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Google is bringing a kids mode to some Android tablets
A new Lenovo device will be the first tablet with access to Google Kids Space.
Samsung's thinnest ever tablet is the first with Bixby built in
Samsung has a surprise product announcement today, but it's not the flagship phone we've been dying to hear about. Instead, the company is unveiling a new tablet -- the Tab S5e. It's a 10-inch Android 9 Pie device that the company says is its thinnest, lightest slate yet, coming in at just 5.1mm and 400 grams (or about 14 ounces). Plus, it's the first tablet with Bixby 2.0 built in, so you can use the voice assistant to control your compatible Samsung or SmartThings appliances.
Samsung Galaxy Tab S4 hands-on: The Android tablet for multitaskers
Good Android tablets are increasingly hard to find, maybe because so few people actually buy them anymore. But for those who are looking for one, Samsung's Galaxy Tab line remains one of the best in the category. It's nice to see, then, that the company has continued to update the device, launching today the Galaxy Tab S4. The new tablet focuses on improving productivity and entertainment, with multitasking DeX software built in and a refined stylus. It's slightly prettier than before, but unfortunately, it's also $50 more expensive than its already pricey predecessor.
HTC has stopped producing the Nexus 9
As has often been the case with larger Android tablets, the Nexus 9 never quite lived up to its potential. And, it's relatively long in the tooth, first launching back in October of 2014. Google stopped selling the device about a month ago, and now HTC has confirmed that its days are numbered. While you can still buy most models of the tablet on HTC's site, the company says that it is no longer manufacturing the tablet. Once the stock on HTC's site and across various other random retailers runs out, that'll be the end of the line.
Oregon Scientific's MEEP! X2 kid-friendly tablet can be yours today for $150
After seeing it make an appearance at the FCC offices back in August, we knew it was only a matter of time before Oregon Scientific would begin loading shelves with the MEEP! X2. Today, the company made it official, announcing that its second-gen tablet for kids is now available for purchase. All things considered, the X2 appears to be pretty solid on paper: it features a 7-inch display, front and rear cameras, Android 4.2 (with a custom skin, of course), Bluetooth 4.0, 4GB of internal storage and an undisclosed 1.2GHz, dual-core CPU alongside 1GB of RAM. This spec sheet isn't where the X2 hopes to shine, however; Oregon Scientific is betting on pre-loaded software (such as apps, e-books, games and music), customizable parental controls and its own MEEP! store to lure parents into buying one for their little ones. The X2 is a Toys R Us exclusive, where it's up for grabs now for $150, both online and at brick-and-mortar stores.
Lenovo IdeaTab A1000 review: how important is audio quality in a budget tablet?
It's not easy being a 7-inch tablet these days. With relatively inexpensive devices like the ASUS MeMo Pad HD 7 and the refreshed Nexus 7 offering a whole lot of bang for your buck, budget tablet makers are facing stiffer competition than ever before. Lenovo hasn't had much luck thus far delivering mobile devices that impress and, indeed, the company's latest offering -- the 7-inch IdeaTab A1000 -- has its work cut out for it. With the 16GB model priced at $160 (currently on sale for $130), the petite IdeaTab prioritizes sound quality over its other functions, perhaps in the hopes that its above-average performance in that area will woo picky buyers. But does the A1000 have what it takes to compete in a crowded market? Read on to find out.
Hisense Sero 7 Pro review: a newcomer tries its hand at Android tablets
Hisense, a company best known for its home theater equipment, isn't exactly a name synonymous with mobile devices. But with its new, Walmart-exclusive line of Android tablets -- the Sero 7 LT and Sero 7 Pro -- the Chinese manufacturer is dipping its toe into an increasingly crowded pool. Both tablets occupy the budget end of the spectrum, with the higher-end of the two, the Sero 7 Pro, going for a reasonable $150. For the price, the specs are decent: the Sero comes with a 1,280 x 800 display, a quad-core Tegra 3 processor and Android 4.2 Jelly Bean. We dove headfirst into this bargain buy to see how it fares against similarly priced 7-inch tablets. Want to find out if Hisense has the chops to compete? Read on, friends.
HP Slate 7 review: HP's budget Android tablet is less of a hit, more of a miss
It's no secret that HP has struggled when it comes to tablets. The company has faced (and crashed into) its share of mobile device hurdles in recent years -- most notably, with the ill-fated and expensive TouchPad. With its latest foray into the tablet world, HP is hoping to hit one out of the park with the Slate 7, a budget tablet that retails for $170 in the US ($140 with instant savings). We set out to discover how the Slate 7 would fare in the competitive Android tablet market, especially compared to its current rival, the Nexus 7, and the forthcoming ASUS MeMo Pad HD 7. So, is the Slate 7 HP's little tablet that could? Read on to find out.
