Tablets

Reuters 'eyewitness' claims Apple's iPad 2 was at The Daily event

Making the rounds on the Internet today is a story about a Reuters "eyewitness" who claims to have seen an iPad 2 at the press event for News Corp.'s The Daily.

The story certainly makes a splashy headline for Reuters, but its content has been thoroughly scrutinized by other mainstream media, including TechCrunch's MG Siegler, whose "Reuters Knows A Guy Who Knows A Guy Who Totally Saw The iPad 2 Today" headline captures most of the sentiment around the Web.

Siegler's main point of contention, one that I certainly agree with, is that "this is the age of the cameraphone. Where's the goddamn picture?"

As Siegler put it, the meat of the story from Reuters reads:

A Reuters eyewitness saw what appeared to be a working model of the next iPad with a front-facing camera at the top edge of the glass screen at a press conference to mark the debut of News Corp's Daily online paper in New York on Wednesday.

A source with knowledge of the device confirmed its existence, adding that the final release model could have other features. News Corp and Apple declined to comment.

To break it down, someone saw what that person believed to be an iPad 2 (due to a front-facing camera on the device) and told someone from Reuters (apparently under the condition of anonymity) but couldn't manage to get any evidence. Another source "confirms" that Apple will indeed make version 2 of the best-selling consumer electronic device in history.

Yes, that's meaty.… Read more

Motorola calls Apple Big Brother in Super Bowl ad

The Super Bowl is a time for snorting aggression, untrammeled nastiness, and drum-thumping confidence. Perhaps this is why Motorola seems to have decided to air an ad for its new Xoom tablet that hisses and spits and rails at Apple.

As portentous music freezes you into believing the world is about to end, Motorola warns you that there is currently only one authority, only one design, only one way to work.

Yes, people, you are living in the new 1984. Except that it's 2011.

Apple controls your thoughts. It controls every twitch of your fingers, every reaction of your retinas.

And so, halfway through the spot, Motorola offers you techie features that will make you feel flexible, that will make you want to explore, that will, in short, lead you to freedom.

… Read more

Google's new tablet OS: Honeycomb (FAQ)

After Google earlier today showed off its Honeycomb software, a version of Android designed specifically for tablets, a number of CNET readers posed questions regarding the software, both in our live blog and in e-mails and comments. Here are a few of those questions, answered to the best of our ability.

What are the most interesting new features on Honeycomb? The most significant change is that this operating system release was designed specifically for tablets, unlike earlier Android versions, which were designed mostly for phones and produced a mixed experience--at best--when magnified by the larger screen of the tablet.

As … Read more

Can The Daily beat free news sources on iPad?

Watching with great interest (and a little skepticism) the launch of The Daily, the new iPad new publication, it's easy to marvel at the design, technology, and ambitious scale of the project. But after spending a few hours leafing through the inaugural issue, you are left with the same nagging questions. Will readers pay 99-cents a week, or $40 a year, for what is essentially a daily downloadable news app, especially when so much high-quality news is available online at no cost?

The real litmus test (at least for someone such as myself, having worked in newspapers, magazines, and … Read more

HP Palm posts teaser video for Feb. 9 event

I've got to give HP Palm credit. Even after Engadget seemingly spoiled the surprise of February 9 event with a story and photos of two WebOS-based tablets, the company shot back with a message saying, "Think you saw the latest on Engadget? Think again." It certainly piqued our interest and now, we're even more enthralled thanks to a new teaser video. … Read more

Android Honeycomb on Xoom, hands-on

I just got back from Google's Android Honeycomb demo event, and after 15 minutes of quality time with the tablet OS, I have to say: I'm a fan.

I'm angry at Google, though. What took it so long to create a killer tablet OS? Why did the company have to put me through a year of Android 1.6-2.2 tablet duds before pulling back the curtain on Honeycomb? Did it not hear my screams?

With forgiveness in my heart and a Motorola Xoom tablet in my hand, I started to let go of the anger a little today. Honeycomb, it turns out, is pretty sweet--and the Xoom is a worthy tablet to receive it.

We're already fairly versed in the features of Honeycomb on the Xoom, thanks to the flurry of CES 2011 excitement and the exhaustive detail given to developers. What we haven't had (until today) is actual hands-on time with Honeycomb running on the Xoom. … Read more

Google announces Web-based Android Market

Google has announced a new Web-based Android Market online store that will make it easier for people to get to new applications for their smartphones and tablets.

The announcement was made today at an event where Google is showing off the new Android 3.0 software known as Honeycomb, which is designed specifically for tablets. Google also used the event, held at company headquarters in Mountain View, Calif., to take the wraps off the new Web-based Android Market. Up to this point, Android users could only discover and download apps from the Android Market client installed on their devices. Now, … Read more

LG and T-Mobile reveal more G-Slate morsels

Last month, we briefly covered the T-Mobile/LG G-Slate at CES. While information was trickling in then, it seems the flood gates of information will soon be opened for all to willingly dive into.

On Wednesday, T-Mobile and LG released new information on its G-Slate tablet. As previously revealed, the G-Slate will run on Google's "optimized for tablets" operating system, Honeycomb, aka Android 3.0. As exciting as Honeycomb is, it won't be exclusive to the G-Slate and the device will need more than a new user interface to get us excited.

Here's a list … Read more

Google shows off Honeycomb, Web-based app store (live blog)

Editor's note: We used Cover It Live for this event, so if you missed the live blog, you can still replay it in the embedded component below. Replaying the event will give you all the live updates along with commentary from our readers and CNET editors Donald Bell and Tom Krazit. For those of you who just want the updates, we've included them in regular text here.

MOUNTAIN VIEW, Calif.--We've already seen quite a bit of Google's Android Honeycomb operating system release for tablets, but Google's ready to show it off in more detail.

The tech press descends on the Googleplex this morning for an Android event at Google's headquarters in Mountain View, Calif., and CNET is the place to be for live coverage. The event is scheduled to kick off at 10 a.m. PT, and Google has promised to discuss "Android ecosystem news" in addition to its first version of Android designed specifically for tablet devices. Donald Bell will be riding shotgun and providing commentary on Google's news and products.

Follow along with our live updates from the event in the Cover It Live module. Google will have a live stream of the event here. You can also watch a special live episode of Buzz Out Loud while the event unfolds in our video stream below.… Read more