In addition to the Galaxy Tab 3 with a 7-inch display we've known about for a while, Samsung's announced the slate will come in 8- and 10.1-inch varieties, too -- something rumors and FCC filings have long suggested. The 8-inch model has a TFT display sporting a 1,280 x 800 (WXGA) resolution (189 ppi), a 5-megapixel rear camera and 1.3-megapixel front-facing shooter. It's got vaguely respectable internals: a 1.5GHz dual-core processor (no word on the manufacturer), 1.5GB of RAM and 16 or 32GB storage configurations. A microSD slot is present, supporting up to 64GB cards, and a 4,450mAh battery provides the necessary juice. Android 4.2 is OS of choice -- no surprise there -- and when it arrives, you'll have the choice of WiFi-only (dual-band, a/b/g/n), 3G (HSPA+) and LTE variants.

The 10.1-inch version stretches that same WXGA resolution across its display (149 ppi), and carries a smaller 3-megapixel rear camera and the same 1.3-megapixel front-facer. According to Reuters, the 1.6GHz dual-core CPU in this larger slate is provided by Intel, confirming a previous rumor. Unfortunately, it's saddled with only one gig of RAM, and the storage options are the same as the 8-inch model, with a microSD slot also supporting up to 64GB cards. Also running Android 4.2, the 10.1-inch Tab 3 packs a 6,800mAh battery, and comes in WiFi-only, 3G and LTE variants. Both tablets will be available worldwide at the "beginning of June."

Update: The Galaxy Tab 3 10.1 will be the first Android device from Intel to pack its new LTE chip.

Gallery: Samsung 8- and 10.1-inch Galaxy Tab 3 press shots

Filed under: Tablets, Samsung, Google

Comments

Source: Samsung, Reuters

Social discovery applications are becoming more and more popular amongst mobile users, and Telly's certainly one that's leading the way in this category. Today, in an effort to get on as many devices as possible, the video-focused service has released a new version of its app which is vastly tailored for Android slates. Not only does this mean users will now have additional real estate to work with within the app, but Telly also added a few features to take advantage of the larger screen -- namely, an optimized browsing experience, an all-new carousel view and the ability to share videos via NFC. The revamped, tablet-friendly Telly is up for download now, so hit that Google Play link below if you're eager to check it out.

Filed under: Tablets, Software

Comments

Source: Google Play

There are a lot of 7-inch tablets on the market, but few can be had at a US-based retailer for less than 100 bucks. Chinese manufacturer Hisense is set to undercut that saturated market with a pair of budget Jelly Bean tablets: the Sero 7 LT, priced at $99, and the Sero 7 Pro with a $149 MSRP. While both devices include similar housings, the internals differ significantly, as you might expect.

The cheaper model includes a 1.6GHz dual-core CPU, 1GB of RAM, 4 gigs of internal storage (plus a microSD slot with support for 32GB cards), a 1,024 x 600-pixel 7-inch display, 0.3-megapixel front-facing camera, a four-hour battery and Android 4.1. The Pro model boasts a 1.3GHz quad-core Tegra 3 processor, 1GB RAM, 8 gigs of storage, an upgraded 1,280 x 800 display, a 2MP camera up front with a 5MP cam on the rear, up to 10 hours of battery life and Android 4.2. You should be able to snag both tablets at your local Walmart store or through the retailer's website beginning tomorrow.

Filed under: Tablets

Comments

Source: Walmart

Amazon's Kindle Fire HD 7- and 8.9-inch slates have only seen limited shores since they were formally announced, but today the company said they're now available for pre-order in more than "170 countries and territories around the world." We could try and list all the new tablet markets, but it's easier to say that until now, they've only found spots in Amazon stores in the US, Europe and Japan. We're not surprised to see the hardware get a much wider release, given that the e-tailer revealed its plan to take the Appstore global last month. The only other nugget in the PR is an expected shipping date of June 13th. Head over to your local Amazon portal to confirm if your region is one of the lucky 170.

Update: Amazon's issued a second PR saying those international plans for the Appstore are no longer plans -- it's now up and running in "nearly 200 countries."

