Tablets

By Gareth June 9, 2014 Read More →

Could this be the Google Nexus 8?

Supposedly, two pictures of the new Google Nexus 8 tablet might have leaked online. Along with the photos, the source of this intel claims the following details for this tablet:

A 64-bit Qualcomm processor
3GB of RAM
Android 4.5
Will debut at Google I/O on June 25

All of these specs are just generic but plausible enough to easily be viable, therefore, if this is a fake report, the source took the safe route and didn’t go crazy with out of this world ideas. The main reason we are so sceptical of this report is that the tablet has such a huge bezel. It looks like an 8-inch tablet, yet with an ugly inch thick bezel, the display would be no different than a Nexus 7.

Likely, this is beta hardware for testing some new additions to the hardware feature set, the sensors required for Project Tango for example.

Posted in: News, Tablets

By Gareth June 8, 2014 Read More →

Viewsonic VSD241 Unboxing

A quick look at Viewsonic’s All-in-one Android monitor, the VSD241 Smartscreen. This 24″ touch screen Android machine houses a NVIDIA Tegra 3 Quad-Core 1.7GHz,1GB of DDR3 RAM, a criminal 8GB storage with 4GB available under it’s Wide Color TFT Transmissive LED at a resolution of 1920×1080. There is a built-in SD card port and 4 USB (2 full size, 1 mini & 1 micro) ports for connectivity.

Viewsonic VSD241 Key Features:

24″ (23.8″ viewable) all-in-one smart display
Full HD 1920×1080 resolution with Dual Point Optical Touch technology
Features NVIDIA Tegra 3 quad core Processor
Android 4.2 Jelly Bean for PC-Less computing
Google GMS certified for access to thousands of Android applications
USB HID Compliant Dual Point Optical Touch for intuitive interaction
Integrated 2M pixel webcam for crystal clear video conferencing
Includes Bluetooth, 802.11b/g/n WiFi, and RJ45 Gigabit Ethernet
ViewSound premium audio system

Posted in: Desktop Computing, Tablets, Videos/Unboxings
Tags: Featured, Viewsonic

By Gareth June 7, 2014 Read More →

What’s new in Android 4.4.3?

The Android 4.4.3 update is finally baked. Google made the Factory Image available for download. This one is designed for the Nexus 5, the Nexus 7 (2013), Nexus 7, Nexus 4 and Nexus 10. These images are 440MB to 465MB in size and will require fastboot set up to install.

This update includes a few new tweaks and enhancements: the dialler app has new colour accents and a card-based process for speed dialling, there is a bug fix related to CPU usage and the Nexus 5 camera. These factory images are obviously perfect for those who don’t want to wait for the OTA.

Here’s the link to the factory images: https://developers.google.com/android/nexus/images

Speaking of OTA’s, the 2013 Nexus 7 WiFi-Only version is already receiving the update push right new. Users can expect to get it any time within the next few days. For some reason, the LTE version of the 2013 Nexus 7 is not yet supported by this update.

Posted in: News, Phones, Tablets
Tags: Android, Android 4.4.3

By Gareth June 3, 2014 Read More →

Asus go for broke to take the world

Today Asus announced the Transformer Book V, which is a tablet/phone/laptop hybrid device. Along with the all-in-one combination of these physical devices, it even includes the ability to dual-boot between Windows and Android on the tablet and laptop portions of the device.

Here’s what the Transformer Book V consists of:

A 12.5-inch tablet screen dock
Combining the phone with the tablet dock makes it a tablet
Combining the phone & tablet with the keyboard dock transforms it into a laptop
While in tablet or laptop mode it can switch between Windows and Android (although the phone is Android only)
The phone section contains an Intel Moorefield chip
The keyboard dock section contains an Intel Core CPU
2GB of RAM in the phone/tablet
4GB of RAM on Laptop
The phone and tablet use 64GB of storage and the laptop has 128GB of storage

The only other specs/hardware revealed was the following:

