Dell Tablet keyboard equipped Showcase in the IDF 2010

Dell Computer Company showcased a tablet PC that has a unique design with a screen that can be played and completed the keyboard at the Intel Developer Forum 2010, Tuesday (14/09/2010). Windows-based 10-inch tablets immediately get a warm welcome from those present at the event IDF 2010.

The interesting thing about the tablet PC is-not like tablet PCs in general, he has a keyboard. How a tablet can have a keyboard? It turned out that these tablets could be opened and the screen can be turned 180 degrees. In front of the screen, it’s located keyboard just like on the notebook.

The tablet is called Inspiron. It is equipped dual-core Atom processor and operating system Windows 7. "Any time we have to work. Tablets are interesting for entertainment, but for some people do not really support the productivity," said Intel's current representatives to demonstrate the product. "However, this one is different," he said as he opened the tablet and show a hidden keyboard.

Interested? The product will be marketed starting this year. So, be patient.
Read more

Samsung Galaxy Tab: The Era of Computer Tablet

The competition in tablet market is heating up. Many companies are increasingly competing in device makers to make Slate or tablets that can compete with Apple's iPad. One of them is Samsung, which plans to create a tablet-based Android operating system.

According to reports from Reuters, Samsung plans to launch the tablet PC in the third quarter of this year to compete iPad, Microsoft and other tablets. The Samsung tablet could be called "Galaxy Tab". So far, Samsung is using the brand of the Galaxy for its Android-based products.

It is a little bit unique; Galaxy Tab will use the screen 7-inch or 2 inches larger than Dell's Streak, but smaller than the iPad. There is no official information about this tablet, but the possibility the tablet using Android version 2.2 or commonly called Froyo.

However, according to Electronista site, Samsung Galaxy Tabs may use the Super AMOLED screen that will provide quality images with high resolution and contrast ratio so it can be seen in the outer room with a beam of sunlight. Moreover, this tablet uses 1.2GHz processor, has two cameras, front and back camera with VGA resolution including 3.2 MP, 16 GB of internal memory and micro SDHC external memory slot.
Read more

Samsung Galaxy S : iPhone killer or iPhone wannabe?

The Android smartphone segment keeps getting stronger, and the Samsung Galaxy S looks set to be a key player in 2010. Not only does it get the company’s coveted Super AMOLED display, but a 1GHz processor, 720p HD video recording and plenty of wireless connectivity. Now freshly announced as incoming to Verizon as the Fascinate, T-Mobile USA as the Vibrant and of course AT&T as the Captivate, the Galaxy S is certainly spreading itself around. Is this Android’s answer to the iPhone 4?

In the time we’ve been carrying the Galaxy S, more than a few people – geeks included – have mistaken it for an iPhone 3GS. The glossy black plastic and metal-effect bezel both echo Apple’s second/third-gen smartphone; the irony, of course, is that the Cupertino company has now moved on with the almost retro lines of the iPhone 4, and the Galaxy S feels a little indistinct in comparison. It’s certainly a lightweight and slim handset, at 122.4 x 64.2 x 9.9mm and 119g, though it’s undoubtedly plasticky in its hand-feel. Still, there’s little creaking or flexing, and build quality feels decent.

Hardware controls are minimal, consisting of a volume rocker on the left hand side, the power/standby key on the right, and a home button under the screen that’s flanked by touch-sensitive menu and back buttons. Long-holding the menu key calls up search. The power button feels poorly placed, and we’d rather it were on the top edge of the Galaxy S; it’s also a little vague in its physical feel, and more than a few times we’ve accidentally hit it twice or held it too long and had to dismiss the power-off menu. The absence of a D-pad or optical joystick is generally not a problem; we only missed it when trying to precisely navigate within text to make spelling or URL corrections.

As for the rest of the hardware, keeping the whole thing moving is Samsung’s own 1GHz Hummingbird processor, paired with 8GB (or 16GB, depending on version) of internal storage. In our 8GB review unit that’s partitioned into approximately 2GB for apps and 6GB for media; there’s also a microSD slot (for up to 32GB cards). Connectivity includes triband 900/1900/2100 HSDPA/HSUPA along with WiFi b/g/n, Bluetooth 3.0 and a microUSB 2.0 port; there’s also GPS, an accelerometer, digital compass, and both proximity and light sensors. Like the iPhone 4, the Galaxy S has two cameras: one, a 5-megapixel autofocus unit on the back, and a VGA-quality front facing camera for video calls. No flash – LED or otherwise – however, though you can record 720p HD video at 30fps.

