Samsung promises 4G Android tablet later this year

Current generation Galaxy tablets 8.9-inch and 10.1-inch continue to remain absent from retail chains.

Following the success of its Galaxy S and Galaxy S II smartphones, Samsung is now eying an Android tablet supporting fourth generation network technology.

Samsung's mobile division president JK Shin has hinted that the tablet will be released later this year. 

"The race for 4G (fourth-generation) has already started," Shin said in an interview with the Wall Street Journal.

Windows 8 tablet version demo possible next week

Microsoft has made statements in the past which suggest it is working on ARM SOC (system-on-a-chip) compatible Windows 8, but it has not commented over reports of possible demo next week.

Microsoft may demonstrate its Windows 8 tablet user interface in June, according to a report. 

The details of the new UI are expected to be announced by the company in near future.

The tablet UI is likely to use ideas from the now famous Metro user interface of Windows Phone 7. The touchscreen interface will likely to be shown on hardware with NVIDIA Tegra chip based on ARM's technology. Microsoft had earlier also made it clear the Windows 8 would support all the architectures — Intel, AMD and ARM. 

Attractive pricing for Amazon tablets

With the cloud music player and Amazon AppStore already in place, it is only a matter of time before tablets too join the mix. If reported prices are correct, the iPad has some serious competition.

Amazon, the online retail giant, plans to launch a range of tablet PCs for about half the current price of Apple's iPad, which is ruling the roost in the segment. 

According to PC Mag report, the 7 inch Amazon tablet (code named Coyote) will be priced at $350 (about Rs 16,000); whereas the 10 inch tablet (called Hollywood) will cost $450 (about Rs 20,000). The models with higher storage are expected to be more expensive. 

Intel's Oak Trail tablets to be unveiled

There are several companies getting ready with their Oak Trail processor based tablets, and these include Acer, Asus and MSI; but most of the tablets first off the mark will be from Chinese companies.

Tablet PCs based on Intel's Oak Trail processor are likely to be displayed next week in the Computex Trade Show in Taipei. 

The name of the processor, Oak Trail, is actually a code name for the Intel Atom Z670 processor designed for tablets. The ARM based processors have grabbed large market share among mobile devices. 

ASUS may unveil tablet-smartphone hybrid device

After the 10.1 inch Transformer tablet, ASUS might just have a smaller tablet under wraps, which it is set to unveil during Computex 2011.

Taiwan-based ASUS technologies may soon launch a device that would bridge the gap between the non pocket friendly bigger tablets and smaller sized smartphones. 

The company recently started a teaser campaign for the launch of the device during Computex 2011,which will start on May 31 and continue till June 4. The device has not yet been categorised in the advertisement, which asks "Is it a pad or a phone?" 

Toshiba to launch its new Android Tablet shortly

Toshiba is going to launch an Android 3.0 and 1 GHz Dual core Tegra 2 powered, 10.1 inch tablet soon. India launch date not yet clear.

Toshiba is all set to launch an Android 3.0 powered tablet which has now been named 'Thrive'. The tablet boasts off a 1GHz Dual core Tegra 2 processor, WiFi, Bluetooth 3.0 and 10.1 inch capacitive touch screen with 1280 x 800 native resolution. 

Logitech introduces tablet keyboard

All the accessories such as keyboard, mouse and speakers connect with the tablet via Bluetooth, but it tends to turn back the clock in time.

Logitech, a well known name for PC accessories, has now introduced tablet keyboards for both Android and Apple tablets. 

The iPad2 keyboard acts as a cover for the tablet. The Bluetooth keyboard also helps users make text entries into the iPad. The keyboard cover for iPad from Logitech is available for $99.99 (about Rs 4,500) on pre-order. 

Fujitsu to launch 7 inch Android tablet

After 10 inch Windows 7 based tablet, Fujitsu will be launching a 7 inch Google Android based tablet soon.

While the world is still rejoicing the launch of Lifebook TH40/D Windows 7 based tablet, its maker Fujitsu is all set to launch another tablet but only this time they have Google Android in their mind as its operating system.

As reported by Digitimes, the company is set to announce the launch of its Google Android based tablet but will be launching it sometime in the month of August this year. 

Amazon to launch two tablets this year: Report

Most of the other Android tablets haven't done too well in the market, so it will be interesting to see how Amazon challenges the domination of Apple's iPad.

