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Ten years in, a look at the iPad killers that weren't
The PlayBook’s chances of outselling the iPad, or literally any other tablet for that matter, were nil. As we saw with the Galaxy Tab, tablets running Android 2.0 and up basically just acted like jumbo smartphones.
Amazon's latest Fire HD 10 tablet finally has a USB-C port
Amazon has just updated its most popular tablet with new internals. The company's latest Fire HD 10 tablet features a new octa-core processor clocked at 2.0GHz that's supported by 2GB of RAM. Amazon claims the updated processor makes the new Fire HD 10 30 percent faster than its predecessor. When it becomes available later this month, you'll be able to buy the Fire HD 10 in two configurations, outfitting the device with either 32GB or 64GB of internal storage. The two models will be priced at $149.99 and $189.99 respectively. If that's not enough space, you can add up to 512GB of additional storage with a microSD card. Other notable hardware features include built-in Dolby Atmos support and WiFi 802.11ac connectivity.
Apple iPadOS review: More like a laptop than ever
For the first few years of the iPad's life, Apple basically treated it like an overgrown iPhone. Yes, its bigger screen meant people would want to use it differently, and third-party developers did a fine job retooling their software to make full use of that extra screen space. It wasn't until iOS 9 when Apple really invested in tablet-specific features like Split View and Slide Over, and it was that subtle shift in priorities led us directly to the present -- and to iPadOS. Don't be fooled by the name, though: iOS and iPadOS are still mostly the same thing. Nearly every feature I've discussed in our iOS 13.1 review is present here, along with a series of changes that are helping to slowly close the gap between iPads and more traditional computers. To get a sense of iPadOS's progress, I vowed to put as much of this review together on an iPad Pro, and honestly, I'm pretty pleased with the results. I couldn't do everything, but the fact that I could write the copy, edit and watermark my photos, address fixes in Google Docs and lay out almost everything for the site speaks to how much more capable iPads can be after an update. We're still not at the point where iPadOS turns iPads into full-blown computer replacements for most people, but the update is a big step down that path.
If you're feeling brave, the Pixel Slate and keyboard are on sale for $549
When we point our readers to deals here at Engadget, it's almost always for products we have personal experience with and would recommend based on that experience. This one is... a little different. Last fall, I reviewed Google's Pixel Slate and found it had excellent hardware with software that was lacking on a number of fronts. It was also far too expensive to recommend given those faults. But what if it cost just half of what Google was asking? I'd probably have a different take on things.
Google pulls 85 Android apps with particularly obnoxious adware
Google has removed 85 apps from the Google Play store after security researchers at Trend Micro found a particularly annoying adware scheme hiding inside.The adware, called AndroidOS_Hidenad.HRXH, was embedded in fully functioning photography and gaming apps that were installed over 8 million times. The apps exploited common Android functions to detect when the user unlocked their phone, triggering ads that were typically five minutes in length and were difficult to skip. They would also replace their icons on the home screen with a shortcut so that even if the user dragged what they thought was the app into the trash, the app would remain functioning on the phone.
Best Buy’s weekend sale includes up to $500 off 12-inch MacBooks
Best Buy's three-day weekend sale includes a bunch of discounts on Apple and Amazon products, as well as cuts on laptops, TVs, smartwatches and smart home products. The sale runs through Sunday, and if you've been waiting to buy a new device, it's worth checking out.
Google has made its last tablet
If you're someone who saw the potential in the Pixel Slate, despite its software issues, we have some bad news. Google is no longer planning to make any tablet hardware going forward and will put all its resources behind laptops in the future. In a statement received by Engadget, a Google spokesperson said that "for Google's first-party hardware efforts, we'll be focusing on Chrome OS laptops and will continue to support Pixel Slate." Google's spokesperson also noted that the company will continue working with third-party hardware makers on Chrome OS for both laptops and tablets. This news came first from JR Raphael at Computerworld, who writes that Google had two smaller tablets in the works, both of which have been cancelled. Going along with that, internal resources are being re-allocated to work on laptop hardware going forward.
