Toshiba’s New 10.1 and 7.7 Tablets: Thinner and Better Than Ever Before





Look out Samsung – there’s a new, thin, and sexy tablet in town, looking to snatch your crown in the ever-crowded Android tablet market. We’re talking about the forthcoming Toshiba Excite tablets. While the voluptuous Toshiba Thrive series, the company’s first dip in the market,  were anything but sexy, they did come with a generous set of features and connectivity ports that made them quite memorable and not entirely dispensable. Now, the Excite series proves the world that Toshiba means serious business. And, this time around, the sleek looks and svelte built were high on the Japanese’ priorities list.




The Toshiba Excite 7.7 features an eye-popping 1280x800 AMOLED display powered by Tegra 3
Toshiba is set to unleash two models of the Excite line. The 10.1-inch model is called Toshiba Excite X10, or AT200, and made its debut recently at CES. Meanwhile, the 7.7-inch model – known as the AT270 – was freshly introduced at Mobile World Congress this week. How exactly do these two tablets stack up against their competitors? Here’s the skinny – pun intended – on the two tablets.
First, let’s check out the contenders that are vying for that coveted “best tablet” spot.
The Contenders

This is the Toshiba Excite X10 - the thinnest tablet in the world
A thin tablet does not necessarily make a good tablet, but an ultra-thin build sure creates some nice headlines until the next flavor of the week comes along. Samsung has been consistently churning out thin, powerful, and attractive tablets, with the thinnest one currently being the Samsung P6800 Galaxy Tab 7.7. At a mere 7.9 mm in thickness, it was the thinnest slate in town until Toshiba X10 came and stole its thunder. Albeit, the difference is only 0.2 mm and it’s one you’d hardly notice.

A special mention goes to Asus Transformer Pad Infinity, with its exquisite 1920×1200 display and quad-core processor, all in an 8.3 mm thick casing. Another set of props goes to the Huawei MediaPad FHD, which is expected to be launched in Q2 2012. Coming in at 8.8 mm thickness, the MediaPad is one of the thinner tablet around, but just not thin enough to be declared the winner in the war of the thinnest tablets.
Without further ado, here are the new tablets from Toshiba, which, we think, deserve your complete attention, and maybe even some attention from your wallet.
Toshiba Excite X10
It’s official – we have the thinnest 10-incher Android tablet on the market as of now (at least for the next couple of months). The Toshiba Excite X10 comes in at a svelte form factor that is just 7.7 mm (0.3-inch) thick, and weighs 535g (1.18 pounds). Toshiba has dubbed the X10 as the thinnest and lightest tablet of the moment, so we’ll take their word for it and go along with the flow.
Toshiba_Excite_X10
The Toshiba X10 features a classy aluminum back plate and a magnesium alloy surface, and Toshiba didn’t skimp on other goodies either. These include a generous 1280×800 10.1-inch display protected by a slab of scratch-resistant Gorilla Glass, 1 GB RAM, and a dual-core 1.2GHz TI OMAP 4430 processor. For those of you who are interested in taking snapshots, the 2MP front facing and 5MP rear cameras should provide respectable results, especially since the device is equipped with an LED flash to help take better pictures in low-light conditions. Just because it’s super skinny and light, it does mean that the X10 is deprived of functional ports. Complementing its attractive exterior, the Toshiba Excite X10 has a complete set of micro SD, micro USB, and HDMI ports.
Although the tablet will ship out of the gate with Honeycomb, Toshiba promises that an update to Ice Cream Sandwich is just around the corner after its release. Meanwhile, there’s no word yet on the availability of 3G model. You can choose between the 16GB and 32GB flavors, all Wi-Fi-only models. The former is expected to cost $529, while the latter will set you back $599.
Toshiba Excite 7.7 aka AT270
After it was first teased as a prototype model back at CES, the Toshiba 7.7 tablet made a surprise appearance at Nvidia’s booth at MWC. Given the lust-worthy specs, we sure hope this one is coming out really soon. Let’s get it out of our system fast: the tablet comes with a gorgeous 7.7-inch Super AMOLED Plus screen, with 1280×800 display resolution. As if that’s not enough to get your tech juices flowing, the tablet is powered by a Tegra 3 quad-core processor, making it the perfect device for your daily fix of 3D gaming on the go.
Toshiba AT 270 7.7
The casing of the Toshiba 7.7 is different from its big brother, hence, it loses some premium points along the way. Gone is the magnesium alloy casing, only to be replaced with textured plastic on the back and glossy glass at the front. Nevertheless, it does look and feel solid, attractive even. We don’t have the exact measurements of the tablet yet, but it’s safe to assume that it might be as thin as the Toshiba Excite X10. The fact that the tablet comes at a smaller form factor didn’t stop Toshiba from including all the essential ports, such as micro SD and micro USB slots, with the exception of an apparently missing HDMI port. The Japanese company is expected to release three models of the 7.7-inch tablet: 16GB, 32GB, and 64GB.
The  Toshiba 7.7 tablet showcased at MWC runs what appears to be an unfinished build of Ice Cream Sandwich, which is at least a step up from the Honeycomb found on Toshiba X10 tablet. It is unfortunate to say that the company is yet to release more details about its price and availability. We have a hunch that it will come at a heftier price than some of its similarly sized competitors, due to its high-end Super AMOLED panel.
All in All
All told, the two tablets from Toshiba are set to make forgotten any bitter taste that the previous iterations have left in your mouth. Arriving fashionably late to the market, the Toshiba Thrive didn’t really leave much room to the imagination due to its 16mm thick frame.
Now, the Toshiba Excite X10, crowned as the thinnest and lightest tablet (at least for a while), and the Toshiba 7.7, with its gorgeous AMOLED screen and quad-core processor, are sure to elevate the Toshiba brand to new tablet heights.
What do you think about Toshiba’s latest effort?

