Author Archive: Gareth

Two Gits about to hit

What is a Git? Well, at first you might think it is a defamatory remark about someone. However, There are some who might also think about Git Media, who have announced their two new Android Honeycomb tablets. Git Media will be selling two tablets that are identical except that they each utilise a different processor. One uses the NVIDIA Tegra 2 dual-core chip, and the other uses the Samsung Exynos dual-core chip. Other than that they are specced as such:

• 10.1-inch displays
• Android 3.0 (Honeycomb) OS
• 1GB of RAM
• 250GB internal storage
• 5-megapixel rear-facing camera
• 2-megapixel front-facing camera
• USB and Mini USB ports, Micro SD
• Wi-FI, GPS, Bluetooth, 3G (optional)

Right off the bat, you may notice that both devices come with a whopping 250GB Hard Drive, instead of the paltry 16GB and 32GB variety in most current Android tablets. Of course, it’s important to note that this HD is probably not an SSD like the current crop, which could add to the weight and size of the tablet itself. Still, for those users that are data hoarders, this could be the tablet of choice.
The second thing that Git Media is doing to have a competitive edge in the crowded tablet market, is an aggressive pricing strategy, and a limited time pre-order special sale. Both the The Git Surge and Git Pro will sell for only $479.99 each. There is no word on UK pricing so we will have to guess, probably about two aardvarks. Also, Git Media will soon begin pre-selling these tablets on their website. Furthermore, if you pre-order online, you will get a complementary gift of your choice which is either a leather case and wireless Bluetooth keyboard, or a 3-year extended warranty. Both of these complimentary add-ons are valued at $100.

Posted by Gareth

Archos 80 G9 available for pre order

The Archos G9 has gone up for pre-order over at HMV. This is the 8″ tablet, obviously sans 3G as there is a plugin dongle to achieve this. There is nothing in the way of specs, since there are two particularly different storage options it would be nice to know which this is. Also it doesn’t list the amount of RAM that has been debated since the launch event. The price is a rather attractive £229.99.

One concern is the US pricing:

8GB 1Ghz: $299
16GB 1.5Ghz: $329
250GB 1.5Ghz: $369

It this turns out to be the 8GB at the same price point as our US buddies without conversion then Archos might not sell as many as they originally expected.

Posted by Gareth

Vodafone kindly make their tariffs simpler and more expensive at the same time

Those lovely people at Vodafone have only gone and rejigged their pricing tariffs. What does this mean? Well, for all of you who have been on a contract since before Feb 2011, you will have to pay more for you calls. Well, that is if you don’t leave Vodafone.

Vodafone have made it very easy to see the differences, as in the table below. Questionably referred to as ‘simplifying tariffs,’ Vodafone have rounded some rates up to the nearest 50p. Making it, I guess, simpler to count up. However, if paying more is simpler then I guess we are all wanting the wrong thing.

Samsung Galaxy Tab 7.7 announced

Samsung held their newest large-scale press event over in Berlin at the IFA 2011 conference today, where they officially announced their newest Android Tablet, the Galaxy Tab 7.7. Here’s a quick breakdown on the specs:

• 7.7? Super AMOLED Plus display
• Android 3.2 Honeycomb
• 1.4GHz dual-core processor
• 1080P video playback
• 5,100 mAh battery
• Voice call support
• LTE and HSPA+ connectivity
• HSPA+ radio
• Variants with storage sizes from 16GB to 64GB

Samsung Galaxy Note filling that all important gap in the market

4, 5, 7, 9 and 10. Samsung as it all covered! WAIT! We need a 6" Android tablet, quick Samsung, get it out there. They’ve unveiled yet another new Android powered superphone that has the potential to change the future landscape of mobile phones. Most thought Samsung had outdone themselves earlier this year when they announced the Samsung Galaxy S II, but the new Samsung Galaxy Note pushed the boundaries even further. The new flagship phone from Samsung features a 5.3-inch 1280 x 800 Super AMOLED display, a 1.4 GHz Exynos processor, 8 and 2 megapixel rear and front facing cameras, support for HSPA+ and LTE networks and 2500 mAh battery while only measuring 9.65mm in thickness.

Will probably cost a couple of quid more than most other phones on the market running Android 2.3. But some come with a modified version of TouchWiz called S Pen, which is optimized for use with the included stylus. Sounds a little like the HTC Flyer.

Those Exciting Toshiba rumours are true

As expected, Toshiba has taken the wraps off of their latest Android tablet offering, the Honeycomb 3.2, 10.1-inch AT200. Measuring in at a mere 7.7mm thick, the Toshiba AT200 comes in as one of the thinnest Honeycomb slates yet, even more so than the Galaxy Tab 10.1. under the hood the tablet has a 1.2GHz TI OMAP 4430 CPU, 5MP and 2MP cameras, and up to 64GB of on-board storage. The new Toshiba offering is decked out with microUSB, microHDMI, and microSD support.

Toshiba Tablet to Excite

Recently, we reported that the Thrive was coming to Europe however there was a new and improved version of the Toshiba Android tablet on the horizon. According to sources at AndroidPolice, there will be a new follow-up Android tablet with a new name. That name will most likely be, The Excite. A tipster garnered the intel about the device, but there is also two other bits of corroborating evidence. One is the Trademark filing above, and the other is that Toshiba has bought up the following slew of domain names: ‘excitetablet.com,’ ‘excitetablet.net,’ toshibaexcite.com,’ ‘toshibaexcite.net’ and ‘thetoshibaexcite.com and others. Incidentally, these three puzzle pieces were the exact same method that lead to the accurate deduction of the name for the Thrive as well.

The word is that this new tab will be an ultra-thin variant of the Thrive, but will still pack in all of the same features of the original, plus some other enhancements to go along with the svelt design. Here’s a breakdown:

• 10.1 Inch
• Ultra thin body – Possibly the biggest difference to the chunky Thrive right there.
• MicroUSB
• Micro HDMI
• MicroSD ports
• Brushed metal finish
• Dual-core, 1.5-GHz Texas Instruments OMAP 4460
• 8 GB to 32 GB storage sizes
• Multiple Colors again and more.

Posted by: Gareth