DirecTV Android tablet app knows it's late, makes suitably low-key entrance
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-181121%
Shazam conjures iPad and Android tablet versions, zips past 300 million users
If you've finally caught up to the curve with the latest tablet but are still hopelessly behind on the latest tunes or TV programs, Shazam now has a slate-friendly flavor of its media-discovery software for iPad and Android. The update includes new touches like a refreshed home page, improved tag result layout, a new way to browse your friends' tagging and interactive mapping that shows users' taste in cities around the world, as shown above. The outfit says the interface is enhanced for the slate environment and that it just passed 300 million users worldwide, giving you plenty of sources to find the latest thing. It'll arrive for free at the App Store and Google Play in a few weeks, according to Shazam -- hit the PR after the break for more.
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.
Aakash 2 Android tablet materializes, costs around $21 for Indian students
It's a few months late, but at least it's hitting the streets for a few less dollars than expected. The Datawind-built Aakash 2 is finally a reality, launching in India on the nation's National Education Day. It's the second iteration of what amounts to a barebones, affordable Android slate, packing a 7-inch touch panel, 1GHz Cortex-A8 processor, 512MB of RAM, 4GB of Flash storage, Android 4.0.3, built-in WiFi and a front-facing VGA camera. Reportedly, this one's going to be shipped to Indian students for Rs 1,130 (around $21), while outsiders will be able to snag one for closer to $80. Of course, the difference now is that these kinds of projects aren't quite as novel. Indeed, Chinese megashops are hawking low-rate Android tablets right now for around the same amount, setting a new (low) bar when it comes to pricing on ho hum slates. Still, we're all for getting technology into the hands of students, and you can learn a bit more about what those very students can expect from VentureBeat's hands-on just below.
Archos adds the 80 Cobalt to its ICS tablet range: 8-inch screen, 1.6GHz CPU and 1GB of RAM
The FCC may have spoiled the surprise months ago, but Archos has taken to Facebook to officially reveal the new member of its Elements range -- the Archos 80 Cobalt. As you may have guessed from the familiar size codification, the WiFi-only slate sports an 8-inch capacitive screen filled with 1024 x 768 pixels, supporting 1080p video playback. The other specs you'll want to know include the dual-core processor running at 1.6GHz, 1GB of RAM and 8 gigs of on-board storage, expandable with a microSD card of up to 64GB. Modest 2-megapixel and 0.3-megapixel shooters occupy the back and front of the 0.48-inch (12mm) thick tablet, respectively, which weighs in at a solid one pound (470g). There's no word on a release date or pricing for this ICS device, but we'd imagine the answers are "soon" and "under $200." Any more than that, and we can't see people choosing it over, say, a Nexus 7, even if it does have an extra inch on the competition. %Gallery-169788%
Google Nexus 10 leaks: Android 4.2, 1.7GHz Exynos 5250, 2,560 x 1,600 resolution (update: video)
Unless we're looking at one of the most elaborately photographed fakes in the world, this is the Nexus 10. With the Nexus 7 apparently going over quite well at just $199, it was only ever a matter of time before the Nexus family expanded to house a 10-incher. With Google's own Vic Gundotra posting images from a unit that he's using at some exotic locale, it seems that another unit has slipped beneath the camera at BriefMobile. The site has managed to apprehend one of the 10.1-inch slates, and in turn has discovered quite the bounty of information. Internally, there's (reportedly) a dual-core, Cortex-A15-based 1.7GHz Samsung Exynos 5250, a Mali-T604 GPU, 2GB of RAM, 16GB of internal storage (though no microSD expansion slot), a 5 megapixel rear-facing camera, NFC / WiFi, Bluetooth 4.0 and a Super AMOLED panel with a drool-worthy 2,560 x 1,600 screen resolution -- yeah, that's well into "Retina" territory at 298.9 pixels per inch. You may recognize that Exynos 5250 from Google's recently released $249 Chromebook, but here, it's being used to push Android 4.2. Those hungry for more can visit the source link, but don't go in hoping to extract an asking price. Update: Well, if the pictures weren't enough, BriefMobile has just popped a five-second long video of the device, which you can glance at after the break. Don't get too excited, however, as it's merely just someone going from the home screen into Chrome.
eFun's Nextbook Premium 10SE tablet with ICS now available for $280
In a market slightly populated by some great well-priced tablets, and one that eFun is quite familiar with, the company decided now was a good time to add yet another slate into the mix. And while the Premium 10SE is slightly pricier than, say, the entry-level Nexus 7 model, eFun's latest Ice Cream Sandwich slab does sport a larger 9.7-inch, 1024 x 768 display. Still, the Premium 10SE won't impress many with the rest of its run-of-the-mill internals, which include a 1GHz CPU alongside 1GB of RAM, 8GB of built-in storage (expandable via microSD) and a front-facing 0.3-megapixel shooter -- it's also worth mentioning that eFun is kind enough to bundle in 25 eBooks at no extra cost. The Premium 10SE is available now for $280, though you can save a little cash by heading to your local Radio Shack or Hastings shop, where the Nextbook tablet's priced at a more affordable $250.
