Apple iPad Mini vs Google Nexus 7

Power :

The iPad Mini is powered by Apple’s A5 dual-core chipset which promises to be plenty fast enough to run all your favourite games and apps. The device also features 16, 32 or 64GB of storage, though, being an Apple product, you won’t find support for micro SD cards here, so use that internal space wisely.

The Nexus 7 is driven by an NVIDIA Tegra 3 chipset which consists of a quad-core 1.3GHz Cortex-A9 CPU and a ULP GeForce GPU that’s able handle any game you throw at it. The device also sports 1GB RAM and comes in 8 and 16GB flavours, and we’re expecting a 32GB version to drop soon too, giving you a nice extra option.

The device doesn’t offer support for micro SD cards though so, like the iPad Mini, you’ll have to be picky with your content.

Display :

The Google Nexus 7 is fronted by a 7-inch LED-backlit IPS LCD which operates at 800 x 1280 and offers a pixel density of 216PPI.

The screen is bright and vibrant, and offers some of the best viewing angles around, but if you plan on using the device outdoors on a sunny day you’ll likely be disappointed.

The iPad Mini sports a 7.9-inch LED-backilit IPS display which operates at a resolution of 768 x 1024 and offers a pixel density of 163PPI. The screen looked superb in Apple’s demonstrations, as you would expect, and we’re looking forward to doing some testing of our own, but expectations are high with this one.

Software :

Google’s Nexus 7 runs on Android 4.1 AKA Jelly Bean, and the most recent iteration of the company’s mobile platform is by far the most comprehensive.

It’s fast, offers unbeatably smooth graphical performance thanks to Google’s ‘Project Butter’ initiative and expands on the new UI first seen in Ice Cream Sandwich to offer users automatically resizing widgets, great new notifications system and the spookily accurate Google Now enhanced search solution and a ton more to boot.

In addition to the core functionality of the OS being taken up a notch, users can also still make use of the Google Play Store for all their app, game and media downloads, and the selection is great.

The iPad Mini runs on version 6.0 of Apple’s ageing iOS platform. The software is (still) remarkably easy to pick up, with intuitive gestures and menus throughout, and also looks polished and pleasing, but the lack of widgets, real-time information and customisation options set it back against Google’s platform.

Fortunately it isn’t all bad though, because iOS gives users access to Apple’s App Store, which is chock full of great apps and games, and you’ll also find iTunes too, for your media needs.

Form :

Apple iPad Mini - 200 x 134.7 x 7.2mm, 308g

Google Nexus 7 - 198.5 x 120 x 10.5mm, 340g

The iPad Mini is a thin, light, well designed device which looks every inch the Apple product. Its lines are clean and the device looks to be ergonomically sound, which is more than can be said for many tablets.

The device is priced competitively and only time will tell if Apple has had to cut any hardware corners for the privilege of rivaling the Nexus 7 on that front.

The Nexus 7 is small, light and easy on the eye, and remarkably well built considering its bargain basement RRP, in fact you’ll find very little to complain about in Google’s joint venture with ASUS – the device simply checks all the boxes.

Camera :

We’re dealing with tablets here, so photographic prowess isn’t exactly top priority. That said, it’s nice to have the ability to snap the odd image and Google’s Nexus 7 obliges by offering a very simple 1.2-megapixel front-facing camera which is more than adequate for video calling and casual use.

If you want to make use of the camera you’ll have to take to the Google Play Store and download some third-party software to enable it though – and we have no idea why. Answers on a postcard please.

The iPad Mini features a 5-megapixel primary camera and a VGA front-facing camera which, like the Nexus 7, is fine for FaceTime and Skype use but doesn’t offer much more beyond that.

Apple Introduces iPad mini Smart Covers For $39

Apple updated its website to let us know that the Smart Cover would also be available for the newly announced 7.9 inch iPad mini.

The iPad mini Smart Cover is largely similar to the larger iPad Smart Cover with the same magnetic attaching and hinging mechanism, except that it seems to be available only in polyurethane, as opposed to the larger Smart Cover which comes in both, polyurethane and leather.

Another difference between the two covers is the absence of metal in the hinge of the iPad mini Smart Cover. This lets the entire color wrap around the edge of the device, maintaining uniformity all across the front, while the back remains exposed.

The iPad mini Smart Cover is available in six colors – pink, green, blue, light gray, dark gray and (PRODUCT) RED.

The covers aren’t on sale yet, and will presumably be available for pre-order on October 26 along with the iPad mini.

iPad Mini Features, Release Date & Price Announced

After several years of rumors and speculations, Apple has finally unveiled the smaller and cheaper version of the full-sized iPad called iPad Mini to compete with cheaper Android based tablets like Google Nexus 7 and Amazon Kindle Fire.

iPad mini features a 7.9-inch screen with 1024x768 resolution, front and back facing camera, powered by Apple's dual-core processor and support for 4G LTE networks.

