Monthly Archives: November 2011

Motorola Corvair Pics Leak, Runs Android 2.3, Acts as a Remote Control for TVs

Posted by on November 6, 2011 No comments

Motorola is not only about high end Honeycomb tablets like the new Xoom 2, but also about little weaklings like the model below. I’m talking about the Motorla Corvair, an Android 2.3 Gingerbread gadget that has the function of a TV set controller.

Nilay Patel from The Verge is the source of the leak and it appears that this device is being tested by cable companies now and they intend to capitalize on its remote control functions. Is this the ideal media controller? The slate comes with a 6 inch capacitive touch display, a 4,000 mAh battery and it’s supposedly able to work with a Motorola cable box.

The product is in pre-production phase and I can’t even guarantee that the Corvair name will stick, since it might be a codename. We’ll probably learn more about the Gingerbread Motorola tablet around Xmas time or maybe at CES 2012. What’s sure is that this is a niche product.


ASUS Eee Pad Transformer Gets Updated Ahead of Successor Release

Posted by on November 6, 2011 No comments

We’re only 3 days away from the big unveiling of the ASUS Eee Pad Transformer Prime, but people haven’t forgotten its predecessor, the Eee Pad Transformer, that has just been updated. Before the Tegra 3 quad core tablet gets released, you might want to have a look at the update that the first Transformer got.

The update includes features such as App Backups, preinstalled Netflix (only in the USA), plus the usual bug fixes. There’s also better WiFi connectivity and a fix for the mobile dock abnormal battery consumption issue. MyCloud now works perfectly and the MyContent and MyDesktop bugs were solved. Considering this tablet sold over 400k units a month this summer, many users have reasons to be happy now, with this update.

I wonder if the ASUS Eee Pad Transformer will get Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich at some point, especially considering its popularity. If that happens, it will most likely take a while.


Amiga Xpedio 7TMB is an Extremely Low Price Tablet AT $98

Posted by on November 5, 2011 No comments

Move over Amazon Kindle Fire! There’s a $98 tablet out there that sounds like an interesting alternative to the current products on the market. Of course, if you didn’t already get a $100 TouchPad and brought Android to it. Amiga tablets are made for people who remember this brand from the old days of computing.

The company that now owns Amiga created an Android-based slate that sells on the cheap and it’s called the Xpedio 7MTB. Priced at $98 or $118 with a USB keyboard/case accessory, the product comes with mediocre specs, such as a 720MHz processor, 7 inch display, WiFi connectivity, 4GB of internal memory and Android 2.2 Froyo as the OS.

The people who tested the Amiga devices don’t quite recommend them, unless you’re a fan of the brand, making the purchase reasonable. For this price tag, you add an extra Benjamin and you’ve got a nifty Amazon Kindle Fire. Sadly, these Amiga tablets don’t come with Amiga emulators, so it’s our loss here.


Acer Iconia Tab A200 Pics Leaked On the Web

Posted by on November 5, 2011 1 comment

There has been a lot of talk about the Acer Iconia Tab A100 and its affordable price, plus color versions, so the product was bound to get a successor. And that successor is the Acer Iconia Tab A200, that just got pictured thanks to an online leak.

This is a Honeycomb slate that was uncovered thanks a post on the Bluetooth SIG website. Sadly, we don’t have so many details on the product, other than the usual WiFi, Bluetooth and worldwide debut. The XDA Developers community has more info on the device and they say that it’s sort of like a low cost Iconia Tab A500.

Iconia Tab A200 is said to have a rear camera, Dolby Mobile, the new Acer Ring app and lockscreen shortcuts, plus it’s supposed to run Honeycomb 3.2.1. For the right price, this model could be a hit, although it’s no ASUS Eee Pad Transformer, that’s for sure.


ASUS Transformer Prime Breaks Benchmark Records Ahead of Release

Posted by on November 5, 2011 1 comment

We’re only a couple of days away from the debut of the quad core ASUS Transformer Prime and already there are benchmarks of this interesting slate. This Nvidia Kal-El based device is supposed to break all records, at least in the AnTuTu benchmarking system.

As you can see, the tablet greatly surpasses the Galaxy Nexus and Samsung Galaxy S II, considered landmarks in such tests. AnTuTu is a piece of software that tests synthetically the potential of an Android device, including its processor, graphics and more. What we have right here is a slate with a quad core processor at 1.4 GHZ. Who can surpass it!?

The Transformer Prime not only leads the pack, but also broke the AnTuTu record of 10,000 points, so I’m drooling at this product right now… Such a huge performance will be interesting to see on Android and maybe this time there won’t be lag or force closes. Keep in mind however, that this is a synthetic benchmarking test, so it has to be taken as such. I wonder if it was applied with Android 4.0 on the device or Honeycomb…


iRU Pad Master is a 11.6 Inch WeTab Tablet With a MeeGo Version Installed

Posted by on November 5, 2011 No comments

It’s been a while since we heard about the WeTab tablet, right? Now, the device is back with iRU on board, a platform based on the MeeGo OS, that has been made famous by the Nokia N9. However, things looks different in the tablet version.

