Nexus 4 teardown reveals LTE chip, we pine for what could have been

As often happens with the biggest mobile releases, iFixit has procured a Nexus 4 and done the dirty work of tearing the whole thing apart. The biggest reveal wasn’t the device’s orderly construction or relative ease of repair, however. It was the  discovery of something no one was really expecting: an LTE chip.

Now before those of us hoping for an LTE-enabled Nexus 4 get too excited, the chip is completely useless. The phone’s hardware does not include an LTE radio, so the chip hangs around like a vestigial organ and we are left longing for what could have been.

The chip is likely a carryover from the LG Optimus G, the phone that the Nexus 4 is largely based off of. While one might ask why a company would include a component in the device that has no function and could simply add to costs, it probably stems from LG wanting to consolidate the manufacturing flow for both devices. Instead of putting together a unique  circuit board for each phone, the two can share the component.

An LTE chip could also suggest that perhaps a 4G version of the device could find its way to retail, but we’re not holding our breath just yet. Andy Rubin has been pretty explicit in explaining Google’s reasoning behind leaving LTE technology (aside from this newly discovered anomaly) out of the Nexus 4.

We wish enabling LTE on the device would be as easy as a few software commands, but with the hardware as it stands you’d need a soldering iron and a lot more technical know-how than your average bear. But we can keep the dream alive, right?

[via Gizmodo]

Source : androidtabletblog[dot]com

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Nexus 4, Samsung Galaxy Tab 2 10.1 now available from T-Mobile

If you didn’t have much luck picking up the Nexus 4 direct from Google yesterday, you can now purchase the latest pure Google device from T-Mobile for $199. The phone is currently available online and in select stores and brings the same experience as the unlocked version, only it comes tied to a service agreement. That service agreement is something many were hoping to avoid by snagging the phone from the Play Store, but signing away two years to a carrier must sound pretty tempting right now to those not willing to wait a few extra weeks for Google’s stock to replenish.

The Android 4.2 flagship is joined by a Samsung tablet, but it’s not the Nexus 10. No, it’s T-Mobile’s branded version of the Samsung Galaxy Tab 2 10.1, which is also available today for a price of $399. The Ice Cream Sandwich slate features a 1.5GHz dual-core CPU and 1280×800 resolution display, specs that don’t touch the Nexus 10, which is available off-contract for the same price. You might want to explore options before signing the dotted line for this one.

Planning to pick up either today? Join the conversation over at AndroidForums by visiting our Nexus 4 and Galaxy Tab 2 10.1 forums.

Source : androidtabletblog[dot]com

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Google Nexus 7 Is This Year’s Favorite Purchase for the Holiday Shopping Season

When it was officially launched earlier this year, the Asus manufactured Nexus 7 was immediately found the best in it’s category. The device offers top specs, great build quality, a superb 7-inch IPS+ display and runs Android 4.1.1 (soon 4.2) Jelly Bean. More so, thanks to the highly competitive  price the tablet was considered without opponent in its category.

With the recent announcements made by Google, including the launch of the new Nexus devices and the new version of the OS, the Nexus 7 also benefited from a revamp and new prices. The 16 GB WiFi only variant is now as cheap as $199 on the Play Store and there are also 3G variants available. Given what it offers for such a good price, it’s no wonder the tablet is on everybody’s wishlist for this year’s Holiday season.

TechBargains.com has performed a study and found that a great deal of costumers surveyed plan to purchase a tablet by the end of the year in the Holiday shopping season. The interest for the Nexus 7 applies to one-third of tablet shoppers that plan to purchase the device. The rest is divided between 30% that plan to purchase an iPad and 24% going for Apple’s newest device – the iPad Mini. The interest for purchasing a tablet has went up 10 percent from one year ago. Yung Trang, president and editor-in-chief of TechBargains.com, stated:

“With more tablets on the market to fit every size budget, our survey reveals consumers are even more interested this year versus last year in giving and receiving a tablet — the must-have tech gadget this holiday season,”

Related posts:

1. CES 2012: $200 Hello Kitty Android Tablet Is Obviously Pink, Coming in the Holiday Season This Year (Video)
2. ASUS Eee Pad Transformer Follow-up Uses Tegra 3 CPU, Runs Android 4.0; Coming During the Holiday Season
3. Amazon Tablet Coming This Holiday Season?

