SAN FRANCISCO – Samsung has made it official: Its 7-inch Galaxy Tab 7.0 Plus will arrive at U.S. retailers on November 13. Pre-orders start Oct. 23.

By Matt Hamblen
October 4, 2011

FRAMINGHAM – Samsung Friday announced the Galaxy Tab 7.0 Plus tablet, an update that is lighter and more powerful than the original Galaxy Tab , and runs a 1.2 GHz dual core processor.

Samsung said the new Plus version 3.2 of Android, also known as Honeycomb. The original Galaxy Tab, announced in September 2010, ran Android 2.2 and then 2.3 starting in May 2011.

The Samsung Galaxy Tab 7.0 Plus

Both versions of Galaxy Tab have 7-in. touchscreens. The Plus is 12.16 ounces, compared to the 13.58 ounce weight of its predecessor.

Most important, the Plus runs the dual core 1.2 GHz processor, up from the 1 GHz chip in the original.

Samsung also has a full line of tablets with screen sizes ranging from 7-in. up to 10.1-in., although not all are offered in the U.S.

Samsung didn’t divulge pricing or carriers.

The Plus model will be available first in Indonesia and Austria by the end of October and then will gradually roll out in other countries, including the U.S.

A 16GB version of the original Galaxy Tab sells for $430 on BestBuy.com.

Samsung said the new model will be available in 16GB and 32GB versions. A microSD card could boost storage capacity to 64GB, it added.

Pricing will be a big factor for the next generation of Android tablets, as Amazon this week unveiled the $199 Kindle Fire color 7-in. touchscreen tablet that runs the open source OS.

The Kindle Fire won’t have a camera or microphone, while the Galaxy Tab 7.0 Plus features a microphone and two cameras, a rear-facing 3 megapixel camera and a front-facing 2 megapixel camera.

Kindle Fire will support Wi-Fi, while Plus will support for four radio cellular signals, including HSPA+ as well as Wi-Fi.

By Kevin Fogarty
August 22, 2011

SOUTHBOROUGH, MASSACHUSETTS – HTC, which just announced it would stick with Google and keep running Android on its best phones even though Google just bought one of HTC’s main competitors, continues the trend started by Samsung this week of needling Google by doing things that make it easier for people to mess with Android.

Samsung hired the founder and chief developer of the most popular developer of Android-modification firmware to work on its smartphone OS development team with the goal, he said in a Facebook update, of “making Android more awesome.”

Google has been trying to lock Android down more, lately, in addition to buying Motorola for reasons that are cloudy but might include the need to stave off potential patent-trolling from Motorola if Google didn’t come through with some love.

The acquisition is expected to produce a huge shift in the smartphone market, though no one is quite sure what that effect will be.

Nokia put out an announcement yesterday predicting the Google/Motorola connection would drive customers to Windows Phone 7. That seems like a chancy prediction, however, considering the Windows Phone 7 experience is currently driving customers to other operating systems.

While Samsung’s gesture was a grand one, HTC is sticking with smaller ones that follow through on promises it made earlier in the year to deliver bootloader unlock tools for many of its most popular Android phones.

The software allows owners to get access to the operating system and system software protected as firmware on the phones and allow them to modify both to their hearts’ content.

Most carriers lock down the operating system to keep customers from messing around with the OS, partly to reduce support costs and keep the phones’ links to the cell network from being corrupted, but also to keep customers from adding software or services from third-party developers that the carriers would prefer to supply themselves — at a premium price.

Unlocked phones and user-installed software pose much higher risk of infection by malware or corruption of system software. Most bootloader unlock apps include either a method or reminder to users to back up system images of the phones to restore them more easily if necessary.

HTC views unlocked OSes as a way to encourage both ISVs and owners to get more involved developing apps and mods for the phones, according to an interview in the WSJ with HTC CEO Peter Chou.

HTC did investigate whether it should build its own operating system to compete with Android, as Samsung has done.

It decided to stick with Android for the size and activity level of developers and owners already in the market.