HTC Negotiates with Google for Potential Jelly Bean Nexus




New reports have surfaced today regarding HTC’s efforts to woo Google into choosing them as the next OEM for the next generation Nexus smartphone. The upcoming Nexus-branded super-device could very well run Android 5 a.k.a. Jelly Bean. Jeff Gordon, HTC’s Global Online Communications Manager, said that since Google hasn’t chosen its Nexus partner for Jellybean, all original equipment manufacturers, including HTC, are keeping their collective fingers crossed. But what are HTC’s chances of sealing the deal? That’s a good point to consider.
You can probably remember that HTC and Google have previously formed a close working relationship when the Taiwanese developed the Nexus One, and, before that, when HTC worked on Google’s very first Android phone, the T-Mobile G1. If experience and familiarity are the key factors in Google’s decision, then HTC is a clear pick. However, if Google is looking for variety and something new, then it has to be someone else. Although we have no idea whatsoever about Google’s real standing about the situation, Jeff Gordon insists that a Nexus development wouldn’t interfere with the company’s primary goal of delivering its Sense 3.6 UI and Android 4.0 ICS to its current line of devices.
But what about Samsung, you may ask. Well, Samsung isn’t a bad option either for Google. After all, the South Korean tech giant  is heavily involved in developing the Nexus S model, as well as the Galaxy Nexus brand. Samsung local rivals, LG also suggested that they want a piece of the action. And then, there’s Motorola, which Google recently acquired.
If all goes well for HTC, the Taiwanese powerhouse will be flying to the clouds with the taste of Jellybean on its devices, including the HTC One series scheduled to arrive sometime in April this year. But for now, that remains a dream. Google has yet to make its most important decision this year. Motorola, LG, and Samsung are all just waiting for their shot. Do they stand a chance? Only Google knows.

Toshiba’s Amazing Unannounced 7.7-inch Tablet




toshiba at270
Usually, we tech bloggers strive to get our hands on the latest and greatest gadgets before they are officially announced by the manufacturers. In turn, most gadget-makers do their best to keep their latest products under wraps until they are formally inducted into society. For everyone involved, it’s second nature.

Except for Toshiba. Apparently, the Japanese don’t care that Nvidia is using one of their upcoming tablets to show off their Tegra 3 System-on-a-Chip. The slate in question is codenamed AT270, and we first saw it back at CES, when it was in a rough prototype stage. Now, it’s almost surely a finished product, and boy, it’s pretty. So pretty that Nvidia decided to use the not yet announced slate to showcase its quad-core powerhouse. But hey Toshiba, if you’re cool with it, we don’t mind.

Finally, a Pretty Toshiba Tablet

From the outside, the new AT270 impresses through two things. First, and most obvious, the screen  – a beautiful Super AMOLED Plus displays that is as vibrant as they get. The 1280 x 800 display is similar to the one used by Samsung’s Galaxy Tab 7.7, and there is a good chance that they are actually identical. Super AMOLED Plus is the improved version of Super AMOLED, which comes with more sub-pixels and replaces the hated (by some) PenTile technology with a regular RGB matrix. (How’s that for a crash course into display technology?) The result: a thinner screen, improved brightness, and smaller energy consumption.
toshiba-at270


The second thing that catches the eye at the Toshiba AT270 is its sleek and stylish appearance. Previous Toshiba Thrive slates have been criticized for their unassuming, even stodgy design. Moreover, the cheap materials used to make them didn’t help correct that image. But now, Toshiba seems to have realized that we live in a world where looks are often more important than function, so the new AT270 comes without a full-size USB port like the Thrives had. This allowed them to shave a few millimeters off the new slate, which feels decidedly thin and light. And, instead of a rubberized back, Toshiba’s new tab features a gold texturized plastic back plate, which feels like a huge improvement. Overall, in terms of industrial design, the AT270 is a major step forward for Toshiba.

Beauty on the Outside, Beast on the Inside

Now, Toshiba would have received ovations just for finally delivering an attractive tablet. But they decided to go for the gold, so the new AT270 features a Tegra 3 quad-core processor, clocked at 1.5GHz. Just imagine the copious amounts of eye-candy generated by pairing the latest-generation quad-core processor with a 7.7-inch Super AMOLED Plus display. Yummy! The icing on the cake? Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich, of course.
toshiba at270 3
Although we don’t have any precise specs besides the processor, it’s safe to assume that the Toshiba AT270 will boast 1GB of RAM and at least 16GB of internal storage. All around, some great specifications for a tablet that feels so light. No details about the battery life yet (remember that it’s only a show model, and not even an official Toshiba one). Presumably, both the Super AMOLED Plus display and the Tegra 3 4-Plus-1 architecture should contribute to a relatively good battery life.

Why Isn’t the AT270 the Star of the Show?

Good question. With such impression specifications and the looks to match, the Toshiba AT270 clearly deserves the spotlight at MWC. No other tablet released so far comes with such tempting combination of specs – quad-core Tegra 3, Super AMOLED Plus, Ice Cream Sandwich.
So, why did Toshiba choose to neglect the AT270? Is the model seen at the Nvidia booth a real product or just a reference model? Will we see the real dealanytime soon? We’ll just have to wait and see. It isn’t too late for Toshiba to make a big announcement. Fingers crossed!

Root the Motorola Droid XYBoard 10.1 in One Click





Compared to other operating systems, Android is one of the very few mobile operating systems that welcome and embrace the idea of independent developers.  Because of Android’s open nature, developers are able to modify, tweak, hack, and customize their devices the way they want.
As a result a variety of  customized ROMs are spreading like airborne viruses, searching for refuge in your Android device. Many of such custom ROMs even outrun device manufacturers and network carriers in releasing the most updated Android version out to the public.
Needless to say, root access is generally required for any Android user to be able to load up a device with a custom ROM.  Although dealing with technical stuff such as rooting seems an impossible feat to a beginner, one can actually easily root one’s device through one-click methods.
In the case of the recently released Motorola Droid XYBoard 10.1 on Verizon, developer Dan Rosenberg, a.k.a djrbliss, has created a rooting file package that easily roots your Motorola Droid XYBoard 10.1.  Such a hassle-free solution opens the tablet to customization and full control of your Android tablet.
In this guide, you will learn the steps for rooting the Motorola Droid XYBoard 10.1 in one click.

Requirements

  • Download the one click rooting package from the following links:
    • Click here for Windows
    • Click here for Linux/OSX
  • If rooting through a Windows machine, install the Motorola device drivers, which you can get from here.
  • Back up your personal phone data–just to be safe.
  • Charge your battery to at least 50% to keep your device functional throughout the entire rooting process.
  • Temporarily terminate system tools such as firewall programs and antivirus software to prevent any disruption while rooting your device.
  • Enable USB debugging on your device by going to Settings > Applications > Development > USB debugging.

