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Premium iPad 2 will be Apple’s professional tablet?
Android Honeycomb beta leaked for Logitech Revue
Motorola Pax dual-core QWERTY smartphone crushes BlackBerry dreams
Intel highlights Ultrabook development phases: Sandy Bridge is only a start
Quad-core Asus Eee Pad Transformer 2 lands this October
Skype for Xbox 360 launching in October?
Samsung Galaxy Tab launch not delayed in the land down under
Best Android Apps of the week
HP TouchPad webOS update: hundreds of improvements promised
Sony promises Japanese and US PlayStation games for the UK

Premium iPad 2 will be Apple’s professional tablet?

Posted: 02 Aug 2011 09:30 AM PDT

Correct us if we're wrong, but Apple iPad commercials have used doctors, lawyers and various executives to highlight its capabilities, right? According to Ashok Kumar, an analyst at Rodman & Renshaw, Apple is planning a high-end iPad. This premium iPad 2 will not replace the current model, but instead will "probably appeal to the publishing vertical and some other select segments".

Ashok is not the only analyst who believes an incremental update might be coming. Wayne Lam from IHS-iSuppli, said in an interview today it's "definitely within the realm of possibility", but added, "the true third-generation iPad would be on a yearly [timetable]." So where does the 'professional' iPad come into play?

The premium iPad 2 reportedly includes a higher-resolution display, an upgrade many have suspected would be addressed with the iPad 3. Due to the higher cost of this display, the new iPad 2 would be a premium product and likely command a higher price point. This would qualify the slate as a 'professional' product since only a small market would require such screen high resolution.

Is Apple planning a premium iPad 2 or are these reports actually in reference to next year's iPad 3? Let us know what you think. If Apple did release a premium iPad 2 this holiday season would you be willing to pay a premium for the new display?

via Cnet

Android Honeycomb beta leaked for Logitech Revue

Posted: 02 Aug 2011 09:08 AM PDT

The promised Android Honeycomb update for Google TV has arrived early for owners of the Logitech Revue. The leaked build appears to be an official update since it does not require your device be rooted to install. Instead, the only disclaimer is that one you run the update you cannot revert to Android 2.1. If you understand the risk then by all means, please proceed.

Let's start with the good. The update includes Live wallpapers, access to the Android Market and improves overall system performance. Unfortunately the majority of applications available in the Android Market appear to be incompatible with the Atom CPU inside the Logitech Revue. This includes Google Apps and the Netflix.

There's other issues as well. When changing channels there may be volume muting and other additional sound problems. Despite the problems, many Logitech Revue owners have gone ahead and installed the update. If you'd like to join the group, you'll need a USB thumb drive to transfer and install the update which you can download here.

An update is nice, but we'd like to see Google TV launch outside of the United States. At $99, the Logitech Revue could build a strong following now that it includes the Android Market, don't you think?

via Android Police

Motorola Pax dual-core QWERTY smartphone crushes BlackBerry dreams

Posted: 02 Aug 2011 08:30 AM PDT

The Motorola Pax has its eye on the BlackBerry market. This dual-core Android smartphone packs the candybar design and keyboard RIM made famous, but sticks to its Android Gingerbread roots. A 3.5-inch WVGA display delivers crisp text and makes for a compelling package.

Potential BlackBerry defectors are bound to find something to love in the upcoming Motorola Pax. This high-end version of XPRT benefits from a faster, dual-core processor capable of world-class performance and a hardware keyboard to get the job done. According to reports, the Motorola Pax comes with a 1820 mAh battery which should provide more than enough juice to survive the longest of work days.

Anyone toying with the idea of leaving behind their BlackBerry for an Android smartphone. Let us know what you think of the Motorola Pax.

via ThisIsMyNext

Intel highlights Ultrabook development phases: Sandy Bridge is only a start

Posted: 02 Aug 2011 08:00 AM PDT

The Intel Sandy Bridge Core i5 and i7 series processors powering the new MacBook Air and upcoming Ultrabooks from Asus and HP are only the tip of the iceberg. Today Intel has announced tentative plans to release Ivy Bridge ships in the first half of 2012 followed by the next-generation Haswell architecture soon after.

According to Intel's Becky Emmet, "if you think today's variety of computing devices is exciting, you ain't seen nothing yet". Though not an explicit mention, we can't help but think Intel has it out for Apple and the new MacBook Air. The upcoming Ultrabooks are focused entirely at recapturing the premium ultraportable market.

