With nine shirts in 70 colour options Glenmuir’s Men’s Classic Shirts range continues to be ever-popular with golfers - and the latest collection features four vibrant new designs.
Spring/Summer 2011 sees the introduction of ‘Ralia’, ‘Atholl’, ‘Tomatin’ and ‘Garvald’ and Glenmuir has injected a riot of colour with bright Mango, electric Kingfisher blue and Hot Pink featuring across the board alongside more traditional colours.
Ralia is a 100% cotton honeycomb pique in eight solid colours with the Glenmuir 1891 logo embroidered on right sleeve. For clubs looking for teamwear, the shirt co-ordinates with ladies 'Sophie' shirt and Boy's 'Rory' to enable teams to have a consistent look. Sizes available are S-XXL, while the colours on offer are Hot Pink, White, Navy, Peapod, Mango, Black, Kingfisher, Light Blue.
Atholl is a 100% cotton single jersey featuring a pattern of three contrast colour narrow stripes and Glenmuir embroidery on right sleeve. Available sizes are S-XXL and the colour scheme comprises a White base with Navy, Hot Pink and Stone narrow stripes; Black with Mango, Peapod and Winter White; and Kingfisher blue with Mercury, Yellow and Stone stripes.
Tomatin is easily identifiable with its contrast shoulder panels and body seam tipping distinguishing the new 100% cotton honeycomb pique polo. With Glenmuir 1891 embroidery on the right shoulder this shirt co-ordinates with the Junior 'Leon'.
Garvald is a 100% cotton honeycomb pique shirt that not only looks great on the fairway, but can be worn casually off the course while still looking ultra fashionable. Fans of timeless solid colour polos with two stripes on the collar and cuff will love the classic 'Mod' design. The embroidered Glenmuir 1891 logo appears on the right shoulder, sizes are S-XXL and colours available comprise Navy with White/Hot Pink collar trim; Winter White with Peapod and Mango trim; Mercury, with yellow and White trim.
Glenmuir’s Men’s Classic Shirts are particularly popular at busy golf clubs where there is a strong demand for club and team cresting on good quality, hard-wearing shirts.
To reflect this, the colour stories for its existing Classic Shirts range - Lonie (nine colours), Angus (seven colours), Mull (18 colours), Moffat (12 colours) and the long-sleeved Lewis (seven colours) - have been increased too.
For Spring/Summer 2011 Glenmuir offers a fully-coordinating collection of clothes and accessories with three new and modern colour schemes: Hot Summer where bright pink combines with navy, white and stone; Tequila Sunrise, with stunning mango and peapod accent colours against white, khaki and black; and Cool Waves, where vibrant kingfisher blue sits alongside yellow, black, white and mercury.
2011年4月28日 星期四
Scott Brothers Introduces New Honeywell Evaporative Coolers In Time For Summer 2011
Scott Brothers Ltd., the specialist distributor of innovative portable cooling solutions and storage products for the home, announces the launch of the new Honeywell CO301PC and CL60PM evaporative air coolers. The new air coolers deliver the large air flow necessary for outdoor applications and are also suitable for indoor use, making them ideal for staying cool over the summer months.
The Honeywell Evaporative Air Cooler model CO301PC is a rugged yet elegant outdoor evaporative air cooler with a touch control panel and full function remote control, enabling the user to achieve their desired temperature with ease. The cooler is an ideal outdoor air cooling system for gardens and patios and its modern design makes it suitable for offices, shops, reception areas and banks.
Equipped with a powerful airflow of 1410m3/hr and a low energy motor of 250 watts, the CO301PC is an environmentally friendly yet robust cooler system. Its 30 litre water capacity dramatically reduces air temperature providing sufficient cooling to any space and its slim-line design makes it portable and easy to move around where needed. The cooler also comes with a direct water feed which has a built-in overflow protection system making refilling the water tank hassle-free.
The Honeywell Evaporative Air Cooler model CL60PM is an ideal air cooler for both indoor and outdoor environments. Its impressive water capacity can hold up to 60 litres and contains a built in overflow protection system, allowing the CL60PM to be left unattended for longer periods of time and making it perfect for commercial applications, such as warehouses, marquees and gyms. The CL60PM is one of the most powerful air cooling systems in the Scott Brothers range with an airflow of 2610 m3/hr and a 220 watts motor system. Its 40-cm fan blade and three side honeycomb cooling capability enables high performance and ultimate cooling even in large open areas.
Duncan Pratt-Thompson, General Manager at Scott Brothers Ltd., comments, “The Honeywell CO301PC and CL60PM coolers are the newest additions to our air cooler range and provide a powerful and economical way to deliver a constant flow of fresh, filtered air to large areas. Scott Brothers Ltd has been appointed as the sole distributor of the Honeywell Evaporative Air Cooler model CO301PC and CL60PM for UK and Ireland.”
With a continuous water supply connection, the Honeywell evaporative air coolers are extremely energy efficient and simple to use. Low cost and low energy, the air coolers are an environmentally friendly alternative to refrigerative fixed air conditioning. Unlike conventional air conditioners, evaporative coolers require fresh air and if used indoors, work best with open doors and windows. Cooling the air by an evaporation process, the temperature of the room is reduced and a constant flow of fresh, cool air is simultaneously delivered.
The Honeywell Evaporative Air Cooler model CO301PC is a rugged yet elegant outdoor evaporative air cooler with a touch control panel and full function remote control, enabling the user to achieve their desired temperature with ease. The cooler is an ideal outdoor air cooling system for gardens and patios and its modern design makes it suitable for offices, shops, reception areas and banks.
Equipped with a powerful airflow of 1410m3/hr and a low energy motor of 250 watts, the CO301PC is an environmentally friendly yet robust cooler system. Its 30 litre water capacity dramatically reduces air temperature providing sufficient cooling to any space and its slim-line design makes it portable and easy to move around where needed. The cooler also comes with a direct water feed which has a built-in overflow protection system making refilling the water tank hassle-free.
The Honeywell Evaporative Air Cooler model CL60PM is an ideal air cooler for both indoor and outdoor environments. Its impressive water capacity can hold up to 60 litres and contains a built in overflow protection system, allowing the CL60PM to be left unattended for longer periods of time and making it perfect for commercial applications, such as warehouses, marquees and gyms. The CL60PM is one of the most powerful air cooling systems in the Scott Brothers range with an airflow of 2610 m3/hr and a 220 watts motor system. Its 40-cm fan blade and three side honeycomb cooling capability enables high performance and ultimate cooling even in large open areas.
Duncan Pratt-Thompson, General Manager at Scott Brothers Ltd., comments, “The Honeywell CO301PC and CL60PM coolers are the newest additions to our air cooler range and provide a powerful and economical way to deliver a constant flow of fresh, filtered air to large areas. Scott Brothers Ltd has been appointed as the sole distributor of the Honeywell Evaporative Air Cooler model CO301PC and CL60PM for UK and Ireland.”
With a continuous water supply connection, the Honeywell evaporative air coolers are extremely energy efficient and simple to use. Low cost and low energy, the air coolers are an environmentally friendly alternative to refrigerative fixed air conditioning. Unlike conventional air conditioners, evaporative coolers require fresh air and if used indoors, work best with open doors and windows. Cooling the air by an evaporation process, the temperature of the room is reduced and a constant flow of fresh, cool air is simultaneously delivered.
2011年4月26日 星期二
Sony unveils S1 and S2 Honeycomb tablets
WSJ and Engadget already have images of the tablet.
The S1 tablet is a 9.4-inch screen with a curvy design, front and rear-facing cameras. The S1 will have a Tegra 2 SoC GPU, a "quick and smooth" touch panel UI with a "swift" web browser, according to Engadget. Not only will the tablet run games, applications and a web browser, but it can used as a remote control for your Sony electronics with the built-in infrared.sonytablets1
The S2 is a much different approach to a "tablet", where this model will have two smaller screens and be able to fold in half. The S2 will come with dual 5.5-inch screens with a 1024 x 480 pixel display, Tegra 2 SoC GPU, and two cameras.
sonytablets2
Both the S1 and S2 will be fully capable of playing PlayStation games, although the catalog of what games will be available was not mentioned, we can assume it will support PlayStation 1 games, like the Motorola Xoom does.
The twin tablets will be support WiFi and 3G/4G and will be available this fall.
The S1 tablet is a 9.4-inch screen with a curvy design, front and rear-facing cameras. The S1 will have a Tegra 2 SoC GPU, a "quick and smooth" touch panel UI with a "swift" web browser, according to Engadget. Not only will the tablet run games, applications and a web browser, but it can used as a remote control for your Sony electronics with the built-in infrared.sonytablets1
The S2 is a much different approach to a "tablet", where this model will have two smaller screens and be able to fold in half. The S2 will come with dual 5.5-inch screens with a 1024 x 480 pixel display, Tegra 2 SoC GPU, and two cameras.
sonytablets2
Both the S1 and S2 will be fully capable of playing PlayStation games, although the catalog of what games will be available was not mentioned, we can assume it will support PlayStation 1 games, like the Motorola Xoom does.
The twin tablets will be support WiFi and 3G/4G and will be available this fall.
Sony unveils Honeycomb based S1, S2 Tablets
Sony has finally joined the tablet scene by unveiling two Android 3.0 Honeycomb based tablets codenamed S1 and S2 (dual screen). These two tablets would be PlayStation Certified so you can play PlayStation titles meant for Android platform. Users will also be able to stream music and videos through Sony's Qriocity multimedia content streaming service. Packing dual-core Nvidia Tegra 2 SoC processor, these new tablets would be available later this year in Fall (late September). At this moment, both tablets don't bear any brand name and Sony's referring to them as - Sony tablet to extend its VAIO products family.
Finally, even Sony has joined the rich and heavily competitive tablet segment. Two months ago, we reported about the S1 PlayStation tablet and here we have it. Today that report has finally turned true and we have the Sony tablet codenamed S1. Its 9.4-inch touchscreen display is big enough to enjoy web browsing and multimedia content. As of now, it's too early to determine whether this screen would be LCD or OLED display.
The S1 has a unique 'wrap design' that looks as if a magazine has been folded and the press images clearly show it. In a way, that wrap will proved a bit of an elevation to keep the top part higher for ease of typing over the onscreen keyboard. Under the hood, S1 houses a dual-core Nvidia Tegra 2 System on Chip processor which will power the Google Android 3.0 Honeycomb operating system. Sony has customized the touch panel UI to be "quick and smooth" and the web browsing will be powered with "swift" web browser. S1 tablet has two cameras for video chat as well as imaging - front facing and back panel.
Users will be able to browse, download and read eBooks from the Reader Store eBook store of Sony. The S1 tablet also has an Infrared Port (yeah!) to make it act like a universal remote for broader range of DLNA certified electronics.
At first, the S2 tablet appears to be a stretched Nintendo DS in a clamshell form factor. The S2 tablet has dual touchscreen displays where each screen is 5.5-inch and 1024x480 pixel resolution. Even S2 is equipped with dual-core Nvidia Tegra 2 SoC processor and it too has Android 3.0 Honeycomb running on it. What would be interesting is to use both panels independently for same or different purposes. For instance, if you are browsing on the top panel, then the bottom touchscreen panel will show on-screen keyboard for text input.
Sony has equipped both tablets with Wi-Fi and WAN (3G/4G) but there are several other details about the hardware that are missing. As of now, this is just an announcement and in due course of time, we'll get to see most important detail - the price of these Android 3.0 Honeycomb based tablets.
Finally, even Sony has joined the rich and heavily competitive tablet segment. Two months ago, we reported about the S1 PlayStation tablet and here we have it. Today that report has finally turned true and we have the Sony tablet codenamed S1. Its 9.4-inch touchscreen display is big enough to enjoy web browsing and multimedia content. As of now, it's too early to determine whether this screen would be LCD or OLED display.
