Nvidia's Android Tablet: Okay, I Could Want This [Nvidia]

A rounded, plasticky take on the iPad. That's how Nvidia's latest Android tablet prototype struck me. It's pretty nice. But not as nice as the inside.

Inside this 8.9-inch tablet, you see, is Nvidia's Tegra 2, the heart of which is a dual core ARM Cortex A9—a chip that's a generation ahead of the silicon the iPad's A4 is based on—meaning this thing will zooooom. It's also got a gig of RAM (the iPad's biggest technical limitation now is its puny amount of RAM), two USB ports, and a front-facing camera.

Given that both of the units we handled were running just one app each—pretty snazzy looking games—it's hard to tell what it'll be like to use generally, like with the front-facing camera and how the widescreen aspect ratio feels outside of a game, but the games did feel and look great, as you'd expect from the kind of horsepower inside. I wish the screen, which is capacitive for multitouchness, wasn't quite as glossy as the iPad though. Oh well.

None of the devs who had one at their disposal knew when the tablet would actually be coming out, only that it would, one day. It's no Adam, but it's like actually here, almost.
[Gizmodo]

Multi-Touch Musical “LinnStrument” Demoed on YouTube [Music]

Inventor Roger Linn is famous for creating the drum machine as we know it today, so there’s good reason to be excited about his latest creation; it has just been revealed. It’s a multi-touch surface not all that dissimilar to an iPad. Take a look at the video here to see for yourself.
The instrument — which Linn calls the “LinnStrument” — can take input from all of your fingers, so you can form chords in addition to sounding individual notes. Each space is pressure sensitive to allow for maximum range of expression. Sliding your finger vertically adjusts the timbre while horizontal motions change the pitch.
The final product would take the best elements from the layouts of the piano (chromatic increments) and the guitar (“parallel rows of semitones offset by fourths”). It will look a little different from the prototype, and it’ll be wearable vertically over your torso. You could also just leave it on the table like this prototype, though. We’ve included the render of what Linn imagines below.
The LinnStrument looks like an improvement over those fun-but-limited iPhone instrument apps, and you can be sure that you’ll be able to play Poker Face on the LinnStrument too… if you really want to.

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Video Demonstration

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Finished Product Design

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[Mashable]

Intel Atom Processor Supports Android, Runs up to 1.5 GHz [Intel]

The race is on for faster, more capable processors in your smart phone. Intel's new Atom (Moorestown) processors are out and they're pushing the envelope forward. The new chips can run in speeds up to 1.5GHz for smartphones and up to 1.9GHz for tablets. Compatible with Android, these processors will offer support for WiMAX, 3G/HSPA and WiFi. It might be a few quarters before we see this actually arrive on phones, giving companies like Qualcomm time to prep their 1.5Ghz chips, too. Get ready for more phones full of win!

[AndroidGuys via Engadget]

ICD Gemini Comes with Loaded Feature List [Tablets]

There are people out there who are interested in a tablet computer, but refuse to buy the iPad on principle. Well, take a gander at ICD's Gemini, an 11.2-inch tablet that's got a damned impressive spec list.

With the 1GHz Tegra 2 SOC running the show, this thing should be able to handle 1080p video just fine. It's got a 3G connection that allows voice calls as well as 'a user-replaceable 40Wh battery, an SD card reader, FM radio, GPS, 802.11n WiFi, Bluetooth, MicroUSB connectivity to PCs and USB peripherals, stereo speakers, and dual webcams.' Not much more you could ask for there. And the whole thing will run Android, so it's a reliable, supported OS rather than some slapdash interface or, worse, a desktop OS such as Windows.

Oh, and it runs Flash, if you're into that sort of thing. For now, it's just a prototype. No word on pricing or availability as of yet.



[Gizmodo via Engadget]

HP Slate flaunts Flash capability in a new video [HP]

That HP also has a Slate in stock for us is no secret especially since its debut at the CES back in January. However, with this new clip we are assured it will be capable of Flash and AIR. No doubt it is good sales point but still depends… Is it good enough bait for you to go for HP Slate instead of Apple’s iPad?

And as to this HP Windows 7 Slate commercial, it was released around the time of the CES. However, watching it now is more meaningful as you can see yourself amused by the reminiscence of it to the iPad’s commercial.

[Akihabaranews.com]

The Courier rides again! New shots of Microsoft’s “digital journal” [Courier]

Ever since we saw those first leaked shots and videos of Microsoft’s Courier, we’ve all been itching for more. I personally thought it was particularly wonderful, and was dismayed when they decided to show off a lackluster Windows 7 tablet at CES. I’ve asked about the Courier at very nearly every Microsoft event I’ve gone to, and asked all my contacts to keep their ears to the ground… but Engadget, damn their eyes, got to them first! Well, I’m just happy to see my baby again.

The real surprise here is the size; I’m not sure exactly what size I thought it was from the previous demos, but the sizes quoted are that each half is about 5×7″, making the whole thing about 10×7″… or almost exactly the size of the iPad. Now, I can’t be the only one that thinks it would be nice to be able to fold my iPad in half and put it in my pocket. Oh, and it weighs just over a pound. Want?