Amazon, the maker of Kindle e-book reader, is all set to come out with two tablet PCs this year, according to a report.

The Amazon tablets are codenamed Coyote and Hollywood. Coyote is expected to be an entry level device; while Hollywood will have a quad core processor that can perform five times faster than Coyote's dual core Tegra 2 chipset.

At a time when other Android tablet manufacturers have not seen substantial success, it remains to be seen how Amazon tablets will perform in the market.

RIM recalls 1,000 PlayBooks

It was reported there were 935 PlayBook tablets with the flaw in their operating system. Some users reported they couldn't complete the user agreement screen also, which meant they couldn't operate the device also.

About 1000 PlayBook tablets have been recalled by Research In Motion (RIM) due to a flaw in the operating system. The flaws had the potential to pose problems to users during the initial set up, reported the technology blog Engadget.

The affected devices had not even reached customers as they were still with the distributors. 

The news may affect RIM negatively and comes close on the heels of less than expected sales of BlackBerry handsets. The company believes the new products will lead to a turnaround in its sales. 

Samsung rolls out Gingerbread upgrade

Galaxy Tab and Galaxy smartphone users can now upgrade to Android 2.3 as Samsung announces Android Gingerbread upgrade for various devices.

Samsung Electronics has officially announced that its Galaxy Tab and other Galaxy smartphones will soon start getting Android Gingerbread upgrades. The devices chosen for the upgrade are not few and include Samsung Galaxy S, Galaxy Tab, and Galaxy Ace, Gio, Fit and mini smartphones.

The upgrade, from Android Froyo (Frozen Yoghurt) 2.2 to Android Gingerbread 2.3, will offer users faster performance with a low CPU consumption rate, while supporting powerful 3D Graphics for enhanced mobile gaming.

Spice to launch tablet PCs in July

Spice had earlier announced that it plans to offer affordable Android devices to Indian consumers to surf the net, and Android handsets between Rs 5,000 to Rs 10,000.

To capitalise on the Android and tablet wave, Spice will launch three tablets based on Android 2.3 operating system in India in July this year.

Dilip Modi, managing director of Spice Mobility, told 'The Mobile Indian', "We will launch 7, 9 and 10 inch tablets based on Gingerbread in mid-July and they will be available for less than Rs 20,000."

The upcoming 7 inch tablet, to be called Spice Mi-700, will have dual cameras for video calling and will be powered by a Qualcomm chipset.

Samsung unveils foldable displays

The new foldable displays help reduce size of the gadgets and shows no sign of damage even after opening and closing for 100,000 times.

Samsung has created a new foldable touchscreen displays that would allow the smartphone to have a tablet like bigger screen without sullying your view with creases. 

Advanced Institute of technology research at Samsung Korea has revealed the prototype of a device with a folding touchscreen display.  With the folded screens, a smaller phone that used to house a 3.5 inch display would be able to house a double size screen. As reported by physorg.com, these displays have been tested for over 1 lakh folding cycles and after that they show a difference of 6 per cent when compared to new screens. 

Stay tuned for Amazon tablet, says its CEO

The company has come a long way, since its first version of Kindle e-book reader. Amazon has reportedly placed an order for tablet PC from Quanta Computer, according to a Taiwanese website.

Amazon, which makes the Kindle e-book reader, has hinted that it may come out with a tablet computer soon. 

"Stay tuned," said the company's president and chief executive officer, Jeff Bezos, when asked about the possibility of an Amazon tablet. He made the statement at the headquarters of Consumer Reports during an interview. 

Amazon sold its first Kindle e-book reader within five hours of its release though it was the first of its kind device and was a completely new technology at that time for the users. Amazon later brought an advertisement supported Kindle. The company is also entering the cloud music business. 

RIM extends Playbook tablets warranty to two years

RIM launches special warranty plans for Blackberry playbook users that includes protection against accidents and user mishandling also.

Research In Motion, the makers of BlackBerry, has announced newer warranty plans for its Playbook tablet computer, extending it to two years from the current one year term. 

Earlier, Playbook buyers were given only 90 days of technical support and one year of limited hardware support.

With this new plan, they can have two years of technical support and hardware warranty, which not only provides additional protection against manufacturing defects but also covers accidental damages such as screen breaks too. 

The plan, however, is optional and is available only for the United States and Canada users, who are required to pay $129 (Rs 6,000 approximately) to avail this service.

