Android 5.0 Key Lime Pie：What can we Expect for?

When the Android 4.2 Jelly Bean lighted our eyes with the new amazing features, what can we expect for the next Android 5.0 Key Lime Pie, which is rumored to be released at Google I/O conference from May 15 to May 17 2013? The fresh features of Android 5.0 really cause people’s great interest. Just let’s have a look at some opinions about Android 5.0 features.

Guest Mode
We all know the amazing multiple-user feature on Android 4.2, which opened a way for the mobile platform to look like Windows on a desktop PC. And as the rumors said, Android 5.0 Key Lime Pie will bring about the fantastic guest mode, which will let guests access some parts of the device from the lock screen, meanwhile the mode can prevent the access to SMS, phone storage and anything besides what the owner thinks appropriate without a password.

Lockscreen and Widgets
It is said that Google will improve the Lockscreen like fetching more widgets to the standard lock screen. With the improvement, you may can directly access to a lot of apps including camera app thanks to a simple right-to-left gesture from the right edge of the screen.

Shutter speed Control
The iPhone and Lumia 920 have done a good job with their exclusive camera sensors in terms of Shutter speed control on camera app, while it has not been possible in most Android devices, owing to the reason of slowing shouter speed that every Android company uses different sensors and the shouter speed is mostly controlled through different drivers. So the feature of Shutter speed Control on Android 5.0 can help solve the problem of slowing shutter speed on Android within the camera app. With the control, the Android compatible device can produce more nice images.

Better multiple device support
Speaking of the multiple device support, Google already does a good job, but there are still some problems in synchronizing various contents among Android devices. To get improved, the new Android OS should include better multiple device support to help people who own a couple of phones and tablets.

Video Chatting app
At the moment, almost all the smartphones and tablets offer the front camera, but actually we use it little.So a video chat app is the chance to change the condition.

Cross-device SMS sync
If you use more than one phone on the go, chances are you've lost track of your text messages at some point when changing to another phone. The Android system stores these on the phone rather than the SIM card, so it will be nice if the texts could be sync to the SIM, the SD card for easy and consistent access across multiple devices.

Android 5.0 Devices
The Android 5.0 devices may includes the rumored Nexus 5, Samsung Galaxy S4,Sony Xperia Z, HTC One, and Samsung Galaxy Note 8, Galaxy Note 10.1,etc.

All the things here are just speculations and what the real thing is, we should wait. And if you have some thought about Android 5.0, I ‘d like that you can leave a messge.

New Nexus Tablets,Smartphone are Announced By Google Today

Google announced lots of new hardware today via blog post, after an event in New York was canceled in anticipation of Hurricane Sandy. The big items:

• The Nexus 4 smartphone, developed with LG. It features a quad-core processor, a 4.2-inch display, and a wireless charging feature that lets you power the phone by setting it down on a charging service. It runs Android 4.2 (Jelly Bean) and a feature called Photo Sphere for creating 360-degree panoramas. The phone goes on sale Nov. 13 for $299.
• The Nexus 7 now comes in new Wi-Fi models that are 16GB (for $199) and 32GB (for $249). Google also is making a version available with an HSPA+ cellular connection -- $32GB for $299. It's on sale Nov. 13.
• The Nexus 10 tablet, developed with Samsung, offers what Google calls the highest-resolution screen in the tablet marketplace at 300 pixels per square inch. That 2560 by 1600 pixel display will still get nine hours of video playback, Google says. And it has an account-switching feature that lets multiple users share the tablet more easily. The 16GB model goes for for $399; the 32GB model costs for $499. It's available Nov. 14.

Google also announced an update to Google Now, its predictive-search feature that presents information on a series of cards without the user having to search. In addition to weather and traffic information, cards will now display flight information, restaurant reservations, hotel confirmations and shipping details, the company said.