1 x DisplayPort 1.2 (4K at 60Hz)
1 x Mini DisplayPort 1.2 (4K at 60Hz)
1 x HDMI 2.0 (4K at 60Hz) / MHL 3.0 (4K at 30Hz)
1 x HDMI 1.4 (4K at 30Hz)
4 x USB 3.0 ports

Also today Asus launched new and updated hardware devices. On top of the big announcement earlier of the Transformer Book V, Asus also unveiled the Fonepad 8 and a new MeMo Pad 7 & 8. Here are the details,

MeMo Pad 7 –

7-inch Display
64-bit Android device – Intels quad-core Atom Z3745 chipset (clocked up to 1.86GHz)
5 megapixel rear camera
2 megapixel front camera – also includes a high definition resolution 1280 x 800

MeMo Pad 8 –

8-Inch Display – “Full HD resolution
Intel Atom Z3580 quad-core chipset clocked up to 2.3GHz
Billed as the worlds lightest 8-inch Android tablet at just 299 grams
Also only 7.45mm thin
802.11ac WiFi and an LTE modem

Fonepad 8 –
Really a phablet/giant phone

8-inch display with 1280 x 800 resolution
Intels 64-bit Atom Z3560 quad-core processor at 1.8GHz
Dual front-facing speakers
Android-based ZenUI is on-board with a new flat design and over 1,000″ software improvements

Posted in: Laptops, News, Tablets

By Gareth June 2, 2014 Read More →

The Samsung Galaxy Mega 7.0 blurs the lines

It’s hard to believe there is a fine line between phablets, phones and tablets now, the Samsung Galaxy Mega didn’t quite hit the tablet size however it was much to be to be considered a phone, the term phablet had to be used. Now the upcoming Samsung Galaxy Mega 7.0 is coming, it’s tablet sized and phone oriented. Too big to be a phone and even to big to fall into phablet. The first images have appeared online this Samsung Galaxy Mega follow-up (SM-T2558 and SM-T2556) is said to feature a whopping 7-inch 720p display.

The Mega has never measured up to the specs seen in the Note or Galaxy S range. However, there have been an abundance of Samsung 7″ tablets over the year, is the Mega simply falling into one. Specs for the Mega 7.0 include a quad-core Snapdragon 400 processor, 1.5GB of RAM, and 8GB of internal storage. It would seem the Mega is a quad core variant of the Tab3 with an additional holes for phone calls.

Posted in: News, Phones, Tablets
Tags: Samsung

By Matt June 1, 2014 Read More →

Kujali iPad Mini case review

Let’s be honest, phone and tablet cases are not the most exciting things (unless you’re the one making them!) and there are hundreds of manufacturers out there, each with a variety of designs. So it’s not often that we review cases and covers, it’s too subjective and there’s too many.

However, now and then we do make exceptions and here in the video below you’ll see the Kujali iPad Mini case. Not only is it an extremely well made case/cover, constructed from black leather, red suede and shock absorbant inner polyeurathane and silicone glove. It’s multimode with a wrist strap to boot.

But that’s not the only reason that this case got out attention. No. For every case that you buy from Kujali, they will donate a malaria net to a child in Africa. So buying one could literally save a life!

Check it out…

You’re a style conscious passionate guy or gal who cares about what they buy. Someone like you needs a cover to match!

Well thank your lucky stars for the KUJALI Classic, a smart mini iPad cover that oozes class and sophistication. Inspired from Africa its lined with a super soft red suede interior, contrasting with a sleek black leather outer to make you stand out from the crowd.

Style, protection and function is what this little wonder is all about. With its fantastic shock absorbent silicone skin and PU shell protection, you will be relaxed when out and about with your beloved iPad mini, happily knowing that all four corners are completely covered in case of that accidental bump or drop. With integrated volume controls and dust plugs the silicone skin keeps your ipad mini scratch free and looking as good as new for years to come.

Pull together the front and back leather covers with the exterior strap closure and slide your hand into the soft suede integrated handstrap to comfortably hold your mini in one hand. Perfect for presenting at work or jumping back into your favourite book.