The S1 has a unique 'wrap design' that looks as if a magazine has been folded and the press images clearly show it. In a way, that wrap will proved a bit of an elevation to keep the top part higher for ease of typing over the onscreen keyboard. Under the hood, S1 houses a dual-core Nvidia Tegra 2 System on Chip processor which will power the Google Android 3.0 Honeycomb operating system. Sony has customized the touch panel UI to be "quick and smooth" and the web browsing will be powered with "swift" web browser. S1 tablet has two cameras for video chat as well as imaging - front facing and back panel.
Users will be able to browse, download and read eBooks from the Reader Store eBook store of Sony. The S1 tablet also has an Infrared Port (yeah!) to make it act like a universal remote for broader range of DLNA certified electronics.
At first, the S2 tablet appears to be a stretched Nintendo DS in a clamshell form factor. The S2 tablet has dual touchscreen displays where each screen is 5.5-inch and 1024x480 pixel resolution. Even S2 is equipped with dual-core Nvidia Tegra 2 SoC processor and it too has Android 3.0 Honeycomb running on it. What would be interesting is to use both panels independently for same or different purposes. For instance, if you are browsing on the top panel, then the bottom touchscreen panel will show on-screen keyboard for text input.
Sony has equipped both tablets with Wi-Fi and WAN (3G/4G) but there are several other details about the hardware that are missing. As of now, this is just an announcement and in due course of time, we'll get to see most important detail - the price of these Android 3.0 Honeycomb based tablets.
2011年4月24日 星期日
Lenovo ThinkPad Tablet leaks out with Honeycomb, IPS screen, optional stylus and keyboard folio?
Remember the ultra-thin Lenovo ThinkPad X1 we detailed just a few hours ago? The document that dished those secrets also mentioned an "X Slate," which made us wonder if Lenovo's LePad was finally hitting the states... but This is my next seems to have stumbled across a grander piece of technology than that oft-delayed slate. According to a presumably leaked company presentation, Lenovo's planning to release an Android 3.0 tablet this July with a giant raft of specs -- a 10.1-inch 1280 x 800 IPS capacitive multitouch panel, a Tegra 2 processor, up to 64GB of storage, front and rear cameras, a full-size USB 2.0 port, mini-HDMI out, a genuine SD card reader and up to 8 hours of purported battery life in a package about 14mm thick and weighing 1.6 pounds.
What's more, it will reportedly have an optional dual-digitizer with "true pen support" and an optional keyboard case, possibly aping ASUS's recent Slate and Transformer tablet input mechanisms by allowing for both simultaneously. There's also apparently plenty of software support for the business-minded, including IT integration as well as anti-theft and remote wipe options, and all this will apparently start at the competitive price of $499 -- assuming these documents are legitimate and still valid. You see, they look a little preliminary for a slate supposedly sampling in just a couple of months, and there are contradictions here and there, such as the mention of a 1080p display in one slide, and some watermarks from 2009 in others. Still, Lenovo, if you're indeed producing a tablet today, we're liking its proposed specs -- don't suppose we can get a Tegra T25 chip while you're at it? Find a few extra renders and plenty of slides at our source link.
What's more, it will reportedly have an optional dual-digitizer with "true pen support" and an optional keyboard case, possibly aping ASUS's recent Slate and Transformer tablet input mechanisms by allowing for both simultaneously. There's also apparently plenty of software support for the business-minded, including IT integration as well as anti-theft and remote wipe options, and all this will apparently start at the competitive price of $499 -- assuming these documents are legitimate and still valid. You see, they look a little preliminary for a slate supposedly sampling in just a couple of months, and there are contradictions here and there, such as the mention of a 1080p display in one slide, and some watermarks from 2009 in others. Still, Lenovo, if you're indeed producing a tablet today, we're liking its proposed specs -- don't suppose we can get a Tegra T25 chip while you're at it? Find a few extra renders and plenty of slides at our source link.
1-2-KNOW: The transformer
TABLETS are fun to use, but don’t you just miss the keyboard? The Asus Eee Pad Transformer gives you the best of both worlds by combining the tablet formfactor and functionality with expandable keyboard docking station that also doubles as extended battery module.
The Transformer runs on Android 3.0 Honeycomb operating system coupled with Asus’ own Waveshare user interface to cater to social networkers as well as roadwarriors. Boasting NVIDIA Tegra 2 dual-core processor, the Transformer is a speedy multitasking machine.
Its specifications include 25cm scratch-resistant glass IPS panel, five megapixel rear camera and 1.2 megapixel front camera, HD video playback support with mini HDMI output port and SRS Sound technology. Connect this 680g tablet to its docking station and it becomes a netbook.
Add in its touchpad, 3.5mm audio jack, two USB ports as well as a built-in SD Card reader for easy file sharing and storage expandability makes the Transformer a versatile media hub. The docking station also extends the Transformer’s 9.5 hours of battery life to 16 hours.
The Transformer runs on Android 3.0 Honeycomb operating system coupled with Asus’ own Waveshare user interface to cater to social networkers as well as roadwarriors. Boasting NVIDIA Tegra 2 dual-core processor, the Transformer is a speedy multitasking machine.
Its specifications include 25cm scratch-resistant glass IPS panel, five megapixel rear camera and 1.2 megapixel front camera, HD video playback support with mini HDMI output port and SRS Sound technology. Connect this 680g tablet to its docking station and it becomes a netbook.
Add in its touchpad, 3.5mm audio jack, two USB ports as well as a built-in SD Card reader for easy file sharing and storage expandability makes the Transformer a versatile media hub. The docking station also extends the Transformer’s 9.5 hours of battery life to 16 hours.
2011年4月23日 星期六
A Taste of Honeycomb
Remember our jaunt with the Motorola XOOM? Well its Mini Me offered the same Android 3.0 Honeycomb goodness. The T-Mobile G-Slate was yet another reason not to go back to an older Android device, thanks to its exceedingly intuitive interface. But let's get the specs out of the way first. The tablet utilizes the same NVIDIA Tegra 2 Dual Core processors (1GHz at each core) as the XOOM, though we experienced a more fluid performance from the G-Slate. For some reason, the XOOM loved to Force Quit applications unexpectedly, but we only went through this on rare occasions with the G-Slate, primarily in the Android Market. The T-Mobile G-Slate also has Wi-Fi, Stereo Bluetooth 2.1, 4G (HSPA+), 3G, and Edge networks.
If you haven't had a chance to play with Honeycomb yet, it improves upon the uniform feeling we attainted from the previous versions of Android. First off, controls are less obtrusive. We have simple Back, Home, and Menu touch controls in the bottom left corner of the screen. We can bring up a menu of recently used applications in one touch, or summon our Applications control panel by tapping and holding on any one of the 5 Home screens. Customizing Home screens was a snap, as we were given a tabbed menu system containing all of our Widgets, Applications, Shortcuts, etc. and could drag them onto any one of the home screens located above in a diagram format. Not only was Honeycomb a sight for sore eyes, but it specialized in efficiency, getting us in and out with ease.
Unlike the XOOM, the G-Slate's battery performance was not as impressive, lasting less than a day before needing a charge. This was with mild Internet browsing, camera use, gaming, and standby time, so be prepared to throw the charger in on a nightly basis.
Internet
The T-Mobile G-Slate's Flash support made browsing almost as functional as what we would expect on our MacBook Pro. Videos could be played right from within the browser, and we had the option of popping out to YouTube if we needed more of a video fix. Browsing was very quick, and certain pages loaded just as fast as our laptop machines. We even had the luxury of multiple windows arranged in a tabbed structure, giving us the ability to alternate between open pages. The Forward, Back, and Refresh buttons reminded us that we were a world apart from the tiny, cramped smartphone screens of today, and we could even search for keywords on web pages, view page info, History, and add Bookmarks with ease.
As a dedicated Internet tablet, the G-Slate hits a home run with the same ferocity as the XOOM. If you live within HSPA+ zones, it'll whipcrack pages with lightning speed, though we were stranded based on our location, and could only take advantage of Wi-Fi. This is crucial, expecially for those that travel frequently. If 4G connectivity is limited, then so is your Internet access, and ultimately your productivity on the road. Ask yourself how much you'll be traveling with it. If Wi-Fi is the main focus, then the G-Slate would be great for anyone.
If you haven't had a chance to play with Honeycomb yet, it improves upon the uniform feeling we attainted from the previous versions of Android. First off, controls are less obtrusive. We have simple Back, Home, and Menu touch controls in the bottom left corner of the screen. We can bring up a menu of recently used applications in one touch, or summon our Applications control panel by tapping and holding on any one of the 5 Home screens. Customizing Home screens was a snap, as we were given a tabbed menu system containing all of our Widgets, Applications, Shortcuts, etc. and could drag them onto any one of the home screens located above in a diagram format. Not only was Honeycomb a sight for sore eyes, but it specialized in efficiency, getting us in and out with ease.
Unlike the XOOM, the G-Slate's battery performance was not as impressive, lasting less than a day before needing a charge. This was with mild Internet browsing, camera use, gaming, and standby time, so be prepared to throw the charger in on a nightly basis.
Internet
The T-Mobile G-Slate's Flash support made browsing almost as functional as what we would expect on our MacBook Pro. Videos could be played right from within the browser, and we had the option of popping out to YouTube if we needed more of a video fix. Browsing was very quick, and certain pages loaded just as fast as our laptop machines. We even had the luxury of multiple windows arranged in a tabbed structure, giving us the ability to alternate between open pages. The Forward, Back, and Refresh buttons reminded us that we were a world apart from the tiny, cramped smartphone screens of today, and we could even search for keywords on web pages, view page info, History, and add Bookmarks with ease.
As a dedicated Internet tablet, the G-Slate hits a home run with the same ferocity as the XOOM. If you live within HSPA+ zones, it'll whipcrack pages with lightning speed, though we were stranded based on our location, and could only take advantage of Wi-Fi. This is crucial, expecially for those that travel frequently. If 4G connectivity is limited, then so is your Internet access, and ultimately your productivity on the road. Ask yourself how much you'll be traveling with it. If Wi-Fi is the main focus, then the G-Slate would be great for anyone.
The Only Honeycomb Tablet You Should Buy
This year Google debuted Android 3.0 (Honeycomb)—the first version of its mobile operating system designed for large-screen tablets. The OS shows a lot of promise and has some clear advantages over the Apple iPad 2 like better multitasking and a Web browser that supports Adobe Flash. The Motorola Xoom was the first tablet available to feature Honeycomb and now new models from Acer, Asus, and Samsung are imminent. But I think you should skip them. If you want a Honeycomb tablet, I suggest waiting for Google's own Nexus Tablet, which is rumored to be released later this year. Here's why: Just like with Android smartphones, Google's Nexus-branded handsets are the only models that get prompt software updates.
The now-discontinued Google Nexus One and recently released Google Nexus S are the only Android phones running the most-current version of the OS that's designed specifically for smartphones—Android 2.3.3. And that's because Google directly supports these phones. Every other Android phone on the market is running a version of Android that's about a year old. Even Google admits that only 1.7 percent of all Android phones are running Android 2.3.3. You should never buy a phone, a tablet, or a computer that has a history of going a year without getting a software update—that's just a waste of your money.
While iPads and iPhones aren't for everyone, Apple does have a sterling track record when it comes to updating its iOS devices promptly and frequently. Choosing a tablet that will deliver prompt updates should not be a feature you compromise on. It should be a requirement. Updates offer better performance, add functionally, and fix critical bugs. The Android 2.3.3 performance improvements are considerable—they include boosts in speed, responsiveness, and battery life. Featurewise, Android 2.3.3 adds a new multitouch on-screen keyboard, a new way to copy and paste and a redesigned UI to take advantage of high-contrast OLEDs. It also fixes a bug that can occasionally cause your Android smartphone to send a text message to the wrong contact. If there were a bug in Honeycomb that accidentally sends an e-mail message to the wrong contact, and Google issued a fix, you'd be wishing you had the Nexus tablet, because it would come with prompt updates.
I've seen rumors that LG will be making the hardware for the Google Nexus Tablet. (HTC made the Google Nexus One and Samsung made the Google Nexus S.) Perhaps it will debut next month at Google's I/O developer conference.