Source:cnet

Android Event about Google on October 29

When news about Apple iPad Mini and Microsoft Surface have heated the tablet market, news about Google have lighted people’s eyes. The 32GB Nexus 7(Wifi only),3G-enabled Nexus 7(32GB) ,10-inch tablet Nexus 10,LG Nexus 4 and Jelly Bean 4.2 are all to be announced on October 29, which is undoubtedly a big surprise for us especially for Nexus 7 fans. Let’s just take the details later.

Nexus 7
32GB Wi-fi Nexus 7 has already been spotted in Japan, and a screenshot reveals it is listed on Staples' business-centric storefront at $248.37, which is almost the same price as the current 16GB model.3G Nexus 7 is unveiled at TaiWan with the model of ME370TG,it adds 3G function compared to 32GB Wi-fi Nexus 7.The price of this version has not mentioned now and we may need to wait for Google’s announcement. Without question, the Nexus-brand tablets will compete directly with Apple's iPad Mini, and Amazon's Kindle Fire HD, and maybe Microsoft Surface RT.

Nexus 10
Yesterday I have reprinted the article which tells Google is building a 10-inch tablet with Samsung that’s probably going to be sold as the Nexus 10, not confirmed yet. Most interestingly, the device seems to be unveiled on October 29, too.

According to The Next Web, the Nexus 10 will run the Android 4.2 and feature a 10-inch display with 2560 x 1600 resolutions, 16:10 aspect ratio and almost 299 pixel per inch (PPI) density. What the product will cost or when it will hit stores have not been mentioned now. More details need to be told on the announce day. It will be probably a high-end device compared to the $199 Nexus 7, and the anticipated $99 Nexus 7.

LG Nexus 4
Rumor about LG Nexus 4 smartphone has confirmed and it will have a quad-core 1.5 GHz Qualcomm APQ8064 Snapdragon processor, a 4.7-in. display with 1280 x 768 resolution, 2GB RAM, 16GB storage, an 8-megapixel rear-facing camera (and 1.3-megapixel front-facing snapper) and a 2100mAh battery.The LG Nexus 4 will also be powered by Google’s new Android 4.2 Jelly Bean, according to TNW.

Android 4.2 Jelly Bean
All these new devices will come with Android 4.2 on board, the next generation of Jelly Bean.It has been confirmed that Android 4.2 will use ‘Content in the center’ which will allow users to access Play Store content from a widget and ‘Tablet Sharing’ which will satisfy families and enterprise users’ demands by providing a simple and easy access to switch between several users on a tablet, each with their own email and apps. Android 4.2 is more likely to use by Google to compete with Apple iOS 6.

With the rumors of the new devices and new operating system, the Google event day has become very important. Let’s just wait for the Android Event about Google to get more information about these things.

update:It is really a pity that Google cancelled this press announcement out of  Hurricane Sandy, and we still need to wait.

A 10-inch Nexus tablet with Android 4.2 to be Released by Google on October 29?

The end of this month promises to be full of tech news, as Apple has an event on Tuesday that could see the release of the iPad Mini, Microsoft launches Windows 8 on Friday, and Google has scheduled an Android event for the 29th. As you might expect, leaks are emerging about what the search giant is planning to announce at that event, including the long-expected larger sibling to its Nexus 7 tablet.

The Next Web is reporting that Google is working with Samsung on a 10-inch Nexus -- code-named "Manta" but possibly to be released as the Nexus 10 -- that will compete against the Apple iPad, Amazon Fire HD 8.9", and Windows RT tablets, including the Microsoft Surface.

The site says it's been tipped off on two intriguing specs the new Nexus will have. One is resolution: 2,560x1,600, which could work out to be a higher pixel density (around 300 pixels per inch) than the latest iPad with Retina Display offers. The tablet will also apparently ship with Android 4.2, which was once code-named Key Lime Pie, but which is now being referred to as Jelly Bean, just as Android 4.1 has been.

The Nexus probably won't be the only device announced on the 29th that will run Android 4.2, but it will probably be touted as the first tablet to have it. Whether the latest OS will offer enough novel features to make the Nexus 10 stand out in the ever-more-crowded full-size tablet market remains to be seen, but the success of the Nexus 7 suggests that Google would probably have another winner on its hands regardless.