“I think there’s a lot we can do…it’s not the operating system, it’s the ecosystem…so we think we can find a way to differentiate to add value, but at the same time leverage our partners, Google and Microsoft, since we have such a great relationship with them,” Chou told Dow Jones Newsires during an interview.

The first U.S. device that can use the bootloader is the EVO 3D. It only works on software version 2.08.651.2 and above, so some users may have to go through the carriers’ process of firmware update before using it. EU version s of the HTC Sensation got the update earlier.

The bootloader and HTC’s detailed instructions for using it are posted at the HTC developer’s site HTCDEV.

SAN FRANCISCO – The tablet craze has reached fever pitch. Every day, a new iPad 2 rumors arise. At the annual Mobile World Congress, major players such as HTC, LG, and Samsung unveiled their respective Android tablet offerings. And Motorola has captured headlines with its confirmation that the full-strength 3G + Wi-Fi version of the Xoom will sell for $800–$130 more than the first-generation iPad.

Amidst the chatter, some solid trends have emerged regarding the tablets shown at this year’s Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas and MWC in Barcelona. Looking at them may help you figure out what to hope for from your impending tablet purchase. Come on…we know you want one.

Android Honeycomb vs. Android Froyo: Haves vs. Have-Nots

The upcoming Android tablet class appears to be split between those that will have Android 3.0 (Honeycomb) and those that will make do with something lesser.

With Google on the verge of widely releasing its Honeycomb SDK, Android 3.0 has clearly established itself as the operating system of choice for 10-inch Android tablets. And rightly so: Honeycomb was designed for the large-screen tablet experience, and from our early looks at the OS, it will support a more streamlined, user-friendly experience than today’s Android 2.x permits.

The Motorola Xoom is the showpiece tablet–and Google’s launch partner for Honeycomb. Perhaps in deference to it, some other tablets at MWC were not demoed with Android 3.0 on board; for instance, the Acer Iconia Tab A500, for example, is slated to ship–at least initially–with Android 2.3 (Gingerbread). But the vast majority of tablets coming at us sound as though they will use Honeycomb.

One odd exception to the 3.0 rule is the HTC Flyer, which will run a version of Gingerbread (2.4, in this case) with a single-core 1.5GHz processor. Granted, HTC has customized the Flyer’s interface, porting its cell-phone-based Sense UI, with some changes to take advantage of the larger screen of tablets. Still the non-Honeycomb OS is a risky choice, since the Flyer must compete against the Honeycomb gang.

10-Inch vs. 7-Inch: Paperback vs. Hardcover

At CES, 7-inch tablets ruled the booths. At MWC, though, 10-inch models–a direct challenge to Apple’s 9.7-inch iPad–have increased their visibility.

On 10.1-inch models, such as the Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1 (introduced at MWC), the extra size permits the inclusion of widescreen displays, which are perfect for viewing high-definition video, as well as for viewing book and magazine content reproduced for electronic distribution.

But 7-inch tablets will persist, too. Like paperback books, they are lighter in weight, less expensive, and more portable–and significantly better suited for one-handed use. For their part, 10-inch models will remain pricier, less portable, and–for the foreseeable future–too heavy for one-handed use (though Samsung succeeded in delivering the Galaxy Tab 10.1 at 1.3 pounds).

Carrier Associations and Regionality

In the tablet universe, mobile carriers are front and center in the distribution process. Some tablets–even Wi-Fi-only versions–will sell without carrier affiliation. But the push is on for 3G- and 4G-enabled tablets, which will be sold with contract subsidies. As a result, you can pick up a Dell Streak 7 for $200–but you’ll also be on the hook for two years of T-Mobile service.

We’re also seeing a lot of products with regional tie-ins. I wouldn’t be surprised, for example, if the Huawei and ZTE tablets shown at MWC never reached the U.S. market, instead focusing on Asian or European markets. The LG Optimus Pad, shown at MWC for the first time, is recognizable as the already-announced T-Mobile LG G-Slate.

Prices Aren’t Dropping Yet

Apple remains firmly entrenched as the tablet price leader nearly a year after the iPad launched. The Motorola Xoom should come in at $600 for the Wi-Fi 32GB version, and $800 for the Wi-Fi+3G version, but the 32GB iPad Wi-Fi sells for $600 as well.

