Due to be unveiled at January's CES show, Innovative Converged Devices, or ICD, has announced the launch of a range of "kitchen-friendly" Android tablets.

The "Vega" line is described as "low priced, full featured high definition entertainment and information devices that feature 3G connectivity, a Tegra processor, full streaming media, and a touch interface".

The 7-inch, 11-inch and 15-inch devices are due to be available in the first half of 2010 and boast Android 2.0, a 1.3MP webcam, microSD slot, Bluetooth, 3.5mm audio jack, Wi-Fi, an accelerometer, a light sensor and magnetic docking.

It's likely that we'll see the Vega as badged goods from other manufacturers or even operators rather than sold direct - we will keep you posted.

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Tags: Hardware Tablet PCs ICD Android 2.0 Kitchen gadgets

"Kitchen-friendly" Android tablets due in 2010 originally appeared on http://www.pocket-lint.com on Wed, 18 Nov 2009 11:08:59 +0000

During a roundtable discussion whilst on a visit to Dubai, Nvidia CEO Jen-Hsun Huang has pledged his love of all things Apple (an Nvidia customer) at the same time as toting a sizable, mysterious touchscreen tablet device.

As part of a wider industry discussion, Huang revealed "I'm all Apple!", opining that "Apple wants to differentiate. So inside your MacBook is a Nvidia chipset. Because Apple wants to build fundamentally different computers than just the Intel platform. They want to add value".

"Apple uses the best technology for their [computers]. Apple says to their customers: if you buy a computer from us you can be sure we have selected the best technology inside for you. That is their promise to consumers. Their promise to consumers isn't we've selected the best technology for you with the exception of what Intel allows us to use. That's not their promise. And that's why Apple uses the best technology where they want whenever they want. And that's why I'm all Apple! At home it's just Macs everywhere. It's Nvidia's technology in all of them but I use Macs. My son has two Macs, my daughter has a Mac, there's an extra Mac just in case and my wife has a Mac. It's just Mac, Mac, Mac! Because I know it's got the best stuff inside", ShuffleGazine quotes the Nvidia boss as saying.

Apple love-in aside, the mysterious tablet device shown on the table in front of Huang has not been identified, but it's perhaps too much of a stretch to assume it's the iPad...

UPDATE: The tablet has been identified.?It's a Tegra prototype from an ODM called ICD. Not Apple, but still rather tasty-looking, no?

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Tags: Hardware Nvidia Apple Tablet PCs

Nvidia CEO says "I'm all Apple" originally appeared on http://www.pocket-lint.com on Tue, 10 Nov 2009 11:49:11 +0000

This Dell infomercial would make a great drinking game if you had to down a shandy every time voice-over man says "XT2 XFR", but for those of you of a more sober frame of mind, it gives you a quick overview of Dell's new rugged tablet PC.

The Dell Latitude XT2 XFR (hic!) is the industry's smallest 12.1-inch rugged convertible tablet PC and is the first with a multi-touch display.

Aimed at those that work In The Field, it's independently tested to all kinds of official standards so users know they can drop it, dunk it, freeze it, coat it in dust and just know it's still gonna work.

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Tags: Hardware Dell Tablet PCs Laptops Waterproof Video Biz

VIDEO: Dell Latitude XT2 XFR rugged tablet PC launches originally appeared on http://www.pocket-lint.com on Tue, 27 Oct 2009 17:40:37 +0000

The executive editor of the New York Times has referred to the mythical Apple tablet in a speech as the "impending Apple slate", reigniting the smouldering rumours of the device.

Bill Keller's off-the-record speech, not supposed to be recorded and leaked to the Internet, is a business-based monologue about the future of the NYT, including a look at new digital delivery platforms.

"I'm hoping we can get the newsroom more actively involved in the challenge of delivering our best journalism in the form of Times Reader, iPhone apps, WAP, or the impending Apple slate...", Keller states, as reported by eager-eared Gawker.

The quote from Keller apparently follows reports from earlier this year that a "stealth team" from the paper met with Apple executives - as well as other content publishers - on a top-secret matter.

Only time will tell whether this is a slip of the tongue or a genuine revelation, but as recent rumours suggest a January announcement from Apple, we might not have to wait too long to find out.