Are you intrigued by a 10-inch Google Nexus tablet? Enough to buy one over another full-size slate? Let us know in the Talkback section below.

source:zdnet



Related article:
3G-based Google Nexus 7 Unveiled, the Same Price, More Powerful

3G-based Google Nexus 7 Unveiled, the Same Price, More Powerful

Google Nexus 7 tablet has become the highest selling Android tablet in its history since going on sale on 27 July, Carphone Warehouse, the UK’s largest independent mobile retailer, said. Although new tablets, including the Kindle Fire HD, Nook HD, the upcoming iPad Mini and Microsoft Surface, are aroused with some attractive features, Nexus 7 still keeps its popularity. However, the lack of 3G function also alienates some people.

Luckily, thing has changed. Rumor that there will be a 3G-capable Nexus 7 tablet has confirmed by Taiwan's NCC, a certification agency, with the model of ME370TG.

Details
 
The present model of Nexus 7 is ME370T, only supports Wi - Fi, providing two choices of 8 GB and 16 GB, but a 32 GB version has been leaked on the web just recently. There are two certain reasons that the ME370TG appeared in Taiwan NCC will be the 3G version of Google Nexus 7.First, the model has been added a “G”,and the other is this version will support the GSM/DCS/WCDMA/WLAN/bluetooth/NFC and so on.

However, the 3G version has only the choice of 32 GB, which may mean that the price will not attractive. In addition, although the 3G version has been verified by the NCC, the releasing data is not sure, there is even the possibility that Google will set the price after the launching of Apple iPad Mini.

Released on October 24?

According to the blog BGR, Google will replace 16 gb version by 32 gb version with the same price of 249 dollars to enhance Nexus 7’s competitiveness for the upcoming iPad mini.As for the specific launching time, Rumor said the 3G-based Nexus 7 comes on October 24,the next day of   iPad mini apple releasing day. The 3G version appeared with 32GB storage this time may also mean that Google will debut the 3G version next week.

It is absolutely the good news for customers especially for Nexus fans that Google will release the 3G-based Nexus 7 .If the 3G version is the same price as the present 16GB version, offering the bigger 32 GB storage, the core competitiveness of Nexus 7 will without doubt been strengthened and it will be the selling point, too.

Nook HD and Nook HD+ Unveiled: Another Fierce Competition at Tablet Market

After the order of Amazon Kindle Fire HD, Barnes & Noble announced its Nook HD (7") and HD+ (9") tablets, available for pre-order today and shipping in late October. It is obvious that the joint of Nook HD exacerbated the intensely competitive tablet markets since the release of Nexus 7 and Kindle Fire HD.

With the same size 7 inch as Nexus 7 and Kindle Fire HD, Nook HD at the moment holds the highest resolution 1440*900 among the 7 inch tablet market with a unexpected 243 ppi, which can attract more people for the highest quality text, graphic and video experience on a 7 inch tablet. Nook HD also sports a solid fighting weight at 315 grams, which compares quite favorably to the Nexus 7 (340 grams) and the Kindle Fire HD (395 grams). The tablet uses a 1.3Ghz dual-core processor which should be able to handle resource intensive games. The price of Nook HD starts at $199 for an 8 GB model and $229 for a 16 GB version.

Regarded as the lightest and low-priced full HD tablet ever by Barnes & Noble, Nook HD+ plays in the higher-end tablet market and boasts a 9-inch 1,920 * 1,280 pixel screen with a 256 pixel per inch density, which comes nipping at the retina iPad's 264ppi. It weighs 515 grams, or about 18 ounces, has a 1.5Ghz dual-core processor and starts at $269 for 16 GB and $299 for 32 GB.