Lenovo IdeaTab S2110 review: a competent Transformer competitor running Android 4.0
More Info Lenovo's IdeaTab S2 10-inch does tablet transformation, packs a 1.5GHz dual-core Snapdragon Lenovo IdeaTab S2110 quietly goes on sale as the Gobots of transforming tablets Lenovo IdeaTab S2110 makes official debut at IFA 2012: a 10-inch hybrid Android 4.0 slate It's taken nearly half a year for Lenovo's transforming IdeaTab S2110 to go from CES reveal to retail shelves and it's arrived barely unchanged. But despite the initial fanfare, the company chose to slip this slate into the marketplace quietly, ahead even of its official launch at IFA. In that time, ASUS managed to announce and ship a new hybrid tablet of its own, the Transformer Pad TF300 -- a keyboard-optional rival offering the same 10-inch, 1,280 x 800 IPS display and Android 4.0 experience, along with a quad-core Tegra 3. While Lenovo's offering may not come with four cores or an unskinned version of Ice Cream Sandwich, there is a very contemporary dual-core S4 inside, clocked at 1.5GHz and buffered by 1GB of RAM. Alongside that, the tab's also outfitted with a 1.3-megapixel front-facing shooter and 5-megapixel rear camera capable of 1080p video capture. Other specs include radios for WiFi and Bluetooth 4.0, a battery rated for up to 10 hours of browsing (augmented to 20 hours when connected to the dock) and either 16GB or 32GB of built-in storage. At $430 for the base model alone, it's already positioned as a higher-priced alternative to the TF300. Add the dock and full storage, and you're looking at a cool $580. So, will this be a case of "too little, too late" for Lenovo? Can the S2110 lure undecided customers away from cheaper similarly specced offerings? Read on as we attempt to answer all that and more.
Best Buy reveals Insignia Flex Tablet, 9.7-inches of Android 4.0
It's been a little while since we visited anything from Best Buy's Insignia brand, but this new tablet from the retailer just caught our (or rather a tipster's) eye. Called the Insignia Flex, it's a 9.7-inch, dual-core 1GHz, Android 4.0 slate that promises up to ten hours of battery life. As you can see, the design is unique enough to stand out from the crowd, with a squared off look, and an almost Xperia T-esque curve to the bezel. That's about all we know about it at the minute, other than it being penciled in for release a month from now. We're hoping that this could land with a smile-friendly price tag, but if you want to know for sure, hit up the source link to follow along on Facebook. [Thanks, Matt]
Alcatel intros One Touch T10 tablet with 7-inch display and Ice Cream Sandwich
Even though Alcatel does have devices out in the market like that Venture or OT986, the company still isn't exactly known for its hardware offerings. With the 7-inch (800 x 480) One Touch T10, Alcatel's entering the overcrowded Android tablet space, and doing so without much flare -- especially when compared side-by-side with, say, Google's flagship, the Nexus 7. Something also tells us the One Touch T10 might just be one of those reincarnated slates, but that's not to say some won't appreciate the inclusion of Ice Cream Sandwich alongside a 1GHz, single-core Rockchip CPU, 1GB RAM and 4GB of internal storage (expandable up to 32GB via microSD). Details on pricing and availability are still a tad bit scarce, though word on the web is it'll be priced at €130 (around $170) once it's up for grabs in the US and Europe.
Kobo Arc tablet hands-on (video)
When Kobo released the Vox, its first tablet, Engadget had just recently abolished review scores. In retrospect, that was a good thing for the company, as we didn't have very many nice things to say about it. The product suffered from short battery life, for one, along with sluggish performance and WiFi connectivity issues. It's no wonder, then, that Kobo is loathe to call its new Arc tablet a "follow-up" to the Vox so much as a "re-thinking." The tablet, which will go on sale in mid-November starting at $199, brings a faster 1.5GHz TI processor, a battery rated for 10 to 12 hours of runtime and a re-tooled software experience built on Ice Cream Sandwich. Is that enough to unseat the new Kindle Fire HD or the Nexus 7? That, friends, is a question best answered in our forthcoming review, but after a few minutes of hands-on time we can at least say that we're pleasantly surprised. Meet us past the break to find out why.
Kobo cuts 8GB Arc tablet in favor of larger models, pricing still starts at $200
It's only been a couple of weeks since Kobo took the wraps off of its new lineup of readers and tablets, but someone must have told the company spacier Arcs were in need. Today, the outfit announced it's bringing a fresh pair of 32 and 64GB models to its Ice Cream Sandwich slate, opening the door to those who thought the 8 and 16GB flavors simply didn't offer enough storage space. Kobo's pricing the 32GB Arc at a decent $250, while the larger 64GB unit will carry a $300 tag -- both are set to be up for grabs in November alongside that entry-level 16GB model, with the 8GB getting the boot altogether.
