Acer to Release Cheap $99 Iconia Tablets

Cheap Tablets = Happy Geeks

Finally, the real $99 tablet computers are here! According to a new report from the Wall Street Journal, electronics makers Acer has plans to release a new Android-powered 7-inch device that costs just under a hundred bucks and could dramatically change the personal computing market in a short time.

The Iconia B1 tablet will compete as a lower cost alternative to the Amazon Kindle Fire and small Samsung Galaxy tablets, as well as the ultra popular Apple iPad. It will also most likely be in direct combat with a rumored $100 Asus tablet to be released in 2013.

Unfortunately the Acer device will only be available in "emerging markets" -- aka 3rd-world countries -- at least at first. But many experts expect demand to be strong enough in North America and Europe for the company to begin selling the cheap tablets in major markets as well. A lower-cost Windows 8-powered tablet is also rumored to be in the works at Acer.

We say: It's about time tablet prices dropped to the sub-$100 level! We predict that within 2 years everyone will be walking around with high-powered 50-dollar ad-supported tablets that do just about everything the typical content consumer needs.

Learn some mo': Acer readying $99 Android tablet for emerging markets

Google Releases $250 Ultralight, Ultra-thin Chromebook Laptop

Google has introduced a new, cheaper version of their very light, very thin "Chromebook" laptops. The Samsung computer will cost only $250, putting it into direct competition with all the new low-cost tablets being released, including Google's own Nexus 7 tab.

According to top Google development manager Sundar Pichai:

"It's the BEST laptop that's ever been designed at this price... We assume that you have a Windows machine in your home, or maybe a Mac. This isn't built to replace those machines but instead be an additional computer... We really want this to be for everyone in your family... We really want users to think about this as one extra computer for your kitchen counter, one near the bed, maybe a computer for your kids or family."

The New Samsung Chromebook features specs just below those of the popular Samsung Series 5 Chromebook. It runs on a microprocessor designed for tablets and smartphones, the Exynos dual-core ARM processor, and features 2GB of RAM and 16GB of memory storage. Buyers also get 100GB of Google Drive cloud storage space free for 2 years. It also has a 11.6 inch screen, a weight of just 2 and a half pounds, and an ultra-thin 0.8 inch thickness

You can buy your own Google/Samsung Chromebook on Amazon and the Google Play online marketplace, as well as at several special "Chromezone" kiosks in Best Buy stores.

We say: This is REALLY good news. We love our tablets but not having a real keyboard often sucks. It's hard to "blog" using a normal tab!

Learn some mo': Google debuts $250 laptop -- the Chromebook

Amazon Releases New Updated Kindle Fire Tablets

Amazon.com has released the updated "2.0" version of its extremely popular Kindle Fire tablet computer... several of them actually. The new Kindles feature high-definition screens, larger sizes, longer battery life, and greatly improved computing power, according to gadget industry experts.

During the launch this past week Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos had this to say:

"We love to invent. We love to pioneer. We even like going down alleys that turn out to be blind alleys... Every once in a while those blind alleys turn into broad avenues. And that turns out to be lots of fun."

2 of the new Kindle Fires feature larger 8.9 inch screens, putting them in-between the original 7-inch model and the industry-leading Apple iPad (9.7 inch screen). The "Fire HD" tablets will feature high-end Dolby Digital Plus speakers, HDMI TV/monitor ports, and 2 special antennas for improved WiFi and 4G connectability.

The low-cost tablets are priced at $199 for the 7-inch model and $299 for the 8.9 inch version. Industry experts expect them to compete strongly with Google's new Nexus 7 tablet, especially because of Amazon's huge content library.

We say: We all have the original Kindle Fire and it kind of sucks. Very buggy and no HDMI port. Instead of gambling on Amazon again we plan to get the new Google Nexus tablet!

Learn some mo': Amazon announces new wave of Kindles

Xbox SmartGlass System Promises to Make Home Entertainment A Lot Cooler

Microsoft has just introduced their new SmartGlass system and promises it will change the way people use their smartphones, tablet computers, HD televisions, and Xbox video game consoles. It will run on the soon-to-be-available Windows 8 operating system and is designed to enhance all forms of digital entertainment -- including movies, TV shows, online music, and video gaming.

Microsoft's PR people promise the SmartGlass app will run on Google Android and Apple iOS devices, not just Microsoft-based products. Still, it appears that to get the most out of the system you will need an Xbox video game console as well as a Windows 8-based tablet PC and/or Windows smartphone.

According to insiders, SmartGlass will allow users to stream video and audio content to any TV hooked up to an Xbox. It will allow for new types of video game play that some experts believe will give MS an edge over Nintendo and their popular Wii console. The app will be free for anyone to download and install on their mobile devices.

