Opinions on the new BlackBerry PlayBook tablet vary in small ways, but many reviewers agree that the device is lacking some features and functions, making it appear unfinished. But a few reviews are forward thinking; the tablet wars won’t be won or lost on today’s products. Read more »
Cloud computing, a surge of smartphone growth and increased wireless connectivity have created an ideal environment for the introduction of the media tablet — a consumer-grade device best suited to leisure-based computing activities such as gaming and social networking. This report forecasts the media tablet market, which is expected to grow at a 54 percent compound annual growth rate over the next five years. We forecast revenues and regional growth, including China’s growing importance in the market, and provide a competitive analysis of tablets from Cisco, Research in Motion, Apple, HP and others. Additional companies in this report include Samsung, Dell, Microsoft and Motorola. For a full list of companies, and to read the full report, sign up for a free trial. Read more at GigaOM Pro »
Research firm Gartner published its tablet forecast through 2015, saying that Apple will continue to rule the roost. That may be so, but there are some key problems with such a forecast because the tablet wars are only beginning; it’s too early to call this race. Read more »
After teasing with Android tablets in January, hardware makers are finally launching products. Three new models were announced this week and the Wi-Fi editions are priced less than Apple’s iPad. The $249 Nook Color e-reader is still a bargain and about to gain its own apps Read more »
Acer’s answer to the iPad 2 will cost $449 and is now available for pre-order from Best Buy in the U.S. Hardware specifications are only part of the equation, and Honeycomb has room for improvement, but this pricing gives consumers a reason to consider the A500. Read more »
Acer’s Iconia A100 looks to be the first 7-inch tablet to run on Google’s Honeycomb operating system and it’s coming in at an appealing price: £299 from Amazon when it arrives later this month. Could this be the price point to help kickstart Honeycomb tablet sales? Read more »
ASUS is launching its Eee Pad Transformer, a Google Android Honeycomb tablet with optional keyboard dock, for less than a comparable iPad 2. Based on similar (or better) specs, the Eee will give us the first glimpse at how well Honeycomb competes with Apple’s tablet. Read more »
Google is holding Honeycomb back from the open-source community in order to keep the platform from being used for smartphones. Getting music to Android smartphones gets easier this week, and Research In Motion’s PlayBook tablet is set to gain access to Android Market applications. Read more »
Google isn’t yet releasing Honeycomb to the open-source community, so hardware makers that don’t already have an agreement to use the platform can’t yet build new products. Why is Google starting to take a little more control over it’s software? We saw why last month. Read more »
Samsung unveiled a pair of new Galaxy Tab devices running Honeycomb, but there’s little difference between the two. At just a $30 difference between the 8.9- and 10.1-inch tablets, will most opt for the larger size? There’s not of a portability gain for the smaller slate. Read more »
Over the next month, at least three new Wi-Fi tablets are expected to launch from Samsung, Motorola and Research In Motion. Without mobile broadband, each should compete well on price to Apple’s iPad 2, which starts at $499. But odds are still stacked against their success. Read more »
Motorola’s Xoom has its first software update, but it’s mainly to prep for Adobe Flash, which arrives next week. Analysts say that Xoom sales are underwhelming and while Flash may help, Motorola needs to work with Google to bring stability to the Xoom tablet. Read more »
I spent time with Samsung’s Galaxy S 4G phone and found it a worthy upgrade. The next Galaxy S is a question mark though; the processor inside may vary based on region, which could mean software incompatibility. And Google is ironically combatting Android fragmentation with fragments. Read more »
Does iPad 2 live up to the enormous amount of hype surrounding it? The answer is yes, and this research note explains why. We examine new features on the device and how they will help Apple grasp an even tighter hold on the tablet market, what that means for competitors like Google and Samsung and why the device could be the best example yet of computing in what Steve Jobs calls “the post-PC world.” Companies mentioned in this report include Apple, Motorola, Samsung and Google. For a full list of companies, and to read the full research note, sign up for a free trial. Read more at GigaOM Pro »
