May 19th, 2012
The iPad and its imaginary, smaller friend. (Credit: CNET) Apple has reportedly already tagged LCD suppliers for an iPad mini, with an eye toward launching the tablet in the second half of the year. This latest scuttlebut comes courtesy of Taiwan news outlet Liberty Times ( English translation ). Citing the usual, vague "market rumors" but also a report from Japanese securities firm Macquarie …
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May 19th, 2012
A patent application details a UFO rescue game.
Nintendo is thinking about the ways that the Wii U screen and TV screen can be used simultaneously with the Wii Remote, as revealed by a patent application published today.
Though previous applications mentioned the possibility, this application is the first to explain how it would work. Players must first point at each screen, pressing a button when centered. The attitude of the Wii Remote is recorded at each point so that the game later knows at which screen the Remote is being pointed. The sensor bars can be turned on and off independently to provide more accurate pointing.
A simple game is described in the application. In it, people who are being attacked by UFOs on the TV screen must be grabbed and dragged to the tablet screen where they can find refuge in a house. The description is reminiscent of the Wii Play mini-games, and could be part of a similar Wii U collection.
The patent application was filed on Oct. 7, 2011 (Nov. 17, 2010 in Japan), and the authors listed are Kenichi Nishida, Yoshikazu Yamashita, and Takayuki Shimamura.
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May 19th, 2012
Huawei Technologies Co., China’s
largest maker of phone equipment, said its MediaPad tablet
computers are being tested by Tribune Co. as news readers.
The Chicago Tribune and Los Angeles Times are conducting
trials of the tablets through the end of this month, and the
devices may be rolled out nationwide once those tests are
complete, said James Jiang, executive vice president of product
solutions at Huawei’s device business in the U.S.
Huawei founder Ren Zhengfei is diversifying the company
into consumer mobile devices to expand business in the U.S.,
where lawmakers have opposed sales of its phone-network
equipment because of his Chinese military background. Tribune
Chief Executive Officer Eddy Hartenstein is seeking to add a new
business to stem losses from declining newspaper circulation and
increased printing costs.
“We are always looking for opportunities to provide
companies with products and solutions that will enhance the
level of service that they provide to their customers,” Jiang
said in an e-mail. “In this case, it is about providing the
Tribune’s readers with a platform that allows them to access
news and other content.”
The Chicago-based Tribune Co., which also owns radio and TV
stations, filed for bankruptcy in 2008, one year after a
leveraged buyout led by real-estate billionaire Sam Zell.
Tribune, valued earlier this year by the company at more than $7
billion, owes creditors about $13 billion. The company said May
15 it will stop publishing LA, Los Angeles Times Magazine, on
June 3.
Gary Weitman, a Tribune spokesman, declined to comment.
Huawei unveiled the MediaPad tablet, which runs Google
Inc.’s Android operating system, last year as profit was cut by
half. Huawei plans to boost total revenue as much as 20 percent
this year, aided by the push into the consumer market,
Controller C.T. Johnson said last month.
To contact Bloomberg News staff for this story:
Edmond Lococo in Beijing at
elococo@bloomberg.net;
Mark Milian in San Francisco at
mmilian@bloomberg.net
To contact the editors responsible for this story:
Michael Tighe at
mtighe4@bloomberg.net;
Tom Giles at
tgiles5@bloomberg.net
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May 18th, 2012
Dartmouth College Director of Pharmacy Chris Henderson testified Wednesday that pharmacist Jeffrey A. Licht was responsible for 60 of 61 manual adjustments of inventory for narcotic tablets containing hydrocodone over a 23-month period.