Source : androidtabletblog[dot]com

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Nexus 7 spontaneously combusts, leaves behind toasty, melted corpse [PICS]

Note to self: Never leave a device charging while unattended. Why, you ask? Because there’s always the off chance that something like this could happen.

What you’re looking at are images of one user’s Nexus 7 after it was left charging — unattended — for a good couple of hours. When the owner returned to where the Nexus 7 should have been sleeping peacefully, she was greeted with a room with smoke and the Nexus 7 melted to a toasty Pop-Tart.

According to the Chinese forum where the images were posted, the user was using the factory OEM charger and the device was only left charging for a total of 3 hours before spontaneously combusting. We’ve seen cases in the past where shady characters have attempted to pass off exploding devices as a manufacturer defect, only to later find out the cause was owner misuse. This doesn’t appear to be indication of foul play and apparently ASUS has already dealt with the matter, sending off a shiny new replacement. Let’s hope the new one has better luck.

I know it’s unlikely, but I have to ask. Any Nexus 7 owners out there ever have their tabby explode on them? Does seeing this make you a little more cautious about leaving your Nexus 7 charging for long periods of time?

Thanks, Ash!

[via Notebook Italia | Baidu]

Source : androidtabletblog[dot]com

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Rumored Acer Iconia Tab A220 Leaked on GLBenchmark

Acer has launched its Acer Iconia Tab A110 tablet not to long ago and the device was set to compete in the 7-inch tablet market, against big players like Nexus 7 made by Asus and Amazon’s ne Kindle Fire HD. Acer’s tablet is packing an NVIDIA Tegra 3 quad-core CPU, 1 GB of RAM, 8 GB internal storage, and runs Android 4.1 Jelly Bean out of the box

It has been rumored that Acer is planing to announce before the end of the year another addition to the Iconia line-up. The Acer Iconia Tab A220 was spotted courtesy of GLBenchmark results, featuring Android 4.1.2 Jelly Bean and slightly better specs then the A110. The tablet is powered by the same Tegra 3 chipset, clocked at 1.3 Ghz and it features a 1.280 x 752 display as opposed to the 1.024 x 600 display in the previous model.

We’ll be sure to keep you informed if further details surface before Acer officially introduces the device.

Related posts:

1. Acer Won’t Update Iconia Tab A100, A200 and A500 to Jelly Bean; Boo…ho?
2. Acer Iconia Tab A110 Spotted With Android 4.1 Jelly Bean on Board
3. Android 4.1 Jelly Bean Ported to the Acer Iconia Tab A500

Source : androidtabletblog[dot]com

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Hands-On: HaxSync fills your phone book with high-res contact photos quickly and easily [VIDEO]

Now, I don’t know if it’s just my OCD talking, but when it comes to my Android device, one thing that really gets under my skin is a blurry contact pic. You know the images you’ve set for your friends and family on your phone? Yeah, those. Most of us have set them on a device long ago, and since then, they’ve been forever synced to Google’s cloud. Sure, you can manually set each individual pic by taking a picture of every single person in your phone book, but then again, you also have Halo 4 to beat. Not to mention that when these contact images sync with Google’s server, it’s going to squeeze that image down to the size of a postage stamp, and blow it up every time that person calls you. Sounds like a silly thing to worry about, I’m sure, but it bugs me to no end and I’m sure it bugs some of you too.

More recently, Google has attempted to combat this “problem” by automatically incorporating high res Google+ profile pics directly into your contacts. There’s only one problem — your contact actually has to be on Google+ (and let’s be honest, no one is using that thing). Of course you could always go the official Facebook route to sync contact images, but even then the pics aren’t that high res and a bug in the application will add every single acquaintance from your friends list onto your device. So, unless you wanted that one person you used to go to middle school with in your phone book, the official Facebook app isn’t a viable option. Does this mean us Android users are forever doomed to an existence of muddy friends and pixelated family members? Not at all. Enter HaxSync.

