Android Honeycomb power hungry?

A few weeks ago, Motorola release a teaser video for the new tablet which is coming soon in CES, January 2011. Their teaser video completely trashed the Samsung Galaxy Tab, saying that the Tab is running an older version of Android meant for smartphones. Check my post here.

Looks like Motorola could have their feet on solid ground when they put the Tab down because one OEM said that honeycomb would require a dual-core ARM Cortex A9 processor to run properly with a resolution of  1,280×720 for 10″ tablets. So far Google has no made a statement regarding this news, so it might be true. Previously, LG wrongly claimed that Gingerbread upgrade requires a minimum 1 Ghz for the LG Optimus line which Google refuted quickly. We are still keeping an eye out for word from Googler regarding this matter.  [source]

If this is true, then existing Tab users would sadly be only stuck at Gingerbread (if Samsung ever decides to upgrade it from  Froyo). But Samsung however are not keeping silent. They have placed a large order of Tegra 2 (dual-core A9 cpu) from Nvidia for their upcoming ‘Tab 2’.  [source]

Looks like the era of smart-tablets are finally here. Where Microsoft has failed to produce (Eg: HP Slate), Google has triumphed.

UPDATE : 6-Jan-2011

Dan Morril with the Google Android team tweeted here that there’s no hard mininum requirement for Honeycomb. Sigh of relief..

Motorola’s new 10″ tablet with Honeycomb

On December 14th 2010, during the Dive Into Mobile conference in San Francisco, Andy Rubin from Android showed off a prototype Android tablet, running the latest version of Android called Honeycomb. It showcased improved functionality of Android on bigger screen called tablet, where you get different fragmentation (or columns) of a screen, instead a small smartphone screen dedicated to one function at a time. Check out the video below, sample of new Gmail app with fragments at 5:20.

The prototype tablet is made by Motorola and based on some early photos, it seems like the tablet will be sold first on an American telco called Verizon. Check out the photo gallery from Engadget here.

The tablet is running on the latest processor called Tegra 2 from Nvidia, which features a dual core processor and also better built in graphics chip. Motorola will officially launched this tablet at an event called CES (Consumer Electronics Show) in Las Vegas early next month (January 2011).

Motorola has already made some teaser video for the new tablet, comparing it to some ‘ancient’ tablets like the iPad and the Samsung Galaxy Tab. The honey bee appearing at the end of the video confirms the fact the it will be running the new Android Honeycomb.

Finally, the new Motorola Tablet is rumoured to be called Motorola Xoom which i think is a good name, instead of having usual names that associate to something flat like Pad, Slate, Tab or even Book. You don’t really hope to hear another name like MotoPad, MotoSlate, MotoTab, etc bla bla bla, do you? We’ll only really know at the event.  Price of this tablet is also still unknown at the moment.

Hopefully we’ll see Malaysian telcos like Maxis to bring in this Motorola tablet like they did the Samsung Galaxy Tab. Time to ditch the old Samsung tablet which runs Android OS built for phones and bring in the new tech. Don’t expect Samsung to put the new Honeycomb on the Galaxy Tab anytime soon. Samsung is VERY VERY slow at updating their software once the device has been released. Samsung has updated some, but not all their Galaxy S phones to Android 2.2 Froyo. FYI, Samsung modified the Galaxy S for different parts of the world so there are many variants of it, namely the European and Asian Galaxy S, US AT&T Captivate, US T-Mobile Vibrant, US Sprint Epic 4G, US Verizon Fascinate, Samsung Continuum, etc . That is a lot of phones. Detailed list here at the Samsung Galaxy S Wikipedia page. And Samsung is getting left behind further as Android 2.3 Gingerbread is already out. Next month Android 2.4 Honeycomb is coming.. I very much doubt Samsung can keep up.

Christmas with DiGi

Christmas is not in another 1 week plus or so but santa has already dropped by to visit DiGi. That’s because finally DiGi is getting the Samsung Galaxy S. Maxis sold the ‘great’ Samsung Galaxy S since the phone was released in June. To join the fun, the Samsung Galaxy S will be sold on DiGi on contract with a ‘younger sibling’, namely the Samsung Galaxy 3. Both phones are available from DiGi without contract, or you can sign with DiGi Smart Plan contract (RM63/month for 3GB of data only, calls and SMS are additional) for 1 or 2 year contracts and get discounts on the phone. Check the pics below for prices on DiGi. So, if you’re on DiGi, would you get the Samsung Galaxy S, or the slightly cheaper (by RM100) 4.3″ HTC Desire HD?

[source]

[source]

Good to DiGi for finally building up some smartphones to sell with the phone plans.

Nexus S(amsung)

Google has release their new Nexus phone, called the Nexus S, made by Samsung. It comes pre-loaded with the latest version of Android 2.3 or code named Gingerbread. Specifications of the Nexus S are as follows:

• 1GHz Cortex A8 (Hummingbird) processor
• 512MB ram, 16GB internal storage
• 4.0″ touchscreen, WVGA (800 x 480)
• 802.11 b/g/n, AGPS
• 5.0MP camera with flash
• Lithium Ion (Li-Ion) (1500 mAH)

[source]

In the history of the Nexus S, it was rumoured to be known as the Nexus Two (naturally after the Nexus One). But it seems like Samsung wasn’t happy that their Google product is going to be named number two after the HTC made Nexus One. So the name was changed to Nexus S from Nexus Two instead.

