Archive for the ‘android tablets’ tag
eReader & Tablet News 9/11/2010 no comments
A roundup of some of the news from the past few days.
Kindle software update version 3.0.1 is now out of beta and is available for download.
Besides improving stability, the new update also adds the ability to create a new Amazon account directly from the Kindle, rather than having to do this with a computer.
Kindle 3 continues to sell well enough to keep pushing shipping dates out — new orders are now shipping on September 24.
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Kobo has launched its first contest of the month. This one only lasts through September 16, 2010, and will give away 25 Kobo eReaders. Every ebook purchase counts as an entry. There is, of course, a non-purchase route of entry as well. Full details at Kobo.com.
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Last month I wrote about a new tablet from Stream TV called the eLocity A7 that was supposed to launch the following week. Well, the eLocity missed its original launch date, but is now available for pre-order at Amazon.
The eLocity runs Android 2.2 and is built with the NVIDIA Tegra 2 SOC. No 3G, but you can connect with the built-in Wi-Fi. The price is $370.
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Speaking of Froyo (Android 2.2) and tablets, Google says that Froyo is designed to be used on phones and is not meant for tablets. Tablets running Android 2.2 may not have access
to the Android Market and many apps won’t run on such devices. It is expected that we will have to wait for the Gingerbread release of the Android OS for a version that is designed to be used with tablets.
The Samsung Galaxy Tab runs on Froyo and does have access to the Android Market because it operates like a large phone rather than a tablet computer.
As the Android OS gains popularity it would probably be a good idea for Google to have some sort of certification logo program, otherwise some consumers are going to be disappointed when their shiny new Android-based tablet cannot access the Android Market.
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Recent reports of the demise of Interead, maker of the Cool-er ereaders, were apparently somewhat exaggerated and premature.
Pocket-lint reports that Interead will be partnering with Elonex to produce five new Elonex Cool-er branded ereaders.
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Also via Pocket-lint — Qualcomm is saying that there will be a device, most likely an ereader, with a Mirasol display announced at CES and then launched in Q1 of 2011.
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Samsung Galaxy Tab News no comments
Samsung would like wireless providers to bundle the Galaxy Tab with mobile phones to keep the price lower for customers.
Samsung’s global head of mobile device sales and marketing, Lee Don Joo, indicates in an interview with the Financial Times that Samsung would like to see the Galaxy Tab bundled with consumers’ regular cell phones on a single data plan with a single bill, rather than having consumers pay for two separate connections.
The WSJ was told by a Samsung executive that most likely the Tab would cost $200–$300, depending on subsidies from wireless service providers.
Both articles also say that Samsung will only be selling the Galaxy Tab through service providers and not directly to consumers. In fact, the Galaxy Tab is at the moment available for pre-order at Amazon.de for €799 (via CrunchGear).
Meanwhile, Electricpig reports that a Galaxy Tab prototype has already been rooted by German Android developers Sera-Apps.
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Enspert Android Tablet no comments
Samsung is not the only Korean company launching a new tablet. Enspert, a subsidiary of Korean-based Insprit, has announced the launch of Korea’s first domestic 7-inch tablet PC.
The Identity Tab, as the new device is called, is Android-based. Some of the specs:
- Capacitive multi-touch LCD screen
- 1GHz CPU
- 8GB internal memory
- DMB (digital multimedia broadcasting) chip for television viewing
- Light sensor, GPS, Accelerometer
- 3.0 megapixel camera
- Pre-installed apps include an ebook reader, MS Office document viewing and editing, social media apps including Twitter, MeToday and Facebook
- DLNA (Digital Living Network Alliance) based solution will enable seamless content sharing between a TV, computer and mobile phones
In Korea Enspert is partnering with Korea Telecom (KT) to offer the tablet to subscribers beginning September 10. The Tab will be bundled with KT’s ‘Egg’ portable WiBro-WiFi router. The tablet will be free with a two year contract that costs about $23 per month.
The Identity Tab will not just be limited to the Korean market — Enspert plans on releasing it globally.
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Samsung Galaxy Tab no comments
Samsung has officially announced the Galaxy Tab today and is unveiling it in Berlin at IFA. Some of the specs:
- Android 2.2 (Froyo)
- 7-inch TFT-LCD; 1024 x 600
- Cortex A8 1.0GHz processor
- Full HD video playback
- Adobe Flash support
- Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, 2.5 G (GSM/GPRS/EDGE)
- Gyroscopic sensor, geo-magnetic sensor, accelerometer, light sensor
- 16 GB or 32GB internal memory; card slot
- Size: 190.09 x 120.45 x 11.98mm (7.48 x 4.74 x .47 inches); weight 380g (13.4 ounces)
It’s too bad Samsung couldn’t use their Super AMOLED display, as that would have made it more viewable in sunlight. It probably would have made the Tab more expensive as well.
