RIM Pulls Out 16GB BlackBerry PlayBook

 What used to be unverified rumors turn out to be true. Research In Motion has indeed pulled the plug off its entry-level BlackBerry PlayBook 16GB model. RIM explained in its press statement that the decision was made because the 32GB and 64GB varieties offer a better value. The $199 16GB model has a much smaller profit margin compared to the other two variants.

The 32GB model costs $249, just $50 more than the 16GB, while the 64GB version is $50 more than the 32GB moral.

It is a shame, however, that it took forever before the PlayBook became a viable product since its release. With its newly-minted BlackBerry PlayBook OS 2.0, as well as its multiple product updates, the tablet finally became a product worth noticing. Now, if only the PlayBook would offer BlackBerry Messenger.

ASUS Padfone now available in the US for $860, includes Padfone Station

The ASUS Padfone is one of the most unique devices out there. Though its specs are nothing special among high-end devices, its multi-functional nature makes the smartphone/tablet very enticing. It is indeed a captivating offer. Many of us have been waiting for it to come to the US. If you are part of that group, it can now be yours for the good $859.50 that Negri Electronics sells it for. This is the international, imported version. This usually means that the price will be much higher… and it is. But Negri Electronics is also throwing in the ASUS Padfone Station (tablet accessory), making it a much more reasonable deal than what it seems at first look. “Asus Padfone Features 4.3-inch Super AMOLED qHD display, Snapdragon S4 with the new Adreno 225 GPU, and 8MP camera with LED flash and f/2.2 aperture, as well as 16GB of internal storage plus microSD slot, and comes with the Padfone Station, a 10.1″ tablet display; it has what we would expect from a modern high-end.” – Negri Electronics You would be among the first to own the ASUS Padfone, so it might very well be worth it if you were already planning on getting it. If you are interested, just head over to Negri Electronics’ website and check out all the details. What do you guys say? Would you pocket out that amount of cash for a device that doubles as a phone and tablet?

AMD shows off its first Windows 8 concept tablet, we go hands-on

If Intel and Microsoft have been the royal couple of Computex 2012 (aka the world's biggest Windows 8 Ultrabook tradeshow), AMD has been the third wheel. That doesn't mean it's opted out of the festivities, though. Nope, it's chosen this week to show off its next-gen Trinity chips, and it even has its first Windows 8 concept device on display. The reference design, made by Compal, has the same form factor we've seen over and over again this week: an 11.6-inch, 1366 x 768 tablet paired with a keyboard dock. The main differences are that it has a kickstand, and packs one of AMD's Trinity A6 APUs. The chassis is on the chunky side, at a shade under 20mm, and the screen's a fingerprint magnet, but then again, we don't put too much stock in prototype designs; such details are subject to change. Performance seemed smooth so far as we could tell, but then again, we haven't had the chance to put it through its paces, streaming HD video or attempting anything of productive value. We wish we could tell you a bit about rated battery life, but alas, AMD isn't ready to make any public claims just yet. As for the accompanying dock, the keyboard is far more spacious than what we're used to.

Teclast A15 Android Tablet

Teclast is proud to bring you their newest Android tablet, the A15. Specs-wise, the device sports a 9.0-inch 1280 x 800 capacitive multi-touch display, a 1.2GHz RK2918 processor, a GC800 GPU, a 1GB DDR3 RAM, an 8GB of storage, a microSD card slot, a front-facing camera, 1080p Full HD video playback support, WiFi, OTG function and runs on Android 4.0 OS. The A15 is available now for 999 Yuan (about $118). [Teclast]

Samsung Galaxy Tab 2 10.1-inch Tablet

Samsung has announced the availability of the Galaxy Tab 2 10.1-inch tablet. Powered by the Google Android 4.0 operating system, the gadget features a 10.1-inch WXGA PLS TFT display with a 1280×800 pixel resolution, a 1GHz dual-core processor, a 1GB of RAM, a 3MP rear-facing digital camera and a front-facing camera for video calls. The tablet supports a 720p HD video recording and a full HD video playback. Additional specs include Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, HSPA+ support, A-GPS, a microSD card slot (up to 32GB) and a 7000mAh rechargeable battery. The Wi-Fi model is priced at 399 Euros ($536), while the Wi-Fi+3G version is priced at 499 Euros ($670). [SamsungHub]