According to Don Mattrick, head of Microsoft's gaming business:

"We all go into our living room and have a touch surface like a phone or a tablet, but it has no idea what's occurring on the TV...SmartGlass will allow the Xbox to communicate with whatever glass surface you have."

We say: This new media consumption program sounds like it could be cool. But it also sounds like it could be just another confusing Microsoft product that doesn't really work that well!

Learn some mo': Microsoft hopes to enhance games, TV with Xbox SmartGlass

"Mini" iPad On The Way

After lots and lots of speculation it appears the iPad Mini is a real product with a real launch date sometime in the (real) future. According to new industry reports, Apple is creating a special slim bezel screen for a new 7-inch tablet computer, which we can probably safely assume is the new Mini.

Unlike the brand-new iPad 3, the Mini isn't expected to have a super high definition Retina display. The good thing about that is the price should be significantly lower allowing it to compete with the Amazon Kindle Fire and other small tablets in the $200-$300 range. A cheaper, smaller iPad could definitely be a best-seller and take away a big chunk of market share from Amazon, Samsung, and other 7-inch-tablet makers.

 Some experts believe an iPad Mini, in order to achieve the kind of sales success Apple has become accustomed to, would have to have some really special features that outclass the top Android-based minitabs currently on the market. Multiple webcams, a high-quality microphone, and better connectivity features are definite possibilities on that front.

 Learn some mo': Apple is working on a slim bezel, 7-inch iPad mini

Analyst: iPad 3 Release Date Will Be February 2012

People have a lot of questions about the upcoming iPad 3 from Apple. The biggest are: "Should I wait for it? When is the release date? How much better is it compared to the iPad 2?" Now we may have an answer to one of those queries.

There were rumors that it would be available for Christmas 2011 but that obviously is not the case. Then some "insiders" were predicting a March or April 2012 release date. Now Citi analyst Richard Gardner says he knows when the iPad 3 will really be available: February 2012.

In a report filed today he claimed several inside sources have indicated that Apple will launch the 3rd generation iPad sometime in the month of February. Technology-related glitches may have delayed the release of the new tablet but, according to Gardner:

"There do not appear to be any significant technical hurdles remaining [to releasing the iPad 3]."

Apple usually releases new versions of popular products one year apart. But they do occasionally shorten the time frame, as would be the case if the release date is in February (the iPad 2 was release in March of 2011). Apple is currently dominating the tablet computer market but is seeing strong new competition from the Amazon Kindle Fire and other new Android-based tablets like the Asus Eee Pad Transformer Prime. They may be anxious to get their best product on the market ASAP.

We say: The best thing about a new iPad being released is that the older version iPads will be available at a deep discount. Cheaper tabs make us happy!

Learn some mo': iPad 3 is Coming in February

Hottest Kids Toy in 2011: Tablet Computers!

Forget flying radio-controlled fish and video game consoles -- the most in-demand kid's "toy" this year is the tablet computer! In fact, according to a new Nielsen research poll, the Apple iPad is the most-asked-for gift among children this holiday season. A whopping 44% of kids surveyed said they wanted an Ipad, up from just 30% last year.

The Consumer Electronics Association says that tablet devices are definitely the hottest gifts for the 2011 Christmas season. According to the CEA director of research Shawn DuBravac: 

 "Tablets, tablets, tablets and some more tablets on the side... Far and away, that will be the most popular item!" 

 He says that it's difficult to know for sure which of the many tablets on the market will end up being the true sales star in the US. The population is very diverse demographically. According to DuBravac:

"There’s going to be multiple tablets that will probably do well because there’s a large variation of consumers out there... They all want different things."

Many experts believe that younger children will be demanding the new LeapPad Explorer "learning tablet"... a device designed to help kids learn reading, writing, and math faster. Just don't tell them it's not really as cool as an iPad or Kindle Fire!

Learn some mo': Tablets are the new Cabbage Patch Kids

Is the Kobo Vox the Next Good Cheap iPad Alternative?

As HP proved a couple months ago, Americans LOVE powerful and cheap tablet computers. Now sales of the new $200 Amazon Kindle Fire are literally exploding through the roof... despite the fact that it's significantly less powerful than the top-selling Apple iPad tablet. Now there's a new low-cost iPad alternative that some experts are predicting could be the best of them all: the Kobo Vox!