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Tags: Hardware Apple Rumours iTablet iPad Tablet PCs New York Times Internet tablets Apple tablet

NYT boss caught on camera with "impending Apple slate" mention originally appeared on http://www.pocket-lint.com on Mon, 26 Oct 2009 10:51:06 +0000

Video footage of the Dell Streak - a 5-inch, touchscreen, Android-based mobile internet device, or MID - has hit the net.

Tinhte has gotten hold of one of the mythical machines and it looks like a pretty nifty internet tablet-type offering, although being much larger than a phone and much smaller than a netbook means it won't appeal to everyone.

With a 800 x 480 resolution screen, it's thought to run Android 2.0 and offer Bluetooth, 3G, a 5-megapixel camera with LED flash, a microSD card slot and Wi-Fi.

Hit play now to see a good 3 minutes of Streak action and we'll keep you posted with more news on this new device as we have it.

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Tags: Hardware Tablet PCs Dell MIDs Rumours Android Internet tablets Video

VIDEO: Dell Streak Android-based MID leaked on film originally appeared on http://www.pocket-lint.com on Fri, 23 Oct 2009 14:58:49 +0100

Archos has announced the availability of its new Archos 9 PC tablet. Powered by an Intel Atom processor and running Windows 7, the tablet is said to offer the performance of a high-end netbook with a multimedia twist.

With a full touch-sensitive 9-inch resistive screen, virtual keyboard, optical trackpoint and left/right mouse buttons, the 9 is 1.7cm thick and weighs in at 800 grams.

The adjustable leg stand means the device can be positioned upright for videos and there's support for 1080p files, with a 60GB hard drive plus 25GB online storage.

As far as movie content goes, Archos says the 9 comes with ?80 worth of free movies to download from the Archos Media Club.

The Archos 9 will be offered alongside a Bluetooth keyboard and a port replicator that adds more connectivity with an Ethernet port, two additional USB ports, a VGA output and 2 audio jacks.

Shipping now, the Archos 9 retails direct from Archos, as well as from other retailers for ?449.99.

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Tags: Hardware Tablet PCs Archos Windows 7 PMPs

Archos 9 tablet PC now shipping with Windows 7 originally appeared on http://www.pocket-lint.com on Thu, 22 Oct 2009 12:07:58 +0100

Texet, a UK company better known for its calculators and low cost digital gadgets, is working on a tablet PC shown off during a recent sourcing fair in Hong Kong.

We got the chance to get a few minutes hands-on time with the ARM-powered device and first impressions are quite positive - as long as the retail price ends up below ?200.

The un-named tablet features an 8.9-inch touchscreen display with 1024x600 resolution. In use the touchscreen was very responsive, better so than most touchscreen devices we've used of this type.

It's using an ARM-based processor and the operating system of choice is Linux, although the company representative we talked to said that Texet was looking into Android for a second generation device.

Interestingly he had been inundated by requests for Windows CE by potential US customers, which sounds like a step backwards to us.

In terms of ports things are a bit thin on the ground as the tablet only features a pair of USB ports, of which one is of the mini type for syncing with a PC, as well as a headphone jack and some kind of custom connector. It does come with built-in Wi-Fi support, but the battery life is only rated at about 3 hours, which is disappointing.

The device on display was a prototype and as such the pre-installed applications will change before it hits retail, which might be through Asda in the UK, as Texet sells many of its products through Asda already.

Texet was also showing off a prototype of a smaller 5-inch device that was running Windows CE, but this is unlikely to turn up in retail this year.

Tags: Hardware Tablet PCs Texet Asda

Asda could be selling Linux-powered tablet PC by Christmas originally appeared on http://www.pocket-lint.com on Tue, 20 Oct 2009 10:33:02 +0100

It's not easy for netbook manufacturers to stand out from the crowd, especially when you consider how small the actual differences in terms of hardware from one model to another is.

Tablet PC models have turned up more recently, although until now they've all used a standard finger touch display which just requires your finger to work. ?

However, we ran into a Chinese company called Shenzen Gold-East Electronics Co Ltd - oddly enough, based in Shenzhen - that figured it was a good idea to fit a digitizer pen input display instead of a touch display.

So what? You might say, well, the advantage is that you get much more precise touch input and we have a feeling that this might become popular with various organisations that are looking for a cheap pen-input type touchscreen device.

