The tablet market went through some huge changes in 2012. Apple finally introduced a (somewhat) more affordable iPad. Microsoft released Windows 8 and launched its own hardware. And for the first time, every major player had a tablet that was actually, you know, good. More »
The holidays are approaching fast, and it’s time to start picking up some gifts: for friends, family, even yourself. But when you’re picking out what to go with, it’s sometimes wise to stay away from the absolute best. Sometimes you just want the best value—something that’s worth every shiny, hard-earned penny. More »
If you just bought one of those fancy new Nexus 10 tablets and are looking to get just a little more out of the device, CyanogenMod 10.1 nightly builds are ready for download, right on the heels of the same nightly builds for the Nexus 4, which came out a few days ago. If you’re wanting to get into some high-resolution hacking, now is your first chance.
While the Nexus 10 already has Android 4.2 Jelly Bean on board, the CyanogenMod 10.1 nightlies (based on 4.2 as well), will provide Nexus 10 owners a chance to see what third-party developers have planned for the new tablet. Obviously, these nightly builds are in their alpha stages, so you should expect them to be a little buggy and unstable.
Of course, before installing these CyanogenMod builds, you’ll need some know-how on rooting, flashing, etc., so if you feel the least bit uncomfortable performing such tasks, it’s probably best you leave your Nexus 10 untouched, especially since the smallest mistake could end up bricking your device.
We’re not sure when stable builds will be available for the Nexus 10 (or the Nexus 4 for that matter), but it should only be a matter of time after seeing these nightly builds being posted up. We honestly can’t wait to see what the hacking community will do with the high-resolution display of the Nexus 10. Hopefully we’ll see something good soon.
Nexus 10 receives CyanogenMod 10.1 nightlies is written by Craig Lloyd & originally posted on SlashGear.
© 2005 – 2012, SlashGear. All right reserved.
Tablets will be the must-have gift of 2012, the trend-watchers tell us, but that means a whole lot of slates competing for your dollar. This year has seen Apple raise its game with a second size option, while Android has evolved into a legitimate alternative, and Microsoft has made its own play for the market with Windows RT. Which tablet to pick if you don’t want to be standing in the returns line the morning after? Read on for the SlashGear suggestions.
Smaller tablets – the roughly 7- to 8-inch category have had a mixed history, starting out life as simply oversized phones, but developing into legitimate devices in their own right in 2012. Best value for money is Google’s Nexus 7, delivering the pure Android experience from $199 (and with an unlocked 3G model for those wanting proper connectivity on the move), though we also rate Barnes & Noble’s NOOK HD. Again priced from $199 (though with less storage than the Nexus 7: 8GB versus 16GB) the NOOK HD has an excellent display and a customized interface that’s arguably better suited to ebook and multimedia consumption.
The iPad mini was a late entrant into the small tablet space, but by sticking with the legacy resolution – albeit in a 7.9-inch display – Apple has made sure its new model has access to all the old apps. That’s a compelling argument when the holiday gift wrap comes off and eager owners want to explore the capabilities of their new toy. At $329 for the cheapest model (from $459 for the 4G version, which we also rate) it’s not inexpensive, but it’s an all-round package you can rely on.
Bigger tablets have been dominated by the iPad with Retina display, and Apple’s 9.7-inch model (from $499) is still a strong contender. Like the iPad mini, it has a wealth of app options, but it also throws in an excellent display while still managing 10+ hours of runtime. Its screen, meanwhile, gets some impressive competition from Google’ new Nexus 10, undercutting the full-sized iPad by $100 and out-pixeling it with a fantastic 2560 x 1600 display. We’re yet to see apps that take full advantage of that resolution, however, though the Nexus 10 does a great job with multimedia and web browsing.
Microsoft’s Surface RT is an odd beast. The Windows RT tablet starts from $499, but arguably only really makes sense when you pair it with a Touch Cover keyboard-case, taking the starting price to $599. If you’re a Windows fan then the Surface makes sense, as does using it as a laptop alternative, though a paucity of apps means it struggles to compete like-for-like with the iPad still. Consider an expensive IOU for the Surface Pro, which runs full Windows 8 (and thus all legacy apps too) from $899 in the new year.
Honorable Mention: Is it a tiny tablet? Is it a massive smartphone? Is it somewhere in-between, and one of the best arguments for mobility convergence around so far? Samsung’s Galaxy Note II pushes the envelope with its 5.5-inch display, and while probably fitting more into the phone category, deserves highlighting for those that want some of the benefits of a tablet’s bigger screen but still would prefer to carry a single device. From $300 with a new, two-year agreement (or $650 on a T-Mobile pre-paid) it’s not cheap, but it’s definitely capable.
Still need more tablet inspiration? Check out our full tablet reviews hub!
SlashGear 2012 Holiday Gift Guide: Tablets is written by Chris Davies & originally posted on SlashGear.
© 2005 – 2012, SlashGear. All right reserved.
This morning, Google began rolling out the Android 4.2.1 Jelly Bean update for the LG Nexus 4 and Nexus 10 devices. A few hours later, an update for the Nexus 7 joined into the mix, and now, finally, an update has also been pushed out for the HSPA+ Galaxy Nexus. The update isn’t huge, and brings with it some minor changes and fixes.
The update brings with it several small fixes that are relatively minor in nature. Perhaps the most notorious change is that of adding the month of December back to the people app, something they forgot to include the first time around. Also fixed are some issues with Bluetooth and wireless Internet connectivity.