With the tentative launch of the BlackBerry Playbook in India scheduled in the month of June sometime, it is highly expected that RIM will also extend the warranty plans for the Indian users as well.

Redd Mobility to bring Android phones and tablets

Redd Mobility, a new player in the handset market, will release an Android smartphone based on version 2.3, and a 7 inch tablet that uses Android 2.2.

India's crowded handset market recently got a new entrant called Redd Mobility, which is planning to launch a dual SIM Android 2.3 based smartphone and a 7 inch Android 2.2 tablet PC in the second week of June.

The company claims to have very aggressive plans for the Indian market. It has recently launched products in Rajasthan and is planning to launch products in Delhi and Gujarat in the last week of May.

"We will launch circle by circle in a very focused manner. We don't want to do a pan India launch till we are fully prepared," Arvind Balagopalan, director of marketing at Redd Communications told 'The Mobile Indian'.

Twitter mobile web app gets makeover

Users of those devices, which haven't received their official Twitter app yet, can use this application. It will be rolled out gradually to iPod Touch, iPhone and Android users but more devices will soon get the new version of this app.

Those, who haven't been through the Twitter mobile web application, recently, are in for a treat. The micro blogging service has decided to launch a new web app for mobile devices for better user experience. 

The new app borrows some aspects from its iOS and Android counterparts. The navigation bar can be found at the top of the window. The new design also allows the users to read their feed and messages at the top, where they can also search and access profiles. 

The web app uses the HTML5 extensively and scales up easily for tablets too. 

Online music service from Google

The service would allow the users to upload their music collection to the Google server and play it from any Android phone, compatible smartphone apps or even personal computer browsers.

Google is all set to unveil its online music service, similar to the Amazon's service that was launched in March, today. According to the Wall Street Journal, the service will work more like digital music locker. 

Users would be able to upload their music collection to the Google server and play it from any Android phone, compatible smartphone apps or even personal computer browsers. Users would, however, only be able to stream the music as Google would not allow downloads to curb music piracy.

Since both Google and Amazon haven't received licenses from major record labels, they would not be able to give users access to music stored in company servers. Apple is already talking to the record labels for getting required licenses to provide music services.

From outside, it appears Google would like to launch its music service before Apple. 

WiFi Only Galaxy Tab 7″ hardware differs from 3G model

This looks like nothing but bad news, according to some pretty unhappy users over at the XDA forums it looks like the WiFi-Only Samsung Galaxy Tab (original 7″ model) has been downgraded on more than just a few things. It is much less than just a Galaxy Tab with no 3G radio inside. This has nothing to do with the upcoming 8.9″ or 10″ but it is disturbing news either way. Users are reporting it to have different hardware inside all together, with Samsung never mentioning this that is not cool. Weaker GPU that performs much worse in gaming, video playback taking a huge hit with that as well, even lack of HDMI features and more.

If you look at that 3rd line from the bottom in the picture above you will see PowerVR SGX530 listed as the graphics processor. The original Galaxy Tab and all Galaxy S phones came with the Samsung Hummingbird CPU that had a PowerVR SGX540 GPU. Why does this matter, the SGX530 is much, much weaker. You will have slower, and worse gaming performance as well as video playback suffering. YouTube content in HD struggles, but was smooth before. This is all because the weaker GPU. All Galaxy S phones have a lower resolution with a better CPU/GPU so video playback and games rock, but the Galaxy Tab resolution is 1024×600, much larger with a weaker GPU. Some users reported anything in YouTube above 480p struggled.

Waiting for Android

Android 3.0 isn't the first version of Google's mobile operating system to power a tablet -- but it is the first designed specifically for the larger hand-held devices. It's also the version intended to directly challenge Apple's dominance in the tablet space. That's a tall order for version 3. Earlier this year, I saw a lot of potential for Android version 2.2 running on the Samsung Galaxy Tab, but I also saw flaws and disappointed expectations for mobile lawyers.

To cut to the chase: Android 3 still carries the potential to challenge Apple's iOS, but there are still flaws and disappointments.

Google's Android 3.0 is now available on just one tablet, the Motorola Mobility Xoom, which is available from only one wireless carrier: Verizon. The Xoom is an expensive looking device that is, alas, priced accordingly: $800 for a 32GB 3G/Wi-Fi version; $600 if you're willing to commit to a 2-year service contract or settle for a Wi-Fi version.