At CES, Motorola announced a new Droid for Verizon’s LTE network that appears to be a combination of all of its Android smartphones released to date. Meanwhile, LG got cinematic with LTE’s video stream capabilities, announcing a new HD phone, while Samsung unveiled its Tab 7.7. Read more »
AT&T used the first day of CES as a launch point for a bevy of devices for its LTE network. The new Android devices now number six, including Samsung’s wide-bodied stylus-driven Galaxy Note, an ultra-cheap Pantech tablet and a pair of HD video phones. Read more »
While the Kindle Fire has its share of hardware and software shortcomings, a bigger concern is emerging for parents who are thinking of buying the Kindle Fire: it has almost no restrictions to prevent children from accessing inappropriate content or buying whatever they like. Read more »
Apple’s iPad trademark is being challenged by Proview Technology, and the Shenzhen-based company is having some early success, with a court rejecting Apple’s claim that it already owns said trademark in China. Here’s a blow-by-blow of the story so far, and its likely conclusion. Read more »
Amazon’s Kindle Fire has only been on the market for a few weeks but developers saying it’s providing a very significant lift in app sales because of its easy buying process. It’s giving Android tablet developers reason for a lot of optimism. Read more »
Apple may have reason to welcome, not fear, the growing popularity of the Amazon Kindle Fire. According to J.P. Morgan analyst Mark Moskowitz in a note late last week, the Kindle could encourage, not take away from, Apple’s own iPad sales. Read more »
I’ve spent nearly a week using the latest 7-inch tablets (or are they e-readers?): the Nook Tablet and Kindle Fire. In this video, I share an overview of both devices and I offer a purchase recommendation: The device choice depends on what you want to do. Read more »
The highly anticipated Amazon Kindle Fire arrived in our offices on Monday, and here we unbox it and take our first look. The Kindle Fire is Amazon’s first foray into tablets after proving it knows a thing or two about e-book readers. Read more »
A new Morgan Stanley survey found that Apple is the most desirable brand of computer in China right now, beating out local heavyweight Lenovo. China became the biggest buyer of personal computers as of August, according to IDC, so that’s great news for Apple. Read more »
Ericsson released a report today about mobile data consumption today that gives a clear picture about how pricing for mobile broadband will change as well as how cultural norms will shift as wireless networks become more popular and prevalent. Check out the charts inside. Read more »
Yet another analyst report has joined the chorus of those claiming Apple will see its majority market share for tablet devices slide to less than a majority by 2014-2015. It’s quickly becoming a theme, but one which I find hard to back up in reality. Read more »
RIM is trying even harder to stoke some demand for its unloved tablet, introducing a new “buy two, get one free” offer on PlayBooks through the rest of the year. It’s a desperate move for a company that can’t seem to execute. Read more »
Just weeks after dismissing the Kindle Fire as a potential challenger to the iPad, J.P. Morgan is now upping its assessment of the Amazon tablet, saying the device is expected to move 4.5 to 5 million units in the fourth quarter. Read more »
The tablet market is growing rapidly — but it could be getting even more of a boost thanks to the growing number of operator subsidies on offer. The latest? A series of cut-price deals aimed at France’s large student population. Read more »
The Kindle Fire is a straightforward tablet that doesn’t try to outdo the iPad but focuses on media consumption. It’s got simpler ambitions with pricing to match. And that’s why I think it’s going to do really well, by exceeding its set expectations. (With video demo.) Read more »
Amazon is finally jumping into the tablet market with the Kindle Fire, a 7-inch $199 device built off Android with its own custom interface and plenty of hooks into Amazon’s marketplace of goods. It also intelligently leverages Amazon’s cloud infrastructure for better storage and browsing. Read more »
Given that a press invite from Amazon just hit my Inbox for next Wednesday, it’s a safe bet that the long wait for Amazon’s tablet entry is about to end. It’s not meant to compete with the iPad, but at $250, it ought to sell well. Read more »
Intel is very serious about low power chips, although it won’t have them until 2013. The company showed off the long-rumored Haswell chips at its developer forum on Tuesday, which it says can can run all day and offer a 20x reduction in power. Read more »
Apple’s own wireless Bluetooth keyboard, while not specifically designed for the iPad, still tops my list for best-looking design of any that work with the tablet. But the Kickstarter-backed Levitatr may be a worthy challenger with a twist, should it meet its funding goal. Read more »
After years of development, mountains of cash and a false start or two, Plastic Logic says its first e-reader is ready for the market. But even if you want one, your chances are slim: It’s only going to be sold to Russian schoolchildren. Read more »
The Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1 will be a rare sight in Germany for at least two more months, and probably a lot longer, thanks to a ruling on Friday by the court trying the patent infringement case between Apple and the Korean firm in that country. Read more »
Early details about a forthcoming Amazon tablet indicate it could have a potential success on its hands. Many have been quick to label it the first legitimate iPad challenger. But should Amazon have tablet success, it doesn’t mean Apple will sell fewer iPads. Read more »
Big hardware vendors continue to fight Apple’s iPad for a piece of the tablet pie and the three newest entries debuted today at the IFA electronics show. Samsung went high-end in a small device, while Lenovo went low cost. Meanwhile, Toshiba slimmed its 10.1-inch Android tablet. Read more »
Brand new iPad 2 just a little bit beyond what you’re willing to pay? As of Wednesday, you can pick one up in the official online Apple Store for $50 off full retail price, so long as you’re okay with an Apple-certified refurbished unit. Read more »
Wacom’s newest digital drawing capture device is a genuine pen-and-ink clipboard that captures, stores and then transfers your real-life drawings to your computer as layered vector files. Called the Inkling, it’s an amazing peripheral that could change the lives of graphic artists and casual doodlers alike. Read more »
Apple has won another victory in the legal battle with Samsung around smartphones and tablets, which spans 12 courts in nine countries. This one comes in California regarding a request for an expedited trial, shortly after another ruling went its way Thursday in a German court. Read more »
Apple is the No. 1 mobile PC manufacturer in the world, beating rival HP for the top spot in the latest quarterly rankings. Apple shipped a total of 13.5 million units for year-over-year growth of 136 percent, 80 percent of which were tablets. Read more »
Apple has been showing strong growth in greater China in recent quarterly reports, and now it looks like the company is even beating a longtime regional heavyweight for the first time, taking in $3.8 billion in sales revenue vs. Lenovo’s $2.8 billion last quarter. Read more »
Macheen, a company that wants to build a broadband cloud that can provide device makers and retailers with connectivity, has signed a deal with Sprint to deliver 3G service in the U.S. It is now working with Dell in the U.S. and Germany. Read more »
Dell’s stock took a dive this morning after it said it lowered its revenue estimates of the year citing weak consumer demand, but while it’s server business remained strong there’s no doubt that Michael Dell, the company’s CEO is navigating a fine line Read more »
PC sales were weak during the second quarter of 2011 in the U.K. and Europe, according to new figures from Gartner released Wednesday. Except for Apple and Samsung, all major manufacturers saw declines that led to a considerable drop for the sector as a whole. Read more »
Those hoping for iPad lightning to strike twice this year might be disappointed by a new report out Friday. The A6 processor, cited as the central component for a new, more powerful iPad won’t hit the public until next year, sources say. Read more »
Following a temporary $100 price cut on its TouchPad tablets last weekend, HP today made the reduced list price permanent. While this surely cuts into the margin for HP’s TouchPad, the company can afford a short-term profit gap in order to spur sales and attract developers. Read more »
Apple won an injunction to halt Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1 sales across most of the EU yesterday and today, Motorola’s Xoom has surfaced as the next potential target. Is Apple weeding out all potential iPad competitors or is it trying to control the entire tablet market? Read more »
Apple no longer allows e-book sellers to link out to their stores, which is likely why Amazon introduced a new web-based app that works outside of Apple’s official software distribution channel on Wednesday. Here’s a look at the new Kindle Cloud Reader, and its integrated store. Read more »
Apple has been granted a preliminary injunction by a German court, which will effectively prevent the sale of the Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1 in all countries belonging to the European Union, save the Netherlands. Samsung can still appeal the decision in a few weeks. Read more »
The influence of Apple’s iPad on mobile computing is made fairly obvious by the huge numbers of competitor products that we’ve seen from just about every mobile and computer company under the sun, but a new report from Deutsche Bank makes it even more apparent. Read more »
Steve Jobs first showed off the iPad on stage using a chair and crossing one leg across the other to provide a decent platform from which to use it. Surely we can do better. So says the PadPivot, a new stand with all the right moves. Read more »
Late Monday night, Skype for iPad finally went live in the U.S. App Store, but only temporarily. We managed to grab the app before it disappeared (you can still find it in some international stores), and here’s what you can expect now that it has returned. Read more »