The Tab will have access to the Android Market and Samsung will have some apps of its own design available as well.
The Readers Hub is where you will do your ereading on the Tab, and Kobo announced on their blog today that the Kobo reading app would be powering it. For periodical reading you will have PressDisplay and Zinio. This is a good score for Kobo, and it can’t hurt Borders either when the Tab comes stateside.
Like the Dell Streak, the Galaxy Tab has telephony functions and can be used for video conferencing. Obviously with a device of this size you will want to be using a USB headset. A front facing camera as well as a rear facing video camera are part of the package.
Samsung says that the Galaxy Tab will be launching in Europe in a couple of weeks. The US, Asia and other markets will get the Tab in coming months.
The video below was uploaded to YouTube by PhoneArena.
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Hands-On Video of Velocity Micro Cruz Reader no comments
Gadgetnutz has posted a hands-on video of the Velocity Micro Cruz Reader made at Velocity Micro’s headquarters.
The Cruz reader, at least from what we can see in the videos released so far, seems much more responsive and faster than the other color LCD tablets in this price range.
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Stream TV eLocity A7 Android Tablet 2 comments
Stream TV Networks announced today that it
is readying a new 7-inch Android-based tablet. The company says the eLocity A7 tablet will officially launch on August 24, 2010, at which time it will release the full technical specs and begin taking pre-orders.
So far the only information we have is that the eLocity A7 will be 8.2 x 4.8 x .5 inches and run on Android. Stream TV says that they will be working with leading national online retailers to sell the new tablet.
Stream TV says that, “The introduction of the eLocity A7 tablet is the first step in Stream TV’s strategic growth plan to bring to market innovative products featuring state of the art technology designed to transform consumer communications and a digital lifestyle.”
CEO Mathu Rajan of Stream TV comments, "We look forward to the launch of the eLocity A7 tablet, which provides a cutting edge solution to meet the needs of technology enthusiasts with a beautiful, versatile and affordable device. We believe we have created a worthy competitor to the iPad."
Update 9/9/2010: The eLocity A7 is now available for pre-order at Amazon. Some more of the specs are now available:
- Running on Android 2.2 (Froyo)
- Nvidia Tegra 2
- 4GB internal memory; Micro SD card slot
- 1.3MP camera
- Wi-Fi (802.11b/g); Bluetooth; 1080p HDMI output; USB 2.0 port; 3.5mm stereo headphone jack
- Weighs 1 pound
- 7-inch capacitive touch screen; 800 x 480
The eLocity is priced at $370 and comes with an HDMI cable, USB cable and preloaded software including Documents To Go Office mobile productivity suite.
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Velocity Micro Cruz Readers and Tablet 2 comments
Velocity Micro has announced that it will be releasing three new color LCD ereader/tablet devices: The Cruz Reader has a 7-inch screen and will sell for $199; the Cruz Tablet, also with a 7-inch screen and priced at $299; and an ereader for kids dubbed the Cruz StoryPad and priced at $149. These are all Android-based. Some of the features:
Cruz Reader: 
- 802.11 b/g Wi-Fi; Web browser
- High res video and High quality audio playback
- Built-in dictionary, notepad, calendar, alarm clock, contacts, games and other apps
- Accelerometer
- USB
- SD card slot; 2GB SD card included
- User replaceable battery; 6 – 10 hours battery life, 24 hours standby
- Resistive touchscreen
- Docking station (Reader only)
Cruz Tablet adds:
- 802.11n Wi-Fi
- Microphone
- 4 GB internal storage; package includes 8GB SD card
- Capacitive touchscreen with multitouch
Cruz StoryPad:
- Kid friendly, drop resistant
- Simplistic and intuitive navigation
- Available in pink, blue or green
- SD card slot
Supported ebook formats are: ePub, PDF, TXT and HTML. DRM content from Borders.
The Cruz Reader and the Cruz StoryPad will be available in August, while the Cruz Tablet is scheduled for September 1, 2010. I haven’t found a picture of the StoryPad yet. UPDATE: Velocity Micro has sent me a photo of the StoryPad, which I have posted here.
The video below is a promo from Velocity Micro. The device seems reasonably fast and the touchscreen looks quite responsive.
Velocity Micro is an online custom PC shop, but also sells preconfigured systems through Amazon,
Velocity Micro has been around since the early ‘90s, but unless you are a PC gamer or order your desktops through a custom builder, you may not have heard of them. Building custom PCs is a very competitive space with very low margins, so unless you are doing something right you don’t last for almost 20 years.
