tablet

Buzz Out Loud 1276: Molly moves to Comic-Con (podcast)

BOL co-founder Molly Wood discovers "her people" in San Diego. Also, we're actually talking about white iPhones. How'd that happen? And Mama's taking our Kodachrome away.

Android Atlas Weekly 8: All about Android tablets (podcast)

The Droid X is rooted, the Nexus One is done, and we dive deep into Android tablets with Senior Editor Donald Bell. We also take a brief look at Agenda Widget and cover a tip on how to retain Bluetooth connectivity while in Airplane mode.

EPISODE 8News

Verizon confirms Droid X screen glitch and fix Motorola responds to Droid X bootloader controversy, says eFuse isn't there to break the phone Droid X root achieved Web site simplifies rooting HTC androids Requiem for a phone: Nexus One done at Google On Math, iPhones, Android, and the 100K Phone Gap Quick guide to the Samsung Galaxy S series

Tablet Watch

9 upcoming tablet alternatives to the Apple iPad Android Tablets on Wikipedia Donald's hands-on with the Dell Streak Lenovo to launch Android tablet by year's end Is Asus prepping an Android Tablet? Eken M003… Read more

3D camcorders for consumers

Links from Thursday's episode of Loaded:

Lenovo confirms that it is working to release LePad, an iPad competitor, sometime this year Yahoo begins to integrate Microsoft Bing into search results Samsung updates the DualView camera with a front-facing screen Ford launches the 2011 Explorer on Facebook Google Earth and Google Maps get more-detailed boundaries Panasonic plans a new line of 3D camcorders for consumers Sony and Intel help students build a rocket to launch into space

Buzz Out Loud 1274: Facebook welcomes 500th user (podcast)

500 millionth, actually... but one of the press kits had an embarrassing typo in it. Also, everybody who makes slates is dropping Windows (except HP), we now have lasers shooting down airplanes, and a flashlight for the iPhone is actually a secret tethering app.

HP's slate may yet live

The rumors of the death of Hewlett-Packard's slate computer may be greatly exaggerated, at least if a few HP Web pages are any judge.

One page on HP's Web site provides a few details on the once-thought-to-be-demised tablet device.

Touting the HP Slate 500, the page describes the device as powered by Windows 7 Premium and sporting an 8.9-inch screen with Internet access and two cameras (still and video). Like the iPad, you can adjust the screen either horizontally or vertically. But unlike the iPad, you can also use a pen to write or draw on the display. The page says that headphones are included in the box but is mum on any other details.

That page's parent actually lists six different model numbers for the Slate 500, while a PDF on Energy Star devices dated July 12 on HP's Web site notes the HP Slate 500 as Energy Star compliant.

HP's Slate device was demoed by Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer at January's CES, along with tablets from other vendors. But any buzz about those devices was soon overshadowed by the debut of the iPad in early April.

A scant few days after the iPad hit the stores, details on HP's Slate were leaked. The specs at the time match some of those on the HP's Slate 500 page--an 8.9-inch display, Webcam, and still camera. Other details revealed a 1,024x600 capacitive multitouch display, a 1.6GHz Intel Atom Z530 processor, and a five-hour battery. The Slate was designed to come in two flavors at that point--a $549 model with 32GB of flash storage and 1GB of non-upgradeable RAM, and a $599 edition with 64GB of storage.

Not long after that, HP announced its acquisition of Palm, leading to speculation that its Window 7-based slate was dead and being replaced by a Palm-OS-based tablet.… Read more

Lenovo to launch Android tablet by year's end

Lenovo is launching its own tablet to debut in China by the end of this year.

Dubbed "LePad," the tablet will run Google's Android operating system, according to comments made by Liu Jun, senior vice president for Lenovo Group, as reported by TradingMarkets.com and other sources. Details are few so far, and there's no word from Lenovo or other sources on whether the tablet will venture abroad after its initial debut in China.

Tablets launched in the U.S. and many other countries face competition from Apple's popular iPad. But China is one country … Read more

Hands-on with the Dell Streak Android tablet

Monday, I spent the better part of an afternoon with the Streak, Dell's ambitious foray into the world of Android tablets. It was an illuminating experience, with plenty of takeaways--both good and bad.