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May 18th, 2012
As spring reaches full blossom, it’s not just the flowers that are beginning to show — so are the new slates heavy hitters teased back at CES. So, what does that mean? It means it’s high-time that we cast a fresh glance over the tablet landscape, took in a deep breath of slate-infused air and exhaled a hearty Engadget tablet buyer’s guide. We’ve been running the smartphone equivalent for a little while now, so we thought it only fair to give the now-mature tablet category one of its own. We’re going to look at the main categories of fondleslabbery and carve out what we think are the finest offerings on the market right now. It doesn’t matter if you’re looking for something big, small, just good enough or so powerful that it could replace your laptop: we’ve collected our favorites and shepherded them safely into this one humble guide. Of course, if you want to cast your net a little wider, you can always check out our tablet review hub, but if you struggle with indecision, head on past the break to see what’s hot right now in Tablet Land.
10-inch tablets
When the Transformer Prime landed on our laps at the tail end of last year, it’s fair to say we were smitten. It quickly took its place at the top of the Android tablet pile and months later, it’s still a strong contender. Though its main selling point would seem to be the signature keyboard dock, it’s actually the generous built-in storage (32GB and up), solid build quality, 8-megapixel camera and 600-nit, IPS display that won us over. Though GPS issues have cast a small shadow over an otherwise great product, ASUS has attempted to make amends in the form of an external dongle. If you’re not in a hurry to buy, you might as well wait for the Infinity Pad 700, which ushers in a higher-res 1920 x 1200 display and your choice of a Tegra 3 or Krait chip. Another alternative to the Prime is the new, budget-friendly TF300 ($380 and up), a slightly heavier slightly less longevous model that still manages to do the Transformer name proud.
No surprise to see this fella on the list. While it might not have been the first tablet computer, Apple’s iPad certainly breathed life into a category that had previously found success in the business world and certain niche markets. Be warned that the latest version runs a little hot, but that doesn’t detract from the fact that it has a mind-melting 2048 x 1536 screen, new and improved A5 chip, quad-core graphics and, of course, superb app and accessory support. If Apple’s latest and greatest pushes your budget to the limit, its predecessor is still a decent slab of tech that can now be snapped up for a more reasonable $399.
If you live and die by the numbers, then maybe Acer’s Iconia A510 will push your (virtual) buttons. We only just reviewed this speedy little slate, and found its quad-core, Tegra-3-fueled engine purred along sweetly in our benchmarks. Beyond the solid processing stats, the A510 ticks off lots of key checkboxes on shoppers’ lists. Ice Cream Sandwich? Yep. A 10-inch form factor? You got it. Good enough resolution (1280 x 800)? Indeedy. And a reasonable price ($450)? We think so. Acer will be keen to claim some space in the tablet market, and we think this is a solid flag in the ground.
7-inch tablets
If you fancy Samsung’s industrial design, but prefer something a little easier to hold, you might want to treat your fingers to the Galaxy Tab 7.7 instead. We pretty much declared it the best 7-inch tablet in our review, and our feelings haven’t changed. The epic battery life, brilliant S AMOLED Plus screen and lively dual-core, 1.4GHz Exynos engine make this an Android tour de force. This quality does come at a price, however, and it’s not a metaphorical one. If you want top spec, be prepared to pay top price, with the global HSPA+ version of the 7.7 pinching roughly 6.6 Benjamins, especially if you import it.
If the price of the Galaxy Tab 7.7 makes your eyes water, why not dry them off next to the Kindle Fire? Amazon’s success with its e-reader line plumped the pillows nicely for the introduction of a more capable member to the company’s hardware family. The specs won’t, ahem, start any fires, but the humble 1GHz dual-core chip, 512MB of RAM and 8GB internal storage are made up for by that $199 price tag. Naturally, it’s got Amazon’s services running through its veins, which means easy access to e-books, music and more. This all assumes you don’t mind living in a cordoned-off garden of the Android palace; it’s a heavily customized version of the platform, which rules out access to Google’s own Play store. That said, if you want a tab mainly for consuming content, and like the rattle of some change in your pocket, the Kindle Fire is one of your best bets.
