The worst drop any of your gadgets are likely to suffer is a couple of feet. Maybe a little more if you’re dangling one over the edge of a balcony or drop it down the stairs or something. But gadgets, no matter how robust, aren’t build to handle more than that. That’s why this 65-foot drop test is insane and frankly unfair (if you take it seriously, anyway). It’s also kind of awesome. More »
In some respects, the iPad mini was a disappointment. Despite the hour’s worth of hyperbole at Apple’s press event, the tablet itself was an exercise in parts bin engineering – the processor from an old iPhone, the screen resolution from an old iPad – without the game-changing element that (yes, whether innovation or derivation) has punctuated Cupertino launches of before. Yet, despite more powerful, or pixel-dense, or flexible rivals beside it, the iPad mini has quickly become my go-to slate. The reason behind that is the hardest to quantify and yet, perversely, may be the most important for why we choose the devices we reach for. Science fiction has a lot to answer for, at least for my expectations of tablets.
Some sort of thin, highly portable slate appears in most sci-fi franchises, and we don’t generally concern ourselves with whether Picard is an iOS or an Android user. Star Trek’s generic PADD (“Personal Access Display Device”) is the default example; not for nothing are the physical computing interfaces used in sci-fi super-author Iain M. Banks’ Culture novels described inexplicitly as “screens”, their names boiled down to the core of their purpose.
Regular people aren’t particularly bothered by platform wars, they’re more interested in what a device can do for them. Like the characters in the post-cornucopia world Banks describes, it’s convenience that triumphs over OS affection. Which device is the first you reach for when you need to check Facebook, or Twitter, or your email.
It’s easy to lose track of “normal” users. That’s not even drawing a line between the tech enthusiasts who write device reviews and those who read them; it’s the gaping chasm between that cohort and their more sanguine counterparts in the mass market. Users for whom the “appliance” aspect of a tablet is entirely in keeping with the manner of its daily use: it must do its job, predictably, when picked up; offer sufficient multimedia, apps, and content to warrant having it in the first place; and – arguably most difficult to achieve – be something those users want to pick up in the first place.
The iPad mini grows on you because it ticks that final, core box with aplomb. Early reviewers fought bitter battles with those who had only seen the smaller iPad on their computer screens, desperately attempting to put into words and photos and video what comes down to a visceral reaction around a lissom slice of metal and glass. It embodies that science-fiction fantasy of a wireless window into the digital world.
In contrast, Google and ASUS’ Nexus 7 – which I have, and which I love, and which I have suggested to many as an ideal, affordable tablet – sets out its stall at the budget end of the market, and in doing so sacrifices the just-rightness of feel in your hand. The compromises Google and ASUS made in design and materials, though no less valid for their intended purpose than the decisions Apple came to in creating the iPad mini, leave me reaching for the iOS model first when functionality could be served by either.
“Ironically, Samsung actually got there first”
Ironically, perhaps, Samsung actually got there first with the Galaxy Tab 7.7, but failed over pricing. The 7.7-inch tablet was quietly replaced earlier this year by a more inexpensive alternative, Samsung having discovered part of what stopped Apple from using Retina: that a small, high-resolution, high-quality display looks great, but few people will actually pay for it. For the Galaxy Tab 7.7 specifically, its 1280 x 800 Super AMOLED HD panel and slick metal chassis were simply too rich for most buyers’ wallets, especially given Verizon’s $500 on-contract pricing for the sole model officially offered in the US.
Could Apple have launched the first-gen iPad mini with Retina? Marco Arment has said better than I could the challenges Apple faced had it tried to squeeze Retina resolution into the tablet. As he concludes, the final product – while it may have delivered that all-important pixels-per-inch figure – would have been a more meager offering overall, with varying degrees of sacrifice in battery life, bulk, and price.
Is it shallow to value the aesthetic and its approachability even when it comes at a price, whether that be in purely financial terms or in specifications? Maybe, and yet to some extent we all do it and thus it is a valuable metric in itself (or perhaps we’d all be using command line interfaces on clunky beige boxes rather than MacBooks, VAIOs, and whichever ultrabook is flavor of the moment). This isn’t a level playing field; not all things are equal. Not everybody has more than one tablet within arm’s reach. Not every app we simply must have access to is available on every device. Personal taste and platform loyalty often trump more rational decisions based on need, and budget, and what “does the job.”
