10 inch BlackBerry Playbook image leak in Vietnam

Original Posted by Mat Smith

The last we heard, all notions of a 10-inch PlayBook had been shelved, with rumors suggesting that RIM wanted to concentrate on its BB10 plans and next-gen smartphones instead. However, we've just received these images from Tinthe, showing off something that looks very much like the bigger BlackBerry slab. A handful of photos, comparing the tablet to the existing 7-incher and an iPad, were sent in by forum member quang3g, who appears to be involved in BlackBerry sales.
Looks-wise, the hardware's largely unchanged, aside from the bigger footprint and a screen ratio that appears closer to the iPad competition, rather than the widescreen shape that arrived on RIM's first tablet. According to the brief teardown shot, there's a potent 7,250 mAh battery housed in the still-slim 10-inch frame, while it's worth noting that the tablet also includes a SIM holder and cellular radio -- though there's not enough meat here to discern whether it deals in 4G or 3G (HSPA+) radio waves. While we wait for the official word on the existence (or cancellation) of this flavor of PlayBook, you can take a skeptical sideways glance at several more pictures of the tablet at the source below.

Source: ( engadget )

Intel Studybook for a more interactive education

By Eric Grevstad

According to Intel, there are more than 7 million of its Classmate PC devices in students' hands, with an ecosystem of more than 500 hardware and software partners in 70 countries backing up the chipmaker's reference designs for computers built for 1:1 e-learning.
The Intel Learning Series initiative already encompasses clamshell (netbook) and convertible form factors. Today the company added the Intel Studybook—a 7-inch tablet meant to sell for $199 to $299.
The device features a 1,024-by-600 pixel capacitive touch screen and Windows 7 or Android 3.0 "Honeycomb"—the former to come first, with the latter arriving by midsummer for school districts' September shopping. The Studybook (or studybook, to use Intel's capitalization) is constructed from a single piece of plastic designed to resist liquid spills and survive drops from the average student desk (actually, 70 cm onto concrete).

 

Intel's 1.2-GHz Atom Z650 "Oak Trail" processor is inside, along with 1GB of RAM and a 4GB solid-state drive (2GB of memory and up to a 32GB SSD are optional) plus 802.11b/g/n Wi-Fi. Front- and rear-facing cameras, 0.3 and 1.3 megapixels respectively, are joined by ports hidden behind rubber gaskets on either end of the tablet, including one USB 2.0 port, a mini SD card slot, and optional mini HDMI video out and 3G with SIM card. In addition to the HDMI, for connecting a tablet to a monitor at the front of the classroom, instructors get new Teacher PC specifications for manufacturers to build laptops and ultrabooks optimized for use with the Classmate PC program.
The Studybook's special software stack will include an e-reader; note-taking and drawing apps; digital textbooks from Kno.com that support Web links and student annotations; interactive virtual labs from Adaptive Curriculum; and a LabCam suite that lets the tablet serve as a digital microscope (with a magnifier snapped over the rear lens), time-lapse and motion cam for monitoring events in or objects entering the frame, and motion tracker for studying kinematics.

In our brief time with an Android Studybook, the ruggedized tablet felt a tad heavy at 1.2 pounds but the screen was bright and sharp, with black bezels leaving ample room for young thumbs. Loading and switching among apps felt sufficiently snappy, and sound through the tablet's speaker was clear if a bit tinny. We anticipate kids prying the gaskets or port covers off the device.
Intel showed a proof-of-concept 7-inch Classmate tablet at IDF in September 2011, but said at the time it didn't see demand for a device lacking a keyboard. Today, says Dr. Wayne Grant, director of research and planning for Intel's Education Market Platforms Group, "the ecosystem is moving to touch [and] gesture software....It's a Gutenberg 2 time." As with the keyboarded Classmates, the Studybook will not be manufactured by Intel but by licensees who will distribute it to local OEMs, ranging from the likes of Lenovo to smaller scholastic specialists such as CTL Corp.

