Google has announced the launch of the latest version of Android: Google Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich, in Hong Kong on Wednesday - and with it the shiny new Samsung Galaxy Nexus.

That’s all very well and good, but when is it coming to your Android smartphone? Will the smartphone in your hands be getting an upgrade to enjoy some of the new features such as Face Unlock and the new Roboto font?

Google on Ice Cream Sandwich

Hugo Barra, product management director of Android, has said that the aim is to get Nexus S running Android 4.0 shortly after the release of the Galaxy Nexus device but that the original Google-branded Nexus One is just too old to come to the party.

Samsung?on Ice Cream Sandwich

Samsung Italy has confirmed that the update is coming - but possibly not until Q2 2012. Ice Cream Sandwich will hit its high-end devices including the Galaxy S II, the Galaxy Note, the Galaxy Tab 10.1, the Galaxy Tab 8.9, the Galaxy Tab 7.7 and the Galaxy Tab 7.0 Plus at about the same time.

Samsung Norway has recently confirmed that the update for the Samsung Galaxy S II and Galaxy Note will be arriving by the end of Q1, so we make that March.

UPDATE: The Samsung Galaxy S won't be getting the Ice Cream Sandwich update

UPDATE 2: The Nexus S did get the Android 4.0 update, however shortly afterwards Google halted the rollout of the Android 4.0 update for the Nexus S as users started to report problems with the mobile phone's battery.

UPDATE 3:?Samsung Israel has revealed that Ice Cream Sandwich updates will begin next week on 15 March. Speaking via its Facebook page, it said:?"We promised that we are working about that. You have waited patiently. And it's coming in March 15: Android version 4, ICS, for tens of thousands of the Galaxy S2 owners that purchased it from the cellular company in Israel or directly from us. We are very excited in here towards the launch, hope that you too :)"

UPDATE 4: Samsung issued the following statement on its official blog: ?"The upgrade will begin in European countries including Poland, Hungary, Sweden, as well as Korea today and gradually roll out to other markets. Android 4.0 ICS software upgrade for Galaxy Note, Galaxy SII LTE, Galaxy Tab 8.9 and 10.1 will follow soon."

UPDATE 5: In a specific statement to Pocket-lint Samsung has said:?“Samsung UK can confirm that the roll out of Android 4.0 (Ice Cream Sandwich) on Galaxy S II will be available from week commencing 19 March. However, the availability of software upgrades in the UK will be dependent upon each network’s own software approvals process.”

UPDATE 6:?The ICS update for the Samsung Galaxy S II has now started in the UK. Three customers should have it on their phone by now, Orange has issued the following statement:

"We know you're all looking forward to the ICS update. We can confirm that it is being worked on for the Galaxy SII but we don't have a release date at the moment.?We will tweet when we have more information or when we get information on other handset updates.?^Andy"

UPDATE 7: We've created a separate story detailing?the?Samsung Galaxy S II Ice Cream Sandwich Update.

UPDATE 8:?Reports came out on from the US and Germany on 10 May that Samsung Galaxy Notes were being updated to Android 4.0, but there's still no sign of Ice Cream Sandwich for the massive device in the UK.

HTC on Ice Cream Sandwich

The official line from HTC to Pocket-lint is:?"We are excited about the latest update for Android, Ice Cream Sandwich, and are currently reviewing its features and functionality to determine our upgrade plans. Our goal for Android updates is to give every customer an improved user experience, which means balancing each phone's unique hardware, HTC Sense experience and the Android kernel.

"While our goal is to upgrade as many of our recent devices as possible, we are committed to maintaining every phone's performance and usability first. Please stay tuned for more updates on specific device upgrade plans."

UPDATE: HTC has confirmed the following:?"HTC has been working hard to get its?Ice Cream Sandwich?upgrades ready, and we’re excited to announce that?our first round of ICS upgrades will roll out by the end of March for the HTC Sensation and?HTC Sensation XE, followed soon thereafter by the HTC Sensation XL."?

There is also hope for HTC EVO 3D,?HTC Incredible S,?HTC Desire S and HTC Desire HD owners, with the company confirming that although they won't be getting the ICS update in March, they will be getting the update at some point in 2012.

"In addition, we can confirm Ice Cream?Sandwich upgrades will be coming later this year to the?HTC EVO 3D,?HTC Incredible S,?HTC Desire S and HTC Desire HD. Stay tuned for more updates on Ice?Cream Sandwich releases in the coming weeks," adds HTC.

UPDATE 2: HTC has started its European trial of the?HTC Sensation XE Ice Cream Sandwich?update to a limited number of users before a wider rollout becomes available. Read our?HTC Sensation XE Ice Cream Sandwich pictures and hands-on.

UPDATE 3: The roll-out to Sensation and Sensation XE handsets has now begun, with many owners getting the upgrade over the next two weeks (from 14 March). HTC has also revealed that another UK handset to get the upgrade will be the HTC Ryhme.

UPDATE 4: We are getting early reports that the HTC Sensation XE update has hit the UK.

UPDATE 5: A time scale for the HTC smartphones that are still to be updated has now been revealed. It reveals that the HTC Desire S will get it between June and July; HTC Desire HD, July to August; HTC EVO 3D, June - July; HTC Incredible S, June - July; and the HTC Sensation XL, before the end of June.

The company has also admitted that all devices with a 512MB ROM will not be getting the update at all, including?the "HTC ChaCha, HTC Salsa, HTC Wildfire S, HTC Explorer, and others". HTC tablets will also remain on their current Android version (Honeycomb).

Sony Ericsson / Sony on Ice Cream Sandwich

The official line from Sony Ericsson to Pocket-lint is:?"Sony Ericsson is currently rolling out the upgrade to Gingerbread 2.3.4 across its entire 2011 Xperia smartphone portfolio. This software upgrade will be available through a phased roll out in select markets. Beyond Gingerbread 2.3.4, we plan to upgrade our 2011 Xperia smartphone portfolio to the next Android platform made available to us.

"Official Sony Ericsson communication regarding software upgrades will be published on http://blogs.sonyericsson.com."

UPDATE: Sony Ericsson has confirmed on 15 November 2011 that it will be bringing Ice Cream Sandwich to it's 2011 range.?

"There have been a few questions here on the blog and in our support forums regarding our upgrade plans beyond Gingerbread. We can today confirm that we plan to upgrade the entire 2011 Xperia portfolio to the next version of Android known as Android 4.0 or Ice Cream Sandwich," it said.

"We are working on merging our current Xperia experience with the new features in Android 4.0. More detailed information regarding this upgrade, timing and global availability will be communicated in due course here on the blog."

The 2011 Xperia Portfolio is the Xperia arc and arc S, Xperia PLAY, Xperia neo and neo V, Xperia mini and mini pro, Xperia pro, Xperia active, Xperia ray as well as Sony Ericsson Live with Walkman.

UPDATE 2: Pocket-lint has heard that the Sony Ericsson / Sony range will be getting the update in Q2. So that's basically between April and June (inclusive).

UPDATE 3: Sony has detailed the updates a little more, but still not nailed a date, other than to confirm that the roll-out for the Xperia Arc S, Neo V and Ray will be first in line, starting in mid-April.

Following this, the Xperia Arc, Xperia Play, Xperia Neo, Xperia Mini, Xperia Mini Pro, Xperia Pro, Xperia Active and Sony Ericsson Live with Walkman will get their update around the end of May/beginning of June.

There is still no word on the update to Sony's newest phone, the Xperia S.

Sony has added that the updates will be via cable only, i.e., you'll have to plug your phone into your computer, rather than it being an OTA update.

UPDATE 4: Sony Ericsson has issued the following on its blog on the 13 April:

"Starting from today (13th April), we’re beginning the?Sony software upgrade?including the uplift to Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich for our 2011 Xperia smartphones.

"The software will initially be made available for Xperia arc S, Xperia neo V?and Xperia ray for consumers in Sweden, Denmark, Iceland, Finland and Norway.

"Following on, Xperia arc, Xperia PLAY, Xperia neo, Xperia mini, Xperia mini pro, Xperia pro, Xperia active and Sony Ericsson Live with Walkman will receive their scoop starting from the end of May/early June."

No word on a UK or US release date for the update.

UPDATE 5: Although Sony officially said that its Xperia S handset should start getting Ice Cream Sandwich updates from late May, early June, it has been attributed to an over zealous employee. Unfortunately, its update won't be arriving until the latter part of Q2 - end of June at the earliest.

UPDATE 5: Sony Ericsson announced through its blog on 25 May that the?Xperia arc, Xperia neo, Xperia mini, Xperia mini pro, Xperia pro, Xperia active and Sony Ericsson Live with Walkman would all be receiving an update to Ice Cream Sandwich from the first week of June.

However, the Sony Xperia PLAY will not receive an update as Sony has "concluded that a consistent and stable experience, particularly with gaming, cannot be guaranteed for this smartphone on Ice Cream Sandwich."

Asus on Ice Cream Sandwich

"Asus Eee Pad Transformer will be getting update to ICS - but we can’t provide a schedule at this stage," Asus told Pocket-lint, making it the first Ice Cream Sandwich tablet. Asus has subsequently confirmed that Ice Cream Sandwich will be rolled out to the Eee Pad Transformer following the update to the Eee Pad Transformer Prime on 12 January 2012.

UPDATE: The Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich update for the Asus Transformer is now out. On Asus's Facebook page the company says: "Many of our Eee Pad Transformer TF101 users have waited patiently for the promised Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich update and we are delighted to announce that the first wave of FOTA updates for TF101 firmware v.9.2.1.11 started today in Taiwan. The update will FOTA in other regions soon after."

LG on Ice Cream Sandwich

The official statement to Pocket-lint from LG is:?"LG is committed to offering the best smartphone experience on our Android?Optimus phones. We are currently reviewing the latest Android OS release?and will be making a decision with our carrier partners on a rollout?schedule. Specific phone models and timing of updates will be posted on?relevant local websites or at www.lg.com."

Although Unofficial reports came in that LG would not be updating the LG Optimus 2X to Ice Cream Sandwich the company was keen to debunk these on Facebook, stating:?"LG firmly denies the rumours that claim LG will not be providing the Ice Cream Sandwich (ICS) OS update for the LG Optimus 2X. These rumours are NOT true.

"LG is currently in the process of planning the ICS OS update for the LG Optimus 2X as well as other LG high-end smartphones. Detailed information on the ICS OS update schedule for specific models will be announced, once the ICS OS is publicly released by Google. Please stay tuned for more updates from LG."

UPDATE:?According to LG's Facebook page, LG will begin rolling out the ICS Android 4.0 update between April and September 2012.

"LG will be offering the Ice Cream Sandwich (ICS) OS upgrade for a range of LG smartphones which were introduced this year," LG said via Facebook. "The global upgrade schedule will begin in the second and third quarters of 2012, which will be followed by a global roll out.

"During the second quarter of 2012 upgrades will begin for the following smartphone models: the LG Optimus LTE, Prada phone by LG 3.0, the LG Optimus 2X, the LG Optimus Sol, the LG my Touch Q and the LG Eclipse.

However owners of phones such as the Optimus Black and the Optimus 3D will have to wait until some time after July for the ICS update:

"These upgrades will be followed by upgrades for the following smartphone models during the third quarter of 2012: the LG Optimus 3D, the LG Optimus Black, the LG Optimus Big, the LG Optimus Q2 and the LG Optimus EX," the company said.

Motorola on Ice Cream Sandwich

Having introduced the new Android superphone to assembled European journalists, Alain Mutricy, senior vice-president portfolio and product management, candidly referred to Google's Hong Kong announcement in which Ice Cream Sandwich?was launched.?

Mutricy highlighted that although the Motorola RAZR had been designed for, and will be launching on, Android 2.3 Gingerbread, the company has a plan in place to update the phone to Ice Cream Sandwich at the "start of 2012".

UPDATE: The company has now confirmed that the?Motorola RAZR and Xoom?among the Droid Bionic and US version of the RAZR will be getting the Ice Cream Sandwich update.?

UPDATE 2: Motorola has now said for UK readers, the first Motorola devices to get Ice Cream Sandwich will be the Motorola Xoom Wi-Fi-only, the Xoom Family Edition and the Motorola RAZR. Rollouts will begin sometime between March and May.

Then the wait begins.

For Motorola Xoom 2 customers, you'll have to wait until the summer to get your update. Motorola is saying the update is in development and that it is working to get it out for some time in Q3. That's June to August, for those who care.

After that it's anyone's guess of when or if you'll get the update. Devices in that pile for UK readers include the Motorola Xoom Wi-Fi and 3G model, The Motorola Atrix and even the newly announced MotoLuxe and Motorola Pro+.

Motorola has also confirmed that if you own a Defy Mini, a Defy+, Milestone 2, Milestone, Defy MB525, Charm, Flipout, Milestone XT720, Backflip or Dext you won't be getting any updates. The version of Android you currently have is the version you are stuck with.

Viewsonic on Ice Cream Sandwich

The official line from from Derek Wright, ViewSonic European marketing manage,r to Pocket-lint is: "Within ViewSonic we are committed to delivering a great out of box experience with our tablet and phone products.

"The V350, 7e, 10e are our latest products to be announced as value propositions, all featuring Viewscene 3D the visual aspect of Android does not alter so much for the different versions of Android. We are currently evaluating ICS features that overlap with Viewscene 3D and how we best continue to deliver this to consumers as soon as we can without compromising the experience to consumers,"

ZTE, Acer, Dell, Huawei, and the rest?on Ice Cream Sandwich

So far none of the companies has confirmed whether or not they will be bring Ice Cream Sandwich (Android 4.0) to their smartphones currently available on the market.

Tags: Phones Tablets Google Ice Cream Sandwich Motorola LG Samsung HTC Sony Ericsson ZTE Huawei Inq Dell Acer Viewsonic Features Sony

Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich: When is it coming to my phone? originally appeared on http://www.pocket-lint.com on Fri, 25 May 2012 18:32:54 +0100

Dell’s first Windows 8 tablet will be called the Dell Latitude 10 and will house a 10.1-inch display, according to specs leaked on to the internet.

Dell has been quite open about its plans to produce Windows 8 devices, but until now how those plans would materialise was unknown.

The specs, complete with image, were leaked to Neowin.net and show that the device powered by an Intel Clover Trail Atom dual-core processor, be 10.5mm thick and have built-in Intel Integrated Graphics.

In terms of resolution, we’re looking at a 1366 x 768 display, with 2GB of RAM on board and an SSD storage that can support cards of up to a whopping 128GB.

Based on the leak, it also appears there will be two swappable batteries, a 30 WHr and 60 WHr, the first of which will offer 6-8 hours of battery life and the latter 10-12 hours.

No word on when we might be seeing the Dell Latitude 10, if indeed the name is not merely a working title, but with Windows 8 set to arrive around October or November time, we’d guestimate around then.

Read

Tags: Tablets Windows 8 Dell Dell Latitude 10 Microsoft

Dell Windows 8 tablet specs revealed originally appeared on http://www.pocket-lint.com on Fri, 25 May 2012 11:07:00 +0100

An 80-inch touchscreen Windows 8 tablet already hangs on the wall of Microsoft CEO’s Steve Ballmer - and it could soon be made available to the public.

This is according to Frank Shaw, Microsoft vice-president, who said of Ballmer’s giant tablet added:?“He’s got rid of his phone, he’s got rid of his notepaper. It’s [the tablet)] his whiteboard, his email machine, and it’s a device we’re going to sell.”

Interestingly the current version of the device - the one that hangs on Ballmer’s wall - runs on Windows 8 it but is actually made by a different manufacturer.

With the current big-hitters of the tablet world – the Toshiba Excite 13 - sporting displays that measure a comparatively meagre 13.3-inchs, an 80-incher is quite literally a huge leap. It’s certainly not going to be something you lug around with you.?

Which explains why Microsoft won’t be targeting the consumer, initially at least, seeing it serving more as a corporate functioning device. However, make no mistake, Microsoft sees this technology as the future.

"The idea that there should be a screen that's not a computer, we'll laugh at that in two years. Every screen should be touch, every screen should be a computer and should be able to see out as well as see in. That is the way the world is heading [and] those screens are going to be big, small, wall-sized and desk-sized."

Microsoft was unwilling to provide an arrival date on the 80-inch tablet device, though we’ll at least get to feast on what Windows 8 has in store when a release preview arrives in early June.

Read

Tags: Tablets Windows 8 Microsoft Steve Ballmer

80-inch Windows 8 tablet already exists - in Microsoft CEO's office originally appeared on http://www.pocket-lint.com on Fri, 25 May 2012 10:18:00 +0100

Microsoft is rumoured to be considering opening its full Office suite to both the Apple iPad and Google Android tablets, enabling users to create and edit Word, Excel and PowerPoint files.

A source has told Boy Genius Report that they have seen Microsoft Office running on an iPad and that Microsoft is gearing towards a November arrival for both the iOS and Android platforms.

What’s more, the version the source claims to have seen apparently said “office for iOS”, suggesting it won’t just be the iPad, but iPhones too which will be able to download the software.?

Microsoft has previously shown no sign of making its Office suite available to rival operating systems, flatly ruling any such move out earlier this year.?

However, with an influx of Android-powered tablets and Apple’s iPad continuing to dominate the market, perhaps Microsoft has decided that it’s missing a trick by not allowing its software to be purchased on these platforms.

Read

Tags: Tablets Microsoft Office Apple Android

Microsoft Office coming to iPad and Android tablets this November originally appeared on http://www.pocket-lint.com on Thu, 24 May 2012 12:36:00 +0100

Toshiba has unveiled a quad-core powered tablet that may pack a punch, but also -?the manufacturer hopes - won't look out of place at Paris Fashion Week.?

The Toshiba AT300 boasts a 10.1-inch LED backlit display with a resolution of 1280x800 pixels, with 10-finger multi-touch support, should you need it. The screen itself is Corning Gorilla Glass, which should ensure it stays scratch free for the foreseeable.

Launched with Android’s 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich, as Google has so far refused to upgrade its tablet-optimised Honeycomb OS, bar the odd tweak, this is the best we could hope for.

With its quad-core NVIDIA Tegra 3 processor, Toshiba is championing the AT300’s multimedia credentials, in particular with regards to gaming and HD video playback. Well, we say quad-core -Toshiba has actually squeezed in a fifth engine that deals with more run-of-the-mill tasks. The manufacturer says this will help extend the battery life to 10 hours.?

