Section: Communications, Smartphones, Computers, Mobile Computers Recent rumors about the Apple Tablet and Freescale’s design of a low cost tablet demonstrate the industry’s revived interest in tablets. Haleron Technologies introduced the Mio iLET (Internet TabLET) featuring an Intel Atom N450 1.66GHz processor and a multi touch screen. The operating system used in conjunction with this capacitive touch screen is the new Windows 7 OS. This 10” tablet boasts a built in SIM driven GSM Quad Band Unlocked Cell Phone, which means that you can place and receive calls on the tablet through a bluetooth headset. The tablet has 3G connectivity, WiFi, Bluetooth, 160GB hard drive, 1.3 megapixels camera, three USB 2.0 ports, one SD/MS/MMC/ms-pro card reader, one VGA port, one ethernet port, one DC-in connector, one microphone connector, and one earphone connector. A 3-cell 3500 mAh battery can provide up to 3 hours of runtime, and a 6-cell version up to 6 hours. I am a little disappointed that the iLET does not come with a built-in GPS. While the device is currently out of stock (It will be available on 15.1.2010), the order form provides a selection between a standard SATA drive or an SSD. There appears to be no extra charges if you wish to switch the hard drive to the 160GB SSD version. Haleron claims that the tablet is shipped unlocked, which means that you will not be tied to any cellphone carriers. You can even use the cellphone feature of this tablet in other countries. Tablets like this are really blurring the lines between smartphones and netbooks. Some people may call them oversized smartphones, and then there are people who believe that the full potential of tablets are yet to be revealed. Read [Haleron Technologies] Via [Liliputing] Full Story » | Written by Cheng Hung for Gadgetell. | Comment on this Article »
 
Section: Gadgets / Other, ebooks Those who have an ebook reader like the Kindle or Nook, or even those who have looked into getting one, know that current ebook readers have a problem with magazines and newspapers. The layout can’t be reproduced well on the smaller screens. With its new ebook reader, Skiff looks to be the first to take on that issue with a reader that is large enough to handle just about any layout. The Skiff Reader looks to be the largest ebook reader when its shown off this week at CES. The Skiff Reader will have a large 11.5-inch touchscreen, with a resolution of 1600 x 1200, which is sharper than a lot of laptops. The screen itself is “foil-display” which is based on a flexible stainless-steel foil rather than the typical glass base. It will have Wi-Fi and Sprint 3G to connect to a new Skiff store. The store will focus mostly on larger formats like magazines and newspapers, though books will likely be available. There are no announcements as to the price and release of the Skiff Reader, though hopefully we’ll find out more at CES later this week. The reader looks to be a good answer to the problem of reading magazines and newspapers, though it might become easily lost in the shuffle. Many companies have come out to say they’re working on that very issue, and most seems to have color displays. Maybe if the price is low enough, and there’s more content available for it than other devices it might succeed, though with rumors of the Apple iSlate, it seems fairly doubtful. Read [Gizmodo] Full Story » | Written by Shawn Ingram for Gadgetell. | Comment on this Article »
 
Section: Business News, Peripherals, Displays/Projectors  With a reported sales figure of 2.6 million LED LCD TV in 2009, Samsung has high expectations for its LED LCD TV sales this coming year. Samsung expects a whopping 10 million LED LCD TV sales in 2010. Having said that, we can reasonably expect attractive deals from a whole line of LED LCD TVs that will be churned out by Samsung this year. This piques our interest of what Samsung has in stores for us for the CES 2010. Samsung expects to release 8 series of LED LCD TVs in 2010 (3 series in 2009), with screen sizes ranging from 19 to 65 inches. With that wide range of series and sizes, it is likely that Samsung may be able to achieve their goal after all.
For those of you who are clueless, LED LCD TVs are backlit by LCDs instead of the traditional cold cathode fluorescent lamp (CCFL). This result in thinner, brighter and higher energy efficiencies as compared to traditional LCD TVs. Previously, LED LCD TVs are among the higher end LCD TVs and they had high price tags. Hopefully, Samsung’s move will eventually drive down LED LCD TV prices this year. Read [NASDAQ] Via [CrunchGear] Full Story » | Written by Cheng Hung for Gadgetell. | Comment on this Article »
 
Section: Audio, Portable Audio, Communications, Cellphones, Cellular Providers, Email / IM, Smartphones, Mobile  According to TechCrunch, Google offered to cover the $3-$4 per user cost to integrate Spotify, the hugely popular music service, into Android 2.1. Spotify has been absent in the US market pending talks with the big music labels. Google hopes the create an iTunes alternative in Spotify.
TechCrunch goes on to mention, “the two companies sketched out a plan where Spotify's excellent Android application would be build into the 2.1 version of Android and would launch in the U.S. with the Google Nexus One phone on January 5.”
The music labels are moving away from a free sample in order to hopefully gain album sales. Spotify insists on free music for their listeners. We don’t see the labels changing their mind and Spotify seems set in their ways. It isn’t clear that Spotify would set precedent with Google by allowing them to pay for music. Surely, European labels would be looking for some kind of payment as well. Google has announced an Android event January 5. We’ll know then what is really going on. Read: [TechCrunch] Full Story » | Written by JG Mason for Gadgetell. | Comment on this Article »
 