Both of the two models Bluetooth and Wi-Fi support and connect for free in all Barnes & Noble stores.  And the other main features about the new Nook tablets are:

• over 3 million books
• Enjoy your favorite magazines and newspapers on a gorgeous HD display! 
•  NOOK Apps™ supplies about 6,000 apps for everyone — from games, news, and entertainment to business, productivity, and lifestyle.
• One of the largest and most diverse collections of interactive books for kids of all ages.
• Nook Video: Offers users standard HD movies and TV shows for streaming or downloading from Disney, Sony, HBO and more.
• Nook Catalog of Shopping 
• Convenient Newspaper Experience
• Running Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich 
• Expanded storage(up to 64GB)
• Up to 10.5 hours of continuous reading and up to 9 hours of video watching for HD,HD+ boasts up to 10 hours and 9 hours

The disappoint thing about the nook is that neither nook tablet has a camera, that means you cannot enjoy the fun of taking photos. Actually, this function is really we want today. Also, you may notice that there are fewer apps at Nook store than Amazon and Google play, and since the interface is unrecognizable as Android, users won't have access to the Play Store. Of course, you can solve the problem by rooting it if you're comfortable at the command-line and don't mind voiding your warranty though.

Undoubtedly, the Nook HD is more likely designed for family and you can find there are something for kids. Whether the Nook HD's great display is enough to make it the tablet to beat, it needs time to answer it.

Amazon will offer $15 opt-out for ads on New Kindle Fire tablets

The new Kindle Fire HD tablets from Amazon have good hardware and software technology inside that belies the low pricing. It turns out that pricing is low due to the inclusion of ads on the Fire HD lock screen and home screen.

These ads will be on all Kindle Fire HD models according to Amazon, without the ability to opt-out. Ads on Kindles are nothing new as Amazon has offered models of the ereader with ads at a lower price for some time.

Kindle buyers have the option to pay a little more for models sans ads or go cheap and put up with the ads. To be fair the Kindle ads have never been obtrusive.

The ads on the new Kindle Fire HD tablets will be on the lock screen that is displayed every time you turn the device on. These ads will include "sponsored screen savers" according to Amazon. The lock screen disappears as soon as you unlock the display so this may not be an issue with most users.

The other ads will be on the lower left corner of the home screen. Amazon insists they will not interfere with the normal use of the tablet, but that will be up to each user. It cannot be turned off so it's there to stay.

Amazon took this ad-supported route no doubt to keep the prices of the Kindle Fire HD as low as possible so it may be an acceptable trade-off for most.

It turns out the ads will "be available in both the US and the UK".And Amazon is now stating that no-ad options will be available for the Kindle Fire HD for $15.

from zdnet

Amazon Kindle Fire HD，A Big Hit on Tablet Market After Nexus 7

When Google Nexus 7 has proved itself by its tremendous success, Amazon takes the wraps off people’s long-anticipated new tablets, the 8.9-inch Kindle Fire HD and the 7-inch Kindle Fire HD. Although the shipment is said to be on Sep. 14, the order has already started yesterday.

With the price of $199, the same as the current darling, the Nexus 7, the 7-inch Kindle Fire HD adds more storage (16GB), faster performance, and a high-resolution display (1280x800) into the mix and with better hardware, which will the new kindle fire HD go even further to eat into the competition. Also you can take the 32GB for $249 (32GB).

Along with a slightly bigger screen (1920x1200),the larger 8.9-inch Kindle Fire HD has the same hardware improvements. It is designed for content consumption in every way, and at $299 will likely be a big holiday seller. It will be available in November to reach that holiday crowd. There's also an extra-fancy Fire HD with AT&T's 4G LTE support priced at $499 for 32GB and $599 for 64GB.

The new Kindle Fire HD also includes dual-band 2.4 and 5GHz 802.11n Wi-Fi. And Amazon announces that they use two antennas the first time in a tablet for 802.11n' built-in MIMO (multiple input, multiple outputs) functionality and make the Kindle Fire HD 21 percent faster Wi-Fi than the iPad. For a processor, the new Kindle Fire HD uses a Texas Instruments OMAP 4470 processor, which is a quad-core ARM-based processor. Bezos claims this processor is faster than Nvidia’s Tegra 3.What android system it will run is not certain.

