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Laptop and tablet deals of the week: 4.11.14
Laptops allow you to get work done on the go and tablets are certainly nice to have around, but the price of admission for both can be a significant investment. That's where we come in. We've compiled a list of tempting options for both of those categories, all with price cuts that'll tempt wallets. Jump down past the break and take a look for yourself and start the weekend with a new gadget purchase. If there are other laptops that you're after that we haven't included here -- join us and add them to your "Want" list. Every time there's a price cut in the future, you'll get an email alert!
Google seeks judgment protecting Android from 'Rockstar' group's patent lawsuits
Google isn't about to remain idle while the Apple- and Microsoft-led "Rockstar" patent group sues numerous Android partners. The search giant has quietly filed a declaratory judgment complaint asking a San Jose court to rule that the company (and therefore, the Android ecosystem) doesn't infringe seven of Rockstar's patents. As GigaOM notes, Google isn't mincing words -- the firm accuses Rockstar of "placing a cloud" over Android and harassing a large part of the technology industry. The legal action doesn't necessarily amount to fighting fire with fire, though. Declaratory judgment complaints frequently represent attempts to score an early victory, rather than the first line of defense; Google likely has more up its sleeve if this tactic doesn't work.
Google Shopping Express starts selling gadgets, continues same-day delivery until December 24th
Hey, Bay Area residents: Mountain View's hoping you'll bring its online shop your business instead of braving the crowds for some last-minute holiday shopping. Google's Shopping Express will continue doing same-day deliveries until 5PM Pacific on December 24th, so long as you place an order before noon. Even better, the portal now sells gadgets straight from Google Play. The selection's pretty slim at the moment, but if you have a relative dying for a Nexus 7/10 or a Chromecast, then you've got it made. Sadly, the service has yet to expand to other locations, so everyone else will have to find an alternative, or, you know, grab a Red Bull on the way to the mall.
PrimeSense demonstrates Capri 3D sensor on Nexus 10 (hands-on)
Take the 3D sensor inside the Microsoft Kinect, shrink it down to a tenth of its original size and add a bunch of mobile capabilities, and you have yourself PrimeSense's latest conquest, better known as Capri. The company, which is the brains behind the Kinect, has been openly working on bringing a tiny-yet-advanced 3D experience to tablets, televisions and smartphones for quite some time now. And it's proud enough of its progress so far that it's willing to give some real-life demonstrations to developers attending Google I/O. You may not see Capri embedded on the PCB of your portable gadget anytime soon -- at least, not until PrimeSense winds up wooing the pants off a lucky OEM or two -- so in the meantime, the company has connected the sensor board to the Nexus 10 via micro-USB. Unlike the Kinect, however, PrimeSense doesn't think gestures will play a significant role in how we use Capri to interact with our gadgets. Rather, it seems to be more focused on 3D-based use case scenarios, many of which haven't even been thought up yet. As you'll see in the video below, we were shown an AR game that takes the environment around you -- walls, furniture and other elements -- and uses them as restrictions, just as much as they would be in real life. In another app, Capri snapped a three-dimension shot of an object on the table in front of us, captured its measurements and let us export that image to another device or even a 3D printer. In many respects, PrimeSense appears to be taking the same strategy Google does with Glass: get developers excited about the tech in the hopes they'll come up with clever uses for it. And while the company isn't ready to put Capri in their hands yet, the SDK is up for grabs, and I/O is no doubt an ideal place to build excitement for it. If you're looking for more info, we have a gallery, video and press release below, and you'll find the SDK at the More Coverage link. %Gallery-188372%
Engadget's tablet buyer's guide: spring 2013 edition
Much like bears, tablet designers are coming out of hibernation: there have been a handful of noteworthy models reaching the wild after a few months of silence. Most of these are the Windows 8- and RT-based tablets that didn't quite make the cut for the holidays, and we're launching our 2013 spring tablet buyer's guide with a dedicated Windows section to accommodate a distinct and rapidly filling category. Just be careful before you commit to a purchase, wherever your allegiances lie: Mobile World Congress brought us tablets that haven't quite shipped yet, like the FonePad and Galaxy Note 8.0. (We've included a heads-up in those situations where waiting a few weeks, or months, may be wisest.) As chaotic as spring can be, our guide might just provide some kind of stability if you're shopping for your next slate.
