OLPC Tablet for $100 - yes please!

One Laptop Per Child will be showing their $100 tablet at CES 2012 and I must admit it looks like they have done a superb job. The XO 3.0 integrates a 1GHZ Marvell Armada PXA618 system-on-a-chip, which should deliver good performance at a very low cost. It should also eek out 8-10 hours of battery life. Check the full rundown here. [Source: CNET] [Photo: OLPC]

BlackBerry PlayBook OS 2.0 to be shown at CES 2012

When I unboxed the BB Playbook I knew the hardware was rather special. The review that followed (see below) left me wanting more from the OS. A long wait followed, but nothing, nada, zilch. However, I was so happy to read this article from Engadget citing that the long overdue OS 2.0 will be shown at CES 2012. Now I am excited and need to get me another Playbook in and wait for them to push the OS out hopefully first quarter of 2012. [Source: Engadget]

Samsung Galaxy Note gets UK Launch Date

Following the recent global launch at IFA, Samsung has today announced that the latest device to join its Galaxy range, the Galaxy Note, will be available in the UK on 17th November 2011. 

Simon Stanford, Managing Director, Mobile, Samsung UK and Ireland said: “We’re delighted with the overwhelming reception the Galaxy Note has received since it was announced earlier this month and are looking forward to offering Samsung customers a whole new smartphone experience. The Galaxy Note is a great example of Samsung’s passion for innovation by bringing to market a brand new category of mobile products. It is our fastest handset to date and brings together all the benefits of our award-winning smartphone technology and services.”

The Galaxy Note combines the benefits of a notebook with the portability of a smartphone. Thanks to its 5.3” HD Super AMOLED screen, the largest, highest quality display available in any phone, consumers can view movies, photos, and documents, as well as play games on the device with crystal-clear clarity.

Not only that, an advanced pen-input technology called the S Pen and a full touch screen mean owners of the Galaxy Note can easily create and consume more content whilst on the go, with minimum scrolling and screen transitions. With a 1.4GHz dual-core processor, the Galaxy Note is Samsung’s fastest handset to date, combined with HSPA+ enabled super-fast connection means there’s immediate access to content and increased download speeds for streaming videos in real-time or chatting with friends online.

The Samsung Galaxy Note will be available in the UK across major networks, key high street and out of town electrical retailers and online.

Samsung Galaxy Note - Check this out

Samsung Galaxy Note - Truly Smart [video].

I love the design of the Samsung devices and really hope I can bring you a review of this as soon as it becomes available.



What makes the Samsung Galaxy Note truly smart? Perhaps it's the enormous 5.3" screen and 8mp camera. Or maybe its Super HD Amoled crispness, ensuring you never miss a detail, not even a cats whisker. 

Or maybe it's the minimum scrolling and screen transition, which ensures minimum efficiency when switching between applications. It could also be the 1.4 Ghz Dual Core Processor powering the whole thing. Either way, put all these ingredients together and you have a smartphone like no other - The Samsung Galaxy Note. Truly smart.

A message from Paul Hunter, Head of HP PSG UK and Ireland

There’s no denying that it’s been a strange week at HP. I’ve spent 16 years with HP in the UK and I certainly can’t remember a time like it. But change happens, and I fundamentally believe that HP and PSG are stronger following the announcements surrounding webOS and PSG.
 
I’d like to firstly clear up any misunderstanding that has arisen from the earnings announcement around the future of the Personal Systems Group. There have been a number of incorrect stories saying that HP is quitting the PC business.
 
Let me be absolutely clear in saying that at no stage has HP said it is quitting the PC business. Three options are being investigated, and whether the company is spun off, sold or kept in the HP portfolio, the team in the UK remains committed to creating and supporting great products and services.
 
I’d also like to reaffirm our commitment to our UK customers regarding both PC products and those that bought webOS devices. HP is the world’s largest PC manufacturer. We are the number one PC manufacturer in UK and Ireland. HP PSG UK is only going in one direction, forwards and that means customers can have confidence that existing HP products will be supported under the terms of their warranties as will any future purchases. Likewise, all webOS products will be supported and HP fully intends to support the future development of the webOS platform, though again how that will be managed is still under discussion.
 
Obviously the announcement has raised a number of questions outside those mentioned above. We are still working through some of these, but I wanted to try and address as many as I could.
 
Regarding PSG activity in the UK, it’s very much business as usual. Actually, it’s more than business as usual. PSG is a $40B annual business. We operate in 170 countries and have more than 180,000 channel partners. Whatever the future strategy, we have a mission and responsibility to all of our employees, customers and partners to continue to deliver fantastic products. To that end, you will see a ramping up of marketing and advertising activity in the UK as we look to raise awareness of our great products ranges like ENVY and TouchSmart for consumer and Elite and ProBooks for business users.
 
Another obvious question is why has HP decided to stop supporting webOS hardware devices. Due to market dynamics, significant competition and a rapidly changing environment, continuing to execute our former device approach was not in the best interest of HP and HP shareholders. HP is fully committed to the ongoing support and service of customers who purchased webOS devices.
 
I know that questions will remain, and I will do my very best to answer these as and when they arise. I apologize that we have been slow to answer some of the questions around webOS. The sheer scale of interest in the discounted products took us a little by surprise. We are now working on ensuring everyone that owns a webOS device has a positive experience.
 