Source: ( pcmag.com )

Nokia Asha 305, 306 and 311 Touch phones

Original posted by John McCann

Nokia has branched out and begun aiming full touchscreen feature phones at the budget and emerging
 markets.
Although Nokia is struggling to gain a decent market share in the smartphone industry, it's still number one when it comes to feature phones, and this new range looks to close the gap between the two sectors.
Nokia said: "These latest phones have been designed to provide an incredibly rich, smartphone-like experience to consumers who want to be set free from excessive data consumption costs and short battery life."
MeeGo anyone?
The three handsets run Nokia's home-brewed Series 40 operating system, which takes design cues from the ill-fated MeeGo OS which made a brief cameo on handsets such as the Nokia N9.
We saw leaks of the Nokia Asha 311 back in May – sporting that MeeGo-esque user interface and we now know that it will have a single-core 1GHz processor, 3-inch (320 x 240) screen, 3.5G network connectivity, microSD card slot and a 3.2MP camera with QVGA video recording.
The Asha 305 and Asha 306 are identical, apart from the 305 offering dual-SIM capabilities. They pack a 3-inch (400 x 240) display, 2G network connectivity, microSD card slot and a 2MP camera with QVGA video recording.
Cheap and cheerful
Ok, so specification-wise the trio are underwhelming, but these feature phones do have two big plus points: battery life and price.
Nokia reckons the 1,110mAh battery in the Asha 311 will offer up a whopping 781 hours of 3G standby time and 4.5 hours of 3G talk time, while the 305 and 306 handsets offer 528 and 600 hours of standby respectively.
Then comes the cost – Nokia has slapped the low, low price of €63 (around £50) on the Asha 305, which is expected to ship sometime in the second quarter of this year, while the Asha 306 and Asha 311 will roll out in the third quarter, flaunting tags of €68 (around £55) and €92 (around £75).
Nokia was unable to confirm if any of these handsets would make it to UK shores, but if they do, they could be the perfect devices for first-time users, or as backup handsets.

source: ( techradar.com )

Huawei MediaPad, small tablet, big options

Original posted by Siti Syameen Md Khalili

Huawei MediaPad is for those who want a super-portable Android slate but still value a sleek product design, writes Siti Syameen Md Khalili

HUAWEI has come up with an interesting tablet option, the MediaPad 7-inch.

The 7 inch device features Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich (ICS) operating system, 1.2GHz Dual Core processor from Qualcomm and HSPA+ network support. It offers speed in delivering data and fluidity in its interface. At the same time, its 7-inch screen, which sits in a wide-bezelled unibody form factor, is comfortable to interact with.

SOLID FEEL

It is heavier than it looks but solid nonetheless. Inspired by the hourglass shape, the design of the MediaPad 7-inch seems seriously sleek with premium aluminium grey finishing. This makes the two plasticky black accents at the back a little out of place. The buttons are sleek and easily accessible but the ports on its sides would have added finesse if they had come with matching aluminium lids.

One of the black covers is a removable lid that you can take out to reveal two slots - one for a standard-sized SIM card and the other for a microSD card. The model can use microSD cards with capacities up to 32GB to complement its 8GB internal memory. You may as well invest in memory expansion because even though 8GB is built-in, with the factory settings, the remaining capacity is only 5.8GB.

The unit boots up fast enough, powered by the combo of a 1.2GHz processor and the Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich. The screen is sharp but at times the highly glossed panel ends up reflecting more of you.

To get around this, just tap your way into the settings and set the brightness level to maximum to ensure decent viewing.

HD VIDEO

Not many apps come pre-installed, but the ones that come with the default package include productivity tools, social network clients as well as a couple of games. It is cool that you can download lots of apps to go with preloaded personal information management and document authoring software but do note that gaming as well as using GPS or AGPS tools heat up the MediaPad if your session goes beyond 30 minutes. (Finally, the plastic parts on the back panel makes more sense now in that they keep the heat away.)