It was in vain for us to speculate on what the little thing ran before, since it was a totally custom interface, but I think Microsoft has decided that it’s better to make it a “big small device” rather than a “small big device.” You understand? They’re not shrinking a Windows 7 tablet, they’re making something new driven by a Tegra 2, which actually puts it ahead of the iPad in terms of processing power. The dual input (touch/stylus) I think is also a bonus, though of course Apple seems to have the market cornered on really nice touchscreens, so we’ll have to wait and see how it actually responds. Depending on the resolution, handwriting might be weird, too. Again, until we have a hands-on, it’s hard to say.

They’re saying a late-2010 release. I’m liking the form factor for an e-book reader, but it might get in the way of the creative aspirations of next-generation bookmakers. Either way I’m sold on this thing right now. More shots and video (most of which you’ve seen, but still) over at Engadget.
[CrunchGear via Engadget]

New Wacom Cintiq 21UX Has 2048 Pressure Levels and Back Touchpads [Tablets]

I'm excited about the new 21-inch model, the Cintiq 21UX. According to Wacom, it has better pen performance and ergonomics. The two back touch-strips have me intrigued.

They say their new Grip Pen has their new Tip Sensor technology that requires near-zero pressure to start painting, which is great to get a more natural feeling. It also has 2048 levels of pressure—doubling the previous model. The tablet itself has been redesigned, with eight programmable keys on each side of the tablet, over the bezel.



The coolest addition, however, are the two touch strips on the sides of the tablet, on the back of the bezel itself. These are like mini-trackpads, which can be used for four functions depending on the application. You change the function with your thumb using the round button on the front of the tablet—a LED displays the selected function—and use your middle or forefinger to manipulate the touchpad up and down. For example, you can use it to control the variation of a brush, then click the round button, and use it to control the speed of the airbrush, while using the pen with your other hand. Smart. Can't wait to try it.



The tablet display allows you to position the screen at any angle between 10 and 65 degrees, and it can be detached to use any VESA-compatible mount. I would definitely want to have one mounted on a hydraulically-assisted arm, to be able to position it in front of my main monitor at any time.
[Gizmodo]

Notion Ink Adam Tablet Caught On Video, Specs Finalized [Notion Ink]

We saw impressive renders of Notion Ink's Adam last week, along with some speculation, but today we're getting what's probably the best look yet at this ambitious play into the tablet space.
The following specs, to be unveiled officially at MWC, are listed as 'final' by the folks at Notion Ink. Take some of it with a grain of salt, as they are grossly incorrect about items like accelerometer and touchscreen (chart provided by Notion Ink):


The Technoholik video, filmed this weekend before the big reveal at MWC, follows here:

What you see in the video is essentially the final build. The camera position could move, and there was a screen cover removed because it was loose during the demo, but in the end this is the 1080p tablet Notion Ink will put up against the iPad (and the multitude of other tablets that arrive this year and beyond). Looks pretty sharp, especially in sunlight, although the trackpad location will definitely take some getting used to.

[Gizmodo via ADAM on Flickr, Technoholik]

Apple iPad Official Pictures [Apple]

If you still haven't gotten your fill of the iPad here are some official pictures to satisfy your appetite.
























[Gizmodo via Apple]

Could These Be Pictures of the Real Apple Tablet? [Tablet]

New pictures claiming to be the Apple Tablet have surfaced, and they’re the most realistic ones we’ve seen yet.
The images, posted by designer and user interface guy Dustin Curtis, reveal what appears to be the tablet on top of a MacBook pro. He posted the images on his Posterous.
While we cannot verify or debunk their authenticity, they are the most complete images we’ve seen yet of the rumored device. Without the interface running, any video, or a picture of its backside, we can’t even guess as to whether they’re real. Our gut says no, but they’re convincing images.
We already knew of Dustin Curtis — he’s a talented designer that got attention for his mockup redesign of the American Airlines website and the subsequent firing of an AA employee who gave him a response.
Take a look at these pretty pics; we’ll do the investigating to try to determine if they’re real. Let us know what you think of the images in the comments.

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The Tablet Images

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[Mashable]

Dell Has a Tablet-Like Prototype, Too [Tablets]

Not wanting to be the only kid on the block without a faux-tablet in the works (or fauxblet, as I’m going to call it for now), Dell has announced that they, too, working on a slate-style PC.

Dell’s concept is a 5-inch touch-screen device running Google’s Android operating system. The big pull seems to be that the devices can be connected together to play games across machines.

Like the other fauxblets unveiled at CES thus far, specific details about the device’s specs or a projected release date were not revealed.

What would make up your dream tablet or fauxblet device? Let us know!
[Mashable]

HP's Windows 7 Slate Device Revealed by Steve Ballmer [Slate]

It's not Courier, but HP's rumored slate PC is here, now. Steve Ballmer and his hardware specialist Ryan Asdourian just showed it off, and man is it cute.
Adrian just spotted this official video:



'They're more powerful than a phone and almost as powerful as a PC. Perfect for reading, surfing the web and taking entertainment on the go,' said Ballmer at his CES 2010 opening keynote. He says that it will be available this year.

