Samsung has added two new Android tablets to its Galaxy Tab 3 range, introducing new 8-inch and 10.1-inch models that complement its existing 7-inch device. The 8-inch Galaxy Tab 3 features a 1.5 GHz dual-core processor, WXGA TFT 1280 x 800 (189 PPI) display, 1.5GB of RAM, a 5-megapixel rear-facing and 1.3-megapixel front-facing camera, a 4,450 mAh battery, and 16 or 32GB of internal storage.
According to Reuters, the 10-inch model features 1.6 GHz Intel dual-core processor, becoming the first Samsung tablet to include an Intel chip. It also features a 1280 x 800 (149 PPI) WXGA TFT display, 1GB of RAM, 16 or 32GB of internal storage, and a 6,800 mAh battery. However, the 10.1-inch tablet only features a 3-megapixel rear-facing camera, but does include the same 1.3-megapixel camera as the 8-inch Tab. Both variants run Android 4.2.2 and feature Samsung’s suite of TouchWiz apps. Samsung says both devices will be available globally at beginning of June, but has yet to announce pricing.
Wow, that was quick. Following on yesterday’s Windows 8 commercial which uses Apple’s Siri to highlight the iPad’s perceived flaws – such as its $499 price point versus an Asus VivoTab Smart and lack of Office (go figure), the Redmond-based software giant today release another ad along the same lines.
Suggestively titled ‘Comparison: iPad vs. Windows 8 Tablet’, the commercial pits an iPad 4 against an Asus Vivo Tab RT, which is based on the same ARM CPU technology like Apple’s tablet. However, the software maker has been caught cheating…
As you can see below, the commercial praises the Asus hardware for being thinner (0.37 inches versus 0.32 inches) and lighter (1.44lbs versus 1.16lbs) than the iPad 4.
Of course, the Windows maker also highlights its Office offering (“One Note app only comes with Microsoft Office”) and multitasking capabilities of Windows 8 that allow users to run two apps concurrently in split-screen mode.
You also need to buy a micro SD adapter for your iPad, the ad proclaims, and can only print to a special AirPrint-compatible printer whereas the Asus tablet prints wirelessly to “nearly all printers”.
Microsoft also has a nice web page up where users can choose to compare an iPad 4 to an Asus VivoTab Smart, Dell XPS 10, HP Envy x2 and Microsoft’s own Surface RT.
Unfortunately for Microsoft, Elliot Temple of curi.us points out that a comparison between the iPad and the Asus device on Microsoft’s web site is inaccurate, to say the least.
iMicrosoft claims the Asus tablet “has a bigger touchscreen” whereas in reality Asus’ device has 3.55 percent less area than the iPad, not 36 percent more as Microsoft depicts.
Elliot explains:
The iPad screen is 7.76 by 5.82 inches. The ASUS screen is 8.8 by 4.95 inches. ASUS is larger in one direction but smaller in the other direction, and has 3.55% less area than the iPad, not 36% more as Microsoft depicts.
How can the screen with a larger diagonal measurement be smaller? Because it’s a different shape. Long and thin gets you a bigger diagonal but a smaller screen, for the same diagonal inches.
On a related note, Microsoft chairman Bill Gates recently asserted that people are frustrated because the iPad “lacks real keyboard and real Office”.
DigiTimes, the-sometimes-reliable Taiwanese trade publication, on Monday ran a report which quotes sources with Taiwan’s supply chain who claim that a fifth revision to Apple’s full-size 9.7-inch iPad will be 25-33 percent lighter than its previous generation.
The fifth-generation iPad is believed to be entering trial production next month, meaning the device should be on track for a rumored September launch. Initial output is pegged at up to three million units until Apple and its manufacturing partners reach yield levels necessary to ramp up production…
DigiTimes reports:
The display of the new iPad, which will hit market shelves as early as September, will still be a 2,048 x 1,536 Retina display, the same as the one used in the 4th-generation model, except that the new display is built on a glass substrate of 0.2mm, thinner than the 0.25mm one for the 4th-generation device, the sources said, adding the new table will has a narrow bezel.
The iPad 5 should be a third lighter than its predecessor thanks to a single backlighting bar, as opposed to two LED bars used in the iPad 4. It’s also expected to incorporate the GF2 touch panel technology that combines a layer of glass with two layers of ITO film, as opposed to G/G bonding used in the iPad 3 and 4.
The report asserts LG Display, Samsung Display and Sharp are supplying screens for the iPad 5.
Taiwan Surface Mounting Technology will undertake SMT for the LED light bars, while Radiant Opto-Electronics and Coretronic are thought to make the backlight. Additionally, Apple’s partner TPK Holding is reportedly responsible for touch panel bonding.
The DigiTimes story actually matches up with KGI Securities analyst Ming-Chi Kuo who also expects the next full-size iPad by Fall. Kuo, who is arguably the most reliable Apple analyst, told clients to expect a “significantly lighter and slimmer” than previous versions.