This new affordable tablet has a 7-inch display and will sell for just $199. It's more of a traditional Android-based tablet than the Kindle Fire, with the normal app icon interface. It weighs just over 14 ounces, features a SD memory card slot, and has a new type of anti-reflective screen that's based on the material used for airplane cockpits.  This first version does not come with a camera, external microphone, or 3G internet connectivity. But it does come with a nice low price that consumers are sure to love!

According to Kobo the Vox's main advantage over the Kindle Fire is its software. It's much more "open" than the Amazon tablet's apps and allows you to take purchased content off of the device. So, for example, you can transfer an ebook to another Android device if you choose to do so. It also features some pretty cool "social reading" functionality that allows users to easily communicate about a piece of content.

We say: The Kobo Vox sounds freaking GREAT! A cheap iPad-alternative tablet that doesn't have all the pain-in-the-butt issues associated with the Amazon Kindle Fire. More competition is always good and we're sure the "ultimate" $99 buy-one-for-every-room tablet will soon be on the market!

Learn some mo': Kobo Vox, Social-Reading Android Competitor to the Kindle Fire w/ Photos

ASUS Reveals High-Power Transformer Prime Android Tablet

In just a few short years ASUS has become a pretty cool computer company with some REALLY cool, high-value computing products. Now they've just revealed a "next-generation" tablet called the Transformer Prime. Some are calling it the mostly highly anticipated Android tablet device every to be released!

Why? Because it's really, really, really powerful. It runs the new version of Android -- 4.0 aka "Ice Cream Sandwich" -- and features the freakishly high-performance NVidia quad-core Kal-El Tegra 3 microprocessor. This new chip somehow provides much better performance while using less power and significantly extending battery life!

Maybe the coolest thing about the Transformer Prime is how it looks. It's less than 8 and a half millimeters thick and has a brushed aluminum body said to resist fingerprints and stop certain handgun bullets. It has a 10-inch screen, an SD card slot, mini-HDMI port, and over 14-hours of battery life when it's fresh. It's expected to be available before the end of the year.

We say: Good stuff! We need more ultra powerful, battery-life-extending, shiny metalic tablet computers. Somebody needs to give the damn iPad a run for its money...

Learn some mo': ASUS' Jonney Shih unveils Transformer Prime Android tablet: 10-inch, 8.3mm, quad-core NVIDIA Tegra 3

$99 HP TouchPads Sell Off -- Are Cheaper Tablets on the Way?

Hewlett-Packard is offering their new TouchPad tablet computers for as cheap as $99 after announcing that the company is getting out of the tablet PC and smartphone business. The devices, which are normally priced at $399 - $499, are absolutely flying off of retail store shelves. Big online sellers like Amazon have already sold out of the powerful gadgets.

Americans and Canadians have jumped at the inventory-clearing sale. The devices cost about $300 each to produce so it's definitely an incredible deal... one that HP will lose a lot of money on. The company's actions have left experts wondering if any other big electronics maker will really be able to compete with Apple and their amazing iPad tablets.

The big problem seems to be price: how to create a really good tablet and sell it at a profit for less than the iPad 2. According to Noah Elkin, a mobile computing expert:

"One of the most revolutionary things about the iPad is its price... $499 is still a lot of money, of course, but it's cheap for a device that good and that polished. It's the single biggest challenge for Apple's competitors."

Over 90% of the tablet computer market is currently controlled by Apple. That's mainly because the best competitors -- such as Samsung's Galaxy Tab device -- usually have higher prices. Even when competing devices are priced equally, consumers tend to choose Apple products because of the "brand" advantage.

Experts say that Apple is able to sell a super high-end device at a reasonable price and still make big profits because they have huge advantages in the electronic components supply chain. It also has it's own direct retail channel (Apple Stores have exploded in popularity).

It's probable that stripped-down, lower-end tablets -- that still do the things most users want -- will soon be available. According to consumer surveys, $250 may the "magic" number to achieve big sales numbers. So while we might not see more 100 dollar deals like the current TouchPad offer in the near future, we might soon have a whole slew of under-$300 tablet to choose from!

Learn some mo': $99 HP TouchPads Magic Tablet Price Point

Samsung Sliding PC 7 Tablet: Exciting Gadget Geeks!

Samsung's new "hybrid" tablet computer -- the Sliding PC 7 Series -- is set to be released soon and many people are very excited. Originally called the (ultra-boring) "TX100" and released at CES 2011 in Las Vegas, this new tablet/laptop combination device is expected to make some big waves in the tablet world. Some experts believe that it will be one of the very truly useful tablet computers and could be one of 2011's best selling gadgets.

For the first time since its unveiling, Samsung is allowing regular old people to handle it and test it out. It's running on a modified version of Windows 7. That fact alone makes it different (more useful) than most of the tabs out there. It's a little heavier than the popular Galaxy Tab, Samsung's other tablet, but features a full keyboard as well as a 10l.1-inch LCD touchscreen with multi-touch capability.