Available as 16GB or 32GB variant (there’s also multimedia card support) ?the AT300 tablet is kitted out with a 5-megapixel camera on the rear and a 2-megapixel front-facing snapper for video calls, with an LED flash for both.

Though the AT300 will of course have access to Android apps via Google Play, the tablet will also come pre-installed with Toshiba Places, which is an alternative store for music, movies and eBooks.?With a micro-HDMI port any content, be it games, videos or photos, can be played on a bigger screen.

All this and Toshiba has managed to squeeze it all in a device that measures just 8.8mm thick and weighs 590g.

There’s no word on pricing from Toshiba just yet, but with the AT300 set to arrive before the end of June we should have that info very soon.

UPDATE? Pocket-lint has spoken to Toshiba, which confirmed that the 16GB version of the AT300 will be available for ?329 (the same price as a 16GB iPad 2 incidentally) while the 32GB version will cost ?379.

Tags: Tablets Toshiba Toshiba AT300 Android Ice Cream Sandwich

Toshiba AT300: The quad-core 10.1-inch ICS Android tablet originally appeared on http://www.pocket-lint.com on Thu, 24 May 2012 11:46:00 +0100

The chaps at SwiftKey have teamed up with Pocket-lint to give three readers a chance to win a tablet of their choice, be it a shiny new iPad or the latest Samsung offering.

All you've got to do is complete a quick survey telling us what kind of phone you use and what you use it for.

Complete the survey now

You've got until 6 June to do it, and three lucky winners will win a phone or tablet of their choice worth up to $800 (?500).

You can choose any phone or tablet whatsoever, it doesn’t have to be on Android, just as long as it is available to buy in your country (without contract).

The survey is open to everyone aged over 18, all over the world, who owns a smartphone or a tablet computer. The survey closes at midnight PDT on Wednesday, 6 June.

What are you waiting for?

Read

Tags: Phones Tablets Android iPhone Swiftkey Competitions

Win a tablet with Swiftkey originally appeared on http://www.pocket-lint.com on Thu, 24 May 2012 09:45:00 +0100

Sir Jony Ive, the head of design at Apple who was?knighted in this year's New Year's Honours List?and received the honour in London today, has revealed that the product he and his team are currently working on in Cupertino is the best they've done yet. And, from the man who designed the iPod, iPhone and iPad, that's some claim.

Interviewed by British newspaper The Daily Telegraph, Ive was asked which of all the products he had designed for Apple over the years would he most like to be remembered for.

He replied: "A lot does seem to come back to the fact that what we’re working on now feels like the most important and the best work we’ve done, and so it would be what we’re working on right now, which of course I can’t tell you about."

Sadly, there isn't even a hint of what that product might be, whether it's a brand new device or an upgrade to an existing one - the iPhone 5, for example.

What is sure is that Ive claims not to be influenced by what rivals, such as Samsung, are doing, what is selling best in the market at the time, or even tight schedules.

"What preoccupies us is that sense of care, and what our products will not speak to is a schedule; what our products will not speak to is trying to respond to some corporate or competitive agenda," he said.

"We’re very genuinely designing the best products that we can for people."

Read

Tags: Apple Phones Tablets Audio Jonathan Ive iPad iPhone iPod

Jony Ive: Next Apple product is our most important and best work yet originally appeared on http://www.pocket-lint.com on Wed, 23 May 2012 14:03:00 +0100

Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer says there could potentially be 500 million users of the software giant's forthcoming operating system, Windows 8, by the end of 2013 as that's the number of Windows 7 devices that could be upgraded.

He has also revealed that the company sees the new software as a "rebirth of MS Windows", not just an upgrade.

Speaking at the?Seoul Digital Forum in South Korea, Ballmer called Windows 8, the "deepest, broadest and most impactful" Windows experience yet, and and said he believed its SkyDrive cloud computing integration would keep it as one of very few operating systems adopted by PC users.

Discounting Google Chrome, Ballmer predicts Windows will be among a small handful of cloud-connected operating systems that developers will want to support. "The number of core [cloud] platforms, around which software developers will do their innovation, is not ever-broadening," he said.

"It's really a quite smaller and focused number - Windows, various forms of Linux, the Apple ecosystem.

"There will be just a few ecosystems that really can get the critical mass."

Windows 8 is expected to be released in Autumn this year, with a preview build being made available in June.

At the forum, Ballmer also revealed that?Skype powered by Windows 8 will be launched soon, now that the video calling service is owned by Microsoft.

Read

Tags: Windows Microsoft Software Tablets PCs Windows 8 Steve Ballmer

Microsoft: Windows 8 will be the rebirth of MS Windows originally appeared on http://www.pocket-lint.com on Wed, 23 May 2012 10:50:00 +0100

Google has finally signed on the bottom line and finalised the deal that sees the internet giant purchase Motorola Mobility.

The deal is believed to be worth a whopping $12.5 billion and is the first time Google has owned a mobile hardware company.

Google has made clear that it intends to continue running Motorola Mobility as a separate entity, but it will mean that Google won’t have to rely on third-party manufacturers to produce the hardware for future Android products - as was the case with the HTC built Google Nexus One and Google Nexus S, designed by Samsung.?

The move sees Motorola’s Sanjay Jha step down as CEO, to be replaced by Google’s own Dennis Woodside.

Larry Page, Google CEO, said of the deal: “I’m happy to announce the deal has closed. Motorola is a great American tech company, with a track record of over 80 years of innovation. It’s a great time to be in the mobile business, and I’m confident that the team at Motorola will be creating the next generation of mobile devices that will improve lives for years to come.”

Rival manufacturers have expressed some concern as to what Google’s takeover of Motorola Mobility will mean for future rollouts of Android. However, Google is in fact said to be considering a wider launch of new Android updates across an array of devices as it looks to tackle Apple.

Tags: Google Motorola Phones Android Tablets

Google finally buys Motorola Mobility for $12.5 billion originally appeared on http://www.pocket-lint.com on Tue, 22 May 2012 15:22:00 +0100

A pop-up warning that has appeared with the latest build of iOS - 5.1.1 - hints that Apple is soon to introduce the possibility of making FaceTime video calls over 3G, perhaps for iOS 6.

Since its launch, FaceTime has been restricted to Wi-Fi use, meaning that video calls can only be made when iPhones and iPads are logged on to a broadband network. However, when trying to switch off 3G during a FaceTime call, a message now warns: "Disabling 3G may end FaceTime. Are you sure you want to disable 3G?"

This would suggest that Apple is at least trialling the service over a 3G network, and may be about to release the feature for public consumption.

In the UK, however, this could cause problems as many users are not signed up to mobile network packages with all-you-can-eat data plans. Using FaceTime video calling over 3G could seriously munch into the amount of data you have available and end up costing a fortune in overspill fees.

In addition, carriers themselves may be concerned at the demands 3G FaceTime use may put on their networks. They may even block or restrict its use.

As we expect to hear more on iOS 6 at the forthcoming WWDC in the middle of June, we shouldn't have to wait too long to find out.

Read

Tags: Apple Phones Tablets Apps FaceTime iPhone iPad

3G FaceTime coming in iOS 6? originally appeared on http://www.pocket-lint.com on Mon, 21 May 2012 12:17:00 +0100

Football fans will be able to enjoy (or commiserate as the case made be) this summer's European Championship via a split-screen facility on ITV Digital’s dedicated Euro 2012 website.

Optimised for both smartphones and tablets, the site will broadcast any games being shown on the ITV channel at the top of the webpage while below will be a rolling real-time news feature.

Here viewers will be able to get updates to other games including goal highlights, match reports and social media activity such as Twitter updates.

Stat fans will have access to group details, goal scoring charts and match data on the right-hand side of the page providing multiple ways of covering the tournament from one webpage all the way up to where England lose on penalties and beyond.?

ITV Digital’s Euro 2012 website follows the launch of the ITV News site earlier this year and again sees ITV partner with Made by Many, a digital innovation and service design company.

The website is live now and can be reached by visiting?www.itv.com/sport/football/euro/.

Tags: Football Sport Television ITV Euro 2012 Phones Tablets

ITV Digital website offers split screen Euro 2012 experience originally appeared on http://www.pocket-lint.com on Wed, 16 May 2012 15:55:00 +0100

Mobile network coverage site OpenSignalMaps has created a report on the state of Android and its often bemoaned fragmentation by looking at the statistics of the smartphones that have downloaded its app over a six month period. And it seems that, yes, of course there's fragmentation, but to the benefit of choice.

The study looked at 681,900 devices - phones and tablets - logging each one's manufacturer, model, API (version of Android) and screen size, and while there are some obvious findings, there's a few surprises too.

It comes as no shock that the Samsung Galaxy S II is by far the most prolific smartphone. Of the 3,997 distinct devices more copies of the OSM app were downloaded using a GT-I1900 (SGSII) than any other - 61,389 of them in total (9 per cent).

Amusingly, there were a few unique devices too - not including those that showed up as such due to custom ROMs. One Concorde Tab (a Hungarian 10.1 tablet) was listed, as was a solitary Lemon P1 (an Indian dual SIM phone).

Considering the popularity of the Galaxy handsets per se, it also comes as no surprise that Samsung is the manufacturer listed the most (40 per cent). It's followed closely by HTC, Sony (Sony Ericsson) and Motorola. And, as for Android itself, the fact that the most recent version of Gingerbread 2.3.3+ is the OS installed on the majority of devices (55.4 per cent) is a no brainer, especially as plenty of smartphones are still awaiting an upgrade to Ice Cream Sandwich (4.0).

Perhaps the biggest challenge for app developers however, is the hugely variation in screen resolutions. Where the non-rigidity and diversity of screen technologies (3D included) and pixel count are one of the Android market's major selling points, it can be hellish to ensure that a certain application works on a vast majority of devices.

OpenSignalMaps though, with all of the stats in hand, has a simple solution: developers should make sure they test their apps first on Samsung and HTC devices. That way, they can't go far wrong, certainly in appeasing the largest number of owners.

And, without such fragmentation and variety in handset/tablet price points, there'd be less of an opportunity to get an application into the hands of all, young or old, rich or poor. And that can't be bad.

Read

Tags: Android Phones Tablets OpenSignalMaps Samsung HTC

Android fragmentation report suggests app developers should test on Samsung phones first originally appeared on http://www.pocket-lint.com on Wed, 16 May 2012 14:09:00 +0100

Google’s next version of Android could arrive on as many as five different manufactured smartphones as it changes its approach to launching new operating systems.

In the past Google has tested the water by partnering with one manufacturer to produce the first smartphone on a new Android platform, as part of the Nexus range, before slowly rolling it out on to others.

However, the internet giant hopes to take on Apple by working closely with multiple manufacturers so that it’s in a position to release an array of Android smartphones and tablets from launch.

As well as putting pressure on Apple, it’s also thought the move will appease other manufacturers who had become concerned at Google's potential move to buy Motorola Mobility Holdings – with fears that Motorola would be given preferential treatment in terms of when they received new Android software.?

It’s also thought Google’s new approach will mean the operators would have less of a say at what services run on each device as well as how they are sold.

Google is said to be keen to implement this new approach to Android in time for the next major upgrade, Android 5.0 Jelly Bean, which is expected to roll out before the end of 2012.

Read

Tags: Phones Tablets Google Android Jelly Bean Apple

Google to take on Apple by giving early Android access to other smartphones originally appeared on http://www.pocket-lint.com on Wed, 16 May 2012 11:38:00 +0100

The BBC has announced ambitious plans for its Olympic coverage, with no fewer than 24 HD streams available and full video of every single sport across the Games.?

On top of this, the BBC will launch a dedicated radio channel, Radio 5 Live Olympics extra, just for the games. Now on to the juicy part - there is also to be a totally bespoke desktop player with HD playback, an Android and iOS app, new mobile versions of the BBC Sport site and apps for connected TVs.?

It all forms part of the BBC's four-screens strategy, which will allow you, in theory, to watch the Olympics live just about wherever you are. Even feature phones haven't been left out and will be getting downscaled, simplified versions of the BBC Sport website.

On Android and iOS custom-built BBC Sport apps will allow you to watch live video as well as choose from various highlights packages. No HD playback yet. unfortunately, but the apps will support streaming over 3G.

The BBC is going all out with the Olympics, with an all encompassing coverage strategy that will result in more than 2500 hours of recorded footage. For those wanting to watch the app on conventional television, BBC One and BBC Three will form the backbone of all video. Broadcasts will switch to BBC Two once the news comes on. There are even plans for a 3D broadcast and Digital Hi-Vision 4K content.?

Full red button support and a custom app for smart TVs along the lines of the currently available Virgin Media TiVo app will also be launched. There is no mention of anything on YouView yet, but then the service is miles ready from launch.

Pocket-lint has had a lengthy play with all of the BBC's Olympic apps and the new desktop player and smart TV app. Expect a hands-on very soon.

Tags: BBC Olympics Smartphones Tablets iPlayer

BBC announces Olympics coverage plans for tablets, smartphones, connected tv and online originally appeared on http://www.pocket-lint.com on Tue, 15 May 2012 15:07:00 +0100

The Olympics is coming. Many will be glued to the TV watching as Usain Bolt goes for another world record. Others might be on the edge of their seats as Jamaica's bobsleigh team crashes out dramatically … no wait, that's a movie and the Winter Olympics.

Seriously though, there is going to be a whole lot of TV watching to do. The BBC knows this and has outdone itself in ensuring that every single licence-payer can watch Olympians compete somewhere and on some sort of device. Bear with us on this one because there's a lot to get through.

First, an app for connected TVs based around what we have seen from BBC Sport on TiVo. Think of the application a bit like iPlayer on the Xbox with a similar tile-based UI. Live feeds of various sports are offered and can be clicked and streamed instantaneously.

There is also a coming-up section, which shows what to expect from the BBC's coverage of the event. The feeds are curated, so the Beeb will be populating the home page with what it thinks you might want to watch.

There will be up to 24 live streams of events going on at once, ensuring that it is impossible to miss out on any event. You can theoretically watch every single part of the Olympics live using just the connected TV app alone, all of it in HD of course.?

At the moment the application is going to be running on Sony smart TVs, Virgin Media TiVo via the red button and the PlayStation 3 via an app. No Xbox sadly. From what we were shown, the experience will be identical across each of the players, although obviously controlled differently.

It was very smooth and quick to load streams of the various BBC channels. A carousel of live streams can also be popped up while video is playing in the background, should you want to switch sports.

Next up is the desktop browser-based BBC Sports. This is where the real beef of the BBC's digital tech lies. A proper 3.5Mb HD video feed is available, if your broadband connection can handle it, the player simply defaulting to it once you send it full screen.

The newly designed video player has also had a much more robust and formidable skin placed on it compared to what iPlayer currently offers. This means you can do things such as switch to highlights packages with a single click or change sports instantaneously.

Amazingly you can even rewind live coverage just like you would with Sky+ or Virgin Media. It is also possible to scan through chapter markers which show key moments in an event - say a gold medal win, for example. Live data and stats will all be pumped into the desktop player so you can learn a bit about the sport while you watch it. These can be switched off if you just want to view the event.

On the mobile, the desktop site has been slimmed down but still provides a similar experience. Just as on the computer, every single athlete and sport will be given its own web page with self-populating news feeds.

The BBC has even announced a feature phone version of the site which will show just low-res images and basic text news stories so you can keep up with the core of what's going on. We weren't shown that.

But the real Olympic treat comes in the BBC Sport app, which is one of the best thought-out applications we have seen in a long time. Just like in the iPad music player, you can drag and drop various items to a quick select bar at the bottom. Except that instead of being music or artists, it is the names of sports. The result is an instantly customisable way of keeping track of your favourite athletes.

A news-based home page can download content and store it locally offline, should you get on the Tube or go out of an area of reception. There is also the ability to switch to live video straight from within the application. Medal tables based on country are also shown, as is a range of other stats.

Unfortunately, application-based content isn't going to be running in HD, nor will it be matching the display resolution of the new iPad, although the BBC did tell us this was something it was looking into for future events.

All this specially designed Olympics kit is also an important deal for the BBC in terms of future plans on the mobile and connected TV. It could mean a redesigned iPlayer, a new way of handling live events and different ways of covering sports. Wimbledon Tennis and the Formula One, for example, ?will both be getting connected TV coverage using the same app.

There are all sorts of other uses of course, with the ?BBC telling Pocket-lint: “You don't need to be a genius to work out that Glastonbury would be a good example.”

In the meantime keep those eyes peeled for all the new BBC Olympic tech, which should be launching in the months ?before the Games. ?

Tags: BBC Sport Tablets iPhone Android iPad Connected TVs Smart TV

BBC Sport iPhone, Android, desktop and connected TV pictures and hands-on originally appeared on http://www.pocket-lint.com on Tue, 15 May 2012 15:02:00 +0100

Apple will no longer be referring to the new iPad as a 4G version in the UK, after succumbing to pressure from customers and watchdogs.

The manufacturer’s UK website is now taking orders for “Wi-Fi” and “Wi-Fi + Cellular” enabled iPads, whereas previously customers could order a 4G variant despite the United Kingdom having no such network.?

Though O2 and Everything Everywhere are conducting LTE trials in the UK, both operators told Pocket-lint back in March that the new iPad 4G would only be able to use 3G connectivity.

When customers in Australia began to complain about being misled over the iPad’s 4G credentials, Apple started issuing refunds. Pocket-lint at the time spoke to the Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) which confirmed it had begun to receive similar complaints from UK customers.

Apple appears to have taken pre-emptive action by removing the 4G branding so as to not mislead potential customers.

Tags: iPad Apple Tablets 4G O2 Everything Everywhere

Apple drops the 4G from UK iPads, now Wi-Fi + Cellular originally appeared on http://www.pocket-lint.com on Mon, 14 May 2012 11:11:00 +0100

Always ready to embrace technology in order to improve customer experience, UK restaurant chain PizzaExpress has added a Virtual Chef's Table service to accompany two new pizzas.

The dishes have been created by celebrity chef Valentine Warner so, after ordering them, customers are invited to scan dedicated QR codes with their smartphones in order to view a video of Warner?creating the pizzas and talking them through their recipes.

Both the Puttanesca and Fennel & Salami pizzas have now been added to the menu at ?10.75 and ?11.75 respectively, and the QR code experience is a free and fun way to add an interactive technology element to the proceedings. It's something that TV cook Warner is particularly excited about as one of his first jobs was at PizzaExpress.

"I’ve been going to PizzaExpress all my life and even worked there as a waiter during my student days," he said. "I’m really proud of the two pizzas we’ve created and am excited to see them on the menu of my favourite pizza place."