Docomo Releases Medias Tab N-06D Android Tablet

Docomo has recently released the MEDIAS TAB N-06D 7-inch waterproof tablet. Powered by the Google Android OS, the gadget supports NOTTV. It is a new terrestrial broadcasting service for smartphones and tablets that will begin transmission on April 1, 2012. The Medias Tab N-06D features a 7-inch WXGA display, a dual-core processor, a mobile wallet service, a One-Seg mobile TV tuner and an infra-red data transmission. [Akihabara]

BlackBerry PlayBook OS 2.0 arriving next week?

Looking forward to PlayBook OS 2.0 for your BlackBerry PlayBook? According to rumors online you won't be waiting for too long, in fact we might be seeing the update as early as in a week's time. N4BB.com has reported that its sources have confirmed February 21st to be the expected release date of PlayBook OS 2.0. However, there's really no way of confirming the rumor besides waiting for the day to arrive or getting someone in the know to disclose that information. We've previously heard rumors about a February 17th release date, so this new date marks a slight delay for its release – but just as long as RIM sticks to its February deadline, I'm sure nobody will get too upset. The PlayBook OS 2.0 is supposed to turn the PlayBook into what it should have been when on launch day. It includes native email, calendar and contacts apps. BBM still won't be present (you'll need to use BlackBerry Bridge for that), but hopefully the support for running Android apps can make up for it. Who's still looking forward to PlayBook OS 2.0?

ZTE V9A Light Tab 2 Coming to UK

If you do not mind buying a Gingerbread device and you live in the United Kingdom, well good news! The ZTE V9A Light Tab 2 is now available in Great Britain. This tablet sports a 7-inch TFT LCD capacitive touch screen with 1.4GHz single-core Qualcomm MSM8255 processor, Android 2.3, dual cameras (3MP at the back; 0.3MP in the front), FM radio, WiFi, 3G connectivity (no word on service provider), and a battery life that lasts up to 5.5 hours while movie watching. Also included is the 4GB internal storage with a microSD slot for expanded memory. It comes pre-installed with popular apps like YouTube and Google Talk. No word on whether the device can be upgraded into Ice Cream Sandwich. The ZTE V9A Light Tab 2 is also available in Spain, Indonesia, and Hong Kong.

Acer Iconia Tab A200 getting Android 4.0 update now

When the Acer Iconia Tab A200 was released, last month, the manufacturer promised that an update to Ice Cream Sandwich would follow up, coming February. And just as we expected, without previous notice, the delicious update has just started to hit A200 tablets. This update brings you up to Android 4.0.3, and the version number is Acer_AV041_A200_1.037.00_PA_CUS1. So if you have not yet been prompted to update your tablet, it might be a good idea to start tapping away in the settings. Just go to Settings > About tablet > System update > Check now and you should be set. Go ahead and let us know how everything goes, and enjoy your new update!