The front and rear cameras are great additions. In terms of quality, the photos captured at highest quality (5MP) came out all right even when transferred to bigger screens such as a monitor or TV, but the video recording is not as satisfactory. You can quickly share your files via YouTube, Picasa, Facebook, Gmail or send them via email or Bluetooth.

Besides having ICS, the real plus point to this tablet is its ability to support High Definition video playback and output. It also supports Flash 10.3+. It plays 1080p videos easily on Real Player.

To complement the great graphics, the MediaPad comes equipped with stereo speakers as well as support for SRS sound standards.

source: ( gadget.emedia.com )

Next Apple flagship iPhone 5?

The new iPhone 5 / next iPhone is hitting it big in the news again. The next-gen iPhone will, undoubtedly, create some new buzz and stir amongst the tech community and the mobile phone industry until it finally launch, supposedly sometime in September or October of this year.
Today, the technology section of the Wall Street Journal publishes an article about the next iPhone having a thinner screen with the use of in-cell technology and OLED screen display. Of course, that's news....question is...is it truly considered a "new" news for the upcoming new iPhone version to possibly have those aforementioned features?
A leading technology and gadgets news site had previously reported last month about the very possible new features and specs of the next iPhone. In that report, that site mentioned something about the possible use of In-Cell Technology, and the possible body measurements of the next iPhone, which is actually thinner than the current iPhone version. In May of this year, that site also reported the possible use of the OLED screen technology for the next iPhone. You may want to read the super spicy and very interesting article reports of that site pertaining those subjects here and here and here.

Bottom line is, most people, especially avid iPhone fans, as well as the whole mobile phone industry, are all excited to know what new features and specs Apple is going to come up with on the next iPhone. That said, I'll share with you and let you know of some real "fresh news" in my particular topic niche, including the next iPhone, whenever I can, promise. Please feel free to share my articles to all your family and friends who likes to keep abreast with the world's ever-changing technology and gadgetry stuff

Source : ( examiner.com )

Nexus 7 now available at Google Play Store

Original posted by Eric Abent

Itching to get your hands on the Google Nexus 7? The highly sought-after tablet is now listed as “in stock” at the Google Play Store, with orders shipping out immediately. Previously, the Google Play listing for the Nexus 7 said that shipping would take 1-2 weeks. However, be warned that this “in stock” status only applies to the $199 8GB model, as Google seems to be running low on 16GB models – the listing for those has been updated as well, but now the 16GB model has an estimated delivery of 3-4 weeks. Ouch.

It could be that Google was expecting the 8GB model to be the more popular of the pair. With a pretty attractive price point of $199, that logic doesn’t seem like it would be too far off the mark, but it looks as if Google was mistaken. Then again, it’s also possible that Google made a significant number of 16GB Nexus 7s, but it turned out that the 16GB model was incredibly popular consumers and now Google is struggling to keep up with demand.

Whatever the reason, Google now has Nexus 7s ready to ship to your door, so long as you don’t mind ordering the 8GB model. If you do mind, Android Community suggests looking at brick and mortar retail stores like GameStop and Staples. It’s possible that they’ll have a few 16GB tablets on hand, but don’t get your hopes up – it’s very likely that the 16GB Nexus 7 is in short supply throughout the country, not just at the Google Play Store.

Source: ( slashgear.com )

Microsoft Surface Windows 8/RT tablets unveiled: specs, features, release date and pricing

Original posted by Chris Smith on Jun 18, 2012

Microsoft on Monday unveiled its first tablets ever, a Windows 8 and a Windows RT machine that are both going to be known henceforward as Microsoft Surface. The name seems awfully familiar not only because an earlier report suggested the product will be called Xbox Surface, but also because the company has coined the “Surface” term long ago, although at the time it described a touch-based product that was about the same size of a tablet.
We have recently wondered what operating system the new Microsoft tablet will run, as some sources suggested the device may not be a Windows RT / Windows 8 product since it’s too early in the game to unveil such a device – Windows 8 is expected to become official at some point this fall, with the first Windows 8 tablets manufactured by third party OEMs to hit stores by Christmas or thereafter. But Microsoft made it clear from the start of the media event, the Surface is a Windows-based product.