With Intel's plans of grandeur, the battle to deliver the best ultraportable laptop is only beginning. Whether or not HP or Asus can give Apple a run for its money depends largely on price point. Assuming Intel offers its Ivy Bridge chips to Apple's competitors first, is that enough to take the crown from the MacBook Air?

via ITProPortal

Quad-core Asus Eee Pad Transformer 2 lands this October

Posted: 02 Aug 2011 07:23 AM PDT

The Asus Eee Pad Transformer has secured its position as one of the most successful Honeycomb tablets to date. As with any successful piece of technology a successor must follow. News of a Transformer 2 arrived this afternoon when Asus chairman Jonney Shih confirmed the company is already working on an "impressive" sequel.

The Asus Eee Pad Transformer 2 is expected to ship with Nvidia's quad-core Kal-El chip (Tegra 3) and Android Ice Cream Sandwich. Nvidia has announced its quad-core chips would be available in September, further supporting claims of an October Transformer 2 release. With more than 400,000 Transformers shipped per month we can only imagine how anxious Asus is to release its second generation slate.

Android was responsible for the world's first dual-core and smartphone and tablets. Will the Asus Transformer 2 earn the title of world's first quad-core slate?

via PhoneArena

Skype for Xbox 360 launching in October?

Posted: 02 Aug 2011 06:45 AM PDT

Skype for Xbox 360 is coming soon, possibly this October according to the latest Xbox awards survey. One of the questions in the survey asks which activities you enjoy on the Xbox 360. The answers include watching DVDs, Zune movies, Nextflix, Hulu Plus and "using Skype". Microsoft has been quite about Skype integration since the EU commission has not yet approved the deal. This makes the slightest the mention of Skype front page news.

Microsoft's $8.5 billion bid for Skype was a surprise in May. The deal will see Tony Bates, Skype's CEO, become the president of the Microsoft Skype Division. Reporting directly to Steve Ballmer, Bates will oversee Skype for Xbox, Windows Phone and other Windows devices. With the major fall dashboard update approaching, the Xbox Skype application seems closer than ever.

via WinRumors

Samsung Galaxy Tab launch not delayed in the land down under

Posted: 02 Aug 2011 06:05 AM PDT

Yesterday media reports suggested Apple's lawsuit against Samsung would delay the new Galaxy Tab 10.1 launch in Australia. Today Samsung has come forward to deny these claims. According to the manufacturer, the reports were premature and hold no merit.

Galaxy Tab sales in the land down under will begin later this month. Here's the official word from Kevin Jeong, the company's spokesman, “the Galaxy Tab 10.1 model for the Australian market will be launched in August as planned".

Australia will join the UK with its August Galaxy Tab 10.1 release. Now, how do we explain the confusion over the Apple lawsuit?

via YonhapNews

Best Android Apps of the week

Posted: 02 Aug 2011 04:08 AM PDT

A heatwave is spreading across the country, marking the ideal time to unleash our best Android Apps of the week update! We heartily recommend that you get yourself indoors out of the roasting sun, draw the curtains tightly shut and download some of the gems we’ve listed for you below. Sunlight is overrated anyway, if you ask us.

If you have Barcode Scanner installed on your Android device then you can use it to zap the QR Codes shown below. Otherwise you can click the URL link in the title of each app to gain access to its page on the Android Market.

ARMA II Firing Range

Approx £1.22

Mercifully, most of us won’t ever be in the position where we have a deadly assault rifle in our hands, but if you have the urge to feel powerful and shoot pretend targets, you should give this a whirl. Based on the hit PC military combat series, ARMA II Firing Range grants access to hundreds of authentic weapons and allows you to test your aim across some seriously gorgeous locations. The visuals in this game really are stunning, but then you’d expect them to be as ARMA II Firing Range requires your phone to have a Tegra-based graphics processor. If your handset is up to the task then this is a highly recommended download.

DC Comics

Free

What do Superman, Batman, Wonder Woman and The Green Lantern all have in common? No, it’s not that they all wear tight Lycra suits that leave little to the imagination – it’s that they’re all available on Android thanks to the release of this suitably heroic DC Comics application. Think of it as Kindle for but comics. You can browse hundreds of different issues, purchase them for download and view your comics from the app or your PC desktop. The interface is slick and the quality of what’s on offer is fantastic. If the recent spate of superhero movies has whetted your appetite for further ripping yarns, then you should give this a try.