The PC 7 Series isn't the only tablet/laptop combo product out there but it may be the most unique, with a screen that slides up instead of doing the "twist/flip" movement found in similar devices. It also basically converts into a full-powered netbook-style computer for those times when you just want to type comfortably like a regular human. It even has a track pad for navigation, which we think is very cool.

This thing is pretty powerful, with a 1.66 GHz Intel Atom Z670 chip, 2GB of RAM, and a 6-cell battery that allows it to run for up to 9 hours on a full charge. It will be available with a 16GB and a 32GB solid-state harddrive as well USB 2.0 and HDMI connection ports. Wi-Fi is built-in as well.

Right now it looks like the Sliding PC 7 will retail for about $700 buck when it's released in March. Not bad for a small, light, thin, ultra-portable tablet that converts into a fully-functional netbook computer!

Learn some mo': Samsung Sliding PC 7 Series hands-on

Best New Tablet PC's at CES 2011

Wondering which tablet computers are gonna be popular in 2011? Well you might want to check out this year's finalists for Best of CES 2011, the official list of the trade show's hottest products.

Here are the best tablet PCs according to CNET:

The Motorola Xoom Tablet

This will be the first to run on the Android 3.0 operating system. It will run Adobe Flash and feature two webcams, including a HD video camera. The Xoom will launch with 3G connectivity in February.

The BlackBerry Playbook

This is the new 7-inch tablet computer that's getting so much attention lately. It features dual HD cams and stereo-quality sound. It'll run Flash and can use your Blackberry as a Bluetooth modem to connect to a 3G network. Price hasn't yet been announced.

Samsung Sliding PC7

This "sliding" tablet PC is one of the first true tablet/laptop (or tablet/netbook) combos on the market. It slides open like a large cell phone but the screen easily flips into thin "tablet form". It features a 10-inch multi-touch screen as well as a normal keyboard... a very interesting feature indeed!

Toshiba’s Tablet PC

Toshiba is getting into the tablet game with a new device that run on Android 3.0 and is rumored to be the true "cheap" iPod-killer!


Do you know something about this buzz? Have a review for any of these new tablet computers? Leave your feedback below!

Learn some mo': Finalists named for year’s hottest products at CES

DoCoMo Tablet PC: New iPad Alternative

Japanese cell phone company NTT DoCoMo is set to unveil there own brand-new tablet computer, which experts say is designed to provide yet another great alternative to the Apple iPad. The device will apparently be made by South Korean company LG Electronics and will run on the Google Android mobile operating system. NTT DoCoMo plan to release the new tablet PC around the end of March 2011.

The DoCoMo cellular network will obviously be the only one users of their device will be able to use. So it'll be interesting to see if a similar LG tablet computer is also released later on in the Unite States and/or Europe. LG tends to make really good, inexpensive gadgets that are able to compete with the most popular high-end electronic products.

As soon as reviews and opinions of the DoCoMo tablet begin to come out early this year we'll post the best ones. Please leave your own comments, questions, and feedback about the newest "iPad-killer" below. Thanks!

Learn some mo': NTT DoCoMo to launch tablet computer: Nikkei

ViewSonic ViewPad 7: Cheap iPad Alternative?

ViewSonic has released their highly-anticipated tablet PC, the ViewPad 7. It's being touted by some gadget experts as a cheaper, better alternative to the ultra-popular Apple iPad. The little computer features a nice 7-inch screen and runs on the Android operating system like the new Samsung Galaxy Tab (another possible "iPad Killer").

ViewSonic is known for their LCD monitors and televisions and their expertise shows in the ultra-clear screen of the ViewPad 7. They also have a new 10-inch tablet out called the Tegra 2, which is getting a lot of good attention, partly due to its incredible screen. The new Android V2.2 from Google is supposed to offer the best tablet experience currently available, so that should help the ViewPad take some market share from the iPad, Galaxy Tab, etc.

It also features tones of input/output options, including micro-SD, micro-USB, and SIM. So it's very easy and super cheap to add more memory... another big advantage over the iPad. The rear-facing camera is supposedly one of the best out there.

So is the ViewPad 7 a true iPad-killer? The market will be letting us know very soon. Please leave your own reviews and opinions of this new tablet PC below... thanks!

Second Generation iPad 2 on the Way?