Considering that the economy has yet to kick off again and with all the spending cuts, we might soon enough see couriers running around with these asking for your signature instead of those fancy expensive tablets that they have these days.

On a more serious note, we can also see these being useful for people that like to jot down notes on it, especially as it can be used in tablet mode, although you have to manually switch the screen rotation by pressing one of the two buttons next to the screen.

A version of Windows XP for Tablet PC should work just fine on it, although it's unlikely that we'll see Microsoft give that union its blessing. We're not sure it'll be a big seller, but it's at least somewhat innovative in what is a fairly stagnant market.

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Tags: Hardware Netbooks Tablet PCs Shenzen

Shenzen offers pen-input touchscreen netbook originally appeared on http://www.pocket-lint.com on Fri, 16 Oct 2009 11:29:48 +0100

Advanced MP3 Players has announced the launch of the Mintpass Mintpad, describing the tiny device as an "all-in-one pocket wonder".

Angled as much more than simply a digital audio player, the 2.8-inch touchscreen Mintpad gets a full-featured web-browser and an integrated video-capable 1.2-megapixel camera.

Running Windows CE there's support for some Microsoft programs, such as Word, while features include Wi-Fi connectivity.

The Mintpad supports Flash, boasts MSN Messenger, 4GB built-in memory (expandable up to 16GB via microSD) and boasts a battery life of 30 hours for audio and 6 hours video.

The Mintpad is available now for ?139, while a 20GB model is also available for ?169.

Related links:

• Shop - Advanced MP3 Players

Tags: Audio PMPs Mintpad Advanced MP3 players Mintpass MP3 players Tablet PCs

Mintpad launches in the UK originally appeared on http://www.pocket-lint.com on Mon, 12 Oct 2009 11:53:05 +0100

Apple's much-rumoured iTablet, or iPad as the most recent rumours have dubbed it, could get a highly advanced touchscreen.

A new patent application revealed by AppleInsider describes plans for a multi-touch surface that could work with two full hands and distinguish between palms and individual fingers for typing and gestures, with activities done with more than one finger referred to as "chords".

Filed in June this year, Apple says the tech in the patent would make for "unprecedented integration of typing, resting, pointing, scrolling, 3D manipulation, and handwriting into a versatile, ergonomic computer input device".

Adding to the iPad hype, with the ability to detect all ten digits, the device that uses such a screen would have to be large enough to support two hands, so arguably of tablet, rather than phone, dimensions.

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Related links:

• News - Fresh Apple tablet rumours claim the iPad is due on 19 January

Tags: Hardware Apple Tablet PCs iTablet iPad Rumours Patents Concepts

Apple patents advanced multi-touch display originally appeared on http://www.pocket-lint.com on Fri, 02 Oct 2009 11:52:34 +0100

The most recent Apple tablet rumours to hit pegged the 9.6-inch device at $800 with a February launch.

Now iLounge's "reliable" Apple source - that correctly predicted the firth-gen nano and iPhone 3GS - has come up with fresh data.

According to iLounge, who dubs the device the "iPad", the latest version of three prototypes has a 10.7-inch screen, runs the iPhone OS and looks like a big iPhone 3G with a curved back.

The source suggests it will come in two versions - with and without 3G - but both models will get 480 x 320 pixel displays.

Fitting in with Apple's no-thanks stance on netbooks, iLounge says it is not meant as a netbook competitor but a media player with "light communications" abilities:

"It is designed to expand the iPhone and iPod touch media concept to its next potential level: as a slate-like replacement for books and magazines, plus all of the media, gaming, app, and web functionality of the iPhone and iPod touch", states the site.

Said to be awaiting "final green light" from Apple boss Steve jobs - with an estimated 80% chance of success - iLounge predicts a 19 January annoucement with some serious hype before a retail debut in the summer.

We will keep you posted.

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Related links:

• News - $800 9.6-inch Apple tablet to launch in February

Tags: Hardware Apple Rumours Tablet PCs PMPs iPhone iTablet iPad Apple tablet

Fresh Apple tablet rumours claim the iPad is due on 19 January originally appeared on http://www.pocket-lint.com on Tue, 29 Sep 2009 16:36:39 +0100