The QR codes will work with any smartphone, Android, iPhone, etc, as long as you have a QR Code reading application.

Tags: Phones Tablets Restaurants PizzaExpress QR codes

PizzaExpress adds Virtual Chef's Table experience to restaurants originally appeared on http://www.pocket-lint.com on Fri, 11 May 2012 10:12:00 +0100

Further reports suggest Apple could be set to unveil a smaller iPad later this year as it looks to increase its grip on the tablet market.

Speculation is mounting that contrary to former opinion, the seven-inch iPad will indeed have a Retina display. Website iMore’s source claims the smaller iPad will be “identical in every way” to the current iPad, apart from the dimensions, obviously.

It was suggested that the inclusion of a Retina display would bulk up the cost of a device that will be geared towards a more-affordable segment of the tablet market.

Not so, according to the latest rumours, with Apple aiming for a $200-250 price point, though with a maximum storage of just 8GB.

Latest reports suggest Apple enjoyed a 68 per cent market share in tablet sales during Q1 of 2012. By extending its own tablet offering with such competitive pricing, Apple could be set to tighten this stranglehold.

“The reason for such aggressive pricing is to do to the tablet market what Apple did to the MP3 market in 2004 with the expansion of the iPod product line -- leave absolutely no space for competitors,” added iMore’s source.

Read

Tags: iPad Apple Retina display Tablets

7-inch Retina display iPad could be here by October originally appeared on http://www.pocket-lint.com on Fri, 11 May 2012 09:12:00 +0100

One of our bugbears with DLNA, the home media-streaming standard, is that it's a bit of a pain to use. A standard it may be, but simple across every device you use, it most certainly is not. So HTC's Media Link HD is an interesting proposition. It's a little widget that plugs into an HDMI socket, and helps you stream various things from your phone to TV.

Being HTC though, it aims to do it without the fuss and configuration needed for other devices. It should be a plug-and-play affair. So we plugged it in, to find out if that's the case.

Tiny and simple

The Media Link itself is a very small device. On its surface there is barely room for an HDMI output, USB power connector and a button to start the device pairing with your phone. Oh, and there's an HTC logo etched on the top.

It's a nice design, and you can throw it behind your TV and forget about it. In fact, some people may have TVs that can power it via their USB ports. So you may not even need to use the supplied power adaptor. We like that, a lot.

And the lack of controls mean that it's simple to set up. The phone really does all the leg work. When you plug in the Media Link, and press the button, your phone - we tested with the HTC One X - will find the device automatically. From then, there's a little negotiation that happens between the phone and the Media Link, but it's all hidden from view.

And even once everything is paired, there's no user interface as such. If your Media Link is on, and plugged in to your TV, but the phone isn't sending anything, then you will see a mesage that tells you to drag content with three fingers to start sharing on the screen.

The first time you see your phone's launcher appear on the TV, we're pretty sure you'll be at least a little tickled by it.

It's also worth mentioning, in case it isn't obvious, you have to have a new HTC handset for this device to work. So, if you're a One series owner, you're good to go.?

A 50-inch phone

On our big plasma, it's like looking at a gigantic phone across the room. But this is great, because it means that things you used to do on your phone, you can now do on the TV. So Facebook updates, uploading images or just checking messages, can all be done on your TV.

We have to say, by far the coolest thing you can do is send a live feed from the camera to your TV. This works surprisingly well, and because the network is Wi-Fi-based, you can move around quite a bit before you lose the signal. We're not sure how many practical applications there are for this, but it's certainly something you can have a bit of fun with, surprising friends or showing a room full of people something at the same time.

You can also see games and video on the big screen, but don't expect perfect performance. We had a crack at Angry Birds, and found it stuttered too much to be all that enjoyable. But also, remember, you can't control games very well when you're looking at a TV and touching the screen of your phone. There's no indication of where your finger is, and that makes it hard to use.

Also, you might want to turn your home cinema in to a gigantic telephone but you can't route audio from calls through your speakers. We're not sure how we feel about that, but it's probably a good thing.

Some smoke and mirrors

In our testing, it has become clear that the Media Link HD is very good for some things, it is less capable in other areas.

For example, while it can play HD video, it needs to be the right HD video, played in the right player. This is fine, but it's a pain if you fancy watching Netflix. It will show on your TV, but the hardware won't be able to keep up, and it will stutter quite badly. Of course, this is an understandable technical limitation, but we'd hope HTC can make the next version with this in mind.

It goes without saying though, that content from the phone via HTC Watch, or just the screen, mirrored on to your TV looks superb.

Occasional glitches

Sometimes, we found that video would drop out, or break up on screen. It didn't happen much though. Longer videos worked well though, and the quality is pretty good. Playing stuff from DLNA servers is a bit of a hiding to nothing. We had various errors here, but it always felt like there was a possibility we could get it working. Perhaps HTC can do more on this over time.

Verdict:

The HTC Media Link HD is a lot of fun for certain things. Business users might find it useful to show video, presentations or websites when they're out and about. It's tiny, and you can plug it in to anything with HDMI, so for that it's ideal.

If you use HTC Watch a lot, then this is a must-have device, as it is built to handle that content and do so well. In our tests, video via this service looked superb and was quick to load. We never managed to get over how cool it was having our phone handle these things, and allow us to control the playback.

For other video, there's enough codec support to play most common files. MKVs are supported, which means a lot of internet video will work well. We enjoyed this too, and it looked good - even 720p video played well, and all wirelessly.

It's not perfect though. Sometimes things were slow to work, or wouldn't work until we tried several times. Hopefully, HTC will keep updating the phones to make this playback better, because although we like the Media Link HD, we think it has even more potential.

Tags: Home Cinema Phones Tablets HTC HTC Media Link HD HTC DG H200 Media Link HD

HTC DG H200 Media Link HD originally appeared on http://www.pocket-lint.com on Thu, 03 May 2012 16:49:00 +0100

The BBC is kick starting its companion screen plans with an application for PC, tablets, mobile phones and the BBC Red Button that will allow fans of Antiques Roadshow to play along with the programme when it returns to the screen in September.

Announced by?Victoria Jaye, the?corporation's?head of IPTV and TV Online Content, during the Connected TV Summit in London, the app will allow viewers to guess the value of antiques before the experts reveal their estimations. It will work with both the live broadcast and when it is played through on-demand catch up TV - presumably via BBC iPlayer.

The companion experience will also include information on featured antiques shown on the Antiques Roadshow, with a stack of extra content created by the show's experts and BBC production team.

More companion, second-screen applications are planned as part of a wider strategy, and it has been revealed that the BBC has been running closed trials with Frozen Planet and Secret Fortune, both of which are now completed.

"Antiques Roadshow is a perfect series to develop a companion experience around," said Jaye.

"We’re tapping into existing audience behaviour - viewers have been shouting at their TV screens for years, guessing the value of items featured in the programme. We’re also taking viewers on a journey beyond where the broadcast programme can go, providing in-depth content about the stories and the history behind featured antiques in the programme, drawn from across BBC Online and other trusted sources.

"It’s a great example of how we can creatively renew our audiences’ enjoyment of watching a much cherished BBC programme."

The applications will be free to download and use.

We also suspect that the iOS app will definitely work on the first iPad, it being an antique itself.

Tags: BBC Tablets iPad apps iPhone apps Apps

BBC chooses Antiques Roadshow for second screen companion app action originally appeared on http://www.pocket-lint.com on Thu, 03 May 2012 16:09:00 +0100

We know that Apple sold a lot of iPads in the first quarter but according to IDC, an analyst firm in America, it means that Apple grew its worldwide share from 54.7 per cent in 4Q11 to 68 per cent in 1Q12 beating off competitors like Samsung, Asus, and BlackBerry. ?

"Total worldwide media tablet shipments for the quarter reached 17.4 million units in 1Q12," says the firm tracking these things.

Apple shipped 11.8 million iPads during the quarter, down from 15.4 million units in the fourth quarter of 2011, growing its worldwide share from 54.7 per cent in 4Q11 to 68 per cent in 1Q12.

Interestingly Amazon, which stormed into the market in 4Q11 with the Kindle Fire, saw its share drop from 16.8 per cent to just over 4 per cent, falling to third place as a result.

According to IDC, that allowed Samsung to take advantage of Amazon's weakness to regain the number two position while Lenovo vaulted into the number four spot, followed by Barnes & Noble at number five.

Surprisingly Asus with the launch of the Transformer Prime doesn't feature at all in IDCs top performers - we've emailed them to clarify.

"We expect a new, larger-screened device from Amazon at a typically aggressive price point, and Google will enter the market with an inexpensive, co-branded ASUS tablet designed to compete directly on price with Amazon's Kindle Fire," says Tom Mainelli, research director, Mobile Connected Devices at IDC, on the news of the latest market breakdown.

"The search giant's new tablet will run a pure version of Android, whereas the Fire runs Amazon's own forked version of the OS that cuts Google out of the picture,"

The iPad's success is likely to continue with no major Android tablet launches on the horizon likely to change the company's dominance. In fact that challenge won't come until around October with the launch of Windows 8 and in particular Windows 8 RT the tablet version of the operating system.

At that point you can expect the market to be flooded with plenty of alternatives from the likes of Nokia, Dell, HP, and we suspect many more.

Read

Tags: Tablets iPad Asus Lenovo Amazon IDC Amazon Kindle Fire Samsung

iPad dominates tablet sales, latest figures show it's unstoppable originally appeared on http://www.pocket-lint.com on Thu, 03 May 2012 15:07:00 +0100

Nokia's soon-to-be ex-chairman?Jorma Ollila has spilled the beans on a couple of plans the Finnish company has to turn around its ailing fortunes. Although the firm posted $1.2 billion losses in the first quarter of 2012, it is to look at increasing its device range with tablets and alternative form factors for its mobile phones.

Speaking to the Financial Times, Ollila revealed that getting a Nokia tablet on to the market was vital for the company, and explained that the partnership with Microsoft would soon bear fruit.

"Tablets are an important one, so that is being looked into," he said.?"And there will be different hybrids, different form factors [handset designs] in the future.

"[I am] happy with what is happening. When you have such strong competitors in the marketplace it will take a bit of time but things are going well."

His words echo similar made by Nokia CEO Stephen Elop when Pocket-lint interviewed him in January. He revealed to us that the company was interested in the tablet market, and hinted that Windows 8 and the metro-style user interface could be involved.

"We haven't announced anything specifically about tablets. I say that over and over again,"he said.

"But when you look at it and think about what people are expecting in their digital life, they are expecting some uniformity of experience across their phones, their tablets, their PCs, their automobiles, their gaming platforms.

"We are very interested in the Metro?user?interface?and Metro is clearly the big bet for Microsoft...?But again, no specific announcements ... but [it is] something we are interested in."

In addition, Niklas Savander,?the company's executive vice-president, ?told us in March:?"The tablet is an interesting market for someone like Nokia because it is not cannibalising handset sales, it is cannibalising PC sales."

He also revealed that when Nokia does enter the market it will be with something quite different. "If we are going to be in that market we need to have a different point of view, because being the 101st maker isn't really a commercial or consumer proposition," he said.

Read

Tags: Nokia Tablets Phones

Nokia looking into tablets and hybrid smartphones originally appeared on http://www.pocket-lint.com on Thu, 03 May 2012 10:19:00 +0100

Asus blew our minds with the original Transformer. A tablet with a keyboard, we muttered, surely that's just a laptop running Android? But no, in fact it was a very clever idea: build a terrific tablet, that's both stylish and powerful, then offer a keyboard dock that acts as a stand, and charges your tablet while you tap out a new Word document.

The original wasn't perfect, the keyboard had some pretty work-hampering bugs, but the newer model seems to have addressed all these problems, and now the TF300 offers more to boot, including a selection of three colours.

We tested the Wi-Fi only version and Asus tells us it doesn't have plans to bring the 3G model to the UK. And, there's no option to just buy the tablet either, this system comes in a pack with both the keyboard and the tablet. ?

So is the Transformer Pad TF300T something you'd should transform your hard-earned money in to, or is it like a rubbish Michael Bay movie that you should avoid like a case of genital rot.

The cleverest tablet ever?

There can't be much argument, that the Transformer Pad, and those which have gone before it, have pretty much nailed desirability and usability. It's hard to beat Apple at design, and we're not sure Asus has quite managed it either, but the Transformer Pad is certainly the best looking Android tablet we've used.

Separated from the keyboard dock, it's thin, light and sturdy. There's a little creak here and there, but on the whole, this is a tablet that's very well designed and well-built. Plonk it on its keyboard dock, and it becomes a lot more flexible, without really compromising portability. It might not be as light as a tablet-only, but it puts pretty much all laptops to shame.

And the keyboard isn't just for typing either: it's got an additional battery, which helps keep the tablet charged for a lot longer than it could manage on its own. It also protects the screen when you're travelling, and gives the tablet something to stand on. It's not all perfect though, because we found that tablet will topple over very easily, because of its weight, versus the lighter keyboard. Not a big deal, but worth noting.

When docked, the tablet is securely attached to the keyboard. To unlock, you simply slide the silver release switch, and you're sorted. It's all very easy, and takes mere seconds.

Design and keyboard

The tablet itself has a microSD slot and mini-HDMI out. The keyboard dock gives you the addition of a full-sized SD slot, and a proper USB socket. Both the tablet and the keyboard are charged via a proprietary socket, but this is compact and easy to carry around with you.

The USB socket is something we find very helpful, especially if you're planning to do serious work on the device. It means you can access documents and save them for use on your desktop computer, and there's no need to save files to the cloud. And while we're all for online storage, there are some things - such as personal account details - which we wouldn't trust to any third party, and would much rather keep stored locally.

The keyboard and trackpad on the dock are small, but will do the job for short periods of time. It's funny using Android with a keyboard, and in many ways, the reverse problem that exists with Windows being rubbish as a touchscreen interface affects Android when you attach a keyboard and mouse.

For a start, the mouse is just odd on Android. That's not to say it doesn't work well, because it does, but it's almost always easier to just touch the screen instead. The keyboard, on the other hand, feels more normal, and it wasn't long before we had some words written on our TF300. Simple and effective, it might not offer anything you can't get for the iPad, but in our view, it's much slicker and more natural than any third-party solution.

The keyboard also makes gaming more of a possibility, although most Android games won't support it properly. But, we find the idea of serious gaming on a tablet a bit laughable with only touch controls. Certainly, the demos we played on the Asus had us yelping in frustration as we died repeatedly.?

Camera?

Tablet cameras are a mystery to us. They are useful for Skype, so a front-facing one is useful, but the rear-mounted affair is usually incredibly clumsy and hard to use.?

And the Asus hasn't really managed to change our opinion on this. The camera is quite good though, with the 8-megapixel shooter offering bright, colourful images that seem to have a decent amount of data in them. Certainly, for snapping something to tweet or lob on Facebook, it's fine. For more than that, you'll get hacked off by the form factor long before the camera lets you down.?

Screen impresses

There's something about the Asus screen. We saw it on the other Transformers, and the Eee Pad Slider last year, but these displays are bright, colourful and stuffed full of detail. And technically, the Asus's 10.1-inch screen doesn't sound that impressive - the iPad 3, for example, has nearly twice the pixels per inch that the Asus does. But even so, the 1280x800 resolution is perfect for most things, and we love the results.

Take, for example, streaming video. We connected to our DLNA Plex server via Asus's own media streaming app and played a 1080p clip taken from The Dark Knight. We were blown away by the crisp detail and superb colour reproduction. The Asus has nothing to be ashamed of here, and the IPS panel means that the viewing angle is decent too. Handy if you're watching with a friend.

Do note that the IPS+ outdoor mode that you will find on the Transformer Prime isn't present here, although in practice we didn't have any problem at all in seeing it outside.

Tegra3 has plenty of power

We had a mess around with some of the games supplied on our review sample. It's hard not to be impressed by the graphical prowess of the TF300, it certainly has enough get up and go to play some pretty impressive titles. Resolution and frame rates both impressed us, and games are enjoyable to play for this reason. Whether the Transformer is a good gaming platform really depends more on ergonomics though, and that's a discussion for another part of our review.

Certainly, gaming was no problem, nor was decoding 1080p video sent via our wireless home network. We've got laptops that struggle to handle video at this rate, but the Asus just takes it in its stride. Asus provides a trio of power modes to control battery consumption, and so it's worth selecting the "performance" mode, if you're going to be doing anything especially intensive.

And, along with great gaming and video performance, the much less intensive requirements of general Android use are easily catered for here. Moving around home screens is slick, and it's rare that there's any judder

A cloudy day

As with most smart devices these days, the package isn't complete unless you're given some chunk of cloud storage in which to keep various files nice and safe. Asus is no exception, and you get a pretty generous allowance of 8GB with all Asus tablets, which you simply activate through the pre-installed app. It's a pretty quick process, and the apps which manage it are simple to use and graphically quite stylish.

The Asus Webstorage has a decent web interface too. So we uploaded images taken on the Transformer's camera, and then downloaded them to use in this article. It was simple, worked brilliantly and has much of the elegance of Dropbox. Our only real issue in downloading a pack of images was a little slow. We'll give Asus credit though, multiple files can be zipped by their server and sent as one compressed archive. This is a terrific idea, and we can see ourselves using it a lot.

If you need more than 8GB of storage, then upgrades are available. You can get 50GB for about ?40 per year, or 500GB for ?75 per year. There are some restrictions on the free account, and uploads are a bit limited (500MB max, per single file) but it's a good service for moving files around.

Battery

This is a hard one to call. Our tests, which involved a lot of 1080p video running for a long time, suggest that 10 hours battery life is ambitious. But that's not a fair test at all, and we did get quite close to that.

If you turn off Wi-Fi, and keep the screen brightness down, the Asus quoted figure is certainly achievable.

We love the fact that the keyboard dock charges the tablet too; it will get you out of sticky situations from time to time, and it means that while you're typing, or using it as a stand to watch a movie on the train, you're keeping the TF300 topped up with juice. The battery in the keyboard is not as capacious as the one in the tablet though, so don't forget to charge the two together.

Verdict:

As a stand-alone tablet, the TF300 is excellent. It's light enough for extended use, and the screen is glorious, full of detail with vivid colour. There's plenty of power here too, with media and games running with incredible smoothness.

Add the keyboard,?and you get a whole new way to use the tablet. We're not going to claim this is a laptop replacement, but when you're on a plane for 10 hours, the Asus can cover it all on battery, and you can watch video, play games and do some work. It is, without doubt, the ideal travel companion.

