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LG's middling tablet comes with a weird accessory dock
Since Android tablet sales have fallen off a cliff (to the benefit of Windows and Chromebook convertibles), companies have to do something, anything to make them more enticing. Case in point is LG, which has launched the GPad X2 8.0 Plus, according to a T-Mobile leak spotted by Android Police. The device itself is pretty humdrum, but what makes it interesting is the optional dock that gives you a 4,100 mAh battery boost, stereo speakers and a USB port.
AT&T will sell the G Pad 7.0 for 99 cents -- with a couple catches
We can't say for sure how great a tablet the new LG G Pad 7.0 is -- we haven't had the chance to try it out yet. But if you were already planning on buying the G3 smartphone on AT&T, you might consider picking up the tablet too: Starting on Friday, Ma Bell will throw in the tablet for just 99 cents extra. Now, before you get too excited, there are of course a couple catches. Maybe some dealbreaking ones. To qualify for that insane 99-cent price, you'll have to purchase either the G3, G Flex or last-generation G2, and you'll need to either sign a new two-year service agreement or renew your contract through AT&T's "Next" early upgrade plan. Also, the tablet needs to be on-contract too. Ouch.
LG admits that one size doesn't fit all with three new G Pad tablets
LG hasn't quite pulled a Samsung with its new G Pad tablet family, but it's coming close by offering the slate in three different sizes: 7-, 8-, and 10.1-inch. We liked the original 8.3-inch G Pad tablet just fine, but found it was a little too expensive compared to others in the in the 7- to 8-inch size range. Pricing details aren't available yet so we don't know if the company has addressed that angle, but the new tablets will include all of LG's latest software tweaks like Knock Code unlocking, and QPair Bluetooth syncing of notifications with an Android smartphone. Information on availability is also TBA, but the public's first chance to put their greasy palms on these screens will come at the MedPl 2014 trade show this week in Monaco -- we're sure you were already on your way there.
LG working on Google Play edition of the G Pad 8.3
When HTC and Samsung both came out with vanilla Android versions (referred to as Google Play editions) of their flagship smartphones this summer, we were excited because this meant that some of our favorite devices would now come with a "Nexus-like" option. Things got a bit quiet after that, but six months later, it appears that LG is busy preparing its first Google Play edition device: the G Pad 8.3. LG's confirmed the existence of the tablet on its own website after releasing KitKat open source files for the LG-V510; when you download the ZIP, you'll be greeted with references to the Google Play edition of the 8.3. This still doesn't guarantee that it'll actually be released, but it appears that the company's getting pretty close to doing so -- and as luck would have it, a rather large consumer electronics event is taking place early next month, and what better place is there to show off the first Google Play edition tablet?
LG G Pad 8.3 review: well-designed, but priced too high
LG tries. It tries for US relevance, but the company's product offerings -- usually its smartphones -- consistently lack the je ne sais quoi necessary to succeed. The G Pad, an 8.3-inch Android tablet that recently debuted at IFA 2013, could break that dry spell, becoming the first serious competitor to the iPad mini's styling and the first high-profile LG tablet. Is it filled with bleeding-edge specs? No, not really. LG opted to imbue the G Pad with a Snapdragon 600 heart -- a trade-off made in the interest of better battery life and less overheating. The tablet also arrives with a 1,920 x 1,200 IPS panel, giving it an immediate leg up: 1080p resolution in an 8-inch form factor. It's slim, attractive, well-built and it costs $350. Is that a low enough price of entry to merit a buy? And can LG start to inspire consumer confidence with its Android portfolio?
LG G Pad 8.3 revealed ahead of IFA, rolls out globally in Q4
Following up on its initial tease from earlier this week, LG has officially revealed the G Pad 8.3 ahead of IFA. The slate's positioned as the next step from its G2 smartphone, and the company claims it's the first eight-inch tablet with a 1920 x 1200 WUXGA (Widescreen Ultra Extended Graphics Array) full HD screen. The device features a 4,600mAh battery, and runs Jelly Bean 4.2.2 atop a 1.7 GHz quad-core Snapdragon 600 processor aided by 2GB of RAM. Despite all that, it's just 8.33m thick and weighs 338 grams. Software enhancements include QPair and QSlide -- the former lets you receive messages and calls from JB-equipped Android phones on the G Pad itself, while the latter allows for three apps to run on-screen at once. What's more, with KnockOn you simply tap the screen twice to wake it up. The G Pad 8.3 will be available globally beginning in Q4 in your choice of black or white with 16 GB of storage. No word on pricing just yet, but expect a hands-on once we catch it on the show floor.
LG teases upcoming G Pad 8.3 tablet in YouTube video
When is an official tablet unofficially announced? The answer to that question seems to have evolved over the years, as LG now tends to out its products in teasers a week or so prior to their actual unveiling (the G2 is a perfect example). Now, the company is continuing that trend with the G Pad 8.3, its first tablet since the Optimus Pad LTE, which LG is teasing in a freshly posted YouTube video. So far, many of the details are still a mystery, but we do know the mid-sized tablet is coming (presumably alongside a smartwatch and Firefox OS device), and will most likely make its debut at IFA next week. The video involves professional actors real people on the street talking about what makes a tablet right for them, with answers including a portability, ease of use, quickness, full HD display, the ability to connect to smart TVs and keeping it thin. We have no doubt these "interviews" indicate what we can expect from the still-unannounced slate, and we'll be keeping an eye out for more clues as we get closer to its launch. We've embedded the video after the break, along with a shot of the logo.
Rydeen hopes to cash in on tablet fever with Android-based, Armada-powered PND
You may never have heard of auto electronics provider Rydeen Mobile, but it certainly knows of you -- or more specifically, your desire to obtain a slick new tablet PC -- and has thus created an 7-inch Android tablet that integrates the dedicated map functionality of its GPS machines. The "gPad" GCOM701 won't be a terribly high-end device, mind you, with an 800MHz ARMADA 166 SOC, 256MB of RAM, bring-your-own-microSD-storage and what we're led to believe is a resistive touchscreen, but it sounds like at least Rydeen isn't being stingy on the software front. You'll find a full suite of Google Apps, Adobe Flash Lite 4 and AVI support, not to mention 4 million points of interest thanks to the integrated Navteq client. Connectivity include GPS, WiFi, Bluetooth, both mini and full-sized USB ports, plus a front-facing camera for video chat, and there's a 2400mAh battery the company claims will provide six hours of solid use. Find it this November at an unspecified price, no doubt alongside the pictured (but not mentioned) car dock.
Chloe the Corgi, meet iPad
Well, we've already introduced a cat to the iPad, so a dog would naturally follow, right? Tested.com tried their best to bring their corgi Chloe (I really love corgis, ever since Cowboy Bebop) to the iPad, but as you can see in the video above, she doesn't take to it quite as well as Iggy the cat did. After a little sniffing and experimentation, things go south fast. Poor puppy! Just not muscially-inclined, I guess. Maybe she'd rather wait for the gPad. In the meantime, tell Jobs to get Ive on the line -- there's at least one canine demographic out there for which the iPad's interface isn't quite so intuitive. [via The Daily What, who also posted this fun music video featuring iPhones]