Surface appears to be a new flagship device for Mircrosoft, a company best known for its software dominance in the PC operating system business, but also for its console gaming hardware such as the popular Xbox and the Kinect. But more importantly, the Surface is Microsoft’s own Nexus-like device, a tablet meant to show the world, and Microsoft’s Windows 8 PC-making partners, how Windows on a tablet should look and feel like.
Surface also appears to be a high-end tablet meant to compete directly against the iPad and the most important Android tablets out there from various manufacturers, unlike the Google Nexus 7 that’s supposed to be a very affordable device meant to take on directly the unexpectedly popular (at least for Google and its Android tablet-making partners) Amazon Kindle Fire.
With that in mind, let’s take a look at the main characteristics of the device, its release dates and pricing.

Spec and Features

Here are the main specs and features of the two Surface kinds, Surface for Windows RT and Surface for Windows 8 Pro:

Surface for Windows RT

• OS: Windows RT
• Light: 676 g
• Thin: 9.3 mm
• Clear: 10.6-inch ClearType HD Display with 16:9 aspect ratio. Corning Gorilla Glass 2 technology also included.
• Processor: ARM-based by NVIDIA
• Energized: 31.5 W-h battery
• Connected: microSD, USB 2.0, Micro HD Video, 2×2 MIMO antennae
• Productive: Office ‘15’ Apps, Touch Cover, Type Cover
• Practical: VaporMg Case & Stand, edges angled at 22 degrees
• Configurable: 32 GB, 64 GB

Surface for Windows 8 Pro

• OS: Windows 8 Pro
• Light: 903 g
• Thin: 13.5 mm
• Clear: 10.6-inch ClearType HD Display with 16:9 aspect ratio. Corning Gorilla Glass 2 technology also included.
• Processor: Intel Core Ivy Bridge
• Energized: 42 W-h battery
• Connected: microSDXC, USB 3.0, Mini DisplayPort Video, 2×2 MIMO antennae
• Productive: Touch Cover, Type Cover, Pen with Palm Block
• Practical: VaporMg Case & Stand, edges angled at 22 degrees
• Configurable: 64 GB, 128 GB

Accessories

• Built-in stand – 0.7mm thick (comes with any Surface)
• Surface Touch Cover – 0.3 mm thick full multitouch keyboard dock that also acts as a magnetic cover, with trackpad included
• Surface Type Cover – similar to Touch Cover but slightly bigger at 0.5mm, it’s a keyboard with actual keys and trackpad buttons
• Pen with Palm Book – a pen that magnetizes to the body of the Surface to offer digital ink support

Microsoft’s execs demoed the product on stage emphasizing its most important features and the design challenges they had to go through to produce this tablet. The device looks, at least on paper, and in the images and video the company showed, like a worthy iPad rival, and certainly a tablet that could become a tough Android tablet competitor in the months to come. But on the other hand, and most importantly, the Surface may become a Windows RT / Windows 8 tablet competitor and therefore cannibalize on sales from Windows partners, something that may not necessarily suit the needs of the company.
Unlike Windows Phones, which are yet to become a worthy third player in the smartphone business, Windows 8 may become a lot more popular as a tablet OS. The only thing we don’t know at this point is how reliable the new software will be on tablets, and wether users will enjoy a Metro UI-based Windows 8 tablet as much as they appreciate other tablet designs.

