News

Pantech Vega No.5, 5 Inch Android Tablet With a Dual Core 1.5GHz

This model mustn’t be confused with the Pantech Vega Racer smartphone, that was recently launched and also packs a dual core 1.5GHz CPU. If you’re curious about the looks of the product, you have the pics right here and if you want specs, here’s a list:

• CPU: dual core, 1.5GHz, Qualcomm Snapdragon (MSM8x60)
• Display: 5 inch, 800 x 480 pixels
• Memory: 1GB DDR2 RAM, 16GB internal storage, SDHC card slot
• Camera: 8MP, LED flash, 1080p video capture, front camera
• Connectivity: DLNA, WiFi, DMB, NFC, HSDPA

Android 2.3 is running on the tablet and we sure hope to see Honeycomb on it and maybe a future version with better resolution. We expect the device to go on sale in Korea and China this month. Here’s some hands on action with it.

LG road map for the rest of the year leaked

PocketNow, have details of a line of new LG phones that shows the rest of the company’s 2011 Android line-up.  There looks to be something for everyone here with model in the top middle of the bottom.

We see the Prada name back however Optimus is strangely lack, I guess these are codenames at this point and will probably be rebranded for the worldwide market. There isn’t any hints towards a Nexus device, some might say thankfully, however Specs for two of the device would fit a new Nexus quite nicely.

BlackBerry PlayBook heading to the U.S. government

The BlackBerry PlayBook is now the first tablet now certified for deployment with the U.S. federal government. RIM have announced that the PlayBook has received FIPS 140-2 certification, whatever that is. No other tablet on the market has gained FIPS (Federal Information Processing Standard) certification from the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), which is required under the Federal Information Security Management Act of 2002 (FISMA)

“RIM is pleased to announce that the BlackBerry PlayBook is the first tablet approved under FIPS for use within the U.S. federal government,” said Scott Totzke, Senior Vice President, BlackBerry Security at Research In Motion. “This certification demonstrates our continued commitment to meeting the needs of security-conscious organisations and enables the U.S. federal government to buy with confidence knowing that the PlayBook meets their computing policy requirements for protecting sensitive information.”

BlackBerry PlayBook is a powerful, ultra-portable tablet that fits comfortably in one hand. It has a stunning 7-inch high resolution display, offers true multi-tasking capabilities and a high-fidelity web experience. It also allows for secure pairing with BlackBerry smartphones via the BlackBerry Bridge app, which enables users to access their BlackBerry smartphone’s email, calendar, address book, memo pad, task list, BBM (BlackBerry Messenger) and browsing functionality using the larger display on the tablet.
The FIPS-certified BlackBerry PlayBook tablet is being showcased this week in Washington DC at FOSE – the largest Federal government information technology conference in the U.S. – where BlackBerry PlayBook has just been awarded Best in Show, and also Best of FOSE in the Handheld Devices category.
More information about the BlackBerry PlayBook is available at www.blackberry.com/playbook

Posted by: James

Android Tablets gain ground on Apple

Sales of Apple’s iPad have increased three-fold in the past year and there is certainly no denying the iPad’s position as tablet champion. Think tablet, think Apple, the iPad is the benchmark by which all other tablets are measured at the moment.

I realise that Apple and the iPad are not to everyone’s taste and there are now more choices that ever when it comes to tablets, almost every hardware manufacturer out there is releasing their own tablet and almost all run Android OS.

This time last year Apple had almost 95% of the tablet market. However, just a year later and Apple see that market share fall to just 61.3%

So it the tide turning against Apple in favour of Android? Probably not. Let’s not forget that this time last year there was far less choice when it came to buying a tablet and Apple have basically created the tablet market. Whilst the news it great for Google and Android integrators I don’t think Apple will to too worried, sales are still growing and the market, just like the tablets themselves, is still evolving.

Posted by: Matt

Pre-order the ZTE Skate from Clove

It was only last week that Matt and I attended a press event in London hosted by ZTE where they announced that ZTE branded devices will be on sale here in the UK in the near future. The chaps at Clove already have the Skate available for pre-order and at only £249.99 (inc VAT) this one looks like a real bargain. This price is still to be confirmed nearer the time and a release date is not until September but I think this huge Android device is going to do real well.