Amazon wasn’t the only e-reader maker that thought it could crack the tablet market. Barnes & Noble trotted out the Nook tablet and took its book-loving rivals head-on. A similar size and price tag make it hard not to compare this against Amazon’s juiced-up Kindle. In brief, the strong points are that it’s a little less restrictive on the software front, letting you step out of the walled garden, and we also found the 1024 x 600 display is better for video watching. Plus, there’s a memory card slot for expanding the storage. All that will cost you $199 (down from $250!) — a small price to pay if a little flexibility is what you’re after.
3G / 4G tablets
For those of you who a slate coupled with always-on internet, a 3G or 4G option might be worth the investment. In the US, at least, they typically require a two-year contract, which will hardly be a good fit for everyone. It should go without saying, but read your local carrier’s fine print before taking the plunge.
This is our second mention of Samsung’s 7-inch tablet, and this time it comes bearing Big Red’s LTE logo. We still love it for all the same reasons and, incredibly, Verizon’s 4G service doesn’t put a dent in its impossibly long runtime. The only drawback, as ever, is the price. In addition to $500 for the hardware, Verizon wants two years of your life and a data fee paid on time each month. As we alluded to, there’s also a global HSPA+ version for use on other networks, if you don’t mind paying an extra 200 smackers or so for the privilege.
More familiar territory here: Apple, too, is making a second cameo on this list. The iPad has, of course, been available with 3G since it first hustled its way into our lives two ago. Now in its third iteration, you can gulp them bits down over 4G / LTE, rather than sip from the same old 3G mug. Other than that, it’s more of the same, but if you love the look of that screen, and can’t bear to be offline, then this is the one for you.
When Huawei’s MediaPad turned up on American shores in T-Mobile livery, it did so on the crest of a 7-inch tablet wave (Acer’s Iconia Tab A100 and Samsung’s Galaxy Tab Plus 7.0 were just hitting the market as well). Despite this, we described it as “speedy, well-built and longevous,” with the added bonus of T-Mobile’s 14.4Mbps HSPA+ network. With a dual-core 1.2GHz processor, 8GB of built-in storage and 1280 x 800 IPS display, the specs are reasonable, with price – once again – being the only major cloud. T-Mobile is asking for $250 and 24 months on contract, which will exceed most people’s cost to need threshold. However, if you don’t mind paying $430 for the unsubsidized hardware and buying pay-as-you-go data packages instead, then it could still be a contender for your mobile internet affections.
Budget
When Jeff Bezos and the team at Amazon were planning their debut into the tablet world, the final price was undoubtedly of the utmost importance. Landing at $199, the Kindle Fire was pitched just right for those who didn’t want to spring for something a little more spec-heavy. But, and perhaps most importantly, this isn’t just another cheap tablet. Amazon’s robust catalog of books, music and apps make this 7 inches of pocket-friendly joy.
Like the Kindle Fire, the Nook Tablet is worthy of mention as a 7-inch tablet, but that $199 price tag means it deserves a place on more budget-conscious shoppers’ radar, in particular. If you were worried about the tablet’s skimpy internal storage, you needn’t be. And besides, if the built-in 8GB of space isn’t enough, the expandable memory can solve any latent concerns for just a few more bucks. Also worth noting is the unique design, which (mentioning no names) will appeal to those who don’t want their slate confused with any of its competition.
If the Galaxy Tab 7.7 whetted your tablet appetite, but the hefty price tag dampened your spirits, all is not lost. The Galaxy Tab 2 7.0 offers up a great ICS experience, but without the balk-inducing cost. In our review, we found the dual-core 1GHz TI OMAP chip handles the latest version of Android just fine, and the good-enough 1024 x 600 LCD display is the same one used on the more premium Galaxy Tab 7.0 Plus. While this might not offer the same tightly integrated ecosystem as a Kindle Fire, this $250 slate is unbeatable if what you really want is a low-cost tablet running the latest version of Android.