The device you see here is a 11.6 inch tablet with the iRU OS, that involves vertical stripes showing info, widgets and apps. On the right side there’s a “Start bar”, that allows you to quick access settings and options, plus other info. WeTab comes with a lot of preinstalled apps, ranging from web browser to email, calendar, address book, video and audio player, maps, office apps, file management and games.

There’s also a WeTab Market, that will provide additional content for free and in case you’re wondering, the source code for this device is completely free and open. Adobe Flash, Java and HTML 5 are all supported. The specifications of the tablet include two configurations with the Intel Atom N450 processor at the core and memory up to 2GB. There’s also 3G, WiFi and Bluetooth on board.


The Next iPad Will Come in March, iPad 3 Arriving in Q3 2012

Posted by on November 5, 2011 No comments

Now that the iPhone 4S is official, it’s time for the iPad 3 rumors to starts and so they have… A quick count shows us that we’re only about 4-5 months away from the debut of the new Apple tablet, so time is running out. Everyone is expecting here a slightly upgraded iPad 2, that should come in March 2012.

Digitimes is the one reporting this and they’re saying that the new tablet is thinner and provides better battery life than the current model. We’re not sure what the naming of the device will be, but we’ve heard iPad 2 HD tossed around a lot. However, there are also plans for a real iPad 3, that will supposedly come in Q3 2012, with Samsung, Sharp and LG rumored to be working on a new Retina Display.

The next-gen tablet is expected to feature the faster Apple A6 processor, with rumors saying that manufacturing issues will make Apple delay the product. Of course, there are also rumors about a cheaper iPad, that will debut next year ahead of the iPad 3, maybe with a 7 inch display. I guess that most of these speculations will be put to bed in March 2012…


Amazon Kindle Fire 8.9 Inch Version Coming Soon?

Posted by on November 5, 2011 1 comment

The Amazon Kindle Fire is barely official and already there’s talk about a follow-up. Supply chain sources are claiming that the next Kindle Fire will sport a 8.9 inch touchscreen instead of the 7 inch panel of the original version.

Last I heard, Amazon was supposed to first launch a 7 inch tablet and then a 10 incher. DigiTimes has sources saying that the retailer switched to 8.9 inch displays and has plans for a 10.1 inch unit further down the road. If this is real, Amazon could turn into the new Samsung, covering all of the formats of tablets that matter, aside from the 5+ inch ones.

LG Display and CPT are both suppliers of the 7 inch LCD on the Kindle Fire and they have also been supplying the company with the needed 8.9 inch screen. The production is supposedly already started, in order to meet future demand. We’re not sure why Amazon made this switch, but it may have to do with the fact that that 7 inch, 9.7 inch and 10.1 inch displays are in very much demand, so the 8.9 inch area is less saturated.


Princess Punt Now Available For Android – Crazy Japanese RPG Meets Angry Birds

Posted by on November 5, 2011 No comments

This image has no alt text

I’m not going to lie to you and tell you that this totally epic and amazing app I found today on the Market is for everybody — it’s not. But if you’re accustomed to Japanese anime, love RPG’s and don’t mind assuming the role of a princess, then Princess Punt is probably for you. Don’t let the name fool you. The game isn’t all cutesy flowers and sugar blossoms. You take the role of a princess who must punt knights and save her kingdom from the onslaught of monster trying to take over the land.

The developer describes Princess Punt as an “action puzzle RPG but lets be honest — we’re talking Angry Birds meets J-RPG. As the princess, you must angle shots and punt knights into enemies to destroy them. You can inflict more damage by attacking weak points and at the end of a level, the experience you gain can be spent to upgrade your knights’ abilities. In typical RPG fashion, you’ll even occasionally encounter boss battles that look to challenge your skills.

Princess Punt comes in two different versions. A regular version for most Android devices and an “enhanced” THD version for devices with Nvidia Tegra 2 processors. You can find both version of Princess Punt for FREE in the Android Market via the links below.

[Market Link: All Devices | Tegra Devices]

Intel Patiently Waits For Android 4.0 Before Releasing First x86 Smartphone Next Year

Posted by on November 5, 2011 No comments

This image has no alt text

Intel is patiently waiting for Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich to drop before releasing smartphones and tablets equipped with their processors. Adding to list of Android 4.0′s not highly publicized “features,” Ice Cream Sandwich is finally Intel x86 ready and the manufacturer hopes to have their first x86 powered smartphone launch sometime in the first half of next year.

Currently, Android is mostly “ARM friendly,” providing chipset makers like Nvidia, Samsung and Qualcomm with a cashcow that just keeps on giving. ARM is one of Intel’s biggest competitors and it’s going to take a lot of magic for Intel to catch up in a market ARM currently dominates.

Before Android, Intel had their efforts focused on the now defunct MeeGo OS. According to reports, Intel has been working closely with Google to make up for lost time and Android 4.0′s compatibility is a result of that.

I’m excited to see what OEM’s will be packing their devices with Intel’s mobile processors. If there’s one thing that’s good for consumers (and Android) it’s competition. Bring it, Intel!

[Via ComputerWorld]