I’m not saying the iPad mini is the best tablet out there. “Fit for purpose” means different things to different people; if you’re a gamer, or want to watch HD video, or do multimedia editing on your slate; or, if you need direct compatibility with Office, or the usability of a keyboard developed hand-in-hand with the tablet hardware itself; then there are alternatives more suited to those needs. But, with all that said – and here perhaps Apple should worry, as since its “cheaper” tablet arrived, I’ve hardly reached for the full-sized iPad 3 that sits on the shelf beside it, another victim to ease-of-use and hand appeal – the iPad mini has become the most used of the tablets I own.
The iPad mini won me over (and Star Trek is to blame) is written by Chris Davies & originally posted on SlashGear.
© 2005 – 2012, SlashGear. All right reserved.
If you are a proud owner of the Google Nexus 7, is everything about your tablet running fine and dandy, that you have nary a complaint against it? If you have answered in the affirmative, then all is peachy keen. There are others who do not seem to have the kind of rub of the green that you do, where some folks claimed to have experienced intermittent screen flickering that it had to be sent it for a warranty replacement. In fact, one particular owner claimed that the replacement model itself was no good, and had to be sent in for another replacement, too. The screen flickering problem is a known issue where the Google Nexus 7 is concerned, and it seems to happen most commonly whenever the screen’s brightness remain low, with a mostly white page being displayed, while you leave Wi-Fi connectivity turned on and it is transferring data.
Yes, that does sound like a whole lot of parameters as it remains the most common scenario when such a thing happens, although some others did notice the screen flicker issue appear when reading even with Wi-Fi connectivity turned off. I guess there are more than the first set of parameters which could trigger this annoying behavior. It does not seem to be a software issue, either, as an update to Android 4.2 failed to address such unbecoming behavior.
By Ubergizmo. Related articles: Nexus 4 and Nexus 10 shipments in the U.S. begins, 32GB Nexus 7 with HSPA+ sells out, Ubergizmo Gadget Guide – Nov 2012,
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,
| This post is sponsored by eBay. From the new to the hard to find, when it’s on your mind, it’s on eBay |
We are fast approaching the “decision” moment for the holiday purchases, and while you still have time, why not start wrapping your head around those cool gadgets, many of which came out just recently. While previous guides were specific to laptops or smartphones, this one is more generic and include cameras, tablets and audio accessories. We look at a lot of devices, and we’ve compiled a list with some of our favorites – we can’t put all of them in there, but at the end of the day, we all have choices to make 
(more…)
By Ubergizmo. Related articles: T-Mobile’s unsubsidized Nexus 4 will cost you $499, Google Nexus 7 32GB tablet with 3G now available for purchase,
If you stay in the US, then you would be pleased to hear that the Google Nexus 7 32GB tablet with 3G is now available for purchase, where you will need to part with $299 if you want to bring this bad boy home. Available in its unlocked form, the Google Nexus 7 32GB tablet with 3G did manage to go through the nuances over at the FCC recently, where it will run on the latest Android 4.2 Jelly Bean operating system, carry an empty SIM card slot so that you can place a compatible SIM card inside to have it play nice with HSPA+ connections from more than 200 GSM operators worldwide should there be no Wi-Fi connection in the vicinity, while maintaining a similar overall fit and finish as with the original. Definitely worth checking out if you are into the 7” tablet category and yet do not want to have anything to do with Apple.
By Ubergizmo. Related articles: Google Nexus 7 explodes, leaves behind a melted mess, If You Bought a Nexus 7 in October, Google Wants To Give You Money,
The Nexus 7 is arguably one of the best Android tablets out on the market currently, and for a $200 starting price for 16GB, there’s not a lot to complain about. However, if you’re wanting a Nexus 7 with 3G capabilities and want it unlocked, it’s only $100 more. Plus, it comes in a lone 32GB variant with an AT&T SIM card.
The 3G-enabled tablet is shipping now, and Google says that it’ll take 3-5 business days to reach your front door. The Nexus 7 has a 7-inch 1280×800 HD IPS display (216 ppi) with an NVIDIA Tegra 3 quad-core processor and 1GB of RAM. It also comes with 802.11 b/g/n WiFi, Bluetooth, and even NFC capabilities.
The Nexus 7 runs Android 4.1 Jelly Bean out of the box, but it’s upgradeable to Google’s latest Android version, which is 4.2 Jelly Bean. The tablet weighs just 0.75 pounds and is only 10.45mm thick, which might not be as impressive as the iPad‘s thinness, but for a $300 tablet, you still really can’t go wrong.
The 3G version of the Nexus 7 is shipping now, and it costs $299. This will get you the 3G, as well as 32GB of storage, and an AT&T SIM card, but the tablet comes unlocked out of the box and is compatible with GSM, UMTS, and HSPA+ networks. Get it now in the Google Play store while it’s still hot.