Like I mentioned earlier, the first Honeycomb tablet, the Motorola Xoom runs Android 3.0. It's fresh now, but just wait for the next major version of Android for tablets to come out, and see how long it takes for Motorola to issue an update. Based on the company's awful track record of supporting its smartphones, it's unlikely the Motorola Xoom will get quick updates.
Only Google's Nexus-branded line of hardware has an A+ track record of delivering updates, while other vendors simply fail. It doesn't look like anyone is learning any lessons either, just take a look at the upcoming Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1. This tablet blends the Honeycomb OS with Samsung's non-removable TouchWiz interface. Most all of Samsung's Android Smartphones feature TouchWiz— I find that it just gets in the way. Generally, when a manufacturer customizes Android, it's not good for the user. The customizations are typically non-removable, add a layer of confusion, and just end up being bloatware. And Samsung is even worse than Motorola at issuing updates. Its Galaxy S phone for Verizon, the Fascinate, was released last summer with Android 2.1, even after 2.2 was available, and only this week received its 2.2 update.
You shouldn't get serious about buying a Google Android tablet until manufacturers get serious about supporting them, or Google introduces its own Nexus tablet.
The now-discontinued Google Nexus One and recently released Google Nexus S are the only Android phones running the most-current version of the OS that's designed specifically for smartphones—Android 2.3.3. And that's because Google directly supports these phones. Every other Android phone on the market is running a version of Android that's about a year old. Even Google admits that only 1.7 percent of all Android phones are running Android 2.3.3. You should never buy a phone, a tablet, or a computer that has a history of going a year without getting a software update—that's just a waste of your money.
While iPads and iPhones aren't for everyone, Apple does have a sterling track record when it comes to updating its iOS devices promptly and frequently. Choosing a tablet that will deliver prompt updates should not be a feature you compromise on. It should be a requirement. Updates offer better performance, add functionally, and fix critical bugs. The Android 2.3.3 performance improvements are considerable—they include boosts in speed, responsiveness, and battery life. Featurewise, Android 2.3.3 adds a new multitouch on-screen keyboard, a new way to copy and paste and a redesigned UI to take advantage of high-contrast OLEDs. It also fixes a bug that can occasionally cause your Android smartphone to send a text message to the wrong contact. If there were a bug in Honeycomb that accidentally sends an e-mail message to the wrong contact, and Google issued a fix, you'd be wishing you had the Nexus tablet, because it would come with prompt updates.
I've seen rumors that LG will be making the hardware for the Google Nexus Tablet. (HTC made the Google Nexus One and Samsung made the Google Nexus S.) Perhaps it will debut next month at Google's I/O developer conference.
Like I mentioned earlier, the first Honeycomb tablet, the Motorola Xoom runs Android 3.0. It's fresh now, but just wait for the next major version of Android for tablets to come out, and see how long it takes for Motorola to issue an update. Based on the company's awful track record of supporting its smartphones, it's unlikely the Motorola Xoom will get quick updates.
Only Google's Nexus-branded line of hardware has an A+ track record of delivering updates, while other vendors simply fail. It doesn't look like anyone is learning any lessons either, just take a look at the upcoming Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1. This tablet blends the Honeycomb OS with Samsung's non-removable TouchWiz interface. Most all of Samsung's Android Smartphones feature TouchWiz— I find that it just gets in the way. Generally, when a manufacturer customizes Android, it's not good for the user. The customizations are typically non-removable, add a layer of confusion, and just end up being bloatware. And Samsung is even worse than Motorola at issuing updates. Its Galaxy S phone for Verizon, the Fascinate, was released last summer with Android 2.1, even after 2.2 was available, and only this week received its 2.2 update.
You shouldn't get serious about buying a Google Android tablet until manufacturers get serious about supporting them, or Google introduces its own Nexus tablet.
G-Slate a powerful, but pricey iPad competitor
This week we have the G-Slate from LG and wireless carrier T-Mobile, the first 4G-enabled tablet to run on Google’s superb Android 3.0 (Honeycomb) operating system.
The G-Slate is the second major contender set to try to topple the Apple iPad’s overwhelming supremacy, after the Motorola Xoom’s February release on the Verizon network.
Motorola hasn’t released sales numbers, but analysts expect the Xoom to ship just 300,000 units this quarter, while the iPad is expected to sell as many as 60 million units in 2011.
The G-Slate is $529.99 after a $100 mail-in rebate and a two-year contract with T-Mobile. The tablet costs $749.99 without a wireless contract.
Attractive specs
It’s a beautiful widescreen package that is exactly what we’ve come to expect from these Android tablets.
Fast. Powerful. Feature-packed.
The G-Slate has two 5-megapixel cameras on the back that allow for 3D or HD video recording, a front-facing camera for video chat, 32 GB of internal memory and an NVIDIA Tegra 2 dual-core 1 GHz processor.
The 3D video recording is more a gimmick than anything, but it’s a fun gimmick. The tablet comes with one pair of 3D classes to watch your video back. Videos can also be sent out via HDMI to an HD television.
The G-Slate will connect to a WiFi network or T-Mobile’s HSPA+ network, which the carrier is calling 4G. It’s a souped-up version of the carrier’s 3G network that it says will bring much faster download speeds.
In my testing of T-Mobile’s HSPA+ network, I saw download speeds approach 4 or 5 megabits per second , a definite increase over regular 3G speeds.
Verizon’s 4G network will soon come to the Xoom through a free hardware upgrade. It will bring consistent speeds approaching 15 megabits per second.
The one downside I found with the G-Slate’s hardware was that it felt heavier than it should. At 1.3 pounds, it’s just 0.03 pounds lighter than the iPad even though its footprint is considerably smaller.
Software still lacking
The Android tablet ecosystem is still lacking a significant, polished app presence, however. The number of tablet-optimized apps has increased a bit since the Xoom’s release, but don’t expect more than several dozen.
That pales in comparison to the Apple iPad, which has well more than 65,000 apps designed for the tablet’s larger screen.
The overall Honeycomb experience is still very slick, though. The home screen widgets, which we first saw with the Xoom, are a great way to see information at a glance. Things like email messages, calendar events and Web bookmarks display directly on the home screen, saving you a click or two to see what’s inside.
One of my main beefs with Android, though, still exists on the G-Slate: the Gmail inbox is still inexplicably relegated to a separate app than all other email accounts.
The G-Slate does have support for Adobe Flash video after a software download, although the experience is often a bit choppy.
Price game
The biggest customer repellent built into the G-Slate will almost surely be its price.
The G-Slate, along with other Android tablets, charges a purchase-prohibitive premium to buy it without a two-year wireless contract.
If you’re fine with your home’s WiFi connection -- as millions of iPad customers are -- you’ll have to shell out just shy of $750 for the 32 GB G-Slate. That’s $150 more than a similarly outfitted iPad.
As great as these Android tablets are, that’s a high bar to clear.
Competition can only be good for the tablet market and I eagerly await some serious competition to shake iPad’s dominance.
The G-Slate is the second major contender set to try to topple the Apple iPad’s overwhelming supremacy, after the Motorola Xoom’s February release on the Verizon network.
Motorola hasn’t released sales numbers, but analysts expect the Xoom to ship just 300,000 units this quarter, while the iPad is expected to sell as many as 60 million units in 2011.
The G-Slate is $529.99 after a $100 mail-in rebate and a two-year contract with T-Mobile. The tablet costs $749.99 without a wireless contract.
Attractive specs
It’s a beautiful widescreen package that is exactly what we’ve come to expect from these Android tablets.
Fast. Powerful. Feature-packed.
The G-Slate has two 5-megapixel cameras on the back that allow for 3D or HD video recording, a front-facing camera for video chat, 32 GB of internal memory and an NVIDIA Tegra 2 dual-core 1 GHz processor.
The 3D video recording is more a gimmick than anything, but it’s a fun gimmick. The tablet comes with one pair of 3D classes to watch your video back. Videos can also be sent out via HDMI to an HD television.
The G-Slate will connect to a WiFi network or T-Mobile’s HSPA+ network, which the carrier is calling 4G. It’s a souped-up version of the carrier’s 3G network that it says will bring much faster download speeds.
In my testing of T-Mobile’s HSPA+ network, I saw download speeds approach 4 or 5 megabits per second , a definite increase over regular 3G speeds.
Verizon’s 4G network will soon come to the Xoom through a free hardware upgrade. It will bring consistent speeds approaching 15 megabits per second.
The one downside I found with the G-Slate’s hardware was that it felt heavier than it should. At 1.3 pounds, it’s just 0.03 pounds lighter than the iPad even though its footprint is considerably smaller.
Software still lacking
The Android tablet ecosystem is still lacking a significant, polished app presence, however. The number of tablet-optimized apps has increased a bit since the Xoom’s release, but don’t expect more than several dozen.
That pales in comparison to the Apple iPad, which has well more than 65,000 apps designed for the tablet’s larger screen.
The overall Honeycomb experience is still very slick, though. The home screen widgets, which we first saw with the Xoom, are a great way to see information at a glance. Things like email messages, calendar events and Web bookmarks display directly on the home screen, saving you a click or two to see what’s inside.
One of my main beefs with Android, though, still exists on the G-Slate: the Gmail inbox is still inexplicably relegated to a separate app than all other email accounts.
The G-Slate does have support for Adobe Flash video after a software download, although the experience is often a bit choppy.
Price game
The biggest customer repellent built into the G-Slate will almost surely be its price.
The G-Slate, along with other Android tablets, charges a purchase-prohibitive premium to buy it without a two-year wireless contract.
If you’re fine with your home’s WiFi connection -- as millions of iPad customers are -- you’ll have to shell out just shy of $750 for the 32 GB G-Slate. That’s $150 more than a similarly outfitted iPad.
As great as these Android tablets are, that’s a high bar to clear.
Competition can only be good for the tablet market and I eagerly await some serious competition to shake iPad’s dominance.
Dell Leak Reveals Streak Pro, Lattitude Specs
Another Dell tablet roadmap has leaked, this time revealing detailed specs, names, and target release dates for Dell’s upcoming tablet devices. So what does the Streak maker have lined up? It has one 10-inch Android business tablet, perhaps the same we caught a brief glimpse of at CES, one previously-announced Windows convertible, and a Windows 7 slate, scheduled for release in June, July, and October, respectively.
The report refers to the ten-inch Streak as the Streak Pro, conflicting an earlier report that Dell was thinking of ditching the Streak branding. It will run Android Honeycomb, and like the other ten-inch tablets on the block, sport a 1280 x 800 resolution. It will also feature Dell’s Stage 1.5 UI overlay and a NVIDIA Tegra T25 chip.
According to a Tegra product roadmap, the dual-core A9 (1.2GHz) T25 will be “the World’s First Mobile 3D processor,” with support for a 3D display. Though, it's doubtful the Streak Pro will be 3D ready, as it is likely a business device.
At a Dell Means Business event in San Francisco last February, Dell officially announced a ten-inch Android tablet. That, combined with the mention of the “enterprise application stack” in the leaked document, suggest Dell is targeting the enterprise with its new Android tablet.
New Latitude and Slate
The report also detailed the upcoming Latitude XT-3 that Dell announced in February. The XT-3 will be a 13-inch convertible running on an Intel Huron River Core i3, i5 or i7 processor. All the other typical convertible goodies will be present, including Windows 7, active pen support (previously confirmed as N-trig), and a host of enterprise-class security features , inputs and outputs.
Dell will also be applying its business-brand, Latitude, to its upcoming Windows 7 Slate, the Latitude ST, which was also previously revealed at the same Dell Means Business event. This 10-inch slate (1366 x 768) will ship sporting an Intel Oak Trail 1.5 GHz processor, 2GB of RAM, and up to a 128GB solid state drive. It will have two cameras (1.3-megapixel front and five- rear), GPS, accelerometer, 1080p output, active pen support, and could go up to eight hours between charges.
This report deviates slightly from the Dell roadmap also leaked in February, which turned heads with a possible Windows 8 tablet listed for Q1, 2012.