And when ready to unwind after a hard days work, pop open your KUJALI Classic to kick back your iPad mini into one of the indentations to give you the perfect angle for watching a film. When you’re done, the embedded magnets in the front cover will put your iPad mini to sleep and the integrated strap closure keeps it safely shut, ready for another exciting adventure tomorrow.

To top it off, for every protective iPad Mini cover you purchase KUJALI gives a mosquito net or life saving treatment to protect a child in Africa from malaria. Style never felt so good!

Posted in: Gadgets, Reviews, Tablets, Videos/Unboxings
Tags: iPad Mini, Kujali

By Matt May 31, 2014 Read More →

Lenovo Yoga Tablet 10 HD+ unboxing and hands-on

Back in November of last year we reviewed the previous Lenovo Yoga Tablet 10, that had a 1280 x 800 pixel display but Lenovo have built upon that earlier model and have come up with the Lenovo Yoga Tablet 10 HD+. This new version has a better than HD display with 1920 x 1200 pixels.

Otherwise the design of this Yoga 10 is much the same as the other model. Both are still on sale and both are available with or without 3G capapbility. £299 for WiFi model, £329 for 3G model, it’s currently on sale from Lenovo.com and, from the first week of June, from Amazon, Currys/PC World and John Lewis.

Innovative Multimode Design

Yoga Tablet 10 HD+’s pioneering design places a battery cylinder and kickstand on the side of the device, shifting the center of gravity and opening up multiple usage modes: Hold, Tilt, and Stand. In Hold mode, the weight of the device falls into your palm rather than your fingers, making it more comfortable for reading and browsing. Lay it down into Tilt mode and you have a perfect viewing angle for typing or gaming. Flick the kickstand and rest it upright in Stand mode to comfortably watch videos, listen to music, or video-chat.

Powerful Processing

Qualcomm Snapdragon™ 400 1.6GHz processor combined with 2GB RAM gives the Yoga Tablet 10 HD+ an incredible combination of high performance and power efficiency. Switch seamlessly between your favorite apps and enjoy amazing visuals whether you’re surfing online, streaming movies or playing the latest 3D games.

Epic Battery Life

Yoga Tablet 10 HD+ keeps going over the long haul with its off-the-charts battery life. Its triple-cell battery lasts up to 18 hours so you can go all day — and into the night — without recharging. The secret: Yoga Tablet’s unique, cylinder-shaped side chamber allows more room for battery storage — and more time between charges.

Ultra Sharp Visuals

The Yoga Tablet 10 HD+’s 10.1″ 20/20 Vision Full HD (1920 x 1200 resolution) display delivers sharper, more detailed images and high definition video with a 178° wide viewing angle. Plus, adaptive display technology auto-adjusts screen brightness and colors to match where you are, making reading more comfortable.

Immersive Audio

Unlike most tablets, the Yoga Tablet 10 HD+’s speakers face front — toward you — rather than to the side our out the bottom. Combine that with Dolby® audio enhancement and you have a rich, immersive sound experience that’s perfect for watching videos or listening to music.

Optional Wireless Keyboard

Turn your Yoga Tablet 10 HD+ into a productivity machine with the optional Accutype keyboard, a stylish Bluetooth accessory that also serves as a cover for your device.

Front and Rear Cameras

The 8.0M rear and 1.6M front cameras let you take high-definition pictures and enjoy crisp, clear video chats.

Complete Connectivity Options

Optional 3G, integrated Bluetooth, 802.11 b/g/n WiFi and GPS that even works offline keep you connected and make navigation easy.

Lenovo DOit Apps

Do more with your Yoga Tablet 10 HD+ with premium Lenovo Applications like SHAREit, which lets you share files quickly without network charges or a WiFi connection and SYNCit, which backs up and restores your contacts and SMS messages.

Micro SD storage

Expand the native 16GB or 32GB of eMMC storage with up to 64GB of micro-SD card storage support — perfect for transferring photos or storing large files like movies.