Nexus 7 with 3G now shipping is written by Craig Lloyd & originally posted on SlashGear.
© 2005 – 2012, SlashGear. All right reserved.
Google is pushing out Android 4.2 Jelly Bean to Galaxy Nexus owners via an over-the-air update, but if you’re impatient there are ways to jump the queue and grab the upgraded OS direct. The firmware for the GSM version of the Galaxy Nexus (i.e. not Verizon’s LTE-equipped handset) is available to download from Google’s servers, for manual flashing. Meanwhile, the v4.2 ROM for the Nexus 7 is also available.
For the Galaxy Nexus, you’ll need to download the “takju” ROM from the following link, and then install it to your phone. There are manual ways of doing that, or you can rely on the old Android app favorite, ClockworkMod’s ROM Manager, a free download from the Play store.
As for the Nexus 7, the process is similar. You’ll need to download the Jelly Bean update ZIP from the following link, and again use either ROM Manager or the manual method to install.
If all that sounds like too much hard work, you might be better off waiting for Google’s OTA update to arrive. That should happen over the next few days.
[via Al Sutton and via Android Police]
Android 4.2 manual install for Galaxy Nexus and Nexus 7 goes live is written by Chris Davies & originally posted on SlashGear.
© 2005 – 2012, SlashGear. All right reserved.
Google’s new Nexus 4 went up for sale in Europe and Australia this morning, promptly selling out in minutes and leaving potential customers furious at the stability of the Play store. The new smartphone – which hit Google’s virtual shelves alongside the Nexus 7 and Nexus 10 tablets, supplies of some of which are patchy – lured buyers in with its competitively low unsubsidized price, to the point where the Play store apparently couldn’t handle the influx of users and threw up numerous errors.
Would-be shoppers have complained that the store was not only sluggish or unresponsive, but that frequent shopping basket errors meant that, by the time they got to the checkout stage, the device they were attempting to buy had been removed. By the time many managed to get the store to respond properly, Google’s initial supplies of the Nexus 4 were apparently exhausted.
In the UK for instance, both the 8GB and 16GB versions of the smartphone now say “Notify me!” rather than offering a purchase option. For the Nexus 7, all three versions – 16GB WiFi, 32GB WiFi, and 32GB WiFi + HSPA+ – are listed as in stock, with 3-5 day ship estimates.
As for the Nexus 10, the Samsung-made tablet – which out-Retina’s Apple’s own iPad with its high-resolution display – is still showing stock available for the 16GB WiFi model, but the 32GB WiFi model is sold out.
Without knowing exactly how many devices Google had in-stock on day one, it’s hard to say exactly how much of a success – or otherwise – the Nexus 4 launch has been. Selling out of the 16GB version in 15 minutes (and the 8GB in under half an hour) certainly indicates there’s some demand there, though Google’s inability to prepare sufficient devices (and a store capable of handling the interest) means those left peeved may well outnumber those who actually managed to order a phone.
You can find our full review of the Nexus 4 here, while our review of the Nexus 10 is here. Did you manage to get your order in in time? Let us know in the comments.
Nexus 4 sells out in UK in 30 minutes as Play woes prompt anger is written by Chris Davies & originally posted on SlashGear.
© 2005 – 2012, SlashGear. All right reserved.
The Google Nexus 7 has been doing pretty well on its own all this while, but it seems that an extremely tiny percentage of this particular tablet has yet to pass the stringent quality control marks – word has it that a Chinese owner of the Google Nexus 7 left his tablet to charge for three hours, before it experienced a “Flame on!” moment. There were instances of people in the past who seeked for attention by placing their devices in microwaves as well as trying different methods of burning their gizmos, there has been no immediate or hard evidence of foul play for the Google Nexus 7 that you see on the right.
After having contacted Asus, the man was sent a replacement Nexus 7 – which is a nice touch from Asus as the company starts to begin a thorough investigation of the explosion’s cause. What do you think of the Google Nexus 7 here – is it the real deal, and one of the extremely rare, if not only story of an exploding Google Nexus 7 to date, or is it a self-inflicted injury? Perhaps the person bricked his device, and the short cut to a new Nexus 7 would be by coming up with such a story. A little too tall for some folks’ tastes, perhaps?
By Ubergizmo. Related articles: If You Bought a Nexus 7 in October, Google Wants To Give You Money, Google’s Nexus 7 tablet reportedly selling nearly 1 million units every month,
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