Not a good sign: Barnes & Noble just keeps slashing Nook tablet prices
Why is Barnes & Noble extending price cuts on Nook tablets? It may be because the retailer is trying to clear out stock. Read more at paidContent »
Android this week: Galaxy S4 Zoom; New Nexus 7 tested; HTC One Mini pegged for August
First came the “phablet”, now we have the “phomera”: Samsung’s Galaxy S4 Zoom is part point-and-shoot with 10x optical zoom and part smartphone. A new Nexus 7 looks to be coming soon as does the HTC One Mini, perhaps by August. Read more »
If you believe the FCC (and I do), a new Nexus 7 is coming soon
After a trail of breadcrumb evidence, an FCC certification report indicates that a new Nexus 7 is on the way. The device forgoes an Nvidia chip for Qualcomm’s Snapdragon S600. Read more »
Bluetooth SIG data suggests a new Nexus 7 is coming soon after all
Google’s Nexus 7 is nearly a year old and likely due for a refresh but didn’t make an appearance at Google I/O. Based on a Bluetooth certification this week, it looks like a new Nexus 7 with Android 4.3 is on the way. Read more »
Android this week: Nexus 7 cloned for $149; Google Edition HTC One; Chrome beta updated
If the $199 Nexus 7 is out of your budget range, a new $149 Hisense clone may be worth a look. HTC may announce a “Google Edition” HTC smartphone and Chrome beta users gain some useful new features. Read more »
Before you buy a $199 Nexus 7, check the $149 Hisense Sero 7 Pro tablet
With no refresh of the $199 Nexus 7, the latest Android tablet from Hisense is worth a look. It has nearly all of the same hardware features as Google’s tablet, plus a few more, but costs $50 less. Read more »
Take that, iPad mini: Retina display Nexus 7 at Google I/O says analyst
photo: Google
The expectations of a new Nexus 7 keep rising. This week an analyst notes that Google will use a 1920 x 1200 display and Snapdragon 600 chip for an updated small tablet. Read more »
HP Slate 7 hits US for $169. How does it stack up against Google’s $199 Nexus 7?
You can finally buy an HP Slate 7 in the U.S. for $169.99, but will you? I think it’s a tough sell for HP when the Nexus 7 is priced just $30 more and has a better screen. Read more »
Breakdown of Android tablet market shows small slates rule the roost
With data gathered from nearly a million of its users, Animoca’s information shows that five of the top six Android tablets are small slates. That’s good for Microsoft, if it is indeed planning a smaller Surface tablet. Read more »
Report: New Nexus 7 tablet due in July. Here’s what to expect.
It’s about time Google’s Nexus 7 tablet gets a refresh and sources tell Reuters it will happen in July. Here’s what to expect in terms of pricing and hardware changes. Read more »
Google launches (and sells out of) a $30 Nexus 7 dock
Nexus 7 owners paying attention to Google Play may have scored the official tablet dock for $30 … if they were quick. The dock is already sold out; another sign that Google needs to up its sales and inventory game. Read more »
iPad mini and other small tablets could outsell large slates in 2013
Apple’s iPad mini may be the right device at the right time. According to Display Search, shipments of smaller tablet screens far outnumbered those for large slates early this year. Read more »
Software turns Amazon Kindle Fire into a Nexus 7 lookalike
Amazon’s Kindle Fire makes for a great tablet, so long as you don’t mind the custom user interface and lack of supported Google services. A new custom software installation turns the Kindle Fire into a fully functional Android 4.2.1 tablet and it looks great. Read more »
Android this week: Wi-Fi changing app; Nexus 7 dock; Xbox SmartGlass
The week started with a nifty wireless NFC experiment but not ever Android phone has NFC. Free software accomplishes the same task of toggling Wi-Fi based on location. The Nexus 7 dock makes an appearance as does Xbox SmartGlass for Google’s 7-inch Nexus tablet. Read more »
Android 4.2 starts rolling out to Nexus devices
Google’s Nexus 4 and Nexus 10 are now on sale and ship with Android 4.2, which brings a number of software improvements and new features to the platform. Older Nexus devices are getting the software too, plus you can manually install it on the Nexus 7. Read more »
MobileTechRoundup podcast 282: iPad mini here, Windows Phone 8 soon
On this week’s audio podcast, Kevin shares hands on impressions of the iPad mini: he likes it better than iPad 3. Meanwhile, Matt explains what Microsoft announced at the Windows 8 launch event and recaps his usage of Microsoft’s Surface RT tablet. Read more »
iPad mini: A first video look at Apple’s small tablet
Apple’s iPad mini is here, but does it offer a big experience in a small package or is this just a useless device for many? I like the form factor and it turns out that the lower resolution display isn’t all that bad! Read more »
Android this week: Galaxy Note 2 pen tricks; Nexus 7 sales; New Acer tab
Even with new devices announced, the Galaxy Note 2 continues to impress. This week, I spent more time learning about the useful S-Pen. Meanwhile, Google’s mobile revenues are app; could content for the Nexus 7 be helping? Acer’s new small slate cuts a few corners. Read more »
So how many Nexus 7 tablets did Google sell?