HaxSync is an application in the Google Play Store that works much the same way that the official Facebook app was supposed to work. It takes high resolution 720×720 photos of your friend’s Facebook profile pics and syncs them to your phone. Simple, yes. But that’s not all. HaxSync can also sync calendar events, notify you of friends birthdays, and display their Facebook status updates straight from your phone book. It’s pure genius. To further illustrate how well HaxSync works, here’s a before and after of my ex-gf, Chasity. I don’t talk to her anymore because she’s a lying $#%@&, but she’s still my friend on Facebook and that’s how the world works, folks.

Before and After

In the before image, she was a muddied image of her nieces from an official Facebook sync gone wrong. The image is so blurry, that might not even be her nieces at all. Who knows. The after, however, is leaps and bounds better. There she is at the top of some random hotel in Vegas, in search of a baby daddy and apparently imitating a duck. Now, there’s the Chass I know.

HaxSync just saw an update today that aside from bugfixes and performance enhancements, adds a handy setup wizard upon installation and the ability to sync your Facebook contact pics with your Google account. Awesome. Oh, and for the 2.7% of you guys on Jelly Bean (guilty!), there is now a separate app the developer that fixes some problems caused by Google’s new app encryption.

[Play Store Link: HaxSync | Jelly Bean Workaround]

Source : androidtabletblog[dot]com

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Motorola Electrify M available today from US Cellular, in stores tomorrow

The Motorola Electrify M for US Cellular is now available for purchase online. The handset will be in US Cellular’s retail stores tomorrow. The Android 4.0 device is essentially the regional carrier’s version of the Motorola Droid RAZR M, which recently launched for Verizon, and features an edge-to-edge qHD display measuring 4.3 inches, a dual-core 1.5GHz Snapdragon S4 CPU, and features such as an 8MP camera, NFC, and 4g LTE support.

Speaking of 4G LTE, pricing for the handset gets a little wonky depending on your coverage area. In areas where US Cellular offers 4G LTE services the phone is priced at $99 after a $100 mail-in rebate. For non-4G markets the phone is priced at $149 after the same $100 mail-in rebate.

While we haven’t had time to go hands-on with the Electrify M, if it’s anything like the Droid RAZR M (and it is a lot like that phone), it offers one of the better smartphone experiences you will get at the $100 price point. Solid build quality, great features, and a well-implemented Android experience. If you plan on picking the Electrify M up today or tomorrow, head over to Android Forums to join the discussion.

Source : androidtabletblog[dot]com

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Samsung Galaxy Note 10.1 Accused of Infringing Apple Patents, Android 4.1 Jelly Bean Also Accused

Remember our Samsung Galaxy Note 10.1 review? When we appreciated the device for everything but its creaking case we had no idea that some day it will fall into the same category as the Galaxy Tab 10.1: yet another Apple patent infringing device. Apple recently told a judge that Samsung’s 10.1 inch tablet with a stylus infringes its patents… and Android 4.1 Jelly Bean too.

Apple made the arguments on Tuesday to a US Magistrate, Judge Paul S. Grewal. The Cupertino giant’s move is basically a response to the attack on the iPhone 5, that was accused to infringe some patents at Samsung. Apple already won a $1.05 billion verdict against the Asian company back in August, in a separate patent case, but in the same court. Samsung started selling the Galaxy Note 10.1 in August, featuring a stylus, quad core CPU and overall a great and original package.

Samsung’s slates have been cleared of accusations, especially the Galaxy Tab 10.1, that was cleared of the ban on October 1st, after not being found guilty of breaching Apple intellectual property. Andrew Liao, Apple attorney told the judge that Galaxy Nexus is the only Jelly Bean handset that will be added to the complaint, plus 17 devices that could use a stylus, strange as that may seem. Is thus maybe a hint that Apple has a stylus-based toy in the making?

I guess we’ll know first and go to trial later, since the schedule for Jelly Bean’s trial is in 2014.