And that is my focus now; to ensure each and every interaction with the PSG UK business, be that from a customer, reseller, partner or journalist is a positive one. These are changing but exciting times. My UK team and I are fully committed to leading this world class business to a new and prosperous future.
 
Very best regards
 
Paul Hunter on behalf of the UK and Ireland PSG management team

Samsung Galaxy Tab - Thinner

This is my favourite video of the three, really liking the look of this device. Thinner Than Ever Before. 8.6mm is not a lot of space to work with even in the best of conditions, but the Samsung Galaxy Tab does what other tablets can only dream of, twice as fast, in the sleek design you've come to expect of all Samsung Galaxy Tabs. Just remember to keep a pencil handy if prying hands are to be kept at bay...

Samsung Galaxy Tab - Faster

Now Even Faster. Make buffering a relic of the past, with the Samsung Galaxy Tab's lightning fast processors handling even the largest of video files with ease. So next time a wayward toddler threatens to erupt, save yourself the embarrassment of a restaurant tantrum and see the Samsung Galaxy Tab's performance for yourself.

Samsung Galaxy Tab -- Lighter

Samsung have produced three videos about their new Galaxy Tab, this is the first one which is pretty neat. Weighing in at a dainty 565 grams, The Samsung Galaxy Tab is as light and portable as they come. Whether you're late for an important meeting or just carrying it around town, the Samsung Galazy Tab will feel like it's not even there -- and you'll never get fired again. Now find us another tablet which can promise that.

HTC FLYER IN STORES TODAY

Aluminum unibody design with HTC Watch video service and HTC Scribe Technology

hits the shelves across EMEA
 
HTC, a global leader in mobile innovation and design, has announced that its first tablet, HTC FlyerTM, will be available in-store from 13th May. Blending HTC’s trademark design language with an all-new HTC Sense user experience that has been reimagined for tablets, the HTC Flyer combines natural touch and pen interaction in either a combined 3G and WiFi or WiFi-only model. As well as being available to purchase in retail outlets, HTC fans will also be able to order Flyer direct through the HTC.com website.
 
“We are delighted by the positive reactions that HTC Flyer has received since we first unveiled it in February and are pleased to be able to bring it to major markets across EMEA,” commented Florian Seiche, President HTC EMEA. “HTC Flyer is completely different from any other tablet on the market and we look forward to hearing about the different ways in which our customers use HTC Flyer in their daily lives – for both work and play.”
 
The combined 3G and WiFi HTC Flyer features 32GB of onboard memory which can be expanded with a microSD card of up to 32GB and will retail at €649. A second variant will be available for €499 and features WiFi connectivity and expandable 16GB memory. Both versions will come with the HTC Flyer Magic PenTM that will work with HTC’s Scribe Technology for an alternative to fingertip interaction.
 
From 13th May, HTC Flyer will be available in the following territories, both in-store and through HTC.com: UK, France, Germany, Italy, Spain, Greece, Portugal, Denmark, Norway, Sweden, Czech Republic, Hungary, Poland, and Romania.
 
Premium Design and Performance
Weighing as little as a paperback book and encased in sleek aluminium, the HTC Flyer exudes the style and premium build quality that have forged HTC’s reputation in the smartphone market. With a seven-inch display, lightning fast 1.5Ghz processor and high-speed wireless capabilities, the HTC Flyer tablet is perfect for those who have been waiting for a tablet that is both compact and powerful.
 
HTC Sense for Tablet
HTC Flyer’s tablet-focused HTC Sense experience focuses on surprising and delighting people with its gorgeous 3D home screen. Similar to the experience unveiled on the new HTC Sensation, a unique carousel of widgets puts your most important content and information at the visual center of the experience and offers uncompromised Web browsing with Flash 10 and HTML 5. 
 
Streaming Mobile Movies with HTC Watch
The HTC Flyer is the first tablet to premiere HTC Watch, HTC’s new video download service, offering more than 600 premium movies and TV shows from major studios. Video content can be bought or rented and watched immediately through progressive download. Once purchased, movies are stored in a “cloud locker”, allowing up to five registered HTC devices to download and play the same content.
 
HTC Scribe Technology                                                                    
HTC Scribe Technology introduces a wave of integrated digital ink innovations that make it easy and natural to take notes, sign contracts, draw pictures, or even write on a web page or photo. Note-taking has been made smart for the first time by synchronising natural onscreen handwriting with Timemark audio recording. Tapping on a word in your notes instantly takes you to that exact place in time in the audio recording, ensuring you can place your notes in the context of any conversation or meeting. Notes are also integrated with the calendar so when there is an appointment reminder you are automatically prompted with an opportunity to begin a new note or in the case of recurring meetings, to continue where the last meeting left off.  In an industry first, the HTC Flyer tablet also features built-in synchronization with Evernote, the world-leading notes application and service.

 

Geekanoids Interview with Jon Rettinger of Technobuffalo

A couple of weeks ago Jon Rettinger, President of Technobuffalo joined me to bring us up-to-date with what has been happening with Technobuffalo.com and to talk about the latest in technology.


Useful Links 
You can find Jon's videos at http://www.youtube.com/jon4lakers
The latest in tech at http://www.technobuffalo.com
Sponsor: http://www.eazydraw.com/
My YouTube Channel: http://www.youtube.com/davomrmac