ViewSonic ViewPad 10pro Hands-On [Video]

We’ve all seen the ViewSonic ViewPad 7x and ViewPad 7e – and now we have some special hands-on treatment for the ViewPad 10pro. We previously believed the 10pro would be dual booting Android 2.2 and Windows 7. However, what makes this slate special is that it doesn’t natively run Android OS. Through the help of BlueStacks, Android applications run seamlessly over Windows 7. Take a closer look below to view the BlueStacks integration as well as some recent UI enhancements made for the 7e and 7x.

We were live at the official launch at Pepcom’s Holiday Spectacular 2011 to see these three tablets up close and personal. Earlier this year at Mobile World Congress 2011, we were able to catch a glimpse of the ViewPad 10pro, but mistook BlueStacks integration for dual-booting. Though these launched internationally on the first of September, Chris Burns appears in the the US launch clip below.



As you can see, the 10pro can switch from Android to Windows 7 extremely quickly. BlueStacks was previously explained in great detail earlier this year, and from the looks of it we’ll be seeing this software implemented into future Windows 7 slates. Android applications seem to run great on the ViewPad 10pro’s Intel Atom Z670. Remember, 2GB of RAM were included in this tab so it shouldn’t be too sluggish when multitasking.

The two 7″ ViewPad 7x and 7e were both running the SPB Shell 3D homescreen replacement application in the video demonstration; if this home replacement looks like something you would want running on your own device, it has been available for download in the Android Market. Though the 7x and 7e are not yet available in the US, they will be very soon.

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Custom ROM: Sense 3.5, Android 2.3.5 for Desire HD, S, & Inspire

Thanks to some talented folks over at XDA Developers, if you've got an unlocked HTC Desire HD, Desire S, or Inspire you now have a custom ROM that will bring not only Android 2.3.5 Gingerbread, but also HTC Sense UI 3.5 to your smartphone!

 Based on the HTC Runnymede's ROM, these ROMs are pretty complete with few known bugs.

If you've got one of these devices and want to check out the latest and greatest from HTC, head on over to the source and let us know what you think in the comments below!

Source: XDA

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Panasonic Toughbook Android Tablet Revealed

Panasonic has revealed its rugged Android tablet. It is a sturdy-looking 10.1″ tablet that looks like it can take punishing shocks on every corner, without being knocked out. Panasonic pitches it as a “business tablet”, so it comes with 3G/4G and IT management features, including hardware-level features that could mean “encryption”. It also has handwriting recognition and does not need a stylus, which has been a hallmark of business tablet for so long.

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The first part of the Google+ API has just been released

It’s been the talk since Google+ launched a few weeks ago – in order to really get the traction with the outside world, it had to have an API. Now, according to a new page in the Google Developers section, the first part of that wait is over.
There’s a blog post that describes how developers can get started with the Google+ API, but  here are the high points that you’ll need to know:

• Read-only access
• Public data only
• All API calls require OAuth 2.0 or an API key
• Resources returned from the API will come to you in a JSON format

At present, the team says that there is a rate limit on the API connections, but that it should be high enough to “preview the API and to start thinking about how you want to build your application.” If you need an exception to the limit, Google appears to be open to the idea, via the API console.
The release of the API means that we’ll start seeing more products coming with Google+ integration. While we’ve already been able to launch SocialStatistics, a measurement of the most-followed people on the network, that data is all being scraped and thus not nearly as accurate as it could be.
We’ll be keeping an eye out for the great things that developers make with the Google+ API in the weeks and months that are to follow. If you have an amazing idea, or you’ve already been hacking things together, make sure to drop a comment and let us know about them.
This should be only the start of where the Google+ API can take developers. Once it is decided exactly if and how devs will be given access to the more private details that you want to share with them, amazing things should be able to happen.

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Archos G9 Honeycomb tablets hit pre-order September 20th

The upcoming Android 3.2 Honeycomb tablets from popular maker Archos are set to finally be available for pre-order soon. The new G9 tablet series was first announced in June, then quickly spotted on video a few days later. New details have confirmed they will both be available for pre-order starting September 20th.

This is the new G9 series offering both the Archos 80 and the 101, one being an 8″ Android 3.2 tablet and the other a 10.1″ standard sized tablet.  With optional 3G/4G modem stick slots and extended storage up to 250GB in hard drive space these offer both a competitive price, and unique features most tablets don’t have to offer.
Both tablets feature dual-core processors and Android 3.2 Honeycomb combined with a slim package and much better viewing angles compared to previous Archos products. The Archos 80 G9 8GB series will start at $299 and is now available for pre-order and the rest should be available shortly at popular online retailers such as Amazon, Newegg, and more starting September 30th. Other model pricing has also been revealed at:
ARCHOS 80 G9 16GB – 1.5 GHz at $329
ARCHOS 80 G9 250GB – 1.5 GHz at $369
ARCHOS 101 G9 16GB – 1.5 GHz at $399
ARCHOS 101 G9 250GB – 1.5 GHz at $469
We will be sure to get some more hands-on with these in the near future and check out all that Archos has to offer.
[via Engadget]