Speaking of the features, lots of consumerism features are supplied such as FreeTime to let your kids not spend all day on the tablet; Dolby speakers for music and movies; X-Ray for Movies to let you get film info from IMDB while you're watching a film; and so on. Besides, the tablet comes with Microsoft Exchange support and out of the box can sync e-mail, contacts and calendars with Gmail, Hotmail, and Yahoo.

So you maybe wonder whether Amazon has profits to sell these at this price point. Well as Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos said, “We want to make money when people use our device not when they buy our devices.” And it really gives all the people especially the kindle users the big surprise with its amazing performance and low price.

The Kindle Fire HD won’t offer a pure Android experience like the Nexus 7, but for Kindle users, Amazon Prime members, and those simply looking for a low-priced device to consume media on, the HD makes an extremely convincing argument in its favor, and also it will be a powerful competitor for both Google Nexus 7 and Apple iPad series including the forthcoming iPad Mini.

Jelly Bean now available to UK Asus Transformer Pad

Asus customers have it easier when it comes to receiving the latest and greatest software update on their devices. The fact that the company played a big role in the release of the Nexus 7, the first tablet to sport Jelly Bean, certainly helped Asus roll out the Android 4.1 update ahead of other manufacturers. While American folks already got their Transformer Pad’s belly filled with some jelly a week ago, the update has finally reached other variants of the tablet, it seems.

Asus UK has confirmed that they are pushing out the Android 4.1 Jelly Bean update for the Asus Transformer Pad TF300. This means it’s time to start to frantically check for the update notification on your tablet.

We’re reading scattered reports that the Jelly Bean update for another variant of the Transformer Pad – specifically the WW variant – has also arrived. But right now it seems to be limited only to a lucky few and we have yet to hear any confirmation from Asus. The update has apparently reached folks in Greece, Poland, Slovakia and possibly more.

If you already see the notification, it’s worth to mention that the update may only install perfectly on non-rooted devices that run stock ROM.

It is luck seeing Jelly Bean on your non-U.S. Asus Transformer Pad TF300,isn't it? 

from androidauthority

Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1 Injunction Stays in Place

While some laughed at Apple’s patent attacks against Samsung, which seemed like losing battles from the get-go, the joke is starting to be on Sammy. After some relatively insignificant wins in Europe and Australia some time ago, Tim Cook’s giant knocked it off the park in the past month or so, with a couple of US injunctions against two popular Samsung devices.

The Galaxy Nexus sales ban might have been lifted for the time being, but Sammy still has some splitting headaches with the Galaxy Tab 10.1 tablet. The 10-incher has been banned for sale in the US last month, and, after the denial of Samsung’s first appeal on the decision, the Koreans have been hit hard again by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit.

The Federal Circuit denied Samsung’s motion to stay Judge Koh’s preliminary injunction for the duration of the appellate proceedings and also refused to grant a motion to expedite the appeal. That means Sammy is now officially out of tricks up its sleeve. The Koreans will have to confront Apple in court starting on July 30 regarding a design patent allegedly infringed by the Korean mammoth.

Furthermore, Samsung’s chances for a win in court are not too good, considering that the temporary lifting of the Tab 10.1 sales ban has been denied exactly because the “movant hasn’t established a strong likelihood of success on the merits or demonstrated that it has a substantial case on the merits and that the harm factors militate in its favor.” In other words, the Federal Circuit thought Sammy’s chances for a victory in court were slim, as they didn’t provide enough evidence to contradict Apple’s accusations.

For the time being, Samsung doesn’t have much to lose due to the preliminary injunction against the Tab 10.1, as the 10-incher is not very popular in the US. Then again, in a few short weeks the ban might be made definitive, which would allow Apple to ask for consistent financial compensation, but also to go against other more popular Samsung devices (including the Galaxy S3).