Google bestows the Nexus 10 with covers, available now for $29.99
Sure, you may own the highest res Android tablet on the block, but is your Nexus 10 really all that special when it's as naked as everyone else's? Problem, meet solution: the Nexus 10 cover from Google. The $29.99 add-on hit the Play Store this fine day, which stands as the first official accessory for the larger of Google's two tablets. The matte finish cover is available in dark grey and scarlet, which clips onto the slate without adding much bulk. As another nice touch, you can also wake and sleep the Nexus 10 simply by opening and closing its cover, which seems quite smart, if you ask us. Naturally, the Gorilla Glass 2 display of the Nexus 10 is plenty beefy already, but if you want that added layer of protection, you'll now find it for purchase in Google Play.
Android 4.2.2 update reportedly arriving on Galaxy Nexus phones, Nexus tablets
After a few sightings early in January we hadn't heard much about a new version of Android 4.2, but posters on Reddit and Android Police say 4.2.2 is starting to pop up on several flavors of Nexus hardware. First spotted on a r/Android poster's GSM Galaxy Nexus and later on Nexus 7 and Nexus 10 tablets (as shown above), there are no changes listed other than "performance and stability," however there's hope that this includes promised fixes for Bluetooth A2DP issues. We haven't seen any new software on our devices and there's no official word yet, let us know in the comments if you're seeing anything new on your mobile device. [Image credit: Marco Duran]
Google's Nexus 10 tablet goes on sale in Japan after a few months delay
Mimicking the postponed release schedule of its 7-inch cousin, Google's Nexus 10 tablet is just now going on sale in Japan. We originally expected Japanese availability at the same time as other areas last fall, but that was not in the cards for the high ppi slate. Shipping within the next couple of weeks, it's priced at 36,800 yen ($397) for the 16GB, and 44,800 yen ($484) for the 32GB, comparing very favorably with current US pricing. The specs remain the same, so if the only thing keeping you from owning one has been local availability then that's no longer a hurdle, although grabbing a hot-selling Nexus 4 is still a bit more tricky.
Engadget's tablet buyer's guide: winter 2013 edition
As we begin 2013, we're stuck in a kind of tablet limbo. Most companies rushed to get devices out for the fall, while the models we saw at CES 2013 aren't yet shipping. As such, it's a mostly familiar deck, with Apple, Google and Microsoft once again striving for the top spot. That said, there are new entries from Amazon and ASUS, and many of us who didn't score some sweet loot this holiday season have a slate-sized pile of cash to spend. If you're in that situation, continue on for our first tablet guide of 2013. Note: If you're looking for tablets with an Atom or Core i5 CPU, you'll find those in our forthcoming laptop buyer's guide, since they have the same guts as notebooks (or netbooks, in some cases). For the purposes of this tablet guide, we define tablets as slate-type devices with low-power ARM processors.
