Samsung will announce Windows 8 tablet next week

Korean electronics giant, Samsung has partnered with Microsoft to launch the first tablet running Windows 8 OS. This announcement should take place during Microsoft’s developers’ conference in California next week. Android tablets aren’t exactly flying off the shelves, which is primarily due to the limitations of Honeycomb. So, it makes sense to expand one's product base with a different OS, which is exactly what Samsung is trying to do. Who knows, maybe Windows 8 could be the next best thing after iOS in the tablet world.

We still don’t know anything about what the tablet will look like or its specifications, but I think it’s safe to assume it won’t be far off from their current offerings. With Apple harrowing Samsung at every turn with lawsuits, it’s not a bad idea to plan for the future. Being a Windows-based tablet, we should be able to expect certain things like a USB port, more than 1GB RAM and possibly HDMI. Samsung may just go with their Super AMOLED Plus screens like the ones used on the Note. The conference will be held from the 13th to the 16th of September, this year. So, I guess we wait till then for more news to pour in.

Source : Samsung will announce Windows 8 tablet next week

First Android Honeycomb 3.2 Tablet By Huawei

Manufacturer Huawei claims the title for the first Android Honeycomb 3.2 tablet, with its 7-inch MediaPad announced on Monday.The tablet runs version 3.2 of Google's Android operating system for tablets, which is essentially the same version found on Motorola's 10-inch tablet, but tailored to the 7-inch screen of the MediaPad.

The MediaPad is expected to ship in Q3 in the U.S., but Huaweit offers no availability date or pricing. The tablet runs on a 1.2GHz processor and Huawei claims you can squeeze out six hours of battery life, which is still around four hours less than market leader, Apple's iPad. Huawei's tablet will be more in line with HTC's Flyer tablet, which runs on non-tablet optimized version of Android.

The MediaPad is lighter than an iPad, coming in at 0.86 pounds, but it's slightly thicker at 0.4 inches, versus the iPad's 0.34-inches. Huawei's tablet also features dual cameras, one 5MP lens at the rear, which can record HD video (but no mention on whether it's 720p or 1080p), and a 1.3MP sensor on the front for self-portraits and video calls.

Along with 3G (HSPA+) and Wi-Fi support, the MediaPad can play 1080p videos and offers 8GB of internal storage, as well as microSD (up to 32GB) and HDMI slots. Huawei promises Flash Player 10.3 will be on board at launch, together with preloaded Facebook, Twitter, and Documents To Go apps, and the Let's Golf game.

When the MediaPad hits the U.S. shores this fall, the tablet will be likely sold though carriers at a subsidized price (but tied to a monthly data contract), as Engadget reports Huawei has no plans to release a Wi-Fi-only model of its Honeycomb 3.2 tablet.

Source : First Android Honeycomb 3.2 Tablet By Huawei

LG Optimus 3D

LG has grabbed attention of tech enthusiasts with its latest addition to the popular Optimus series of smartphones. The recently launched Optimus 2X can do nothing but weep at having lost its flagship status. The Optimus 3D is now the latest and greatest offering from the Korean company.  

According to the press release, the device boasts of a Tri-Dual configuration: dual-core, dual-channel, and dual-memory, that is. Of course, the most important aspect of the phone is its ability to deliver 3D stereoscopic content without the need for glasses. The display has a real-estate of 4.3", capable of 1080p output in 2D and up to 720p in 3D. The phone's software offers real-time conversion of 2D photos and videos into 3D. The phone is DLNA certified, and an HDMI port is also present. Although the press release doesn't give many details about the CPU and RAM, it is expected to be a dual-core 1 GHz ARM Cortex A9 processor, coupled with a PowerVR SGX540 GPU. The phone will also have a 3D augmented reality browser, developed in collaboration with Wikitude.

Looking at the hype surrounding 3D, this device will probably get a good response. Although the Galaxy S II from another Korean manufacturer packs in more power, the 3D gimmick may prove to be the decisive factor.The Optimus 3D will be available in Europe first, and then in more than 60 markets around the world over the next several weeks.

Source : LG Optimus 3D

Acer Reveals 24-inch Web Surf Station

Taiwan based multinational computer technology and electronics corporation Acer announced the DX241H Web Surf Station. It is a 24-inch high-definition monitor that allows users to surf the net, access multimedia content and can be operated without the need of being connected to a PC by using its own operating system and web browser.

Acer says that is the first monitor that lets you surf the web and enjoy your multimedia with no need of a computer!

Using Acer’s Clear.fi technology which is a wireless home network solution which is included on Acer laptops, phones, etc., the DX241H Web Surf Station can play and share music, videos and photos with other devices.

The Web Surf Station can be connected wirelessly using DLNA and it is also fitted with a card reader as well as USB, LAN, VGA, and HDMI ports.  This 24-inch monitor has a full HD 1920 x 1080 resolution, plays 1080p hi-def videos, 16:9 aspect ratio and 80,00:1 contrast ratio.