The future looks pretty bleak for Samsung in this exhausting patent war with Apple, but things might still change in Sammy’s favor. Stay tuned on our website to find out if that’ll happen!

from androidauthority

Nexus 7 16GB Tablet is Sold Out at Google Play store

The 16GB version of Google's Nexus 7 is out of stock, as evident by the "Coming Soon" Google Play store. The 8GB version is in stock and ships within 3 to 5 business days. Apparently, Google thought that the $199 8GB version would be the big seller, according to reporting by the Guardian:

"The Guardian understands that Google's planners had thought that buyers on the Google Play store, more than from physical or online retailers, would be more committed to the company's "cloud" concept, and so would have more of their content stored online, rather than wanting to keep it on the device."

Retailers such as Staples, Sam's Club and Office Depot are also having a hard time satisfying demand for the Nexus 7. Buyers who can't wait to procure a 16B Nexus 7 tablet might find one at a cost of $300 to $400 on eBay.

CNET reviewer Eric Franklin rated the Nexus 7 as the best 7-inch tablet available at this time (read the full review). He wrote, "With a beautiful screen, fast performance, a comfortable design, and overall great media options, the Nexus 7 is easily the best 7-inch tablet available and one of the top tablets on the market."

Apple is rumored to be prepping a 7.85-inch iPad to compete in what is turning out to be a popular form factor for tablets.

                       

from cnet

Nexus 7 Comes to UK Stores

Google's Nexus 7 Android tablet has gone on sale in bricks-and-mortar stores in the UK, with Currys and PC World shops stocking it as of Thursday.

The release, which manufacturer Asus has reportedly called a "soft launch", means people can buy the Nexus 7 in-store before those who pre-ordered the device online get their units delivered.

A spokeswoman for the Dixons Retail Group told ZDNet on Wednesday that the device will be available in stores from tomorrow.

Google emailed those who pre-ordered the tablet earlier in the week, telling them: "All Nexus 7 8GB orders will ship by July 20, and Nexus 7 16GB orders will ship by next week."

The device has already garnered very positive reviews for the up-to-date innards that it provides. Most Android tablets at this £159-£199 price point offer lacklustre hardware and old versions of Android, but the Nexus 7 runs the brand new Android 'Jelly Bean' 4.1 on a quad-core processor.

The Nexus 7 is a 7-inch tablet, arguably making it more of a rival to Amazon's Kindle Fire than to Apple's larger and much pricier iPad. However, the Kindle Fire has not yet been released in the UK, so the Nexus 7 is likely to dominate the media-consumption, small-tablet niche for a while at least.

from zdnet

B & N to Release The New Tablet With Revolutionary Screen Technology

With Google Nexus 7’s success in the new tablet market, Amazon and Apple are said to lunch new tablets soon to fight against Nexus 7.On this occasion, a new member will join in the tablet family-Barnes &Noble will release the new 7-inch Nook tablet from knowledgeable sources. The Nook tablet features” revolutionary screen technology”.

Barnes & Noble will continue to focus on "reading" and the Nook tablet running Android system will have a unique function according to sources.

The Nook tablet is likely to debut by the end of September or early October, is expected to sell at the price of around $ 200.

What will the situation of tablet market change when Nook takes part in the game? I think it is early to answer this question. Although Google succeed in the first around, who will be the next winner? We cannot know it. The thing we can ensure is that it will be a surprise to consumers.

Just wait for the coming of Nook tablet.

10-inch Kindle Fire Rumored after the Nexus 7 and iPad Mini

A new article from the New York Times let loose a firestorm of speculation and rumor-mongering today, heating up the tablet wars even further. Just as the launch of the Google Nexus 7 seems to be going strong, this NYT article suggests that the two other biggest heavy-weights in the tablet industry are developing rivals. Supposedly, the NYT can confirm (through unnamed sources) that Apple is taking the threat of the Amazon Kindle Fire and the new Nexus 7 tablet seriously. Despite the reservations from the late Apple CEO Steve Jobs, the Cupertino company is supposedly planning to launch a 7.85-inch iPad Mini sometime this fall.