Related posts:

1. Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1 DOES NOT Infringe Apple Patents, According to UK Judge
2. Japanese Court Rules that Samsung’s Galaxy Phones and Tablet Don’t Infringe Apple Patents
3. Android 4.1 Jelly Bean Update Available for Samsung Galaxy Tab 2 7.0 and Note 10.1 Via Leak

Source : androidtabletblog[dot]com

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Microsoft Unveils Actual Free Memory Available with the Surface Tablets

Most device owners already know the fact that the storage capacity on paper differs from the actual available space you get with any storage component. This has been the case with computer HDD and is also true in the case of mobile devices. With smartphones or tablets that have only built-in memory some of it is taken by the OS and redundant files while the bigger part is available for the user.

Microsoft posted today a list showing the available Surface Tablet memory capacities and the actual available free space to the end user. Gathering from it we can’t help but wonder where the memory is allocated. Given that the Surface runs the RT version of Windows 8, we don’t see why the 64 GB version only has 46GB of free space. 32 GB device owners will be surprised to see that they only get 16 GB of free space. Fortunately there is the possibility of adding an microSD Card if you find your storage need to be insufficient.

Related posts:

1. Microsoft Full Time Employees Get Free Surface Tablet, Windows Phone 8 Devices and PCs
2. Microsoft Surface Tablets are Finally Being Delivered to Costumers
3. Microsoft announces revolutionary Surface Tablet

Source : androidtabletblog[dot]com

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Samsung Galaxy Tab 2 10.1 launching on AT&T November 9th

AT&T customers looking for a connected Samsung Galaxy Tab device might want to take a look at AT&T’s latest offering. The carrier has announced upcoming availability of the Samsung Galaxy Tab 2 10.1, a fine tablet among a sea of them lately. The device will launch November 9th for those looking to pick one up.

It features a 1GHz dual-core processor, 1GB of RAM, a 10.1 inch WXGA resolution display, a 3 megapixel camera with a VGA front camera, Bluetooth 3.0, WiFi N and more. You’ll be paying $500 for it, but it’ll also be compatible with AT&T’s HSPA+ and 4G LTE network so you won’t have to lug around a WiFi hotspot device alongside the tablet itself.

AT&T is looking to sweeten the deal for those who decide to buy a Samsung Galaxy smartphone in the near future, too. If you buy a device like the Galaxy Note 2 or the Galaxy S3 (on a new two-year contract) you’ll get $100 off the tablet or any other Samsung connected device, including the new Windows 8-enabled Samsung ATIV. Read on for full press details.

Samsung ATIV Smart PC and Galaxy Tab 2 10.1 Available at AT&T Retail Stores Nationwide Nov. 9 on AT&T’s 4G LTE Network

For a Limited Time, Buy any Samsung Galaxy Smartphone1 and Receive up to $100 off a Second Connected Samsung Device including the new Samsung ATIV smart PC and Galaxy Tab 2 10.1. Available Exclusively at AT&T this Holiday Season, New Samsung ATIV smart PC Delivers Windows 8
Dallas, Texas, November 05, 2012

ShareThis
AT&T* and Samsung Telecommunications America, LLC (Samsung Mobile)2, today announced availability of the Samsung ATIV smart PC, a new tablet designed for the new Windows® 8 operating system, and the Samsung Galaxy Tab® 2 10.1, a 4G LTE Android tablet. Both tablets will be available for AT&T customers this holiday season beginning Nov. 9. The Samsung ATIV smart PC will be priced at $799.99 and the Galaxy Tab 2 10.1 will be available for $499.99.

AT&T is giving customers more reasons to purchase a Samsung device this holiday season as part of a limited time offer that gives customers up to $100 off the purchase of any connected Samsung device of lesser or equal value, including the new Samsung ATIV smart PC and Galaxy Tab 2 10.1, when they purchase any Samsung Galaxy smartphone (w/ two-year agreement incl. qualifying voice and data plans).

Samsung ATIV smart PC

Samsung ATIV smart PC combines premium computing power in an elegant tablet form factor while providing AT&T customers the ultimate in productivity and entertainment features. The powerful ATIV smart PC has an 11.6-inch HD PLS display, 64GB of internal storage memory and a microSD card slot to support up to an additional 32GB of memory and the Intel® Atom™ dual-core processor, up to 1.5 GHz. ATIV smart PC comes installed with Windows 8 (which can be upgraded to Windows 8 Pro). It is also backward compatible and supports all existing software and applications that run on older windows OS such as Windows 7, Vista, and XP. ATIV smart PC also comes preloaded with a trial version of Microsoft Office 2010 for a complete PC experience and for productivity while on-the-go.