Instructions

  1. Get the one-click rooting package for the Motorola Droid XYBoard 10.1 from the links provided above.  Make sure you choose the right version for your computer’s operating system.
  2. Extract the contents of the ZIP file into a folder on your computer.
  3. Hook up your tablet to the computer using a USB cable.
  4. Open the command prompt or terminal.
  5. Change directory to where you extracted the ZIP file contents to.
  6. At the terminal or command prompt, type this command:
    • For Windows: run.bat
    • For Linux/OSX: run.sh
  7. Press the Enter on your desktop keyboard and your computer will automatically root your device.
Good job! You have successfully rooted your Motorola Droid XYBoard 10.1 in just one click.

Fujitsu Demos Quad-Core Android 4.0 Prototype Smartphone with LTE Support and a 13.1 Megapixel Camera





What a great way to make our day! We all love cutting-edge Android devices, particularly those that possess amazing specs. And today, we got just that!
Hitting the Mobile World Congress today is Fujitsu, the Japanese technology company that is currently the third largest IT services provider in the world. Fujitsu immediately caught our attention when it displayed a prototype smartphone running Android 4.0 ICS.

But soon enough we realized that Android 4.0 is just the icing on the cake. We later found out that Fujitsu’s prototype is actually powered by a quad-core NVIDIA Tegra 3 processor. The smartphone is just one of of the many devices that NVIDIA boasted about and touted as the attractions of this week’s MWC. Even more impressive than the quad-core setup is the device’s 13.1MP camera. Or at least, that’s what the caption says. See, the folks over at Phandroid snapped some pictures with the phone and transferred the files via Bluetooth to a Galaxy Nexus.
To their surprise, they found that the pictures taken from the prototype had a measly 2048 x 1536 resolution, which would match a photo taken by a 3.1 megapixel camera. But again, the tested model was just a prototype device, so it’s pretty hard to enforce  expectations. Thankfully, the situation was cleared out when Fujitsu explained that the 13.1 megapixel camera was not fully configured to work with Ice Cream Sandwich.
Leaving that aside, Fujitsu’s 4.6-inch prototype has LTE capabilities and is completely waterproof and, most probably, dustproof as well. In fact, Fujitsu is waterproofing all of its devices, including the ones that we’ve seen at CES in Janaury.
The smartphone is fitted with NFC and features a 3.5mm headphone jack and a microUSB port. Wait, have we told you about the proximity sensor that works both as a fingerprint reader and an automatic lock or power on/off switch? The fingerprint sensor is similar to the one used on the Motorola Atrix, and probably incorporates some of Fujitsu’s massive know-how in the manufacturing of biometric identification equipment.
According to Fujitsu, the device will be released in Europe, China, and North America, most likely in Q4. But before that, Fujitsu has to finish up the prototype and find it a name that’s worthy of its features. So, would you be interested in buying the device once it’s released?

Can Panasonic Be a Comeback Kid with the Eluga & Eluga Power?




It was just a few days ago when Panasonic announced its intention to stage a major comeback in the mobile market with the introduction of the Eluga smartphone, a water-proof and dust-proof 4.3-inch smartphone that will be headed for Europe next month. Just to feed our passion for something new here at the Android Authority headquarters, we were really hoping to see the device in action at the MWC this week. Well, just like an answered prayer, the slender-looking Eluga was displayed today at the MWC.
Judging from the hands-on, it appears that the Eluga has got the good looks, thanks to its back edges that curve up to the screen. Even though the Eluga we saw on display today was running Android 2.3, and quite sluggishly at that, Panasonic made it clear that the device will be getting an Ice Cream Sandwich update during the summer. Notable features include a yet-to-be revealed dual-core processor, an NFC chip, an 8 megapixel camera and 8GB of storage.

But Panasonic has another surprise up its sleeve. Alongside the 4.3-inch Eluga smartphone is a 5-inch prototype of an Android 4.0 smartphone dubbed the Eluga Power. Although the prototype was found to be running an early version of Ice Cream Sandwich, it wasn’t too bad and it still packs a punch. Just a few tweaks here and there to work on the bugs and other software issues, and the Eluga Power should make it to the top of our list in no time. Are you listening Panasonic? Software matters!
Some noteworthy features of the 5-inch device are its dual-core Qualcomm S4 1.5GHz processor, a 1280 x 720 screen display , an 8 megapixel camera, 8GB of storage and a fast charging technology that can fully charge your battery in less than an hour. In case you forgot, the Eluga Power is also dust-resistant and waterproof. If all goes well for Panasonic, both the Eluga and the Eluga Power will be some of the first high-end Android smartphones designed in Japan that go on sale in the West.
And how about you? Would you buy a smartphone from Panasonic? Like what you see? Galaxy Note anyone? Is there enough here to entice you away from your Android dreamphone of choice?

ASUS MWC 2012 Roundup – All You Need To Know about ASUS’s New Devices




Yesterday at MWC, ASUS monopolized the limelight, releasing no less than three intriguing new devices. We call ASUS’ new products devices for lack of a better term. Depending on how you use them, the Transformer Pad Infinity an the Transformer Pad 300 can be either tablets or netbooks.
Moreover, the long-awaited Padfone takes the whole Transformer concept to the next level – the 4.3-inch Padfone smartphone docks into a larger shell to become a full-fledged tablet, which in turn, docks into a keyboard to become an Android 4.0 netbook (notebook?). And ASUS took the whole craziness (in the good way) further by adding a stylus/headset, for quick doodling and answering calls while the smartphone is docked. As crazy as it may sound, we liked the idea of having one modular device instead of three, so kudos to ASUS for not sticking to the norms.
Before jumping in to the product presentations, note that ASUS dropped the Eee branding, opting instead for the Transformer Pad moniker for its entire family of slates. So, bye-bye Eee Pad Transformer, hello Transformer Pad. Simple, huh?