Of course, Amazon is not going to be sitting on their hands either. Also according to this same article, Amazon is working on a 10-inch Kindle Fire variant to go head-to-head with the current iPad. Of course, this isn't too surprising because a larger variant from Amazon has been rumored several times previously. Still, in the past, the NYT has been very good at predicting these things, so they must have good sources. This also means that this possibility is even more of a probability than before. There are no details other than Amazon may also be looking to launch in the Fall too. It would be interesting to see Amazon launch at the same time as Apple, sine they might take some of the wind out of their sails at just the right moment.

from androidtablets

Sony to launch tablet for Christmas

Sony has confirmed that it will launch a tablet by the end of the year.

The technology giant isn't the most well-known tablet maker but after speaking to various Sony representatives this week, a follow-up to the current tablets in on the cards. The Tablet P and Tablet S both launched last year and we've seen nothing from Sony since.

Details are limited but one spokesperson told PC Advisor they were sure we would be taking a look at a new device at some point over the next few months which will tip up before Christmas.

Both the Tablet S and Tablet P run on Google's Android operating system but it is unclear whether the mystery tablet will continue this trend or offer something different like Windows 8. In our opinion it is possible Sony will make different models offering Windows 8 and Android 4.1 Jelly Bean.

Windows 8 will launch by the end of October and after all, just about every other vendor is fighting to get a Windows 8 tablet out first. We'd like to see a new tablet or two from Sony so stay tuned for further details.

Another firm looking to launch a new tablet is HTC. The smartphone maker told PC Advisor it will launch a follow-up to the Flyer in the UK.

So,which will be the best-selling tablet?Time will tell us.

frompcadvisor

Office Depot Nexus 7 launch Start July 12?

Google’s Nexus 7 is slowly but surely approaching its official launch as both Google and other third-party retailers are getting ready to accommodate your tablet needs – and by that I mean shipping the Nexus 7 or making the device available in stores.

While we wait for Google to announce the release date of the Nexus 7 – somewhere around mid July – we’ll tell you that pre-orders are still available to anyone interested in the device. In fact, Office Depot is the latest retailer to offer Google Nexus 7 pre-orders. According to a leaked document dug up by Droid-Life, Office Depot “will be authorized to pre-sell the new 16GB Google Nexus 7 tablet in all stores and online.” The device will cost $249.99, which is what Google is charging for it inside Google Play.

Furthermore, the same document reveals that the 16GB Nexus 7 tablet will ship starting with Thursday, July 12 – on the same day, inventory will begin to arrive to 341 select stores.

Those of you interested in getting their hands on a Google Nexus 7 tablet as fast as possible should definitely check with your closest Office Depot retail store to find out more details about the availability of the device. The company will not sell the 8GB version initially, although the document hints that the cheaper Nexus 7 will hit Office Depot at some point in the future.

In case the July 12 date turns out to be the day Office Depot does indeed start shipping the Nexus 7, then we can only assume that Google will also ship the device to those of you that pre-ordered it from Google Play around the same day.

from  androidauthority

Samsung Wins U.K. Apple Over the Design ‘Not as Cool’ Galaxy Tab

One of Apple’s legal claims against Samsung, based on the alleged similarity between the Samsung Galaxy Tab and the iPad, was thrown away in an UK court last week. A British High Judge, Colin Biriss ruled that there is a big difference between both products, although he did noted that there are some design similarities.

What’s interesting is that the judge’s somehow expressed his appreciation for Apple’s designs. Biriss stated that the Galaxy Tab devices “do not have the same understated and extreme simplicity which is possessed by the Apple design”. The judge also said that even though the devices are not identical, they are “rather similar” in appearance from the front.

Biriss’ final conclusion on the argument was that the Galaxy Tab’s design was simply “not as cool”, compared to Apple’s tablet. The judges said that the Galaxy Tab’s thinness and design of the rear side differentiated it from the iPad, enough to ensure that customers can’t confuse them.

