Sony tablet teaser video is breathtaking, not overly informative

Woosh. Plonk. Snap. Like a highly atmospheric scene from your favorite film noir, Sony’s teaser video for the S1 and S2 tablets starts off with isolated sounds and a bit of quick motion before settling into a sumptuous, deliberately paced feast for your eyeballs. You might say it’s high art posing as a consumer electronics promo, particularly if you compare it to ASUS or Huawei’s efforts in the field. There’s sadly little in the way of new information, all we really get to witness are the reassuring Android Honeycomb software keys on the larger S1, but this “first impression” clip is the start of a series of ads revolving around a pair of alabaster figurines and their tablet-assisted love affair. Give the play button a bash for your recommended daily dose of awesome.

Sony tablet teaser video is breathtaking, not overly informative originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 17 Jun 2011 02:25:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Archos Arnova 7 hits the FCC, brings new hope to penny-pinching tablet enthusiasts

Archos Arnova 7 hits the FCC, brings new hope to penny-pinching tablet enthusiasts

For those who like their Android tablets cheap, it looks like Archos is ready to unleash yet another budget-friendly addition to the Arnova family stateside. The Arnova 7 slate has just graced the FCC, accompanied by the requisite confidentiality requests, which means we won’t get any real-deal shots of the thing, nor a full list of specs, but we did get a rather nice sketch of the WiFi tablet via the good old label-placement diagram. If that outline’s got you all worked up, the Arnova 7’s already received some pricing and spec details overseas, rocking a €99 price tag, 800×480-pixel display, and Android 2.2. Now we’ll just have to wait and see how that translates when the Arnova 7 makes its way across the pond.

Archos Arnova 7 hits the FCC, brings new hope to penny-pinching tablet enthusiasts originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 15 Jun 2011 18:01:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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HP rolls out the YouTube carpet for TouchPad slate, prices accessories (video)

Now that HP’s TouchPad has a confirmed July 1st release date, the company’s going to do its darnedest to make sure you’re excited for the slate, and the company’s starting off rather well if you ask us — instead of attempting to find a new anthem, it’s simply showing off what the dual-core tablet actually does. The nine YouTube videos after the break may not be the most exciting things you’ll watch all day, but they certainly do show off the multitasking magic of HP’s card-based operating system. If that’s not nearly enough TouchPad information, though, Geekazine also taped a 37-minute conversation with HP product manager Tim Pettitt, where he reveals that the final TouchPad won’t have a traditional gesture area, but it will recognize the traditional swipe up for opening and closing apps. By the by, all the TouchPad’s accessories have now been priced: you’ll drop $30 for a charger, $50 for the official folding case, $70 for the Bluetooth keyboard, and $80 for the new Touchstone dock. Pricey.

Continue reading HP rolls out the YouTube carpet for TouchPad slate, prices accessories (video)

HP rolls out the YouTube carpet for TouchPad slate, prices accessories (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 13 Jun 2011 02:01:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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HTC Flyer drops by the FCC again, this time with T-Mobile friendly GSM bands

The WiFi-only HTC Flyer tablet touched down last month without a peep from Carly and pals, but those magenta-tinted marketing plans are looking far more likely now — a GSM-based Flyer just hit the FCC with support for T-Mobile’s 3G bands. Visually and functionally, it looks like the same savory slate we saw tested in April, except with the all-important 1700MHz frequency commonly used by T-Mobile for HSPA cellular data. There’s still no word on pricing or availability, but Sprint’s EVO View 4G variant is pegged for June 24th, and rumor has it that T-Mobile could release the Flyer on the sixth of next month.

HTC Flyer drops by the FCC again, this time with T-Mobile friendly GSM bands originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 12 Jun 2011 13:21:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Apple returns a few Verizon iPad 2s to sender (updated: some got through)

Several 9to5Mac readers noticed a rather peculiar phenomenon this last week — their freshly-ordered Verizon iPad 2 units shipped all the way from China just fine, only to boomerang back to sender right before delivery time. Now, Reuters has the official word: Apple’s recalling an “extremely small number” of Verizon iPad 2s which were flashed with a duplicate MEID code. Should they have been delivered, users would probably have found themselves unable to connect to 3G, or booted off before long, as Verizon reportedly can only have one device with that unique identifier on the network at once. We’re not sure whether to applaud, but it’s good to see manufacturers taking responsibility for their hardware before it hits shelves.

Update: We spoke with Apple about this, who wouldn’t give us much beyond the official quote — which is, for the record: “Duplicate MEID codes were flashed onto an extremely small number of iPad units for the Verizon 3G network.” That said, we were able to confirm that a few of these 3G iPad 2s sneaked through and got into the hands of customers. Apple is, of course, replacing those free of charge, so if you’re in possession of a brand new iPad that was never able to get on 3G… you know who to call.

[Thanks to everyone who sent this in]

Apple returns a few Verizon iPad 2s to sender (updated: some got through) originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 11 Jun 2011 18:11:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Vodafone UK bids adieu to Galaxy Tab 10.1v, likes its slates skinny

Back in February, it looked like Vodafone UK was more than happy to get its hands on the original Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1v, but with the impending UK release of a younger, slimmer model, the carrier is giving the 10.1v the boot. According to some helpful tipsters, customers who showed early interest in the thicker version of the tablet have received an “important update” from Vodafone saying, “We’ve decided to add the slimmer Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1 to our range, which will now take the place of the Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1v.” The landing page for the original 10.1 has also been removed from Vodafone’s website. Looks like it’s a sad day for our friends across the pond who like their tabs with a little extra cushion, not to mention an 8 megapixel camera.