It’s probably the display that is the Galaxy S’ crowning glory, with Samsung’s own Super AMOLED technology making a reappearance after its decent showing on the bada-powered Wave. Here, though, it’s grown to 4-inches (800 x 480 resolution) and it’s quite the eye-catcher. Colors are vivid and beautifully saturated, while the brightness is easily strong enough on the medium setting. That adds up to reasonable outdoor performance, too; unlike the Nexus One, the AMOLED display of which requires more than a cupped hand in order to make it out, the Galaxy S is visible – though not ideal, we have to say – in normal daylight conditions.

The obvious comparison is against Apple’s new Retina Display technology, and of course the Galaxy S’ resolution can’t compete with the 326dpi of the iPhone 4′s outstanding screen. Nonetheless, it’s one of the best panels we’ve seen on a mobile device of late, and certainly better than most AMOLED and LCD displays. Here, Samsung have paired it with a decent, responsive capacitive touchscreen that requires only a relatively light touch.

Software wise, the Galaxy S runs Android 2.1 partially disguised by the company’s own TouchWiz 3.0 UI. The main improvement is in the notification bar, which now gets persistent shortcuts for toggling WiFi, Bluetooth, silent and vibration modes, together with media playback controls when the MP3 app is running. Four fixed icons – Phone, Contacts, Messaging and Applications – run along the bottom of the screen and can’t be moved or replaced. [Update: only Applications is permanent; the others can be swapped out by going into the app menu and choosing Edit from the menu - thanks tnt!] Still, we’ve made our feelings clear about TouchWiz (in its various incarnations) in previous reviews; suffice to say, it lacks the appeal of HTC Sense, and most of the time we’d have preferred the basic Android 2.1 interface. More worryingly, whatever Samsung has done to the ROM has introduced numerous points of lag and even freezing.

Try to open your email inbox, or view a specific message, and the Galaxy S sometimes seizes up for a few seconds before the content is shown. There are similar pauses when deleting items or marking messages unread, with pop-up contextual menus hanging around on-screen for seconds longer than they should. Meanwhile the back control can be reluctant in its action, before suddenly catching up and slinging you to the homescreen. We’ve got two Galaxy S handsets on hand from different sources and both show the same sort of issues (more noticeable when you’ve loaded your email inbox and contacts). It’s frustrating, especially given that the 1GHz chip can otherwise feel faster than smartphones running Qualcomm’s rival 1GHz Snapdragon CPU.

Lag isn’t the only problem we’ve had, either. The Galaxy S has randomly lost our email inbox in the time we’ve been using it – requiring inputing all our Exchange settings again, and performing a full sync – and the camera app has crashed a couple of times, refusing to load until we power-cycled the phone. Elsewhere, the UI is simply frustrating. New SMS alerts, for instance, aren’t removed from the Android notification bar until you not only view the message in the bubble conversation view, but actually tap the new bubble itself and “open” it on a separate page. No new information, but an extra step all the same. We prefer the regular Android icons to those in TouchWiz, though admittedly that’s a matter of taste, but the way Samsung has managed the desktop is slightly at odds with Google’s own approach with Android. The Galaxy S has seven homescreen panes with the default “home” pane on the far left; the Android OS is more used to the “home” pane being central, and so if you choose Google Maps as your Live Wallpaper – which normally uses GPS to center the map on your current location – the maps are offset since the center point is on homescreen four. Nit-picking, yes, but it’s the sort of poor polish that undermine a successful UI.

Sadly there’s no way to easily turn off TouchWiz and return to the native Android UI, so owners unwilling to experiment with unofficial ROMs will be stuck with Samsung’s interface. Some of the company’s preloaded tools aren’t bad, however; there’s a full copy of Swype, the gesture-based keyboard (though it isn’t enabled by default) and Samsung’s multimedia player is far better than the standard Google offering. It supports MPEG4, H.264, H.263, DivX, Xvid, WMV, AVI, MKV and FLV video, among others, together with a healthy clutch of audio formats including OFF and FLAC. Paired with the 3.5mm headphones jack and onboard storage you’ve got an Android phone that could certainly give an iPod touch a run for its money.