ATIV is Samsung’s brand for Windows 8 products including Smart PCs, tablets and Windows Phone 8 for smartphones. Samsung will continue to announce ATIV products to provide advanced, productive and creative experiences.

“We are excited to offer the Samsung ATIV smart PC in stores nationwide ahead of the holiday shopping season,” said Chris Penrose, senior vice president, AT&T Emerging Devices. “Connected by the nation’s largest 4G network, this Windows 8 tablet gives customers optimized touch interface, instant live tile updates and PC capabilities.”

Samsung Mobile and AT&T are offering the following accessories3 to get the most out of the ATIV smart PC:

Stand Dock – Dock the ATIV smart PC in the Stand Dock to turn any environment into a personal office. In addition to providing a charge when docked, the Stand Dock is equipped with a built-in USB port and Ethernet (RJ45) port to connect the ATIV smart PC to LAN and various USB peripherals.
VGA Adapter – Expand your workstation and give presentations with ease with the VGA Adapter (micro HDMI to VGA connectivity). Use the VGA Adapter to connect the ATIV smart PC to external displays, monitors and projectors for second-screen viewing and enhanced productivity.
Additional accessories will also be available.
Beginning in late November online at www.wireless.att.com, the ATIV smart PC Stand Dock will be available for $49.00 and the VGA adapter will be available for $40.00.

Samsung Galaxy Tab 2 10.1

The Samsung Galaxy Tab 2 10.14 is a 4G LTE Android 4.0 tablet that delivers entertainment and productivity to fit your whole life. Galaxy Tab 2 10.1 offers a 10.1-inch display and premium entertainment options including Media Hub, Smart Remote and AllShare® Play. 3 Features like on-device encryption and VPN access ensure the tablet is secure for business use, while the 7000 mAh battery allows for all-day connectivity. For more information on Samsung Galaxy Tab 2 10.1, please visit www.att.com/galaxytab2.

AT&T customers have access to the nation’s largest 4G network, covering 285 million people. AT&T has two 4G networks that work together for customers, LTE and HSPA+ with enhanced backhaul. That means AT&T customers are able to enjoy a widespread, ultra-fast and consistent 4G experience on their compatible device as they move in and out of LTE areas.5 With other carriers, when you travel outside of their LTE coverage area, you may be on a much slower 3G network.

Customers purchasing tablets from AT&T have more options in choosing the plan that’s right for them and their mobile devices. With new AT&T Mobile Share plans, new and existing customers can share a single bucket of data across smartphones, tablets, and other compatible devices. AT&T Mobile Share allows customers to build a plan to fit their devices and usage. For as low as $10 per month, customers can connect the Samsung 4G LTE tablets with AT&T’s new Mobile Share plans. Customers can select one of the new shared data plans or choose one of AT&T’s existing individual or family plans. 6

Beginning Nov. 9, Samsung ATIV smart PC and Galaxy Tab 2 10.1 will be available in AT&T company-owned retail stores nationwide and online at www.wireless.att.com.

For more information on AT&T, please visit www.att.com.

*AT&T products and services are provided or offered by subsidiaries and affiliates of AT&T Inc. under the AT&T brand and not by AT&T Inc.

1 Samsung Galaxy promotion requires two-year smartphone agreement including qualifying voice and data plan.

2Samsung Mobile is the No. 1 mobile phone provider in the United States according to Strategy Analytics, North America Handset Vendor Marketshare, Q2 2012. Samsung Electronics Company is the No. 1 smartphone provider worldwide according to Strategy Analytics Global Smartphone Vendor Market Share by Region: Q2 2012.

3ATIV smart PC accessories sold separately.

4Samsung, Galaxy Tab, and AllShare are registered trademarks of Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. Other company names, product names and marks mentioned herein are the property of their respective owners and may be trademarks or registered trademarks.

54G speeds not available everywhere. Limited 4G LTE availability in select markets. LTE is a trademark of ETSI. Learn more at att.com/network. 4G when used in connection with the ATIV Smart PC refers to the fact that the device can operate on AT&T’s 4G network.