We don't like the menu bar for changing the power profile and Wi-Fi settings, it's a pain and made us want to scream with rage. But aside to that, Asus has only lightly tweaked Ice Cream Sandwich, and we think its clock and weather widget is the nicest you can get for a tablet.

Overall, the reasons for buying a TF300 are many and varied but we struggled to come up with many reasons you shouldn't buy one. So that's a glowing recommendation from us then.

Tags: Tablets Asus Asus Transformer Pad 300 Asus Transformer Pad TF300T

Asus Transformer Pad TF300T originally appeared on http://www.pocket-lint.com on Wed, 02 May 2012 18:22:17 +0100

Pocket-lint went to see Bang & Olufsen release a new TV and got a "one more thing" from the Danish company's CEO and president Tue Mantoni?that Steve Jobs would have been proud of. B&O is to increase its iPad dock range (which currently consists of the BeoSound 8 and BeoSound A8 - with Apple Airplay) with BeoPlay A3, a sound system that effectively turns your tablet into a TV.

The device, which we were told was the product of close work with B&O's "friends in Cupertino", consists of three speakers and offers a deep and rich stereo audio experience regardless of whether you stand it horizontally or vertically.

This is down to the company's proprietary Adaptive Stereo Orientation technology. It utilises an omnidirectional 2-inch woofer in one corner, which delivers bass down to 60Hz, while three 0.5-inch tweeters are housed in the other three corners. Depending on which way the system is placed, it decides which of these to bring into play, ensuring that a full stereo experience is had no matter.

And to listen to it, you'd never guess that the BeoPlay A3 is relatively small - sound can be mighty from such a small footprint. We heard it tested with Adele's latest album, and the sound stage and clarity in volume were both impressive. About a billion times better than the iPad's own speakers, that's for sure.

The build is extraordinary too. Designed by Dane Steffen Schmelling, the speaker system is an angular wedge, with multiple resting positions. You can have it upright or laid on a slight angle so that you can type on the iPad itself. However, that's not really the point of the BeoPlay A3 - it's designed to turn your tablet into an entertainment display, with an audio system to suit.

Currently, the device is ?authorised to work only with the first iPad and iPad 2. While it will work with the new iPad, B&O's Mantoni told us that the company is not happy with the performance offered when coupled to Apple's latest. Therefore, only sleeves for the former iPads are included in the box.

You pop your tablet into the rubberised case, and that clicks into the A3 - it's?extremely?simple to set up. The system has its own?rechargeable?battery and can also charge the enclosed iPad when hooked up to the mains. When not, the battery is expected to last up to eight hours.

It's also not that heavy - 1.5kg without the iPad - so is portable enough to take with you on business trips and the like, and there are plenty of applications for the system other than simply watching video. Mantoni explained that he uses it for Skype and Facetime, placing it on his desk. And he can see that advertising agencies would be able to show their wares to clients, with quality audio to go along with the visuals.

Certainly, from our brief time with it, the system delivers the goods.

The BeoPlay A3 will be in B&O stores from 21 May. It'll cost ?449 and be available in black only at first, with a white version planned for the near future.

Tags: Bang And Olufsen Tablets iPad accessories BeoPlay A3 iPad docks

Bang & Olufsen BeoPlay A3 pictures and hands-on originally appeared on http://www.pocket-lint.com on Wed, 02 May 2012 15:00:00 +0100

Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich?share has grown to 4.4 per cent in Google's latest platform versions report, showing that the newest version of Android is growing in popularity, but by no means the most popular version of the mobile OS.

That crown goes to Android 2.3 Gingerbread, with a whopping 64.4 per cent of devices that have accessed Google Play in the last 14 days using it.

The breakdown, provided by Google, also shows that while developers and supposedly customers were screaming out for Android tablets and its Android 3.0 Honeycomb operating system, take-up of the platform within the wider Android community has been weak. Honeycomb accounts for us 3.3 per cent of devices.

Not surprisingly, showing how diverse and fragmented Android?is, more than a quarter of Android devices in use (27.5 per cent) use Android 2.2 Froyo (20.9 per cent), Android 2.1 Eclair (5.5 per cent), Android 1.6 Donut (0.7 per cent), or Android 1.5 Cupcake (0.3 per cent).

With recent Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich launches from Sony, HTC and the newly expected Samsung Galaxy S II?we suspect that the Android 4.0 numbers next time will be very different.

Read

Tags: Phones Tablets Android Gingerbread Ice Cream Sandwich Honeycomb Google

Gingerbread still most popular version of Android, Ice Cream Sandwich still playing catch-up originally appeared on http://www.pocket-lint.com on Wed, 02 May 2012 13:31:00 +0100

Bang & Olufsen has unveiled not one but two new products and two modified versions of existing kit under its BeoPlay branding. And its new TV, the BeoPlay V1, will come as a relative surprise to B&O fans - it's purposely designed to be affordable.

Described by Tue Mantoni,the Danish company's president and CEO, as a product that “more people can afford”, the new set has signature B&O design, but comes in at ?1,999 for the 32-inch model, ?2,499 for the 40-inch.

It's also clearly designed with Apple fans in mind as, although it's not necessary to do so, there's a slot on the rear with connections for an Apple TV.

Both sizes of set are LED side-lit, Full HD (1080p), 100Hz, have five HDMI inputs, and feature a USB port for connection to a media stick or hard drive in order to play music or view picture files.

The BeoPlay V1 has been created by designer Anders Hermansen, and features a steel cabinet that's powder coated, giving a very industrial feel to the aesthetics. Both sets come with a steel mount, but others are available as optional extras, from around ?250.

There are four ways in which the TV can be placed: with a floor mount, wall mount (that allows the viewer to?swing it out by up to 180 degrees), table mount and hung from the ceiling using anchors and wires.

But the feature that Mantoni and the rest of the B&O team are keen to highlight is the BeoPlay V1's audio prowess. Pocket-lint has had a listen and, while the cabinet is necessarily deeper than an average flatpanel TV, the stereo sound that comes from within outperforms any other conventional TV speakers.

Both the 32-inch and 40-inch models feature an effective frequency range of?30-20,000Hz, but they differ in the driver array and technologies inside (behind the one-piece speaker grille).

The 32-inch has two 2.5-inch full-range drivers in a closed box cabinet and one 32-watt Class D ICEpower amplifier per channel. The 40-inch has a beefier output as it sports two 2-inch full-range treble/midrange drivers in a closed box cabinet, one 4-inch centre bass unit in a closed box, and three 32 watt Class D ICEpower amplifiers.

Both sizes of the BeoPlay V1 go on sale tomorrow, 3 May. They come in black or white.

In addition to the V1, the Bang & Olufsen has announced a speaker solution for the iPad and iPad 2 that effectively turns the tablet into a mini-television or media centre.

The BeoPlay A3 is an iPad housing with adaptive stereo speaker technology and three speakers that allow you to get a full, beefy stereo sound effect no matter the device's orientation. It has a "stable wedge" design that lets you stand it landscape, portrait or even rest it on its back slanted slightly for typing purposes.

The idea behind the dock is that it helps to make use of an older iPad that you may have lying around now that you've bought the new one, Mantoni tells us. You can put it on your desk, watch TV on it with full audio, or use it with Skype, he suggests.

However, be wary about handing it over to your kids to play Angry Birds on, as the CEO and president himself says: "When you play it through this, you still get the stupid music, but very loud."

The BeoPlay A3 comes with an internal battery that runs independent of the iPad's, which should last up to eight hours on a full charge. You can also use it with a power cable, and when charging, and it will also charge the iPad itself.

It will be available on 21 May in B&O shops, priced at ?449. It initially comes in black only, but a white version is planned for later in the year.

Finally, new versions of the company's BeoSound 8, now called BeoSound A8, and the Beolit 12 are available now. The latter portable Airplay speaker now comes in silver and gold colour schemes, while the larger iPad and iPhone dock now has Airplay compatibility too (hence the new "A" prefix).

Tags: Televisions Tablets Audio BeoPlay V1 Home Cinema BeoPlay A3 Beolit 12 BeoPlay A8 Bang And Olufsen

Bang & Olufsen's reasonably priced BeoPlay V1 TV with Apple TV slot leads strong 2012 line-up originally appeared on http://www.pocket-lint.com on Wed, 02 May 2012 12:50:00 +0100

Microsoft and Barnes & Noble have settled in their patent dispute and have become best buddies in the process. The software giant has invested $300 million in a new venture with the bookstore chain and Nook eBook reader manufacturer which will oversee the latter company's digital and college sides of its business.

Currently called Newco, the new offshoot will handle all manner of Nook-related digital products, including a branded application for Windows 8 and, presumably, Windows Phone. Microsoft president Andy Lees himself said that "complementary assets will accelerate e-reading innovation across a broad range of Windows devices".

It is too soon, however, to confirm rumours of a Windows 8-powered Nook tablet, with Lees having said that the company would not be talking about roadmaps at present.

For its $300 million, Microsoft will be taking a 17.6 per cent stake in the new business, with Barnes & Noble holding on to the rest of the company valued at $1.7 billion.

As part of the patent litigation settlement, Microsoft will be licensing the disputed patents to Barnes & Noble for its Nook range of eBook readers and tablets.

?

Read

Tags: Microsoft eBook readers Tablets Barnes and Noble Barnes and Noble Nook Nook

Microsoft and Barnes & Noble join forces for Nook business originally appeared on http://www.pocket-lint.com on Mon, 30 Apr 2012 15:57:00 +0100

It is widely expected that Samsung will launch its own cloud service, S-Cloud, alongside the Galaxy S3 during its Samsung Mobile Unpacked event on Thursday 3 May. However, LG has beaten its South Korean rival by announcing its own cloud solution a full four days beforehand.

The beta version of LG Cloud will open for public use tomorrow, 1 May. And the company says it will be the first service that allows users to "manage and consume all types of content on three screens", including its Android smartphones, PCs and smart TVs.

It will be offered as a series of applications for each device, each available through Google Play or their respective LG?SmartWorld app stores. The service then synchronises the content on your smartphone across all of your LG devices. Photos and video can be viewed on a PC or TV, or videos on a PC can be uploaded to the cloud to view on your phone, for example.

One clever aspect is that you don't have to worry about incompatible video, picture or audio files, LG has its proprietary?Real-time Streaming Transcoding technology working away in the background so that they will be streamed to whatever device, without the user having to worry about installing codecs. The manufacturer says no other cloud service can make the same claim.

It also promises that 3D content can be played through LG Cloud, such as video taken using a LG Optimus 3D.

There are plans to offer LG Cloud in both paid and free flavours. Storage limits and prices will be announced when the service is released in each territory.

Tags: LG Home Cinema Tablets Phones Televisions LG Cloud Samsung Samsung S-Cloud

LG beats Samsung to the punch in announcing multiple screen cloud service originally appeared on http://www.pocket-lint.com on Mon, 30 Apr 2012 11:25:00 +0100

The Orange Tahiti is a 7-inch Android tablet based on the Huawei MediaPad. A couple of millimetres slimmer than the original Apple iPad at 10.5mm thick, it weighs 394g and takes up just 190x124mm of pocket or bag space. In common with most Android tablets, it has a widescreen 16:9 aspect ratio and a resolution of 1280x800 pixels. There’s a deeper bevel than is strictly necessary – aside from a webcam at the top left corner, this 6mm-deep band serves no apparent purpose.

The display’s rich colours are impressive but the screen itself suffers badly from glare. It makes an excellent mirror when viewed at an angle or even face on if you’re outdoors.

The Tahiti runs Android 3.2 (Honeycomb) and has a 1.2GHz processor; overall performance is good with no apps crashing on us during our two-week trial - though we had plenty of interface issues. Orange has not announced plans to upgrade this tablet to the processor-intensive Ice Cream Sandwich version of Android.

You get 5.8GB of internal storage for downloads and media files. This can be supplemented via a microSD card (not supplied).

Mobile use

Compact size aside, the Tahiti’s main selling point is the inclusion of 3G. You get a scant 1GB monthly data allowance though, so will need to use this judiciously. Leave the video downloads and media streaming for when you’re at home – and ensure the 3G module is switched off when not in use. When we first started using the Tahiti, it immediately went and fetched the photos, video clips and Android apps from our previous tablet adventures, but failed to alert us that this process had taken place over 3G - the Wi-Fi was not active at the time.

Another point to watch out for is that we were able to send and receive emails – with some delay – over 3G even when overseas. Useful, but also a concern in terms of data and roaming costs.

The Tahiti is either ?299 to buy outright, or ?25 a month over two years with 1GB of data and the same for BT Openzone Wi-Fi. This could be ideal if you’re a light web user but value ultraportability. Compared with the ?399 purchase price of the average Wi-Fi only tablet, the Tahiti is fairly good value, working out at a smidgen over ?8 a month for the 3G element.

So much for the spelling bee

The Tahiti is best used as a workaday connected slate for catching up on and sending emails when sitting on the train or the Tube. Unfortunately, you'll probably incur raised eyebrows or tutting from your fellow commuters: the keyboard is a dog to use, causing at least mild irritation, and we're not known for reticence in such matters.

In landscape mode, you get the full Qwerty experience, but you're also treated to double vision. The touch-sensitive screen overlay showed letters in blurry, doubled-up fashion. The auto-correct and auto-suggest options are poorly implemented too. Pause momentarily and the tablet forgets that you were midway through a word and only takes into account the next characters you enter, as though they were the start of a new word. If you'd paused to consider a spelling, this is terribly unhelpful,

It's a good job the Tahiti's touchscreen is responsive, as endless retyping is no fun and having to wait for the device to catch up with our input would have driven us to distraction. To Orange (or rather Huawei's) credit, we encountered few 'lag' issues when typing on the Tahiti.

Online and offline viewing

The browser works well, reproducing graphics faithfully and loading images smoothly. The Orange home page can be changed, but check out the offers for free Orange Wednesday film tickets and other offers first. YouTube, iPlayer and embedded video clips in web pages all worked fine, as long as the Wi-Fi bandwidth was available. Since the Tahiti is a widescreen tablet, there's not much depth to web pages, so you might prefer to hold the Tahiti in portrait mode when reading longer articles. We found we were apt to accidentally raise or lower the volume when holding the Tahiti in this orientation.

If you’re in battery-saving mode - with the Tahiti’s screen set to time-out after a minute - you’ll want to change this setting for entertainment use. It’s also worth changing the screen setting from Standard to High if video playback is your main interest. Don’t set your hopes too high, though: the viewing angles are better than on most tablets, so you can share your screen with a friend, but the playback resolution is poor.

Unhappy snaps

The best that can be said about the 5-megapixel camera is that its effects are a lot of fun.

Tablets aren't the best form factor for taking snaps, but the Tahiti's smaller size makes it less unwieldy than some tablets we've tried. On a sunny day, with plenty of distinction between objects, we got some reasonable photos - they'd pass muster on Facebook or Twitpic - but their fuzziness and tendency to overexposure means you won't be doing much more with them. The sensor can't cope with low or especially bright conditions - halo effects, fringing and white-outs were common, while indoor shots were extremely gloomy.

Curiously, we got some decent video footage. When spinning around at speed, jerkiness was minimal and the tablet was able to keep pace with the constantly changing colours and objects without blur. The resolution is a mere VGA though.

Battery and audio

Video playback of a five-minute music video, streamed over Wi-Fi, from YouTube took the battery level from 75 percent to 72 percent. It wasn't a pleasant experience. The audio is tinny and lacks depth. It doesn't help that the two small speakers on the Tahiti are located on the left-hand side of the tablet's frame as you view. Even with the tablet in portrait mode (so the speakers were balanced) we were unimpressed.

The resolution is just too low to make entertainment edifying. We viewed the same Lana Del Rey video on our Sony Tablet S, running the same version of Android, and found it much more enjoyable.

We used a combination of Wi-Fi streaming, general web browsing, emailing and playing a looped 1080p video footage stored locally to work out how long the Tahiti’s battery lasts. We guesstimate around six hours with the Bluetooth and 3G inactive but Wi-Fi switched on. The browser and screen are power guzzlers, so tweak the time-out settings when not viewing movies.

Navigating the Orange Tahiti is straightforward, with no fancy manufacturer overlays getting in the way. Pre-installed apps and those imported or downloaded by the user are separated out, but items end up scattered across several screens.

Connectivity-wise, there’s Bluetooth and HDMI on top of the GPRS/3G and Wi-Fi. A large triangular plastic panel on the rear pops off revealing slots for the 3G SIM card and an optional microSD card.

Verdict:

We really like the neat form factor of the Orange Tahiti, its 3G inclusion and removable SD card storage.

If you’re more interested in using apps and sending emails than streaming video or cruising the web, it could be a decent alternative to a bulkier 10-inch tablet. But the onscreen keyboard really does need improvement and the through-speakers sound quality is dreadful. Pack earbuds, a proper camera so you aren’t tempted to try the Tahiti’s, and try not to swear out loud.

Tags: Tablets Orange Tahiti Orange

Orange Tahiti originally appeared on http://www.pocket-lint.com on Thu, 26 Apr 2012 17:59:00 +0100

Sky?has told Pocket-lint that it sees tablets and smartphones as key in enhancing the viewing experience in front of the TV.

Ian Lewis, director of Sky Movies, told Pocket-lint that partnerships with companies such as Zeebox are all about "creating a full comprehensive second screen service", and that we should expect plenty more "second screen" offerings in the future.

Lewis, however, warned that many aren't ready to start using their iPad or Android tablet in front of the television just yet.

"Most customers don't want to do anything, but some do," added Lewis.

Those that do could be in for a treat, with Sky looking at several ways to enhance the viewing experience when you are sitting on the sofa.

One such area hinted at by Lewis is providing additional information such as what shows actors and actresses have appeared in previously, or more on the story of the movie you are watching.

Movie fans probably already used the popular Internet Movie Database app, but Lewis implied Sky could create its own version for customers.

It would make sense if the broadcaster were to use the service's Electronic Programme Guide to show when other movies by key people in the film are showing elsewhere.

Meanwhile at the same event in London, Simon Rexworthy, controller of acquisitions at Sky Movies, said that an app that will let Sky+ users stream the saved shows and movies on their Sky box to the tablet was in development and coming soon.

To help increase the "second screen" experience, Lewis also told Pocket-lint, Sky plans to evolve the number of Android devices on which Sky Go is available.

"Android is complicated because there are lots of players," Lewis said. "It's not as easy to develop for as Apple with its one operating system and handful of devices. That takes time, and we need to make sure security to protect the movies is right."