HTC Flyer preorders start Monday at Best Buy
HTC Flyer fans, you’re wait is nearly over. As we reported here, Best Buy is now making it official with preorder details and pricing. Beginning on Monday, April 25, 2011, you will be able to pre-order the WiFi version of the Android Tablet for $499 through the Best Buy website. One thing though, the Flyer will not come with Android 3.0 (Honeycomb), but has Android 2.3 (Gingerbread) preloaded instead, with HTC Sense. Google hasn’t made Honeycomb available just yet to HTC. And it may not, since we reported last month that Google is requiring separate license for the Honeycomb OS and is blocking updates from all Android 2.x tablets.
It’s unclear if Google just isn’t ready to release the OS to HTC or if licensing issues will prevent it. But that would be a blow to what has been a very hyped up tablet which users are waiting to get their hands on. In the same article mentioned above, however, it says that only certain models of the HTC Flyer will be prevented from getting a Honeycomb update. So it may prove wise to wait on ordering until the situation clears itself up.
The HTC Flyer is a unique design which goes back to using a Stylus thanks to it’s Scribe technology. It’s power by a single core 1.5GHz Qualcomm processor, and a 7-inch screen with 1024 x 600 resolution. It can store plenty of data on it’s 16GB of internal storage, which can be boosted thanks to it’s microSD card slot. The Flyer will be in stores by May 9th.
It’s unclear if Google just isn’t ready to release the OS to HTC or if licensing issues will prevent it. But that would be a blow to what has been a very hyped up tablet which users are waiting to get their hands on. In the same article mentioned above, however, it says that only certain models of the HTC Flyer will be prevented from getting a Honeycomb update. So it may prove wise to wait on ordering until the situation clears itself up.
The HTC Flyer is a unique design which goes back to using a Stylus thanks to it’s Scribe technology. It’s power by a single core 1.5GHz Qualcomm processor, and a 7-inch screen with 1024 x 600 resolution. It can store plenty of data on it’s 16GB of internal storage, which can be boosted thanks to it’s microSD card slot. The Flyer will be in stores by May 9th.
2011年4月21日 星期四
Motorola Xoom review by 3G.co.uk
Style and handling summary for Motorola Xoom review
The Android Honeycomb operating system is the smoothest version of Android we’ve seen, and the black, solid body is safe but inspiring
User friendliness summary for Motorola Xoom review
The Android version that has been designed for tablets offers ease of use and an intuitive form, which offers a tidy way to customise home screens and a super new notifications system
Feature set summary for Motorola Xoom review
The first Honeycomb tablet is filled with goodies: a dual-core 1GHz chip with 1GB of RAM, two snappers, a full HTML tabbed browser, support for playing loads of online video including Flash, plus a 10.1 multi-touch-display.
Performance summary for Motorola Xoom review
While the operating systems offers speedy, slick multitasking and an intuitive operation, the Xoom feels as if it isn’t quite finished, as most of our downloaded apps kept crashing. The lack of choice when it comes to tablet apps could put off some prospective buyers.
Battery power summary for Motorola Xoom review
Battery life is better than average, as you’ll get through a few days between charges
The Android Honeycomb operating system is the smoothest version of Android we’ve seen, and the black, solid body is safe but inspiring
User friendliness summary for Motorola Xoom review
The Android version that has been designed for tablets offers ease of use and an intuitive form, which offers a tidy way to customise home screens and a super new notifications system
Feature set summary for Motorola Xoom review
The first Honeycomb tablet is filled with goodies: a dual-core 1GHz chip with 1GB of RAM, two snappers, a full HTML tabbed browser, support for playing loads of online video including Flash, plus a 10.1 multi-touch-display.
Performance summary for Motorola Xoom review
While the operating systems offers speedy, slick multitasking and an intuitive operation, the Xoom feels as if it isn’t quite finished, as most of our downloaded apps kept crashing. The lack of choice when it comes to tablet apps could put off some prospective buyers.
Battery power summary for Motorola Xoom review
Battery life is better than average, as you’ll get through a few days between charges
2011年4月20日 星期三
Buy the Asus Eee Pad Transformer now
When we first saw the Asus Eee Pad Transformer back at CES in January, we never anticipated that Asus would get it on sale so quickly. We expected it to be just another of Asus’ harebrained schemes that never really quite came off, and yet here we are, three months on, and we’re holding not just the cheapest Android Honeycomb tablet, but the best one too.
Build
It’s what’s in the Asus Eee Pad Transformer that counts, not the look of it. When laid flat on a surface it looks like your average 10.1-inch tablet, but the underside is a bronze mess. It’s sporting the same mottled design that we’ve seen on many an Eee PC, but this time, it’s pure metal.
That results in a sturdy finish – it certainly feels more premium than the more expensive Xoom, but it is however, a chunkster at 680g. Compared to the waif like iPad 2, there’s no competition. It sounds vain, but we urge you to at least handle one of Apple’s babies before ordering either way – those extra millimetres really do make a discernible difference.
Asus has positioned the lock button on the side, a much more sensible spot than the back of the tablet (Yes we mean you Motorola), but loses a lot of goodwill for using a proprietary port for connecting via USB and charging. You’ll also find a mini HDMI port on the side for screen mirroring on your telly – that requires a different cable than the micro HDMI port on other new phones and tablets, but in our experience it’s one that’s a bit easier to come by. You don’t get one in the box, but it’s not a key feature by any means.
Screen
We’ve got to hand it to Asus here: this is the best capacitive touchscreen we’ve ever seen on a tablet priced to undercut the iPad. It’s far brighter than the display on the first Honeycomb tablet, the Motorola Xoom, with broad viewing angles – hardly surprising when you consider the panel uses IPS tech, just like an iPad.
We’ve had the privilege of being able to test a lot of tablets, and we have to admit we do think Apple’s made the correct compromise with its more square screen ratio. The 1280×800 resolution on Honeycomb tablets we’ve seen so far results in a slate that’s just far too wide, and top heavy when held in portrait mode since it’s so long. But it’s a matter of personal preference, and you won’t be disappointed by the colour at any rate.
Android Honeycomb
For a while, it looked like Google had managed to keep tablet makers from messing with the vanilla Android 3.0 experience. That’s quite evidently not the case with the Asus Eee Pad Transformer however, which sports a custom look and exclusive apps all of its own. But you know what? Asus has pulled off the rare feat of actually improving on Android.
Check out our best Android tablet Top 5 now
The homescreen weather widget and redesigned navigation icons are of no particular interest, but we’re really quite taken with the keyboard. Asus and Asus alone has apparently realised that on a tablet there’s actually enough space to include a separate line for numbers as well as one for word prediction – the result is an extremely fast typing experience for a slate of this size.
The custom apps are also welcome, including a DLNA media streaming app, cloud storage and remote desktop access. But our issues with Honeycomb itself still apply. Apps designed for Android on mobile work with varying degrees of success – Flash works fine but the BBC iPlayer app, which uses Flash, does not – and the number of Honeycomb tablet apps is meagre.
It’s still a complete guessing game as to where the options and settings buttons on an app are going to appear, the browser can still conk out on you and there’s the odd delay swiping through screens, tapping on text fields and loading up apps which can frustrate on occasion. In other words, this is a rewarding and powerful tablet OS, but one that will require some patience. If you don’t have that, get an iPad.
Performance and battery life
Honeycomb tablets continue to impress us with their longevity: you can get a solid eight hours of use out of the Asus Eee Pad Transformer with brightness high, Wi-Fi on and email syncing away in the background. Left on overnight with email whirring away still it tends to lose about 10 percent of its battery life – switch account syncing to manual and it’ll go for much more.
Best Android apps of all time: Top 100
It’s more of a mixed bag when it comes to hardware – this is another dual-core Nvidia Tegra 2 tablet that doesn’t quite feel like it’s living up to its hardware potential, except when it’s playing back HD video. Why on earth is there lag, ever, just moving across homescreens?
Build
It’s what’s in the Asus Eee Pad Transformer that counts, not the look of it. When laid flat on a surface it looks like your average 10.1-inch tablet, but the underside is a bronze mess. It’s sporting the same mottled design that we’ve seen on many an Eee PC, but this time, it’s pure metal.
That results in a sturdy finish – it certainly feels more premium than the more expensive Xoom, but it is however, a chunkster at 680g. Compared to the waif like iPad 2, there’s no competition. It sounds vain, but we urge you to at least handle one of Apple’s babies before ordering either way – those extra millimetres really do make a discernible difference.
Asus has positioned the lock button on the side, a much more sensible spot than the back of the tablet (Yes we mean you Motorola), but loses a lot of goodwill for using a proprietary port for connecting via USB and charging. You’ll also find a mini HDMI port on the side for screen mirroring on your telly – that requires a different cable than the micro HDMI port on other new phones and tablets, but in our experience it’s one that’s a bit easier to come by. You don’t get one in the box, but it’s not a key feature by any means.
Screen
We’ve got to hand it to Asus here: this is the best capacitive touchscreen we’ve ever seen on a tablet priced to undercut the iPad. It’s far brighter than the display on the first Honeycomb tablet, the Motorola Xoom, with broad viewing angles – hardly surprising when you consider the panel uses IPS tech, just like an iPad.
We’ve had the privilege of being able to test a lot of tablets, and we have to admit we do think Apple’s made the correct compromise with its more square screen ratio. The 1280×800 resolution on Honeycomb tablets we’ve seen so far results in a slate that’s just far too wide, and top heavy when held in portrait mode since it’s so long. But it’s a matter of personal preference, and you won’t be disappointed by the colour at any rate.
Android Honeycomb
For a while, it looked like Google had managed to keep tablet makers from messing with the vanilla Android 3.0 experience. That’s quite evidently not the case with the Asus Eee Pad Transformer however, which sports a custom look and exclusive apps all of its own. But you know what? Asus has pulled off the rare feat of actually improving on Android.
Check out our best Android tablet Top 5 now
The homescreen weather widget and redesigned navigation icons are of no particular interest, but we’re really quite taken with the keyboard. Asus and Asus alone has apparently realised that on a tablet there’s actually enough space to include a separate line for numbers as well as one for word prediction – the result is an extremely fast typing experience for a slate of this size.
The custom apps are also welcome, including a DLNA media streaming app, cloud storage and remote desktop access. But our issues with Honeycomb itself still apply. Apps designed for Android on mobile work with varying degrees of success – Flash works fine but the BBC iPlayer app, which uses Flash, does not – and the number of Honeycomb tablet apps is meagre.
It’s still a complete guessing game as to where the options and settings buttons on an app are going to appear, the browser can still conk out on you and there’s the odd delay swiping through screens, tapping on text fields and loading up apps which can frustrate on occasion. In other words, this is a rewarding and powerful tablet OS, but one that will require some patience. If you don’t have that, get an iPad.
Performance and battery life
Honeycomb tablets continue to impress us with their longevity: you can get a solid eight hours of use out of the Asus Eee Pad Transformer with brightness high, Wi-Fi on and email syncing away in the background. Left on overnight with email whirring away still it tends to lose about 10 percent of its battery life – switch account syncing to manual and it’ll go for much more.
Best Android apps of all time: Top 100
It’s more of a mixed bag when it comes to hardware – this is another dual-core Nvidia Tegra 2 tablet that doesn’t quite feel like it’s living up to its hardware potential, except when it’s playing back HD video. Why on earth is there lag, ever, just moving across homescreens?
2011年4月19日 星期二
BlackBerry PlayBook Review
Until today, the consumer tablet market has been defined by the battle between iPad and Android. Apple’s best-selling slate has set expectations for mobile utility and usability, managing to persuade users that – despite years of Microsoft Tablet PC promotion – the company pretty much invented the tablet segment. Google’s Honeycomb (review) has launched its offensive against the iPad titan, and now it’s the turn of RIM and the BlackBerry PlayBook. Initially billed as the enterprise-focused slate a BlackBerry phone toting business person would covet, the PlayBook’s scope has gradually grown to encompass the consumer market too. Has that spreading focus left RIM with the jack of all trades or the master of none? Check out the full SlashGear review after the cut.
