tablet

The PC isn't dead, but it's still a post-PC era

In early June, market researcher IDC cut its forecast growth for PCs in 2011 from 7.1 percent to 4.2 percent. Gartner Group, another IT analyst firm, had earlier trimmed its numbers. Meanwhile, Apple iPad sales continue to skyrocket, with 183 percent growth compared to the year-ago quarter. Android tablets remain more of a mixed bag when it comes to gaining buyers, but they'll gain traction over time as well.

Those numbers would seem to lay out the case for a post-PC world rather starkly. Especially when you consider that they don't even consider phones which, in … Read more

Dell Streak 10 Pro debuts in China

Dell has launched its first 10-inch tablet, according to Dow Jones Newswire and Engadget.

CNET reported exclusively in June that Dell would launch its 10-inch Android tablet in China first.

This is Dell's third tablet and its first 10-inch Android Honeycomb-based tablet that competes with likes of Apple's iPad and Motorola's Xoom.

Some of the salient specifications include a thickness of 12 millimeters (0.47 inches), a weight of about 700 grams (about 1.5 pounds), edge-to-edge glass, a brushed aluminum back, a 1280-by-800 screen, front- and rear-facing cameras (including a 5-megapixel camera), full 1080p video playback, an SD slot, and an Nvidia Tegra dual-core processor, as CNET reported previously.

The tablet can also be purchased with a dock that has multiple USB ports, a USB host mode that allows PC-like emulation capabilities, HDMI video, the ability to run separate Citrix sessions on external monitors, and an Ethernet port, among other features.… Read more

Apple reportedly looking at two suppliers for iPad 3

Apple may be pitting suppliers against each other to assemble its next-generation iPad.

The company is said to have awarded a contract to manufacture the iPad 3 to Taiwan-based Pegatron, according to a report from the Taiwan Economic News, citing the usual industry sources. If true, this would mean that Apple is looking to reduce its dependence on long-time partner Hon Hai as the sole supplier of the tablet.

Pegatron is already doing business with Apple, responsible for building and shipping the iPhone 4 and reportedly also landing a contract to handle the iPhone 5.

Hon Hai has been the … Read more

Motorola Mobility CEO highlights upcoming products

Motorola Mobility Chief Executive Sanjay Jha said he is planning a healthy product lineup including a pair of tablets and two 4G LTE smartphones in the second half.

Among other products, the company is planning to introduce its much-delayed Droid Bionic in September, Jha told CNET in an interview. After an unveiling at the Consumer Electronics Show, the 4G LTE smartphone for Verizon Wireless was delayed for several months to work out the kinks of its 4G connection. In addition, it is planning at least one more 4G LTE smartphone this year.

Jha said he is planning on two tablets, … Read more

Amazon reportedly ramping up 7- and 10-inch tablets

Amazon is aiming to launch both a 7-inch and 10-inch tablet in the third quarter and is currently lining up the right suppliers, according to the latest from the folks at DigiTimes.

A number of chip design firms in Taiwan expect to see a healthy bump in sales in the third quarter as they ship parts for the new tablets, said Digitimes, citing industry sources. With Amazon shooting to ship 4 million tablets this year, the company's orders for integrated circuits have become the second largest in the industry, behind  only Apple's iPad, added the sources.

These … Read more

What are Netflix and Hulu users watching, and how?

What are all those Netflix and Hulu viewers watching, and how are they accessing that content? A new study out yesterday from Nielsen offers some answers.

Among Netflix subscribers, 53 percent watch movies, 11 percent tune into TV shows, and 36 percent catch a mixture of both. But among Hulu viewers, only 9 percent are streaming movies, 73 percent are watching TV episodes, and 18 percent grab both equally.

Those results aren't surprising since Hulu isn't exactly known for its vast movie library, focusing instead on providing current and past seasons of popular TV series. In contrast, Netflix … Read more

Top 5 tablets

The iPad is synonymous with "tablet" for most people, but that's starting to change. The reason is a crop of fairly well-realized alternatives that offer different sizes, operating systems, and prices. Brian Cooley runs them up to No. 1.

Here's a quick tutorial on how to "root" a Barnes & Noble Nook Color to make it a cheap, capable Android tablet.

And all of CNET's reviews in the fast growing tablet category are here.

HTC 10-inch Puccini tablet outed in official-looking renders

Thanks to new leaked images, we now have a good idea as to what to expect from the 10-inch HTC Puccini tablet when it finally arrives at AT&T this summer.

Boy Genius Report is offering a glimpse of the front and back of the device. Not much is confirmed by the pictures, but we do know the tablet will feature an 8-megapixel camera with dual-LED flash, stereo speakers, and perhaps a textured finish on the back side. The HTC Scribe also makes an appearance in one image, all but confirming the digital stylus technology for the unit.

Previous … Read more

Xoom to get 4G hookup in September

Motorola Mobility's Xoom tablet will finally be able to access Verizon Wireless' super-fast 4G network in September.

A Verizon representative today confirmed the Xoom will be getting a 4G LTE card after months of delays. The carrier is notifying customers now. Dow Jones Newswires first reported on the upgrade.

One of the primary features touted during the unveiling of the Xoom in January was the option to move to a 4G connection. But the option was delayed as Motorola struggled with the necessary components required to get 4G access. The same problem has caused its 4G Droid Bionic smartphone … Read more