Social networking tools are fashionable, and Samsung’s approach is a little similar to HTC’s. The Galaxy S has Samsung’s Social Hub, a combined stream of Facebook, MySpace and Twitter messages – complete with a desktop widget and the ability to send out an update to one or all services simultaneously – but there’s also a “Mini Diary” app that allows you to easily create journal entries complete with photos, stored weather information, text notes and more. Unfortunately, once created they’re basically stuck on the phone; there’s no way to remotely sync them or upload them automatically to a blog somewhere.

More useful is Samsung AllShare, which takes DLNA media sharing and puts a cellphone-friendly face on it. AllShare allows you to stream multimedia from the Galaxy S to a WiFi-connected player – whether a standalone audio system, network-connected HDTV or a computer – or vice-versa, or even to act as a remote control for your media server, selecting files to play remotely. Video, audio and images can all be streamed, and the Galaxy S simply showed up as a media source in compatible apps.
As for playback on the Galaxy S itself, understandably it’s video that shines best thanks to the Super AMOLED display. We had no problems getting various DivX and Xvid files to play, with 720p HD video looking great. Interestingly, there’s a TV Out option in the settings pages, though no sign of an adapter in the box to actually hook up a bigger screen. Audio, meanwhile, is reasonably loud and clear via the Galaxy S’ own speaker, but Samsung’s bundled earbuds are actually surprisingly good and, while still not outperforming a reasonable aftermarket set, do at least avoid the noise leakage and underwhelming bass of Apple’s standard set. There’s also an FM radio, complete with auto-scan and user presets, though it relies on the headphone wire to act as antenna.

Samsung has something of a reputation for decent cellphone cameras, and the Galaxy S generally doesn’t disappoint. At 5-megapixels with autofocus, the only thing missing from the spec sheet is a flash of some sort. What you do get are various photography modes, including blink, face and smile detection, panorama and high-speed shooting, together with a decent amount of control over manual settings. There are also multiple effects, such as vintage and cartoon, and a high-visibility mode which boosts the UI so that it’s easier to see while outdoors. The end result are bright, clear and well balanced shots, with decent colors and – as long as you don’t use the digital zoom – little noise or pixellation. Without a flash you’re obviously limited in your low-light use, with focus being a particular trouble, though we might argue that LED flash units are generally underwhelming anyway. There are samples in the gallery below, unedited aside from being resized by 50-percent.

Video, meanwhile, can be recording in one of five resolutions from 320 x 240 to 1280 x 720, with or without audio and with manual control over exposure, contrast, saturation and sharpness. However there’s no focus control. Interestingly, during recording you can choose to either pause or stop; pausing allows you to chain several segments into the same clip. A size counter shows how big the file is getting while you can also use the 4x digital zoom (which is jerky moving between levels, rather than a smooth optical zoom). Files are recorded in MPEG-4 in a 3GP container and at around 11.6Mbps, along with mono audio from the Galaxy S’ single microphone.

We weren’t disappointed on playback, either. Audio, obviously, isn’t as precise as with a stereo microphone, but video was smooth, jerk-free and on a par with a point-and-shoot camcorder such as from Flip. Fast pans showed no blurring or jerking, and despite the absence of a manual macro mode during video recording close-up text was legible. It’s disappointing Samsung don’t include either an HDMI port or a suitable adapter cable for easily playing back content on a larger display, though of course if your TV is compatible you can use AllShare.

To get to grips with what the Galaxy S’ Hummingbird CPU could really deliver, we turned to Android benchmarking tool Quadrant. This measures processor, memory, I/O and 2D/3D graphics and combines them into a single numerical score. The Galaxy S (running Android 2.1) came in at 874, while a Google Nexus One (running Android 2.2 FRF50) scored 1,390. That’s a considerable difference, but a lot could be down to the OS rather than the hardware; according to Quadrant’s figures, the Galaxy S scored approximately 50-percent more than a Nexus One running Android 2.1, suggesting that should the Samsung handset get a Froyo update then it might pull ahead of the Google-branded phone.