A nondescript black slab measuring 7.6 x 5.1 x 0.4 inches and weighing 0.9lbs, the PlayBook is a combination of the very glossy and the pleasingly matte. The whole front is a slab of glass hiding a 1024 x 600 WSVGA LCD touchscreen, the touch-layer of which extends – Palm Pre style – off into the bezel around the panel itself. The sides and back are metal with a rubberized coating for easier grip. Ports and controls are minimal, which makes it all the more frustrating that the one button you’ll probably be spending the most time tapping, the power key, is such a frustration. Tiny, recessed and overly-sprung, it’s hard to find without looking and hard to press without jabbing the tip of your finger at just the right angle.
Next to it there are volume up/down keys flanking a play/pause button, and the 3.5mm headphone socket is on the top edge as well. On the bottom there’s a microHDMI port, microUSB port, and a proprietary charging connector for the PlayBook’s docking station. Rather than integrate the speaker grills into the sides or rear of the tablet, as we’ve seen other manufacturers do, RIM has sliced narrow gaps in the edges of the front glass, and slotted the speakers neatly behind them. The end result is solid audio performance.
Two cameras – 3-megapixels up front, 5-megapixels on the back – comfortably outclass those on the iPad 2, both on the spec sheet and in the stills and video they’re capable of shooting. There’s no flash on either side, but you can record Full HD 1080p in MPEG4 format and, in well lit environments, there’s minimal noise to be seen.
Inside, RIM has bypassed the Tegra 2 familiar from recent Android tablets, and instead opted for Texas Instruments’ 1GHz OMAP4430 processor and PowerVR SGX540 graphics. They’re paired with 1GB of RAM and a choice of three storage variants: 16GB, 32GB or 64GB. Choose wisely as, like with the iPad, there’s no microSD memory card slot.
A nondescript black slab measuring 7.6 x 5.1 x 0.4 inches and weighing 0.9lbs, the PlayBook is a combination of the very glossy and the pleasingly matte. The whole front is a slab of glass hiding a 1024 x 600 WSVGA LCD touchscreen, the touch-layer of which extends – Palm Pre style – off into the bezel around the panel itself. The sides and back are metal with a rubberized coating for easier grip. Ports and controls are minimal, which makes it all the more frustrating that the one button you’ll probably be spending the most time tapping, the power key, is such a frustration. Tiny, recessed and overly-sprung, it’s hard to find without looking and hard to press without jabbing the tip of your finger at just the right angle.
Next to it there are volume up/down keys flanking a play/pause button, and the 3.5mm headphone socket is on the top edge as well. On the bottom there’s a microHDMI port, microUSB port, and a proprietary charging connector for the PlayBook’s docking station. Rather than integrate the speaker grills into the sides or rear of the tablet, as we’ve seen other manufacturers do, RIM has sliced narrow gaps in the edges of the front glass, and slotted the speakers neatly behind them. The end result is solid audio performance.
Two cameras – 3-megapixels up front, 5-megapixels on the back – comfortably outclass those on the iPad 2, both on the spec sheet and in the stills and video they’re capable of shooting. There’s no flash on either side, but you can record Full HD 1080p in MPEG4 format and, in well lit environments, there’s minimal noise to be seen.
Inside, RIM has bypassed the Tegra 2 familiar from recent Android tablets, and instead opted for Texas Instruments’ 1GHz OMAP4430 processor and PowerVR SGX540 graphics. They’re paired with 1GB of RAM and a choice of three storage variants: 16GB, 32GB or 64GB. Choose wisely as, like with the iPad, there’s no microSD memory card slot.
2011年4月18日 星期一
Android 3.0 (Honeycomb) review
With Android 3.0 Google is striking back against Apple, creating an OS that's entirely designed to be run on the high-resolution, large screens devices, rather than expanding the smartphone edition to simply fill the screen.
To this end, the OS has been given an entire overhaul, although there's enough similarity to the smartphone versions that it's easy enough to pick up and use. We previewed the OS using the Android Developer Kit, but we've got our first Android 3.0 tablet in, so have decided to give the OS its own review.
One of the biggest changes with Android 3.0 is that there are no hardware navigation buttons any more.
Android 3.0 Home Screen
Instead, back, home and menu are all soft buttons located in a bar at the bottom of the screen. Depending on the application, this bar is either always visible or it slides out of the way when it's not being used - tapping the bottom of the screen restores it. Given the larger screen size of a tablet, not having any buttons makes lots of sense and makes Android 3.0 easy to navigate.
We love the new task switcher button, which brings up a thumbmail list of recent applications. Just tap the one you want to switch to it. It's much more elegant than the iPad 2's system.
Widgets
One of the best things about Android is its customisable home screens. This remain in Android 3.0, with five screens available. Widgets and shortcuts can be added by pressing the Plus button. This brings up a list of shortcuts and widgets, plus it shows a thumbnail view of every home screen. All you have to do is drag and drop the app you want on to the right screen, plus you can tap a home screen to jump to it quickly.
Android 3.0 Widgets
A grid system is used to place widgets and icons, but it's a smart system that keeps the relative position of objects when moving from landscape to portrait. For example, place a widget in the top right of the screen and it will be there in both landscape and portrait orientations.
Switching between home screens is just as easy as on a smartphone, only the 3D animation is a little bit slicker to watch.
Power and settings
Settings are housed in the notification block at the bottom of the screen when you tap the clock. From here you can access the main settings page, jump straight to Wi-Fi settings, put the tablet in flight mode, adjust screen brightness and lock the orientation of the screen.
Android 3.0 Screen
This works well enough and it's good to have shortcuts to some of these features, but there's no easy way to turn off certain devices to save power, such as Bluetooth and GPS. In fact, there's no longer a widget for power control, which seems like an odd omission to us. You can still buy these from the Market, such as with Beautiful Widgets, but we don't understand why it's not there in the first place.
The new settings menu is an improvement. While it's the same layout as the smartphone edition, the menu is always visible in one panel. Select an entry and its options open in another panel. It's a slight tweak, but makes it easier to change options.
Notifications
While the smartphone edition had a notification bar at the top, which you had to pull down, Android 3.0 uses the bottom bar. This shows you when you've got new texts and emails. You don't need to pull the bar up, though, just tap the icon you're interested in for more information, then tap that pop-up to view the data in the app that triggered the notification, such as Gmail.
Again, it's not a big departure from the smartphone editions of Android, but makes more sense on a larger screen with a higher resolution.
To this end, the OS has been given an entire overhaul, although there's enough similarity to the smartphone versions that it's easy enough to pick up and use. We previewed the OS using the Android Developer Kit, but we've got our first Android 3.0 tablet in, so have decided to give the OS its own review.
One of the biggest changes with Android 3.0 is that there are no hardware navigation buttons any more.
Android 3.0 Home Screen
Instead, back, home and menu are all soft buttons located in a bar at the bottom of the screen. Depending on the application, this bar is either always visible or it slides out of the way when it's not being used - tapping the bottom of the screen restores it. Given the larger screen size of a tablet, not having any buttons makes lots of sense and makes Android 3.0 easy to navigate.
We love the new task switcher button, which brings up a thumbmail list of recent applications. Just tap the one you want to switch to it. It's much more elegant than the iPad 2's system.
Widgets
One of the best things about Android is its customisable home screens. This remain in Android 3.0, with five screens available. Widgets and shortcuts can be added by pressing the Plus button. This brings up a list of shortcuts and widgets, plus it shows a thumbnail view of every home screen. All you have to do is drag and drop the app you want on to the right screen, plus you can tap a home screen to jump to it quickly.
Android 3.0 Widgets
A grid system is used to place widgets and icons, but it's a smart system that keeps the relative position of objects when moving from landscape to portrait. For example, place a widget in the top right of the screen and it will be there in both landscape and portrait orientations.
Switching between home screens is just as easy as on a smartphone, only the 3D animation is a little bit slicker to watch.
Power and settings
Settings are housed in the notification block at the bottom of the screen when you tap the clock. From here you can access the main settings page, jump straight to Wi-Fi settings, put the tablet in flight mode, adjust screen brightness and lock the orientation of the screen.
Android 3.0 Screen
This works well enough and it's good to have shortcuts to some of these features, but there's no easy way to turn off certain devices to save power, such as Bluetooth and GPS. In fact, there's no longer a widget for power control, which seems like an odd omission to us. You can still buy these from the Market, such as with Beautiful Widgets, but we don't understand why it's not there in the first place.
The new settings menu is an improvement. While it's the same layout as the smartphone edition, the menu is always visible in one panel. Select an entry and its options open in another panel. It's a slight tweak, but makes it easier to change options.
Notifications
While the smartphone edition had a notification bar at the top, which you had to pull down, Android 3.0 uses the bottom bar. This shows you when you've got new texts and emails. You don't need to pull the bar up, though, just tap the icon you're interested in for more information, then tap that pop-up to view the data in the app that triggered the notification, such as Gmail.
Again, it's not a big departure from the smartphone editions of Android, but makes more sense on a larger screen with a higher resolution.
2011年4月17日 星期日
Will tablet makers choose Android 2.x over Honeycomb to get the right selling price?
How much are you really willing to pay for a tablet? It's a question Betanews has asked readers before, and the majority disapprove of $500-plus -- even $400 -- as simply too much. How would you like to pay something less than $500? It's the price, at least according to yet a third Taiwanese company that's just made its way into the exploding tablet market with an eye to laying claim to a "sweet spot," that will motivate you to say "Yeah" and make a purchase.
Along the way to presenting its line to about 300 journalists and bloggers gathered here for a preview of Berlin's IFA consumer products trade show in September, one of HannStar Ltd.'s officials offered candid insight into why it and other companies haven't been rushing to embrace Android 3.0, aka Honeycomb, a version of the operating system especially for tablets: It drives up product costs, and hence selling prices, too much.
If you're scratching your head wondering how Honeycomb costs more, so was I. After all, Google doesn't charge licensing fees for Android. But it has set hardware requirements that manufacturers who want Honeycomb inside, including a high-definition display, must adhere to, noted Jordan Popov, the European product manager for HannStar's Hannspree line of tablets, here. He affirmed what we as journalists have known for awhile: Google is asserting much more control over Android. Just the display requirement has "almost doubled the cost of the panels," he said. "We know because we make those panels."
Hence the reason that Honeycomb tablets cost so much. "We believe the sweet spot is between €300 and €350 euros," Popov said -- that's as little as $433. "You can only do that with Android 2.2." Motorola's XOOM, the first tablet to reach the market with Honeycomb inside, goes for between $600 and $800. To get to $600, XOOM buyers must either settle for Wi-Fi only (no 3G or 4G) or buy into a two-year Verizon data contract. The tablet's price, unsubsidized, with all the bells and whistles is 800 bucks.
HannStar, a 12-year-old TFT-LCD display manufacturer, introduced its first Hannspree in early April in Europe at a price of €379 euros -- or $550, taxes included. It plans to launch a second in May for about €300. Both are based on Android 2.2. It'll eventually get to a Honeycomb-based model but not until this year's fourth quarter. That's as much as six months later as the majority of announced Honeycomb tablets.
HannStar is also trying to distinguish itself from what's becoming an increasingly crowded tablet market with models, by using its own user interface, which was developed by an American software and design firm, Tap 'n Tap of Boston. In the next two months, Hannstar will also be providing a free suite of productivity applications -- word processing, spreadsheet and a presentation software -- that it claims is compatible with Microsoft Office.
Hannspree's first model, the HANNSpad SN10T1 runs on an nVidia Tegra II 1 GHz Dual Core ARM processor, 16 GB of Flash storage and microSD card slot. Its second model, due in May, the SN10T2, will run on a less expensive single-core processor and sell for about €300.
Oh yeah, while Hanspree is competing with Apple it's at least an ally in one sense too: Popov said his company has "doubts" about a tablet that's anything smaller than 10.1 inches. Take that Samsung!
