Hasta La Gadget!

Today may be the day the world meets Jelly Bean — Android’s 4.1 evolution — but that doesn’t mean the 4.0 upgrade train needs to stall. While overseas owners of Lenovo’s ThinkPad Tablet began to see that software update hit a few week back, statesiders are just now beginning to enjoy the benefits of the soon-to-be-passé ICS OS. If you claim this Honeycomb tab as your own, you should soon be receiving an OTA notification prompting you to install the software which adds stock features like face unlock, screenshot sharing, multi-tasking and resizable widgets amongst others. So, congratulations — you’re once again yet another step behind Google’s mobile evolution.

Lenovo begins Ice Cream Sandwich rollout to ThinkPad Tablets stateside originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 27 Jun 2012 12:14:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink The Verge  |  ThinkPad Tablet Forum  | Email this | Comments

It isn’t hard to get an Android 4.0 phone under $200 if you’re willing to sign your life away with a contract. Getting one that’s worthwhile at that same figure contract-free, however, requires some jumping through hoops. MediaTek must be an acrobat, as it just released the MT6577, a chip design for the most entry level of smartphones. The part’s frugal focus doesn’t keep it from stuffing in a dual-core, 1GHz ARM Cortex-A9 processor, a PowerVR SGX series 5 for graphics and an HSPA modem for 3G. Those specifications would only have been cutting-edge in 2011, but they’re very speedy for a starter device in 2012 — fast enough to drive Google’s OS on a 720p screen while supporting 1080p video. The MT6577 is a drop-in replacement for its MT6575 ancestor, and it’s accordingly going to be used very quickly by “leading global customers” this summer. Knowing MediaTek’s most recent clients, that could soon lead to a sea of very affordable phones from Gigabyte, ZTE and others that have no problems eating an Ice Cream Sandwich.

Continue reading MediaTek MT6577 helps push dual-core Android 4.0 smartphones under $200 contract-free

MediaTek MT6577 helps push dual-core Android 4.0 smartphones under $200 contract-free originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 27 Jun 2012 02:00:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink   |  MediaTek  | Email this | Comments

From Barcelona to Hanover to Vegas and Taipei, we’ve seen our fair share of low-end Android tablets, some of which actually offer a bit of promise, and get it done for under 200 bucks. And while even a few sub-$100 models have littered the exhibition hall floors, they’re most often mere vaporware, never actually making their way to US and European retailers and online shops. The Matrix One, for its part, could actually get the nod of approval from big box execs, however — according to company reps, at least. And it wouldn’t be a half-bad option at $99, shipping with Android 4.0.3, a 2-megapixel webcam, 1.5GHz Cortex A8 processor and an 800 x 480-pixel 7-inch capacitive display. Those specs also make their way to a nearly identical $149 flavor, which ups its budget counterpart’s 512MB RAM and 4 gigs of storage to 1GB and 16GB, respectively, while keeping the other components intact.

While that display won’t best any brand-name slab on the market, it’s certainly usable, even in bright sunlight, as we experienced today at CE Week in New York City. The tablet performed just fine during our quick demo, which included navigating through some menus and watching a few HD video clips. The built-in speaker on the rear won’t come close to filling a room (or even a noisy car, perhaps), but a headphone jack will let movie fans and youngsters alike appreciate content a bit more, especially if traditional tablets are priced out of reach. There’s also an HDMI port for outputting 1080p video to a TV, along with one full-size USB port, a mini-USB connector for syncing and updates, a power port and a micro-SD card slot, for adding up to 32 gigs of extra storage.

You’ll also find a built-in mic and a two-megapixel webcam (no rear-facing shooter, however). All in all, the 11.1-ounce package is quite polished, especially given the price. We won’t likely be adding the Matrix One to our personal collection, but if a $99 tablet is on your must-have list, this wouldn’t be a bad choice — let’s just hope it does indeed pop up in stores, perhaps as soon as the tablet’s ready to ship at the end of next month. There’s a gallery below if you’d care to take a closer look, and do jump past the break as well — that’s where you’ll find our hands-on video, with a lively Manhattan soundscape to boot.

Continue reading Matrix One is a $99 ICS tablet that could ship to retailers next month… but probably won’t (hands-on)

Matrix One is a $99 ICS tablet that could ship to retailers next month… but probably won’t (hands-on) originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 26 Jun 2012 18:49:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink   |   | Email this | Comments

We’ll skip the long contextual intro about how high-powered Tegra 3 tablets are becoming a dime a dozen and get straight to the meat: the new Acer Iconia Tab A700 is an NVIDIA-powered slate with a super-charged screen. Yes, this device is all about the display, and we’re talking 1920 x 1200 pixels on a 10.1-inch panel. And until ASUS’ Transformer Pad Infinity goes on sale next month, this is the only Android tab with that resolution you can get your hands on.

At the risk of spoiling our whole review, bright colors and a high resolution make navigating Acer’s branded build of Ice Cream Sandwich a treat, and its quad-core Tegra 3 insides make the tablet more than just a pretty face. But the WiFi-only Tab A700, retailing for $450, is not the only good ICS option around — and it’s not the most budget-friendly, either. Let’s take a closer look to see if its considerable advantages make it worth swiping that plastic.

Continue reading Acer Iconia Tab A700 review: a 10-inch ICS tablet with Tegra 3 and a 1920 x 1200 display

Acer Iconia Tab A700 review: a 10-inch ICS tablet with Tegra 3 and a 1920 x 1200 display originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 26 Jun 2012 14:45:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink   |   | Email this | Comments

Well, this lede pretty much wrote itself. A 13-inch tablet, seriously? Toshiba is pushing the form factor limits with the Excite 13, and while its dimensions make it stand out in a sea of 7- and 10-inch devices, that isn’t necessarily what tablet buyers are looking for.

There’s no shortage of skepticism about such a large slate — “slab” seems appropriate here — so the Toshiba Excite 13 needs to provide an exceptional experience, with a brilliant display and smooth graphics, to make 2.2 pounds seem more palatable. On paper, its specs are promising: there’s a quad-core Tegra 3 CPU under the hood, a 1600 x 900 display at 138 ppi and a clean build of Android 4.0. The company already has the Excite 7.7 and Excite 10 in its arsenal, and their good performance and bright displays make for compelling tablets. But how does a 13-inch tablet that starts at $650 round out that trio? Read on for our full impressions.

Continue reading Toshiba Excite 13 review: a big-screened tablet with a price to match

Toshiba Excite 13 review: a big-screened tablet with a price to match originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 25 Jun 2012 15:00:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink   |   | Email this | Comments