LG to launch Honeycomb tablet?

05:55 AM Nov 05, 2010

LG Electronics, the world's No 3 handset vendor, plans to launch an 8.9-inch tablet device based on an upcoming version of Google's Android operating system, said a source yesterday.

The device, to run on Google's upcoming "Honeycomb" operating system tailored for tablet PCs, will be rolled out in South Korea and overseas early next year, the source said, who asked not to be identified as the new Google system has not been announced yet.

With the rollout, LG seeks to jump into the fast-growing tablet PC market that is becoming increasingly crowded with the likes of Samsung Electronics, Research In Motion, Hewlett-Packard and Dell.

Handset vendors and PC makers are rushing into the new category of devices, which Apple jump-started this year with its hot-selling iPad.

The upcoming LG device will be the first tablet PC for the company, after it dropped a plan to introduce tablets based on the Android 2.2 operating system, also known as "Froyo", citing the need for "the most reliable and suitable Android version" for tablets.

The delay by LG could land a further blow to the South Korean electronics firm, which is grappling to turn around its loss-making mobile unit due to a lack of smartphone models to compete with Apple's iPhone, RIM's BlackBerry and Samsung's Galaxy S. REUTERS

Source: www.todayonline.com

Read more...

Creative takes on iPad with price ace

Published November 5, 2010


Ziio touchscreen tablet to be offered in Dec at half the price of iPad

By WINSTON CHAI


CREATIVE Technology is looking to rediscover the Midas touch with new touchscreen tablets that promise to go head-to-head with Apple's wildly popular iPad in functionality - but at half the price.

The homegrown company, which suffered a first-quarter loss of US$3.6 million as sales of its music and media players continue to wane, will be hoping to turn the tide by latching on to the latest consumer craze for touch-screen gizmos.

Creative's new product family, dubbed Ziio, will initially comprise two models: a 7-inch and a 10-inch touchscreen tablet. These will be offered with memory capacities of 8 gigabyte (GB) and 16 GB respectively.

Both will be powered by Creative's self-developed ZMS-08 processor and run Google's Android 2.1 operating system (OS).

Android is the favoured choice of companies looking to emulate Apple's success as it is seen as the closest contender to the operating system the latter uses on the iPhone and iPad.

Last week, Singapore Telecom announced it had scored an exclusive deal to sell Samsung's Android-powered tablet - the Galaxy Tab - from next week.

Other gadget makers including Hewlett-Packard, Viewsonic, Asus and Acer are also expected to throw down the gauntlet in the coming months.

While Apple's touch-screen slate has a minimum price tag of $728, Creative's basic Ziio model is more than 50 per cent cheaper at $359.

Besides costing less, the Ziio has another key selling point in its audio performance. The use of Creative's X-Fi technology means its tablets can deliver audio that rivals a high-end speaker system, the company said in a statement.

Industry watchers believe Creative's latest product foray should benefit from the growing popularity of the tablet-form factor. However, it would be tough for any company to lay claim to the mantle of iPad killer, they said.

According to research firm Strategy Analytics, the iPad accounted for a whopping 95 per cent of the 4.4 million tablets that were shipped globally in the third quarter this year.

As in the iPad, consumers will be able to download applications on to Creative Ziio tablets from the Web and the company's online ZiiStore.

Wireless and Bluetooth connectivity, along with a built-in camera and support for high-definition video output, are also standard on the device.

However, the Ziio does not support cellular connections. So users will have to connect to a Wi-Fi network to surf and check email.

The Ziio will be available online from December and be sold in Creative stores by the end of January.


Source: www.businesstimes.com.sg

Read more...

Samsung Galaxy Tab

Samsung Galaxy Tab launches in Singapore Nov 13

by Hedirman Supian
Updated 07:36 PM Oct 29, 2010

A touchscreen-based tablet computer based on Google's Android operating system will be launched in Singapore next month.

In a media event held today, SingTel announced that it will be selling the Samsung Galaxy Tab at its outlets on Nov 13.

The Tab is a 7-inch tablet computer that can make voice calls and access the web with its WiFi and 3G connectivity. It runs a tablet-based variation of Google's Android operating system, which was initially created for smartphones.