Filed under: Tablets, Amazon

Comments

Source: Amazon

We don't know for sure that Dell's been experiencing the weak demand for Windows RT Samsung's been so vocal about, but significant price cuts to its XPS 10 tablet hybrid suggest it hasn't exactly been flying off the shelves. Not only has the $500 tag for the tablet with 32GB of storage dropped to $300, but adding another 32GB now only costs $50 more, instead of $100. Savings have extended to the keyboard dock, too -- opting for the bundle used to increase the overall cost by $180, but now that peripheral is only a $50 extra. (Make sure to lead with the bundle though, as it's $100 if added from the tablet-only customization options). The cost of optional LTE hasn't changed, however, so that 4G radio still costs an additional $100. While we haven't reached fire sale territory just yet, the cuts are still a welcome discount for consumers. In the interest of preserving profit margins, perhaps Dell should ask Acer's president to consult next time it's cooking up new hardware.

Filed under: Laptops, Tablets, Dell

Comments

Via: The Verge, CNET

Source: Dell

Does your kitchen need a 9.7-inch Jelly Bean tablet to call its own? No, it certainly does not. But if your budget can accommodate such a device, it might look just like the Archos ChefPad, "the perfect tablet for the cooking enthusiast." Under the splash-resistant case, you'll find a standard suite of tablet specs. There's a 1.6GHz dual-core CPU, 1 gig of RAM, 8GB of internal storage, and front- and rear-facing 2-megapixel cameras, along with a pair of speakers and a built-in mic, making the device suitable for both playing back cooking lessons and recording your own. In addition to that red silicone case, you'll receive a dedicated stand to match -- both will ship in the box, along with the tablet, for just $210 this June.

Filed under: Tablets

Comments

Source: Archos

Acer's senior VP Scott Lin recently confirmed that a new 10-inch Iconia A3 tablet will arrive this summer and was quick to include it in some very ambitious sales plans. The device (not pictured) has yet to be priced or specced (or even seen), but nonetheless, Lin hopes it'll make up some of the 10 million slates the outfit aims to sell in 2013. He also announced a refresh for the $150 Iconia B1 this summer with a dual-core CPU, updated design and 1GB of RAM, and said that 1.5 million units of that model have shipped so far this year. The company would like to move another 1.5 million by year's end along with 5 million of the recently announced 8-inch Iconia A1 tabs and 2 million Iconia A3s to make up the balance. Considering that competitor ASUS sold 3 million tablets in Q1 and has the hit Nexus 7 to peddle, it seems a lofty goal for Acer -- especially since it only reluctantly leaped into tablets not so long ago.

Update: We've also received word that Mr. Lin confirmed that there is an 8-inch Windows 8 tablet in the works (the W3, perhaps?) and suggested it should be available by June.

Filed under: Tablets, Acer

Comments

Via: Android Beat

Source: Focus Taiwan

Say what you like about Windows 8, but before it arrived Microsoft's presence in the tablet sphere was as small as it was stagnant. By the reckoning of number-crunchers at Strategy Analytics, just 400,000 Windows-running slates were shipped globally in Q3 of last year -- a figure that was largely unchanged from the year before and which represented just 1.6 percent of the global tablet market. Six months later, now that the Windows-powered Acers, Lenovos and Surfaces of this world have had a chance to get their game on, Microsoft's share has quadrupled to 7.5 percent, with a total of 3 million Windows 8 and RT tablets shipped in Q1 2013. That's still pretty niche, but 3 million units would have equated to a bigger share were it not for the fact that the overall tablet market also grew over this period, from 25 million to 41 million units -- and at least Microsoft can now claim to be a part of that boom. Look past the break for the numerical breakdown.

Filed under: Tablets, Microsoft

Comments

Via: CNET, Neowin

Source: Strategy Analytics

After months of treading water with Ice Cream Sandwich, the Xperia Tablet S is finally being blessed with a taste of Jelly Bean. Starting tomorrow between the hours of 9AM - 10AM PT, Sony will begin rolling out Android 4.1.1 to its second-gen slate in the US, Canada and Latin America. While release details are scarce, the company stated that it will issue a changelog alongside the update. Though Jelly Bean is likely on its way to becoming yesterday's news, at least Sony is keeping its promise and that's gotta count for something, right?

Filed under: Tablets, Software, Sony

Comments

Via: Android Police

Source: Sony Community Forums

Tired of accidentally downloading apps to your Android tablet that look best on a smartphone? If so, it appears that Google has heard your cries. The company recently updated its developer console to accept app screenshots that are specific to 7-inch and 10-inch tablets. While it's not the most monumental change, once developers fulfill their end of the bargain, you'll be treated to UI images that best suit your device. Until then, you'll still have to endure a few more games of app roulette.