This week in tech history: Microsoft shows us the Surface
At Engadget, we spend every day looking at how technology will shape the future. But it's also important to look back at how far we've come. That's what This Week in Tech History does. Join us every weekend for a recap of historical tech news, anniversaries and advances from the recent and not-so-recent past. This week, we're looking back at Microsoft's first Surface devices.
Apple iPad Air review (2019): Just right
For the past few years, Apple's iPad lineup has had a large and obvious hole in it. At one end, there's the $329 iPad, an affordable way to do basic computing and run the many excellent apps out there. It cuts some corners with a years-old design, older processors and a less-advanced screen, but for most people it's good enough. At the other end, there's the iPad Pro, which Apple has made increasingly more powerful in the three years since it first arrived. At this point, it's a bleeding-edge device with Apple's best design, a crazy-fast processor and a big, beautiful screen. It's also quite a bit more expensive, with a starting price of $799. The gap between those two devices is so pronounced that Apple is filling it with a new tablet, the $499 iPad Air -- though calling it new might be a stretch. The iPad Air takes the same design as 2017's 10.5-inch iPad Pro and makes a handful of changes -- some improvements and some downgrades to keep the Air out of iPad Pro territory. It's not the most inspired or exciting product Apple has built (I called it boring after it was announced). But the question is whether its features and improvements over the basic iPad are worth your cash.
Apple iPad mini hands-on (2019): A love letter to old fans
I've always been fond of Apple's iPad mini; I bought the first one as a Mother's Day gift, and the iPad mini 4 was one of the first big reviews I ever wrote for Engadget. Unfortunately, Apple hasn't shown its smallest tablet nearly as much affection: As I write this, it's been more than three years since the company gave the mini a refresh. In that time, we've seen Apple launch and redesign a line of pro-grade tablets and build a stunningly competent entry-level model. Frankly, I had nearly given up on the mini entirely -- that is, until Apple announced a refreshed model earlier this week.
The iPad Air seems boring, but I want one anyway
When Apple released the impressive and wildly expensive iPad Pro last fall, I started thinking that the company could use an iPad XR. I imagined a tablet that takes the high tech found in the new iPad Pro but cuts some corners to make it more approachable to the masses. The new iPad Air isn't that. Instead it's like the 10.5-inch iPad Pro from 2017, except with a price cut and a few spec bumps. That's not very exciting. What's more, the iPad Air doesn't have the flashy bezel-less display, Face ID sensor and support for the new Apple Pencil, like the existing iPad Pro does. But compared with the basic $329 iPad, the new iPad Air has worthwhile improvements: a bigger, better screen, a much newer processor, more storage and support for Apple's Smart Keyboard accessory. It's a logical step up from the base iPad, and it also says a lot about how Apple views its tablet lineup. Nearly every review of the new iPad Pro noted that it was powerful, impressive hardware that nonetheless couldn't fully replace a "real" laptop. The iPad Air is an admission that while not everyone needs the expensive iPad Pro, there's a market for a nicer iPad than the base model.
Apple Music will finally support Android tablets
There probably isn't a huge cross section of people who both subscribe to Apple Music and use Android tablets, but Apple has your back if you're part of that group. Listeners have learned that the latest beta of Apple Music for Android now includes tablet support, giving you an optimized and more intuitive interface for choosing tunes. Part of it stems from changes to the interface for all Android users -- Apple is ditching the classic "hamburger" menu in favor of a bottom navigation bar that both speeds up access to common features (like For You) and should be easier to reach on larger screens.
Google's fast Bluetooth pairing feature works across multiple devices
Google is updating its Fast Pair feature on Android and Chromebooks to let you simultaneously pair compatible Bluetooth devices with phones, tablets and laptops that share the same Google account. When you link your headphones (for instance) with one product, all the devices you've connected to that account will automatically pair with your cans.