Unlike Apple's iPad, the 385g Galaxy Tab supports Adobe's Flash technology, allowing video playback on websites like YouTube without the use of a customised application or a video format. It is powered by a 1GHz processor and comes with 16GB of built-in storage. Other features include GPS, a microSD slot for storage expansion, dual cameras for photo and video capture and video-conferencing as well.

SingTel is including its own slew of applications on the device, including one that allows users to purchase magazines. The purchase will then be charged to their monthly SingTel bill. The telco will also allow users to catch live video streams of football matches from the Barclays Premier League. Users will be able to download applications for the device from Google's Android Market, too.

The Galaxy Tab will be available from SingTel with a contract, which includes a monthly subscription plan that ranges from $39 to $95.

A Samsung spokesperson added that the device will be sold without a contract at the smartphone maker's selected outlets for $998.

Consumers will be able to pre-order the Galaxy Tab from Oct 30 at www.singtel.com/tab.

This story is only available online.

Source: http://www.todayonline.com

Samsung Galaxy Tab Leather Case Folio - Black

Read more...

Motorola Quench XT3

Killer looks, but not great for texting

Smartphone Review: Motorola Quench XT3
by Sim Cheng Kai

05:57 PM Oct 19, 2010

The Motorola Quench XT3 is a sight for sore eyes. The back is sleek, glossy grey; a stylish assortment of silver fixtures (like a metallic rim band) adorns the body; and the phone's crowned with a 3.2-inch capacitive touchscreen surrounded by a black bezel.

And at $398 without a plan or $48 with a two-year contract (exclusive to M1), the XT3 is easily one of the most affordable Android handset offerings anywhere.

But the phone's good looks and affordability do come with a caveat - lower-performance hardware. Specifically, a 600MHz processor, a screen resolution of 320x480, 512MB flash storage, 256MB memory and a 3-megapixel camera with LED flash.

The XT3 runs the dated 1.6 version of Android, which means that it has a better camera gallery (you can delete multiple photos at one go); but it lacks the new contact lists, speed increments, HTML5 and Microsoft Exchange support in 2.0 and above. Though Motorola says that a 2.x firmware upgrade is forthcoming, there is no known release schedule at present.

The first thing XT3 users will notice is that scrolling - either left or right through the home screens or up and down through a list (like in the Web browser) - is sometimes choppy. And after running just a scant few applications in the background, the screen begins to show signs of lag, often freezing for a split second in the middle of scrolling manoeuvres.

The display lag emerges as a bigger problem when typing on the virtual keyboard, which is a dealbreaker for power users who trust the anto-correction feature enough to hammer out messages as fast as their thumbs can go - the XT3's screen does not update fast enough to register every key entry.

The touch panel controls below the touchscreen are nice and sensitive, but almost to a fault - while performing upward and downward strokes on the trackball, I found my thumb accidentally grazing the home or search sensors. Furthermore, the trackball is not very precise - when scrolling through links on a Google search results page, for instance, with each trackball stroke the selection cursor would travel too far some times, and not all other times.

As a phone, the XT3 works well. Voice quality and reception during calls are good and a proximity sensor turns off the touchscreen when you hold it up to the ear. You can also choose from tens of thousands of apps in the Android Market, though you might not be able to keep a smorgasbord of them due to limited internal memory.

The XT3's display lag and trackball issues are troubling but the phone's killer good looks might appeal to newcomers to Android as well as smartphone users who anticipate themselves making calls and reading Web content more often than typing long messages.

This story is only available online.


http://www.todayonline.com/

Read more...

Smartphone review: Motorola Milestone XT with HDMI Output

Decent camera, but laggy performance

Smartphone review: Motorola Milestone XT

by May Chua
05:55 AM Jul 16, 2010

MOTOROLA has launched yet another Android phone, and what sets this apart from the rest of the pack is the inclusion of an HDMI output.

Using an HDMI cable, you can easily connect the Motorola Milestone XT to a high-definition (HD) television to play your multimedia files. It worked like a charm when I tried it, delivering smooth playback.