CyanogenMod 10.1 Milestone 1 hits Nexus and Samsung devices
Despite all the nightly builds of CyanogenMod 10.1, there hasn't been much of anything definitive to hang our hats on. There's at last some sense of reliability now that Milestone 1 versions have hit the servers. Most Nexus devices, as well as swaths of Samsung's Galaxy S and Galaxy Tab 2 ranges, can get the unofficial Android 4.2 build for themselves. The M1 code is deemed "mostly stable" and good enough for daily use, although that's relative -- it's not yet to the level of a fully stable build, let alone factory firmware. If you only needed fewer risks than before, though, the downloads and details await at the source links. [Thanks, Rashid]
Google's 'Happy Holidays from Android' gets you in the spirit with an unannounced Nexus 10 dock (video)
It's hardly the biggest reveal of the month, but Google's cheery "Happy Holidays from Android" video served to convey more than the search giant's heartfelt seasonal message -- it's also the launching ground for a Nexus 10 tablet dock. Spotted by Android Central, the curvy black stand, seen at the 0:59 and 1:16 marks, appears to be quite compact in size, and includes a raised back to support the high-res 10.1-inch slate. Sadly, there's no hint of connectivity options, and certainly no mention of a MSRP or ship date, so unless you happen to be one of the Google employees involved in this jovial gesture, chances are you won't be making room for Mountain View's latest Android accessory before the year is out. But you can catch a glimpse of it in action after the break.
Flipboard lands on Android tablets, now supports Nexus 10
It's no secret that we're big fans of Flipboard here at Engadget, but there's one thing we've been longing for: a tablet-optimized Android version. Until now, running the app on the Nexus 10 (by sideloading the APK) or even the Nexus 7 (officially supported) meant living with a scaled-up phone experience. Today, Flipboard is getting updated in the Play Store to supports a variety of Android tablets such as Samsung's Galaxy Note 10.1, the Galaxy Tab series and the Nexus 10. A setting lets you chose between phone and tablet modes, which is useful for mid-size devices like Amazon's Kindle Fire, the Nook and the Nexus 7. Flipboard worked closely with Samsung to optimize the app and take advantage of larger, higher resolution displays. This means more of your favorite tiles, larger story snippets and landscape support (at last). We spent a few hours using Flipboard's new app for Android and came away suitably impressed -- anyone familiar with the iPad version will feel right at home. PR after the break.
CyanogenMod 10.1 nightlies spread to more Nexus models, ASUS and Samsung devices
There was a certain degree of irony to the first CyanogenMod 10.1 nightly reaching a lone device that already runs Android 4.2. What about the rest of us? Thankfully, logic is getting the upper hand with the arrival of regular test builds for a much wider hardware selection. All versions of the Galaxy Nexus, Nexus 7 and Nexus 10 get their expected turn at the code. However, the mix also includes devices that weren't predestined to receive an official update to the latest instance of Jelly Bean, such as ASUS' Transformer Pad Infinity and Samsung devices ranging from the original Galaxy S through to both Galaxy Tab 2 slates. It's still throwing caution to the wind by running an unfinished version of unofficial firmware, but we're sure CyanogenMod's target audience is comfortable enough with the risks to visit the source link.
Google Nexus 10 picks up nightly CyanogenMod 10.1 updates
Catching up with its smartphone relative, the Samsung-made Nexus 10 is now ready to run CyanogenMod 10.1's latest experimental builds. While these (slightly unstable) alpha builds have their roots in the same version of Google's mobile OS (that is, Android 4.2) it's a good chance to see what third-party developers have planned for that crisp 10-inch display. If you're holding out for the finished deal, you'll be waiting a little longer as there's still no word on when the final build will be up for grabs. For now, you can download the interim versions at the source below.
CyanogenMod 10.1 nightlies now available for Nexus 4
At this point in time, ownership of Google's much sought-after Nexus 4 is still the pride of few, with most eager users stuck in delivery and ordering limbo. But for those of you who do lay claim to that unassuming slab of LG design, CyanogenMod's ready and willing to share some nightly perks. Released as a response to unofficial third party ROMs, experimental (read: unstable) builds of CM10.1 (built upon Android 4.2) are now available on the outfit's site. For now, these nightlies will be Nexus 4-only, but there are plans to open'em up to Nexus 10 owners soon. There's no word on when that final, polished 10.1 build will be ready for all Android devices, so for now, the keys to CM10.1 belong to a small group of privileged folks.