No further information is available on its operating system and its ability to install applications.

The DX241H Web Surf Station will be available in May in the UK for £299. Acer has not yet announced the date of availability in India but as soon as they do we will let you know.

Source : Acer Reveals 24-inch Web Surf Station

Asus Eee Pad Transformer Tablet Launched

Asus has introduced a new Eee Pad Transformer tablet with a full size Mobile Docking Station that allows it to be used as a notebook. New Asus Transformer tablet runs the Google Android 3.0 Honeycomb update with Asus' new MyWave User Interface on the top of it. Housing a 1GHz Nvidia Tegra 2 processor, the Transformer tablet has a 10.1-inch touchscreen display, dual-cameras and an HDMI out. The company noted that the tablet would be available in 16GB and 32GB storage capacities for a price range of $400-$700 approximately.

Asus Eee Pad Transformer tablet has 10.1-inch IPS panel-based Corning Gorilla Glass capacitive touchscreen that supports 1280x800 pixel resolution. Its big touchscreen is capable of full 1080p HD playback and also has Adobe Flash Player 10.1 support (one can update with Flash Player 10.2 once product is made available officially). The most important feature of the Transformer tablet is that it houses 1GHz Nvidia Tegra 2 processor and 1GB RAM that will not only power the tablet but will also ensure smooth full HD playback.

At the back panel lies a 5-megapixel camera with auto-focus and a 1.2 megapixel at the front usable for the video chat. Other features of the Transformer tablet include Wireless-N and Bluetooth support for wireless connectivity. For physical connectivity, the tablet offers USB port, built-in card reader and HDMI out port. Google Android 3.0 Honeycomb running Transformer features Asus MyWave UI layered on top of it and has WaveShare network media sharing system along with other features. 

Transformer also includes Gravity Sensor, Ambient Light Sensor, E-Compass, Gyroscope and GPS for location based services.

Asus offers an optional Mobile Docking Station which is basically a full QWERTY keyboard to be connected with the tablet. The QWERTY keyboard has Android function keys. Apparently, this mobile docking station is claimed of extending the battery life of the tablet to up to 16 hours. Otherwise, the standalone tablet offers up to 9.5 hours of battery life which is as much as that of the recent Eee PC netbooks.

Long battery life is an important feature and the Apple iPad 2 offers 10 hours of battery life. But what the tablet does with mobile docking station is exceptional - access and control the PC as well as Mac systems using MyCloud feature.

The new Asus Eee Pad Transformer joins the league of Android tablets - Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1 and Motorola XOOM. Quite interesting. Now, we'll have wait to see whether Asus makes this tablet available globally soon.

Click here to view Asus Eee Pad Transformer Tablet specifications.

 

Source : Asus Eee Pad Transformer Tablet Launched

Xperia X10 to get Gingerbread Update

In a sudden change of heart, Sony Ericsson has decided to listen to the pleas of thousands of Xperia X10 owners and provide them with the Android Gingerbread that they have been yearning for. The update will be pushed to their phones by end of Q2/start of Q3 this year and will be the latest 2.3.3 update. The software will be similar to what Sony Ericsson will be offering on their newer Android phones, the Xperia Arc, Neo, Pro and Play, except for those features for which there is no hardware support on the X10, such as HDMI-out. 

As for the Xperia X10 mini, X10 mini pro and X8, Sony Ericsson has given a solid "No" regarding their upgradability to Google's latest mobile operating system. As for X10, this is going to be the final update that the handset will receive in its lifetime. And this time, it seems they are serious. Just like last time.

Source : Xperia X10 to get Gingerbread Update

HTC Introduces the Evo View 4G Tablet

HTC brings a version of its HTC Flyer Tablet stateside, calling it the HTC Evo View 4G. The7-inch tablet was introduced at last month's Mobile World Congress, but at the time, HTC didn't supply U.S. launch plans. Sprint's unveiling today pulls that curtain back; we now know we'll see the Evo View 4G this summer, same time frame as the HTC Evo 3D, also introduced today.

The Evo View 4G runs a tablet-optimized version of HTC's Sense interface, on top of Android 2.3. Sprint says the operating system will be upgraded at some point in the future to Android 3.0 (Honeycomb). The tablet also has a 1.5GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon processor, 1GB of RAM, 32GB of internal memory, a microSD card slot, dual cameras (5-megapixels rear facing and 1.3-megapixels front-facing). And it will be able to play Adobe Flash.

The display's resolution is 1024-by-600 pixels; and, it supports pen input using HTC's Scribe pen. The digital pen accessory comes with the tablet, and lets you capture notations digitally--for example, highlight a passage or sign a document--and on audio.

Like the Evo 3D, the Evo View 4G has HDMI output and DLNA support. Plus, the tablet can serve as a mobile hotspot for up to eight Wi-Fi-enabled devices; competing tablets typically support just five Wi-Fi devices.

Source : HTC Evo View 4G Tablet