Motorola Xoom vs iPad vs PlayBook

The New Technology From Motorolla.

When the Motorola Xoom and BlackBerry PlayBook hit the market, we'll have two serious challengers to the iPad.

And, perhaps most interestingly, all three will be running different operating systems. So let's compare how the two newcomers stack up against the hottest tablet yet released.

In terms of releases, Motorola won't say anything about the Xoom's UK release date, though it is pencilled in for the first quarter of 2011 in the US. However, it depends on when Google is planning on getting Honeycomb out the door.

OS

This is the biggest difference between the three tablets. The iPad runs Apple's own iOS, the Moto Xoom Android 3.0 Honeycomb and the BlackBerry PlayBook runs RIM's own bespoke Tablet OS. The Xoom was the main unit used to demo Android 3.0 Honeycomb, at this year's Consumer Electronics Show, though we only saw videos of OS features running on the new device.

Android 3.0 rumours and latest updates

ANDROID 3.0: This Xoom was just running a video, but the real Honeycomb looks special

There will also be no Motorola MotoBlur interface overlaying Android 3.0 – this could be part of a bigger move by Google to stop having so many variants of Android.

We got hands on with the BlackBerry PlayBookat CES a few weeks ago and it's a serious threat to the iPad's dominance of the sector. TechRadar's Reviews Editor James Rivington says the PlayBook "could well be the tablet that changes the game. In a word, it's a triumph."

Processor

All three units use ARM-based silicon. The iPad runs Apple's own A4 processor clocked at 1GHz (it's less in the iPhone 4), while the Xoom plumps for a dual-core Nvida Tegra 2 processor, capable of 720p video or sending 1080p full HD to your TV via HDMI. The PlayBook is also running a dual core 1GHz Cortex-A9-based processor, though there are no more details on who has manufactured it. It's probably an Nvidia Tegra 2.

Touchcreen

The Motorola Xoom has a 10.1-inch, 1280 x 800 display. The PlayBook is only a 7-inch tablet and to us it can feel small. The touch on the PlayBook does extend right across the bezel though, which is a nice touch and pretty important for navigating around the OS.

The screens on both the PlayBook and Xoom look pretty spectacular even under the bright show lights where we checked them out. The PlayBook'ssize gives it an advantage though, as we said in our hands on:

"The PlayBook's 1024 x 600 resolution isn't far off the 9.7-inch 1024x768 iPad, but because of the Playbook's 7-inch display, the increased pixel density makes all the difference. It's sharp and crisp, and 1080p HD video looks fabulous."

Thursday Gadgets: All you need to know about Android 2.1 and Android 2.2 Froyo

All you need to know about Android 2.1 and Android 2.2 Froyo

Author: Aseem Gaurav

There are thousands of mobile phones available in the market which use Google's Android operating system. And while using such a phone we all are amazed with the easiness in navigation, faster response, amazing applications and a host of other features. But have we ever wondered what is Google Android and how does it work. Let's take a brief look at the two different versions of Google's Android Operating System.

Google Android operating system is a 12 million lines of codes written, and the company is enriching it every month to include new features and applications, and thus giving its users a better never-before experience. Over the last few years Android phones have gained immense popularity in the mobile world, both in India and overseas, largely because of sheer number of applications.

According to comScore Android held 31.2 per cent of the U.S. smartphone market in the three months ended in January, up from 23.5 per cent the previous three months, while Research in Motion fell to second place, with 30.4 per cent, followed by Apple, with 24.7 per cent. While Android is not yet stealing market share from Apple, it appears to be gaining ground against the iPhone as more manufacturers begin incorporating Google's open-source platform into their phones. During the recent Mobile World Congress in Barcelona, Google CEO Eric Schmidt said the company's partners are now selling over 60,000 Android handsets on a daily basis. According to a Google representative, the application store now serves approximately 30,000 free and paid apps in total.

Google released Android 2.1 as a minor platform release deployable to Android-powered handsets starting in January 2010. Some of the salient features of smaprtphones using Android 2.1 system:

Voice controls – Controlling your phone using Android 2.1 is one such exciting feature. Not only turn-by-turn voice directions, but you can also send Tweets, SMS messages and emails just by telling your phone.

Google Earth – One of the most exciting application that goes hand in hand with Android 2.1 is the Google Earth app.

Email – The OS gives you the ability to have more than one Gmail account working from the same inbox

Weather App – The new weather app as featured on Android 2.1 will include dynamic weather.

Interactive wallpapers – There are lots of animated wallpapers available using the system.

Photo gallery – This features gives a new dimension to how you view pics using Android.

App Launcher – Android's App Launcher gives you the conveniene to tap a button and everything smoothly zooms into place.

After the huge success of its 2.1 version, Google came out with Android 2.2—aka Froyo (or Frozen yogurt) which is the most usable, polished iteration of Android yet. The Android 2.2 version, which may appear compelling to a broad range of consumers, is a series of refinements to its existing operating system, thus making it more pleasing to use.

Regardless of the competition between Android apps v/s iPhone apps, both platforms are much popular globally. But so far, the Google miracle is ahead globally. Certainly, developing Android applications for any firm dealing software applications is a lucrative venture with vast possibilities.

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/gadgets-and-gizmos-articles/all-you-need-to-know-about-android-21-and-android-22-froyo-4375348.html

About the Author

Aseem Gaurav Sharma is a Delhi based Journalist with itnerests in mobile, technology, cars, and various business related fields.

Image source: Google

3 Touch Screens Phone

 A concept smartphone designed by Kristan Ulrich Larsen with this clamshell phone has 3 touch screens and flexible, which can be aligned in many ways as needed. Equipped with AMOLED super resistant lenses, flexible and completely modular. 3 Touch Screens Phone explanations after the jump.

Mouse concept | Air Mouse

 If technology is evolving with each passing minute then why should the gadgets and accessories remain square and orthodox? Catching up the technological evolution, Canadian firm Deanmark Ltd has come up with a revolutionary computer mouse that invariably becomes an integral part of your body. Hailed as the “AirMouse,” the radical mouse can be worn on your hand like a glove, allowing easy as well as brisk web navigation. Integrating a right and left click mouse buttons in the palm, the AirMouse comes equipped with optical tracking laser that lasts for a week on single charge.



In comparison to the conventional mice, the AirMouse reduces the excessive force in a huge way, as it aligns itself with the user’s hand and wrist ligaments to keep the hand in a neutral position. Moreover, the user can type on the keyboard with ease without removing the glove. The wearable mouse will be available for a reasonable $129 by the end of the year.