Section: Communications, Cellular Providers, Mobile  As I mentioned back in December, Sprint has made a change to the contract terms and users should be able to cancel without having to pay an early termination fee.
The change means that users, should they choose not to cancel, will have to pay an extra $0.20 cents per line. According to the details; Regulatory Charge/Ts&Cs Changes
Effective 1/1/10, the Regulatory Charge will increase to $0.40/line.
This change went into effect a few days ago (on January 1, 2010) and means that you will have 30 days to call up and cancel. Of course, just make sure you do not pay your bill and then decide to cancel, because a bill payment will mean that you are agreeing to the new terms. Personally, I am planning to cancel, or at least try. But that is going to have to wait a few days until I return from CES. Full Story » | Written by Robert Nelson for Gadgetell. | Comment on this Article »
 
Section: Computers, Mobile Computers, Gadgets / Other, GPS/Navigation, Lifestyle 
Freescale may be on the verge of setting a new trend, somewhat like when ASUS began the netbook fad a some time in 2008. Freescale has just designed a tablet that can be manufactured at a cost of $199. However, manufacturers may inadvertently price it differently according to their own customizations and changes. They claim that the design can enable manufacturers to market the product in as low as 6 months. This tablet is reported to sport a 1Ghz ARM Cortex A8 design and six other co-processors inside (FPU, DSP, img processing, 2D graphics, 3G graphics, HD video decode). It has a 7” resistive touch screen. If manufacturers see fit, they could install a better capacitive touchscreen, but that would undoubtedly drive up the costs. It has various connectivity features, among them are an optional 3G modem, 802.11 b/g/n and Bluetooth 2.1. Storage solutions include a 4-64GB internal storage, a microSD slot and 512MB RAM. It also features GPS, USB, audio ports, SIM card, speaker, microphone, 3-megapixel webcam, 1900 mAh battery, accelerometer and light sensor. This sounds a little too good to be true for a sub-$200 tablet, but then again not all features may be incorporated into the tablet to keep the price low. According to Freescale’s own tests, it can run for up to 12 hours with WiFi and the display on 80% brightness. This places the tablet somewhere between smartphones and netbooks, but the important question is how will consumers respond to this new category of product? Via [Ubergizmo] Via [Gizmodo] Full Story » | Written by Cheng Hung for Gadgetell. | Comment on this Article »
 
Section: Imaging, Digital Cameras  Just in time for CES, Samsung announced the NX10, an everyday digital camera aimed at the pro-sumer. The NX10 augments the larger $1399 GX-20 DSLR (why Samsung decided to lose the hyphen in the model number will remain a mystery for now). The NX10 will be coming Spring of 2010.
Camera highlights include: 3.0” AMOLED screen for easy viewing even in sunlight, HD movie (720p) capabilities along with HDMI (listed with Anynet + which suggests the camera when hooked up to a Samsung TV can be controlled by remote). While the unit has several in-depth custom controls, it also features auto settings. These setting can perform smart tasks such as turning off the AMOLED screen when taking a self-portrait (similar to the iPhone’s proximity sensor turning the screen off when the device gets held to the ear. Essentially, Samsung has created a powerful camera put into a much smaller compact frame. Many features of the GX-20 are found on the smaller NX10. Designed to be an on-the-go version, the price of the NX10 has not been revealed yet. We suspect it will be under the GX-20 and probably under $1000. Read: [Virtual Press Office] Full Story » | Written by JG Mason for Gadgetell. | Comment on this Article »
 
Section: Communications, Accessories, Mobile, Gadgets / Other, Miscellaneous, Trade Shows, CES This ingenious little device will alert you whenever you leave your phone behind. No more turning back on your way to work when you found out that you left your phone at home. Did your phone just slipped out of your pockets while you’re on a train? No worries, ZOMM will alert you when you’re about to leave your phone behind. ZOMM, dubbed the “world’s first wireless leash” for mobile phones, will officially be revealed at CES 2010. It also features a visual and audible call notification, and a panic button that will call emergency assistance (911). Although no official information regarding pricing are revealed, rumors are that it will be priced at about $79. While that may seem to be a hefty amount to splurge, you’d be better off not losing your valuable gadgets. I can’t help it but to wonder what happens if you leave the ZOMM behind. In case you’re wondering, ZOMM stands for Zachry, Olivia and Madison's Mom, the creators of ZOMM. Read [ZOMM] Via [Ubergizmo] Full Story » | Written by Cheng Hung for Gadgetell. | Comment on this Article »
 
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