A recent survey in the US indicated that 85 per cent of US tablet owners used their tablets while also watching TV.

Market research firm Forrester also found that not only are tablet users embracing the living room as the new place to consume content, but also that the tablet is starting to replace the TV.?

Citing other data from a recent report by Nielsen, the two Forrester analysts Annie Corbet and Sarah Rotman,?who wrote the report, found 30 per cent of total tablet time was spent while watching TV.

It's not just laptops and computers that tablets are replacing, either. Tablets are displacing small TVs, the report finds, with 32 per cent of tablet owners saying they won’t buy a small (less than 24-inch) TV in the future, compared with only 7 per cent who say the same about large TVs.?

The survey results would seem to back up Sky's approach.?

Tags: Home Cinema Sky Tablets iPad iPad apps Android Phones Sky Go

Sky: Second screen experience in front of TV key originally appeared on http://www.pocket-lint.com on Thu, 26 Apr 2012 11:00:00 +0100

Vodafone has released a new mobile Wi-Fi dongle for those that like to stay connected on the go, but does it improve the experience over the previous model, and should you bother?

Design

If the Vodafone Mobile Wi-Fi R205 looks familiar, that's because it is virtually identical to the Three Mi-Fi Mobile Wi-Fi (Huawei E585) we reviewed back in July 2010. Again, made by Huawei, the Vodafone offering comes with the same pebble design, same mini OLED screen and the same clip-off back to reveal the SIM card slot and swappable battery.

Around the sides is a microSD slot, which allows the dongle to double as a portable storage device.?You can recharge the device via a Micro-USB cable and Vodafone include one and a charging plug in the box.

Unlike the previous Vodafone Mobile Wi-Fi dongle that was larger and squarer, there is no red light to tell you whether the device is on. You have to look at the screen for that now.

Screen

The screen is the key way of getting an idea of what is going on and here you get a stack of information such as connection speed, how many wireless devices you have connected (up to 5), battery life, cumulative data used, and time spent connected to the internet.

The last two allow you to have some indication of how much your phone bill will be, and whether you will go outside of your allotted quota.

Setting up

Turn on the dongle, turn on Wi-Fi on your device. Punch in the password found on the inside of the R205 and away you go. It really is that easy.

Somewhat frustratingly, when your connection drops out - say when you are on a train - rather than fail to load the page in question, keeping the URL address you've entered intact, the Vodafone Mobile Wi-Fi is keen to push you to the device's homepage hub that lets you check your SMS messages or other connection stats. It's annoying.

Settings

Although there is very little setup needed, you can keep an eye on the workings of the device through a dedicated setup page that is accessed via your browser. Just as with the router on your home broadband connection, you can manage the device easily making sure it really is connected, access the microSD card you've inserted or collect your SMS messages.

You can also change the name of the Wi-Fi network so it's no longer VodafoneMobileWIFI-AD12356761, but something more useful to you.

In action

We've taken the dongle on a number of test runs around Ascot and London to see how it performs. The new dongle promises faster speeds of up to 21Mbps. That's something the previous model can't, but it really does depend on where you are and whether Vodafone is even supporting that speed in the area where you are.

Travelling from Ascot to Waterloo, connection speeds achieved varied wildly depending on the time of day. Testing in on the commuter run is slower - most likely down to the level of other users on the train also vying for bandwidth. The R205 doesn't tell you connection speed data on the fly and we aren't interested in benchmarking it, as it depends on so many factors.?

The same trip on an empty train proved to be a lot more successful, so it's worth bearing that in mind when you look to get a Wi-Fi device like this.

In London and the results were a lot better. The dongle lets you connect simply and easily and we were happy with the performance. As with your phone, you'll know whether or not some places are better for connection than others. Richmond-Upon-Thames station is awful for example, but 30 metres either side is really fast.

We got around four hours of Wi-Fi connection out of a single charge. That's okay, but not fantastic. You can use the device while charging from your laptop.

Pricing

The Vodafone Mobile Wi-Fi R205 costs ?65 if you opt to buy it out right as a PAYG offering, although you will have to buy a ?10 top-up SIM at the same time.

If you want to get it free you will have to sign up to an 18-month contract that will cost you ?15 a month with 2GB of data.

Compared to Three's Mi-Fi package, you get a lot less data for your money. Three's Mi-Fi package is ?18.99 a month for 24-months but you get a whopping 15GB of data.

It is worth checking what the coverage of Three is like in your area, and whether you really need that much data in the first place. If you are planning on watching YouTube videos on the go, or for the dongle to replace your home broadband package, then you will need the extra allowance. If you are just using it to catch up on emails on the go on your laptop, or iPad, then you won't.?

Verdict:

If you've been waiting for a slightly better mobile Wi-Fi dongle from Vodafone with access to the faster speeds the operator offers, then this is the device for you.

In reality however you're unlikely to get the promised top speed - certainly if you commute in rush hours - and you're unlikely to see any improvements above and beyond the one that Vodafone has previously sold. Yes it is smaller and you will get your data usage on the device this time around.

So, if you're looking for a mobile hotspot, the R205 certainly doesn't?disappoint, although there are better deals out there, if you're happy to try a network like Three.?

Tags: Mobile broadband Phones Tablets Laptops Vodafone Huawei

Vodafone Mobile Wi-Fi R205 originally appeared on http://www.pocket-lint.com on Wed, 25 Apr 2012 13:30:00 +0100

How good is that idea you've got knocking about in the back of your mind? That's what Cisco wants to know, with the creation of the Cisco British Innovation Gateway Awards looking for the best ideas the UK has to offer.

The BIG Awards aims to recognise and support up-and-coming innovators, entrepreneurs and early-stage startup businesses.

Cisco is seeking submissions from small businesses and early stage startups, which have technology-based prototypes and proof of concepts in development.

If you win you'll get access to the full array of Cisco capabilities from technology to business development, plus potential investment and partnering opportunities in the future.

Wow.

To participate, all you have to do is simply?register?on the BIG Awards site and submit your BIG idea - it really is that easy.

There are?five categories?in which to submit your idea:?Big Data, Collaboration, Future Cities, Internet of Things,? Mobility. Ideas must be ?in by the end of the month (closing date is 1 May).

Once all the entries are received, Cisco will then start picking the best ones with the top 20 ideas will be picked for the Semi-finals, before the final six ideas will proceed to the finals.

Three ideas will receive grand prizes?valuing over $250,000.

Open to UK-registered organisations, companies and UK residents aged 18 years or older.

The winner will receive a range of support aimed at accelerating the potential of their idea, product or initiative. This will be in the form of financial assistance, expertise and mentoring.? The team will also win the following:

- $100,000 US in cash

- 12 months of technology and business mentoring from leading Cisco engineers and managers

- $30,000 US in 12 month Digital Marketing support from dnx which includes things like social media training.

Read

Tags: Phones Cameras Tablets Gaming Laptops Apps Cars iPad

Win $100,000 with Cisco British Innovation Gateway Awards originally appeared on http://www.pocket-lint.com on Tue, 24 Apr 2012 13:03:00 +0100

A release preview of Windows 8 will arrive in the first week of June, Microsoft has confirmed.

The news was announced by Steven Sinofsky,?Microsoft President, at Japan’s Windows 8 Dev Days event before posting it on @BuildWindows8 twitter feed.

The release preview follows a successful Beta trial of the new operating system and means we’re one step closer to a full version arriving later this year, most likely October.

Microsoft has already said that there will be four different versions of the OS; Windows 8, Windows 8 Pro, Windows 8 Enterprise and Windows 8 RT.?

Between them each version will cater for a desktop and tablet experience, with Windows 8 RT the real newbie to the group.

It’s geared towards ARM processors, namely tablet devices, and promises a better battery life as well as user experience.

With October the most likely arrival date for Windows Phone 8 Apollo it’s set to be an exciting end to 2012 for Microsoft and the consumer.

Read

Tags: Software Windows 8 Microsoft Windows Phone 8 Computers Tablets

Windows 8 release preview arriving in early June originally appeared on http://www.pocket-lint.com on Tue, 24 Apr 2012 09:21:00 +0100

Asus has announced details on the pricing of its Transformer Pad tablet.

For ?399 you’ll be able to get your hands on the Android-running tablet, which will come bundled with a mobile keyboard dock.

Available to order online from Currys and PC World at the start of May, the Asus Transformer Pad will be in both stores later that month before rolling out to other retailers from late June.?

Though the blue version of the tablet will be available from launch, fans of the white and red variants will have to wait until late June and late July respectively.

Asus has already made a name for itself in the tablet world and the Transformer Pad looks set to be a welcome addition.?

Running on the latest Android OS, Ice Cream Sandwich, it’s powered by an NVIDIA Tegra 3 4-PLUS-1 quad-core CPU making it one powerful machine.

Taking into account its specs and boxed-in keyboard, we expected it to retail for more than ?399.

UPDATE: Asus has confirmed that the blue version will be available to buy from both PC World and Currys online and in store from 18 May. It can be pre-ordered now.

Click here to read our full review.

Tags: Tablets Asus Transformer Pad 300 Asus Android

Asus Transformer Pad pricing unveiled with May launch originally appeared on http://www.pocket-lint.com on Mon, 23 Apr 2012 13:12:00 +0100

An app for the iPhone and iPad is letting you relive the sound of the ZX Spectrum, 30 years after it went on sale - so you can re-imagine the noise on your tablet.

ZX Plectrum as it's called (see what they did there) has gone free to celebrate the 30th Birthday of the classic British computer and is available to download now.?

iPad and iPhone users brave enough to download the app will get the chance to tap anywhere on the screen to make a noise akin to how the ZX Spectrum sounded when it loaded up a game or application - they weren't called apps then.

Pressing on the screen in different places changes the noise and the image on the screen and, yes, it is just as annoying as you'll remember it.

Still, we bet with a bit of practice you'll have the theme tune to Manic Miner or Jet Set Willy playing from your Apple device in no time.

One word of advice, just don't give it to the kids. Within three minutes they will drive you insane.

Read

Tags: Gaming Apps Phones Tablets ZX Spectrum iPhone apps iPad apps

ZX Plectrum lets you make music Spectrum style on your iPhone originally appeared on http://www.pocket-lint.com on Mon, 23 Apr 2012 12:33:00 +0100

In the last week, Channel 5 teamed with XS2TheWorld to use the latter's 360-degree video technology to broadcast a dual-screen TV promotion that could be viewed from other angles on a smartphone or iPad.

The clip, which was created to promote The Gadget Show World Tour (due to begin on 23 April), linked to free application "The Gadget Show 360" available for the iPhone, iPod touch or iPad. When the advert was shown on TV, viewers using the application could see the same sequence and could also look in any direction, vertically or horizontally, by moving their device around.

When presenters Jason Bradbury or Pollyanna Woodward moved off screen you could follow them in order to see what they were getting up to. Essentially, it's the idea behind the Wii U controller, and we have to admit that it works rather well indeed.

Thankfully, although the promo has already aired, it's still possible to experience the effect by downloading the application from iTunes and heading over to a dedicated part of the Channel 5 website: fwd.channel5.com/adv/360-promo.

Alternatively, XS2 has released a YouTube video that shows exactly how the whole shebang worked.

Excellent stuff.

Tags: Television Tablets Phones Apps Channel 5 The Gadget Show iPad apps

Channel 5 broadcasts first 360-degree dual-screen mobile and TV promo originally appeared on http://www.pocket-lint.com on Thu, 19 Apr 2012 16:29:00 +0100

Promising style, performance and quality, new entrants to the Android tablet market, Gemini Devices, has launched its JoyTab Tablet PC series.?

Offering a run of devices in 7, 8 and 10 inches, all three tablets step off on the right foot with Android 4.0, Ice Cream Sandwich.

Running down the specs, the 7-inch model (?129.99) offers you a 1GHz processor and 512MB RAM, with 4GB of internal memory. A microSD card slot allows for expansion and you get a 7-inch 800 x 480 display. There is a front-facing camera and HDMI. The 7-inch JoyTab measures 192 x 122 x 12.8mm and weighs 360g.?

The 8-inch model (?149.99) bumps the processor to 1.2GHz and the internal storage to 8GB (again with the microSD card slot) and moves to an unusual 8-inch 800 x 600 pixel display. This model measures 210 x 154 x 10.7mm and weighs 500g.?

Finally the 10-inch model (?199.99) swings in with a dual core 1GHz processor, 1GB RAM and 16GB of internal memory as well the option to expand via microSD. It also gets a 10-inch IPS 1024 x 768 pixel display, HDMI and a rear camera (2 megapixels). The 10 incher measures 241.6 x 185 x 9.8mm and weighs 618g.

However, in this competitive corner of the Android market, we’re sure that some will think that the smaller tablets are a little underpowered. They all promise wide media format support, so for a cheap tablet for porting movies, they might just fit the bill.?

We've not seen one in the flesh, so we can't verify any claims to quality, or how those displays will perform, but we'll be sure to pass on our thoughts if we do see any of these affordable Androids.

Tags: Tablets Android JoyTab Gemini Devices Ice Cream Sandwich

JoyTab offers 7, 8, 10-inches of affordable Android 4 tablet originally appeared on http://www.pocket-lint.com on Thu, 19 Apr 2012 12:47:00 +0100

Apple is currently trialling a new scheme it plans to add to its Genius Bars worldwide sometime in the future. It has installed a wireless server system in its?Apple Store labs near its headquarters in Cupertino, and is currently seeing if it can benefit customers who need to replace a handset that's not easily fixable.

Presently, when an iPhone or iPad user suffers a serious hardware issue with their device, they are advised to back it up at home before going to an Apple Store, as information such as contact data could be lost during the fixing process or if the phone or tablet is replaced entirely.

The new wireless server system will allow the Genius Bar helpers to wirelessly and temporarily back-up users' data, so that it can be restored on a replacement device in store, ensuring the customer has as little to do as possible.

This does raise some privacy issues, of course. Not everybody would be happy with their private information being stored on an Apple server, no matter how fleetingly, but it does make the process as painless as possible to the consumer.

A source also explained to 9to5mac.com that although iCloud already offers remote back-up services, which could theoretically allow a customer to restore all of their information in store, the distance of the server from the specific Genius Bar could slow down the process considerably. Apple Stores often have many devices to fix in a day, and don't have the time to wait.

The same site also emphasises that many of Apple's prototype schemes and projects never see the light of day, so this may never be fully implemented. However, its source did suggest that the company could pilot the system in select stores in mid-2013.

Read

Tags: Apple Phones Tablets iPhone iPad iOS Apple Store

Apple to add wireless back-up services to Genius Bars? originally appeared on http://www.pocket-lint.com on Thu, 19 Apr 2012 11:46:00 +0100

More than 8 in 10 people who use the internet on the go want 4G to be rolled out in the UK as soon as possible, according to a new survey by YouGov and Everything Everywhere.

The survey, which questioned 2,035 people online, indicated that of those savvy enough to be using the internet on devices other than those bolted to a desk in their office or strapped to a wall in their home, 81 per cent are keen to access information even quicker than they can at present.

That's no surprise, we all want quicker access, but in a second, related, survey of 2,000 random users only 50 per cent of respondents wanted 4G as soon as possible. That number rises to 74 per cent if you count those who expressed an opinion in the survey rather than all those questioned, but it shows that UK operators are likely to struggle when it comes to people just signing on without giving it any thought.

Ofcom, the body in the UK responsible for rolling out the 4G signal for operators to use, is still working out a number of details as to when that will be possible. Everything Everywhere, Vodafone, and O2 are all currently completing trials of the new technology.

These new results from?YouGov and Everything Everywhere indicate?there is an interest, but that until people know more about what 4G is, it's not as needed as operators might wish. As we work towards the launch, however, we suspect that attitude will change.

?

Tags: 4G Phones Tablets Mobile broadband Everything Everywhere O2 Vodafone Orange T-Mobile

8 in 10 who use internet on the go want 4G ASAP originally appeared on http://www.pocket-lint.com on Wed, 18 Apr 2012 16:53:15 +0100

Intel has shown off a Windows 8 ultrabook-tablet hybrid at its Intel Developer Forum (IDF) in Beijing, demonstrating ?what the Ultrabooks of tomorrow will be capable of.

Looking like the Asus Eee Slider, the new laptop-come-tablet will be capable of a lot more, however - mainly running Windows 8.

That's right, according to reports from the week-long event in China, the new technology - dubbed Intel Cove Point, and previously know as Letexo - will be for consumers who can’t decide whether to buy a tablet or notebook but want something considerably more powerful than just another Android tablet.

When not in laptop mode, the technology can be used as a standard tablet with the keyboard resting flush against the back of the screen, so it looks like a fat iPad rather than something you've bolted together.

"At the demo, Cove Point also ran on an early sample of Intel’s upcoming Ivy Bridge CPU. Just like you’d find in a full-fledged notebook, the device sports a 12.5-inch screen, two USB 3.0 ports and an HDMI port," reports Wired, which was at IDF.

No companies have yet made a specific Cove Point announcement, so this is all theoretical at the moment. With popularity for the Ultrabook form factor growing however, and more and more manufacturers coming on board, we don't think it will be long before we see someone bringing one out.

We will keep you posted. ?

Read

Tags: Laptops Tablets Windows 8 Intel Microsoft

Intel Cove Point Windows 8 ultrabook-tablet hybrid shows us future of computing originally appeared on http://www.pocket-lint.com on Wed, 18 Apr 2012 12:00:00 +0100

Logitech has announced a new all-in-one keyboard and case that lets iPad users pretend they've got a Asus Transformer Prime instead.

Available for the new iPad and the iPad 2, the Logitech Ultrathin Keyboard Cover features an aluminium screen cover that protects your iPad screen and a Bluetooth wireless keyboard with the promise of a six-month battery life.

The keyboard isn't just for typing faster though, it also adds dedicated quick keys such as copy, paste, and undo.?

The cover also doubles as a stand and features the same Instant On/Off feature as found in the official Apple smart cover, shutting the iPad down when you close the case. The iPad clips to the stand/case by a?magnetic clip using the iPad's magnets.??

The Logitech Ultrathin Keyboard Cover is available now and will set you back ?89.99.

Tags: Tablets Logitech iPad cases iPad

Logitech Ultrathin Keyboard Cover for iPad lets you pretend you've got a Transformer Prime originally appeared on http://www.pocket-lint.com on Wed, 18 Apr 2012 09:33:00 +0100

RIM has released a new update for the BlackBerry Playbook, bringing with it a number of improvements and optimisations on Tuesday.?