Of course we will see the ZTE Skate sooner as it is coming to the Orange network but renamed as the Monte Carlo. We are yet to see what Orange will do in terms of a custom UI but if you want pure vanilla Android then you may have to wait for the sim free version.

Either way it is great to see ZTE pushing brand awareness. I think they are here for the long run.

Features of ZTE Skate:

• Android 2.3 (Gingerbread)
• 800 MHz processor
• 4.3" capacitive touchscreen
• 800 x 480 resolution
• MicroSDHC up to 32 GB
• Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g
• 5 MP camera with autofocus and flash
• aGPS and Google Maps
• 126 x 68 x 11.3 mm

Posted by: James

OS X Lion goes on sale along with a new MacBook Air and Mac Mini

I guess the post title here steals it but this afternoon, after what seems like a long delay, Apple released OS X Lion through the App Store for all to download. The great thing about what Apple have done here is that they are offering Lion for a little over £20 and furthermore you can install it on more than one Mac, as long as it’s yours.

We’ll look at some of the new features of Lion at some point soon.

Also today the Apple Store was updated with new MacBook Air and Mac Mini models. As expected both now have the new Thunderbolt ports and Sandybridge. Processors now start at with 1.6GHz Intel core i5 up to quad core 2.0GHz i7 in the top of the range Mac Mini.

Even more surprising though is the price, the entry level MacBook Air is down to just £729.60 while the Mac Mini starts at £476.40.

We’ll have our hands on these for review VERY soon too!

Posted by: Matt

Carphone Warehouse to target business customers

The Carphone Warehouse are having a purge on signing up business users by targeting local sole traders and SME customers with what it claims is the widest range of phones, tablets, networks and tariffs available.

As well as the networks standard business tariffs, CPW will also offer there own business tariffs which will either be unique to them or cheaper than competitors. And to top things off they will offer a price promise as well as a 14-day coverage guarantee. With the added bonus of Carphones ‘Walk Out Working’ service it seems that small business users really could benefit from visiting Carphone Warehouse to discuss the options available.

We should see some ‘dedicated business areas’ being trialed in stores later this year.

Posted by: James

Google+ app for the iPhone available

Many of us have now got acquainted with Google’s new social network, Google+, but I am sure I am not alone in finding it slightly frustrating that it is only Android users that get a proper G+ app. Well not any longer as the iOS app has been given the go ahead from Apple and is available to download for your iPhone or iPod Touch.

I have only just downloaded it so a little early to give much of an opinion but it looks good.

I am sure we will do a little review in the coming weeks.

Click here from your iPhone to download.

UPDATE: The app has already had an update so make sure you have version 1.0.1.1809

Posted by: James

BlackBerry PlayBook gets an update

The BlackBerry PlayBook gets a software update pretty often but this one has some nice new features I thought are worthy of a mention. This new version, OS v1.0.7, brings us BBC News and BBC iPlayer web icon (shortcuts) which will be pre-installed. Sure it would be nice to see proper BBC apps one day but to be honest as the Playbooks web browser is so awesome it doesn’t really matter.

As well as the BBC gubbins the below features are also added in this update:

Improved connectivity & productivity with the BlackBerry Bridge application

• Enhanced Support for Saving Attachments – The BlackBerry® BridgeT app offers you more flexibility around where and how you save attachments for viewing and editing. You can now save an attachment to a removable SD card, or to your BlackBerry smartphone’s internal flash memory.
• ZIP Attachment Support – The BlackBerry Bridge app now gives you access to ZIP files received as an email attachment. While bridged, you can now download a zip file from an email to your smartphone SD card and then extract compressed contents for viewing or editing on your BlackBerry PlayBook tablet.

Google to stand with HTC against Apple patent claims

As it has been widely reported, HTC’s share price has fallen considerably following the ITC’s preliminary decision to uphold Apple’s claims that HTC have violated a number of it patents with technology used in several HTC smartphones currently on sale.

However, for HTC it would seem help is at hand from Google. During Google’s Mobile Evolution conference held in Tokyo chairman, Eric Schmidt, delivered a speech wherein he said that Google would support HTC against Apple and that he was confident that ‘HTC would ultimately prevail over Apple.’

Following the statement HTC shares have recovered somewhat this afternoon.

If the ITC’s final decision goes against HTC it could lead to the sales of HTC handsets being blocked in the USA and, by association, spells big trouble for all manufacturers that use Android OS on their phones.