It might be true that nothing can rival Apple’s iPad tablets when it comes to performance delivery and software integrations, but certainly, when it comes to dimensions, here – particularly referring to thinness, Toshiba’s AT200 has already taken the lead, after Samsung’s Galaxy Tab 10.1 had taken the light from iPad prior the appearance of the AT200.

But then Toshiba AT200 cannot even rival Acer Iconia Tab when it comes to the 7 inch space, and definitely, neither can iPad, and Samsung Galaxy Tab 10. 1 compete for now because the two are reportedly bigger than Toshiba AT200.

The new Acer Iconia Tab A100 is an Android tablet that is the smaller version of the 9-10 inches Acer Iconia Tab A500.

Although smaller in size, the operating system and the overall quality are really similar. They do not only have the same operating system but they also have the same applications and number of ports. The new Acer Iconia Tab A100 technically looses nothing in comparison with its siblings, except for the screen size of course, but that’s forgivable considering again that this is just 7 inches dimension wise. Besides, the user still gets to see websites at full width in this tablet, with the screen about 1,024 to 1,280 pixel screen widths.

The portability of the new Acer tab is really a great advantage over the iPad and all other tablets in the market.

The Iconia Tab A100 runs Android Honeycomb 3.2, the first Android optimised software designed for smaller tablets. This includes SD card support and the ability to use mobile Android applications originally specified for mobile phones and not for tablets. A disadvantage of the A100, is that it is quite heavier and thicker than the other tablets, weighing 410 grams. Still though, it packs functionality and power despite its small form.

A100 has 1GHz Tegra 2 processor, enabling fast website loads. It’s ports of Micro HDMI, Micro USB 2.0, Micro SD, headphone jack and docking ports are enough should the user plan to connect several external devices to the tablet. A 100 also has good speakers, microphone and built in camera.

Acer Iconia Tablet – 7 Inch Tablet is a post from: Tech Pinger

New Tablet Perspective: Toughness:

There must be something about thin tablets, given that they lead the market when it comes to devices and pcs, but perhaps the public and techno fans have take it for granted that other than the thinness, tablet durability might also be one factor to consider when buying tablets. Fortunately, not all tablet, desktop and mobile devices manufacturer concern themselves with the idea that thin is totally in.

Panasonic has decided to come up with a ruggedized Android tablet. Panasonic is known for its Toughbook notebooks, so it isn’t really surprising if the company has designed a touch shock resistant tablet.

The new design is deemed to be launched in 2012, and the target market for the product is not the same market that has popularized Android Honeycomb contingents like Samsung, Asus, Acer, Motorela, Toshiba and Sony. The target population then are people who may possibly give their tablets a rough environment, like those who are often outdoors and exploring.

This is of course good because the conventional market will probably turn a thumbs down to the tablet because they value thinness more.

The new Tough tablet, with a codename of CM111, is 10.1 inch with silver chassis, a number of hardware buttons upfront and wrapped with rubberised grip in the sides. It may not be as thin as the svelte and elegant iPad and Galaxy Tab 10.1 but the new unit is further designed to have a multi-touch matte-style display, one that’s good for viewing things under strong sunlight. It is also modelled to support stylus input but its 3G connectivity is optional.

So how tough is the new Toughbook tablet? CM111 will be definitely temperature tested, whether it can endure an 200 degree C oven heat atmosphere or it can outstand a cold dip in a -85 degree C water bath.

Another temperature test that will be run on the unit is whether it can also survive quick temperature changing environment. Other tests like spraying the tablet continuously with water while it’s turned on, and dropping it from a 120 cm height on slabs of concrete and wood will also be done on the tough tablet. All these procedures are actually the qualifying processes for all Panasonic Toughbook notebooks, thus, it is just logical that the same will be given to the tablet as well.

If CM111 will get through all these tests, then welcome launch for the product should be already organized as early as now.

Android ToughBook – What You Must Know is a post from: Tech Pinger

Not too long ago, the only it seemed that the touch screen technology could only be found in styus-driven PDAs and tablet PCs. At one point, they were too expensive still and thus too costly too actually replace the functions of the keyboard and the mouse. But the latter mass demand for touchscreen technology called for using the interface in more than the PDAs and tablet PCs. But touchscreen technologies are not really the same for all type of devices. Here are a few insiders regarding touchscreen tech.

Touchscreen types. The simplest touchscreen tech is the resistive screen, a two layered electrically conducive material separated by a transparent insulators often observed as dots when a person presses the screen. It’s durable and works best for outdoors and industrial environments. However, it may not exactly be suitable for touch-based devices like tablet PCs because they only let 75% of the light from the screen.

Capacitive screens on the other hand work using glass that’s horizontally and vertically coated electrodes. This makes the screens more sensitive, thus there would be no need to physically push down screen to make it work. It lets through over 90% of the screen’s light.

Surface acoustic wave )SAW) touchscreens use ultrasonic transducers that send waves though the surface of a glass screen. Once the screen is touched, the touch interrupts the waves and they are converted into coordinates for software use. This type works with ATMS.

Another touchscreen types surrounds the screen with infrared LEDs, each having photodetectors installed grid-like across the screen’s area. Touching the screen actually breaks the infrared beam. This works optically through interfering with a light beam.