ASUS Padfone – 1 SIM, 3 Devices

The Padfone is only slightly thicker than the Transformer Prime Infinity
Let’s start with the delicious cocktail of devices named Padfone. As a smartphone, the Padfone offers attractive, if not ground-breaking specs. The 4.3-inch screen is bright and vivid thanks to the Super AMOLED technology, but the qHD resolution (960 x 540) leaves some room for improvement. The brains of the smartphone (and of the entire tablet/notebook setup) is a dual-core Qualcomm Snapdragon S4, while the graphics are courtesy of a Qualcomm Adreno 225 chip. Add 1GB of RAM and a whopping 64GB of storage (expandable) and you got yourself a pretty nice phone.
Asus-Padfone-with-Padfone-Station
Of course, the Padfone’s most distinctive feature is its ability to tuck snuggly inside a 10.1 tablet to become its central nervous system. The Padfone Station looks almost identical to the other Transformer Pads, just your typical 10.1-inch, 1280 x 800 resolution slate. The big difference is the door on its back, which you open to reveal the slot where the Padfone sits. Shut it tightly and you’ve got yourself a nice looking tablet. The Station is not just a shell, including a 6547 mAh battery that extends the life of the combo, plus a micro-USB port and HDMI port. For typing-intensive operations, you can add a keyboard to the phone-pad duo, and, voila, you get a 10.1-inch netbook running Android 4.0.
The carriers are going to love this one
But what took everyone by surprise yesterday was the stylus-headset contraption that ASUS CEO Jonney Shih pulled out of his sleeve (not literally). The stylus allows doodling and writing, just like you would do with a Galaxy Note, the only difference being the soft, squishy tip of the stylus. Also, the gadget incorporates a microphone and speakers, so you can use it to make calls without pulling the brains out of your netbook. The addition of the stylus handset may be a last minute change by ASUS, inspired by the success of the stylus-wielding Galaxy Note. Keep in mind that the Padfone was first teased over 10 months ago, so the product probably went through many transformations before ASUS finally introduced it to us.
ASUS Padfone Stylus
For those looking for a cheap alternative to buying several devices or for a flexible Jack-of-all-trades, the Padfone can certainly prove appealing. The phone/slate/netbook will come in April, but we don’t have any information of the pricing of the thingy yet. More details about the Padfone here.

ASUS Transformer Pad Infinity

The Transformer Pad Infinity may be familiar to you from last month’s CES, called at the time Eee Pad Transformer Prime TF700T (what a mouthful). Now, with a streamlined name and slightly improved specs, the Infinity has become ASUS’ flagship tablet. Here are the specifications that warrant the Infinity’s leading place in ASUS’ roster:
  • Android 4.0 ICS
  • 263 x 180.8 x 8.5mm, 586g
  • 10.1-inch display, 1920 x 1200 Super IPS+
  • Two processor variants:
    • 3G/4G LTE – 1.5GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon S4 MSM8960 (2 x Krait)
    • WiFi – 1.6GHz NVIDIA Tegra 3 T33 (4 x Cortex A9)
    • 1GB RAM
    • 16GB expandable storage
    • 25Whr (6757mAh at 3.7 V) battery
    • 8MP rear camera + 2MP webcam
    • Aluminum chassis, with a plastic band for improved radio reception

Why two processor types? The 3G/4G LTE version of the Infinity will use the S4 SoC which incorporates the required 3G/4G broadband chip, while for the Wi-Fi only version, ASUS went for a quad core Tegra 3. It will be interesting to see how the two versions do against each other in terms of performance.
ASUS played on the fact that the Transformer Pad Infinity is the first HD LTE tablet on the market. Indeed, the Infinity’s 1920 x 1200 Super IPS is beautiful to gaze at, with vibrant colors and good viewing angles.
Being a member of the Transformers clan, the Infinity can plug into a keyboard dock and instantly turn into an Android 4.0 netbook. The keyboard dock includes a battery of its own, increasing the battery life of the whole contraption to an impressive 16 hours (the tablet itself will last you about 10 hours, according to ASUS).
The ASUS Transformer Pad Infinity will become available in the second quarter of the year. While ASUS didn’t provide any pricing info, AnandTech thinks that the slate will set you back an estimated $599 – $799.

ASUS Transformer Pad 300

The Transformer Pad 300 is clearly the designated budget-friendly member of the family, being priced at $399. This makes it $100 cheaper than the slightly better Transformer Pad Prime. On the outside, the Transformer Pad 300 is almost an exact replica of the Transformer Pad Infinity, with the distinction being made by the back plates – instead of brushed aluminum, the TF Pad 300 sports ribbed plastic, which comes in three colors – red, white, and navy blue.
The 10.1-inch Pad 300 offers a lower resolution than the high-end Infinity, just 1280 x 800, but that was kind of a requisite to keep the price down. Other trades offs that ASUS made with the Transformer Pad 300 include a smaller battery (22Wh versus the 25Wh of the Infinity), only 16GB of storage, and a slightly heavier build. However, you’ll be happy to know that the Pad 300 runs on a quad-core Tegra 3, albeit presumably at a lower clock speed than the Infinity.

With the Pad 300, ASUS went Nvidia all the way, but apparently, the slate will still be able to accommodate LTE through an additional baseband module. We wonder why ASUS didn’t choose the same solution for the Infinity LTE version. Anyway, the Pad 300 will support the same keyboard dock as the Infinity, the Padfone, and the Prime.
Here are the Transformer Pad 300 full specs:
  • Android 4.0 ICS
  • 263 x 180.8 x 9.9mm, 635g
  • 10.1-inch display, 1280 x 800 IPS (not IPS+, like the Transformer Prime)
  • NVIDIA Tegra 3 (4 x Cortex A9)
  • 1GB RAM
  • 16GB storage
  • 22Whr (5945mAh at 3.7 V) battery
  • Plastic chassis, white, red, or blue

What Do You Think About ASUS’ New Lineup?

Let us know your opinion – how do you like ASUS’ new Transformers? And do you think that the Padfone will be a game-changer? We’d love to hear from you!