Meep! tablet to be the next gadget for the kiddos

Technology is not the only thing advancing, kids nowadays are become more aware (as well as dependent) on the gadgets that we enjoy everyday. And if you want to give your kid a good Android fix, the just-announced MEEP! Android tablet might be the way to go. The MEEP! tablet is manufactured by Oregon Scientific, and has a 7-inch display, WiFi connectivity and a G-Sensor (for improved viewing angles). It also features a helpful amount of parental controls, which can be modified and controlled from any computer or smartphone with an internet connection. Aside from that, we do not know any more details. Oregon Scientific claims that this is an affordable tablet, though, as well as durable. And it might be important to note that it is geared towards children of age 6 and above. We know that those kids will be running around with these devices, so let's see just how durable this device ends up being. Education should be one of the main concerns with such devices. The manufacturer will also offer accessories, which include musical instruments for all the little musicians out there. Hit the press release and stay tuned for more details to come during TIA Toy Fair, this weekend, if you are interested in purchasing a new gadget for your little ones. Android-Based MEEP! Tablet to Feature Music, Movies, e-books, Parental Controls and more OREGON SCIENTIFIC MEEP! Oregon Scientific Unveils MEEP!, a new Android-based tablet for kids! (PRNewsFoto/Oregon Scientific) NEW YORK, NY UNITED STATES NEW YORK, Feb. 10, 2012 /PRNewswire/ — Oregon Scientific, a leading designer and worldwide marketer of personal electronics, today announced its entry into a hot new category: kid's tablets. Leaving cartridge-based devices behind in the dust, the new Wi-Fi enabled MEEP! tablet runs on the Android operating system and offers music, movies, e-books, and apps from leading developers – all on a large, 7-inch color touch screen! The MEEP! tablet will be unveiled for the first time at the Toy Industry Association's (TIA) 109th American International Toy Fair this weekend. (Photo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20120210/NE51475 ) Sharing a mobile device is a tough feat, especially for parents, when there is a risk it could be dropped, broken, scratched or rendered useless. The MEEP! tablet is an affordable fix for a tech -hungry generation of kids, featuring a tough design and an enhanced rubber silicon sleeve for added protection. Geared for children age 6 and up, the MEEP! tablet is Wi-Fi enabled, allowing access to a sea of web content that can be downloaded to its internal memory or SD card and viewed from any angle courtesy of the tablet's internal G-Sensor. All websites and content can be monitored through intuitive parental controls that are adjusted remotely on any computer or mobile device with a browser and an Internet connection. The MEEP! tablet from Oregon Scientific will feature a variety of accessories sold separately, including musical instruments.

HP Touchpad Android kernel source code released

Here is something interesting – HP has just released the now defunct Touchpad's Android kernel source code to the masses – despite the fact that the 9.7″ tablet arrived at the market last summer with HP webOS 3.0 in tow. This just goes to prove that HP probably mulled over the idea of an Android-powered Touchpad in the past, but probably ditched this thought as they concentrated on webOS 3.0 software instead. Ever wondered just how the Touchpad might have performed in the market if it shipped with Android instead of webOS? However, a bunch of customers who picked up tablets realized that the Android operating system was installed on them instead, and these Android builds appeared to be meant for internal testing only. HP officials claimed that they were under no obligation to release any source code for the Android software, as it was never meant to roll out to the public in the first place. Guess HP had a change of heart and mind this week, rolling out the source for the Android kernel. It seems that this kernel has been gathering dust for nearly one year already, and will not even come with Wi-Fi support. Hopefully the brains behind the CyanogenMod Android software for the HP TouchPad will be able to churn something workable down the road.

HP releases Android kernel source for TouchPad to CyanogenMod team

When the HP TouchPad was released in the summer of 2011 it did little to impress consumers, leading to the tablet being discontinued after a mere 49 days on the market. Remaining TouchPad stock received substantial price reductions, dropping to as low as $99 dollars during a huge fire sale. Shortly after inventory ran dry, crafty hackers had announced their intention to run the Android operating system in replace of WebOS on the TouchPad, and progress thus far has been slow, with alpha versions being released that are fairly stable but have serious bugs. In an act of good will, HP has now released an Android kernel source code to the hacking community. Read on for more. The source code appears to have been developed separately from webOS, and was last changed in March 2011, three months before the TouchPad's release, RootzWiki reports. The code will not help with any major fixes, however, and will instead help with minor bugs. “Kernel source from HP would have been more helpful earlier in development. Don't expect huge gains from this source,” said Erik Hardesty, a member of the CyanogenMod team, on Twitter. “It will help with things like serial console and Bluetooth. Most other areas it *might* with will be minor.” Read Read

HP releases Android kernel for TouchPad, hackers applauded

You may remember that during the TouchPad fire sale, a few slates slipped out with a rather primitive Froyo build on them. Well, HP doesn't seem to know how the tablets hit shelves with Android on board, but its decided to release the source code for the OS nonetheless. Developers had previously called on the company to hand over the code, but the request was refused since HP had never intended for TouchPads to ship with Android, and thus were not obligated to abide by the open-source requirements. As a gesture of goodwill to the community (and under a certain amount of pressure from it) the former purveyor of all things webOS has reversed course though, and let the TouchPad-specific kernel loose on the internet for others to repurpose as they see fit.