Things can go in two directions here. One possibility is that prices will tumble rapidly, as competition breeds the necessary price adjustments, as happened both with Android mobile phones and with the first-generation Samsung Galaxy Tab. Alternatively, prices may hold steady because of component shortages: The gold rush to make tablets, coupled with Apple’s habit of locking up supplies of parts in advance of its launch, could create a perfect storm that will keep prices high for the foreseeable future.

Stock Android (Honeycomb) Rules

At MWC, none of the debuting Honeycomb tablets showed a unique interface overlay, à la Samsung’s TouchWiz (found on the 7-inch Galaxy Tab and on company’s phones), or HTC’s Sense UI. Perhaps that’s because no company besides Motorola has spent much time yet with the final Honeycomb SDK; the SDK entered preview mode just a month ago and has yet to be widely released.

On the other hand, Android 3.0 is Google’s most polished effort yet, and it doesn’t require the kind of overlays that Froyo does when that OS gets ported to a tablet. Also, overlays make performing quality assurance on a new version of the Android OS considerably more difficult–and that could delay rolling out OS upgrades as they become available.

Ultimately, software customization will be one of the few ways a manufacturer can distinguish its tablet from the pack. But such customization needs to avoid getting in the way of timely OS updates.

Headliners vs. Everyone Else

The vast majority of tablets worth talking about in coming months will be from the big-name players in mobile computing: Acer, Apple, Asus, HP, HTC, LG, RIM, Samsung, and Toshiba. But behind these heavyweights, numerous lesser companies will undoubtedly try their luck as well–and some of these may surprise us with their design, software, or price. I look forward to seeing what these wild cards have in store for us as 2011 unfolds.

BARCELONA- Samsung has launched the Galaxy S II, which is equipped with a dual-core processor, an improved screen and faster Internet access using HSPA+ (High-Speed Packet Access).

Like LG Electronics, Samsung is also adding a dual-core 1GHz processor to its new flagship smartphone. The Android 2.3-based Galaxy S II also has a 4.3-inch screen with a 480 x 800 resolution, according to a company statement. The screen is based on an improved version of Samsung’s Super AMOLED technology, which is supposed to consume less energy while offering better image quality when using the phone outside and looking at the screen from an indirect angle.

The smartphone measures 125 x 66 x 8 millimeters at its thinnest point and weighs 117 grams. The back camera has an 8-megapixel resolution and LED flash and the front camera has 2-megapixel resolution.

The Galaxy S II can access the Internet using Wi-Fi or HSPA+ at up to 21M bps (bits per second). User will, for example, be able to take advantage of the faster speed when viewing streaming video or playing online games, according to Samsung. The speed increase should also be a boon to users when accessing the Internet using the integrated Wi-Fi hotspot. The list of supported Wi-Fi standards includes 802.11 a, b, g and n.

Just like on the Nexus S, Samsung has added NFC (Near-Field Communications) to the Galaxy S II. The most talked-about application for NFC is payments. But the technology can be used for other things, including sharing information between two devices when they are close.

The device will start shipping in some markets, including Sweden, in May. Pricing was not disclosed.

BARCELONA – Samsung has added the Honeycomb-based Galaxy Tab 10.1 to its line-up of tablets.

The new tablet comes with a 10.1-inch LCD screen and a resolution at 1280 x 800 pixels. Under the hood, there is a 1 GHz dual-core processor.

The tablet measures 246 x 170 x 10 millimeters and weighs 599 grams, according to a company statement. That makes it a good bit lighter than the Motorola Xoom, which also has 10.1-inch screen, is based on the tablet-optimized Honeycomb OS — also known as Android 3.0 — but weighs 730 grams, according to a spec sheet on Motorola’s website.

The back camera has an 8-megapixel resolution and LED flash and the front camera has a 2-megapixel resolution.

Users who want to watch streaming video on their tablet can access the Internet using Wi-Fi (802.11a, b, g and n) or HSPA+ (High-Speed Packet Access) at up to 21M bps (bits per second). For users to take full advantage of that speed, their mobile operator may first have to upgrade their network. Today, there are 79 commercial HSPA+ networks that can handle data speed of 21M bps, according to a recent report published by industry organization GSA (Global mobile Suppliers Association).