The first bits of Honeycomb are now starting to filter down into Android smartphones, in the form of Fragments. Here’s what these smart panes can do and why you’ll want programmers to start using them for Android apps on smartphones of every size. Read more »
The first Android 3.0 tablet launched this week: there’s both good and bad in it, ranging from a solid Google experience to a lack of apps, and hardware that won’t work until later upgrades. A faster Firefox is here as is Gingerbread for Nexus One handsets. Read more »
The first Honeycomb tablets are launching, but the store shelves for Android tablet apps are pretty empty, with just 16 titles appearing today. The race is on for developers to start boosting those numbers, because existing smartphone apps aren’t providing a rich tablet experience. Read more »
With the arrival of the Motorola Xoom, the first of many Honeycomb tablets is poised to do battle against Apple’s iPad. But several reasons make it evident that Google Android 3.0 isn’t yet ready to challenge and was rushed out the door a little too soon. Read more »
Motorola’s Xoom tablet, the first with Google Android 3.0, arrives in stores tomorrow, but our review unit appeared today. Here’s an overview of the hardware, software and first hands on thoughts after just a few hours of use: Xoom has some hits and a few misses. Read more »
Verizon will be subsidizing the Motorola Xoom tablet, bringing the contract price to $599 with a 2-year data plan commitment for the Android 3.0 tablet. But a contract lock-in won’t appeal to many since more than 100 new tablets were introduced at the Consumer Electronics Show. Read more »
Android starred at the Mobile World Congress show, with dozens of tablets and smartphones announced. As if that wasn’t good enough news, Google confirmed that some Honeycomb features would be coming to handsets. And a new app turns your Android device into a wireless media server. Read more »
Acer’s Iconia A100 is on the show floor at Mobile World Congress running Android 2.2. But this 7-inch tablet is expected to run Honeycomb, or Android 3.0, when it launches in April, which gives hope for Samsung and others to bring Honeycomb to smaller tablets. Read more »
Samsung kicked off Mobile World Congress with the introduction of a new, larger tablet and an update to its popular Galaxy S handset. The Galaxy Tab 10.1 will run a stock version of Honeycomb, or Android 3.0, while the 4.3-inch Galaxy S II will use Gingerbread. Read more »
Honeycomb is officially unveiled for tablets, but the bigger story may be the Market improvements for the entire Android ecosystem: in-app purchases, local currency support and a web-based store that shoots applications to devices over the air. A custom ROM has my turbocharged my Galaxy Tab. Read more »
Google’s Android 3.0, or Honeycomb, is now official and while it was the star at today’s developer event, there’s much to like about the platform from a consumer point of view. Here’s a rundown of the new Honeycomb features, which may be coming to smartphones, too. Read more »
I am here at the Googleplex waiting for the launch of Google’s tablet optimized Android OS, nicknamed, Honeycomb. A lot of reporters here from different outlets, though it is a much smaller event compared to Apple’s iPad press event. We are going live in about 5 […] Read more »
Honeycomb will get an official introduction at a Google press event, but it may not be just for tablets and definitely can run on single-core smartphones. Sony’s new PSP looks great, but Android fans will appreciate that Sony games are coming to Android later this year. Read more »
Motorola debuted some products that were expected and one that wasn’t. We figured to see new dual-core smartphones for 4G networks, as well as an Android tablet, but now about a phone that docks into a laptop shell to be your full-fledged computer? Read more »
T-Mobile’s first 4G tablet is the G-Slate, built by LG and running Honeycomb, or Google Android 3.0. Specific details on the tablet, which won’t be immediately available, are forthcoming, most likely by LG who today said it would have tablet news for Thursday at CES. Read more »
A YouTube video showing the new Honeycomb, or Google Android 3.0 features, appeared briefly and then was removed. A quick glimpse shows the best of Android 2.2 plus optimized apps for larger screens, such as Gmail, Google Books and video chat on Google Talk. Read more »
ASUS kicked off the Consumer Electronics Show with four new tablet computers, ranging in size from 7-12 inches. Three of the Eee Pads will use the Honeycomb version of Android and dual-core processors while the fourth is an Intel-powered Microsoft Windows 7 slate. Read more »
Acer, the no. 2 computer-maker globally, has previously experimented with Android but found little success. Now it’s taking a smarter approach by waiting for Google’s tablet-optimized version of Android. In April, Acer will over two new tablets and an easy way to share digital media. Read more »
