Hasta La Gadget!

IDC‘s cabal of statisticians, nerds and people who just love spreadsheets have handed down their latest document about the state of the tablet market. Of the 25 million slates shipped in the second quarter, 17 million of them were iPads — giving Apple 68.2 percent of the market. Samsung came second with 2.4 million devices and Amazon third, although since the Kindle Fire maker doesn’t reveal numbers, there’s probably some guesswork involved there. Rounding out the top five are ASUS and Acer, although the former should expect to move up a place (or two), depending on the success of the Nexus 7 when Q3’s results are released in a few months time.

Continue reading IDC: Apple’s still king of the tablet hill with 68 percent of the market

Filed under: Tablet PCs

IDC: Apple’s still king of the tablet hill with 68 percent of the market originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 02 Aug 2012 04:56:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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More official Google Nexus 7 accessories have emerged, including a Bluetooth keyboard case for the 7-inch Jelly Bean tablet, and a rotating folio-stand that allows for both portrait and landscape use. The ASUS-made add-ons are all expected imminently, UK retailer MobileFun claims, finally broadening the range of accessories Nexus 7 owners can choose from beyond the current polyurethane cover.

The Bluetooth keyboard case works as a regular folio for the Nexus 7, but also includes a kick-stand on the back to prop the tablet up at an angle on your desk. That way you can use the splashproof keyboard – which probably means rubberized keys, which will sadly cut down on typing feel – which itself promises 45hrs of battery life and simple recharging via microUSB, just like the Google tablet itself.

The rotating stand case, meanwhile, props up the Nexus 7 and allows it to swivel between landscape and portrait orientation. It, like the non-swiveling stand case, has a leather-effect outer and a microfiber interior lining.

Other accessories include the simple folio case, though it’s not clear if this is the same as the leather folio that leaked earlier this week. Currently it’s only listed in black, though the leather model is expected in four difference colors. Finally, there’s a screen protector, which promises not only resistance to greasy fingers and scratches, but better contrast from the Nexus 7′s LCD.

The Nexus 7 rotating case will be £27.95 ($44) while the non-rotating version will be £22.95 ($36). The folio case will be £39.99 ($62), while the Bluetooth keyboard case will be £79.95 ($125). Finally, the screen protector will be £14.95 ($23).

ASUS Nexus 7 Bluetooth keyboard case and rotating folio revealed is written by Chris Davies & originally posted on SlashGear.
© 2005 – 2012, SlashGear. All right reserved.

There have been teases here and there that Google’s Nexus 7 was going to get a full, official accessory treatment from ASUS, but actual details have been scarce. Consider ASUS’ cover blown, almost literally. Presentation files finding their way to Nordic Hardware show the known Smart Case-like, $20 Travel Cover that’s already lurking on the ASUS and Google websites, but they also spoil a leather Premium Cover that will reportedly cost $40. As for a cradle to round out the set? While the company had previously confirmed that a dock was coming, we’re now getting a glimpse of the $50 Nexus Dock’s super-simple wedge design and audio output. With the exception of the Travel Cover, the accessory bonanza is pegged by the slides as arriving in late August — just in time for that last-gasp summer vacation.

Update: Nordic Hardware has since taken down its original post “at the request” of an unnamed party.

Filed under: Peripherals, Tablet PCs

Nexus 7 dock and covers leak, promise high style in small sizes (update: source goes down) originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 31 Jul 2012 01:47:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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For those of you who are clearly part of the early adopter school of thought, here is something which you might be interested in – it seems that folks who purchased an Asus Eee Pad Transformer Prime at the end of last year and are not too happy with what your hard earned money gave you in return, keep your fingers crossed. It seems that a bunch of Transformer Prime users have reported that those who purchased the offending tablet from Best Buy might stand a chance of exchanging the tablet from Best Buy themselves for a spanking new Asus Transformer Pad Infinity.

To date, we have heard of how Asus Transformer Prime units have actually been affected by various issues including poor GPS performance, near non-existent Wi-Fi reception, issues concerning Wi-Fi and Bluetooth connectivity when both options are turned on at once, as well as lag problems that persist regardless of the number of Over The Air updates. If this is true, then it is nice of Best Buy to run such an exchange program. Faith in corporations restored!

By Ubergizmo. Related articles: Asus Tablet 810 spotted at the FCC, Asus Tablet 600 headed for the FCC?,

If you’re the sort to get a little too adventurous with CyanogenMod 10 or other custom ROMs, Google just gave you a crutch. Android 4.1.1 factory images are now available for every Nexus device that can currently get a taste of Jelly Bean: the HSPA+ Galaxy Nexus, Nexus S and the expected Nexus 7. While it’s not a complete safety net, the gesture will let dedicated modders flash their phones and tablets knowing that they can almost always jump back to the pure OS if someone’s definition of “alpha build” is a little too rough. CDMA users are unfortunately left out of the loop; let’s just hope they’re brought up to speed before too long.

[Thanks, Vince]

Filed under: Cellphones

Google posts Android 4.1 Jelly Bean images for Nexus devices, modders rejoice originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 27 Jul 2012 21:42:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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