The phone looks sleek, with a trim 10.9mm profile and shiny metal frame around its front. Weighing 139g, it feels nice and solid. The 3.7-inch display is sharp, making Web surfing enjoyable.

The Android 2.1 device runs on a 550MHz Cortex A8 processor, and is more laggy than the 1GHz-powered handsets I'm used to. The task manager and messages take longer than usual to load when several applications are running in the background.

The pre-installed task manager, however, is a useful feature for a multitasking platform like Android, especially since there's no quit function for many apps.

Moto Phone Portal - a Web browser that lets you access data like contacts, SMSes and media files in the phone from your computer through a USB or WiFi connection - also deserves a thumbs-up.

The 8-megapixel camera in the XT takes decent pictures. I like the fact that it allows you to select an area to focus on using the touchscreen, and that you get seven scenes to choose from. But I tend to get grainy pictures in low-light environments where using the (blindingly bright) xenon flash results in overexposure. The night mode helps, but not always.

The four touch-sensitive buttons below the display sometimes get in the way of photo-taking. I kept activating the Home or Back buttons just as I'd finished framing the picture. Video clips recorded are sharp enough, though the camera has problems focusing when it comes to close-up shots.

Battery life is reasonable, lasting about 17 hours with push mail, WiFi and Bluetooth on. The Motorola Milestone XT ($988, without contract) comes with an 8GB microSD card, and is sold exclusively from StarHub. May Chua

http://www.todayonline.com/Tech/Techreviews/EDC100716-0000048/Decent-camera,-but-laggy-performance

Read more...

Samsung Galaxy Beam (Model GT-I8520)

Samsung’s projector cum smartphone

A SMARTPHONE with a projector – that is what the Galaxy Beam is all about.

The built-in Pico projector has a projection screen size of 5 to 50 inches.

But who would want a projector function in a phone, especially when the image projected has limited clarity and brightness?

Possibly a user who wants to share with friends photos and videos (and StarHub’s Mobile TV) on a bigger screen than the Galaxy Beam’s Super Amoled display, or a business user keen to make on-the-spot presentations.

As with mini projectors that have cropped up in recent times, don’t expect the brightness or sharpness of desktop projectors.

However, it is still a neat function to have on call.

How much: From $0 to $398, depending on the StarHub 3G plan subscribed to. Available from Saturday.

http://myepaper.mypaper.sg/ebook/web_php/System/Zoom_In/Zoom_In_Page.html

Read more...

HTC Wildfire

HTC Wildfire blazing your way
05:55 AM Jul 09, 2010

ANDROID fans in Singapore will have yet another smartphone option from tomorrow onwards - the HTC Wildfire ($498), available in black, red or white.

Wildfire was launched alongside the MeRadio app for Android that lets you stream content from all 13 MediaCorp radio stations, with album art and lyrics included. In an exclusivity agreement between MediaCorp and HTC, MeRadio on Android will be available only on HTC's phones (Wildfire, Desire, Legend and Hero) via a download from www.wemp.com.sg/htcmeradio. MeRadio will be available to all Android users from October.

Wildfire is armed with a 3.2-inch touchscreen, an FM radio, a microSD slot and a 5-megapixel camera with autofocus, geotagging and flash. According to HTC, it has full Flash support for web browsing, too.

The Android 2.1 phone also touts the Friend Stream app that displays the latest content from Facebook, Twitter and Flickr to a single stream. When you view a contact in the address book, you'll see a thread of recent text messages, emails and status updates. And when your friend calls, the phone will display his/her profile photo from Facebook, status update, as well as a birthday reminder.


http://www.todayonline.com/Tech/EDC100709-0000080/HTC-Wildfire-blazing-your-way

Read more...

Is this HTC’s new Vision?

PHONE-MAKER HTC has been said to be planning an Android device with a qwerty keyboard,
and a photo purportedly showing the smartphone has been leaked online.

The HTC Vision has a 3.7-inch screen and a 1GHz processor, EuroDroid reported. (PHOTO: INTERNET)

http://myepaper.mypaper.sg/ebook/web_php/System/Zoom_In/Zoom_In_Page.html

Read more...