The only thing that i find interesting about the Nexus S is that is had Android 2.3 already loaded. Other than that, i’m not a very big fan of Samsung phones. Samsung is indeed selling a lot of phones with the Galaxy series but in my opinion, the earlier Galaxy S feels cheap and light and if the Nexus S is just another variant of that, then i will definitely hate the feel of the phone. Unlike the HTC made Nexus One and similar HTC Desire, the phone feel solid and have a bit of weight in your hands. Personally i will still have preferred that the next Google phone be made by HTC.

And does anyone remember the lag problem on the Galaxy phone due to the file system implemented by Samsung? I dont really know how it works but apparently the phone will definitely lag lag lag when you try to access the phone storage. I hope this is not the case with the Samsung made Nexus. Also, if it isnt bad enough, the Nexus S doesnt have removable memory card slot, so you’re stuck with the built in 16GB (unless you tear the phone apart and find the memory card hidden far inside).

The phone isnt out yet but i’m already disliking it to its guts.

[Update: 11-Dec-2010]

Carphone warehouse has started a pre-order for the Nexus S, priced at 545.95GBP (around RM2.7k at current rate) on pay-as-you-go (their definition of prepaid). Wow, that’s rather price, isn’t it? [source]

Also, Phonedog has uploaded this video of the unboxing of the Google Nexus S. Check it out.

And once you’re done with the unboxing, you can also have a look at the short hands-on video posted by Engadget. [source]
http://www.viddler.com/simple/f98ef4e2/

Best Tablet in Malaysia?

Treating yourself to a Christmas present? Or getting it as a gift? Considering a tablet for any of the former?

With the coming of the iPad to Malaysia (finally) and the rising of so many Google Android based tablets (or rather, oversized phones),  curious hearts are eager to purchase and tablet and give it a try for themselves. And after my previous brief introductions to Android tablets here, i decided to rationalize which might be the best out there. So, which will be the most reasonable one to get? Locally in Malaysia, we have quite a few options:

• Apple iPad
• Samsung Galaxy Tab
• CSL Droidpad Spice Mi700
• Toshiba Folio AS100
• Archos 101

The table below is a summary of all the tablet specs worth comparing (click image to enlarge) :

Which one is the one for you? Let me give a few general ideas.

Best Tablet overall?

Apple iPad. Although the iPad has been slow to come to Malaysia, only in December 2010 after being launched in April  2010. This is still no doubt the best tablet that you can get for the price. Apple has it when it comes to ease of use and with tonnes of Apps in the App Store, you’ll be finding something new to do with your iPad everyday. There are many choices of storage capacities (16GB,32GB,64GB) and also connectivity (with or without 3G).

Best Android Tablet?

First of all, you gotta decide, do you want your tablet to have 3G connectivity?

With 3G?

CSL Droidpad Mi700. The only other tablet with 3G is the Samsung Galaxy Tab. Certainly Samsung sounds like a more reputable brand compared to the local CSL, so why the Droidpad?  Let us put is this way; why wouldn’t we choose the Galaxy Tab? The price. For RM2699, the price of the Galaxy Tab is just too high for anyone to recommend buying, especially when Android tablets are still such a new market. Many would be curious to give Android tablets a run and the price is not very encouraging. Even the cheapest iPad with 3G is less than RM2k. Only get the Tab if you are very very certain. Else the Droidpad is the way to go.

Without 3G?

The Toshiba Folio AS100 looks good on paper running the latest Nvidia Tegra2 and is officially available in Malaysia but i would seriously not recommend anything with a custom skin on top of Android. Custom skins which are just crudely made by manufacturer are not optimized and tend to slow down your device.  That leaves us with the Archos101.  Most units on sale arrive from Singapore so if you’ve purchased this, you would have to return it back to your vendor if you need it serviced. Around RM1600-RM1800, this tablet comes with almost everything you need. The big 10″ screen won’t make it lose out to the iPad. It has 8GB or 16GB  internally to get you started and a memory card extension slot if you need more storage. This has 1Ghz processor which makes it snappier compared to the Droidpad. Also, a HDMI port which comes in handy when you want to connect it to a HD TV to share a photo, website or playback video.

Anything less than RM1k?

Well yes but most of these tablet originate from China and mostly take the shape of the Apple Ipad. For around RM800-RM900, you can get an 8″ 800×600 resistive touchscreen tablet, has a 1gz A8 processor, 512mb ram, Wifi and runs Android 2.2. No cameras or 3G functions built in though.  And for the lower price, you’ll have to purchase additional memory cards for increased storage capacity if you need it.

That’s it for my tablet recommendations. Any ideas, or opinions, kindly leave a comment below. Happy shopping.

Update: 26-Dec-2010

If you haven’t gotten your hands on new tablet so far, it might be a good idea to wait till the end of next month (Jan 2011) for new devices. Check news on possible new Motorola tablet here.

Update 2: 29th Dec 2010

Maxis has a new tablet, the Huawei Ideos S7 for as low as RM999 (one year contract) which is a good buy. Check this post.