Initial Impressions of Google Chrome Beta App for Android

If you’ve caught the Ice Cream Sandwich fever and your device is currently running ICS, then life has just gotten sweeter. One of the most popular web browsers has finally made its way to your Android device in the shape of Chrome Beta for Android. Sounds too good to be true? It gets better.
This release comes with real-time syncing of tabs currently opened on your desktop browser, or any other devices running Chrome with your account in sync, as well as that tabbed browsing we can’t live without.
You can also easily access your bookmarks, enjoy accelerometer-based tilt scrolling, easily switch between tabs by swiping across the edge, and revel in great 3D transition effects when you switch between tabs.
Users can even enjoy Chrome’s incognito browsing and access their most frequently opened and recently closed pages. Chrome Beta brings the features that we love and also packs the features that are also available on other Android browsers, including bookmarking webpages from within the browser with offline access support, auto-filling of forms, in-page search support, JavaScript support, a built-in pop-up blocker, and extended privacy settings.
To be able to sync bookmarks across your devices, simply enter your Google credentials and you’re good to go. Syncing is instant–you don’t need to worry about that desktop browser you just closed either. Your Android device can access the latest synced tabs so you can continue your web browsing even when you’re on the go. Unfortunately, as of this writing, reverse-syncing (i.e., device to desktop) is not yet available, but there’s no telling what the future can hold.
Each time you open a new tab, the new window stacks on top of the previously opened one. Now you have a small preview of the page, eliminating that pesky problem of needing to actually click on the tab to remember what it was. You can switch between tabs by swiping left or right from either edge of your screen. If you’re surfing the web through a Wi-Fi connection, you have the option to preload pages, which gives you a faster browsing experience.
Unfortunately, because Chrome for Android is still in its beta stage, there are still a few features missing, such as the quick access controls that are part of the stock ICS browser, the option to select a custom UA string to browse a device-specific version of a website, and support for Flash. Despite the missing functions, Chrome Beta for Android already packs a lot of appeal as a new default mobile browser.
Not only is Chrome Beta exclusive for Androids–it’s also only available (presumably for a while) in certain countries. Head on over to Chrome Beta for Android’s page on the Android Market to check if your country is one of the lucky few. If it is not, you can manually install the APK for Chrome for Android.
Have you tried the newest Chrome Beta for Android?  Is it better any than the currently popular browsers for Android?

Samsung Announces Galaxy Tab 2 10.1, Note 10.1 Coming


Last night, Samsung (who will not be holding any press conferences at MWC, apparently) announced the new Galaxy Tab 2 10.1 slate. The new member of the Tab 2 series, which also includes the already introduced Tab 2 7.0, will run Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich, but really, is only a slight improvement over the previous-generation 10.1 Tab.

No word on the pricing yet, but according to Sammy’s press release, the new Tab 2 10.1 and 7.0 will first be available in the U.K., followed closely by a worldwide launch.
How is the new Galaxy Tab 2 10.1 better than its kid sister, the Tab 2 7.0? Frankly, not in many ways. Both devices will run the new Android 4.0 ICS, flavored with Samsung’s customary TouchWiz skin, and both will have the same guts: 1GHz dual core processor, 1GB of RAM, similar 3G and Wi-Fi options and identical front and rear cameras. As we’ve said above, the Tab 2 10.1 battery is better – 7000 mAh, over the 4000 mAh of the Tab 7.0 – but that’s somewhat mandatory in order to accommodate the bigger screen. Speaking of which, the larger, better screen (1280 x 800 resolution, over 7.0’ 1024 x 600) is the most important differentiating factor between the two products.
The Tabs are Relegated to Second-tier, Galaxy Note 10.1 Takes Over
Overall, the Tab 2 series seems to be just a quick refresh of the first Tabs, the biggest improvement being the fact that they run Android 4.0 out of the box. In terms of hardware though, the two generations of Tabs are disappointingly similar.



Samsung may be trying to differentiate its products by intentionally letting the Tab series stagnate, while improving the Note line. If last year, the Tab 10.1 was the flagship device of the Koreans, now it seems that the flagship role will be taken over by the Galaxy Note 10.1, which Samsung is likely to announce in a few hours. If the Tab 2 series will be relegated to a second-tier role, we can at least expect some relatively affordable price tags.
The Note 10.1 is rumored to run on the dual-core Exynos 5250 chip and will also get a hugely improved screen resolution, at 2560 x 1600. We are waiting for more details on the Note 10.1, and we’ll keep you posted as news break. Stay close! Meanwhile, check out the full specs of the Samsung Galaxy Tab 2 7.0 and 10.1 below.
Samsung’s new GALAXY Tab 2 series offers optimal multimedia experiences in life

February 26, 2012
Samsung introduces its first line-up of tablets for 2012 with the launch of the GALAXY Tab 2 series, expanding the choice of tablets to customers. The GALAXY Tab 2 series includes a 7” version and a 10.1” version. Starting from UK, the GALAXY Tab 2 series will be launched in global market from March.

The GALAXY Tab 2 series is available in 3G and WiFi versions, as well as in 7” and 10.1” variants. Light and portable, the GALAXY Tab 2 (7.0) is the ideal personal on-the-go device; while the larger GALAXY Tab 2 (10.1) is well-suited for home and family use.

The GALAXY Tab 2 series is exhibited at Samsung stand (Hall 8), Mobile World Congress 2012. For multimedia content and more detailed information, please visitwww.samsungmobilepress.com.
Samsung GALAXY Tab 2 (7.0) Product Specifications



Network
HSPA+ 21Mbps 850/900/1900/2100
Processor
1 GHz Dual-Core Processor
Display
7” WSVGA(1024×600) PLS TFT
OS
Android 4.0(Ice Cream Sandwich)
Camera
Main(Rear): 3 Megapixel CameraSub(Front): VGA for Video Call
Video
Codec: MPEG4, H.263, H.264, VC-1, DivX, WMV7, WMV8, WMV9, VP8Format: 3GP, ASF, AVI, MP4, WMV, FLV, MKV, WebMPlayback/ Recording: Full HD@30fpsHD@30fps
Audio
Codec: MP3, AAC, AC-3, AMR, FLAC, MID, WMA, WAV, OGGMusic Player with SoundAlive3.5mm Ear Jack
Value-added Features
Samsung TouchWiz/ Samsung L!ve Panel
Samsung Apps
Samsung Hub*- Readers Hub/ Music Hub/ Game Hub/ Video Hub
Samsung Hub Widget*
- Music Hub/ Game Hub/ Video Hub
Samsung S Suggest* (App recommendation service)
Samsung ChatON mobile communication service
Samsung AllShare Play*
Samsung Kies / Samsung Kies air
GoogleTM Mobile Services- Android Market™, Gmail™, YouTube™, Google Maps™,Syncing with Google Calendar™, Google Search, Google +
Polaris document editor
 A-GPS, Glonass
Connectivity
Bluetooth technology v 3.0USB 2.0 HostWi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n, Wi-Fi Direct
Sensor
Accelerometer, Digital compass, Light
Proximity(* Available on 3G version only)
Memory
8/16/32GB User memory + 1GB (RAM)
microSD (up to 32GB)
Dimension
193.7 x 122.4 x 10.5 mm, 345g
Battery
Standard battery, Li-ion 4,000mAh
* Availability and launching time of the services may differ by region.
* All functionality, features, specifications and other product information provided in this document including, but not limited to, the benefits, design, pricing, components, performance, availability, and capabilities of the product are subject to change without notice or obligation.

