Acer Iconia Tab A510/A500 gets Android 3.2 update

 This tablet was cool because it was the first tablet to hit the market that ran Android 3.0 Honeycomb. If you purchased one of the tablets or the A501, you will be glad to hear that a new Android update is reportedly available for the tablet right now. The update should be available OTA and will take the tablet from 3.0 to 3.2.

There are several new features that the update brings to the tablet including the ability to scale the smaller apps made for smartphones up to the full screen size of the tablet. The app zooming is done by scaling the pixels. The update also reportedly brings with it the ability to sync media from the SD card and increases the overall performance on the tablet. The tip comes from a Polish website called Tablet-online.pl. The publication says that sources have indicated in Poland the tablet will come with Android 3.2 from the factory starting this week.
The tablet has a 10.1-inch screen with a SIM card slot and a microSD card slot. It comes with 16GB of internal storage and a 2MP front camera. The rear camera is a 5MP unit with LED flash and auto-focus. The tablet uses the NVIDIA Tegra 250 dual Cortex A9 1GHz processor inside. One of the interesting features of the tablet is a USB port.
[via Tablet-online.pl]

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T-Mobile LG G-Slate 3.1 Honeycomb Update Brings a Locked Bootloader

Sadly we have some bad news for you modders that happen to own the LG G-Slate. While recent devices like the G2x, Optimus 3D and even the G-Slate itself have shipped with unlocked bootloaders and were easy to hack, root, and mod. It appears LG has shifted positions and will now start locking bootloaders, a change we are not thrilled to see that is for sure.

While many tablets have been updated to 3.2 Honeycomb already the G-Slate is still way behind and currently rocking the original 3.0 until just recently. Early last week the G-Slate 3.1 OTA started rolling out and most likely many of you have already accepted the update but if not, you might want to wait a few days to see what the developer community comes up with.
New information suggests that along with the 3.1 update the bootloader will also be locked. Making the option to root and flash custom roms, kernels or anything else your heart desires all but impossible until the device is hacked and unlocked. Could this be a new direction LG will be taking with their android offerings, or is this just for the tablet market? I sure hope we don’t get another HTC situation on our hands.

Device Specifications and Information

Device Info

Device Name : G-Slate

Manufactuer : LG

Carrier : T-Mobile

Announced Date : January 05, 2011

Release Date : April 20, 2011

Also Known As : LG Optimus Pad, Optimus Pad, LG G-Slate, T-Mobile G-Slate

Display

• Screen Size : 8.9 Inch


• Resolution : 1280x768


• Screen Type : IPS LCD

Dimension & Weight

• Height : 9.56 Inch


• Width : 5.88 Inch


• Depth : 0.49 Inch


• Weight : 620 Grams

Battery & Power

• Battery Type:


• Lithium Ion

• Battery Capacity : 6400 mAh


• Talk Time : NA


• Stand By Time : 237 hours

Software

• Android OS:


• 3.0.x

• Audio Playback:


• AAC


• AAC+


• AMR


• MP3

• Video Playback:


• h.263


• h.264 / AVC


• MPEG-4 (MP4)

Hardware

CPU : Tegra 2

CPU Clock Speed : 1000 Mhz

Core : 2

Ram : 1000 MB

Internal Storage : 32 GB

Front Facing Camera :

Camera Resolution :5 MP

• Camera Features:


• 1080p Video Recording


• 720p Video Recording

• Sensors:


• Accelerometer


• Ambient light


• Proximity

QWERTY :

Cellular Network

• Network Technology:


• GSM

• GSM Band:


• 850


• 900


• 1800


• 1900

Device Connectivity

• Wi-Fi:


• 802.11b


• 802.11g


• 802.11n

• Bluetooth:


• Bluetooth 2.0

• Location Features:


• Compass


• GPS


• Cellular location


• Wi-Fi location

FM Radio :

[via Phandroid]

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20 Best Entertainment and Media Apps for Android Honeycomb Tablets

Honeycomb tablets are designed for stunning visuals, there’s no doubt about that. The powerful graphics chipsets, large HD-capable screens and even surround sound capability make them ideal for watching trailers, videos and shows. Not only that, it’s handy enough to be used as an ebook reader and then some.
Here are a few of the best media and entertainment apps for your Android tablet.
Featured image from Pyronixcore

Videos

1. MoboPlayer (free)

Plays everything and anything you can throw it. It’s the best media player for Android, and for Honeycomb as well. Definitely something you need to install on your tablet.

2. Ustream (free)

 

Watch live video anywhere, any time with Ustream. Everything from live radio shows to sports events, it’s like TV and then some.

Movies and TV

3. Movies by Flixster (free)

Watch trailers, read reviews and catch showtimes. It’s the app you need to enhance your theatre going experience.

4. IMDb (free)

Your all-access pass to everything and everything shown on the big screen (and small screen too). Get celebrity info, TV recaps, awards and trivia about the newest movies and hottest stars.

