Posts Tagged ‘tablets’

New tablet-optimized reader from Google

August 29th, 2011 --- Info, News

Google Reader for Tablets

The Google Reader for Android phones came out last year, providing a native interface for consuming news feeds, but nothing that was worth having on a tablet. Google  remedied that issue with a major update to the application, with a much-improved user interface for phones and a whole new multicolumn interface for Honeycomb tablets.

The revamped, tablet-optimized application has a two-column user interface in landscape orientation that makes it easy to see the items in a feed and the contents of an individual story side-by-side. This makes for a much better reading experience, no flippping back and forth between the two when you are working your way through a feed.  All of our thumbs are up for this one, free, of course.

Get it at the Android Market…

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How many *really* native Andoid tablet apps are there?

July 11th, 2011 --- News

A quick trip to the Android Market, heading to the so-called “tablet” offerings, it takes a few forays into the stacks to see what’s really there. Most of the apps are phone apps (small screen) that “work” on most tablets, some are called “HD” or some-such, meaning, they’ve at least added a few pixels to avoid the grainy look of a blown-up mobile app.  They are coming, though:

This from mobiputing.com:

The first tablet running Google Android 3.x hit the streets 4 months ago, but there are still only a few hundred apps designed specifically for Android tablets. Sure, you can run virtually any Android app on a Motorola XOOM or Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1. But apps that are designed for tablets simply look better since the text, graphics, and layout are all designed for the larger screen — and they’re often designed to look great in landscape mode on a tablet with a widescreen display.

With big-name companies including Acer, Asus, Motorola, Samsung, and Toshiba bringing Honeycomb tablets to market this year, why aren’t we seeing more Honeycomb apps in the Android Market? Computer World’s Brent Rose interviewed half a dozen top developers and got some answers. The conclusions clearly aren’t definitive… but they do tell us something about why there are hundreds of thousands of apps for Android phones but just a few hundred for Android tablets.

Read the rest of the article…

 

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File Manager HD

July 9th, 2011 --- Utilities

File Manager (Honeycomb)

One of the advantages that Honeycomb — and Android in general — has over iOS on the iPad is that you can access the file system if you want to, just as on a regular desktop computer. That flexibility gives you enhanced control over where your files save, so you can organize them in a way that makes sense to you. File Manager HD even manages the flash drives that you connect to your tablet.

Includes:

* Based on Android 3.0 new feature and theme
* High definition(1280*800) support
* 3 sets of commercial icons for 60+ different file types, toolbar and menu items
* Cut, copy, paste and cancellable progress dialog
* List and grid view for file browsing
* Compress and decompress support
* Search and share files
* Multiple selection and sorting support
* Thumbnail for photo, pictures and apk files
* Support both local and remote(LAN/SMB) file system
* Built-in text editor and swf player
* Fully tested on motorola Xoom

More info…

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Terra Time for Android

July 7th, 2011 --- Info

Note: this app is listed as “Tablet Compatible”- not a native tablet application:

Terra Time

An interesting offering from Terratime.net, a 3D interactive globe, daylight map live wallpaper, and day/night clock widget.

The amazing, interactive, real-time virtual Earth! Globe and map use current satellite imagery to simulate day/night, clouds, seasons, sun & moon. But wait, there’s more! Integrated clock and compass show rise, set, twilight, & transit times for both sun and moon. Everything you need to stay connected to the world you live in.

· Real-time simulations include clouds, city lights, sea ice, and more, generated from actual satellite imagery
· Clock and compass also show sunrise & sunset; moon phase, rise & set; twilight & transit times
· Globe and map are fully interactive, using touchscreen or device sensors
· Easily show any date, any location
· Clock and globe widgets, in 4 sizes each
· Live wallpapers for ALL Android devices!
· Tablet compatible

More info, purchase….. $2.99

 

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Dropbox for ‘Droid

July 6th, 2011 --- Utilities

This should be a “standard” app with any new tablet- Dropbox lets you bring all your photos, docs, and videos anywhere.

Dropbox is a free service that lets you bring all your photos, docs, and videos anywhere. After you install Dropbox on your computer, any file you save to your Dropbox will automatically save to all your computers, your Android device, and even the Dropbox website! With the Dropbox app, you can take everything that matters to you on the go.

Read your docs or flip through your albums when you’re out and about. Save photos or videos to your Dropbox and share them with friends in just a couple taps. Even if you accidentally leave your Android in a taxi, your stuff is always safe on Dropbox.

Features:
• Always have your stuff with you, no matter where you are.
• Save photos and videos to your Dropbox.
• Share your photos and docs with family and friends.
• Save email attachments straight to your Dropbox.
• Easily edit docs in your Dropbox.

More information…. (free app)

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Motorola Xoom vs. Samsung Galaxy

July 5th, 2011 --- Tablets

Here’s a nice side-by side of the Samsung Galaxy and the Moto Xoom; the Galaxy is thinner, lighter, but the camera is not as good- plus the Galaxy is cheaper.

Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1 Motorola Xoom
Screen Size 10.1 inches 10.1 inches
Resolution 1280 x 800 1280 x 800
Rear Camera 3 MP with Auto Focus and LED Flash 5 MP with Auto Focus and Dual LED Flash
Front Camera 2 MP 2 MP
Processor 1 GHz Dual Core NVIDIA Tegra 2 1 GHz Dual Core NVIDIA Tegra 2
Battery 7,000 mAh 6,500 mAh
Weight 565 grams (1.2 pounds) 708 grams (1.6 pounds)
Thinness 8.6 mm 12.9 mm
Memory 16GB/32GB 32GB + microSD slot (not currently working though)
Ram 1 GB 1 GB
Operating System Android 3.1 Android 3.1
Flash Yes Yes
Sensors
  • Digital Compass
  • Ambient Light Sensor
  • Accelerometer
  • Gyroscope
  • Accelerometer
  • Digital Compass
  • Gyroscope
  • Ambient Light Sensor
  • Barometer
Starting Price $499 (WiFi-Only 16 GB) $599 (WiFi-Only 32 GB)
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