Samsung GALAXY Tab 2 (10.1) Product Specifications


Network
HSPA+ 21Mbps  850/900/1900/2100
Processor
1 GHz Dual-Core Processor
Display
10.1” WXGA(1280×800) PLS TFT
OS
Android 4.0(Ice Cream Sandwich)
Camera
Main(Rear): 3 Megapixel CameraSub(Front): VGA for Video Call
Video
Codec: MPEG4, H.264. H.263, VC-1, DivX, WMV7, WMV8, WMV9, VP8Format: 3GP, ASF, AVI, MP4, WMV, FLV, MKV, WebMPlayback/ Recording: Full HD@30fpsHD@30fps
Audio
Codec: MP3, AAC, AC-3, AMR, FLAC, MID, WMA, WAV, OGGMusic Player with SoundAlive3.5mm Ear Jack
Value-added Features
Samsung TouchWiz / Samsung L!ve Panel
Samsung Apps
Samsung Hub- Readers Hub/ Music Hub/ Game Hub/ Video Hub
Samsung Hub Widget*
- Music Hub/ Game Hub/ Video Hub
Samsung S Suggest* (App recommendation service)
Samsung ChatON mobile communication servicea
Samsung AllShare Play
Samsung Kies / Samsung Kies air
GoogleTM Mobile Services- Android Market™, Gmail™, YouTube™, Google Maps™, Syncing with Google Calendar™, Google Search, Google +
Polaris document editor
 A-GPS, Glonass
Connectivity
Bluetooth technology v 3.0USB 2.0 HostWi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n, Wi-Fi Direct
Sensor
Accelerometer, Digital compass, Light
Memory
16/32GB User memory + 1GB (RAM)
microSD (up to 32GB)
Dimension
 256.6 x 175.3 x 9.7 mm , 588g
Battery
Standard battery, Li-ion 7,000 mAh

Huawei Ascend D Quad Unveiled- Claims to Be “The World’s Fastest Smartphone”


Granted, Huawei is not a household name for most Westerners, and, those who do know the Chinese company associate it with low-spec, cheap feature phones. But Huawei, along with fellow Chinese tech giant ZTE, is in the process of rebranding itself as a tough competitor to Samsung or HTC. What’s their game plan? Simple: target the exclusivise high-end smartphone segment, currently dominated by devices like the Samsung Galaxy S2, but soon to be blown away by a whole new era of amazingly powerful devices like the HTC One X, the Samsung Galaxy S3, and many more.



Back in January, at CES, we were absolutely amazed of Huawei’s first effort – the Ascend P1 S, which the Chinese claim to be the world’s thinnest smartphone. And thin it is – only 0.26-inch or 6.68mm in its thickest point, which makes it a bit thinner than the 0.28-inch or 7.11mm Motorola Droid RAZR. But the Ascend P1 S is not only slim; It boasts an impressive 1.5GHz dual-core OMAP processor, 1GB of RAM, coupled with a beautiful qHD Super AMOLED display.
Now, at MWC, Huawei sets the bar even higher, by announcing the Ascend D quad, an incredible quad-core Android 4.0 smartphone, which they claim to be nothing less than the world’s fastest smartphone.
Here are the highlights of the Huawei Ascend D quad press release:
  • The world’s fastest smartphone
  • Powered by Huawei’s own quad-core processor, running at 1.2GHz/1.5GHz
  • 4.5-inch design with compact design
  • Proprietary power management system, 30% energy saving
  • Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich
  • 720p HD screen, Dolby 5.1 Surround
  • 8MP rear camera, 1.3MP front camera
  • 1800 mAh battery, claimed to last 1-2 days on normal usage
  • 64mm wide, 8.9mm thin
Huawei also announced two related devices: the Ascend D quad XL, which comes with a bigger battery (2500 mAh) but is also a bit thicker, and the dual-core Ascend D1 running at 1.5GHz and fitted with a 1670 mAh battery.

The new Huawei Ascend D quad and Ascend D quad XL will be available world-wide from Q2 2012, while the Ascend D1 will start selling in April 2012.
Show full PR text
Huawei Press Events Highlights
The Chinese phone maker just completed their press event at MWC, and here are the highlights:
  • The “D” in  Ascend D quad stands for Diamond. The Huawei Ascend series will include four categories of smartphones – Youth, Gold, Platinum, and Diamond. The ultra-thin  Ascend P1 S is hence a Platinum.
  • Huawei uses its own processors, but will also continue working with partners like TI.
  • Huawei claims a big performance boost for its quad-core architecture – a benchmark presented at the event showed a 35 FPS score for Huawei vs. the 13 FPS score of a quad-core tablet.
  • The Chinese claim that their networking expertise (they are a major manufacturer of telecom infrastructure) helps them improve battery life in phones (network scanning is battery-intensive).
  • Huawei hopes to sell over 60 million units this year (not including the Chinese home market).

So, Huawei has some pretty ambitious plans for its brand new line of super smartphones. From what we’ve seen so far, they certainly have the potential – the hardware is powerful, the design  is sleek. Let’s hope that the new Ascend will not disappoint when it hits the markets later this year.
Stay tuned for more information, we’ll update you as we receive it!

Samsung Debuts HD Projector Android Phone – Galaxy Beam & More!

magine having an HD projector on your mobile phone – you’d like that right? 50 inch movies and pictures to show your friends and family, anywhere, all while on the move? Looks like good ‘ol Samsung has you covered.

That’s exactly the vision Samsung has for you, as we are seeing at Mobile World Congress 2012, in Barcelona, Spain. While the specs aren’t quite at the cutting edge, say like the Galaxy S3, the HTC One X, or any of the other super-devices being thrust our way over the next few days, it does have a projector. I mean, how cool is that? Be the first one on your block, at your cubicle, or wherever it is that you reside, to have one!