The legal team at Samsung might be not pleased that they don’t live up to the UK judge’s expectations, however, they are delighted that they won the case, stating that:

“Should Apple continue to make excessive legal claims in other countries based on such generic designs, innovation in the industry could be harmed and consumer choice unduly limited.”

In case you have not been following the recent legal spats between Samsung and Apple, just last week, Apple obtained a preliminary injunction against Samsung, preventing further sales of the Galaxy Tab 10.1 in the United States. Cupertino has also obtained a temporary ban against the Galaxy Nexus, although Google is widely expected to issue a software patch that will remove the feature that the court found infringing. Apple’s offense hasn’t been so strong in the United Kingdom, with HTC winning an important battle just last week.

from androidauthority

Google announces Android 4.1 source code

In a sweet treat for modders and developers, Google has released the source code for Android 4.1, aka Jelly Bean.

The source code for the latest version of Google's mobile operating system was released today as part of the Android Open Source Project, Jean-Baptiste M. "JBQ" Queru, lead engineer on the project, said in a company blog post.

"We recommend that you create new clients, even if you're working in the master branch," Queru said. "It'll make your clients smaller and faster to sync."

He also noted that proprietary binaries are also now available for the Nexus 7 and Galaxy Nexus. Binaries for Nexus S and Xoom will follow.

Android 4.1, which the Web giant unveiled last month at the Google I/O developers conference, features a more responsive user interface, better voice transcription, overhauled search, and a major new feature called Google Now that tries to anticipate what a person needs to know at any given moment.

from cnet

Two more Android tablet makers adds to Microsoft's patent-licensing list

Microsoft has added yet two more companies with Android- and Chrome OS-based products to its patent-licensing list.

The latest additions, which Microsoft announced on July 9, are Aluratek and Coby Electronics. Microsoft officials said as of today's latest signees, "Microsoft has licensed more than 70 percent of all U.S. Android devices."

As part of today's deals, Microsoft will be receiving undisclosed royalty payments from both vendors.

Aluratek makes Android-based tablets, e-book readers, digital picture frames and other consumer electronics devices. Coby makes Android-based tablets and netbooks, TVS, and other consumer electronics devices.

Microsoft's claim is that Android and Chrome OS violate publicly-unspecified Microsoft patents and companies that are choosing to build products around these Google operating systems are making a risky bet.

Microsoft has convinced a number of Android and Linux-based device makers that it's better and cheaper to pay than fight. Among those companies with Android- and Linux-based devices that have capitulated are Amazon, Buffalo, Compal, General Dynamics, HTC, LG Electronics, Samsung, TomTom, Velocity Micro and others.

Barnes & Noble was a holdout, refusing to sign a patent deal with Microsoft, but a coule of months ago, opted to settle and sign with Microsoft. Microsoft invested $300 million in a new joint venture with B&N as part of that settlement.

from zdnet

Amazon's new Kindle Fire tablet will debut in early August? (update: maybe July)

We knew that there would be another Kindle Fire at some point, but we didn't know when it would arrive, or exactly what it'd look like. If the latest report from the China Times is true, however, we can expect Amazon's new slate to ship around August 7th. Like the first Fire, this new version will be built by Quanta, with a metal chassis and displays provided by LG and Panasonic. Other details, like its size or the contents within said metallic frame, are still nowhere to be found. What we can tell you is that the new tablet can't get here fast enough for Amazon given the Fire's declining sales numbers and its fresh competition from Mountain View.

Update: Looks like something was lost in translation -- it turns out the China Times report actually states that the new Kindle Fire is set to make its appearance in July or August, not specifically on August 7th.

  

 The Basic Specifications:

• Form factor: Tablet
• Operating system: Android (Gingerbread [2.3])
• Screen size: 7 inches
• Storage type: Internal storage (8 GB, Flash)
• Maximum battery life: Up to 8 hours
• Dimensions: 7.5 x 4.7 x 0.45 in
• Weight :14.6 oz
• Released: 2011-11-15

from engadget