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Motorola Defy+ hands-on

The Motorola Defy+ is an upgraded edition of last year’s tough phone, keeping it fresh by boosting the processor to 1GHz and landing with a newer version of Android, now 2.3. We caught up with the new phone at a recent showcase for Carphone Warehouse.
We knew that the exterior of the phone was going to be very much the same as before, but we didn’t know that Motorola had been tweaking their user interface.
Motoblur has attracted some criticism, some of which you can read in our review of the original Motorola Defy if you are interested.

The same is true of this latest iteration of device from the Google-owned company. In literal terms Motorola has lightened things like the Contacts, swapping the black background for white: it now looks less oppressive and seems easier to read than previously.?
But it isn’t just about changing the wallpaper, they’ve also added in innovative extras. In your Contacts you can easily make groups, in the apps menu you can group apps and get an icon to take you directly to Android Market. Simple things, but could be very popular as they are so easy to use.
On the homepage too, the slightly clunky fixed shortcuts at the bottom of the page (formerly calling, apps menu and contacts) are now customisable, with the demo unit we saw offering calling, camera, Kindle and the apps menu. It isn’t unique, but it’s certainly welcome.?

There are new widgets, or more refined widgets, although we didn’t have the chance to explore all of these. A Moto Agent did tell us, however, that the updated user interface would soon be rolling out to the Motorola Atrix too.
Elsewhere the colour scheme has changed slightly for the body of the phone, although we couldn’t tell the difference ourselves. It is still a solid-feeling phone in the hand, with IP67 certification, Gorilla Glass to resist scratches and port covers to keep it clean.
The 3.7-inch display is nice and vibrant and the added power from the new processor is welcomed, although we didn’t really have the chance to put it through its paces in our brief play.
All in all, the Motorola Defy+ looks like a reasonable upgrade to the original handset. The added power will help keep up with modern demands and we still like the chunky looks.
                   

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AT&T to Launch 4G LTE Network September 18

Speaking at the Bank of America Merrill Lynch Media, Entertainment, and Communications conference, AT&T CFO John Stephens announced the launch of AT&T’s next-gen 4G LTE network for September 18th. AT&T will be bringing its first true 4G experiment to five markets — Atlanta, Chicago, Dallas, Houston, and San Antonia — with a total of 15 switched on by the end of the year. The launch of the new network will breath new life into AT&T’s current lineup of LTE data sticks and hotspots, as well as their first LTE device, the HTC Jetstream tablet.
[via FierceWireless]

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HTC Sensation and Sensation XE to hit UK October 1 in white color

The HTC Sensation and Sensation XE smartphones have so far been offered in black only. Geeks like to have a choice when they are buying a new smartphone so HTC has a white version of both the original HTC Sensation and the Sensation XE coming in a few weeks. The new color devices are pegged for launch on October 1 according to UK phone seller Phones4u.

That Sensation XE smartphone has only surfaced this week and looks to be a very nice device indeed. The Beats Audio tech and the included Beats headphones will make it a superior music phone. The XE also has a faster 1.5GHz processor compared to the 1.2GHz part in the original Sensation. HTC also has some new Windows Phones coming as well.
According to Phones4u, the Sensation XE in black or white will be free on £36 or more 2-year agreements. The normal white Sensation will be free on plans at £31 monthly or higher. If you don’t want a contract that Sensation XE will cost you a much heavier price at £489.95 according to retailer MobileFun and the date it lands is listed as October 7.
[via SlashGear]

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Samsung Galaxy Tab 8.9 hits pre-order in US from $470

Samsung went official with the Galaxy Tab 8.9 Android tablet not long ago. The tablet hasn’t been out of the closet for long at all and its up for pre-order now. Laptoping is reporting that the tablet has now gone on pre-order in the US and will slot between the Galaxy Tab 10.1 and the Tab 7.7 in the line. The 8.9-inch screen of the new tablet has a resolution of 1280 x 800.

The WiFi only version of the Tab 8.9 has landed at Best Buy for pre-order in two versions with one packing 32GB of storage and the other offering 16GB of storage. The tablet will come later in LTE versions. Both versions of the tablet have 1GB of RAM under the hood. Other features of the tablets include a 3MP rear camera, 2MP front camera, a USB port, Bluetooth, and both are gray.
We had heard before that the processor is a 1.0GHz dual-core unit. The GT-P7310MAVXAR with 32GB of storage pre-orders at Best Buy for $569.99. The 16GB GT-P7310MAYXAR pre-order will set you back $469.99. The tablets are expected to land in late September.
[via Laptoping]

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