Either way, the Galaxy Beam certainly aspires to not be a novelty, but a real, usable, and awesome device. Despite the fact that it only running Android 2.2 doesn’t really matter. It is featuring a 15 Lumens nHD projector, which really adds a whole new dimension and level of utility to the device itself. I fully expect projectors to be in all sorts of devices in the future.

Specs: 

  • 4.0” 480×800 (WVGA) TFT
  • 1.0GHz Dual-Core Processor
  • 5MP AF + 1.3MP / Flash
  •  nHD (640 x 360) resolution and 15 Lumen brightness,
  • MPEG4, H.263, H.264, WMV, DivX
  • Recording/Playback: 720p@30fps
  • MP3, AAC, AAC+, eAAC+, WMA0fps
  • BT 3.0+HS, 802.11 b/g/n 2.4GHz, MicroUSB, USB 2.0, 3.5mm Ear Jack
  • 768MB RAM + 8GB Internal Memory, MicroSD slot (up to 32GB)
  • 64.2 x 124 x 12.5mm thin, 145.3 g
  • 2000 mAh Battery – 3 hours of battery life when projector is on
Oh, and that’s not all – check out this image that Ina Fried, from AllthingsD just grabbed from her hotel below. Anyone remember the rumored Galaxy Not 10.1 ?

We have heard quite a bit about the 10.1″ Galaxy Note, but nothing has proved credible, thus far. We do know that it will have possess professional grade stylus support, and may even be packing one of those delightful 1920 x 1200 HD resolution displays we saw on the ASUS Transformer Prime TF700T, Lenovo’s K2010 K2 Tablet, and others at CES. Samsung is not an idle company. I would be highly surprised if they didn’t include some seriously advanced technology under the hood if they hope to have it be a success.

So, dear reader, what say you? Do you like what you see? Would you ever go for the Galaxy Beam? Gartner and other leading technology analyst firms say that by 2015, there will be over 100 million smartphones with projectors in them. Hard to believe? I think not. Considering the advances currently being made in areas of miniaturization of projection technologies, and reduction in power usage  - this number very well could turn out to be true.
Stay tuned as we bring you more of the latest advances in Android goodness from MWC 2012!

HTC One X and HTC One S Specs Leaked Before Big Announcement


HTC plans to announce something exciting at MWC today – the long rumored HTC One X and HTC One S, also known as Endeavor and Ville, respectively. In fact, the Taiwanese have been literally counting the days to their Sunday announcement. But, as it so often happens, somebody had to come along and ruin the fun for HTC.
Yesterday, Marco Polo, an Italian shopping site, briefly listed One X and One S for sale, complete with specifications and images. Actually, as The Verge reports, the two devices were posted under their previous circulated codenames, Endeavor and Ville, which adds to the confusion that built up over the last weeks.
But the cherry on top comes from a Greek tech site that posted images and full-specs of One X, leaked from what seems to be an official HTC release.

HTC One X Specs

The biggest news: HTC One X will run on the Tegra 3 4-Plus-1 architecture from Nvidia, with 1.5 GHz clock-speeds. Other specs include Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich, 1 GB of RAM, and an 8 MP camera. These specs fall nicely into place with the specs leaked on the Italian shopping site and reported by The Verge.

Here’s a full list of specs, courtesy of FullGsm.gr:
  • 9.29mm thick
  • 130g in weight, battery included
  • 4.7-inch Super LCD2 screen, 1280 x 720 HD resolution, Gorilla Glass
  • Quad-Core Tegra 3 processor
  • 1 GB RAM
  • 32 GB internal storage
  • Free 25 GB of cloud storage from Dropbox (for two years)
  • 1800 mAh battery
  • 21Mbps HSDPA radio, quad-band
  • NFC-enabled
  • Wireless HDMI, DLNA
  • 5-pin Pogo Pin connector
  • 8MP rear camera, LED flash, 1080p video recording,
  • 1.3MP front camera
  • Beats Audio
If you’re wondering about the price of this baby, it’s €699 with no contract or about $935. You asked for it…

HTC One S and One V also coming

For HTC One S, we don’t have yet the full spec sheet, but judging from the Italian leak, the One S will be quite similar to One X, except:
  • Dual-core processor instead of the One X’s Tegra 3 quad-core
  • 16GB of internal storage instead of 32GB
  • 960 x 540 resolution instead of 1280 x 720
The price of the One S will be €599, or about $801, without a contract.
We also expect news about the One V, a smaller, cheaper device, heavily oriented towards music lovers, to become public soon, too. The One V will probably sport a dual-core 1Ghz processor, a 3.7-inch screen, and 1GB or RAM. The device will feature its Beats Audio integration prominently (HTC is a partial owner of the Dr. Dre-styled brand).

More details as they come

HTC will launch the One S, One V, and One X later today. Our guys are on the MWC floor, ready to fill us in with the latest news, so make sure to check back soon!

Can Android Be Used As a Pentesting Platform?





Have you ever wanted to dabble in network security testing? How about to test the security of your own network? The Android Operating System is the perfect platform for mobile pentesting applications. What is pentesting, you may wonder? Pentesting stands for penetration testing, and is the practice of testing a computer system, network or web applications for potential vulnerabilities that can be exploited. Sounds cool, right? Read on.
This article is technical in nature, and only serves as an information guide for people curious to maximize the utility of their Android device. If you choose to pentest with your Android device, keep it legal, and only do it on networks that you own, or have permission to access. 
It is public knowledge that Android is based on a Linux kernel which allows for a large amount of modification. In fact, Linux is already commonly used for network pentesting and has been for many years now. In order for pentesting to work, the Android device would definitely need to be rooted, but with the right software, any Android device could be a lethal hacking tool.
There doesn’t seem to be any exception to the statement that every Android device has WiFi. After you root an Android device, you have as much software-based access to the device as is currently available, so that means you can do whatever you want with the wireless interfaces of the device. At least a few developers are publically known to be working on modifications for Android devices that would enable the functionality I’m speaking of.
An example of one pentesting platform that showed promise is Zimperium’s ‘Anti’. Anti offers OS detection, WiFi monitoring, exploitation of vulnerabilities, etc. Unfortunately Anti uses a token system that would just plain drain the average wallet.