It seems like the Apple iPad just arrived but in reality it's been around for nearly a year already. So what does that mean for the world of gadget-lovers? Yes, you guessed it: a 2nd Generation "iPad 2"... at least according to rumors buzzing around the interwebs. According to industry insiders, the new iPad model will feature 2 cameras -- on both the front and back. The word on the street is that we can expect the iPad 2 to be released sometime in early 2011, and that it will be a skinnier, lighter tablet computer with a better, higher resolution screen.

If the new iPad has a front-facing camera that would allow it to be used to communicate with the FaceTime video chat program, which is currently available on the iPhone and Apple Mac book. A rear-facing camera would add some interesting functionality possibilities and would allow it to match the popular Samsung Galaxy Tab, which has a similarly placed cam.

Of course, there is still no official "guarantee" that the iPad 2 is truly on the way. Apple fans have a tendency to over-hype new product rumors. But there can be little doubt that, at some point, a 2nd Gen iPad will be released. And seeing how tablet PC devices are set to explode in popularity in the near future, it wouldn't be surprising if Apple tries to outdo everyone with a new and better iPad!

Learn some mo': Rumor: Apple's iPad 2 ships from Foxconn in 100 days

CherryPad: The Best Cheap Tablet Computer?

Looking for a cheap tablet computer that does everything you need? Well then check out the brand new CherryPad from Cherrypal. It's an Android device that will cost you just $188. At only 7-inches in width and about a pound in weight it's the perfect low-cost tablet for those who want WiFi internet, a resistive touch screen, 2GB of memory, and many more cool features usually found in higher-end tablet computers.

The CherryPad may not be the best ultra-portable PC out there but, for the price, it seems tough to beat. It is, for the time being, the ultimate in portability and low price among the emerging tablet computers!

Learn some mo': CherryPad: This is What a $188 Tablet Looks Like

Good iPad Alternatives On the Way

The big consumer electronics companies that already compete with Apple in the smartphone market are gearing up to provide some good iPad alternatives as well. A few of the best options appear to be the new Samsung Galaxy Tab, the HP Slate, and the BlackBerry Blackpad according to industry experts. Other new tablet computers expected to be released soon include the Toshiba Folio, the Dell Streak, and the "WePad".

One thing's for sure: Apple started a real revolution by offering a truly useful and portable touchscreen gadget that's smaller than a laptop computer but bigger (and therefore much easier to use) than a normal "smart" cell phone. They have already sold more than 3 million iPads, much more than many experts thought they would.

But competition is always good, especially in terms of being able to get more for less money. Many of the new iPad alternatives are expected to be cheaper and possibly even more powerful. Because of Google Android operating system, emerging tablet PCs will be able to use their own "apps" just like the Apple products.

It should be exciting to see what happens in the "iPad alternative" space over the next few months!

Learn some mo': iPad competitors are lining up

HP Slate Tablet Specs, Price Released

More information related to HP's new Slate tablet computer have been released, or at least "leaked". An internal memo has been found that compares the Slate to Apples new iPad computer. It appears that the Slate will come in two flavors, a 32GB version for $550 and a 64GB version for $600.

We think most people will pay the $50 cost for double the memory.

The Slate will also have a USB port, an SD card reader, HDMI-out connection, a 3 MP camera, a high-quality webcam built-in, and a conventional SIM-card tray.

The biggest "problem" facing the Slate? It runs Windows 7, which is a vastly improved version of the Windows operating system but is not designed to run on a touch-screen interface. Maybe Microsoft will release some sort of fix that will change that before the Slate's June 2010 release date!

Learn some mo': HP Slate Details Leaked: $550 Keyboard-less Netbook

Apples Launches the iPad

More than 20 years after the Newton, Apple as finally released another tablet computer system called the iPad. CEO Steve Jobs called it a mix between a smart phone and a laptop at a press conference today in San Francisco. The first versions of the device will be available to the public at the end of March for about $500. The light, half-inch thick iPad can be used for working online, reading books (like an Amazon Kindle), watching videos, listening to music, or playing videos games. It has both Wi-Fi and Bluetooth connectivity built-in and, according to Jobs, features a battery that'll last up to 10 hours and even hold a charge for a month. The iPad will run all iPhone apps and will have a number of its own apps available to the public soon.

Despite the excitement, iPad already has a lot of critics, many claiming that there are good reasons why tablet computers have never "caught on" the way many people thought they would. In fact, Gizmodo already is saying that the iPad sucks! And, of course, the iTampon jokes are already rolling out at full speed... :)

We think that the Apple iPad seems like a very interesting new device. Plus, we always love to see yet another competitor jump into the ring... especially just as the "smartphone wars" are really beginning to heat up. That can only be good for innovation and lower prices!

Learn some mo': Apple's latest creation: It's an iPad!