By all measures, Google had a terrible day yesterday. The earnings news was accidentally released earlier than expected, and poor financials saw the stock tank. But there was some good news: Estimates of Nexus 7 tablet sales are near 1 million units for the quarter. Read more »
Acer takes on Nexus 7 with $230 Iconia Tab A110
Looking for a low-cost, small Android tablet? There are several choices and now there’s one more: Acer’s Iconia Tab A110 launches by month-end for $229.99. Before you get too excited, though, look at the display, which has a lower resolution screen than competing products. Read more »
Subscriber Content
Connected consumer third-quarter 2012
The third quarter saw many parts of the traditional media business in flux. Other developments included the rollout of new device-based content ecosystems, red flags and red ink for traditional consumer electronics makers, and a resurgence of consumer purchases of movies. Read more at GigaOM Pro »
iPad Mini models, pricing reportedly leaked
Apple’s iPad Mini isn’t yet a real product: It hasn’t been announced yet. However, that may change soon with talk of an upcoming event. And now there is a retail inventory system reportedly showing tablet pricing in 4 different storage capacities with Wi-Fi and cellular. Read more »
Why wait for Android 4.1.2 on that Nexus 7? Install it yourself!
Google is rolling out Android 4.1.2 to Nexus 7 tablets around the world, but it could take time before your slate sees it. Here’s how to get it now along with a video of the updates to notifications that Google included in the software. Read more »
Barnes & Noble’s two new tablets want to help you find your next book
photo: Barnes & Noble
Barnes & Noble’s new Nook HD tablets, priced starting at $199, aim to stand out from the pack with reader-centric features and enhanced reading experiences for magazines and catalogs. The company’s goal is to drive book discovery and purchasing through the tablets in new ways. Read more »
Google Books, movies and Nexus 7 tablet head to Japan
Google added new Japanese reading features to its ebooks app yesterday and is now selling the Nexus 7, ebooks and movies through the Google Play store in Japan. Kobo expanded to Japan in July, and Kindle is expected to launch there in October. Read more at paidContent »
Hey iPad: 7-inch slates will take 32% of this year’s market
Small slates are expected to account for 32 percent of all tablet sales this year says iHS iSuppli. After nearly two years of saying there’s a market for the 7-inch tablet, it’s good to see the analysts reaffirm my own experiences. Now: Where’s that 7.85-inch iPad? Read more »
Simple Nexus 7 mod enables 720p video recording
The lack of a rear camera on the Nexus 7 disappointed some and even the front camera is limited. The sensor is 1.3 megapixels, but only captures VGA video. Adding a few lines of code to a rooted Nexus 7 changes that to 720p video. Read more »
Android this week: 3 new Droid Razrs; Tablet sales up; Galaxy S III on a roll
What’s normally a quiet time turned into a busy week: Before the new Kindle Fire HD tablets launched, Motorola introduced three new Razr phones while Samsung touted its Galaxy S III sales figures: 20 million to date. Android tablets sales are on the rise too. Read more »
Daily Android tablet sales nearing 40% of iPad sales
The common belief that “there’s no tablet market, just an iPad market” may be changing. Based on the number of daily device activations, the gap between Google tablet sales and those of Apple’s iPad is closing. Improved software and the Nexus 7 tablet are likely reasons. Read more »
Kobo takes aim at Amazon with two new e-readers and a tablet