Design/Form Factor:

iPad mini looks exactly like the smaller sibling of the third generation iPad with the aluminum casing, but it's more beautiful with the diamond cut edges and sleek metallic finishes.

As rumored, the smaller iPad comes with thinner bezels along the sides in portrait mode like the iPod touch. It is 23 percent thinner and 53 percent lighter than the full-sized iPad. It is only 7.2 mm thick, whereas as iPad 3 is 9.4mm thick.

It also weighs only 308 grams, making it significantly lighter than iPad 3, which weighs 652 g.

Display:

iPad mini comes with a 7.9-inch display with 1024x768 resolution, not that much smaller than the full-sized iPad's 9.7-inch display. As expected, the smaller iPad doesn't come with Retina Display. It comes with a pixel density of 163 ppi, the same pixel density as the original iPhone.

It has the same resolution as the iPad 2, so you will be able to use all the apps that are available for the original and 2nd generation iPad.

Processor:

iPad mini is powered by the dual-core A5 chip, which powers iPad 2 and the fifth generation iPod touch and not iPad 3's A5X chip or iPad 4's A6X chip.

Camera:

iPad mini comes with front and back facing camera. The back-facing iSight camera is a 5-megapixel camera and the front-facing FaceTime camera is an HD camera, which will allow users to take 1.2-megapixel photos and record 720p HD videos.

Battery Life:

iPad mini comes with the same battery life as the full-sized iPad, which is amazing. It offers up to 10 hours of surfing the web on Wi-Fi, watching video, or listening to music.

Ultrafast Wireless:

iPad mini will also support 4G LTE networks around the world. It also supports HSPA+ and DC-HSDPA. It can also connect to Wi-Fi networks on 2.4ghz and 5ghz on 802.11n.

Lightning Connector:

As expected, iPad mini comes with Apple's new Lightning connector like the iPhone 5, 5th generation iPod touch and 7th generation iPod nano.

Siri:

iPad mini comes with Siri - Apple's personal assistant feature.

Storage Capacities:

iPad mini will be available in 16GB, 32GB and 64GB storage capacities.

Colors:

It will be available in two colors: Black & Slate and White & Silver.

Pricing:

iPad mini will be available for $329 for the 16GB model, $429 for the 32GB model and $529 for the 64GB model.

Apple is also offering 4G LTE versions of the iPad for a premium of $130.

Availability:

It will be available for pre-order on Friday, October 26th in the US, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Canada, Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Hong Kong, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Korea, Luxembourg, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Singapore, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, UK.

Microsoft Surface Pre-Orders For All Models Are Sold Out

Microsoft is still taking pre-orders for the Surface tablet, but shoppers can no longer order one to be delivered on launch day -- the company has sold out of its pre-release stock.

Microsoft SurfaceThe Windows RT edition of this computer went on Microsoft's website on Tuesday, and the least expensive version sold out within 24 hours. Several days later, all three versions of this device are sold out.

Microsoft is still taking pre-orders, but shoppers will have to wait at least week to get their purchase, even though the Surface with Windows RT is going to debut on Oct. 26. Exactly how long the wait will be depends on the version. The $500, 32GB version will be available in about 3 weeks, the $600, 32 GB one with Touch Cover ships in 1 - 2 weeks, and so does the $700, 64 GB model with Touch Cover.

More about the Surface Series :

There will be two distinctly different versions of Microsoft's upcoming tablet. One of these will run Windows 8 RT, which was designed for ARM processors. The other, expected out next year, will run the full version of Windows 8 Pro on an x86 processor.

Despite their differences, the two editions of the Surface will have a certain amount in common, including a 10.6-inch display and support for the Smart Cover, which is both a keyboard and a cover.

The tablet will be sold only in Microsoft's own stores, and there won't be a version with cellular-wireless connectivity.  Instead, this will be a Wi-Fi only tablet.

Ubuntu running on Nexus 7

Up until now, we haven’t see much of Linux in the tablet world– well, except for the Linux-based Android OS. This is about to change as Ubuntu 13.04 will see a greater focus on aspects like battery life and memory consumption.

Ubuntu has become quite touchscreen friendly in the last few years, thanks to its new Unity interface. With that in mind, it seems that the Nexus 7 is now up and running with Ubuntu 13.04. According to Canonical (the folks behind Ubuntu) this particular tablet makes a great reference device for running Ubuntu.

The only downside to using Ubuntu on a 7-inch screen is that the icons are kind of small. Still, this is probably easily adjusted and we might see a slightly more “tablet optimized” version of Unity in the near future. For future testing, Canonical will focus on Google’s flagship tablet hardware. Who the actual vendor for a real Ubuntu tablet might be remains unseen though. It is also possible that Ubuntu on tablets will largely remain DIY project.