Along the way to presenting its line to about 300 journalists and bloggers gathered here for a preview of Berlin's IFA consumer products trade show in September, one of HannStar Ltd.'s officials offered candid insight into why it and other companies haven't been rushing to embrace Android 3.0, aka Honeycomb, a version of the operating system especially for tablets: It drives up product costs, and hence selling prices, too much.
If you're scratching your head wondering how Honeycomb costs more, so was I. After all, Google doesn't charge licensing fees for Android. But it has set hardware requirements that manufacturers who want Honeycomb inside, including a high-definition display, must adhere to, noted Jordan Popov, the European product manager for HannStar's Hannspree line of tablets, here. He affirmed what we as journalists have known for awhile: Google is asserting much more control over Android. Just the display requirement has "almost doubled the cost of the panels," he said. "We know because we make those panels."
Hence the reason that Honeycomb tablets cost so much. "We believe the sweet spot is between €300 and €350 euros," Popov said -- that's as little as $433. "You can only do that with Android 2.2." Motorola's XOOM, the first tablet to reach the market with Honeycomb inside, goes for between $600 and $800. To get to $600, XOOM buyers must either settle for Wi-Fi only (no 3G or 4G) or buy into a two-year Verizon data contract. The tablet's price, unsubsidized, with all the bells and whistles is 800 bucks.
HannStar, a 12-year-old TFT-LCD display manufacturer, introduced its first Hannspree in early April in Europe at a price of €379 euros -- or $550, taxes included. It plans to launch a second in May for about €300. Both are based on Android 2.2. It'll eventually get to a Honeycomb-based model but not until this year's fourth quarter. That's as much as six months later as the majority of announced Honeycomb tablets.
HannStar is also trying to distinguish itself from what's becoming an increasingly crowded tablet market with models, by using its own user interface, which was developed by an American software and design firm, Tap 'n Tap of Boston. In the next two months, Hannstar will also be providing a free suite of productivity applications -- word processing, spreadsheet and a presentation software -- that it claims is compatible with Microsoft Office.
Hannspree's first model, the HANNSpad SN10T1 runs on an nVidia Tegra II 1 GHz Dual Core ARM processor, 16 GB of Flash storage and microSD card slot. Its second model, due in May, the SN10T2, will run on a less expensive single-core processor and sell for about €300.
Oh yeah, while Hanspree is competing with Apple it's at least an ally in one sense too: Popov said his company has "doubts" about a tablet that's anything smaller than 10.1 inches. Take that Samsung!
2011年4月14日 星期四
Intel to pay OEMs to build Atom-Android tablets?
Intel is said to be preparing an incentive plan that will subsidize OEMs that put Chipzilla's processors into tablets running Android 3.0, aka "Honeycomb".
According to a report by DigiTimes on Thursday, the plan will reward "first-tier notebook vendors" by paying them $10 for each tablet they ship with an Intel CPU.
Also mentioned in the report was an effort dubbed PRC Plus, which DigiTimes said was intended to entice manufacturers "to use Intel processor's advantage of stronger performance than ARM-based processors and improve on the operating system's user interface and user experience." Intel declined to respond to our request for confirmation or clarification.
The PRC Plus Experience was featured in a slide that Doug Davis, general manager of Intel's Netbook and Tablet Group, used in a presentation during this week's Intel Developer Forum in Beijing:
'PRC Plus Experience' slide from Doug Davis' presentation at the Beijing Intel Developer Forum
Intel also posted a Mandarin-language video entitled "PRC Plus for Tablets" on YouTube. Its caption reads: "PRC Plus is an optimized UI/UX layer designed to improve the user experience on Intel architecture-based tablet devices. With PRC Plus, users can enjoy a richer tablet experience, such as multi-window and multi-tasking and a seamless connection."
While a $10-per-tablet bounty may not sound like all that big of an incentive, remember that the tablet market is exploding, and those tenners could quickly add up to quite a hefty sum. The market-watchers at DisplaySearch, for example, recently projected that the touch-panel market would top a quarter of a billion units by 2016, with the lion's share of those panels going into tablets.
The number of today's tablets sold with Intel processors, however, hovers around zero. But when the company announced its "Oak Trail" platform this Monday, it said that tablets built using that Atom-based chipset would begin shipping in May. Thursday's DigiTimes report spoke of Intel-based Honeycomb tablets shipping in the third quarter of this year.
At the Oak Trail announcement, Intel said that tablets built using the platform would run "a variety of operating systems," and that the company's "unique 'operating system of choice' strategy" for Atom will support Google's Chrome and Android, Intel's MeeGo, and Microsoft Windows.
The "sources from notebook players" who fueled Thursday's DigiTimes report spoke only of Honeycomb, the tablet-centric operating system that debuted in the Motorola Xoom. No mention was made of Intel's MeeGo operating system, which was dealt a blow when former MeeGoer Nokia decided that Windows Phone was going to be its smartphone OS of choice – although the Finns left the door open for MeeGo as a possible tablet OS.
It also should be pointed out that Google has declined to open source Honeycomb, claiming that it was holding the OS back because "more work to do before we can deliver [Honeycomb features] to other device types including phones."
We can't help but wonder if another reason for Google's deferral of Honeycomb's coming-out party has been Mountain View's discussions with Intel – and presumably with OEMs – which DigiTimes's sources claim have been going on for about six months.
Today's DigiTimes report says that Acer, Lenovo, and Asustek will begin "new netbook projects" in the second half of the year – although the report didn't specifically mention Oak Trail and Honeycomb. It did, however, say that Cisco was "set to launch devices adopting Oak Trail/Android 3.0 targeting the enterprise market."
Android running on Intel is, of course, no surprise – although a Honeycomb port has not been announced. Reports of an x86 version of Android first surfaced last June, Google approached Intel for help in porting Android to Intel's Atom-based CE4100 SoC for use in its Google TV project, and at this year's Mobile World Congress, Intel's Anand Chandrasekher waved an Android phone that was running on Intel's next-generation Medfield processor, scheduled to appear later this year.
Chandrasekher, by the way, who was then head of Intel's Ultra Mobility group, left Intel late last month, a possible victim of Intel's struggles in the smartphone, tablet, and, well, ultra mobility markets.
Although Intel president and CEO Paul Otellini has said that his company is going to "win" in the tablet marketplace, the ongoing dance of operating system developers, silicon providers, and device manufacturers is clearly becoming more frenzied.
Perhaps Intel's rumored decision to include a ten-spot with every tablet-bound Oak Trail platform would bring some bottom line–induced calm to the currently unsettled market.
We doubt it, though. There are many more battles to be fought and soldiers to be sacrificed before the market will anoint the clear winners in this struggle for the hearts, minds, and purchase orders of tablet makers.
According to a report by DigiTimes on Thursday, the plan will reward "first-tier notebook vendors" by paying them $10 for each tablet they ship with an Intel CPU.
Also mentioned in the report was an effort dubbed PRC Plus, which DigiTimes said was intended to entice manufacturers "to use Intel processor's advantage of stronger performance than ARM-based processors and improve on the operating system's user interface and user experience." Intel declined to respond to our request for confirmation or clarification.
The PRC Plus Experience was featured in a slide that Doug Davis, general manager of Intel's Netbook and Tablet Group, used in a presentation during this week's Intel Developer Forum in Beijing:
'PRC Plus Experience' slide from Doug Davis' presentation at the Beijing Intel Developer Forum
Intel also posted a Mandarin-language video entitled "PRC Plus for Tablets" on YouTube. Its caption reads: "PRC Plus is an optimized UI/UX layer designed to improve the user experience on Intel architecture-based tablet devices. With PRC Plus, users can enjoy a richer tablet experience, such as multi-window and multi-tasking and a seamless connection."
While a $10-per-tablet bounty may not sound like all that big of an incentive, remember that the tablet market is exploding, and those tenners could quickly add up to quite a hefty sum. The market-watchers at DisplaySearch, for example, recently projected that the touch-panel market would top a quarter of a billion units by 2016, with the lion's share of those panels going into tablets.
The number of today's tablets sold with Intel processors, however, hovers around zero. But when the company announced its "Oak Trail" platform this Monday, it said that tablets built using that Atom-based chipset would begin shipping in May. Thursday's DigiTimes report spoke of Intel-based Honeycomb tablets shipping in the third quarter of this year.
At the Oak Trail announcement, Intel said that tablets built using the platform would run "a variety of operating systems," and that the company's "unique 'operating system of choice' strategy" for Atom will support Google's Chrome and Android, Intel's MeeGo, and Microsoft Windows.
The "sources from notebook players" who fueled Thursday's DigiTimes report spoke only of Honeycomb, the tablet-centric operating system that debuted in the Motorola Xoom. No mention was made of Intel's MeeGo operating system, which was dealt a blow when former MeeGoer Nokia decided that Windows Phone was going to be its smartphone OS of choice – although the Finns left the door open for MeeGo as a possible tablet OS.
It also should be pointed out that Google has declined to open source Honeycomb, claiming that it was holding the OS back because "more work to do before we can deliver [Honeycomb features] to other device types including phones."
We can't help but wonder if another reason for Google's deferral of Honeycomb's coming-out party has been Mountain View's discussions with Intel – and presumably with OEMs – which DigiTimes's sources claim have been going on for about six months.
Today's DigiTimes report says that Acer, Lenovo, and Asustek will begin "new netbook projects" in the second half of the year – although the report didn't specifically mention Oak Trail and Honeycomb. It did, however, say that Cisco was "set to launch devices adopting Oak Trail/Android 3.0 targeting the enterprise market."
Android running on Intel is, of course, no surprise – although a Honeycomb port has not been announced. Reports of an x86 version of Android first surfaced last June, Google approached Intel for help in porting Android to Intel's Atom-based CE4100 SoC for use in its Google TV project, and at this year's Mobile World Congress, Intel's Anand Chandrasekher waved an Android phone that was running on Intel's next-generation Medfield processor, scheduled to appear later this year.
Chandrasekher, by the way, who was then head of Intel's Ultra Mobility group, left Intel late last month, a possible victim of Intel's struggles in the smartphone, tablet, and, well, ultra mobility markets.
Although Intel president and CEO Paul Otellini has said that his company is going to "win" in the tablet marketplace, the ongoing dance of operating system developers, silicon providers, and device manufacturers is clearly becoming more frenzied.
Perhaps Intel's rumored decision to include a ten-spot with every tablet-bound Oak Trail platform would bring some bottom line–induced calm to the currently unsettled market.
We doubt it, though. There are many more battles to be fought and soldiers to be sacrificed before the market will anoint the clear winners in this struggle for the hearts, minds, and purchase orders of tablet makers.
2011年4月13日 星期三
The feature rich Eee Pad Transformer
There has been plenty of hype around the launch of the Eee Pad Transformer but what exactly does this monster hold under its hood? Well, I know I have touched on some of the essential features of the Transformer, such as the screen real estate, the weight, and the awesome keyboard dock, but there are plenty of other lovely features too.
The Eee Pad Transformer boasts an Nvidia Tegra 2 1.0GHz Dual Core CPU and offers full HD at 1080p along with support for 5.1 channel surround sound. The screen consists of an IPS panel with an ultra wide viewing angle of 178 degrees and a 16:10 golden ratio.
The keyboard comes with full QWERTY and touch pad input with Polaris Office, and the Eee Pad Transformer kit includes unlimited ASUS WebStorage plus 16/32 GB eMMC, USB, Micro SD and HDMI ports too.
The Android Honeycomb operating system has full Adobe 10.2 Flash support (which is a huge relief)and you get MyCloud, MyNet and MyLibrary included in the rich content of this package. I will be going into more detail as to what those are in a later post, I promise.
eee pad transformerOther notable features include a 1.2MP camera for easy video conferencing, a 5MP camera for photographing or taking videos (complete with an Augmented Reality application), a 40-pin connector port for charging the battering or connecting to the PC to sync data and a 3.5mm audio jack.
These features combine to deliver a mini-cinema for your entertainment as you travel, work and live. They are also equally capable of ensuring seamless connectivity for work and the handling of various applications simultaneously. For both mobile and entertainment needs, the Eee Pad Transformer is a multitasking wonder.