6Smartphone required. Up to ten devices per plan. Additional monthly charge per device. $15 per GB for add’l data. Unlimited talk and text for phones only. Activation fee may apply. Additional deposits and other restrictions may apply. Access to corporate email, intranet sites and apps available for $15/mo. per device.

About AT&T

AT&T Inc. (NYSE:T) is a premier communications holding company and one of the most honored companies in the world. Its subsidiaries and affiliates – AT&T operating companies – are the providers of AT&T services in the United States and internationally. With a powerful array of network resources that includes the nation’s largest 4G network, AT&T is a leading provider of wireless, Wi-Fi, high speed Internet, voice and cloud-based services. A leader in mobile Internet, AT&T also offers the best wireless coverage worldwide of any U.S. carrier, offering the most wireless phones that work in the most countries. It also offers advanced TV services under the AT&T U-verse® and AT&T |DIRECTV brands. The company’s suite of IP-based business communications services is one of the most advanced in the world.

Additional information about AT&T Inc. and the products and services provided by AT&T subsidiaries and affiliates is available at http://www.att.com. This AT&T news release and other announcements are available at http://www.att.com/newsroom and as part of an RSS feed at www.att.com/rss. Or follow our news on Twitter at @ATT.

About Samsung Telecommunications America

Samsung Telecommunications America, LLC, (Samsung Mobile) a Dallas-based subsidiary of Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd., researches, develops and markets wireless handsets, wireless infrastructure and other telecommunications products throughout North America. For more information, please visit www.samsung.com.

About Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.

Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. is a global leader in semiconductor, telecommunication, digital media and digital convergence technologies with 2011 consolidated sales of US$143.1 billion. Employing approximately 206,000 people in 197 offices across 72 countries, the company operates two separate organizations to coordinate its nine independent business units: Digital Media & Communications, comprising Visual Display, Mobile Communications, Telecommunication Systems, Digital Appliances, IT Solutions, and Digital Imaging; and Device Solutions, consisting of Memory, System LSI and LED. Recognized for its industry-leading performance across a range of economic, environmental and social criteria, Samsung Electronics was named the world’s most sustainable technology company in the 2011 Dow Jones Sustainability Index. For more information, please visit www.samsung.com.

© 2012 AT&T Intellectual Property. All rights reserved. 4G not available everywhere. AT&T, the AT&T logo and all other marks contained herein are trademarks of AT&T Intellectual Property and/or AT&T affiliated companies. All other marks contained herein are the property of their respective owners.

Source : androidtabletblog[dot]com

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Google Nexus 10 Review Roundup: Great Hardware, Fantastic Price, “Too Good” Screen, Some Flaws

Exactly one week ago, after a long period of speculations, Google made official the Nexus 10 tablet made by Samsung. The device had previously leaked in pictures and we had all the specs we needed to get a decent opinion regarding the device. Now the first reviews of the product have started coming and we rounded them up in a collection of 5 best analysis of its qualities and defects. It appears that all reviewers are praising the price and some are even saying that the screen is too good… Let’s find out more!

1) Engadget review – Can’t Distance Itself from Similar Android tablets

The folks of Engadget, in this case Tim Stevens did a detailed analysis of the newcomer and apparently they were not quite impressed by the latest Google slate. While they did praise the Nexus 7, they claim that the Nexus 01 isn’t that much separated from the rest of the bunch of 10 inch high end Android slates. This Samsung made tablet goes for $399, which is a good bargain, but so is the ASUS Transformer Pad Infinity and sometimes it’s even more appealing than this model. They praise the incredible rendering of text on the screen and the way the UI looks on the fantastic 2560 x 1600 pixel display. There’s also a piece of good news: Android apps natively support higher resolutions without problems or blurry texts.

The bad thing is the battery, that gives you merely 7 hours of functioning time and overall this model doesn’t quite differentiate a lot from other 10 inch Android slates.