Google hustles Android 4.2.1 onto Nexus devices to give you December back
With the rollout of a major OS upgrade like Android 4.2, we can imagine it's easy to forget something, but Google's omission of the entire month of December in the People app was certainly a doozy. The beauty of the Nexus program is that Google can rectify little issues like that post-haste, however, and Mountain View has now rolled out Jelly Bean 4.2.1, a small update that adds back that all-too-important month. So far, Nexus 4 and 10 users have reported getting the update, according to XDA Developers, though there's no evidence yet of any other fixes. Check your Nexus device (or the source) to see if it's arrived in time for, you know. Update: Looks as if the Nexus 7 is a go, too!
Google's Nexus 10 tablet gets torn down, found to be Samsung-made inside and out
We've already seen what makes the Nexus 7 tick, and the folks at PowerBook Medic have now done the teardown honors with its larger counterpart, the Nexus 10. Expectedly, there aren't many major surprises to be found, but the site did note the "complete ease" of taking the tablet apart, with no glue or other impediments getting in the way. It's also confirmed that this is very much a Samsung-made tablet, with the company not only putting it together, but manufacturing everything from the processor to the flash memory to the battery. You can find the full rundown at the link below.
Xcom Global starts renting Nexus 7 and 10 tablets, lets us keep the laptop at home
International data services give us the freedom to leave our carriers' roaming plans at home, but that's only so much consolation to travelers who have to lug a giant laptop or cater to a digitally savvy family. Xcom Global is gambling that some of us want more portable (or just additional) gear for our travels: it's offering daily rentals of the WiFi Nexus 7 and Nexus 10 as a complement to its usual hotspot deals. Paying $2 or $3 per day for the respective slates will give a big-screen fix to those who can't get by on smartphones alone. Although the Nexus 10 isn't available yet -- something to do with the tablet only just shipping -- Xcom Global is currently discounting the tablet rental rates to $1 and $2 to lure us in. Any reasonable extra fees might be worthwhile if they let us pack light.
PSA: Google Nexus 4, Nexus 10 for sale in US now! (update: Nexus 4 already sold out)
All three sizes of Google's hardware family are now available for purchase in both the US and Canada. Joining a 3G-flavored Nexus 7, the LG-made Nexus 4 starts at $299 for 8GB, Samsung's Nexus 10 rings in at $399 for 16GB. And what do you get for that kind of money? A whole lot; the new Nexus phone houses Android 4.2, Snapdragon S4 Pro and rich 4.7-inch 1,280 x 768 display. Meanwhile the ten-inch Nexus tablet packs the same fresh software, an incredible 2,560 x 1,600 resolution screen and a quad dual-core 1.7 GHz processor, so a whole lot of bang for several hundred of bucks. Hit up Google Play below and pick your screen and storage size. Update: And like that, it appears the 16GB both models of the Nexus 4 are sold out. Already.
Nexus 4 and 10 hit Australian Google Play store first, $20 Nexus 4 bumpers appear (update: Europe too)
While we wait for Google's latest to hit the virtual shelves in our neck of the woods, Australian buyers have already seen the Nexus 4 and Nexus 10 go on sale, appearing around noon locally. AusDroid reports the 16GB Nexus 4 went out of stock in just 22 minutes, followed by the 8GB version and 32GB Nexus 10. additionally, Android Central reports that official bumpers for the Nexus 4 have appeared in the Google Play store. We didn't have problems with our review units but since the LG-built handset is rocking glass front and back they may be the difference between a close call and a sob story -- friends who've smashed an iPhone 4 (or more than one) likely have relevant tales to share. Readers have emailed saying Google Play customer service reps indicated new Nexus sales will start at noon ET here as well, but without official word we'd probably just keep an eye on our inbox / clicking that refresh key to be safe. Update: Sales appear to have gone live for customers in Europe, specifically UK and Spain, right about...now (3AM ET), those that can actually pull up the site at the moment may be able to get a purchase through. Update 2: Google has confirmed that UK stock of the Nexus 4 has already been exhausted just hours after going on sale. [Thanks, Jeffrey Powell]
