Sony officially renames the S2 the Tablet P, opens up about the software (video)

Compared to the S1 tablet — make that the Tablet S — Sony’s dual-screen tab remains something of an enigma. AT&T hasn’t said how much it’ll cost on contract, nor do we know when it’ll finally go on sale. Still, the tablet just get one step closer to becoming a real, shipping product, with Sony renaming it the Tablet P, as rumored, and clarifying the full range of specs — namely, that it weighs in at 0.82 pounds and runs a dual-core 1GHz Tegra 2 SoC with twin 5.5-inch (1024 x 800) displays, dual 5MP and VGA cameras, an HSPA+ radio, a 3,080mAh battery, a full-sized SD card slot, 4GB of internal memory, a micro-USB socket and a 3.5mm headphone jack. Those displays use the same TruBlack technology found in Sony’s Bravia TVs, promising blacker blacks and whiter whites. What’s more, Sony is opening up about the software, a topic it pointedly ignored when we first handled the hardware, then codenamed the S2. For starters, by the time it ships, it’ll join the ranks of a growing number of tablets (most of them 7-inchers) running Android 3.2. And guess what? We recently sat down with the Tablet P a second time for a preview of how the outfit’s optimized Honeycomb for those dual displays. Here’s what to expect.

Continue reading Sony officially renames the S2 the Tablet P, opens up about the software (video)

Sony officially renames the S2 the Tablet P, opens up about the software (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 31 Aug 2011 10:30:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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HTC’s 10-inch Puccini tablet gets official as Jetstream, brings LTE and laughable price to AT&T

It’s like AT&T just wants its consumers to only buy the 3G iPad. Just days after we snuck out leaked shots of the HTC Puccini, said tablet has gone official as the HTC Jetstream. As predicted, it’s packing a 10.1-inch WXGA capacitive touchscreen, 1.5GHz Snapdragon dual-core processor, Android 3.1 and HTC’s latest tablet-centric edition of Sense (that’d be Sense UX). Of course, it’s the first LTE / HSPA+ tablet to be announced for Ma Bell’s network, but it’s not like it matters. For whatever reason, the powers that be decided to price this thing at $699.99 on a two-year contract, which has somehow managed to top Verizon’s equally comical pricing for its LTE-equipped Galaxy Tab 10.1. Sure, that tally enables you to sign up for a $35 / month 3GB plan, and yeah, the HTC Scribe digital pen accessory is being tossed in “at no extra cost” for a limited time, but let’s be real — neither you, nor anyone else you know, is buying one. So much for even pretending to compete on price, eh?

Update: It’s going for $849 outright, which is even more silly. Why not just price it at $2,000, guys? Might as well milk the most from the four folks that’ll accidentally mash the “buy” button.

Continue reading HTC’s 10-inch Puccini tablet gets official as Jetstream, brings LTE and laughable price to AT&T

HTC’s 10-inch Puccini tablet gets official as Jetstream, brings LTE and laughable price to AT&T originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 31 Aug 2011 10:23:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Sharp Galapagos A01SH tablet goes on sale in Japan from $1, comes with a catch

Sharp’s 7-inch tablet running Android 3.2? Yeah, it’s taking its sweet time arriving stateside, though our friends in Japan can get the Galapagos A01SH now for a starting price of… $1 (¥100). There’s more than a little fine print, of course, which states you have to sign up with an ISP to score that deal — a curious promotion given that this is a WiFi-only slate (carriers will bundle it with a portable hotspot). Those who like their tabs no strings attached can scoop one up for ¥44,800 ($583). As for those of you mumbling something about how we need another Tegra 2-powered Android tablet like we need a hole in the head, remember that this remains one of a handful of 7-inchers running Android 3.2 — a space currently occupied by the Acer Iconia Tab A100, ViewSonic ViewPad 7x and forthcoming Huawei MediaPad and Samsung Galaxy Tab 7.7. So if you’re dead-set on a 7-inch tab, like Honeycomb and are lucky enough to be wandering the streets of Nippon, have at it, folks.

Sharp Galapagos A01SH tablet goes on sale in Japan from $1, comes with a catch originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 30 Aug 2011 10:49:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Fujitsu to release waterproof Arrows Tab F-01D LTE tablet on NTT DoCoMo (update: confirmed)


If you’ve spent time in the rain recently like many of us, you recognize the value of waterproof gear. And Fujitsu’s leaked Arrows Tab F-01D tablet gets it too, packing a 10.1-inch WXGA display, TI IMAP4430 1GHz dual-core processor, and Android 3.2 Honeycomb — all in a unique waterproof housing. The yet-to-be-announced device is rumored to be launching on Japanese carrier NTT DoCoMo in September, and may include UMTS, HSPA, and LTE connectivity, along with GSM and GPRS compatibility for roaming abroad. There’s also a pair of CMOS cameras, 16GB of on-board storage, micro-USB and standard headphone connectors (with waterproof covers, we assume), and a microSD card slot. We haven’t received word on pricing just yet, or whether or not the device can survive scuba depths or just the occasional splash, but if the bizarrely named Arrows Tab is indeed slated to launch in Japan next month, we imagine those details will be bubbling to the surface any day now.

Update: Netbooknews has a wider view of the ad above confirming the F-01D.