The new version, BlackBerry PlayBook OS v2.0.1.358, is now available to all users and via the software update panel within the software.

According to RIM, the BlackBerry PlayBook OS v2.0.1.358 contains many updates including browser enhancements to address performance with some websites, improvements to support Android apps, and optimisations to Video Chat, PIM and BlackBerry Bridge applications.

The only requirement of the free update is that you have more than 20 per cent of battery on your PlayBook, even if you've got it plugged in.?

Tags: Tablets BlackBerry RIM BlackBerry PlayBook

BlackBerry PlayBook 2.0.1 update rolling out now originally appeared on http://www.pocket-lint.com on Tue, 17 Apr 2012 15:47:00 +0100

When Apple announced the new iPad, CEO Tim Cook was quoted as saying the iPad’s GPU was four times faster than Nvidia’s Tegra 3. This is Apple taking on the competition head on. Nvidia has a serious graphics heritage and its Tegra 3 SoC is hugely powerful.

While the iPad’s 5X chip has only a dual-core processor to the Tegra 3’s quad, the 5X has a quad-core GPU. Nvidia’s offering uses a GeForce GPU. In theory, Apple’s multi-core graphics processor should work wonders - but just how wonderful can these wonders be? Three times more wonderful than Tegra 3? This is an important question, as both represent the flagship powerhouses' of currently available tablets.

Before we start, a brief word on how and why we conducted these tests. We were interested in seeing if the GPU was three times faster in real operation, not in benchmarking. After all, people buy tablets to play with them, not watch speed tests and benchmark apps. We figured the five main ways of pushing a GPU would be in rendering a web page, streaming 1080p video, playing a game and running an augmented reality app. Whichever does it smoother and quicker takes the win.

Video playback

There is a rather irritating issue we encountered with this test, involving screen resolution. Our new iPad has a display with 2048 x 1536 resolution, whereas the Transformer Prime we used is 1280 x 800. This makes testing how each would playback 1080p video impossible without using an external display.

We really wanted to test out high resolution video playback as it was something you would likely do often with a tablet. So we took a 1080p video and dropped its resolution down to 720p to compensate for the Prime’s lower screen res.

Once loaded on to both tablets, we pitted them against each other in a similar speed test. It was 2.9 seconds for the new iPad to start playing back the video and, again, scrolling was instantaneous. For the Prime, it took 0.8 seconds.?

One way of circumnavigating the 1080p issue is to make both tablets output the video at that resolution to an external display. Connecting both the Prime and the iPad up to our television set, we pushed out locally stored content from tablet to TV. The result was again absolutely instant and slick playback. What might cause issues isn't Tegra 3 itself, more the way Android handles external displays, which just isn't as straightforward. Still though, actual video itself caused no issues whatsoever.?

Video Streaming

Another way to test how the GPUs cope with normal tablet situations is to look at how they stream video, both HD and SD. Using a combination of Netflix, iPlayer, Sky Go and HD videos on YouTube, we were able to get a decent idea of how the tablets dealt with content.?

Netflix currently streams on tablets in standard definition, particularly irritating given its images and thumbnails just got bumped to Retina display res. We have tried to eliminate any lag created by downloading the content by using a 50mbps fibre optic Virgin Media web connection. This means, other than the tablets themselves, the only thing to get in the way of video playback is Wi-Fi connection. As neither has an ethernet port, the best we could do there was to stand in the same place near the router and make sure nothing else was connected to the network.

So here is what we got. It took the iPad 6 seconds to open up the Netflix application and 6.8 seconds to start playing back video. Scrolling through our test film to various points was so quick it was impossible to time. The Transformer Prime behaved very much the same: set to performance mode, the Netflix application opened up in 5.9 seconds and video began playing back in 7.6 seconds. Scrolling again caused no issues whatsoever.

Sky Go is a slightly more clunky app on Android than iOS but none the less, when it actually came to playing back video, had no issues on either tablet whatsoever, with near instant playback that was impossible to time on both. iPlayer behaved very much in the same way but again wasn't helped by the lack of a decent app on Android.?

HD content on YouTube was the part of this test we were most excited about, as it should in theory be putting the GPU under a decent enough load. Sure enough, both managed to load a video in under a second and scrolled instantaneously. In fact no matter what video content we seemed to throw at both tablets, neither struggled in any way.?

Loading a web page

One way to push a GPU is to boot up a graphically intensive web page, say something like vimeo.com. We would have liked to go for wechoosethemoon.org, but the fact it is Flash only creates problems for the iPad.

This got us thinking, in reality the differences between what Android and iOS do would make achieving a 4x better performance figure very difficult to test, unless everything was weighted heavily in Apple’s favour - which it presumably was.

Problems aside, Vimeo is a HTML5 powered website with lots of high-quality video. Using Chrome for Android and Safari on iOS, we buffered up the rather beautiful Yosemite HD video. This caused absolutely no problems on either tablet, leaving us suitably impressed with both’s performance and HTML 5 itself.

We wanted to take it further, however, so we loaded up nakshart.com. Powered by HTML 5, the site is like an 3D location-based star map. It is very demanding and definitely lagged up both our iPad and the Transformer.

So who booted it quickest? The iPad managed 7.6 seconds and the Prime 8 seconds. Once loaded, it was a different story, the Asus was very laggy indeed. The iPad, to be fair, was still stuttery enough for it not to be the smooth HTML 5 experience you would expect, but still better than the Prime.

Playing a game

Here is where we can really pit the two GPUs against each other. Using that graphical favourite, Shadowgun, we should be able to get a decent idea how both perform when it comes to gaming.

The quad-core GPU in the new iPad will be under particular stress here but should, theoretically, outdo the GeForce GPU in the Tegra 3. Playing Shadowgun on the Prime is very smooth and the dynamic water effects as well as hi-res textures ensure this is one of the top-looking tablet titles you can download.

On iOS, things are very much the same except for that it appears to load a lot quicker and has a very smooth frame rate. What is different is the anti-aliasing and texture resolution, which govern how smooth edges are and what surfaces in the game look like. Here is where Android takes a clear win.

This said, we don’t think this is as far as gaming can go on tablets. In fact, the likes of Sky Gamblers on the iPad is, to us, as good as it gets. But it doesn’t exist on Android. What does is optimised Tegra applications, which to us suit the more hardcore gamer, say like Backbreaker. This means the iPad might not necessarily be 4x faster for gaming but it will likely suit those who like pick up and play apps a lot better.

Augmented reality

Augmented reality apps ask SoCs and GPUs to do all sorts of complex tasks. As well as running the camera application, you need to apply graphics over the top of whatever the sensor is seeing, as well as look at location-based data. It is a demanding process that takes advantage of all the technical wizardry that a tablet provides.

Enter Layar, just about the most established augmented reality app there is in both the App Store and Google Play. From boot, we were looking at 6 seconds to launch the London Tube Layar on the Prime and 3 seconds on the iPad.

Next up we wanted to really overload the tablets, we did this by running Yelp, which brings up all sorts of local businesses and icons on the screen. It was buttery smooth on both tablets.

Verdict

By this point in our testing we were beginning to realise that Apple’s claim just doesn’t apply in the real world. We were noticing tiny differences in speed between the two but nothing that would constitute a 4x increase. We could see a situation where, if we were to run benchmarking apps, then it could be a four times faster GPU. Then again, who sits with a brand new shiny tablet and just runs benchmarking figures through it?

So when it comes to actually using the Prime or iPad on a daily basis, the difference in speed between the two is negligible. It is the apps and the operating system that are really going to make things smoother for users. To quantify just how smooth this must be is nigh on impossible. What can be said from this test however is that both Tegra 3 and the new iPad are incredibly quick, so much so that it feels like they have hit a slight performance ceiling, with general tablet operation; streaming video or viewing websites, being instantaneous.

Tags: Tablets iPad Asus Asus Transformer Prime Apple Features

Is the new iPad really four times quicker than Tegra 3? originally appeared on http://www.pocket-lint.com on Tue, 17 Apr 2012 10:27:00 +0100

The week started with rumours that the next Amazon Kindle would have a glowing display to allow users to read in the dark. It has ended with Barnes & Noble announcing just that: the Nook Simple Touch with GlowLight.

The new eBook Reader will cost $139 and be available in early May in the US, according to the American bookstore. ?

The Nook Simple Touch with GlowLight, a bit of a mouthful we know, will come with "a soft adjustable glow" that means "bedtime readers just get the right amount of light for reading, without disturbing a sleepy spouse".

That, says B&N, will help the 64 per cent of the people it surveyed who regularly read in bed at night.

However unlike tablets such as the iPad or even Barnes & Noble's own Nook Color, the new Nook Simple Touch with GlowLight will still be able to be read on the beach in bright daylight because it is still just an E Ink display.

B&N isn't just bragging about the new tech. It says the new Nook Simple Touch with GlowLight is also the lightest Nook ever, with a long-lasting battery for more than one month of reading on a single charge, with the light on.

“To date, readers have had to compromise: either buying black-and-white E Ink reading devices to optimise their outdoor reading or color LCD devices to be able to read at night in bed with the light off," said William J. Lynch, the CEO of Barnes & Noble.?

"Nook Simple Touch with GlowLight is like two Readers in one. With our new GlowLight technology and the most advanced E Ink display available, we’ve created the most versatile, high-utility reader ever: as exceptional for reading in the darkest bedroom as on the brightest beach.”

Tags: eBook readers Barnes and Noble Barnes and Noble Nook Barnes and Noble Nook Simple Touch Tablets

Barnes & Noble Nook Simple Touch with GlowLight lights up your bedroom reading originally appeared on http://www.pocket-lint.com on Thu, 12 Apr 2012 21:56:00 +0100

Own a tablet? We bet you read, watch, and play while you’re sitting on the sofa watching the TV. If you do, don’t worry, you aren’t alone. A recent survey in the US found that a whopping 85 per cent of US tablet owners use their tablets while also watching TV.

Market research firm Forrester has also found that tablet users are not only embracing the living room as the new place to consume content, but also that the tablet is starting to replace the TV.?

Citing other data from a recent report by Nielsen, the two Forrester analysts Annie Corbet and Sarah Rotman,?who wrote the report, found 30 per cent of total tablet time was spent while watching TV.

It is not just laptops and computers tablets are replacing, either. Tablets are displacing small TVs as well, the report finds, with 32 per cent of tablet owners saying they won’t buy a small (less than 24-inch) TV in the future, compared with only 7 per cent who say the same about large TVs.?

“As much as Samsung and others have promoted 'Smart TVs,' the reality is that consumers with tablets think their tablets are even smarter, and at least some of the time prefer to watch the content from their small device on the big screen,” writes Rotman.?

Apple will no doubt like to hear that the report also finds that 18 per cent of people questioned connect their tablets to their TVs via HDMI or VGA cables, suggesting there is a market for the Apple TV after all.?

Read

Tags: Home Cinema Tablets iPad Samsung Apple

Most tablet owners use them while watching TV originally appeared on http://www.pocket-lint.com on Thu, 12 Apr 2012 13:14:00 +0100

Research In Motion has launched a new mini Bluetooth keyboard for the BlackBerry PlayBook?- complete with accompanying case to house it all. But should you be bothering and will it make working on the go any easier?

Design

There are two parts to the Official BlackBerry PlayBook Mini Keyboard:?the case and the keyboard.

The case, which doubles the thickness of your BlackBerry tablet, is well-built, has a black leather finish and when closed resembles an A5 sized Moleskine notepad. The PlayBook slots into a tough plastic shell, keeping it nice and safe, and there are holes for the micro USB, mini HDMI and docking pins to stay connected. The volume and power button at the top are covered by the stiff plastic, making them somewhat harder to use but not impossible.

The rear of the case features a hole for the rear-facing camera and a kick stand to angle the PlayBook when using the keyboard. It looks like a dinky laptop - so cute.

The kickstand designed by?RIM?is fairly flimsy and unless you have it on a level surface is likely to fold shut - it did regularly for us. It is also not wide enough to use on your lap, as you would with a laptop. And while we're complaining, you can't adjust the angle either - although that's not the end of the world.?

The bottom half of the black case is for the Bluetooth keyboard to sit. It can be removed from the case as it's held in place with four elastic corner straps that are in keeping with the design ethos. Stupidly, however, the front left strap covers the power switch making it awkward to turn on and off. Not great.

On the plus side, the inside of the case is felt-lined giving a good purchase on the keyboard and there is little to no movement when you type.?

Typing

The keyboard itself is the same physical size as the PlayBook in width and height, but half the thickness. It features a full QWERTY keyboard, albeit with slightly smaller keys than your regular laptop. Those keys are over five rows including a row for numbers, a large spacebar, and mini trackpad which allows you to scroll around the screen very much in the same way as you can with your BlackBerry smartphone in "bridge mode".

The keys are responsive and comfortable to type with, as long as you don't have fat fingers. The trackpad is responsive enough to allow you to use without difficulty too, and it really is like using your trackpad on your laptop. It even supports two-finger scrolling, single tap to select, and a number of other gestures and movements to switch apps if you don't want to raise your hand to the touchscreen.

Touch typists will be pleased to hear that the J key features a comfortable homing dimple, however we still struggled to home ourselves on the keyboard, at first believing it has something to do with the A key being too far to the left. It sits outside of the screen real estate when in the case, and that caused us to struggle at first to hit the right letters - we seemed to be off by one letter.

Our inability to type without making mistakes soon disappeared with practice. Within the first hour we were comfortably typing with speed - this article was written with the keyboard on the PlayBook.

Grumbles

Only a couple, with the main one being that you'll find it hard, but not impossible to charge your PlayBook while using the keyboard in the case. This is because the Micro-USB cable shipped in the box with the PlayBook is too long to fit properly- it is possible though, as you can see below.

This is solved by taking the keyboard out of the case and folding the case back on itself, but we doubt that's what the designers had in mind when they where drawing up the Mini Keyboard.?

Verdict:

There are some nice elements to the Mini Keyboard and if you are planning on typing a lot on your PlayBook this will make it a lot easier, turning your tablet into a mini laptop for when you need to work on the plane but can't be bothered to get the laptop out.

Tags: Tablets BlackBerry BlackBerry PlayBook RIM Keyboards

BlackBerry Mini Keyboard for PlayBook originally appeared on http://www.pocket-lint.com on Wed, 11 Apr 2012 14:14:00 +0100

Pocket-lint regulars might remember that we reviewed the Toshiba AT100 and utterly despised its cheap and nasty design and uninspired features. Happily, then, the firm has just started to sell its new and much-updated version of the tablet. The AT200, which offers new styling greatly reduced weight and dimensions and some other tweaks to boot.

From the moment we took it out of the box, we found it to be a much more desirable device than its predecessor and first impressions really do count here. After all, this is a market dominated by an Apple product, so challengers need to have at least competent industrial design to get noticed.

Design is much improved

The first thing we noticed is that the AT200 isn't made from the same unpleasant creaky plastic of the original model. There's no etching on the back cover here to give the tablet the look of a device that's been heated up and run over by a truck. What you do get is an ultra-slim tablet with a metal rear surface finished in a sort of brushed style.

There are a couple of sockets located around the device. The first is a rather large docking port on the bottom of the tablet. This is used for the proprietary charger, which has a USB power connector and plug on the other end, and connects to a standard wall plug with USB connection on it. We aren't fans of this arrangement. Quite why the dock connector needs to be so damn large is beyond us. There are unlikely to be huge numbers of docks and accessories for the Toshiba tablet range, and the size of the connector just makes it a pain to carry around.

You get USB, HDMI and microSD capabilities too, though, and these are located on the right-hand side of the tablet. The USB and HDMI sockets are both micro-sized, which is fine for USB, although it does mean you'll need to buy a micro to standard HDMI cable. There is, of course, a headphone socket here too.

On the front of the tablet there's a video conferencing webcam, and on the rear a 5-megapixel camera.

It's not all good news though, because the first thing we noticed is that the rear case is really easy to scratch. We've had this tablet just a couple of weeks, and already it's got some battle scars on the back, and we haven't taken it anywhere dangerous. The second thing we noted was that the front glass seems even more of a fingerprint magnet than most tablets. Of course, it's not Toshiba's fault that we're such a greasy bunch of miscreants, but we do think other tablets seem slightly better at resisting our hand oils.

The AT200 ships with Android 3.2.1, but it will soon get an upgrade to Ice Cream Sandwich, we're told. Mind you, that doesn't really make a huge difference as Honeycomb is absolutely fine for tablet use, and the differences between it and Android 4.0 are fairly minor, at least as far as most users are concerned.

You can get the AT200 in either 16 or 32GB variants, but the microSD card slot means you can upgrade either by as much as 32GB. This is great, and truly useful for people who love watching video or taking their music collections everywhere they go.?

On-screen keyboard

Like a lot of devices, the AT200 has Swype installed, and it is the default keyboard. Annoyingly, it was set to a French layout to start with, we have no idea why but it's simple enough to fix. But we also found that it was quite laggy, with our keystrokes taking a perceivable amount of time to do anything onscreen. Switching to the standard Android keyboard made things better, and faster.

Camera

The rear-mounted 5-megapixel camera is, as you might expect, pretty average. In fact, average might be a bit charitable. We found that, while the image looked pretty good on screen, when the full image was emailed to a desktop computer, things started to look considerably less rosy.

Images seem to have a smudging on fine detail, those viewed at 100 per cent size really didn't look that impressive, even in decent light. Ultimately, we suppose this doesn't matter as no one uses their tablet for photos anyway, but we would almost prefer that Toshiba hadn't bothered with the rear-mounted camera, and had dropped the price of the tablet instead.

Sound and video quality

The built-in speakers aren't bad. Their location helps them produce sound that can't easily be blocked by hands and they're certainly loud enough for viewing video at home in a quiet room. The quality via the speakers is only average though, but then they're small so no one expects a full range sound. Headphones obviously improve the situation a great deal, so we used them, and so should you!

Thanks to the new screen - this isn't an IPS panel, unlike the A100 - the image quality seems better to us. On the previous model, while the viewing angle was good, the fine detail areas of the screen - say on thin lines - would have a subtle but noticeable noise to them. Here that is entirely gone, and we prefer this display. It is, however, the same resolution so there's not oodles more detail to be enjoyed. It's certainly no rival for the new iPad.

Video looks good though. We streamed some content from Netflix, and it was sharp and had more than enough colour and detail. Switch to HD content from a local network source and the detail jumps up substantially. In fact, looking at 720p video, we were stunned by how much clarity and fine detail there was in the image. So in screen terms, at least, the Tosh has nothing to be ashamed of.