While it is a minor update, users are reporting massive speed improvements on their Nexus 7 devices over at Android Community. Presumably, those using one of the other Nexus devices will also see speed improvements. One user also reports that screen rotation seems faster, and that audio “choppiness” experienced when streaming music via Bluetooth has been reduced substantially.
The easiest way to get the update, obviously, is to wait for the over-the-air notification to arrive. If you’re feeling impatient, however, you can download the updates via the links below, or, perhaps a bit easier, you can manually check for updates via Settings. Have you updated your Nexus device? Let us know what you think in the comments!
Download: Android 4.2.1 for Nexus 7
Download: Android 4.2.1 for Galaxy Nexus
[via Android Community]
Nexus 7 and HSPA+ Galaxy Nexus get Android 4.2.1 update is written by Brittany Hillen & originally posted on SlashGear.
© 2005 – 2012, SlashGear. All right reserved.
With the rollout of a major OS upgrade like Android 4.2, we can imagine it’s easy to forget something, but Google’s omission of the entire month of December in the People app was certainly a doozy. The beauty of the Nexus program is that Google can rectify little issues like that post-haste, however, and Mountain View has now rolled out Jelly Bean 4.2.1, a small update that adds back that all-too-important month. So far, Nexus 4 and 10 users have reported getting the update, according to XDA Developers, though there’s no evidence yet of any other fixes. Check your Nexus device (or the source) to see if it’s arrived in time for, you know.
Update: Looks as if the Nexus 7 is a go, too!
Filed under: Cellphones, Tablets, Software, Google
Via: Talk Android
Source: XDA Developers (forum)
If you wanted to score the Google Nexus 10 – never mind if it is the 16GB or 32GB models, then you would know that they have been out of stock in a short while after it was officially released. Well, fret not – we do know that a magical factory somewhere in this world has been working overtime to ensure that everyone who wants a Nexus 10 will soon be able to get their hands on one, and the day has arrived. The 16GB as well as 32GB models of the Google Nexus 10 is said to have been restocked over at the Google Play Store.
Just a quick look at some of the more notable specifications which the Google Nexus 10 packs – it will come with a 10” display, sport Wi-Fi only connectivity, and have Android 4.2 Jelly Bean as the operating system of choice. Touted to boast the “world’s highest resolution” display at 2560×1600 pixels, it is certainly quite the killer in the 10” tablet market. Too bad shipment continues to remain at 2 to 3 weeks, and there has yet to be more word on the Google Nexus 4’s availability.
By Ubergizmo. Related articles: Nexus 4 and Nexus 10 shipments in the U.S. begins, 32GB Nexus 7 with HSPA+ sells out, Nexus 4 and Nexus 10 Get Android Update Before Availability,
The Nexus 10 is pretty pretty, but what do it’s innards look like? Powerbook Medic found out when they vivisected one of the impressive new $400 tabs, and laid out its guts for all of us to see. More »
Earlier today, we showed you the Nexus 4 getting its time on the surgery table, and now Google’s new 10-inch tablet, the Nexus 10, is making its teardown debut. The folks at PowerbookMedic (not iFixit for once) are the first to publish a comprehensive photo essay of taking apart the Nexus 10. The result ended up being a pretty easy tablet to take apart.
The most notable aspect that the disassemblers noticed was how easy the Nexus 10 tablet was to disassemble compared to the iPad. While Apple likes to tighten up their products and make them hard to repair, Google and Samsung took an entirely different approach with the Nexus 10, making the whole device way easier to take apart than any of Apple’s iOS devices.
The back cover takes nothing but a screwdriver, a suction cup, and little bit of force to separate it from the display, and thus revealing the internal components that make the tablet sing. Removing the battery is also really easy, and the connector is made of rubber instead of plastic, which makes it more durable and less likely to break during a repair.
It seems a lot of the components are held in with just #00 philips screws and not a lot of glue like you would see inside the iPad. It certainly makes disassembly a lot easier and the repairability is top notch. As expected, the Nexus 10 runs on Samsung’s hardware, including the Exynos 5 Dual chipset, as well as the battery and flash memory.
[via PowerbookMedic]
Nexus 10 gets complete teardown is written by Craig Lloyd & originally posted on SlashGear.
© 2005 – 2012, SlashGear. All right reserved.
We’ve got good news for those of you who were able to order Google’s Nexus 4 and Nexus 10 via Google Play on Tuesday, November 13th. We are now hearing multiple reports that Google is now shipping Nexus 4 and Nexus 10 orders to early buyers and that UPS tracking numbers have been sent out. For instance, AndroidandMe is reporting that its Nexus 10 has already shipped, although the Nexus 4 that they ordered is still in pending status.
Google is shipping via UPS 2nd Day Air, which means that some orders could arrive tomorrow, Friday, or at most on Monday next week. To check for the status of your order, just visit your account on Google Play. Who knows, maybe it’s already coming. We recently reviewed the two Nexus devices. You can check out the Nexus 4 review here and the Nexus 10 here. Meanwhile, the Nexus 7 with HSPA+ has sold out on Google Play. Of course, that is somewhat expected. The model is praised for its larger 32GB storage and cellular data capabilities – features that weren’t previously available.
By Ubergizmo. Related articles: Nexus 4 and Nexus 10 Get Android Update Before Availability, Rumor: The Nexus 10 Will Have a 2560×1600 Screen,
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