Updates, though, are a sore issue among Samsung owners right now. The company recently pushed out Android 1.6 to its Behold II handset – launched in November 2009 with 1.5 – but also confirmed that the smartphone wouldn’t see any further upgrades to 2.x or beyond. Opinion understandably differs: some say the Behold II simply isn’t powerful enough to handle the Live Wallpapers and other system-intensive features of newer versions of Android, while others reckon Samsung are merely looking to forget the older phone and instead push on with their newer devices.

Meanwhile, Samsung has apparently confirmed that the Galaxy S should get an Android 2.2 Froyo update later in 2010, but the exact timescale for that still isn’t definitive. As we’ve seen with other Android devices that use custom UIs, manufacturers generally struggle to adapt to newer OS versions and that delays their release. Our advice is always to pick a phone which does what you want it to do today, rather than what it might do months down the line, but we’d also add that handsets with the basic Android build rather than a manufacturer-tweaked one should inevitably be your choice if speedy upgrades are your top priority.

We can’t fault the Galaxy S on phone performance. Voice calls are clear and loud, and the speakerphone is suitably booming. Unfortunately apps aren’t quite set up to take advantage of the front-facing VGA camera yet; Qik’s video call app only works on the EVO 4G right now, while Fring are still working on an update that can use the Galaxy S’ front camera rather than the back one. Battery life, meanwhile, proved more impressive than expected. With push email turned on and regular use, we got through two days from the Galaxy S’ 1,500mAh battery, surprising indeed for a modern touchscreen smartphone.

So what about the iPhone 4? There are certainly similarities: the processors (which despite the differing names were both developed by Samsung and Apple-acquired Intrinsity) each run at 1GHz, the camera resolution is the same, both are slim and relatively lightweight. However the two platforms – iOS4 and Android – differ significantly in their approach to users, developers and openness. Apple’s by now legendary approvals process for the App Store means that only those titles that suit the company’s intent for the iPhone will get through; on the other hand, users have greater confidence that the software they download is unlikely to negatively affect their handset.

Meanwhile the Android Market does without the strict gatekeepers, meaning the breadth of apps is greater though the risk of downloading something half-baked or even malware-infected is also higher. There’s growing choice, and the Android OS as a whole is far more flexible in terms of developer tinkering. In its more recent versions it’s relatively user-friendly, too, a far cry from the early days.
Is the occasionally staccato performance enough to sour the Galaxy S altogether, however? We’re not entirely sure what’s causing the occasional lag – poor CPU throttling perhaps – but we’re hoping Samsung can address it with a minor firmware patch. As it stands, it’s a frustrating mar on what’s otherwise a very strong smartphone experience. The Galaxy S’ screen is the best this side of a Retina Display – and larger too – while the phone, albeit erring on the plastic side, is well made and has impressive multimedia skills. It’s also slim, so despite the screen size can drop into a front pocket without causing problems. The strengths outweigh the drawbacks overall, though you may find yourself explaining more then once that no, this isn’t an iPhone, it’s something arguably just as good.

Source article: www.slashgear.com
Read more

Microsoft Tablet Show off to Competitor iPad

Monday (7/12/2010), Microsoft Corp. Chief Executive Steve Ballmer is exhibiting a computer tablet with Windows 7 operating system. He said that more than 20 producers are prepared to release a tablet device to rival Apple's iPad.

A computer tablet with Windows platform has a compact size, can be gripped, and equipped with wireless access. Microsoft partners making the tablet are including Acer, Dell, Samsung, Toshiba, Sony, and a dozen other PC makers. Whether intentionally or not, HP's name is not mentioned, In fact, HP was the first partner who previously exhibited as a designer of Microsoft's tablet computer called the Slate.

"This year is a year which is very important to us because we want to make some major changes in the categories of smart devices using Windows 7," Ballmer said as he opened the Worldwide Partner Conference.

At the same conference, Microsoft also announced a new partnership with eBay, Fujitsu, and Dell to test Microsoft Windows Azure cloud as a services platform. Basically, this technology will help companies manage their computing power and data over the Internet without having invested in each device used.
Read more

i Pad : Wifi vs 3G

As most everyone has heard, Apple, Inc. has just released it’s latest product, the Apple iPad. Rumors about such a product have been around for the last ten years or so, and it is finally here. Before it was released, many were trying to guess the name for this new form of computer. These names included the Apple Tablet, Canvas, and the Slate. But the final decision was made, and the name iPad was decided on. The iPad seems to be a cross between the iPhone and the MacBook. Some have described it as an expanded version of the iPhone.