Not only that, but you can also appreciate the 3D graphics support that will get you mobile 3D game playability on the move. You may look a bit mad waving your tech about in the air, but you won’t care because you will definitely be having way too much fun.
This particular pad offers you a wealth of features in a neat and light package that’s already turning heads across the UK. Will you be the next addict?
The Eee Pad Transformer boasts an Nvidia Tegra 2 1.0GHz Dual Core CPU and offers full HD at 1080p along with support for 5.1 channel surround sound. The screen consists of an IPS panel with an ultra wide viewing angle of 178 degrees and a 16:10 golden ratio.
The keyboard comes with full QWERTY and touch pad input with Polaris Office, and the Eee Pad Transformer kit includes unlimited ASUS WebStorage plus 16/32 GB eMMC, USB, Micro SD and HDMI ports too.
The Android Honeycomb operating system has full Adobe 10.2 Flash support (which is a huge relief)and you get MyCloud, MyNet and MyLibrary included in the rich content of this package. I will be going into more detail as to what those are in a later post, I promise.
eee pad transformerOther notable features include a 1.2MP camera for easy video conferencing, a 5MP camera for photographing or taking videos (complete with an Augmented Reality application), a 40-pin connector port for charging the battering or connecting to the PC to sync data and a 3.5mm audio jack.
These features combine to deliver a mini-cinema for your entertainment as you travel, work and live. They are also equally capable of ensuring seamless connectivity for work and the handling of various applications simultaneously. For both mobile and entertainment needs, the Eee Pad Transformer is a multitasking wonder.
Not only that, but you can also appreciate the 3D graphics support that will get you mobile 3D game playability on the move. You may look a bit mad waving your tech about in the air, but you won’t care because you will definitely be having way too much fun.
This particular pad offers you a wealth of features in a neat and light package that’s already turning heads across the UK. Will you be the next addict?
2011年4月12日 星期二
New Contender Toshiba Tablet Entering Ring with iPad 2
Best Buy online is announcing a spring release date for the new contender to join iPad 2 in the ring of available tablets. The ten-inch Android 3.0 Honeycomb tablet has no set price yet. Toshiba has announced the coming release for months without stating a price or even a ballpark figure amount. They do have a dedicated website online and news about the upcoming release started coming out in January.
This Toshiba tablet will have an Android 3.0 Honeycomb OS, the first one made specifically for tablets. It has Toshiba sound enhancements, two cameras, a front webcam and a rear 5.0 MP camera and USB, mini-USB and HDMI ports. Adobe Flash is supported by both Bluetooth and Wi-Fi connectivity. The 10.1-inch multi-touch display screen has Adaptive Display Technology. The backplate comes in a choice of colors and the owner can easily change the prismatic lithium battery.
Toshiba claims the new tablet will be superior to other tablets in the same class. Other spokespersons outside the Toshiba circle counter that claim by saying there are many others that are superior to both iPad 2 and Toshiba’s new tablet. It is not possible to gauge the Toshiba Tablet’s comparability to others until it reaches the consumers who purchase it and make the subjective judgment. The price of the product will naturally affect those judgment calls.
This Toshiba tablet will have an Android 3.0 Honeycomb OS, the first one made specifically for tablets. It has Toshiba sound enhancements, two cameras, a front webcam and a rear 5.0 MP camera and USB, mini-USB and HDMI ports. Adobe Flash is supported by both Bluetooth and Wi-Fi connectivity. The 10.1-inch multi-touch display screen has Adaptive Display Technology. The backplate comes in a choice of colors and the owner can easily change the prismatic lithium battery.
Toshiba claims the new tablet will be superior to other tablets in the same class. Other spokespersons outside the Toshiba circle counter that claim by saying there are many others that are superior to both iPad 2 and Toshiba’s new tablet. It is not possible to gauge the Toshiba Tablet’s comparability to others until it reaches the consumers who purchase it and make the subjective judgment. The price of the product will naturally affect those judgment calls.
Boffins at Lufthansa Technik
Here's a novel way to while away the time and burn away some calories during those interminable long-distance flights: an exercise bike suitable for inflight use.
The airline which brought us an award-winning toilet in the Airbus A380 has now created an aircraft-ready stationary exercise bike for frequently-flying fitness fanatics.
Boffins at Lufthansa Technik – Lufthansa's engineering, maintenance, repair and overhaul service division – revealed the bike at the close of last week's Aircraft Interiors Expo at Hamburg.
It uses the same lean-back recumbent design as seen in many lifestyle gyms, but don't expect to hit the same rpm as you would on the ground due to the cabin pressure at altitude and lower oxygen concentration in the air.
FlightGlobal reports that Lufthansa Technik took an off-the-shelf product made by Italy-based Technogym and modified it to satisfy aviation regulations.
"For example, several of the standard components failed the fire protection rules and needed to be redesigned with materials that are more resistant to combustion. This was the case with the plastic seat structure, which has been replaced by an aluminium construction with honeycomb panels."
We're more interested in asking if there's a shower for a post-cycle wash, so fellow passengers don't have to put up with a sweaty seatmate...
The airline which brought us an award-winning toilet in the Airbus A380 has now created an aircraft-ready stationary exercise bike for frequently-flying fitness fanatics.
Boffins at Lufthansa Technik – Lufthansa's engineering, maintenance, repair and overhaul service division – revealed the bike at the close of last week's Aircraft Interiors Expo at Hamburg.
It uses the same lean-back recumbent design as seen in many lifestyle gyms, but don't expect to hit the same rpm as you would on the ground due to the cabin pressure at altitude and lower oxygen concentration in the air.
FlightGlobal reports that Lufthansa Technik took an off-the-shelf product made by Italy-based Technogym and modified it to satisfy aviation regulations.
"For example, several of the standard components failed the fire protection rules and needed to be redesigned with materials that are more resistant to combustion. This was the case with the plastic seat structure, which has been replaced by an aluminium construction with honeycomb panels."
We're more interested in asking if there's a shower for a post-cycle wash, so fellow passengers don't have to put up with a sweaty seatmate...
2011年4月10日 星期日
Why Adobe Flash shouldn't get the blame for BlackBerry PlayBook delay
If you've kept a keen eye on the release of RIM's new BlackBerry PlayBook tablet, you will have noticed that the device is currently due to launch one month later than was initially stated by the Canadian smartphone manufacturer.
As always, the rumour mill has whirred into action, suggesting numerous reasons for the delay – one being that touchscreen supply has reduced RIM's ability to fulfil initial orders for the device, partly attributing the blame to Apple which reportedly tied up 60% of the supply of the panels for other manufacturers.
The other reason that many blogs have been stirring up is Flash integration. Whilst RIM hasn't moved to confirm or deny any rumours, the willingness to attribute the blame to Adobe and its Flash software is unfounded and implies that outlets reporting the rumour aren't doing the research they should.
The BlackBerry PlayBook is powered by the QNX operating system, a platform RIM acquired in April 2010, and is expected to outfit all of its future tablet and smartphone devices, replacing the ailing and outdated BlackBerry OS. As a company, QNX Software Systems was best known for its work on powering systems in automotive, industrial, telecommunications, medical, defense, and aerospace industries, powering the dashboards of cars and even Army tanks.
Before it was acquired by RIM, QNX was suitably sporting Flash as far back as June 2009. Back then, Adobe and QNX Software Systems announced the availablity of QNX Car, an application platform that facilitated "the production of Flash-based, in-vehicle systems". This meant carmakers were able to deploy Flash-based interfaces in "head units, digital instrument clusters, rear-seat infotainment systems, and other in-car products".
As always, the rumour mill has whirred into action, suggesting numerous reasons for the delay – one being that touchscreen supply has reduced RIM's ability to fulfil initial orders for the device, partly attributing the blame to Apple which reportedly tied up 60% of the supply of the panels for other manufacturers.
The other reason that many blogs have been stirring up is Flash integration. Whilst RIM hasn't moved to confirm or deny any rumours, the willingness to attribute the blame to Adobe and its Flash software is unfounded and implies that outlets reporting the rumour aren't doing the research they should.
The BlackBerry PlayBook is powered by the QNX operating system, a platform RIM acquired in April 2010, and is expected to outfit all of its future tablet and smartphone devices, replacing the ailing and outdated BlackBerry OS. As a company, QNX Software Systems was best known for its work on powering systems in automotive, industrial, telecommunications, medical, defense, and aerospace industries, powering the dashboards of cars and even Army tanks.
Before it was acquired by RIM, QNX was suitably sporting Flash as far back as June 2009. Back then, Adobe and QNX Software Systems announced the availablity of QNX Car, an application platform that facilitated "the production of Flash-based, in-vehicle systems". This meant carmakers were able to deploy Flash-based interfaces in "head units, digital instrument clusters, rear-seat infotainment systems, and other in-car products".
2011年4月7日 星期四
Apple corners market for display panels
Apple Inc.'s stranglehold on parts supplies forced a month-long delay in the release
of Research In Motion Ltd.'s PlayBook tablet computer, a report from Taiwanese trade
publication DigiTimes said Thursday.
It said PlayBook shipments were postponed partly because Apple had already booked
most of the available capacity of touch display panels.
The component is needed to manufacture the 7-inch BlackBerry PlayBook, which is set
for full commercial rollout starting on April 19.
RIM's answer to the iPad had originally been scheduled to debut in the first quarter
of 2011. Instead, the PlayBook will ship more than one month after Apple released
the second-generation of its market-leading tablet.
Citing component manufacturers in China, the report said PlayBook shipments were
postponed from the original schedule "due to a delay in software testing, as well as
shortage of touch panels."
DigiTimes said assembler Quanta Computer and connector maker Foxlink, also an Apple
supplier, are picking up the pace of component deliveries to RIM because they see
the PlayBook as one of this year's major tablet orders.
Apple said in its most recent earnings call that it had invested $3.9 billion (U.S.)
of its nearly $60 billion in cash reserves in long-term supply contracts. The
company declined to reveal the components involved, citing competitive concerns, but
analysts say the investment was related to touch displays.
That may not be a problem for Motorola Mobility after analysts said its products
have not differentiated themselves in a crowded market.
Deutsche Bank concluded that Motorola has sold about 100,000 Xoom tablets since its
launch in February versus Apple's sale of 300,000 iPads on the first weekend it was
available. DigiTimes said iPad 2 sales are "running at a rate faster than its
predecessor."
The 10.1 inch Xoom, which is being released at Best Buy and Future Shop stores in
Canada this week, is the first tablet to ship with Android 3.0, code-named Honeycomb
that is designed for large-screen resolution.
In a separate report, meanwhile, research firm Gartner Inc. said the number of
smartphone shipments will jump to nearly 468 million units this year. That will help
Google Inc.'s Android operating system surge to a 38.5 per cent market share,
followed by Apple's iOS at 19.4 per cent and Nokia Corp.'s Symbian operating system
at 19.2 per cent.
Gartner said more than 630 million smartphones will ship worldwide in 2012 and
Android will have cornered 49.2 per cent of the market versus the iOS with 18.9 per
cent. The BlackBerry operating system will take the third spot with a 12.6 per cent
share.
of Research In Motion Ltd.'s PlayBook tablet computer, a report from Taiwanese trade
publication DigiTimes said Thursday.
It said PlayBook shipments were postponed partly because Apple had already booked
most of the available capacity of touch display panels.
The component is needed to manufacture the 7-inch BlackBerry PlayBook, which is set
for full commercial rollout starting on April 19.
RIM's answer to the iPad had originally been scheduled to debut in the first quarter
of 2011. Instead, the PlayBook will ship more than one month after Apple released
the second-generation of its market-leading tablet.
Citing component manufacturers in China, the report said PlayBook shipments were
postponed from the original schedule "due to a delay in software testing, as well as
shortage of touch panels."
DigiTimes said assembler Quanta Computer and connector maker Foxlink, also an Apple
supplier, are picking up the pace of component deliveries to RIM because they see
the PlayBook as one of this year's major tablet orders.