Filed under: Google

Comments

Source: Android Developers Blog

Cheap tablets are currently on the rise, but not just low-end hardware from manufacturers that you've probably never heard of -- true consumer electronics heavyweights are getting in on the action. Today, ASUS unleashed its $150 MeMo Pad to the frugal masses. This 7-inch slab packs a 1GHz single-core VIA WM8950 processor, 1GB of RAM, 16GB of expandable storage, a 1-megapixel front-facing shooter and Android 4.1. While its specs aren't anything to sound-off about, this distant cousin to the highly acclaimed Nexus 7, might be worth considering if your budget happens to fall $50 shy of Google's entry-level slate.

Filed under: Tablets, ASUS

Comments

Via: Tech on Budget

If you've ever had an earworm you just can't put a name to, the SoundHound music recognition app -- that even translates your humming -- can be just the sorcery you need. There's now an Android version with a more tablet-centric design and tighter Google integration that brings "streamlined sharing to Facebook, Twitter and more," according to the company. It also trumpeted a stronger relationship with digital music service Rdio, which added interactive music mapping to its SoundHounded track-linking abilities, letting you see others across the globe with the same musical tastes and bad memory. You can grab it at Google Play or Amazon's Appstore for Kindle, but if you're as tone deaf as some of us, don't forget the auto-tune.

Filed under: Cellphones, Tablets, Software, Mobile

Comments

The term "phablet" has always been, at best, a relative descriptor. It kicked in with the release of the original Galaxy Note even though the voice-enabled Dell Streak had beaten that product to market. And while the portmanteau raises the question of whether there is any meaningful difference between a phone and tablet other than size, all it means is "a big phone."

Up until recently, and barring the use of Bluetooth headsets, the constraints defining the upper practical limit of a phone included the ability to fit into a pocket and be held against the side of an (adult) head to facilitate a voice call. At Mobile World Congress in Barcelona, two companies smashed through at least the first of those criteria. Twisting the name of the PadFone, which extended the screen of a handset to that of a 10-inch tablet by use of a touchscreen shell enclosure, ASUS introduced the FonePad.

Filed under: Cellphones, Tablets, Samsung, Google, Amazon

Comments

We bet you thought your DirecTV receiver and Android tablet would never get along, didn't ya? Well, it has been over two years since the satellite provider released an iPad app, and although software for both Android and Apple smartphones were available long before that, Android slates have curiously been neglected. That's all changed now, however, as "DirecTV for Tablets" quietly snuck onto the Play store yesterday. Better late than never, we suppose, and at least it's got the functionality you'd want to make up for its tardiness. The app allows you to use your tablet as a remote, stream various channels (including the Audience Network), manage your DVR, access a bunch of TV-related content, and overshare your viewing habits on several social networks. If you've been waiting for the app so long you refuse to believe it's actually here, don't trust us. Head to the source link for proof.

Gallery: DirecTV Android tablet app screenshots

Filed under: Portable Audio/Video, Tablets, Software, HD

Comments

Via: Solid Signal Blog

Source: Google Play store

Just as we had all recovered from the January trip to Vegas, it was time to ship a pack of editors to Barcelona for another week-long barrage of gadget news. In a freshly e-printed issue of our slate 'zine, we go hands-on with the best of what Mobile World Congress served up in 2013. To round out this Mobile Issue, Brad Molen decodes the new unlocking policy in the US and Sharif Sakr examines the death of the form factor phone. There's a truckload of other tech-centric goodness to peruse, so grab your copy and get to it.

Distro Issue 80 PDF
Distro in the iTunes App Store
Distro in the Google Play Store
Distro in the Windows Store
Distro APK (for sideloading)
Like Distro on Facebook
Follow Distro on Twitter

Filed under: Announcements, HD, Mobile

Comments

Source: iTunes, Google Play, Windows Store

The company formerly known as RIM is currently rolling out two devices running the new BlackBerry 10 OS, and apparently that's not all it's got in store for 2013. Know Your Mobile India reportedly heard from the Head of Developer Relations for Asia Pacific at BlackBerry, during the recent Z10 launch in India, that a "BB10 tablet is definitely coming later this year." We already knew that BB10 was to be shoehorned onto the PlayBook, and the same exec confirmed that it's still in the works, so your old slate won't be left with outdated software when this new hardware arrives. We've reached out to BlackBerry for confirmation or comment, and will update you when we hear back.