Though most eyes are on Amazon’s Thursday press conference, Kobo is angling for early attention with its announcement of two new e-readers and a new 7-inch Android tablet called the Arc. How do the devices stack up to the competition? Read more »
Android this week: Apple v. Samsung; Nikon Android camera; $15 Nexus 7 case
The week ended badly for Samsung, but did it do the same for Android in general? Perhaps, since Apple’s patents protect navigation features used by all Android devices. My new Nexus 7 case and Nikon’s Coolpix S800s camera with Android uses patented features too – uh oh. Read more »
Video look at the useful $15 Blurex Nexus 7 case
Can a $15 tablet case really be any good? After just one day with the Blurex Ultra Slim case for Nexus 7, the answer is yes. Aside from protecting the tablet, it gives full access to all controls and offers three viewing angles in landscape. Read more »
The $15 magnetic Blurex Nexus 7 case trumps Google’s official $20 cover
I was planning to buy Google’s official Nexus 7 case but it’s not in stock. That’s actually a good thing because this case from Blurex looks better, has more features — including magnetic smart wake and sleep — and costs $5 less than Google’s own product. Read more »
Barnes & Noble brings Nook Tablet prices in line with Kindle Fire and Nexus 7
Barnes & Noble dropped prices on its Nook Tablets and Nook Color on Sunday, bringing the price of the Nook Tablet 16 GB in line with Amazon’s Kindle Fire and Google’s 8 GB Nexus 7. The bookstore chain has failed to gain much tablet market share. Read more at paidContent »
MobileTechRoundup podcast 274: About that 7-inch iPad…
How long has Apple been thinking about a smaller iPad? Since they read impressions about the Galaxy Tab 18 months ago. Matt shares experiences with Nexus 7 cases — and explains what pickleball is — while both hosts discuss the Chrome OS and T-Mobile’s new (old) Galaxy Note. Read more »
Android this week: Google Wallet opens; Android 4.0 grows; T-Mobile’s Galaxy Note tested
Android 4.0 is finally getting out on phones and tablets according to Google’s dashboard. Surprisingly, the next version, Jelly Bean, is gaining adoption quickly too. Google’s Wallet now supports more credit and debit cards while T-Mobile’s Galaxy Note blurs the lines between smartphone and tablet. Read more »
Apple keeps vise-like grip on tablet market — for now
Apple put more distance between itself and tablet competitors last quarter, moving from a 62 percent share of the market in Q2 2011, to a 68 percent share this year. But an influx of smaller and cheaper iPad alternatives is coming by the end of the year. Read more »
Official Nexus 7 dock appears then plays hide-and-seek
The wait for a Nexus 7 dock may not be much longer. According to leaked images and details, a $49.99 landscape dock is planned to launch in late August, along with a premium Nexus 7 case. Sounds legit since the original images were removed “by request”. Read more »
Amazon gets it: One size doesn’t fit all for tablets
Amazon is expected to introduce up to 6 new tablets, including a 10-inch model. Why not? Few besides Amazon have the consumer data, shopping experience and content to make multiple screen sized tablets, proving that one size doesn’t fit all when it comes to mobile devices. Read more »
Subscriber Content
Takeaways from connected consumer’s second quarter
Tablets featured prominently in the connected consumer space, both as a product category and as a component of broader platform strategies by major OS providers Microsoft, Google and Apple. Meanwhile Facebook began laying the groundwork to add payment processing to its platform. Read more at GigaOM Pro »