Apple said in its most recent earnings call that it had invested $3.9 billion (U.S.)
of its nearly $60 billion in cash reserves in long-term supply contracts. The
company declined to reveal the components involved, citing competitive concerns, but
analysts say the investment was related to touch displays.
That may not be a problem for Motorola Mobility after analysts said its products
have not differentiated themselves in a crowded market.
Deutsche Bank concluded that Motorola has sold about 100,000 Xoom tablets since its
launch in February versus Apple's sale of 300,000 iPads on the first weekend it was
available. DigiTimes said iPad 2 sales are "running at a rate faster than its
predecessor."
The 10.1 inch Xoom, which is being released at Best Buy and Future Shop stores in
Canada this week, is the first tablet to ship with Android 3.0, code-named Honeycomb
that is designed for large-screen resolution.
In a separate report, meanwhile, research firm Gartner Inc. said the number of
smartphone shipments will jump to nearly 468 million units this year. That will help
Google Inc.'s Android operating system surge to a 38.5 per cent market share,
followed by Apple's iOS at 19.4 per cent and Nokia Corp.'s Symbian operating system
at 19.2 per cent.
Gartner said more than 630 million smartphones will ship worldwide in 2012 and
Android will have cornered 49.2 per cent of the market versus the iOS with 18.9 per
cent. The BlackBerry operating system will take the third spot with a 12.6 per cent
share.
2011年4月6日 星期三
Apple iPad 2 Sales Soar, Motorola Xoom Flounders
Taiwanese newspaper DigiTimes is reporting that iPad 2 sales have reached 2.4-2.6 million in its first month based on sources at upstream touch panel suppliers in Taiwan. This comes despite supply issues concerning the availability of cover lenses for the Apple tablet's touch-screen modules following the Japan earthquake last month. The anonymous contact also offered DigiTimes a "conservative" estimate that Apple will deliver as many as 4.3 million tablets a month, 12 million units in total. This news comes within hours of a report by Business Insider stating that analysts at Deutsche Bank have determined that Motorola Mobility has sold only 100,000 Motorola Xoom tablets during its first two months.
Forbes reported yesterday that Pacific Crest analyst James Faucette said that channel checks have found that sell-through trends for both the Xoom tablet as well as the Motorola Atrix smart phone have, "been disappointing." This is understandable, given the fact that iPad 2 sales on the first day alone topped 300,000, and during its first week sales are estimated at being between 350,000 and 400,000. And while few expected that Google's first real response to the iPad would match its competition despite the fact that it has for the most part received positive reviews from critics including Skatter Tech, these numbers are unquestionably dismal and do not bode well for the Android 3.0 Honeycomb powered tablet's future as an iPad rival.
Apple has not released an official statement regarding the iPad 2 sales, although they likely will do so on April 20 when the company has its scheduled Q2 earnings call. Motorola has understandably also remained mum on the subject and as of now has yet to release the official Xoom sales figures.
Forbes reported yesterday that Pacific Crest analyst James Faucette said that channel checks have found that sell-through trends for both the Xoom tablet as well as the Motorola Atrix smart phone have, "been disappointing." This is understandable, given the fact that iPad 2 sales on the first day alone topped 300,000, and during its first week sales are estimated at being between 350,000 and 400,000. And while few expected that Google's first real response to the iPad would match its competition despite the fact that it has for the most part received positive reviews from critics including Skatter Tech, these numbers are unquestionably dismal and do not bode well for the Android 3.0 Honeycomb powered tablet's future as an iPad rival.
Apple has not released an official statement regarding the iPad 2 sales, although they likely will do so on April 20 when the company has its scheduled Q2 earnings call. Motorola has understandably also remained mum on the subject and as of now has yet to release the official Xoom sales figures.
2011年4月5日 星期二
HTC Flyer DOA As Two Improved Siblings Are Scheduled For Later This Year ?
I think all of us know the HTC Android tablet, the HTC Flyer which was showcased recently at the Mobile World Congress, and recently announced for Sprint under the name of the HTC Evo View. Although still quite far from its release date ( well somewhat far ), there are some rumors according to which the tablet will have two larger siblings joining in on the party. If you’re interested then keep on reading folks.
The rumor started when DigiTimes based their story on some news from a series of Taiwanese touch-panel manufacturers. As such, it seems that the HTC Flyer will be going on sale in small volumes as it seems that the manufacturer doesn’t want to go to overboard with the tablet ( sales being rumored to start sometime in April ). This very fact has actually been fuel for some people that have called the HTC Flyer D.O.A. for quite some time now. Anyway, the sources are stating that the components ordered up by HTC are suggesting that two more tablets will be joining hands with the HTC Flyer.
These new tablets would somewhat be similar to the way Samsung approached the whole tablet market. We first saw the Samsung Galaxy Tab and its 7 inch display and now we have two more on the way looking out to fill the room with the 8.9 inch and 10.1 inch versions of the tablet. HTC might be going for something similar with the Flyer being its very own version of the Samsung Galaxy Tab.
It’s also rumored that these new tablets will be here in order to fix some of the shortcomings of the HTC Flyer. In this regard we might see the bigger display at work as well as Android 3.0 Honeycomb right out of the box, along with some dual-core processors. No offense, but with the aggressive pricing policy Samsung, Apple and (even) Motorola are going for, it’s really hard to want to join in on the party with something which is less than dual-core powered and has anything less than the latest operating system running on it.
The rumor started when DigiTimes based their story on some news from a series of Taiwanese touch-panel manufacturers. As such, it seems that the HTC Flyer will be going on sale in small volumes as it seems that the manufacturer doesn’t want to go to overboard with the tablet ( sales being rumored to start sometime in April ). This very fact has actually been fuel for some people that have called the HTC Flyer D.O.A. for quite some time now. Anyway, the sources are stating that the components ordered up by HTC are suggesting that two more tablets will be joining hands with the HTC Flyer.
These new tablets would somewhat be similar to the way Samsung approached the whole tablet market. We first saw the Samsung Galaxy Tab and its 7 inch display and now we have two more on the way looking out to fill the room with the 8.9 inch and 10.1 inch versions of the tablet. HTC might be going for something similar with the Flyer being its very own version of the Samsung Galaxy Tab.
It’s also rumored that these new tablets will be here in order to fix some of the shortcomings of the HTC Flyer. In this regard we might see the bigger display at work as well as Android 3.0 Honeycomb right out of the box, along with some dual-core processors. No offense, but with the aggressive pricing policy Samsung, Apple and (even) Motorola are going for, it’s really hard to want to join in on the party with something which is less than dual-core powered and has anything less than the latest operating system running on it.
2011年4月1日 星期五
New Fuso Canter is "The Professionals' Choice"
When your business entails supplying a top quality vehicle care and valeting range, it's crucial that the truck you rely on to showcase your products and make deliveries to customers should also look the part.
For Bridgend-based ARB Autocare, the answer was a range-topping 7.5-tonne Fuso Canter 7C18D, which wears the eye-catching livery of Autoglym – ARB is one of the high-profile manufacturer's oldest franchisees, having represented it for more than 35 years.
The Canter was supplied by South Wales Mercedes-Benz dealer Euro Commercials which, like other members of the German truck builder's UK network, is also responsible for sales and support of the popular Fuso light truck range.
Its box body, meanwhile, is the work of Manchester-based Alloy Bodies and fitted out as a mobile showroom complete with Edstrom racking and an internal hoist for handling bulk, 200-litre drums of detergents.
Thanks in large part to their ladder frame chassis, all Fuso Canters are strong and durable, but 7.5-tonne variants are also renowned for being exceptionally light. This, coupled with the fact that its body panels are made from Niafont, a plastic product with a honeycomb centre which as well as offering excellent insulation characteristics minimises weight, means ARB Autocare's new truck tips the scales at less than 4.5 tonnes.
"That leaves an impressive payload capability of more than 3.0 tonnes, which we're delighted with given all of the internal fixtures and fittings we've added," confirmed ARB Autocare Director Alun Bunston.
"Indeed, its light weight was the main reason we chose the Canter, but it wasn't the only one. This is our first 7.5-tonne vehicle and most of our guys drive vans. So we also liked the fact that the Canter is significantly more compact in terms of its external dimensions than other vehicles in its class, because it makes life a lot easier for them. Given the restricted access opportunities at some of the customer locations we visit, a reduced vehicle ‘footprint' is a big advantage."
Powered by a low-emission 175hp Euro 5 (EEV) engine, the Canter works from ARB Autocare's base in Swansea and is now making deliveries to car retailers, accessories shops and other customers across all of Wales except the far north, and into Herefordshire and Gloucestershire.
It will also be kept busy at various events during the year, including the All Wales Truck & Transport Show, the Royal Welsh Show, and the Pembrokeshire Show.
In addition to the Canter, family-owned ARB Autocare operates five vans of various sizes, all but one of them Mercedes-Benz Sprinters.
Mr Bunston added: "Euro Commercials' sales executive Luke Hardaker has provided excellent support and we've had a lot of positive feedback to our first truck from customers and others – its eco-friendly credentials tie in nicely with Autoglym's stance as the greenest of car care companies."
Autoglym was founded in 1965 and today the name is synonymous with high quality car care and vehicle products around the world. Autoglym enjoys technical approvals from many leading automotive manufacturers and close associations with owners' car clubs. Its products are to be found in all areas of automotive activity and are equally suited to professional users, concours competitors, enthusiasts and family car owners.
For Bridgend-based ARB Autocare, the answer was a range-topping 7.5-tonne Fuso Canter 7C18D, which wears the eye-catching livery of Autoglym – ARB is one of the high-profile manufacturer's oldest franchisees, having represented it for more than 35 years.
The Canter was supplied by South Wales Mercedes-Benz dealer Euro Commercials which, like other members of the German truck builder's UK network, is also responsible for sales and support of the popular Fuso light truck range.
Its box body, meanwhile, is the work of Manchester-based Alloy Bodies and fitted out as a mobile showroom complete with Edstrom racking and an internal hoist for handling bulk, 200-litre drums of detergents.
Thanks in large part to their ladder frame chassis, all Fuso Canters are strong and durable, but 7.5-tonne variants are also renowned for being exceptionally light. This, coupled with the fact that its body panels are made from Niafont, a plastic product with a honeycomb centre which as well as offering excellent insulation characteristics minimises weight, means ARB Autocare's new truck tips the scales at less than 4.5 tonnes.
"That leaves an impressive payload capability of more than 3.0 tonnes, which we're delighted with given all of the internal fixtures and fittings we've added," confirmed ARB Autocare Director Alun Bunston.
"Indeed, its light weight was the main reason we chose the Canter, but it wasn't the only one. This is our first 7.5-tonne vehicle and most of our guys drive vans. So we also liked the fact that the Canter is significantly more compact in terms of its external dimensions than other vehicles in its class, because it makes life a lot easier for them. Given the restricted access opportunities at some of the customer locations we visit, a reduced vehicle ‘footprint' is a big advantage."
Powered by a low-emission 175hp Euro 5 (EEV) engine, the Canter works from ARB Autocare's base in Swansea and is now making deliveries to car retailers, accessories shops and other customers across all of Wales except the far north, and into Herefordshire and Gloucestershire.
It will also be kept busy at various events during the year, including the All Wales Truck & Transport Show, the Royal Welsh Show, and the Pembrokeshire Show.
In addition to the Canter, family-owned ARB Autocare operates five vans of various sizes, all but one of them Mercedes-Benz Sprinters.
Mr Bunston added: "Euro Commercials' sales executive Luke Hardaker has provided excellent support and we've had a lot of positive feedback to our first truck from customers and others – its eco-friendly credentials tie in nicely with Autoglym's stance as the greenest of car care companies."
Autoglym was founded in 1965 and today the name is synonymous with high quality car care and vehicle products around the world. Autoglym enjoys technical approvals from many leading automotive manufacturers and close associations with owners' car clubs. Its products are to be found in all areas of automotive activity and are equally suited to professional users, concours competitors, enthusiasts and family car owners.
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