Release Date and Pricing

The Surface, while interesting enough for tablet fans, will not be available in stores for quite a while now. The company revealed that it took a lot of time to design it – we kind of appreciate the fact that the device was not leaked in the past months – and it will take a lot of time to see it in stores. Unfortunately Microsoft is not ready yet to share actual launch details and pricing details for the Surface at this time, but the execs mentioned more than once the fact that the device will be priced quite competitively, or better said, the two Surface versions, ARM-based and Intel-based, will each come with competitive prices compared to their direct rivals.
The ARM model is said “to be competitive with a comparable ARM tablet” and it will be available in store at the same time Windows 8 launches. The Intel model will be a bit more expensive with a price comparable to Ultrabook-class PCs, which are generally more expensive than traditional laptops. The Intel model will also be available only later down the road, around 90 days after the ARM-based Surface hits stores. If I’m reading correctly between the lines the Windows RT will be the really affordable version, but then again if you want Office 15 and other perks the Windows 8 Pro model will offer then you’ll have to be ready to shell out more dollars for it.

With that in mind, it’s probably safe to say that this winter we’ll have quite a lot of tablets fighting for the cash of the consumer including the iPad, the iPad mini (if certain rumors are to be believed), the Google Nexus 7, the Amazon Kindle Fires (more than one model, again if certain rumors are to be believed), various flagship Android tablets from important Android makers, the Microsoft Surface models, and various other Windows-based tablets coming from other OEMs.

Source: ( androidauthority.com )

Sony Xperia Go, dust and water resistance

 Original posted by Alan F

The Sony Xperia go is not your high-end handset. Take for example the 3.5 inch display offering resolution of 320 x 480 and a low pixel density of 165 ppi. Or even the dual-core 1GHz ST-Ericsson NovaThor U8500 CPU with an ARM Mali-400 GPU and the 512MB of RAM on board. Even the pinstriped suits at the FCC could see that this was more of a low to mid-range model even with the water and dust resistant build and the scratch resistant screen. Instead, they probably noticed the 5MP camera that captures video in 720p, and the 4GB of native storage. Android 2.3 is installed out of the box.

While we have no idea when this phone is going to launch, it did visit the FCC, which is often the signal of an impending (although not imminent) release. While the model of the Sony Xperia go examined by the Feds is the international variant and can run on GSM and EDGE with U.S. carriers, the 900MHz and 2100MHz bands supported by the unit spell out overseas 3G connectivity.

Source: ( phonearena.com )

Samsung reveals Galaxy Chat with full QWERTY and Android 4.0

By Louis Goddard

A leak yesterday has forced Samsung into officially announcing the Galaxy Chat, a smartphone that combines a full QWERTY keyboard with Android 4.0. The device joins a select band of phones which provide the pairing, including the Sony Ericsson Xperia Pro and the upcoming LG LS860. It also resembles Palm's Pixi device, released back in 2009.
Samsung's announcement confirms specs shown on the Chinese government's certification site, including a disappointingly small 3-inch QVGA (320 x 240) touchscreen. The device offers 4GB of internal memory with a microSD slot for upgrades, along with a 2-megapixel rear-facing camera and a 1200 mAh battery. Clearly targeting the budget end of the Android market, the Galaxy Chat will make its debut in Spain later this month, before being rolled out more widely to "Europe, Latin America, Middle East, China, Southeast Asia, and Southwest Asia."

It's an odd design, but one which may strike a chord with some buyers, particularly BlackBerry fans looking to move away from RIM's ailing platform. Samsung is certainly pushing its proprietary BBM alternative ChatON, giving the app a dedicated launch button on the Galaxy Chat.

Source ( theverge.com )

The new 7' iPad mini ?

