Antutu or Vellamo, then the numbers you are after are 4,377 and 975 (compared to the Transformer Prime's 953). Last in the list was SunSpider, which drops in at 2,546.5 — a nose ahead of the Note's 2,902. Check the video after the break if you want the full unboxing.

Meopad AQUA a new Waterproof Android Tablet

Here you are a new Android Tablet, the Meopad AQUA from TAXAN in Japan. Unlike your average Android Tablet, the Meopad AQUA has been tailored to fit a rather unique purpose: A Multimedia Bathroom tablet! Indeed, beside the usual functionalities found in most Android 2.3 tablet including a 5Mpix rear camera and a 1.3Mpix front facing one, WiFi, GPS, Bluetooth... The Meopad AQUA comes with a unique IP54 Waterproof body a 1Seg TV tuner as well as being MobacomHQ Video compatible (DRM Video sold on Memory Card). Made to enjoy videos anywhere anytime, the Meopad AQUA comes with a nice 7x1024×600 screen and a HDMI mini output. Other specs includes a 1GHZ CPU, 512MB of RAM, 8GB of internal storage, with a battery capacity announced for up to 6h of battery life for a total of just 580g Finally, the Meopad AQUA is set to hit Japanese store by the end of this month and if you can't wait for this tablet to reach your shores make sure to visit GeekStuff4U.com that will most probably carry this tablet very soon!

Meopad AQUA waterproof tablet

When you look at the image above, what do you see? Oh, did you notice that there is a tablet resting at the edge of the bathtub? I suppose that the lady who is smiling wistfully while looking at the Meopad AQUA waterproof tablet was thinking about how nice it would be to spend some time by an actual beach instead of just viewing it via a 7″ display at 1024 x 600 resolution. Ah well, at least if she is a klutz and knocks the Meopad AQUA into the bathtub by accident, all is not lost, since the Meopad AQUA is waterproof, conforming to the IP54 standards. Other hardware specifications of the Meopad AQUA waterproof tablet include a 5-megapixel camera at the back, a 1.3-megapixel shooter in front, a 1Seg TV tuner, a 1GHz processor to run proceedings from underneath the hood, 512MB RAM, 8GB of internal memory and a battery life of approximately half a dozen hours. Connectivity options include Wi-Fi, GPS, and Bluetooth, although we do wonder why is it still running on Android 2.3 Gingerbread instead of Ice cream Sandwich.

ASUS reportedly to release Transformer Pad 300 on April 22nd

The ASUS Transformer Pad 300 is getting closer to bringing its watered-down Prime flavor to store shelves, as PC Worldreports a spokesperson confirmed it will begin shipping April 22nd. What they could not confirm was the price, although there are preorders out there for $399 already. In case you've forgotten, the 300 brings the same Tegra 3 processor as the Prime, but matches it with a standard IPS display, optional LTE and only 16GB of built-in storage, as well as 10 hours of battery life. We'll let you know when we hear more, but for now feel free to pencil in a note on your Earth Day calendar entries.

Kindle Owners' Lending Library lets you borrow for free

Are you a voracious reader who happened to have made the leap over to the e-book world, so much so that you do not bother with physical paperbacks anymore? Well, good news for you then – it seems that 16 of the Top 100 best-selling paid Kindle books in the month of March were exclusive only to the Kindle Store, and is made available for Prime Members with a Kindle who can borrow it for free via the Kindle Owners' Lending Library. The 16 books in question will include only paid units, and will not consider borrowed or free units at all, where among them include Kindle Singles "An Unexpected Twist" by Andy Borowitz and "Bearded Lady" by Mara Altman, "Easily Amused" by Karen McQuestion, books 1-3 in Michael Wallace's Righteous Series, and independently-published books from T.R. Ragan and A.K. Alexander. As for other hugely popular Kindle-exclusive books, they are Kurt Vonnegut's new Kindle Single "Basic Training" and Stephen Covey's highly rated tome "The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People." Are you getting your reading kicks via a Kindle, or do you prefer an upcoming yet unannounced e-book reader to get the job done for you? [Press Release]