Update: Well, that was quick! The exec mentioned above has told us he was misquoted, and that BlackBerry has no immediate plans for a new tablet, instead focusing fully on the Z10 and Q10 for now. Sorry, folks -- no PlayBook 2 for you.

Filed under: Tablets, Blackberry

Comments

Via: Unwired View

Source: Know Your Mobile India

Onkyo is best known in the US and most other markets for its audio gear, but in the past, has tried its hand at PCs, music services, and even a dual-screen netbook. The company also occasionally dabbles in tablets, and will soon be releasing no less than six new Android-powered "SlatePads" in Japan. On the bottom rung is a 7-incher with miserly specs: 1.2GHz Cortex-A8 CPU, 800 x 480 res, 512MB RAM, 4GB storage and ICS to sticky-up your fingers. Dual-core 1.6GHz Cortex-A9 processors, 1GB RAM and 4.1 Jelly Bean are found on the rest of the range, which includes another 7-inch, one 8-inch, one 10.1-inch and two 9.7-inch models. All will be available from March 8th, with damage starting at 10,480 yen (around $114) and topping out at 28,800 yen (approx. $313) for the 9.7-inch, 2,048 x 1,536 res option. You can check out the finer details in the Japanese PR sourced below, but know these aren't likely to make it stateside -- not unless you want to pony up the extra dough to import one, anyway.

[Thanks, Olivier]

Filed under: Tablets

Comments

Via: Tabl3ts

Source: Onkyo

Researchers at IDC have had their ears to the ground keeping tabs on shipments for specific types of devices, and now they've painted a bigger picture of the hardware battlefield in 2012. "Smart connected devices" -- a category which includes desktops, laptops, tablets and smartphones -- saw a total of 367.7 million units shipped in Q4 2012, up 28.3 percent from the year before. In total, over 1.2 billion units were shipped last year, marking a 29.1 percent upswing from 2011. Naturally, tablets and smartphones drove the boost by carving out roughly 60 percent of the year's combined marketshare, while PCs and notebook shipments sank by 4.1 and 3.4 percent, respectively.

While Samsung and Apple each claimed crowns in specific gadget divisions, Sammy came out on top with smart connected devices in 2012 as a whole (and in Q4) thanks to a 20.8 percent marketshare, beating Cupertino by 2.6 percent. Lenovo finished in third place with a 6.5 percent slice, while HP and Dell trailed behind with 4.8 and 3.2 percent, respectively. IDC notes that Cook. and Co. could have come in a more distant second, but the debut of the iPhone 5 and iPad Mini pulled it out of a slump from earlier in the year.

Filed under: Cellphones, Desktops, Laptops, Tablets, Mobile, Apple, Samsung

Comments

Source: IDC

Canonical's preview of a smartphone- and tablet-friendly flavor of Ubuntu has finally arrived for folks willing to flash a Galaxy Nexus, Nexus 4 or a Nexus tablet. Shuttleworth and friends stress that the release is intended for developers and enthusiasts -- not those eyeing it as a daily driver, mind you -- and that it's not yet kitted out with its complete functionality. As of now, the Ubuntu touch dev preview contains the shell, core applications, WiFi networking, support for front- and rear-facing cameras and Android Developer Bridge tool connectivity. In addition, the operating system allows Galaxy Nexus and Nexus 4 handsets to connect to a GSM network, make phone calls and send texts. Along with the sneak peak, the Ubuntu SDK has been badged with the alpha moniker since it's flaunting a host of new features, including the ability to deploy and execute apps straight from the IDE. Ready to download the OS image and development kit? Hit the neighboring source link to get cracking.

Filed under: Cellphones, Tablets, Mobile

Comments

Source: Ubuntu

How do you build a powerful, attractive 11.6-inch tablet that retails for $349? Well, you cut some corners when it comes to build quality, as we discovered when handling Archos' 8 and 9.7-inch Platinum models last month at CES. The company's latest slab features an identical quad-core 1.2GHz processor, eight-core GPU, 2 gigs of RAM, Android 4.1 (Jelly Bean), front and rear cameras, along with microSD and HDMI connectivity. The 116 Platinum, however, packs a larger 11.6-inch, 1920x1080-pixel widescreen IPS display, boosting the price tag to $349, compared to $299 for the 9.7-inch model and $199 for the 8 incher. Archos has promised some hands-on time at CeBIT next month in Germany, but you can get a fairly solid idea of how it'll look and feel by checking out the smaller Platinums in our CES vid after the break.