2) Slashgear review – Everything perfect aside from lack of apps

Slashgear’s Vincent Nguyen describes the product as one that features incredible specs, an very high resolution display and highly capable processor. The good thing about the Nexus 10 is that it doesn’t make compromises like the Nexus 7 to achieve a lower price. It’s got Android 4.2 Jelly Bean, it’s perfect for browsing and multimedia playback and text and image have never been so crisp before. The lack of apps is definitely a problem here and developers must shift a gear up to catch on to the iOS bigshots. The 9000 mAh battery is strangely said to achieve 11 hours this time, unlike the Engadget test, so this is kind of strange. Photo Sphere is also described as very nice, but only outdoor, while indoor it has stitching problems.

The conclusion? The True RGB Real Stripe PLS screen is the selling point here and Slashgear is very happy with the product, even battery life.

3) CNET review – Superior design, great performance, long battery charge and some more flaws

The folks of CNET, in this case Eric Franklin is saying that the device’s superior design and swift performance, plus the $399 price tag make it really appealing. Its 8.9 mm thickness and 603 grams weight also help with keeping it portable and killing any HDTV on the market with a superior resolution in your backpack. However, the bundled charger isn’t able to power the battery enough for you to play a game whine charging and even normal charge is a pain to wait for. No storage expansion is also an important lack and once again the lack of apps for such a high end tablet is mentioned. They even go out and say that the navigation isn’t quite seamless, as on the Nexus 7, so the product is basically a letdown, if you read all the review.

The bad thing here is that the same games look poorer and run slower on the Nexus 10 compared to the iPad 3… So I guess that the apps will make a difference when choosing the slate, that by the way is no iPad killer.

4) Wired review – Gorgeous display, great Exynos CPU, thin tablet, no MicroSD card slot

Wired’s Nathan Olivarez-Giles feels that there’s not enough Nexus in this device, when it comes to styling, so it may feel too much like Samsung and too little like Google in the end. The reviewer calls the styling “safe, reserved” and mentions the problem of the lack of tablet apps in Google Play and the lack of a microSD card slot. An advantage for this model is that unlike any other Samsung tablet, it won’t wait for months to get the latest Android update, being first in line thanks to the Nexus status. The gorgeous display, 2 GB of RAM and Exynos next gen CPU also make the device exciting, while the 5 MP camera at the back is actually described as pretty good.

Gripping coating and a thin waistline are also big advantages and battery life gets praised yet again. So, overall a very good device, with a lot of potential once it gets big enough sales to motivate developers to create apps for it.

5) ZDNet review – Setting the standard for other tablet manufacturers in the future

ZDNet’s Rupert Goodwins is the first of the bunch to mention the lack of 3G or LTE connectivity as a flaw on this device, plus the obvious lack of tablet apps. The need for a lot of charging time is mentioned and also an interesting aspect: the lack of enterprise friendly features. On the positive side, this is actually the highest specced tablet one can buy right now and it costs just $400. The audio is also praised, as well as the behaviour of the CPU and Android 4.2, that feels mature and usable. Build quality is at premium levels and benchmarks are pretty good, although the Nexus 10 doesn’t beat the iPad 3 or Nexus 7 by much.

At least in Geekbench, that measures processor and memory performance the device impressed, clearly beating the iPad 3 and possibly even the iPad 4. So overall very good hardware, not so good software, because of lack of apps.

Those reviews have one thing in common: the people cry out for more Android tablet apps and I wonder how hard it is to port some cool games to this platform? How much could it cost Google to actually port all the PlayStation 2 or even PS3 games to tablets? They would pay Sony up and that’s it… Anyway, reviews are divided when it comes to battery life, with some praising it and other criticizing it. All the reviews seemed to appreciate the display and the build quality, though, so overall this sounds like an 8.5 out of 10 tablet…

Related posts:

1. Google Nexus 7 Review – the Tablet With the Least Flaws on the Market (Video)
2. Samsung Galaxy Tab 2 10.1 Review – Nothing New, Aside from Design Tweaks and Android 4.0; Good Price, Too! (Video)
3. iPad Mini Review Roundup: Praising the Incredible Battery and Design, Criticizing the Screen

Source : androidtabletblog[dot]com

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The Ubi goes up for general pre-sale

Remember that cool little device we told you about that would plug into your wall socket and promise to always keep an ear open for anything you need? It was called The Ubi, or short for The Ubiquitous Computer, and you can ask it to do things like search the web, call your mom, and send a short email to anyone you’d like (plus lots more through open-sourced extensibility).