If you want hang out with the big (screen) boys, but still keep on the right side of the $350 fence, then Acer’s Iconia Tab A200 is worth more than just a cursory glance. This 10-incher’s 1280 x 800 display and dual-core 1GHz Tegra 2 SoC won’t have your hairs standing on end, but it will put Android 4.0 into your hands, while keeping the coffers relatively unharmed.
While we’ve done our best to compare popular tablet choices, we understand you too may have a favorite that’s not mentioned here. If so, feel free to represent it in comments below, tell us why you love it, and perhaps you’ll see it here next time!
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May 17th, 2012
MSO and programmer came to legal blows over the issue last year
By Todd Spangler, Multichannel News — Broadcasting & Cable, 5/16/2012 3:49:40 PM
Time Warner Cable and Viacom announced a deal Wednesday that will provide Nick, MTV and other networks to the MSOs TWC TV service for watching live TV on tablets, smartphones and PCs in the home, ending the companies’ year-long legal fight.
TWC said over the next few weeks it will add Viacom channels to the app lineup, including Nick, Comedy Central, MTV and VH1. Terms of the deal were not disclosed.
In addition to the channels that will become available via TWC TV, Time Warner Cable will continue to carry Country Music Television (CMT) and also will carry additional linear channels from Viacom, including MTV Hits, MTV Jams and Centric.
Subscribers in many major markets such as New York City will gain access to TV Land HD and BET HD, as well, according to Viacom.
Click here to read the full story at Multichannel News.
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May 17th, 2012
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Saying he won’t let blight expand into Carmel, Mayor Jim Brainard today sent three city officials to a bar recently cited for underage drinking — who promptly cited it for four building violations.
Police arrested 16 minors Saturday at the Double Apple Lounge at 96th and Michigan Road, just inside the Carmel city limits.
“The mayor was concerned after reading reports in the news about an incident of underage drinking at the Double Apple Lounge and the attempt by management to hide those minors (some as young as 15) by having them pose as kitchen staff,” a city news release said.
Brainard sent the city prosecutor, building inspector and fire marshal to the bar. According to the news release, the Double Apple was cited for having combustibles stored in front of electrical panel and mechanicals; a hood system had not been inspected in the previous six months; a sign violation (window signs exceeding the size and coverage limit) and having exit signs without proper lighting.
We cannot allow the blight that exists along certain portions of the Michigan Road corridor south of 96th Street to expand into Carmel,” Brainard said in the news release.
“We are adamant that our local laws must be followed and that businesses that violate these laws be prosecuted to the fullest extent to protect property values in this area.
The news release said the lounge owners, identified as Reba Bentz and Miguel Angel Sarria, will be expected to appear in court.
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May 17th, 2012
 The workforce is becoming more mobile than ever before, and the capable tablet is a growing reason why. It is why the Bring Your Own Device (BYOD) movement is in the news so much, as many want to bring the tablet to work. The tablet frees folks up to work almost anywhere, in large part because mobile OSes have evolved to provide powerful mobile experiences.
Right now I am working as I do every day, performing all the tasks I need to do, dealing with work issues as they come up, and writing this column. It is business as usual, except I am at the car dealership having my auto repaired.
Related:
While I am sitting here in the waiting room, a team of mechanics is trying to figure out (and hopefully repair) the air conditioning on my SUV. That’s a critical repair in the humid Texas Gulf Coast, as summer is approaching which turns cars without A/C into death traps.
Those who follow this column probably aren’t surprised about my working here. I’ve worked in various venues and covered it. Heck, I even worked in the ICU after an accident so working in the repair shop is a piece of cake.
I point this out as it is significant that I am able to work without compromise in the most unlikely of places due to an outstanding mobile platform and a tablet that is as capable as any computer. I won’t detail which platform or tablet I am using as I don’t want discussion to turn into flame wars. The point is it doesn’t matter, I could be using an Android tablet, iPad, or even the BlackBerry Playbook. Any of those tools are up to the challenge I regularly throw at them.