	Lenovo Yoga Table 10 HD+ Specification
Processor	Qualcomm® SnapdragonTM 400 quad core 1.6GHz MSM8228(3G) / APQ8028(Wi-Fi)
Operating System	Android OS, v4.3 Jelly Bean (Free upgrade to Android KitKat 4.4, shortly)
Sound	2x Front-facing speakers / Dolby® Audio / 3.5mm Jack
Memory	RAM: LP DDR2 2GB ROM: 16GB Micro SD up to 64GB
Battery	9000mAh Li-ion, fixed Up to 18 hours*
Dimensions (W x T x H)	(261mm) x (9.1mm – 3.0mm) x (180mm)
Weight	WiFi: 626g (1.38 lbs) 3G : 628g (1.38 lbs)
Integrated Cameras	Rear: 8MP Auto-focus Front: 1.6 MP HD Fixed-focus
Display	Size: 10.1” Full HD (1920 x 1200) IPS Type: Capacitive touchscreen 10-Point multitouch
Color	Silver
SIM	Single, micro-SIM (3G model only)
Sensors	Accelerometer e-Compass Ambient Light Hall Vibration
Connectivity/Radios	3G Network: WCDMA 900/2100MHz (3G model only) 2G Network: GSM/EDGE 900/1800/1900MHz Speed: HSPA+ 42Mbps(DL) / 5.76Mbps(UL) Data: GSM, GPRS, EDGE, WCDMA WLAN: Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n,Wi-Fi hotspot Bluetooth: Bluetooth® 4.0 Satellite, A-GPS

Posted in: Reviews, Tablets, Videos/Unboxings
Tags: Featured, Lenovo, Tablet, Yoga

By Gareth May 26, 2014 Read More →

Is Google Tangoing the tablet

It looks like one of Google’s next tablets will be unlike anything we have seen before. According to a recent report, Google plans to bring Project Tango to an upcoming tablet product. Not much is known at this time, but the report explains that the Project Tango tablet will have a 7-inch display. It will also include two rear cameras, infrared depth sensors and advanced software that can capture precise three-dimensional images of objects.

Quote:

Google is planning to produce roughly 4,000 prototype Project Tango tablets to distribute to developers next month. The tablets will feature a 7-inch screen, two back cameras, infrared depth sensors and advanced software that can capture precise 3D images of objects.

Bryan Ma, an analyst at research firm IDC, said, It is critical to open the new technology to developers first as the key is how you can translate the technology into practical applications.

As you can see, this is one of Google’s next big developer push products. As usual, they keep coming up with “out of the box” ideas and throwing them at developers to see if they will stick. We will keep you apprised if/when we get any further details.

Posted in: Rumours, Tablets

By Matt May 21, 2014 Read More →

Android Excite Pure review

Toshiba are relatively new to the tablet market, but their recent offering of 3 new tablets, Excite Write, Excite Pro and Excite Pure, demonstrate that they’re more than capable of competing with the big hitters in the tablet market. The Excite Pure is the most affordable of the range, and in our opinion, the best model. The Excite Pro and Write are both excellent in their own right, but current pricing means they can’t compete with the likes of Apple and Samsung. So what’s exciting about the Excite Pure? Read our review to find out.

Toshiba Excite Pure Basic Info:

1.2GHz NVIDIA Tegra 3 Quad Core (Cortex A9) Processor
1GB Memory
16GB Storage
10.1″ WXGA (1280×800) Multitouch Display
1.2 Megapixel Front Camera
NVIDIA Tegra Graphics
Micro-USB 2.00, Micro HDMI, MicroSD Card Slot, 3.5mm Audio Jack
Android 4.2

Design:

The Excite Pure falls within the 10” category, measuring in at 10.3 x 7.0 x 0.4 inches. The design is sturdy and features a two-tone design – silver casing with a black border around the screen. The Pure features micro SD slot, meaning you can expand the 16GB storage to anywhere up to 128GB. Unfortunately the Excite Pure only features one front facing camera, meaning this isn’t the best tablet for budding photographers. At an additional cost, you can purchase a nifty Toshiba Bluetooth keyboard which also acts as a stand.

Display:

At 10 inches, the Excite Pure offers great screen quality and resolution. The Autobright display has ten-finger multitouch support and boasts a 1280 x 800 resolution. For the price it’s one of the better screens available – viewing HD content will never be an issue.

