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ASUS Eee Pad Transformer excitement, Amasung tablet coming and Skype gets an update but not what we were hoping for
#10 | 5:07 |
Wednesday April 27, 2011
Android Weekly
Wednesday April 27, 2011
On this weeks show, the ASUS Eee Pad we're dubbing the Transformer-top, hints at what may be next for PCs, Samsung and Amazon sitting in a tree and Skype gets an update but isn't quite what we were hoping for. Also, the lovely Kate Abraham offers up a killer Android time waster with Slice It!.
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ASUS Eee Pad - Laptop in disguise
Fair to say this one is a little more than meets the eye. ASUS effectively started the whole netbook category with its Eee PC. Now, in keeping up with the competition, it's got its gaze fixed on tablets as the next forefront.
The Eee Pad Transformer is a capable tablet; nVidia Tegra 2 1GHz dual core processor, a gig of RAM and 1080p playback capability. But here's the kicker; mate it with its docking station and you basically have a netbook; a full QWERTY keyboard, USB ports and a multi-touch trackpad. And, here's the kicker, an extra six + hours of battery life. Add that to the already impressive promised 9.5h for the tablet and you're looking at what could be a true all-day device. Here's hoping the real-world battery lives up to this lofty goal.
If all is as ASUS promises (and we sure hope it is) then you could be looking at the future of the laptop and the future of the Android tablet.
The base-level ASUS Eee Pad Transformer goes for $400 while the dock costs another $150. $50 more than the base level iPad but if it works as advertised, that could be the best $50 you ever spent.
We're trying to get one in for testing so stay tuned.
Amasung / Samazon Android e-reader tablet
Call it Amasung or Samazon; apparently Amazon and Samsung are teaming up to make an Android device that also isn't. Let me explain. Android is open source; anyone can grab it, tinker with it, subtly or drastically change it and push it out the door. Seems Amazon is thinking along the drastic lines. The Engadget founders' latest project, gdgt, suggests Amazon isn't content to have apps on the iPad and on Android devices, opting to roll its own solution instead. The thus far unnamed tablet will apparently close itself to outside influence offering its own apps and its own experience and, naturally, a heavy push toward its own music and book download services. Apparently, a simplified Android experience. Think the NOOK Colour but more powerful.
We'll keep an eye on this one. Food for thought: Amazon recently released its low-priced Kindle that makes its nut by pushing ads. With said ads and with a push on paid services like book and music downloads, Amazon could conceivably subsidize the price of the Samazon tablet.
Skype update but no video calling
The Skype update we've all be waiting for is finally upon us. Front-facing cameras in Android tablets and smartphones are increasingly common. Stands to reason that video calling is coming, right? Well yes, but this ain't it.
The Skype update brings 3G VoIP calling and fixes a security bug but video calling, even over Wi-Fi, is nowhere to be seen for Android users. Pretty lame, Skype. How am I supposed to have video chats with Grandma while in transit? How do I confirm that my chat partner is, in fact, wearing what she professes to be wearing?
I guess we'll just have to wait.
App Review of the Day
Slice It!
Free
Fair to say this one is a little more than meets the eye. ASUS effectively started the whole netbook category with its Eee PC. Now, in keeping up with the competition, it's got its gaze fixed on tablets as the next forefront.
The Eee Pad Transformer is a capable tablet; nVidia Tegra 2 1GHz dual core processor, a gig of RAM and 1080p playback capability. But here's the kicker; mate it with its docking station and you basically have a netbook; a full QWERTY keyboard, USB ports and a multi-touch trackpad. And, here's the kicker, an extra six + hours of battery life. Add that to the already impressive promised 9.5h for the tablet and you're looking at what could be a true all-day device. Here's hoping the real-world battery lives up to this lofty goal.
If all is as ASUS promises (and we sure hope it is) then you could be looking at the future of the laptop and the future of the Android tablet.
The base-level ASUS Eee Pad Transformer goes for $400 while the dock costs another $150. $50 more than the base level iPad but if it works as advertised, that could be the best $50 you ever spent.
We're trying to get one in for testing so stay tuned.
Amasung / Samazon Android e-reader tablet
Call it Amasung or Samazon; apparently Amazon and Samsung are teaming up to make an Android device that also isn't. Let me explain. Android is open source; anyone can grab it, tinker with it, subtly or drastically change it and push it out the door. Seems Amazon is thinking along the drastic lines. The Engadget founders' latest project, gdgt, suggests Amazon isn't content to have apps on the iPad and on Android devices, opting to roll its own solution instead. The thus far unnamed tablet will apparently close itself to outside influence offering its own apps and its own experience and, naturally, a heavy push toward its own music and book download services. Apparently, a simplified Android experience. Think the NOOK Colour but more powerful.
We'll keep an eye on this one. Food for thought: Amazon recently released its low-priced Kindle that makes its nut by pushing ads. With said ads and with a push on paid services like book and music downloads, Amazon could conceivably subsidize the price of the Samazon tablet.
Skype update but no video calling
The Skype update we've all be waiting for is finally upon us. Front-facing cameras in Android tablets and smartphones are increasingly common. Stands to reason that video calling is coming, right? Well yes, but this ain't it.
The Skype update brings 3G VoIP calling and fixes a security bug but video calling, even over Wi-Fi, is nowhere to be seen for Android users. Pretty lame, Skype. How am I supposed to have video chats with Grandma while in transit? How do I confirm that my chat partner is, in fact, wearing what she professes to be wearing?
I guess we'll just have to wait.
App Review of the Day
Slice It!
Free
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DroidSail Super App2SD (ROOT) Android
Move more apps to SD card!!! This is a super APP2SD tool for ROOTed user (Android 2.2 and...