This is a good time to be a mobile enthusiast, as the tools have grown wonderfully in the last few years. The hardware is simply great, and the platforms that drive it just as good. Sure, there is always room for improvement but the fact is what we have is already pretty darn good.
This is why Microsoft is so anxious to get in the mobile space with tablets, as they see the future. The decision to constrict Windows Phone to phone hardware is hurting them in this mobile revolution. This is why Windows 8, and particularly Windows RT on ARM tablets, is so important to the folks at Redmond.
Windows RT has a big opportunity on ARM tablets, as a large segment of consumers I hear from regularly do not believe the other mobile platforms are capable of doing real work. That’s not true in my experience, but it plays into Microsoft’s hands with Windows RT tablets.
This is why it is vital for Microsoft to get Windows RT right, and in particular the browser. Microsoft’s mobile browsers have fallen short in the past, and this cannot happen with Windows RT. Having a browser on Windows RT that requires excuses will be fatal. It is time for excellence, not excuses with Internet Explorer on Windows RT.
Today’s apps are nice tools to use for working anywhere, but even when they are lacking the mobile browser usually steps in when needed. Browsers on every mobile platform have evolved into near desktop equivalents, and they can be used without compromise almost all the time.
They are based on Webkit, which has shown to be a marvelous platform for mobile browsers. They work well on both tablet and smartphone hardware, and have been optimized nicely for each type of gadget.
Adoption of tablets and mobile platforms will ramp up as more get exposed to the ability to work without walls (even cubicle partitions). More folks will push to bring their personal gadgetry to work, and the BYOD movement is going to gain legs as a result. Microsoft cannot affort to sit out this revolution, and better be great at the Windows RT launch.
Image credit: Steve Snodgrass
See also:
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May 15th, 2012
Jill-e Designs E-GO Tablet Messenger
Measuring 12” long, 4” deep, and 9.5” tall, Tablet Messenger has a number of pockets both inside and out. Starting at the front, right underneath the magnetic-snap equipped flap, there’s a large pocket that’s well suited for accessories. Open up the zipper at the top of the bag and you’ll find dedicated pockets for a tablet, e-reader, phone, two pens or styluses, as well as another zippered pouch. While the tablet holder isn’t specifically sized for any one generation of iPad, it’s padded and has a Velcro strap that holds it in place. Finally, there’s a shallow cavity on the back, held shut with a zipper. In addition to all those pockets, an ID holder is included on a leather tether.
The overall quality of the bag is very high. Jill-e seems to have used the same leather for both the body of the bag and the shoulder strap as it did on Metro Tablet Bag. We previously described the material as “textured and supple,” which continues to be true; the inclusion of metal accents, including four feet on the bottom of the bag that allow it to stand upright, is also appreciated. We did find a bit of dried glue on one of the zipper pulls that detracted a little from the overall appeal, but it wasn’t a deal breaker. Jill-e uses the same fabric to line the interior of the bag as with its previous bag, however, everything looks to have been more cleanly assembled, with fewer rough edges.
E-GO Tablet Messenger is not for everyone, but that’s solely because of its feminine-leaning design; the quality and and functionality are pretty impressive. Women who prefer classic leather purses and want an option with tablet compatibility will likely be impressed, so while the price strikes us as somewhat high, it’s not crazy given the materials here, particularly in comparison to the purse market as a whole. With all this in mind, E-GO Tablet Messenger earns a strong general recommendation.
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May 15th, 2012
Is the large-size Samsung Galaxy Tab 2 a worthy iPad alternative? With its 10.1-inch screen, this is the Samsung tablet that competes most directly with Apple‘s flagship “post PC” product. And with a price $100 cheaper than the entry-level iPad (for the same 16GB of storage), the $400 Tab is certainly a temptress for tablet buyers.