Roboto

Approx £1.83

Any game that reputes to resurrect the classic 16-bit platform adventure has a good chance of being featured in our weekly best Android apps update, but Roboto’s much more than just an excuse to get misty-eyed about the good old days of gaming. With sharp 3D visuals and a thumping soundtrack, it puts many PSP and DS titles to shame, and the engaging and addictive gameplay ensures that you’ll get more than your money’s worth. What’s more, Roboto has been designed to take advantage of the Sony Ericsson Xperia Play‘s physical controls, granting it an even more authentic console-like feel if you happen to own that particular phone. If you’re a fan of Sonic, Mario and virtually any other old-school platform epic, this will be right up your street.

TouchPal Curve Keyboard

Free (Beta)

We make no secret of the fact that we’re absolutely head-over-heels in love with Swype. It’s our favourite Android keyboard replacement here at Electric Pig, and currently holds the Guiness World Record for the fastest text input on a touch-screen device. Predictably, rival apps are starting to appear which claim to ‘out-swipe’ Swype, with TouchPal keyboard being the latest to make bold claims. TouchPal is already available on the Android Market but the developer is working on a swipe-based edition known as TouchPal Curve. It’s currently in an invite-only beta, but if you follow the @TouchPal and send them a message, they’ll give you a link to download the app. So far we’re impressed – the level of text prediction is certainly more powerful than Swype can manage. Check out the video – complete with a frankly shocking cover of Lady Gaga’s Poker Face – below.

GT Racing: Motor Academy

Free

Gameloft’s assault on the Android Market continues with this fantastic 3D racer. With 26 famous manufacturers and over 100 different cars to unlock, there’s an astonishing amount of content here. The visuals are typically polished (this is Gameloft we’re talking about, after all) and the realistic handling makes it feel closer to Gran Turismo than Ridge Racer. Amazingly, GT Racing: Motor Academy is completely free to download and play – you can purchase XP packs to speed up your progress through the game, but patient players will savour the opportunity to rise through the ranks and unlock content through merit rather than cash.

HP TouchPad webOS update: hundreds of improvements promised

Posted: 02 Aug 2011 03:35 AM PDT

Early adopters rejoice! The HP TouchPad is getting “hundreds of improvements”. HP has kicked out an OTA update for the tablet bringing webOS 3.0.2 to the party and a huge list of performance and reliability enhancements. That’s good news as our HP TouchPad review, like so many others, flagged up sluggishness as a major flaw.

The HP TouchPad update includes major changes to the Email, Calendar and Music apps (including rather worryingly “reduced audio skipping”) and a solution to a bug that cause oversensitive screen rotation. There are also some welcome little additions like the ability to set the device wallpaper from the Photos app and autocorrect that understands contractions.

You can see the full list of changes after the break. If you’re running the HP TouchPad update let us know how you’re finding it in the comments.

Core applications

Calendar

Quicker Just Type event search and event creation
Improved handling of meeting cancellations

Email

Faster scrolling
Improved message content and image display
Improved management of multiple emails in Draft and Outbox views

Music

Reduced audio skipping when the device is running other applications
Better display of album art

Photos & Videos

Added ability to set wallpapers
Faster and more reliable handling of individual photos and albums

Text Assist

Improved speed and accuracy of auto-corrections

Web

Increased scrolling support compatibility within web pages
Improved performance of remote HTML5 video playback
Improved responsiveness of auto correction within the browser

webOS System

Fixed issues with oversensitive screen rotation

Security

This release addresses a number of security issues with HP webOS software.

Out now | £free | HP

Sony promises Japanese and US PlayStation games for the UK

Posted: 02 Aug 2011 03:08 AM PDT

Good news for retro gaming fans: Sony has announced that it’s planning to bring classic Japanese and US PlayStation One titles to Europe via the PlayStation Network. The decision means that publishers who still own the rights to their PlayStation One games will be able to apply to have them release here provided they’ve been rated.

Sony says the PlayStation One titles will hit the PlayStation Network “as is” which means some might require you to brush up on your Japanese. All the re-released games will run at 60Hz, so you’ll also need a display that can handle that.

The move already looks promising for fans of long-lost JRPGS. Ross McGrath of the Sony PlayStation Store team says he’s already been in contact with Square-Enix about delving into its catalogue.

Sony is asking for suggestions of games you’d like to see at the link below. Tell us too in the comments by clicking the headline and diving in.

Out TBC | £TBC | PlayStation Blog