[Thanks to everyone who sent this in]

Vodafone UK bids adieu to Galaxy Tab 10.1v, likes its slates skinny originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 09 Jun 2011 16:00:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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InFocus Mondopad is a 55-inch multitouch display with an identity crisis (video)

What do you get when you mix buzzwords like “cloud” and “tablet” with an enourmous multi-touch monitor? The InFocus Mondopad, that’s what. The company anticipates that this 55-inch 1080p high-definition panel “wall tablet”, equipped with WiFi and a 720p webam / soundbar, will bring pad-like functionality to your next presentation in a big way. The proprietary software mimics the feel of a mobile OS — only bigger and blander looking — with basic apps like a whiteboard and web browser, as well as support for Office, JPG, and PDF files. Also inside is Intel’s vPro tech, enabling remote access and file sharing with mobile devices — or having dual-screen sessions with a 58-inch iPhone table, for instance. Pre-ordering one will run you $5,949 for delivery in July and VoIP service through Vidtel will cost $49 a month per connection. No word yet on whether a more portable version is the works, but you’ll find some PR and a video walkthrough after the break.

Update: We’ve been informed by InFocus that the Mondopad is running Windows 7 along with pre-loaded apps.

Continue reading InFocus Mondopad is a 55-inch multitouch display with an identity crisis (video)

InFocus Mondopad is a 55-inch multitouch display with an identity crisis (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 09 Jun 2011 09:48:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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OnLive Player app for iPad and Android tablets meets the public at E3 (update: hands-on)

We already got a chance to try out OnLive on the HTC Flyer early but now the company has made its plans official at E3, announcing a Player app will bring internet-streamed gaming to the iPad and Android tablets this autumn. Just as we saw, the apps allow for tablets to be used as the screen and touch / motion controller, touch / motion controller for games on an HDTV, or screen for games being played with the new universal wireless gamepad. The fun isn’t limited to just tablets though, the app will work the same way on smaller Android and iOS mobile devices. We’ll head over to South Hall and get some hands-on experience with the apps for ourselves shortly, until then you can check out an E3 trailer and all the details in the press release and after the break.

Update: We just got our hands on an early build of the tablet app on a Motorola Xoom, and we have to say it looks fairly promising — OnLive added a basic touchscreen overlay that could make sense for games that don’t require dual-analog support. Of course, you’ll want that fancy new universal wireless controller if you plan to take a hardcore FPS (like Homefront) on the go. Sadly, the tablet-as-TV-controller functionality wasn’t ready for prime time, but we did get a peek at a game designed specifically for the touchscreen interface: Ubisoft’s From Dust will have an OnLive-specific SKU. Get a glimpse at Homefront and From Dust via OnLive in the video below.

Update 2: We’re hearing that the OnLive Player will probably come to the HTC Flyer in August, and begin hitting other tablets in September and October.

Continue reading OnLive Player app for iPad and Android tablets meets the public at E3 (update: hands-on)

OnLive Player app for iPad and Android tablets meets the public at E3 (update: hands-on) originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 07 Jun 2011 18:11:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Huawei teases MediaPad, gives its other tablets a complex

Huawei stopped just short of using the word “magical” when it sent out a note teasing its forthcoming MediaPad tablet (it’s probably for the best, we’re told some other company has that market cornered). The Shenzhen-based manufacturer did promise a device “guaranteed to transform” your entertainment experience, however — hyperbole that’s not particularly surprising for a company with a propensity for spicing up public statements with quotes from our 16th president. Not a heck of a lot to announce in the spec department, aside from this being Huawei’s “smartest” and smallest tablet — and certainly it does seem pint-sized in the above shot, or else that’s a watch face worthy of Flavor Flav. We’ll know more when the company webcasts the official announcement on June 20th, ahead of Singapore’s CommunicAsia conference. In the meantime, how about an old fashioned Honeycomb upgrade, to keep the S7 Pro‘s spirits high?

Huawei teases MediaPad, gives its other tablets a complex originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 06 Jun 2011 16:46:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Sony’s dual-screen S2 tablet hits the FCC, boasting AT&T-ready cellular frequencies

Regardless of how you might feel about the potential dangers of electromagnetic radiation, it came in mighty handy today — identifying this brand-new Sony S2 tablet headed to the USA. The FCC recently got a glimpse at Sir Howard’s dual-screen Honeycomb clamshell, and thanks to the public portion of their reports, we’ve got some crucial specs: the Sony “SGPT211US” will sport 2.4GHz 802.11 b/g/n WiFi, Bluetooth, and most tellingly, 850MHz and 1900MHz 3G bands suggesting a launch on AT&T. Now, those frequencies are certainly also used by several prominent Canadian carriers, but it just so happens that this particular model tested is a US variant — with others designated for Canada and Japan — and this particular cellular module is the Ericsson F5521gw, which means we could even be looking at 21Mbps HSPA+ speeds. Before you start speculating, however, there’s one more crucial spec to share: the prototypes apparently have a removable 3080mAh lithium-ion battery pack. Swell.

Continue reading Sony’s dual-screen S2 tablet hits the FCC, boasting AT&T-ready cellular frequencies

Sony’s dual-screen S2 tablet hits the FCC, boasting AT&T-ready cellular frequencies originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 04 Jun 2011 23:01:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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