In tablet society, though, Samsung and Android have a thinner pedigree than the iPad, and it shows in the Galaxy Tab 2 10.1. While the tablet will certainly please anyone who just wants a decent screen for checking out Netflix videos, the tablet falls short in many key features — notably, the screen.
[More from Mashable: Samsung Galaxy S III: Is the Screen Its Achilles Heel?]
To be clear, the new Tab is a fine Android tablet. Running version 4.0 “Ice Cream Sandwich” out of the box on a dual-core 1GHz processor and sporting a 1,280 x 800 display, Samsung’s latest toy has a lot to brag about. But when you’re talking tablets, you simply can’t ignore the iOS elephant in the room. Any tablet up for sale doesn’t just have to convince buyers it’s worthy of their cash — it has to show why it’s more worthy than the iPad.
It’s a fair argument to say, that since the Galaxy Tab 2 10.1 is priced at $400, it’s really competing with the repositioned iPad 2, which now costs the same. But even putting aside the Retina display, better camera and faster processor in the latest Apple tablet, the experience on the Tab 2 (and most Android tablets) is generally a poor substitute for what you get from an iPad.
[More from Mashable: Turntable.fm Makes Its Way to Android]
First of all, the tablet is hampered by the classic Android problem of a lack of good tablet support for many apps. Even mainstream apps like Twitter and Facebook still have stretched-out user interfaces that are more suited to a smaller phone screen. Forget the extremely visual layouts in, say, the eBay app for iPad, and forget running Hulu Plus at all (it doesn’t yet offer support for Samsung’s latest tabs).
The issue isn’t limited to apps. Using the browser, many sites (including Mashable) took me straight to the mobile version, even though the Tab’s 10.1-inch screen is more than enough to take on full web pages.
SEE ALSO: What Android Ice Cream Sandwich Does That iOS Doesn’t
All these “is it a phone or a tablet?” issues, of course, are a symptom of Android’s fragmentation problem. With so many devices out there — all with different screens, processors and software — few sites or apps are ready for every possible device. Still, that’s not the buyer’s problem.
Samsung has some tricks that help it stand out from the Android pack, though. Like its little 7-inch brother, the Galaxy Tab 2 10.1 has an infrared blaster so you can use the tablet as a remote control. Paired with an pre-installed app called Peel, the tablet can configure itself to control your TV and other gear just by tapping a few virtual buttons.
At least in theory. In practice, the process is much less nimble, and Peel stumbled badly on the first “activity” I attempted to set up. After successfully turning my Pioneer receiver on and off, it then attempted to switch inputs on it, but couldn’t. Worse yet, the app offered no way to skip the step without contacting technical support. I abandoned the process at this point, something I expect the majority of customers would do, too.
Samsung also offers one-stop shopping for movies, music and games right from the home screen. Although when I say “offers,” I should really say “thrusts your face in front of.” The large Samsung storefront widgets that appear on the screen by default highlight exactly what’s wrong with Android, though at least they’re easily deleted.
On pure performance, the Galaxy Tab 2 is a trooper. It performed well in benchmarks, besting most of the phones we’ve reviewed lately and leaving the original iPad in the dust. Still, it didn’t quite beat the iPad 2, and the iPad 3 blew it away. In terms of real-world use, I found there was a slight lag after some finger taps and motion wasn’t quite as fluid as I’d like, but I’m now used to the iPad 3.
At the end of the day, if you’re in the market for a tablet, you could do a lot worse than the Samsung Galaxy Tab 2 10.1. It’s a solid performer, and the bright widescreen display is tailor-made for things like watching HD video. But until app developers rise to the challenge of fully supporting Android tablets — and Google gets its fragmentation problem under control — tablets such as the Tab 2 will never make enough noise to be heard over the stampede of customers trampling their way toward the nearest Apple Store.
Samsung Galaxy Tab 2 10.1, Packaging
Here’s what new owners of the Samsung Galaxy Tab 2 will see first.
Click here to view this gallery.
This story originally published on Mashable here.
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