The device will start shipping in some markets, including Sweden, in June. Pricing was not disclosed.

SAN FRANCISCO – Much of your digital camera, including its sensor, LCD screen, lens, buffer, and autofocus, is controlled by microprocessors running firmware. Firmware is essentially the operating system of a digital camera, whether it’s a point-and-shoot or a DSLR. And just as a trip to Software Update can give you downloads that fix OS or software glitches and add functionality, some camera manufacturers polish the user experience after a camera has been released with firmware updates.

Firmware updates are not always necessary. If you find an update for your camera, but it doesn’t have any bug fixes and the added features don’t apply to you (such as a new language you don’t speak), you may want to skip the upgrade altogether. But more often these updates fix bugs or add cool new features and improvements. For example, the latest Sony NEX 5 firmware update makes major updates to the user interface, allows the softkey function to be customized for quick settings access in creative exposure modes, gives the camera 3D Sweep Panorama abilities, and adds autofocus support for fourteen Sony SSM and SAM lenses.
Step 1: Set an update schedule
It is a good practice to check for updates right after buying a new camera, and then check again three or four times a year. Unfortunately, camera manufacturers don’t usually put resources into developing firmware for older models, so once your camera is two generations old you can check less frequently. But don’t give up completely–the Canon Rebel XS, a 2008 beginner’s DSLR model that has seen 7 Canon DLSR brothers released since, received a firmware update as recently as October 2010.
Though many point-and-shoot and DSLR cameras allow firmware updates, not all cameras display the current version in the same place. Generally, the information is buried in the settings menu, the last option among the date setting and LCD brightness. Instructions for finding the firmware version number for individual camera models can be found in the manufacturer’s update instructions.

Step 3: Find the firmware page for your camera
Once you have this information, the next step is to check the camera manufacturer’s support and downloads site. Browse or do a keyword search for the camera model, and the download links and install instructions should be simple to find. To help you find the latest firmware versions for your model, we’ve compiled a list of the download pages for 12 major camera brands. Firmware updates are sometimes located in Drivers, Downloads, or Software sections.

Canon
Nikon

Olympus(Download the Olympus Digital Camera Updater application)

Sony

Panasonic (Or go to this one-page index of Panasonic firmware updates)
Kodak

Pentax

Casio

FujiFilm

Samsung

Leica
Sigma

Step 4: Read directions and take precautions
It is extremely important to read the exact update directions for your camera carefully, as the process varies from camera to camera, is usually permanent, and if something goes wrong it cannot be easily fixed. This shouldn’t discourage camera owners from updating their cameras, as the process is safe when directions are followed to the letter.

To ensure that everything goes as smoothly as possible there are a couple common safety measures you can take: Always make sure to have fresh batteries in the camera and do not turn it off during the update–if this power-hungry process is interrupted, the dead batteries could equal a dead camera that will need to be serviced. And make sure you use the recommended equipment such as specific memory cards or particular brands of USB cords.

Step 5: Install the firmware
Some manufacturers make the firmware update process really simple. For example, Olympus owners can download the Olympus Digital Camera Updater application, which will automatically check a connected camera for outdated firmware and walk the user step-by-step through the update.

For most brands, however, you have to do a bit more work. The exact process varies depending on your camera brand and model, and each manufacturer provides detailed instructions on their site explaining exactly what to do when you locate an update for your camera.

The typical update process goes something like this: A compressed file or installation application that contains the firmware update (or updates, if it comes in two parts) specific to your camera is download to your computer. After downloading, the firmware can be dropped onto the top level of a blank, freshly formatted memory card. Next, eject the card from card reader, insert it into the camera, and follow the directions for initiating the update from the camera’s menu.

With some brands the camera can be plugged in with a USB cord and the firmware updated directly from your computer. The camera companies that provide an updater application use this method.

If you are not comfortable updating your own firmware, or if something goes wrong during the update process, take the camera to an authorized dealer or contact customer service for your brand.

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