The new Apple iPad 3 is barely out of its pristinely white box but already a flurry of rumours have hit the web, hinting at the launch of a new miniature version of Apple’s latest slate.
According to reports, the world's most valuable company is expected to release an iPad Mini to fend off stiff competition from rivals Amazon, who successfully entered the tablet fray last year with the Amazon Kindle Fire.
But how much truth is behind the headlines and what exactly can we expect to see from the compact device? We’ve rummaged through the rumours and ‘trusted source’ quotes to find out

The new iPad Mini release date

Update: Analyst Brian White from Topeka Capital Markets has added further fuel to the iPad Mini rumour fire with claims that the device could arrive alongside the rumoured iPhone 5 in September.
He said: "Looking forward to an exciting September from Apple. Regarding the widely anticipated iPhone 5, we believe a September launch is more likely than October."
Although many aren't convinced that Apple will launch a mini version of its newly-released tablet device, another analyst, Shaw Wu from brokerage firm Sterne Agee, believes the release of a mini iPad should be viewed as a “question of when, not if.”

He claims Apple is currently testing several 4-12 inch screen-sporting devices, according Apple Insider.

However, he also says that the company won’t be releasing the tablet so soon after the launch of the new iPad, saying:

"We do not sense that the release of an iPad mini is imminent and quite frankly, exact timing is difficult to predict.

However, we do believe it makes both fundamental and strategic sense for AAPL to address at some point."
Other rumours have also claimed that Apple will be releasing a new slate later this year.
Chinese website NetEase quoted two sources who say that Cupertino-based Apple plans to release the reported 7.85-inch tablet to compete with a string of newly released Windows 8 tablets, believed to be landing around at the same time.
The site, which claims to have inside contacts at the companies that manufacture Apple products, also claimed that Apple will ship 6m units of the device in the third quarter – between July and September.

Source ( t3.com )

Asus PadFone, it's tablet it's phone

By Jon Phillips

• | Edit

The 4.3-inch PadFone inserts directly into the 10.1-inch PadFone Station. Photo: Asus

OK, Asus, you’ve convinced us: You’re a world leader in clever mobile docking strategies.
At Mobile World Congress Monday, Asus announced the PadFone, a 4.3-inch smartphone that can be directly inserted inside a 10.1-inch docking tablet, aptly named the PadFone Station. Think of the system as two devices that share a single brain. It’s a smartphone, sure, but it’s also a full-fledged tablet that’s powered by smartphone processing.

But, wait, it gets more clever still. If you insert your PadFone Station into an optional keyboard dock, your system becomes something akin to a traditional notebook. It appears to be the ultimate, docked-together daisy chain: the phone that becomes a tablet that becomes a serious computing device.
This is so, so Asus. Just look at the Transformer Prime for a glimpse into the company’s obsession with docking strategies.
When operating as a handset, the PadFone offers decidedly high-end features. You’ll get Android 4.0 (aka Ice Cream Sandwich); a 4.3-inch, 960×540 Super AMOLED display swaddled in Gorilla Glass; a 1.5GHz dual-core Qualcomm processor backed by 1GB of RAM; and an 8MP rear camera. Neither LTE nor specific carrier support was announced, but if Asus sticks to tradition, this will be an unlocked device, and you’ll be expected to sort out service on your own.
As for the PadFone Station, it boasts a 10.1-inch, 1280×800, capacitive multi-touch display covered in Gorilla Glass,. It also increases the PadFone’s battery capacity by 500 percent, says Asus. The PadFone’s 8MP camera continues to work when docked, and the Station also includes speakers befitting a true tablet. According to an Asus press release, the system boasts “Dynamic Display technology which allows seamless transition between the PadFone and PadFone Station display screens.”

Oh, and in case you were wondering what happens when you get a phone call on your docked PadFone, there’s an optional PadFone Stylus Headset. You can use it as a “traditional” tablet stylus, but also transforms into a Bluetooth headset.
We just wish this cleverly integrated system boasted a faster processor, like the quad-core Nvidia Tegra 3 that ships in the Transformer Prime. In an integrated system with notebook aspirations, we’d like as much processing performance as possible.

Source  (wired.com)