Its Kickstarter campaign caught our eyes pretty quickly back when it was first announced. Since then, funding has been fulfilled and has actually gotten the company six times the original goal to get this neat idea into motion.

Kickstarter backers are first in line to get their hands on the device, of course, but if you missed out on the funding period now’s your chance to stake your claim to your very own Ubi. The company has announced it is now accepting general pre-sales at its website for anyone who is interested in getting one once it launches (as early as April 2013 if things go according to plan).

Normally the Ubi would cost $270 for one, but you can get locked into a special pre-sale price of $220 if you order one in time. There are also multi-unit packages for sale, and the more you buy the more you save.

The Ubi has met the project’s only stretch goal on Kickstarter since we first talked about it so there are some new goods that weren’t originally promised. You can read more about what it can do in our original post, but here’s what’s new:

• Change the trigger name from “Ubi” to something else… like “Jarvis”, “Hal”, “Computer”, “Irma”, or anything else
• Eliminate the pauses in talking to the Ubi… you can say, “Ubi, what’s the weather tomorrow” without any pause between “Ubi” and the rest of your request
• Identify who is speaking to the Ubi and setup permissions accordingly (e.g. if you say, “Ubi, check my email” it will check your email and if someone else who’s setup on the Ubi says the same thing, it will check their email)

The device will come with some pre-programmed functionality, but this open-sourced box is wide open for developers to tap into Ubi’s innards as deeply as they’d like. We’re certainly excited to see the company making strong progress and we can’t wait to see these begin to ship early next year.

Head to theubi.com to pre-order yours, and be sure to read up on everything it can do — we promise you won’t leave without at least a slight urge to buy one. Read on for full press details.

Ubi – The Ubiquitous Computer – officially available for pre-order on web

TORONTO, Ontario (November 1, 2012) – Unified Computer Intelligence Corporation is happy to announce the availability of pre-orders of the Ubi – a voice controlled computer that plugs into a standard power outlet and connects to the Internet via a household or office wifi connection. The Ubi is meant to usher in the era of “ubiquitous computing” – when humans will be able to interact with computers without requiring the use of screens or handheld input devices. Early uses of the Ubi include Internet search, email, speakerphone, intercom, and home automation and monitoring.

The Ubi is equipped with temperature, humidity, air pressure and ambient light sensors to provide feedback on the environment around it. Also onboard the Ubi are stereo speakers, a microphone, and bright multi-colored LED indicator lights. Those using the Ubi will be able to program and control it remotely and with their iOS and Android devices. The Ubi is planned to ship with Android OS.

Those wishing to pre-order the Ubi are encouraged to visit www.theubi.com. The Ubi is planned to ship in April 2013. Single Ubis are available at a pre-order price of $219 and $1399 for a ten-pack of Ubis. Once the Ubi becomes available for shipment, the regular price of a single Ubi will be $269.

The Ubi team consists of developers with backgrounds in engineering and computer science. Their cumulative experience includes working on tele-operation, robotics, haptics, voice recognition and unmanned vehicle projects. Unified Computer Intelligence Corporation is a privately-held Canadian company that develops ubiquitous computing technology.

Those interested in learning more about the Ubi can contact Mahyar Fotoohi, Chairman of UCIC, by email atinfo@theubi.com.

Source : androidtabletblog[dot]com

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LG Optimus G now available for pre-order from Sprint

Sprint’s LG Optimus G, which launches November 11th, is now available for pre-order for eager customer looking to reserve a piece of the action. The Android 4.0 device features a 1.5GHz quad-core processor and sizable 13MP camera to go along with its 4.7-inch 720p display. The handset is available for $199 on a new two-year contract.

The latest flagship phone from LG, sans LTE and a few other features, forms the basis for the recently announced Nexus 4 from Google. For those not interested in a Sprint contract, the Optimus G will be available from AT&T starting tomorrow, November 2nd, though the two phones differ slightly. Check out our full review of the AT&T branded version of the device for more details. A review of Sprint’s edition is forthcoming.

Source : androidtabletblog[dot]com

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