Hasta La Gadget!

We just got a chance to mess around with ViewSonic’s upcoming ViewPad 7 (one of possibly four tablets they plan to release this year), and while it is indeed a plastic rebadge me-too Android tablet, we mean that in the best sense. Let’s take these one by one:

• Plastic: It looks and feels enough like metal / glass that we won’t fault ViewSonic for the cost savings here.
• Rebadge: ViewSonic has an exclusive on this design for its particular markets (Europe), while the OlivePad is doing its version over in India.
• Me-too: This might be the biggest knock, since ViewSonic is dropping the ViewPad into a world that’s going to be up to its knees in 7-inch Android tablets in a few month’s time.

ViewSonic wins points for an above average build quality, better than crappy LCD (it’s not great, but we’ve seen a lot worse, and the capacitive response is just fine), passable processor (a 600MHz Snapdragon won’t win any bake-offs, but it also makes Android 2.2 completely usable in our opinion), and better-than-Augen Google blessing. Check out our video hands-on after the break.

Continue reading ViewSonic ViewPad 7 video hands-on

ViewSonic ViewPad 7 video hands-on originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 01 Sep 2010 09:20:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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You may not be familiar with the Internationalen Funkausstellung Berlin — better known as IFA — but it’s a positively massive consumer electronics trade show with a European slant, and this year marks its 50th in the game. 3D television technologies and Android tablets are the early favorites to be the big themes at the show, but with LG, Samsung, and Sony all figuring prominently into the equation, it’s anybody’s guess what kinds of surprises we’re going to see over the next few days. Though the show officially kicks off this Friday, some press conferences actually start today — so keep a keen eye out for coverage!

Protip: Use our “ifa2010” tag for all the IFA news this week!

We’re live from IFA 2010! originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 01 Sep 2010 07:00:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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We’ve already heard LG talk up its forthcoming Optimus tablet, and it looks like we now have our first look at it. As you can see above in a slide apparently shown during LG’s pre-IFA Dealer Days event, the Android-based tablet is now apparently known as the “Optimus Pad,” and it’s described as boasting “superior performance” and being “thinner and lighter than many competitors’ tablets.” Not much more than that at the moment, unfortunately, but here’s hoping that “more information to come” teaser is a lead-up to a full announcement at IFA this week.

[Thanks, Nicole]

LG’s Android-based Optimus Pad gets pictured, looking tablet-like originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 31 Aug 2010 12:42:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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For all its success, the iPod touch has few dedicated media player competitors capable of matching its big-touchscreen, WiFi, and voluminous App Store. Until today. Philips just went official with its GoGear Connect featuring the full suite of Google Mobile applications pre-installed with access to the Android Market for pretty much everything else. Spec-wize we’re looking at a 3.2-inch display, WiFi, sound isolating earphones, built-in camera, and microSD slot. Sorry, no mention of the Android OS version though we’ve seen it listed at retailers with 2.1. Syncing your music is done over Bluetooth or a USB tether to your PC with Philips’ Songbird providing the software assist. The MP4 player also supports Maps and location-based services — presumably accomplished with the help of Skyhook and not via a GPS radio (though the Philips post is tagged “GPS”). Look for the GoGear Connect to land in Western Europe, China, and yes, the US, starting in late October with the price pegged at €249 (about $315) for the 16GB model.

Update: Philips got back to us with additional specs: on-board GPS and compass; 480 x 320 pixel LCD display; and support for .mp3, .wma, .m4a (AAC), .ogg, and .flac audio; .wmv, .mp4 (MPEG4 and H264 up to 720p), .avi (MPEG4 up to 720p) video; and JPEG, GIF, PNG, BMP, TIFF images. Oh, and it’s definitely Andriod 2.1.

Philips GoGear Connect is a legitimate Android-based iPod touch competitor (updated) originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 31 Aug 2010 06:35:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Insanely thin LCDs not enough for you? LG is doing some wild stuff with plasma as well at IFA this week, with its new PX950N (pictured) to supposedly be the first to nab the new 3D THX certification, and a monstrous 180-inch plasma prototype nearby to devour any other unimpressed eyeballs. Unfortunately, details are super short on the 180-inch display, which would be the world’s largest if LG is really doing this with one panel (it’s hard to tell from LG’s scant PR), but there are a few extra PX950N scraps to hold on to. The 600Hz Max Sub-field Drive plasma will support the Multi Picture Format for plugging in 3D cameras and camcorders, and has wireless AV link, DLNA, and NetCast as well. No word on sizes or prices just yet, but IFA kicks off on Wednesday, so there’s not long to wait.

LG to show first 3D THX-certified plasma at IFA alongside 180-inch 3D plasma prototype originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 30 Aug 2010 08:59:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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