With its release in the U.K. over a month ago, chances are, you're already aware of what the Streak has to offer. Apart from its larger dimensions, the Streak's tech specs read like typical high-end smart phone. There's built-in 3G and Wi-Fi (802.11b/g), along with Bluetooth 2.1 support. The 800x480 resolution screen uses capacitive touch technology, supports multi-touch and is helped along by a fast 1GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon processor. You get microSIM memory expansion (16GB included), and a removable/replaceable battery. There's both a speaker and microphone designed for voice calls, as well as a 5 megapixel camera that includes auto-focus and flash. And if that weren't enough, Dell threw in a VGA resolution front facing camera, enabling video chat and self-portrait antics.

Now take all of those specs, super-size it with a 5-inch screen, and you've got the Dell Streak. It's a giant smart phone and a scrawny tablet all rolled into one. It's awkward, it's fun, it's a freak of nature, it's your new best friend, it's a paradox wrapped in an enigma. In all seriousness, we're still a little conflicted over whether to recommend this superphone/microtablet--partly because of its unique size, but mostly because we haven't been given all the facts.

At the time of this writing there are still a few big unknowns regarding the Streak's U.S. release. Dell was kind enough to provide us with an evaluation unit, but remained tight lipped when it comes to the product's official release date, pricing, or possible partnerships or subsidies from national carriers. The last we heard in June, the Streak was due out near the end of July, priced around $500 when ordered directly from Dell.com--which doesn't strike us as screaming deal. Priced more aggressively using standard carrier contracts and subsidies, the Streak becomes less of a pint-sized stab at the Apple iPad, and more of an evolutionary step in the arena of Android superphones. We expect more news on the Streak's pricing and availability near the end of the week. Until then, let me walk you through the highs and lows of my afternoon with the Streak, and save our formal CNET review for later.

HP PalmPad trademark foretells WebOS slate

The United States Patent and Trademark Office granted Hewlett-Packard a trademark for the term "PalmPad" late last week.

HP hasn't released specific details on what it plans to do with the trademark; however, the application form confirms that HP will limit its use to "Computers, computer hardware, computer software, computer peripherals, portable computers, handheld and mobile computers, PDAs, electronic notepads, mobile digital electronic devices."

After killing off development for their Windows 7 Slate earlier this year, and subsequently canceling development of a planned Android-based tablet, it seems reasonable to conclude that the PalmPad will be … Read more

Survey: iPad edging out e-readers, game devices

Apple's iPad may be putting a damper on demand for e-readers and portable game consoles, according to the results of a new survey by Resolve Market Research.

The study examined the spending habits and attitudes of current and potential owners of iPads and other mobile devices.

Among those who own or plan to pick up an iPad, 60 percent see the tablet as most enjoyable for playing games. As a result, 38 percent say they won't buy a dedicated portable game console after picking up an iPad.

E-readers may also take it on the chin. Among the folks who own or will buy an iPad, 50 percent say they won't purchase a dedicated e-reader after bringing home Apple's tablet.

"What's surprising about this research is that consumers end up spending a lot of time playing casual games on their iPads and many will not buy a new portable gaming device as a result," Elaine Coleman, chief research officer for Resolve Market Research, said in a statement. "This negatively impacts portable gaming as consumers want to carry fewer devices over time."

When asked their reasons for wanting to own an iPad, 56 percent said it was for entertainment, 42 percent cited the "cool factor," 40 percent said it was for convenience, and 28 percent said it was because of the Apple brand.

Where do iPad owners use their tablets?… Read more

iPad to hit more countries on Friday

The iPad's market is going more global starting this Friday.

Apple announced Monday that its popular tablet will reach residents in nine more countries: Austria, Belgium, Ireland, Luxembourg, Mexico, Netherlands, New Zealand, Hong Kong, and Singapore. Both the Wi-Fi and Wi-Fi+3G models will go on sale.

The iPad is currently available in Australia, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Spain, Switzerland, the U.K., and the U.S.

In U.S. dollars, the Wi-Fi models now sell internationally for $499 for the 16GB edition, $599 for 32GB, and $699 for 64GB, while the Wi-Fi+3G units sell for $629 … Read more