LG launches Optimus Vu in India for Rs. 34,500

LG has now launched its very first phablet device in the Indian market, called the LG Optimus Vu. The phablet is priced at Rs. 34,500 and will go up directly against Samsung’s Galaxy Note II, which is priced at Rs. 39,000.
The Optimus Vu was first unveiled by the company at MWC earlier this February and it is a 5-inch device which has a 4:3 aspect ratio and a 1024×768 pixels resolution. The Optimus Vu is powered by a quad-core NVIDIA Tegra 3 processor clocked at 1.5GHz, it has 1GB of RAM and 32GB of built-in storage capacity.

The LG Optimus Vu also sports an 8 megapixel rear camera, a secondary front facing 1.3 megapixel camera and a 2080mAh battery. The device comes with its own stylus and just like the Galaxy Note, the device comes with some pre-loaded apps which make use of the stylus input. It runs Android 4.0 ICS. In terms of hardware, the Optimus Vu is not as good as the Galaxy Note II which is powered by a slightly better processor, has huge battery, bigger screen and the stylus input has been heavily optimized. However, this phablet from LG does cost a little less.

Lenovo Brings Bendy Display Design to NEC Via La Vie Y Hybrid Tablet

Lenovo’s Japanese partner NEC is set to offer a variant of the bendy IdeaPad Yoga 11 to its kawaii shores.

Just like the IdeaPad Yoga 11, the NEC LaVie Y is a combination of a laptop and a tablet as its display can be folded over to tuck the keyboard away. This 11.6-inch gadget features a quad-core Tegra 3 processor, 2GB of RAM, and 64GB of storage. But the similarities will end there, as the LaVie Y comes with a custom NEC app within what could be a watered-down version of Windows RT.

The NEC LaVie Y convertible PC will arrive in stores around November 22nd, days before the Lenovo IdeaTab Yoga 11 becomes available. The price, meanwhile, can be a bit too much: estimated at $1,136, almost twice of the Yoga 11’s.

HTC J Butterfly Is The World’s First 5-Inch, Full HD Smartphone

HTC has unveiled its 5” competitor the HTC J Butterfly, which is a 5” Android smartphone which runs of Android 4.1. It has a Super LCD 3 as told by HTC which is a 440 ppi Full HD interface. The smartphone or Phablet comes with an impressive Quad Core 1.5 GHz processor which will ensure you that your device will not lag or stop inspite of your multitasking or HD gaming. It is equipped with LTE and NFC which makes it a global device and increases your productability. HTC J Butterfly is new to the market and it is aimed at targeting the Galaxy Note 2 with its high end specifications and sleek design.

Specifications of HTC J Butterfly:

Device Type:Bar Type
Display: 5 inch, Super LCD 3 with 440 ppi full HD
Display: Screen Resolution: 800 x 1280 pixels
Operating System: Android 4.1, Jelly Bean 
CPU: Quad-core 1.5GHz APQ8064 processor
RAM: 2GB
Internal Memory: 16 GB
External Memory: Expandable with Micro SD card
Back Camera: 8 MP, 3264×2448 pixels, autofocus, LED flash
Front Camera: 2.1MP
Video Recording:1080p
Battery: 2020 mAh Li-Ion
Talk Time: Up to 26 h 10 min (2G) / Up to 13 h 30 min (3G)

Samsung Galaxy Note 2 vs Asus Padfone 2

It has been a good year for two major tech firms and that is Samsung and Asus. This can be said, as Samsung outsmarted Apple in the market share dominance, on the other hand Asus gained much complements and rave review for the Google-branded Nexus 7 tablet. While both the manufacturers were achieving sales in different aspects of the tech world, but with the launch of Asus Padfone 2 and Galaxy Note 2, both the tech vendors have got into same line of competition and will have keep a watch at each other in terms of market sales.

Samsung Galaxy Note 2, which was subjected to a plethora of rumors, speculations and image leaks in the past few months finally got released in India last month. The device boasts some of its amazing features such as a huge screen display, 4G/LTE connectivity, new operating system, NFC support, S-pen and more.

At the same time, hybrid devices that combine smartphone, tablet and netbook in a single pack the successor of the original Asus Padfone – the second generation PadFone 2 has also impressed the tech experts in the market.

Hence, if you are looking forward to know how Galaxy Note 2 and PadFone 2 are different from each another, here is a comparison based on their specifications.

Dimensions & Weight :

While the dimension and weight of Asus PadFone 2 are not revealed, Galaxy Note 2 carries a dimension of 151.1 x 80.5 x 9.4 mm and weighs around 180 grams.

Display :

Coming to the display, Galaxy Note 2 houses a massive 5.5 inch Super AMOLED capacitive touchscreen display with 1280 x 720 pixel resolution.
capacitive touchscreen display with 1280 x 720 pixel resolution.

