Apple will announce its much-anticipated iPad 2 tablet tomorrow. This time, however, they will have to make due without the legendary persona of Steve Jobs, who is out on medical leave.
Tablets
The International Consumer Electronics Show (CES), running through this week in Las Vegas, has delivered on its promise to showcase some exciting and innovating products up and coming in technology consumer markets. This primetime conference attracts the world’s largest tech companies and provides many opportunities for them to formally introduce their latest developments to the world. This year has proven to be no exception. We’ve seen some of the hottest new gadgets touted in Vegas, including the youngest rivals of Apple’s iPad. The iPad’s success has regenerated the stagnant tablet computer line and all major (and minor) tech producers are clamoring to get in on this fast-growing market segment. We’ll highlight four major tablets announced at CES this week, as well as a couple of specialized products.
Dell Streak 7
Dell is branching out from its conventional laptop and computer product lines, including not only tablets but even smartphones. The Venue was also showcased in Vegas. The Streak 7 is larger than its predecessor, the Streak, with a 7-inch screen, and weighs less than a pound. Dell is proclaiming this the world’s first 4G tablet, capable of running on T-Mobile’s HSPA+ network. The Streak 7 uses an Android 2.2 platform, although it can be upgraded to Android’s newest platform, Honeycomb. The Streak comes with front and rear cameras, enabling video-chat and traditional picture-taking. With Flash 10.1, this tablet is fully powered to harness the internet and provide users with easy access to online videos and entertainment.
Motorola Xoom
The Xoom (pronounced “zoom”) is among the first devices to carry a Honeycomb platform, Android’s for-tablet system. Although Motorola admitted it would initially be offered as a 3G device, all products will be fully upgradeable to 4G standards on Verizon’s LTE network. The Xoom holds a sizeable 10.1-inch screen and contains front and rear cameras, both with video capabilities. Adobe Flash Player allows users full internet use and Motorola claims that its tablet is the first with a dual-core processor, able to process large amounts of data at high speeds.
Samsung Sliding PC 7
Perhaps the most unconventional-looking tablet presented at CES, the Sliding PC 7 attempts to bridge the gap between netbooks and tablet computers. The PC 7 functions as a tablet, but slides out a full keyboard and then folds above it to become a netbook/laptop device. The tablet runs on Windows 7, rather than a more tablet-appropriate … Read the rest
The rumor mill has been churning regarding Samsung's highly-anticipated new android Galaxy tablet over the last few months. You'd think they'd put most of those inquisitive babies to bed when they ratcheted up the ooh-ing and aah-ing last week in Berlin at the IFA electronics show, but once again secretive whispers are making the transition to deafening roars when it comes to breaking news on the product.
The Boy Genius Report has recently speculated on some issues that were left off the docket at the international event. A little birdie told the tech blog that Sprint will be readying the iPad competitor for a November introduction, though none of the networks have let out an official peep out about exclusive deals with Samsung.
The roll out on Sprint would seem to make perfect sense, as the device is also further rumored to be 3G/4G capable. A tablet device capable of streaming HD movies and showing off other multimedia facets enhanced by the Android OS, would put the carrier's burgeoning WiMax network on a grand stage– a sink or swim race against the market standard iPad and its tolerated carrier, AT&T.
If the tablet performs exceedingly well on a WiMax network it could validate Sprint's investment and leave Verizon and AT&T jockeying for 2nd position or alter the wireless strategy of the competitors altogether.
The move would also be good news for CLEAR, whose shared WiMax network (with Sprint/Nextel) will boast a cheaper price point than most other wireless carriers and can be used interchangeably with Sprint-ready devices.… Read the rest