There are other tools focused on wardriving, cracking, and analyzing wireless networks available for Android phones but it seems there is a lack of full on free applications with which to actually exploit vulnerabilities of target machines. This issue could be solved by making new programs for Android phones with these functions, installing a new OS in dual boot using SGS2 Dual-Boot Setup or another tool, or by porting already existing Linux programs to the Android OS.
Porting existing programs seems to be the best option.  One reason for this is that you would not have to learn new tools if you have experience with pentesting on a laptop or desktop computer. Another reason is that if you use a program that is already well suited for its task, you only have minor problems to worry about (unlike building from scratch). Lastly, Android is already Linux based and there is very little that stands in your way if you wanted to make Linux command line tools designed to run on Android.

Nmap is one tool that would be essential in such a toolset. Nmap is an application with a command line interface(CLI) and an optional GUI that scans a potential target for network vulnerabilities. Due to Nmap’s CLI, as soon as it’s prerequisites are met on the device, Nmap should work just fine.

Another tool that would be useful to port would be Aircrack-ng. Aircrack-ng is commonly used for cracking wireless network passwords. It does this by monitoring wireless communications and using the information it gathers from the captured packets. Aircrack is primarily a command line program and could be quite simple to port. Aircrack-ng would simply need to be allowed to access the device’s wireless hardware and have all prerequisites installed.
Kismet now works on Android 4.0 - still unstable, but it's a start
The next tool an Android pentesting system could use is a Bluetooth capture tool. Kismet is a command line tool that allows raw packet capturing on many interfaces including Bluetooth, and WiFi. Another feature of Kismet is that you can install plugins that allow for raw capturing on more interfaces. Kismet could be a useful program to include in this Android Pentesting Suite.
THC Hydra  could also come in handy. THC Hydra is a command line based tool for network login hacking with an optional GUI. THC Hydra can crack passwords using bruteforce or it can try to see if the password is in a wordlist. This tool could prove useful when attempting to get access to a server located somewhere on the internet. Hydra is an essential inclusion in a pentester’s arsenal.
Yet another tool to include is John the Ripper. John the Ripper is another login cracking tool which would be very useful for privilege escalation on a computer you already have access to but need higher access priveleges for what you wish to do. John the Ripper is command line based and as with the others should not be difficult to install on an Android device.
The last thing I will include in this list, and probably the most important, is a fast and easy way to make scripts on your device. This could be of use whenever a new program needs writing wherever the user may be. An already existing Android app that allows for this is C4Droid.  C4Droid is a C/C++ compiler designed for Android. C4Droid is $1.50 on the Android Market.
All of these tools, when developed, could easily make Android devices into the next great hacking tool. Any thoughts?

New Details Emerge on Samsung Galaxy S3: Ceramic Back, 4.8-inch HD Screen & More

With the Galaxy S2 still going strong (over 10 million units sold in the last four months), we understand why Samsung isn’t hurrying to out its successor, the Samsung Galaxy S3 (or S III, as the official branding goes). But for true Android fans, the wait for Koreans’ new flagship device is agonizing.
The S2 is a wonderful piece of hardware, so our expectations for the next generation of the Galaxy S are lofty. Thankfully, more and more rumors indicate that the S3 will definitely be worth the wait.
BGR claims that the new Galaxy S3 will treat our eyes with some serious eye candy. According to their sources, the new S3 will boast a magnificent 4.8-inch display, probably a Super AMOLED Plus HD screen. In other words, if you love the display of the S2, you’ll absolutely adore the S3.
Another juicy detail concerns the design of the phone. We already knew that the S3 would be super-thin, with one source claiming a 7 mm profile (the thinnest S2 is 8.49 mm “thick”). Now, BGR tells us that the Galaxy S3 will have a ceramic back cover, instead of glossy plastic, like the previous iterations of the series. The ceramic cover may improve the grip and appearance of the new device, but may also add to its weight. But again, if the 7 mm thickness rumor is true, Samsung can afford to add a few grams with a more solid back plate.
The new information completes the picture of the Galaxy S3. To recap, here are the presumed specs that we know so far:
  • Quad-core processor, possibly an Exynos 4412 (32 nm, Cortex A9, 1.5 GHz)
  • 4G LTE connectivity
  • 2GB of RAM
  • Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich
  • 8MP rear camera, 2MP front camera
  • Super AMOLED Plus HD display
  • 4.8-inch screen
One more thing – the Samsung Galaxy S3 will supposedly launch in 50 markets and cities simultaneously. And no, the big announcement will not come at MWC next week. Instead, Samsung is said to be running a special event later this year, one that would be closer to the actual launch date of the S3. From what our sources have told us, Samsung should be holding their official launch party sometime in late May, early June 2012.
Stay tuned for more information!

Leaked Photo Believed to be the Motorola Atrix 3


Judging on Motorola’s history, we have reason to believe that this leaked photo is the Motorola Atrix 3. Apart from this, the device does not have any capacitive buttons on it; keeping it in line with the previous render released of the Medfield-powered handset. While this is not 100% definite, we’re pretty excited to see the device; especially since its specs have been unveiled in the leak.
The device is equipped with a 4.3-inch 720p screen, 2GB RAM, quad-core Tegra 3 processor, and 3300mAh battery. Wow, right? Moreover, the camera is powered with a 10MP feature complete with dual LED flashes.
With these specs, we have reason to believe that the leaked photo is part of the Atrix clan. But we have to wait until Motorola gives an official statement, especially since the device is larger in size as the previous Atrix devices; though it’s size may be part of a new look the Atrix 3 is equipped with.
What do you think?

Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1 is Now Available in over 100 Rooms in a Fort Lauderdale Hotel





After partnering with NBA team Phoenix Suns, the Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1 strikes again! This time, Samsung has signed a deal with Fort Lauderdale’s Atlantic Hotel Resort & Spa; which places a unit of the Galaxy Tab 10.1 in over 100 guest rooms of the establishment. By providing the tablet in these rooms, guests get to access hotel services easily. This makes us want to fly over to Florida right away just to be one of the first to use the tablet!
The Galaxy Tab 10.1 has been equipped with a system named iGet; which is actually a hospitality focused method that operates the Runtriz Hotel Evolution Software. Through this software, guests get a first-rate experience during their stay at the hotel. The system has been developed by Adjacent Innovations and contains pre-installed apps and games intended for each hotel guest.
Genius, huh? So should we say goodbye to calling front desk or speaking with the hotel concierge? I think we’re not yet fully ready for that. What do you think? Which hotel will be next to have this system? Let us know your bets in the comments below!