On the other hand, PadFone 2 sports a larger 4.7 inch Super IPS+ capacitive touchscreen display with 1280 x 720 pixel resolution.

Additionally, Galaxy Note 2 has an improved S-Pen support, which is revamped with rubber tip and enhanced touch response.

Processor :

In this segment, Galaxy Note 2 is equipped with a Samsung Exynos 4412 Quad chipset and PadFone 2 packs a quad core Qualcomm APQ8064 SoC processor.

Operating System :

While the Galaxy Note 2 will be running with Google’s latest Android 4.1 Jelly Bean OS, PadFone 2 is flavored with Android 4.0 ICS operating system.

Android 4.1 Jelly Bean has new features including Project Butter, enhanced accessibility with new APIs, support for International users with bi-directional text support, other language support, expandable and contractible notifications, resizble app widgets, live wallpaper preview, high resolution contact photos, improved Android Beam and Wi-Fi network.

Camera :

On the camera optics front, Galaxy Note 2 has an 8MP rear camera equipped with features like autofocus and LED flash and a 1.9MP front camera for video calling.
 In comparison, PadFone 2 is equipped with a whopping 13MP rear camera with BSI sensor and a 1.2MP front camera for video calling.

Storage:

Both Galaxy Note 2 and PadFone 2 come in three versions – 16GB, 32GB and 64GB internal storage, 2GB RAM and a micro SD card slot supporting up to 32GB expandable memory.

Connectivity :

On the connectivity front, both are packed with similar features including 3G, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth and NFC.

Battery :

Galaxy Note 2 is loaded with a larger 3,100 mAh Li-ion battery and PadFone 2 is powered by a 2,140 mAh Li-ion battery.

Price :

Though the official pricing of PadFone 2 is not known, it is predicted by analysts to cost around more than original PadFone, which is priced at Rs 64,999. On the other hand, Galaxy Note 2 is priced in India at Rs 39,990.

Apple iPad mini Claims Its First Victim

After the 7.85-inch tablet ships, everyone expects a bloodbath. However the Apple iPad mini’s first victim won’t be the Kindle Fire HD, Nexus 7, Microsoft Surface or even RIM Playbook, though everyone of those products are certainly threatened. In fact, Apple very well might kill off one of its own in order to reduce product confusion.

Do you remember the iPod mini? When Apple killed it in September 2005, after less than nine months of life, the iPod mini was the company’s best-selling MP3 player — people were shocked.

However, it was replaced by the iPod nano, which went on to become an worldwide best seller, and Apple has dominated the MP3/media player market ever since.

That said, AppleInsider quotes Evercore Partners’ Rob Cihra as saying the iPad mini’s first victim will be the iPad 2. Fundamentally, the analyst believes Apple will terminate their $399 tablet, which by all accounts continues to sell very well, to maintain “clearer product tiers.”

However, even if the iPad 2 is discontinued, Apple will still offer plenty of low-cost tablet choices — 16 configurations (white or black, wifi only or wifi + 3G in 8, 16, 32 or 64 GB capacities) are expected when the iPad mini ships on Friday, November 2 — with pricing starting at $249.

Of course, sometime between the Apple iPad mini’s ship date and Christmas, look for dozens of crappy little name brand and so-called “whitebox” Android tablets to be (mercifully) killed off. RIM Playbook? Yeah, it’s almost certainly dead, too…

Acer launches 7-inch Iconia Tab

It's probably better that Acer announced its new 7-inch Android tablet, the Iconia Tab A110, before Apple's event next week -- where it's likely to introduce its iPad Mini -- though one might question why the company wants to jump into the mini-tablet market right now.

With the Amazon Kindle Fire HD and Google Nexus already firmly entrenched, and Apple potentially lining up to lay waste to all competitors, it's certainly a curious time to be launching the Iconia Tab A110. Acer can point out that unlike the Kindle Fire HD and also Barnes & Noble's Nook HD, the A110 will run Jelly Bean, the latest version of Android. It also comes with an Nvidia Tegra 3 processor and a microSD card slot, which you might need because the A110 only includes 8GB of on-board storage.

Even worse, the resolution of the A110 display is only 1,024x600, which is now a drawback in a post-Retina Display world of pixel-packing. Couple that with a price tag -- $230 -- that is more than the $199 you can spend for the Nexus 7, Nook HD, or Kindle Fire HD, and it's really unclear what the value proposition is for the A110. (Even if you get the Kindle Fire HD without the special offers, it's still cheaper at $214.)

Acer may have had this mini-tablet in the pipeline for some time, and figured it'd be worth releasing it rather than throwing it on the scrap heap. But all signs point to this getting lost in the shuffle against cheaper, more highly visible competitors.