Fujitsu to release waterproof Arrows Tab F-01D LTE tablet on NTT DoCoMo (update: confirmed) originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 29 Aug 2011 10:18:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink Netbook News  |  sourceDatacider  | Email this | Comments

Motorola rolling out 4G LTE upgrade for select Xoom users?

It’s been a while coming, but it looks like some Motorola Xoom users will finally be receiving 4G LTE support, in the very near future. According to a customer service e-mail obtained by Droid Life, the manufacturer has already begun sending out instructions on how to receive the upgrade, as part of an apparent gradual rollout. To make the jump, select consumers, businesses and government clients will have to first back up their Android-based tablets, before shipping them off to Motorola in a pre-paid FedEx box. Once that’s taken care of, they’ll have to twiddle their thumbs for three business days before receiving their newly refreshed devices, dripping in Verizon’s LTE goodness. No word yet on when the rest of the Xoom community can expect similar treatment, but hit up the source link to read the full e-mail for yourself.

Motorola rolling out 4G LTE upgrade for select Xoom users? originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 25 Aug 2011 09:26:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink   |  sourceDroid Life  | Email this | Comments

X10 AirPad is a warm slab of Gingerbread for under $200

Couldn’t get your hands on a discount TouchPad? It’s not quite as cheap, but X10 does boldly claim that its new AirPad is “the best tablet on the market for under $200.” It’s important to have realistic goals, after all. The seven-inch slate packs in 4GB of storage (plus a microSD slot), WiFi, and Android 2.3.

X10 AirPad is a warm slab of Gingerbread for under $200 originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 25 Aug 2011 08:32:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink Android Central  |  sourceX10  | Email this | Comments

EEE Pad Transformer gains Netflix support, minor fixes

This may be of no consequence to those of you who frequent XDA Developers, but obviously, not all of us are comfortable rooting Asus’ EEE Pad Transformer just to get Netflix support. Now you might never have to, thanks to a build lovingly named HTJ85B.US_epad-8.6.5.9-20110816. In addition to enabling sideloading support for the streaming service, this Honeycomb update provides a choice of cursor icons, improves boot times and adds the ability to enable or disable the virtual keyboard while docked. Hitting the update? Let us know how you fare in the comments.

[Thanks, Zack]

EEE Pad Transformer gains Netflix support, minor fixes originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 25 Aug 2011 00:52:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink Tablets Planet  |  sourceEeepc (translated), Droid-Life  | Email this | Comments

Exclusive: HTC Puccini in the wild, AT&T LTE support confirmed!

Have a gander. Take as long as you need. That, friends, is the AT&T-bound HTC Puccini, and it’ll be the first tablet to hit Ma Bell with inbuilt LTE support. According to our sources, the Android-based slate is currently in testing, and should be hitting the markets in the not-too-distant future. ‘Course, AT&T just started shipping its first two LTE devices, but having something other than a WWAN modem would certainly be appreciated. As for specs? We’ve confirmed that a 1.5GHz dual-core processor is onboard, alongside 1GB of RAM, Honeycomb, 16GB of storage, an 8 megapixel rear camera and a 10.1-inch WXGA touchpanel. We’re digging for more as we speak, and will be updating accordingly. Meanwhile, feel free to peruse the gallery below — oh, and that “smaller” device? That’s the WiFi-only Flyer that we saw soar through the FCC in April. That’ll be let loose on US shores next month, and we’re sniffing around for a price as we speak.

[Thanks, Anonymous]

Exclusive: HTC Puccini in the wild, AT&T LTE support confirmed! originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 24 Aug 2011 01:01:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Lenovo ThinkPad Tablet now available for order, priced at $500 and up

It’s been a while coming, but Lenovo’s ThinkPad tablet has finally made its way to market. As expected, the line of Honeycomb slates is now available for order on the company’s product page, with the 16GB, WiFi-only model priced at $500 and 3G-enabled versions going for $570 (32GB) and $670 (64GB). The 10.1-inch, NVIDIA Tegra 2-powered tablets are expected to begin shipping on August 29th, but you can order one now, at the source link below.

[Thanks to everyone who sent this in]

Lenovo ThinkPad Tablet now available for order, priced at $500 and up originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 23 Aug 2011 08:06:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Sharp RW-T107 Android tablet packs NFC reader, will accept payments in Japan

Tools like Square’s credit card reader and Apple’s proprietary iOS retail system make mobile payments possible in the US, but they’re hardly streamlined, or widespread. A new Gingerbread tablet from Sharp — the RW-T107 — sets out to simplify payments in Japan with its built-in NFC reader. You won’t be using your own tablet to pay — instead, retailers will utilize point of sale apps to process transactions, without a customer ever needing to swipe their credit card. RFID payment cards, like Sony’s FeliCa, have been used throughout Japan for the last decade, so consumers are already familiar with the technology and ready to make payments. There’s no word on what retailers will expect to pay to add Sharp’s tablet to their checkout mix, but with the company set to release only 5,000 devices per month (and no plans to introduce them to the US), we’re not planning to ditch our cash just yet.

Sharp RW-T107 Android tablet packs NFC reader, will accept payments in Japan originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 23 Aug 2011 01:32:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink SlashGear  |  sourceSharp (Translated)  | Email this | Comments