HP says they'll provide information on the slate after the keynote, but wouldn't say anything in the meantime. We're calling it a "slate"—well, Microsoft is calling it a slate, to differentiate from the pen-and-screen dealy that Bill Gates intro'd in 2001—but that's not its name.
It's a Windows 7 touch device, so it's nice in an accessible, netbooky (yeah, I'm guessing relatively cheap) context. But it's not exactly the Courier we have lusted after from Microsoft in our dreams (and waking hours).
Here you can see it in its various modes, movie mode, ebook mode and PC mode:





Fun fact: Adsdorian, shown above with Ballmer, moonlights as a (or the) Seahawks mascot.
[Gizmodo]

Lenovo’s U1 is a netbook with removable tablet

Everyone’s all excited about that Freescale gizmo, but it looks like it may have competition. The Lenovo U1 has a similar convertible design, though with a slightly more rounded look. It’s also different in function: when docked, it runs Windows 7 on the dock’s low-power Intel processor, but once detached it uses an ARM CPU to run a lightweight Linux distro. Not sure how it’s going to handle the segue if you’ve got work in progress and need to dock it, but I’m sure Lenovo has that handled.



Here are the specs, broken down into tablet and dock portions:
Tablet:

• 1.6 pounds
• 1GHz Snapdragon processor
• 512MB DDR1 RAM
• 16GB SSD

Dock:

• 3.8 pounds (with tablet attached)
• Intel Core2 Duo U4100 processor
• 4GB DDR3 RAM (max)
• 128GB SSD

One other major difference: the U1 starts at a thousand dollars. I get the feeling Freescale might be the more attractive proposition to most people. We’ll see ‘em both at CES, though, so we’ll let you know.


[CrunchGear via PC Magazine]

Freescale ARM Cortex-A8 tablets! Some less than $200! The future! Now!

You know what’s so hot for Y2K10? Tablets. If you want to get just about anybody in the technology journalism industry all riled up, just talk about tablets. It’s also a good way to make small talk. Texas-based Freescale, purveyor of fine ARM Cortex chips for various mobile devices, is getting in on the tablet madness full force by promising to demonstrate strange and wonderful $200 smartbook tablets running Android and Linux at CES this week.
Consumers will be able to purchase the aforementioned tablets “as soon as the summer of 2010,” according to Freescale’s recent press release. Ah, summer. That’s such a hot time for tablet computing. Summer Y2K10 will always be remembered as the Summer of Tablet.
So what can we expect?

“The Freescale tablet includes Wi-Fi and Bluetooth wireless connectivity, and also features a 3D desktop framework with touch screen/QWERTY keyboard support. 3G modem and RF4CE protocol options are available. The tablet’s modular approach to 3G connectivity lets systems designers select carrier-specific air interfaces appropriate for different regions. Modules can be pre-certified by carriers and selected to match a range of features and performance targets. This method makes it easy to migrate quickly to new modem technologies as they are introduced.


Example smartbook platform applications intended to run on the tablet include a web browser with Adobe Flash Player and multimedia plug-ins, a media center, PDF and image viewers, a mail client, an RSS reader, an office suite, handwriting utilities and various widgets for Twitter, Facebook, Flickr, Weather SMS and other applications.”

Sounds a bit like the common smartphone, except for the whole “web browser with Adobe Flash Player and multimedia plug-ins” part. They’ll be a bit larger, too. The reference design from Freescale features a 7-inch display with 1024×600 resolution and a weight of just over 13 ounces. Other specs include 512MB of RAM, between 4GB and 64GB of built-in storage, various connectivity options, USB ports, webcam, and an accelerometer.

And perhaps most importantly, Freescale is ballparking the price tag at around $200. While I’m still not personally sold on the idea that we need something to fill the imaginary gap between smartphone and laptop, there are plenty of others out there who are ready to buy a tablet.



[TechCrunch via BusinessWire]

Google Tablet: Google and HTC To Launch Apple iSlate Rival [RUMOR]

Google is working on a tablet computer with HTC, the company that built the hardware for the Nexus One “Google Phone“, according to a report.


The report claims that HTC has “been working closely with Google for the past 18 months” on “several working models of a touch tablet”.


Are Google and HTC about to challenge both the iPhone and the Apple tablet, rumored to be called iSlate?


Australian news site SmartHouse, which first published the story, pits the Google/HTC offering as a direct rival to Apple’s tablet ambitions. But the device might equally prove a threat to Microsoft: getting Google Chrome OS into consumer’s hands is key to the operating system’s success.


Skeptics might argue that Google will never promote a tablet computer of its own: that would endanger its relationships with other hardware makers. And yet the Nexus One proves that Google very much will tread on toes if the move makes strategic sense.


What do you think: could a Google Tablet rival the iSlate? Or will this rumored device never see the light of day?

[Mashable, image via Gizmodo]