When watching video, we suggest you switch off the auto backlight. We found it was a little over-sensitive to quite minor light changes, and that meant that when we were watching video the brightness would often jump up or down in response to a small increase or decrease in the ambient light. This makes watching video quite distracting, but it is at least easy to disable.

DLNA and Toshiba Media Player

One of the things we hated about the AT100 was its terrible DLNA media player. Sadly, Toshiba has done nothing to address this problem whatsoever.

Its own app, the Media Player, is the most dreadful thing we've ever seen or used. It will play music and photos out of the box, but don't expect video to work. We couldn't understand why this was for quite a while, but the solution came with a third-party app called Skifta. It turns out that the tablet doesn't have a video player that can handle common video file types. Install one, and you'll be able to use both the Toshiba app, and third-party solutions like Skifta with no problem.

You will not, however, be able to use the brilliant Plex app to watch video. No matter what we tried, we couldn't get the Tosh to play ball with our media server. This is a network we've used on dozens of other devices, all of which happily connect to either Plex, via its dedicated app, or via the DLNA service offered on the latest version.

We obviously can't tell you why this is, but given other devices don't have the problem, we have to assume it's something specific to the Toshiba. And when our Samsung and Sony tablets and phones all play ball, along with laptops and our WD TV Live Hub, we have to conclude that the issue is not of our making.

Battery life

Toshiba says you'll see eight hours battery life from the AT200. We have no reason to dispute that, and it adds an hour to the AT100. We did notice that the tablet has a pretty aggressive Wi-Fi power-saving mode, which shuts the wireless off as soon as the screen goes off. This might be consistent with other tablets running Honeycomb, but we would prefer the option to have the wireless stay on for a short period once the screen is locked.

The other change from the AT100 is that the battery is now no longer removable. This might be a problem for some people, who perhaps opted to use their tablets with a couple of interchangeable batteries for maximum life. We can't, however, see this being an issue for most people.

Verdict:

The AT-200 is a much better tablet than its predecessor the 100. We actually felt impressed when we lifted it out of the box and held it for the first time.

Its slim design, unusual flat back - most tablets have curves, the AT-200 does not - make it nice to look at and pleasant to hold. Connectivity-wise, there's plenty here too with USB and HDMI. The screen is improved too, and the battery life is quoted at an hour more, although we have no real way to test one battery against another as each day's use is different to the next.

Overall, this is a much better tablet than any Toshiba has released previously. It's still not perfect though, and we question the logic of paying so much money for a tablet that's just "okay" when you could have one that's brilliant for the same price.

Tags: Tablets Toshiba Toshiba AT200 Toshiba Regza AT700 Toshiba Excite AT200

Toshiba AT-200 originally appeared on http://www.pocket-lint.com on Tue, 10 Apr 2012 17:51:00 +0100

Pocket-lint is offering a lucky reader the chance to win a stunning blue HP Pavillion g6 1326sa,?one of the latest notebooks powered by VISION technology from AMD to hit the shelves this spring.

VISION technology has AMD AllDay power, enabling extended battery life for longer entertainment on the go.?Alongside its powerful performance that helps make slow video streaming a thing of the past and lets users to switch between applications rapidly, the HP Pavillion g6 1326sa features cinema-quality graphics that will allow you to enjoy the most amazing possible entertainment experience.?

All you have to do to be in with a chance of winning an AMD Vision-powered laptop is follow us (@Pocketlint) and AMD (@amd_uk)?on Twitter?and?retweet any story on Pocket-lint including the hashtag?#plAMD.

The competition will close at midnight on Sunday, 15 April 2012, after which time we will draw the winners and inform them on this page and by direct message.

Please ensure that you read?Pocket-lint's?terms and conditions, and we must point out that this competition in open only to entries from the UK and Ireland.

Good luck.

Tags: Laptops HP Competitions Apps Phones Gaming Tablets

Win one of the latest AMD VISION powered laptops! originally appeared on http://www.pocket-lint.com on Tue, 10 Apr 2012 15:50:00 +0100

Toshiba has unveiled three Android tablets, each with varying dimensions.

The three devices are part of Toshiba’s Excite range with customers being able to choose between a 13.3-inch display, 10.1-inch and even a 7.7-inch.

Though all three devices run on Android Ice Cream Sandwich 4.0, boast NVIDIA Tegra 3 processors and feature a five-megapixel camera on the back and two-megapixel front-facing snapper, each has its own characteristics to make it stand out from the rest.

Toshiba Excite 13

We knew it was a possibility after getting hands-on with a conceptual version of the device at the Toshiba Conference 2012, but now it's very much the real deal.

Despite its large screen, the Toshiba Excite 13 is only 10.2mm thick and offers up to 13 hours of battery life.

There’s both a Micro-USB and a Micro-HDMI port, so if you need an even bigger display you’ll be able to hook it up to your widescreen HD TV.

Yet at 13-inches this tablet should cater for heavy gamers and internet surfers, while movies will be bolstered by the 16:9 aspect ratio and 1600 x 900 resolution.?

Toshiba Excite 10

With 10-finger multi-touch support you’ll be able to make the most of all your digits while browsing, playing with apps or simply stroking the 10.1-inch LED backlit 1280 x 800 resolution display in an affectionate manner.

Just short of 9mm thick and 600 grams in weight, the Toshiba Excite 10 is definitely a portable device and with a battery life of 10 hours, you shouldn’t get caught short either.

Again there’s Micro-USB and Micro-HDMI support should you wish to connect your tablet to another device.

Toshiba Excite 7.7

Just about small enough to fit in a jacket pocket (though you may want to be careful it’s not an advertisement to potential thieves), the Excite 7.7 offers the same processing power as its larger siblings but with an AMOLED display.

Personally, we like our tablet displays to have a bit more scope, but if you want a device that can be easily tucked away in a bag but offers more manoeuvre than your smartphone then this tablet should fit the bill.

Besides you’ll be able to hook it up to a larger screen should you need to though it's worth considering that though smaller, the Toshiba Excite 7.7 is actually more expensive than the Excite 10

Pricing and availability

There’s no word on UK pricing yet but the Toshiba Excite 13 16GB model will be available at the beginning of June for $649.99 and $749.99 for the 64GB model

The Toshiba Excite 10 will be available in May, with the 16GB variant costing $449.99 and the 32GB $529.99.

Finally the Toshiba Excite 7.7 will be sold for $499.99 for the 16GB model and $579.99 for the 32GB model, both from early June.

Toshiba had promised to tackle the tablet market aggressively this year so expect these three devices to be the first of many, with non-Android devices also rumoured to be in the pipeline.

Read

Tags: Tablets Toshiba Excite Android

Toshiba adds three to its tablet Excite Android range originally appeared on http://www.pocket-lint.com on Tue, 10 Apr 2012 15:39:00 +0100

Samsung has announced profits of ?2.8 billion for the first three months of this year, thanks to record sales of its smartphone and tablet devices.

The Korean manufacturer is the world’s biggest smartphone maker and with the likes of the Samsung Galaxy S III and Samsung Galaxy Tab 2 also set to debut this year, Samsung’s position looks likely to strengthen.

Buoyed by sales of the Galaxy S II and Tab 10.1 tablet device, Samsung claims to have shipped up to 40 million smartphones this year already, with some analysts predicting Q2 could see a further 50 million distributed across the globe.

While Samsung has also celebrated unheralded success with the likes of the Samsung Galaxy Note and Samsung Galaxy Y, it's also enjoyed a revenue stream from an unlikely source.

Despite a court case looming between the two over patent issues, Apple pays for various Samsung components such as microchips and flash memory to use in its own iPad and iPhone devices, helping bolster the Samsung coffers.

It’s quite the love-hate relationship.

Read

Tags: Samsung Phones Tablets Apple

Samsung announces huge profits originally appeared on http://www.pocket-lint.com on Fri, 06 Apr 2012 15:16:00 +0100

The HTC One X and One S are not the only pair debuting today, as the 3G + Wi-Fi versions of the Motorola XOOM 2 and Motorola XOOM 2 Media Edition go on sale.

Available from Carphone Warehouse, the main difference between the two models is the size of the screen with the XOOM 2 sporting a 10.1-inch HD widescreen display and the Media Edition a smaller 8.2-inch.

Both tablets are considerably lighter than the original Motorola XOOM and run on Android 3.2 Honeycomb.

Camera-wise and we’re looking at a 1.3-megapixel front-facing camera for video calls and a five-megapixel snapper complete with digital zoom, auto focus and LED on the back of the device.

With its extra bulk it’s perhaps to be expected that the Motorola XOOM 2 promises 10 hours of web browsing on Wi-Fi before the battery goes dead, compared to the Media Edition’s six hours.

Yet other than that it’s ultimately down to how big a tablet you want. Well, that and how much you’re prepared to pay.

The Motorola XOOM 2 Wi-Fi only version is available from Carphone Warehouse for ?349.99; while the new 3G + Wi-Fi version will set you back ?449.99.

Opt for the smaller Motorola XOOM 2 Media Edition and the Wi-Fi variant costs ?299.99 and the new 3G + Wi-Fi version ?399.99.

Tags: Tablets Motorola XOOM 2 Carphone Warehouse

Second generation 3G Motorola XOOM 2s arrive at Carphone Warehouse originally appeared on http://www.pocket-lint.com on Thu, 05 Apr 2012 15:27:00 +0100

Next Issue, the long-awaited collaboration between publishers Conde Nast, News Corp, Hearst Corp, Meredith and Time Inc, has finally launched for Android tablets in the US. It offers the latest and back issues of some the State's biggest magazines, all to read on your device.

Where it differs from rival digital magazine delivery services is that, while you can just buy one issue of your favourite title, you can also get an Unlimited Plan - a subscription that allows you to browse and peruse a whole gammut of magazines for one monthly fee. Sort of a Netflix for periodicals, if you like.

There are two Unlimited Plans on offer, Basic and Premium. Basic offers a wide range of monthly titles (27 at present), including Esquire, Golf, Glamour, Vanity Fair and InStyle. While Premium adds several weekly mags, including Time, People, Entertainment Weekly, Sports Illustrated and The New Yorker.

Basic costs $9.99 per month, Premium $14.99. Simple.

If you don't want an all-you-can-eat package, individual subscriptions are available, with the US edition of Esquire costing a very respectable $1.99 a month. If you're already a print subscriber, you can add the digital version for an extra 99 cents per month.

The magazines are all available through a dedicated application - Next Issue - that is currently available only for Android tablets with screen resolutions of?1024 x 600 or 1280 x 800.

An iPad version is promised, and you can be notified of its arrival if you sign up to a mailing list on the company's website: www.nextissue.com.

Pocket-lint has also been told by Next Issue Media that although it is currently a US-only concern it is "evaluating international as a potential distribution opportunity, but has nothing to announce at this time".

Fingers crossed though, it'd be better than thumbing through the mags in WHSmith each month until the manager turfs you out.

Read

Tags: Tablets Apps Next Issue Next Issue Media Android Android apps Netflix Conde Nast News Corp

Next Issue, the Netflix for magazines, launches in US - Android-only initially originally appeared on http://www.pocket-lint.com on Wed, 04 Apr 2012 15:33:00 +0100

Swiftkey, creator of the popular Android keyboard, has told Pocket-lint it wants to create a language profile for users that would allow them to use the same settings across a range of different devices with which they interact.

"What we are really interested in is building a consistent experience across different devices," Ben Medlock, the company's CTO, told us over breakfast.

"We focused on phones first and then tablets, because the need is so obvious there, but what we are moving towards is an offering that will capture your language profile that can then be used across different devices that you interact with."

The plan, Medlock explains while sipping a coffee, it to be able to offer users a single profile that works across multiple devices - be it using your phone, your desktop, or even your voice.

"This is something we are building into the infrastructure at the moment. It’s not just about creating a desktop version of our software but a system that allows you to enter text correctly over a number of devices."

Likening the experience to Spotify, the online music service that allows you to log in to access your music on several different devices, Medlock says he aims to create a similar scenario with Swiftkey:

"The idea is to create a language profile that is stored in the cloud and summarises how you speak and communicate," he says.

"It doesn’t just have to be a keyboard, though, it could be how you interact with voice in your car, it could be how you communicate to your TV or your console, and it could even be handwriting. It’s about something much more powerful than just powering a keyboard."

Key to doing this is the underlining technology the company has developed to improve language input on a keyboard, rather than just working out when you might have misspelt something on your phone because you've pressed the wrong combination of keys.

Swiftkey isn't just talking about the profile that helps you correct the same mistakes you make day in, day out on a different device, but allowing that profile to actively identify which device you are using, where you are, and even who you are talking to:

"We have a roadmap for text input. Just looking at the keyboard product, we are working at being able to determine who you are texting and know that your language changes. Whether that is your mum or your boss," says Medlock.

"Time, location, who you are contacting, the client you are using, be it Facebook or Gmail, anything that gives us a glimpse of what you are doing can help us improve the experience. We’ve structured the system to be able to slot in these evidences and adapt accordingly.?

"We’ve taken an approach that allows us to continue to enhance and improve text input. The perfect software is the software that perfectly understands how you communicate and can guess what you are going to say 100 per cent of the time. We are a very clear market leader in that, but there is always a long way to go, there are always more improvements to make."

So when is all this going to happen? Sooner than you think it seems. The company, based in Cambridge, has seen massive growth since its inception a couple of years ago, and is constantly winning awards for its innovation, the latest of which was a GMSA award at Mobile World Congress. That's alerted plenty of potential customers and kept Medlock's phone ringing constantly?since.

"We have been inundated with requests from lots of companies, not just mobile phone makers," Medlock tells Pocket-lint. "We are working on people using different styles of interface for different environments. Maybe it is looking at handwriting, or when you are typing on a phone, or a tablet - whatever it is, we see ourselves expanding our portfolio of products to provide this whole range of services."

Medlock confirms to Pocket-lint that that includes a stylus version of the software to be used on devices like the Samsung Galaxy Note and the HTC Flyer, among other things.

"We really feel there is a potential for using language technology in a wider range of settings," Medlock adds. "This is just the start. We are really looking at possibilities outside of just text entry to where we can apply this technology."

Tags: Apps Swiftkey Android apps Phones Tablets

Swiftkey looking beyond the keyboard originally appeared on http://www.pocket-lint.com on Wed, 04 Apr 2012 15:00:00 +0100

The more keen-eyed Samsung fans might have spotted that neither the 10.1 nor the 7-inch Samsung Galaxy Tab 2 Android tablets was released in March, as previously promised by the company. We were officially told that they would be out last month and then rolled-out globally.

However, the on-sale dates for both devices have been postponed until the end of this month, with Samsung now saying they will start to ship at the end of April.

The reason has been put down to Android 4.0 (Ice Cream Sandwich). Both tablets are to have the updated operating system pre-installed on day one but, according to a company spokesperson, Samsung and Google need more time to work on the software to suit the tablets - a month's-worth of extra time, it seems.

Samsung has already started to roll out ICS to its Galaxy S II smartphones, with many UK owners being able to update their handsets through Kies, but Galaxy Note users also face a minor delay.

Pocket-lint caught up with the Samsung Galaxy Tab 2 (7.0) at the manufacturer's European Forum in February and said, "...it feels very comfortable in the hand and has more in common with it's 10.1 and 8.9 cousins than it does with its predecessor thanks to the curved edges and shiny greyish back".

Read

Tags: Samsung Tablets Samsung Galaxy Tab 2 Samsung Galaxy Tab 2 10-1 Samsung Galaxy Tab 2 7-0 Android Ice Cream Sandwich

Samsung Galaxy Tab 2 delayed originally appeared on http://www.pocket-lint.com on Wed, 04 Apr 2012 09:35:00 +0100

The new iPad needed to make a statement. It needed something big in order for Apple to show it was still top trump in the hardware department compared to the competition. This it's done, but only just.

The Retina Display is the iPad's big feature. It’s the justification behind nearly every purchase.?But what if you don’t want all the resolution? What if you're just after a different post-PC experience? For that, the logical answer has to be the Asus EeePad Transformer Prime. With a more powerful processor, an included keyboard dock and a nice enough screen itself, the Transformer has staked a big enough claim to be mayor of tablet-town in its own right.

On paper the differences between the two are so thin that a straight specs comparison just won’t cut it. Besides, ultimately, it's about how these things perform in every day life that let's you know which of the two is superior. So, we incorporating both of them into our daily tech routines to see which we preferred. Which is better, the iPad or the Asus EeePad Transformer Prime? Read on to find out.

Office work

1st: Prime

Included keyboard, Google apps integration

2nd: the new iPad

Screen does great, Google apps could be better

Office Apps

First up, let's get the boring stuff out the way. Everyone is going to be using a tablet to do a bit of work from time to time, so it’s handy to know which can make your working day a little easier.

Sending emails is the first vital box to tick in our lengthy testing checklist. The Transformer Prime uses Android, which makes it a lot more Google friendly. This is handy, for those using Gmail and Google Apps for the majority of our work. The built-in mail app with the tablet is decent enough, but Gmail’s own is better. It works flawlessly, as does the notifications system that Ice Cream Sandwich uses. The added keyboard also means that you can be quickfire on your replies as well. Good stuff then form the Prime.

The iPad’s extra display resolution does come into play during email. Text is far, far easier to read and images and attachments just look better. Apple’s mail app is also one of the best. It's very easy to setup and, thanks to the rethought notifications system in iOS 5, it kept us posted on emails throughout our playtime.

Unfortunately, the Google apps, which can be used natively within Android, don't play quite as nicely on iOS, and because of this we decided to use Apple's own Pages to write with instead. iCloud certainly helps with the cross-platform syncing but it doesn’t behave anywhere near as well as Android and its apps.

We tested the likes of spreadsheets and sharing documents on both tablets. The pre-installed Polaris Office took care of business on the Asus but the iPad struggled with it only allowing us to view .xls files but not edit them, at least without downloading something like QuickOffice Pro at a cost. This could pose a problem for some, but then again downloading an application which can read all different documents is not a particular challenge on the iPad, just get Pages, Keynote and Numbers.

Notifications

A brief word on notifications, which are very handy should you not be standing next to your tablet when emails arrive. By default, the Prime uses a rather wimpy ping to alert you, compared to the iPad’s much more audible bong. We also noticed that over a period of around three days, leaving push email on both tablets would have a much bigger impact on the Prime than the iPad’s battery - an issue worth considering should you be the sort who wants emails instantly.