Recent checks and leaks indicate the iPad 5 will adopt the iPad mini’s design, meaning anarrower screen border. As you know, Apple with the iPad mini introduction in October 2012 introduced the iOS multi-touch enhancements that solve the user experience problems stemming from the skinnier side bezels.
Apple’s iPad ranked first in the list with a score of 836 over a total possible score of 1,000 points. The study questioned tablet owners on five categories. These include performance, ease of use, styling and design, features, and cost.
Apple’s iPad scored high on the first four categories. On the other hand, Amazon’s tablets excelled in the cost category, scoring an overall score of 829 points out of 1,000. Other tablet manufacturers such as Samsung, Asus, and Acer followed close behind in the list, though their scores were all below the study average of 828 points.
The results of the study indicate that tablet owners are less likely to add or replace their units anytime soon. Last year, 37 percent of tablet owners stated they intended to purchase a new unit in the coming year. In the 2013 survey only 27 per cent declared they still intended to buy a new tablet within the year.
The research revealed that consumer satisfaction is higher when the tablet unit is a communal device. In the study, sole users scored 28 points lower in satisfaction compared to those who shared a tablet between four or more people. This leads to the suggestion that group satisfaction may have a significant effect on subsequent purchases and brand loyalty.
Google’s iOS Search app, now with Google Now
Boom, just like that Google has issued an update to its excellent Search app for the iPhone and iPad which enables some of the most popular Google Now features on the iOS platform. At least initially, Google Now on iOS devices doesn’t support some of the features Android users have come to love.
Boarding passes, activity summary, events, concerts, Fandango and Zillow cards aren’t included in the update.
All told, 22 of the 29 card types found in Android have made their way to the iOS edition, including weather, traffic, transit schedules and sports scores. Also: Google Now doesn’t have Push Notifications, which makes the feature less useful than on Android, where Google Now can notify users via alerts of their upcoming appointments, changes to their flight schedule, weather and more.
Your promotional video, screenies and additional details are after the break…
The overall look and feel of Google Now on iOS is virtually indistinguishable from its Android counterpart.
However, Google Now on Android is more seamless due to its integration with Google’s mobile operating system, which includes accessing Google Now anywhere with an upward swipe, but also live-updating home and Locks screen widgets which, of course, are not supported on iOS.
Google Now Cards missing from the iOS build: airline boarding passes, activity summary, events, Zillow, Fandango, concerts, research topic, nearby events.
According to AllThingsD, we should expect upcoming new Google Now Cards on Android first, “and then see them added to iOS later.”
To refresh your cards, just swipe up. You must be signed in to the Search app with your Google Account to use Now features.
Google’s blog post reads:
Google Now is about giving you just the right information at just the right time. It can show you the day’s weather as you get dressed in the morning, or alert you that there’s heavy traffic between you and your butterfly-inducing date-so you’d better leave now!
It can also share news updates on a story you’ve been following, remind you to leave for the airport so you can make your flight and much more. There’s no digging required: cards appear at the moment you need them most-and the more you use Google Now, the more you get out of it.
Here’s a promo clip.
The app icon has also been slightly tweaked.
From release notes:
• get just the right information at just the right time with Google Now. • weather and traffic conditions before you start your day • updates on your favorite sports teams and breaking news stories as they happen
Samsung seems to be on a roll. After launching its flagship smartphone the Galaxy S 4, the company has announced the Galaxy Tab 3 which is the third 7-inch tablet under its Galaxy Tab sub-brand. Design wise, it looks quite similar to the Galaxy Note 510 tablet which is currently up for pre-order on the Samsung India eStore, but internally it is a wildly different beast.
Features wise, the Galaxy Tab 3 does not dazzle. It is a decidedly mid-to-low-end product and its specs tell the entire story. It has a 7-inch display with a resolution of 1024×600 pixels and 169 PPI, a 1.2GHz dual-core processor, 1GB of RAM, 8GB or 16 GB of internal storage, a microSD card slot that supports up to 64GB of storage and a 4,000mAh battery. It also sports a 1.3-megapixel front facing camera and a 3-megapixel rear camera.
It will be offered in Wi-Fi only and 3G HSPA+ variants, and it runs on Android 4.1 Jelly Bean on top of which the Samsung TouchWiz interface is running. Samsung says that the Wi-Fi version of the tablet will start shipping in May globally, but the 3G version will only be available in June.
It competes more with the likes of the Asus MemoPad and the Acer Iconia B1 tablet however we are guessing it will hold an edge in terms of processing power thanks to its more powerful dual-core chipset.
Samsung seems to be on a roll. After launching its flagship smartphone the Galaxy S 4, the company has announced the Galaxy Tab 3 which is the third 7-inch tablet under its Galaxy Tab sub-brand. Design wise, it looks quite similar to the Galaxy Note 510 tablet which is currently up for pre-order on the Samsung India eStore, but internally it is a wildly different beast.