Asus PadFone officially priced, should be released in May

Asus' interesting PadFone, which combines a smartphone and a tablet into one device, will reportedly be available starting May. That's what ePrice says, mentioning that the PadFone will be first released in Taiwan, Asus' home country. The website has also unveiled the official price of the PadFone, which will ship with Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich. The smartphone itself costs 17,990 Taiwan dollars, meaning about 610 USD. If you want the tablet, too, you have to pay 24,980 Taiwan dollars (about 847 USD). Additionally, you can get a keyboard dock for an extra 100 USD. In Taiwan, pre-orders for the PadFone will start on April 6 (tomorrow).

Samsung Galaxy Tab 7.7 LTE gets teardown, gives literal best viewing angles

We have waxed lyrical about the Galaxy Tab 7.7's Super AMOLED Plus delights - twice. Color us not entirely shocked, then, to see that Samsung's proudly tore apart the Korean LTE variant for component-obsessed fans. Some Korea-only features include a DMB TV antenna just below the 1280 x 800 display, while a magnesium cover above that keeps the thickness and weight down. Conversely, however, the border of the rear cover was increased by 0.1mm to defend the touchpanel against scratches and ensure that the rear camera doesn't stick out too much.

Transformer Prime Gets Firmware Update

The Asus Eee Transformer Prime tablet which runs Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich just got a firmware update to maintain the tip top, high end tablet in tip top and high end shape. As we reported awhile back, Asus was teasing users with awesome new features that were going to be coming along with the update. Well the update has arrived so if you are yet to update your device do get it done. The update brings with it a few tweaks and the usual bug fixes and performance enhancements. But more than that, the company has provided new features such as the system bar lock which will be unavailable until set otherwise by the user. This bar lock will lock your screen effectively so users will no longer "accidentally" hit an icon and be transported out of whatever app is being used even if it would take a second of two to come back in. The second new feature is lock screen notifications, while the third is more music with an update for its @Vibe music service and an alleged better interface for the service. Also added is USB Ethernet which will allow Prime users to access networks with a wired connection requiring only a USB-to-Ethernet adapter. Besides that, is the ad hoc support for Ice Cream Sandwich and two new modes for the HDMI interface, crop and scale. If you own a Transformer Prime and have not updated it yet, please do it as soon as possible and see the changes for yourself.

ASUS PadFone launches mid-April in Taiwan for nearly $1,000 with accessories

When ASUS announced the PadFone at this year's Mobile World Congress, the company promised the hybrid device would begin shipping in April. Staying true to its world, ASUS on Thursday revealed that pre-orders will begin on Friday and the device will launch on April 20th in Taiwan, Engadget reported. The 4.3-inch Android-powered smartphone will be priced at NT$17,990 ($610) on its own and the dockable tablet and keyboard will cost roughly $240 and $130, respectively, bringing the PadFone's total cost with accessories to $980 in Taiwan. ASUS will also be offering an extra battery as a bonus to those who pre-order the device. The handset features a dual-core Qualcomm Snapdragon S4 processor, an Adreno 225 graphics processor and an 8-megapixel rear camera. The device also has the unique ability to dock inside a tablet shell that will deliver a 10.1-inch display, a tablet UI and a new range of functionality. The company has not announced further details regarding the PadFone's global availability.

BlackBerry PlayBook with '4G' out and about, wants to know where you put its SIM

Jim Balsillie might be on the outs, but it looks like his once boastful pet-project - a BlackBerry PlayBook with integrated cellular wireless - is finally coming to fruition. Per CrackBerry's forums comes the above snap of the Canadian slate donning a SIM card slot, nary a month after we first spotted the company's HSPA+ and LTE tablets pass through the FCC. That also lines up nicely with a previously leaked roadmap, promising a summer arrival. Will the mythical 4G-wielding PlayBook ever make it to market? Or like it's WiMax brother, will it never be given the chance?