Music

5. QELLO for Tablet (free app, 30 Day rental for $4.99)

Missed that concert? Don’t fret, Qello has it in full HD glory. Now you don’t need to be groupie to get that backstage pass.

6. Hive Player (lite, $1.99 to buy)

If you’re looking for a new media player for your Android tablet, look no further. Hive brings all the things your stock player can do, and then some. It even has a widget so you can play music right from your homescreen. It’s sort of new so be kind to the dev.

7. SoundHound (free)

What’s that song again? It’s by whatzizface right? With Soundhound, you can search for music just by having it listen to it. You can even buy the song right there or share it with friends.

8. doubleTwist (free)

It’s dubbed the iTunes for Android and for good reason. It allows you to easily sync music and other media onto your device with its companion app. The Honeycomb music player brings nothing exciting and new but it does let you easily control your music and view HD album art.

Books

9. Kindle (free)

Turn your tablet into a stunning ebook reader and grab your Kindle book straight from Amazon using this app. You can also buy new books and browse them as well. Honorary mention: Nook for Android by B&N (it’s free as well).

10. Aldiko (free, $2.99 for premium version)

If your ebook collection is more of the ePub and PDF kind, there’s also Aldiko for that. You can load both your own bestsellers or browse its online library to get more.

Photos

11. Just Pictures (free)

Browse your photos on your favorite sharing sites like Flickr, Facebook, Imgur and Picasa. It even lets you do some minor photo editing. And unlike other apps, it’s Honeycomb-optimized!

12. PicSay (free, $3.99 to buy)

Talking vehicles aside, this app adds a bit of whimsy to your boring stills. Add stickers, effects and captions to make your photos come alive. Then share it to everyone!

13. FlickFolio for Flickr ($2.99)

If Flickr is where you send your photos, then this app should definitely be on your tablet. It not only allows for batch uploads, it also downloads your favorite photos for offline viewing. Check out the dev’s other photo apps as well.

Comics

14. Komik (free, $1.99 to donate)

It’s the first comic reader that’s specially made for Android tablets. Supports all the usual format and I head it will have PDF support too soon, which makes it good for ebooks as well. Honorable mention:

15. Comics (free)

Comixology partners with the biggest names in comics to bring you all the best title and collections to your Android tablet. The comics themselves are not free of course but there’s a lot of free stuff to browse and buying is easy. Of course, you should still support your local comic book store.

Magazines

16. Sports Illustrated Tablet (free)

If you need your football fix on your tablet, SI is the way to go. It’s the digital edition of the popular sports magazine and includes such features as live scores, classic articles and video.

17. Zinio (free)

Get your favorite magazines straight on your tablet. Almost every popular title is in here and you can buy both single issues and full subscriptions.

Drawing

18. PaintBox for Tablets (free, $1.99 for Pro version)

This app bring realistic and natural brushes to your tablet, so you can be free to create your work of art anywhere you go. It even reacts to pressure and the speed of a stroke.

19. SketchBook Express (free)

Autodesk brings their SketchBook to Honeycomb, bringing with it all the tools you need to create a professional masterpiece.

20. Drawing Pad ($1.99)

This app is obviously for the kids. It features stickers, crayons, markers and other creative tools that your child would love.

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Acer Iconia A500 3.2 Honeycomb OTA Update expected around August 25th

While many tablets have already seen the update to Android 3.2 Honeycomb like the Motorola Xoom and the ASUS Transformer we haven’t heard anything regarding the Acer A500 Tablet. It was updated to Android 3.1 back in July but appears to be a little late to the 3.2 party. Users wont need to wait much longer because we may see the update in August.

Don’t feel that bad though Acer Fans, the G-Slate only received 3.1 like this week so you guys are still looking pretty good for current and future updates. The Iconia A500 should see 3.2 start rolling out on August 25 according to the Acer Malaysia Facebook page, and while Acer hasn’t mentioned anything regarding the US update this is a good sign that it is coming.
Do take note that the original update was penciled in for August 10th but that never happened obviously. Hopefully this 2-3 week delay will help Acer get everything dialed in and we may even see other regions begin the update around the same date. With the OTA getting closer to rolling out we should be hearing from Acer regarding the US update any day now so be sure to check back often.