Filed under: Tablets

Comments

Source: Archos (PDF)

After officially breaking cover yesterday, an untamed image of Sony's forthcoming Xperia Tablet Z has surfaced on Chinese social network Weibo. While this blurry photo opp isn't the most inspiring, it does give an up close look at what this slab looks like without its makeup on. As a quick refresher, the waterproof Xperia Tablet Z features a bafflingly thin chassis (6.9mm), a 10.1-inch 1,920 x 1,200 display, a 1.5GHz quad-core processor, 2GB of RAM, an 8.1 megapixel camera and Android 4.1. If a poorly lit picture isn't enough to satisfy your curiosity, an equally dim video showcasing the unreleased device's UI has made its way to the web as well. Head past the break for a closer look at the Xperia Tablet Z in action.

Update: To be clear, the video below is an alleged leak of the Xperia Tablet Z's software running on an ASUS Transformer.

Filed under: Tablets, Sony

Comments

Via: Android Community

Source: Weibo (translated)

When Google's Handwrite feature launched this past summer, we welcomed the ability to compose our queries instead of pecking keys. Problem is, Handwrite had a bad habit of confusing our 1's and l's -- and despite the growing size of smartphone screens, it's still difficult to fit written words on them. Well, Big G has solved those problems with the latest Handwrite upgrades. The system now provides alternative interpretations of ambiguous characters so you can choose what's propper, and it lets you write letters on top of one another instead of spelling them out across the width of the screen. Not only that, folks who search using Chinese characters are no longer limited to single-character input. Want to know if it can interpret your chicken scratch? Head on over to Google.com and enable Handwrite under settings on the iOS or Android device of your choosing.

Filed under: Cellphones, Tablets, Google

Comments

Source: Inside Search: The official Google Search Blog

Italian electronics firm DaVinci Mobile Technology is now accepting pre-orders for its Kite Full-HD tablet. This European slab features a 10.1-inch 1,920 x 1,200 IPS display, a Samsung Exynos 4412 quad-core processor, 2GB of RAM, 32GB of internal storage, a front-facing VGA camera and a rear-facing 2-megapixel shooter. In addition to packing some decent specs, the device also dual-boots Ubuntu 12.04 for ARM and Android 4.0. While there's no telling if this switch hitter will ever officially make its way to US soil, our friends abroad can fly this Kite for €309 (around $413 USD).

Filed under: Tablets

Comments

Via: Notebook Italia (translated)

Source: DaVinci Mobile Technology (translated)

The tablet landscape has changed greatly in a year's time, at least if you gauge what we've seen on the CES show floor. The 2012 expo was led mostly by high-end Android tablets. This year, Windows 8 understandably garnered much more of the spotlight now that it's available, while Google's platform mostly surfaced in the budget category, where it was much more prevalent than before. Whatever the platform, we saw our fair share of experimentation -- some companies weren't happy with just a spec bump in a familiar form factor. Check past the break for some of the more daring (or at least well-executed) examples from CES 2013.

Filed under: Tablets, Microsoft, Acer

Comments

While some have declared 3D dead, Chinese electronics firm Gadmei doesn't appear to have received the memo. Cruising the outskirts of the Las Vegas Convention Center, we came across the company's forthcoming glasses-free 3D HD Pad. The device packs an 8.1-inch 1,280 x 800 display, a 1.5GHz Cortex-A9 processor, 1GB of RAM, 8GB of internal storage, a 5,000 mAh battery and Android 4.2. Sure, these specs aren't much to gawk at, but the real draw here is the tablet's display-altering software that allows users to toggle between 2D and 3D viewing on select applications.

Entering this demonstration with skepticism, we must say that we were pleasantly surprised with the 3D HD Pad's visual effects. Somewhat reminiscent of using a Nintendo 3DS, viewing angles were limited, but once we found a sweet spot we were good to go. The tablet's 3D capabilities would likely be most effective resting against some type of stand. Visual gimmicks aside, the device has a solid build quality and Jelly Bean ran fairly smooth on its modest hardware.

Filed under: Tablets, Software

Comments