In the end, we are going to have to give this one to the Asus. It has a beefier Google Apps integration and the included keyboard works wonders when writing just about anything. We should say though, if you don’t use Google Apps, the difference is so minute you likely won’t notice.

Socialising

1st: The New iPad

Great Facebook app, iMessage v. useful

2nd: Prime

Better camera for Skype, Skype less battery draining

Facebook

Let’s start this one off with the big boy - Facebook. Since its launch, the dedicated Facebook iPad app has continued to get better and better. Using the same slide-out menu draw we see in other iPad applications, it's easy to navigate and just as good as the browser-based desktop version of the site. Built-in notifications which can be customised also help improve the whole Facebook experience.

Conversely, the Transformer Prime suffers from the lack of a custom built ICS Facebook app experience. As is the case with all Android applications, they are more shared between phone and tablet than designed specifically for each. It just doesn’t look quite as slick on the Prime, is the bottom line.

This is also where Android reveals one of its niggling irritations that in time can damage your entire tablet experience - lag. Despite having a potent quad-core 1.3 GHz Tegra 3 chip inside, Android is just not as smooth as iOS on these tablets. Apps might load quicker but, once you are running, any interactions have a slight slowdown, especially scrolling text.

The result, from our tests, was that, despite relatively minor differences, we found ourselves always picking up our iPad when we wanted to chat to people. The only exception was Facebook chat where the keyboard on the Prime, yet again, proved invaluable.

iMessage

Any text messages we received were pushed straight to both our iPad and our iPhone, thanks to iMessage. This new feature of iOS 5 is one of the best free messaging clients we've ever seen on a mobile device and the cross hardware syncing is superb. A big box ticked for the iPad on the social front.

Twitter

Now on to Twitter. iOS 5 has done some great work incorporating Twitter into the nuts and bolts of the operating system. We love, for example, that you can tweet pictures directly from within the camera app. Then again, Android also does a good job of sharing things and has always had very good integration on this front.

As it goes, we're fairly indifferent on the Twitter experience between both, really. A deal-breaker for some might be that that you can use the likes of Instagram and Hipstamatic on the iPad, which is one of our favourite ways of tweeting images. There are equivalents on Android but they're not as slick.

Skype

Finally comes Skype. The iPad does of course come with Facetime built in but, ultimately, it’s Skype that will become the go-to application for video chat. So how do they behave on each? In short, great. In long, not so great.

Skype is a battery gobbler if we ever saw one. It kills both the Transformer Prime and iPad’s power fairly quickly if you don’t tell the application to log out automatically after you've used it. Don’t bother with notifications on the iPad because that's where it does the big damage. Video calling on both fronts was decent enough but we did find the landscape positioning of the camera on the Asus a lot better to use. The keyboard dock also meant we didn’t have to hold the tablet with our hands.

In the end, we felt that the iPad was the winner here, partly because of the significant benefits of iMessage. Things like dedicated Facebook apps, Tweetbot and the official Twitter app are just better on Apple's tablet. Sure, battery is a bonus on the Transformer but socialising is smoother on iOS.

Out and about

1st: New iPad

3G, lighter weight, better video watching

2nd: Prime

no 3G, heavy, great but missing touch of class

Form factor

A tablet is too big a thing to stick in your pocket but just the right size for your rucksack. We do a lot of scooting about town at Pocket-lint, going to interviews and the like, where we would normally bring a lightweight laptop. For our test of these tabs we took to taking either just the Transformer Prime or the new iPad.

First up, with the keyboard dock attached, the Prime is damn heavy. It might be lighter without, but we never really seemed to use it as a straight tablet without the keyboard. In fact, the Prime rather started to feel more like an Android-powered netbook.

Conversly, the iPad is very light at just 660g to the Prime’s 1,123g when docked. If you happen to cycle, as we often do, it makes a significant difference to your overall rucksack weight. It might not seem like much but, thrown in with all your other necessities it can become the straw that breaks your back, let alone that of the camel.

3G

Neither tablet caused us many issues in terms of working away from home, except for one major thing - Wi-Fi. The iPad we used came with 3G reception, meaning we didn’t have to run for a Starbucks whenever work needed doing. The Transformer comes only in Wi-Fi form which can be a slight irritation from time to time.

So the iPad wins here, pretty much outright thanks to the inclusion of 3G. We should also add that on sleep mode, the iPad appears to last forever, whereas the Transformer Prime would drain more, prompting the need to carry a charger with us everywhere.

The only other caveat comes with the convenience of the SD card reader in the Transformer which you need an adapter for if you have an iPad. It might not be a big deal for everyone but, if getting photos or video from your camera to the web is big for you, then it's worth taking note.

At your friends

The iPad and Transformer Prime found themselves having a little road trip to a friends at one point during our testing. Both were loaded up with media which we wanted to share with our mates. Most meetings result in some sort of music related debate unfolding, so it was vital that both could push out audio to a bigger sound system.?

At the most basic level, we did this using the Prime's 3.5mm headphone jack. Sure it works, but playing back the latest tracks is no where near as exciting if you can't do it wirelessly. One of our friends had themselves an Apple TV hooked up to a sound system. The result was four of us sat around the iPad, each picking out different tracks and pushing them to the Apple TV using AirPlay. A much more rounded experience than that of the Transformer.

Videos and photos also got themselves sent to the big screen, all thanks to the Apple TV. We did carry a digital AV adapter kit for the Apple tablet just in case, should we need to connect it directly via HDMI, but in the end it wasn't needed.?As for the Asus, sending video and photos was fairly easy, done simply using a micro-HDMI cable or wirelessly by slightly more rough and ready third party apps to DLNA-certified devices.

There are DLNA-type apps for both platforms, and perfectly good ones, but when someone's got an Apple-certified speaker dock system, which many folk have, or, better still, an Apple TV, it's the easiest of all options to be with the iPad. It's no major slight on the Transformer. Everything is still possible on the Asus tab but it's just that little less smooth.

On the train

Long train journeys can be made a lot less boring with a tablet. Their screens are just the right size for watching video. First up you need to load some content onto your little darling; not difficult with both the iPad and the Asus. What is irritating with the Apple tech, however, is having to ensure that all your video is in an iPad-friendly format, whereas the Asus will play back just about anything. Either way, with a selection of films loaded onto our tablets, we set off across London.

The Prime has a really, really nice screen. Its Super IPS+ mode makes viewing video in direct sunlight entirely possible. Don't expect the battery to last particularly long, however, as it sucks up quite a bit of juice having it on full blast like that. Movies look great with the blacks particularly impressive; just as good to the eye, in fact, as quite a few LED TVs we've seen. The Tegra 3 chip also means 1080p video is handled flawlessly. Which is nice.?

The iPad does claim the win here in the video stakes, though. Its video application is just a lot slicker than Android. There is no stuttering when you scan to different parts of a film and titles are laid out nicely with box art formatted for the high resolution Retina Display. The display also works magic with 1080p content, looking fairly stunning even on such a small screen. The iPad is definitely the movie fans choice.

Taking photos

Both the Asus and the iPad have rather nice cameras on them. The Prime manages 8 megapixels, the iPad just 5 but with a lot of optic tech nicked form the iPhone 4S, which is the best phone camera we have ever seen. No pressure then.

Both performed admirably when we shot 1080p video of Senna (the PL pooch) looking cute. They also opened their apps instantly - a good thing as he only looks cute for short periods of time.

Both the ICS camera app and the iPad’s are very nice to use and pretty much matched like for like in terms of functionality. It’s the ability to edit shots after that gives the iPad the win here. iPhoto is brilliant, as is iMovie. Android just can’t quite do things as well, despite having the likes of Photoshop Express available. Quality is also just that bit better on the iPad as is playback.

On the sofa

1st: New iPad

Crisper browsing

2nd: Prime

UI lag but good in games

Browsing

In between socialising, tweeting, travelling and working, the Transformer Prime and iPad got a fair bit of downtime. That was unless we fancied a quick browse of the Internet, in which case they became the perfect device.

Sitting on our coffee table were both the Prime and the iPad, but nearly every single time we would reach for the latter to check the web. Why? Two very simple reasons - the Retina Display makes text and web pages look incredible and, second, the smoother scrolling and Safari app just run better. Sure Flash might be absent, but it didn't pose us a problem in practice.

The YouTube app on the iPad is also much more simple than that of Android, meaning that should we want to show a friend a music video or other YouTube fodder, we could search just that little bit quicker. In fact, for all those coffee table based tablet activities, the iPad is the go-to device.

Some might say that the processor makes a difference, but not once did we notice either of them feel remotely slow, which in the real world is all that matters. Unless your hobby happens to be running CPU benchmarks on tablets, in which case then the Prime might be for you.

Reading

They might not be eBook readers but both the tablets can certainly be used quite happily for books. The Kindle app is available on both Android and iPad and has a vast selection of tomes from which you can choose. This makes it pretty much level pegging on both. If you do include the likes of iBooks and Newstand, the iPad wins hands down, simply because it has access to an even bigger library of content. Few are going to argue with the page-turning animation on iBooks, or the way titles like the Yellow Submarine look. It's one of the best ways to impress friends and something we found ourselves doing regularly when they spotted the tablet at home.

Gaming

Gaming deserves a mention here with both tablets boasting cutting-edge GPUs. The Tegra 3 SoC inside the Prime is capable of doing all sorts of wizardy as demoed through the Tegra Zone app included. We used Shadowgun to test how things looked and they were indeed very tasty. The quad-core GPU on the A5X in the new iPad allows for things like Sky Gamblers, which also is a looker, but plays pretty badly.

This leads us on to our main grumble with gaming on tablets. What use is all that graphical quality if things don’t play well? Being inventive with the touch interface is what will make things excting and both iOS and Android have plenty of apps which do so. Take things like Angry Birds or Cut The Rope - they are just as fun on both platform. What the iPad does here, however, is have a bigger library of better tablet-style fun, giving you more to get your teeth stuck into; good graphics or not.

Keeping in sync

1st: Prime

Contacts better managed, Google accounts sync

2nd: the new iPad

iTunes connectivity

Both tablets here excel in syncing terms but in two very different ways. The Prime builds on its capabilities as an office tablet/netbook with quite frankly brilliant Google syncing capabilities. We love that the first time you turn it on, all you need do is log in once with your Google credentials and then everything - contacts, mail, documents and all - is present on the tablet.?Better still, you don't need to connect it to your computer at all. It all happens the second you connect to a Wi-Fi network.?

On the other hand, media syncing is handled so much better by the iPad. Take iTunes Match for example. We signed up for it the second we took the iPad out of its box, an hour or two later once our entire music library had been scanned and we were streaming the whole lot to our tablet. It means you don't need to keep any music locally on the device, as once iTunes knows you own the track, it is pushed down to it from iCloud. This is a feature we love.?

The rest of syncing however is much more clunky with the iPad. Every time we connect a new Apple device to our iTunes we appear to have some sort of issue with our contacts book, as multiples of the same person are repeatedly created. You can do the whole lot wirelessly using iCloud but that, from what we tested, created quite significant battery issues.?

Photo stream?is a nice touch and we like how images just appear on all your devices once the iPad is connected up to it. The problem is that it costs to extend your 5GB iCloud allowance which you will easily use up should you use Photo Stream. The Transformer Prime on the other hand can be told to send every image to your Google+ account, which has unlimited storage space. Throw in the use of app services like Ubuntu One Music and clients like DoubleTwist and it it can make life very clever indeed - not to the levels of Apple simplicity but definitely clever.

Swings and roundabouts really, but if we had to pick, we would say the Asus grabs it in the syncing department, or any Android device for that matter. They just do it better than iOS.?

Conclusion

If you were to go on score alone, this game has ended with a win for the iPad. As it goes, we like them both very much with each happily justifying its cost. But the iPad performs so admirably as a tablet, with that clean Apple experience that's easy to use and understand, and that's very, very hard to ignore. The only area where the Prime beats Apple to a pulp is in terms of using it for work.

In the end, it was the iPad that we would always pick up, either from our coffee table or to stick in our rucksack, as we went out, and that speaks volumes.?It was just more compatible with our daily lives. Naturally, everyone's lifestyle is different and we urge you to read the sections in this trial that best reflect your reasons for wanting to buy a tablet.

One interesting by-product of this experiment though was the more profound effects of the Prime beyond a tablet device. It began to replace the daily usage of our regular laptop. We mentioned earlier that rarely did we remove the tablet from its keyboard dock. Instead we started using it as a high powered netbook.

So which is better? Well, if you want the core tablet experience - web browsing, reading, lightweight computing and fun - then the iPad is for you. If, however, you are after a work laptop replacement with some extra or to replace a laggy netbook, then the Prime is king.

Tags: Tablets Apple iPad Android Asus Asus Eee Pad Asus Transformer Prime Features

What's better, the new iPad or the Asus EeePad Transformer Prime? originally appeared on http://www.pocket-lint.com on Fri, 30 Mar 2012 15:31:00 +0100

RIM has denied reports that it is pulling out of the consumer market following poor q4 financial results on Thursday.

“The claim that RIM has said it will withdraw from the consumer market is wholly inaccurate," Patrick Spence, RIM's managing director of Global Sales & Regional Marketing. told Pocket-lint.?

"While we announced plans to re-focus our efforts on our core strengths, and on our enterprise customer base, we were very explicit that we will continue to build on our strengths to go after targeted consumer segments. We listed BBM, as well as the security and manageability of our platform, among these strengths.”

The comments come after the company revealed that revenue for the fourth quarter of 2012 was $4.2 billion, down 19 per cent from $5.2 billion in the previous quarter and down 25 per cent from $5.6 billion in the same quarter of fiscal 2011, as the company struggles to prove its relevance in the competitive smartphone market against Apple and Google powered Android handsets.

Research in Motion has told Pocket-lint that it is just making sure areas of the business work effectively and that it will look to "seek partnerships to deliver those consumer features and content that are not central to the BlackBerry value proposition, for example media consumption applications".

Away from the "re-focus" on the business side, the company has also told us that ahead of the BlackBerry 10 it plans to aggressively promote sales of BlackBerry 7 smartphones to drive upgrades from older BlackBerry products to BlackBerry 7 and to attract feature phone customers to BlackBerry 7 for their first smartphone experience.

"We plan to refocus on the enterprise business and capitalise on our leading position in this segment," Thorsten Heins said in a conference call to the media on Thursday night.

"We believe that BlackBerry cannot succeed if we tried to be everybody's darling and all things to all people. Therefore, we plan to build on our strength."

Some media outlets have taken that to mean that the company might ditch its consumer focus and try to distance itself from the youth market. But RIM is telling us that isn't the case at all.?

"@BlackBerry remarks were wrongly interpreted. We are not leaving the consumer market," ?Alec Saunders,?RIM's VP Developer Relations,said on Twitter, backing up the company line.?

Following the poor results, Jim Balsillie, former Co-CEO, has resigned as board director. In addition, David Yach, the company's CTO, is also stepping down after 13 years, while Jim Rowan, COO, Global Operations, has decided to pursue other interests.

?

Tags: Phones Tablets BlackBerry RIM Biz

RIM: We are not withdrawing from consumer market originally appeared on http://www.pocket-lint.com on Fri, 30 Mar 2012 10:24:00 +0100

Google is to go head to head against the likes of Apple and Amazon by launching its own range of tablets, sources on the internet claim. The devices will bear Google’s name much in the same way as the Google Nexus One did in the smartphone market. So does this really mean Google is to go it alone in its quest for tablet glory? Well, yes and no.

Google itself won’t actually be providing the hardware for the tablets, with the likes of Samsung and Asus lined up to do the donkeywork. However, under the bonnet it will be all Google. Of course Google Android tablets are already available, but whereas the likes of the Motorola Xoom or LG Optimus Pad had their manufacturers' own skin and personality ingrained in the device, these tablets will be Google branded and Google powered.

The series of Google tablets will be sold directly to consumers through an online store, though currently there’s no word on when we might be seeing one of these bad boys.

It’s a brave move by Google, which failed to get the results it wanted when it tried this strategy in the smartphone market - something it put down to other Android phones being on a par with its own Nexus One. Would this suggest Google has finally decided it can do a better job than the Android tablets available? It would appear so.?

Eric Schmidt, president of Google,?hinted back in December that a Google tablet was on the cards and it now seems that road plan has kicked into overdrive.

Read

Tags: Tablets Google Apple iPad Amazon

Google to take on Apple with its own iPad rival originally appeared on http://www.pocket-lint.com on Fri, 30 Mar 2012 10:02:00 +0100

Research In Motion, the Canadian company behind BlackBerry, filed its fourth quarter results on Thursday and, as predicted, it's not good news.

The bottom line is that revenue for the fourth quarter of 2012 was $4.2 billion, down 19 per cent from $5.2 billion in the previous quarter and down 25 per cent from $5.6 billion in the same quarter of fiscal 2011 as the company struggles to prove its relevance in the competitive smartphone market against Apple and Google powered Android handsets.

"The revenue breakdown for the quarter was approximately 68 per cent for hardware, 27 per cent for service and 5 per cent for software and other revenue. During the quarter, RIM shipped approximately 11.1 million BlackBerry smartphones and over 500,000 BlackBerry PlayBook tablets," reports RIM.

To put that number into perspective, Apple sold more than 37 million iPhones in the same time frame and over 3 million of the new iPad in its opening weekend.

“I have assessed many aspects of RIM’s business during my first 10 weeks as CEO. I have confirmed that the Company has substantial strengths that can be further leveraged to improve our financial performance, including RIM’s global network infrastructure, a strong enterprise offering and a large and growing base of more than 77 million subscribers," said Thorsten Heins, President and CEO of Research In Motion.

"Notwithstanding these strengths and opportunities, the business challenges we face over the next several quarters are significant and I am taking the necessary steps to address them.

"We plan to refocus on the enterprise business and capitalise on our leading position in this segment," Heins said. "We believe that BlackBerry cannot succeed if we tried to be everybody's darling and all things to all people. Therefore, we plan to build on our strength."

That implies that the company might ditch its consumer focus and try to distance itself from the youth market.

Following the poor results, Jim Balsillie, former Co-CEO, has resigned as a director on the company’s board. In addition, David Yach, the company's CTO, is also stepping down after 13 years, while Jim Rowan, COO, Global Operations, has decided to pursue other interests.

?

Tags: Phones Tablets RIM BlackBerry Biz

RIM results spell bad news for BlackBerry maker originally appeared on http://www.pocket-lint.com on Thu, 29 Mar 2012 23:54:00 +0100