Graphics:

If you plan to play games on a micro tablet such as the Excite, you’ll be glad to hear that it can handle almost anything thrown at it. We were incredibly impressed by the quad-core Tegra 3 processor (1GB RAM) that managed to handle every game we tested, without issue. Benchmark test reveal that the Pure outperforms the Kindle Fire and Asus Transformer but lags slightly behind the likes of the Nexus 10 and Galaxy Tab. If you’re looking for something with a bit more power we recommend you go with something like the Excite Pro from Toshiba.co.uk.

Camera:

Our biggest issue with the Pure was the lack of a rear camera, that being said, it’s to be expected when Toshiba release three differently priced tablets. The Pure’s 1.2MP camera is more than adequate for a basic photo but you won’t be taking it out of the house to take pictures any time soon.

Battery Life:

If you’re looking for a reliable tablet that will hold its charge for an entire day, the Pure is more than up to the job. When compared against the other tablets, it may not be the longest lasting but it’s definitely up there.

Verdict:

We loved using the Excite Pure. For the money (£260) you’re getting a great piece of kit that is more than capable of doing your day-to-day tasks. It’s not often that we have been impressed by a tablet that isn’t from the big hitters in the industry.

Posted in: Reviews, Tablets
Tags: Toshiba

By Gareth May 14, 2014 Read More →

Three LG tablets on the horizon

Looks like LG is getting serious about the Android tablet market. They have officially revealed their new lineup of G Pad tablets in three different flavours. We have the G Pad 7.0, 8.0, and 10.1. They didn’t really share too much in regards to the specs and features of these devices. Instead it’s mostly marketing speak and hyperbole.

Here’s the full presser to see what we mean:

LG EXPANDS TABLET OPTIONS WITH NEW G PAD SERIES MODELS

Three New Tablets Satisfy Consumer Demand for More Choices to Fit Their Lifestyles

SEOUL, May 12, 2014 ― LG Electronics (LG) is adding three new tablets to its G Pad series to offer more options for tablet users. The new G Pad devices ― G Pad 7.0, G Pad 8.0 and G Pad 10.1 ― will be unveiled at the MedPI 2014, one of the biggest IT/Tech trade show in Europe, taking place in Monaco from May 13-16. LG’s extended tablet portfolio, which also includes the well-received G Pad 8.3, will significantly expand LG’s footprint in the tablet market.

“Customers tell us that they want a wider range of devices that offer sizable screens without compromising portability,” said Dr. Jong-seok Park, president and CEO of the LG Electronics Mobile Communications Company. “Unlike smartphones, tablets are not one size fits all. So we designed the G Pad Series for a diverse target audience, some who prioritize portability while others want the best multimedia experience possible. G Pad delivers on all counts.”

Highlights of LG’s new G Pad Series tablets are:

● G Pad 7.0: Designed to be held in one hand, LG’s smallest tablet is an on-the-go entertainment hub that delivers both portability and power.
● G Pad 8.0: With its 8-inch display, LG’s mid-sized tablet offers an immersive multimedia experience and smooth multitasking.
● G Pad 10.1: With the largest display and battery, LG’s 10.1-inch tablet provides endless hours of entertainment and fun.

The latest G Pad tablets will also include LG’s proprietary UX features such as QPair 2.0 and Knock CodeTM. With an updated version of QPair, which was first introduced on G Pad 8.3, users can effortlessly connect to their Android-powered smartphones via Bluetooth to receive notifications of calls and messages and now be able to respond directly from the G Pad. What’s more, Knock Code™ enables users to power on and unlock their LG smartphones in one easy step by entering a personalized “knock” pattern on the smartphone’s display. Knock Code™ offers convenience and greater security as the knock pattern can be entered anywhere on the screen in any size ― with the display on or off ― using a personalized sequence of two to eight taps for more than 80,000 possible combinations.

Additional details of LG’s new G Pad tablets including specifications and availability will be announced locally in the weeks ahead.

Posted in: News, Tablets

Tablets

Could this be the Google Nexus 8?