Apple, hear me out: iPad XR
Every iPad Pro released thus far has been met with a similar reaction from the press. There's an acknowledgement that the device is technologically impressive and, predictably, the "best" tablet from the company we've seen thus far -- but that's always followed by questions about who it's for, and whether it can replace a "real" computer. Well, Apple is trying to quell those questions once and for all this year. The combination of an impressive external redesign and new internals that sound ludicrously powerful should make the new iPad Pro lineup more capable than ever before. Unfortunately, though, Apple continues to raise the iPad Pro's price, putting it out of reach for almost anyone who isn't using the tablet day in and day out to get serious work done. Yes, the iPad Pro has always been expensive, but with a minimum entry price of $800, these new iPads aren't just a nicer, more powerful version of the standard tablet -- Apple is pitching them as an entirely new class of device.
What to expect from Apple's iPad and Mac event
The last time we trekked to an Apple event, the company showed off three new phones that everyone saw coming a mile away. That's not to say the XR, XS and XS Max were in any way lacking; it's just that the leaks told us a thorough story of some logical upgrades to the stuff we got the year before. You can always count on Apple to regularly release new phones, but the same can't be said of other kinds of Apple hardware. That's what makes the company's next launch event (in Brooklyn, for whatever reason) so interesting. Once again, we have a pretty good idea of what it plans to show off, thanks to months of rumors and supply chain intrigue. This time, though, Apple seems set to deliver what some die-hard fans have wanted for years: meaningful updates to Macs that have largely gone neglected (oh, and some new iPads, too). The show starts in earnest at 10 AM on Tuesday, October 30th, and we're getting ready to bring you as much coverage from the ground as we can. In the meantime, though, let's take a closer look at the things we're pretty sure Apple plans to show off and dig into why they're so important.
Surface Pro 6 review: Still the best 2-in-1 PC
Microsoft's Surface Pro 6 is the ideal hybrid tablet. It's a slate that can run all of the Windows apps you need, and together with its keyboard cover, it can also serve as a solid ultraportable laptop. But honestly, the same was true for last year's Surface Pro, a machine that was mostly a spec bump from 2015's Pro 5. This latest Surface isn't the major redesign we've been waiting for, but it's still a great option for anyone looking for a unique ultraportable PC. And at least it finally comes in black again. There is one wrinkle for Microsoft though: the Surface Go, its great new tablet PC. Now that there's a cheaper way to get most of the Surface experience, in a much smaller package, there may be less of a reason to spend extra for the Pro model.
The Pixel Slate is Google's first Chrome OS detachable
Looks like the leaks were right after all. In addition to announcing new flagship phones today, Google took the wraps off a new premium tablet called the Pixel Slate. It's a Chrome OS-powered slate with a 12.3-inch display that's supposed to be the sharpest in its class. Google claims this isn't just a laptop pretending to be a tablet or a phone pretending to be a computer.
Google Duo lets iPad users call their Android friends
Since Duo is supposed to replace Hangouts as your all-purpose mobile video and calling app, it's hard to believe there's been no tablet-specific version. Google just rectified that with the release of Duo versions for both iPad and Android tablets. That could entice some iOS users with Android friends to switch, as rival app Hangouts is still limited to Apple's walled garden.
Surface Go review: The ideal cheap Windows tablet ... almost
The Surface Go is Microsoft's smallest and cheapest tablet yet, with specs that would make hardware nerds laugh. But in many ways, it brings Microsoft closer to its original dream for the Surface line: It's almost as light as an iPad, but it can also run most of the Windows apps you need. While the Surface Go certainly won't replace more powerful laptops, it's an intriguing option as a secondary device, especially at a low starting price of $399 (without a keyboard). Just be aware of its limitations.
Microsoft's $399 Surface Go is its smallest tablet yet
It's easy to think that Microsoft has given up on small tablets. In the three years since the release of the Surface 3, its last inexpensive iPad competitor, Microsoft shifted its attention towards larger and more powerful devices like the Surface Pro; the pro-grade Surface Book 2; and the traditional Surface Laptop. Along the way, the company even managed to rethink all-in-one desktops and collaboration displays. But it turns out Microsoft hasn't forgotten about smaller slates -- it was just developing one that could truly stand out. Enter the $399 Surface Go, the company's smallest and cheapest 10-inch tablet.