The Apple iPad is equipped with a 9.7 inch multi- touch screen. It comes with three flash storage capacities-16, 32 or 64 GB, depending on the model chosen. Its many built in apps were designed to work specifically with the large screen and advanced capabilities of the product. These apps can be used with the screen in any orientation, which makes it very different from other devices. The split screen works well when viewing e-mail, and the LED-backlit display allows for an enjoyable viewing experience whether looking at photos one by one, or as a slide show. The iPad is also perfect for watching HD movies, podcasts, music videos and even TV. Books are available from the iBookstore for use with the iBooks app which is free from the App Store. The iPad is capable of running almost all of the apps which are available from the App Store. However, there are a limited number of drawbacks with these first generation iPads. One feature which many feel should have been included is an internal camera, but others feel this is an unnecessary extra. Of more concern with the current iPad is the inability to multitask. It is unable to run more than one app at a time. This will most likely be addressed in future versions. Additionally, some are not comfortable with the on screen keyboard, but if necessary, they can purchase an external keyboard from Apple.


When Apple designed the iPad, it was decided to make two versions-the iPad WiFi, and the iPad Wifi 3G. Depending on who will be using it, and what it will be used for, one has to decide which version is best for his/her needs.


The first version to be released was the iPad WiFi. Many will find that this basic model will fill all their needs in regard to using the iPad. With this version, one will need to have access to a WiFi network in order to be able to make use of the internet and to gain access to the iPad store. If one will be using the iPad via a wireless router in their home, at their office, or in other known wifi hotspots, this version of the iPad will be perfect. When connecting to the internet, the iPad WiFi is much faster than the 3G. The experience of using the iPad WiFi in this manner is the same as when using the typical laptop computer for wireless computing. It works well when one needs to move large files on a local network. Many of those who are now using the iPhone 3G feel that there is no need to purchase another 3G service. Thus, one who has the iPhone can save money when buying the iPad by purchasing the WiFi version rather than the 3G version. In general, those who have not had the need for a 3G smart phone for a job or other reason will be well served by the Apple iPad WiFi.


However, there are many instances when one may find it necessary to have a service more dependable than WiFi. As mentioned above, for ordinary everyday computing, an iPad WiFi will be a sufficient computing device. But for those who are not always in a WiFi hotspot and need internet access no matter where they are, Apple has designed the iPad WiFi 3G. The “3G” stands for the third generation of cellular technology. This technology will allow the iPad 3G to connect to mobile networks such as AT&T, with whom they presently have a “data only” agreement. In this way, if a WiFi area is not accessible, the user will still be able to connect to the internet if the area is covered by the AT&T plan. This would be especially important for those whose business requires them to travel extensively throughout the U.S. Another added feature which comes with the iPad 3G is a GPS system. The GPS apps which are available for the iPhone will also work with the iPad 3G, thus allowing the user to make use of the navigation and location services.


The biggest difference between the iPad WiFi and the iPad WiFi 3G is the price. Depending on the size of the flash storage, the price of the WiFi ranges from $499 to $699, while the price for the 3G ranges from $629 to $829. For $130 extra, one will be able to buy the 3G version rather that the WiFi. However, that does not include the fee for a subscription for service from AT&T. As of this time, there are two 3G data plans available from AT&T for the iPad. The first plan includes 150 megabytes of data per month for a $14.99 plus taxes and any other fees. The other plan is for unlimited data at a monthly cost of $29.99 plus taxes and fees. But unlike most cell phone subscriptions, one is not committed to paying that fee every month. Because of the agreement AT&T made with Apple, one only has to pay the monthly charge if he/she wishes to make use of the 3G service that month. If one wishes, they do not ever have to use that feature. There are no contracts required. In addition, there is a “auto-cancel” setting so that one’s use of the 3G service for one month will not automatically carry over to the next month.


As can be seen, the Apple iPad is the most innovative computing device available today. Its computing capabilities are similar to those of the iPhone, and it is much more portable than the popular laptops. Both versions of the iPad have their pros and cons, and one must look at their lifestyle and computing needs before deciding between the WiFi and the 3G version of the iPad. No matter which iPad is chosen, when one owns an iPad they are on the threshold of a brand new computing experience.
(www.freeipad.net)
Read more