Device Specifications and Information

Device Info

Device Name : ICONIA Tab A500

Manufactuer : Acer

Carrier : Verizon

Announced Date : February 16, 2011

Release Date : April 26, 2011

Also Known As :

Display

• Screen Size : 10.10 Inch


• Resolution : 1280x800


• Screen Type : LCD

Dimension & Weight

• Height : 10.24 Inch


• Width : 6.97 Inch


• Depth : 0.52 Inch


• Weight : 730 Grams

Battery & Power

• Battery Type:


• Lithium Ion

• Battery Capacity : 3260 mAh


• Talk Time : NA


• Stand By Time : NA

Software

• Android OS:


• 3.1.x

• Audio Playback:


• AAC


• AMR


• MP3

• Video Playback:


• h.263


• h.264 / AVC


• MPEG-4 (MP4)

• Messaging:


• SMS

Hardware

CPU : Tegra 2

CPU Clock Speed : 1000 Mhz

Core : 2

Ram : 1024 MB

Internal Storage : 16.384 GB

Front Facing Camera :

Camera Resolution :5 MP

• External Storage:


• MicroSD


• MicroSDHC

• Camera Features:


• Auto focus


• Flash


• 720p Video Recording

QWERTY :

Cellular Network

• Network Technology:


• CDMA

Device Connectivity

• Wi-Fi:


• 802.11b


• 802.11g


• 802.11n

• Bluetooth:


• Bluetooth 2.0

• Location Features:


• Compass


• GPS


• Cellular location


• Wi-Fi location

FM Radio :

[via Netbook News]

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5 Android 3.0+ Apps For Honeycomb Tablets From The Last 2 Weeks (8/1/11 - 8/13/11)

Welcome to the weekly roundup of the best new Android applications, games, and live wallpapers that went live in the Market or were spotted by us in the previous 2 weeks or so.
This edition focuses only on new tablet apps or ones that added Honeycomb support. Regular apps and games are coming soon.

Please wait for this page to load in full in order to see the AppBrain widgets, which include ratings and pricing info.

Box.net

Box.net is one of the largest Dropbox competitors, and while I personally don't use it, it apparently has over 6 million users. Box has far more features than Dropbox and gives you 5GB for free, so it definitely has its market. The app itself isn't new, but its Honeycomb support is.

--

Box for Android and Android Tablet gives you 5 GB FREE to:
- Upload, access and view content on your Honeycomb tablet or Android phone
- SSO for simple login process
- Easily share files and folders with links
- Find files fast with built-in search
- Save files you create in other Android apps to your Box account

  

Box.net

Box

UPDATED

by Box.net

50,000 downloads, 894 ratings (4.0 avg)

Free

Install

Moxier Mail for Tablet – Trial

Probably the best Exchange app that combines email, calendar, contacts, tasks, and notes and includes handy widgets that I've seen.

--

Moxier Mail with Microsoft Exchange ActiveSync for Corporate Email on the Go. Moxier Mail is the second to none EAS mail application that you can enjoy Mail, Calendar, Contacts, Tasks, and Notes in Mobile circumstance with advanced and state-of-the-art features such as Category, Mailbox search, Local wipe, Data encryption, S/MIME and 57 languages in the world.
Moxier Mail has been maintaining the perfect EAS Push mail application that Emtrace technologies made ever since 2008. Would you take Moxier Mail as the most latest and advanced EAS mail? You bet. Trial is good for 2 weeks and on Honeycomb or higher. For details, please visit our website at http://www.moxier.com/mail

  

  

Moxier Mail for Tablet – Trial

Syfy for Android Tablets

While Syfy fans will certainly appreciate this app, even those who have nothing to do with it may want to check out its beautiful tablet UI. If you're looking for some tablet design inspiration, definitely check out Syfy for Tablets.
Oh, and sorry - no full episodes are available in this app.

  

Syfy for Android Tablets

Bord

Bord, a new very well designed chalkboard/drawing app, supports Android 2.1+, but because its UI on tablets is specifically optimized for Honeycomb, and drawing apps are perfect for devices with large screens, I am including it in the tablet roundup.

--

Bord app turns your Android device into a beautiful and unique chalkboard simulator. Bord is designed for children and their parents who wants to use Android device as an excellent educational device.
Bord unique features:
- Realistic chalk - Create drawings using six colors and three thicknesses of chalk. You can draw even with 10 fingers at once!
- Realistic sponge - Clean drawings with a sponge which left subtle traces of chalk. To completely erase the drawing shake device!
- Playback drawing - Load your saved drawings with playback of drawing in realtime or in different speeds!
- Email & Facebook - Send your drawings on e-mail and make your grandma happy! Post your creations directly on Facebook!
- Tablets - Bord fully supports tablets with Android Honeycomb 3.0 (ex. Motorola Xoom, Samsung Galaxy Tab, HTC Flyer)

  

Bord

Bord

NEW

by Pixle

5,000 downloads, 40 ratings (4.2 avg)

Free

Install

Platinum Air Hockey (Free) for Honeycomb tablets

This game didn't make it to our last tablet roundup by a day or 2 (I later featured it in the game roundup), so here it is. There are many air hockey games on the Market already, but Platinum Air Hockey for Honeycomb deserves a mention because of these reasons:

• it's made specifically for Honeycomb


• it has Wi-Fi 2-player mode, which I haven't seen in any other air hockey game


• you can switch up the looks to make it look like soccer, basketball, etc


• it has the most over-the-top video preview any other air hockey game has ever been accompanied with (and I don't mean it in a bad way at all - real hockey games would be lucky to have some awesome trailers)

 

Platinum Air Hockey (Free) for Honeycomb tablets

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