Hasta La Gadget!

You know who took the iPad 2 launch pretty seriously? Samsung, that’s who. Just as we had heard, the company’s executives were impressed by Apple’s ability to slim down its tablet and, well, it turns out that it took it as a challenge to come up with some thinner tablets of its own. That’s right, in addition to the Samsung Galaxy Tab 8.9 that we have seen repeatedly teased over the last few weeks the company’s announcing a totally revamped Galaxy Tab 10.1, and both slates are incredibly thin yet very well spec’d. On top of that, both will be the first Honeycomb tablets to stray from the pure Android 3.0 experience and add what Samsung’s taken to calling its TouchWiz UX or TouchWiz 4.0. We’ve got all the details and some hands-on impressions waiting below, so hit the break!

Updated: Samsung came clean with the pricing at its press conference this morning. The WiFi 10.1 will hit on June 8th — the 16GB version will cost you $499 and the 32GB $599. The 8.9 is $469 and $569 for 16GB and 32GB, respectively.

Continue reading Samsung Galaxy Tab 8.9 and new Galaxy Tab 10.1 hands-on: thinner than the iPad 2, dual-core power, TouchWiz 4.0

Samsung Galaxy Tab 8.9 and new Galaxy Tab 10.1 hands-on: thinner than the iPad 2, dual-core power, TouchWiz 4.0 originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 22 Mar 2011 11:01:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Google yesterday revealed suspicions that its Webmail client Gmail had been hacked by the Chinese government. Users in that country had been reporting a number of technical problems, none of which could be attributed issues on Google’s end. The company told the press, “Relating to Google there is no issue on our side. We have checked extensively. This is a government blockage carefully designed to look like the problem is with Gmail.”

The invasion is thought to be a preemptive strike against potential dissidents spurred on by the rising pro-democracy protests springing up across the Middle East–a local movement known as the “jasmine revolution.”

China today responded to Google’s comments during a press conference held earlier today, telling the press that it “is an unacceptable accusation.” Government spokeswoman Jiang Yu also called the claims “groundless.”

This isn’t the first Google has accused the Chinese government of interfering with its services in the county. In January of last year, the company told the press that it believed the company had hacked Gmail in order to gather information on human rights activists.

The Nexus S 4G will include Google Voice integration

Sprint users have something to be happy about today: A new 4G handset, the Nexus S 4G, and integrated Google Voice for all phone models.

The Nexus S 4G will be the first 4G device to come stocked with Android 2.3 Gingerbread.

The 4G model shares most of the same features as the original 3G Nexus S, including a 4-inch Super AMOLED Contour Display, a 5-megapixel back facing camera, forward-facing VGA camera, and 16 GB of onboard storage.

It can act as a 3G or 4G WiFi hotspot for up to six devices.

The Nexus S 4G also incorporates NFC technology and is powered by a 1 GHz Hummingbird processor, which is said to provide “3-D-like graphics” and support “HD-like multimedia content.”

Google’s flagship phone, the Nexus S, was first released back in December for T-Mobile. It was the first smartphone to ship with Android 2.3.

Google also announced today that Sprint subscribers now have the option to use their mobile number as their Google Voice number or replace their Sprint number with their Google Voice number. This allows calls to ring on multiple devices — such as your home phone, mobile, or computer (using Gmail) — simultaneously. Very useful if you find yourself flitting between the office, the car, and the house and don’t want to miss an important call.

The integration with Google Voice also means that Google Voice will replace Sprint voicemail, providing users with voicemail message transcriptions that can be emailed, texted, or viewed online. International calls will also follow Google Voice rates rather than Sprint’s.

Google Voice number-porting has been available for a few months, but it looks like the partnership with Sprint will make access to the service and its features much more hassle-free.

The Sprint Nexus S will be available this spring for $200 with a two-year contract, and Google Voice integration will roll out “soon.”

Introducing Nexus S 4G for Sprint and Sprint integrates Google Voice [Google Voice Blog via Android Community]

Today, on its blog, Google introduced a new, simpler Chrome icon. Overall, the icon is basically the same thing, but redesigned to be less complicated and more abstract. On its blog, Google said, “A simpler icon embodies the Chrome spirit — to make the web quicker, lighter, and easier for all.” (Plus, not it looks even less like the old Simon game.)

Can’t see the new icon in your browser yet? That’s because it’s only available to those on Chrome’s “early release channels,” but Google said that as it brings new features to the beta and stable channels over the coming weeks, the new icon will be reflected in your browser.

What do you think of the new icon? I’m guessing you either love it or hate it. Let us know in the comments.

Ah, France. Land of beautiful beaches, a respectable railway system, and more unexplained delays and work stoppages than anywhere else in the developed world. Oh, and a primary airport that forces you to use “tickets” to buy food from certain vendors and refuses to complete a CDG -> JFK flight on schedule. Gripes aside, it seems that at least one thing is getting done today over in The country of the Human Rights, with France’s data protection regulator confirming a record €100,000 fine sent over to Google in relation to improper data collection during its Street View sweeps. Granted, El Le Goog has run into privacy issues before on this very matter, but none quite as ginormous as these. The National Commission for Computing and Civil Liberties claims that the company’s infractions include “collecting passwords and email transferred wirelessly,” and its highest ever fined has been levied due to the “economic advantages Google gained from these violations.” We’re told that the company has two months to appeal the penalty, but as of now, it seems as if Google’s frightened to make any comment at all in English. Thank heavens for Translate, right?

France fines Google €100,000 for Street View privacy violations, then mulls striking for no apparent reason originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 21 Mar 2011 11:15:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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