Smartphone Review: Samsung Galaxy S

Shooting to a promising start

THE Samsung Galaxy S looks like the Apple iPhone. It has a curved back, a silver lining around the screen, and rounded squares framing each icon on the app pages.

But this Android 2.1 device can hold its own against the competition.

For starters, it's fast. The capacitive display is very responsive, and apps launch with minimal delay. Though there's a slight lag when loading photos, it still feels zippier than some other Android phones running on a 1GHz processor. At 9.9mm and 119g, the Galaxy S feels really light, too.

Though its huge four-inch screen means you need big hands to be able to hold it comfortably and deep pockets to tug it away snugly, it does improve the typing and web-surfing experience. The Super AMOLED display is gorgeous - sharper and brighter than other screens I have encountered.

Besides the roomy 16GB internal memory, most of the other specs for the Galaxy are standard smartphone fare - a 5-megapixel autofocus camera that can capture high-definition 720p videos and a microSD card slot (supports up to 32GB).

Samsung has made an effort in customising the Android OS for the Galaxy S. Besides the usual tweaks to the onscreen keyboard and adding icons for various connectivity options to turn them on and off easily, it has included things like the Daily Briefing feature. This compiles weather information from AccuWeather.com, AP Mobile news, stocks from Yahoo! Finance and the phone calendar. You can add a widget to one of the seven home screens to see all these updates at a glance. But the lack of customisation is disappointing - you cannot change or add any other service provider for these information.

Your communication with each person via various channels such as Facebook, email and SMS, as well as their social media updates, are integrated in the phonebook. A useful feature is the built-in Swype text input service, which allows you to glide your fingers across the keyboard instead of typing. It made messaging on the onscreen keyboard more fun and less frustrating.

One gripe about this handset is that the proximity sensor doesn't seem to work very well - there are buttons like "mute" onscreen when a call is in progress, and I have accidentally ended or muted a conversation more than once.

The phone comes preloaded with quite a few apps. Besides the usual Google ones like YouTube and Gmail, there is ThinkFree for editing and viewing Microsoft Office documents, a pretty ebook app called Aldiko and a file manager, among others.

The Galaxy's battery life fared well in tests - it lasted right about 15 hours when I had WiFi and Bluetooth on, music playing on loop, push mail and a Twitter client updating feeds in the background. The phone had enough juice to keep going for an impressive 24 hours with normal use - I left the WiFi on, surfed the web and posted status updates on social networks, on top of the usual calling and messaging.

The Samsung Galaxy S is available exclusively from SingTel at $0 to $768 with contract, depending on the type of plan. MAY CHUA


Smartphone Review: Samsung Galaxy S
by May Chua
05:55 AM Jul 02, 2010

http://www.todayonline.com/Tech/Techreviews/EDC100702-0000046/Shooting-to-a-promising-start

Read more...

Cisco sees chance to challenge iPad

UNITED States networking equipment-maker Cisco unveiled a tablet computer for business professionals on Tuesday as technology rivals lined up to compete with Apple’s iPad.

The Cisco Cius – pronounced “see us” – is powered by Google’s open-source Android operating system and boasts eight hours of battery life.

Customer trials of the Cius would begin later this year and the device would be available in the first quarter of next year.

It weighs 0.52kg, less than the iPad’s 0.68kg, and has a 7-inch screen, smaller than the 9.7-inch screen on the Apple device.

Unlike the iPad, which does not have a camera, the Cius features two: A front-mounted high-definition camera which allows for high-definition video streaming and real-time video, and a 5-megapixel rear-facing camera.

The Cius also offers e-mail, instant messaging, Web browsing through Wi-Fi and eventually 4G connectivity, and the ability to produce, edit and share content stored locally oron the Internet.

Cisco said the device was designed to provide workers with “the ability to access and share the content they need from any place on the network”.

Said Mr Tony Bates, a Cisco senior vice-president: “This platform can transform how healthcare professionals advance patient care, how retailers deliver service experiences to consumers, or how universities deliver world-class education to their
students.”

Cisco is making more products that transmit video, moving beyond its core business of routers and switches.

The Cius will cost less than US$1,000 (S$1,400), said Mr Bates.

AFP, BLOOMBERG

Soure: www.mypaper.com.sg

Read more...