The multi-touch technology. The four mentioned touchscreen tech types are traditional and the touchscreen tech considered to be most wanted when it comes to devices involve more than the four types. This is the multi-touch technology, the one that is responsible for Apple’s success with its iPhone devices. Multi-touch technology allows sensors to detect several finger presses at one time. The alternative name for multi-touch is ‘mutual capacitance’. In a mutual capacitance screen, a small capacitor is found at every row and column intersection. iPhone 4 for instance having a 960×640 screen has 614,400 capacitors.Each capacitor is run by a voltage that changes at a finger’s touch. This interruption is usually fed back to the software as an X-Y coordinate pair.

A Look at the Inner World of Touchscreen Technologies is a post from: Tech Pinger

Are reading emails soon to be extinct? Not yet..

The first to go in the written communication era were post mails, although a few people still use post mail to contact others and to send important documents.

Post mail services have almost died out due to the over popular communication means through electronic mail or email. Today webmail however is going for a dramatic dive to the pits due to mobile devices invading the technology market.

But this does not entirely mean that emails are dying out. What this only implies is the fact that people are relying less on webmail and desktop options when they check their emails.

Instead, they try to connect to their email accounts using their iDevices like their iPhones and iPad. This is of course, at the expense of web based providers, but with advance technology, the providers cannot really complain.

Further research by Litmus’ Email Analytics showed that in the past year alone, the email behaviour of most users have changed, with 150% of emails opened through mobile devices.

What is surprising however is the fact that although people use their mobiles to access their email accounts, Outlook and Apple Mail have still maintained a steady hold over usage because of its applications, giving problems again to webmail popularity.

Speaking of webmail popularity, Litmus’ Email Analytics also looked into the browser preferences of webmail users.

The company found out that the Internet Explorer browser is the browser most preferred by those who use Yahoo! Mail and Hotmail while Firefox (in the lead), Internet Explorer and Google Chrome are in a close tie in when it comes to the preferences of Gmail users.

The other communication means that are considered to be part of the trending electronic lifestyle are SMS, social media and IM.

Much of these communication processes are also accessed through mobile devices thereby emphasizing the fact that the mobile devices are really taking the lead in the communication process.

The 13% of all email accounts have been even opened through again the iDevices, thus, needless to say, mobile are really getting much used for email access.

Clearly then, given these facts and findings, email usage is not near extinction yet. People still rely on the comforts email can offer its users. In fact, by 2014, it is estimated that about 3 billion people will be using electronic emails worldwide.

Emails: are Almost Extinct? Not when they are read even through iPhones and iPads is a post from: Tech Pinger

The most awaited Sony Playstation Vita is going to have a launch in Japan at the last month of this year.

While this news creates excitement for Playstation fans in Japan, the North Americans are just hearing the clocks ticking waiting for the Vita to finally come in their area.

Sadly, there’s no sign of Sony Vita as of yet in their area.

Apparently, it was announced that Sony will launch 26 games for the system that will include a wide array of peripherals and proprietary cards.

Basically, the system has no built-in memory that’s why you need to buy the proprietary cards in order to use the downloadable games, movies or music.

So, this is like a good strategy for Sony. On the other hand, battery life is also one that needs attention here. This may be the only downside that I can see in Sony Vita.

Imagine you should bother yourself in setting your brightness into default with Bluetooth turned off and headphones use for audio.

In order for you to have a greater picture of what I am talking about, take a look at this information provided below:

Available Memory Card System Battery Life
(Size) (Hours)

4GB -¥2,200 ($29) Game (3-5 hours approximate)
8GB -¥3,200 ($42) Video (5 hours approximate)
16GB -¥5,500 ($71) Music (9 hours approximate) stand by mode
32GB -¥9,500 ($124)

In other words, the release of Sony Vita is something that we expect, but taking into account its cost including the proprietary cards and the limited battery life are quite disappointing.

No wonder, one day we will also be required of buying a third party battery pack which I hope will not happen.

Sony Playstation Vita To Launch In Japan This December With Proprietary Memory Cards is a post from: Tech Pinger

The thriving industry of smartphones and its related devices has created the technology driven world into somewhat more of a fantasy than the real one.

Almost all of the world’s largest industries have entered the virtual world of technology by venturing into its different aspects of where they can have the most gain.

While it can be argued that there’s nothing wrong in this trend, still we should not forget that we are real people who should face the real challenges in the world.

Speaking of challenges, what can be more challenging for the other phone carriers in the US with the announcement of LTE that they won’t be providing the 4G broadband network compatibility for them?

Good thing, the anticipated Samsung Illusion is included in the Verizon LTE lineup.

We have recently seen the leaked photo of this smartphone on Verizon. This is known as the Viper or SCH-I110. It runs with Gingerbread which feature includes the 800MHz CPU and a 480 x 320 HVGA smaller-screen display.

Its Sustainable Product Certification indicates that it has least addition of eco-friendly features.

But turning back to the issue of other carriers, it can be noted that Big Red and AT&T separately owns a block of 700MHz spectrum each that resulted to limited phones to be carried on both networks.

Add to that are the 1700MHz wave by MetroPCs and the 1500MHz of LightSquared.

This only implies that it’s less likely or not easy to have a very good roaming status in the country.

{Source: flickr}

Samsung Illusion: Gets Exclusive with LTE Verizon, how about the other carriers? is a post from: Tech Pinger

After a week, the confirmation of Choi Gee Sung, Samsung’s CEO adds up to this disappointment by putting to rest the speculations of webOS deal. Although this rather sounds frustrating, the team at CM provides us with better solution.

With the straight to the point cut, CyanogenMod 7 for Android suggests that it will run better for your stagnant Touchpad.

Apparently, this platform will provide a more functional Wifi access, faster audio and operational accelerometer with easy access to Android Market.

However, the code is yet to be revealed by the team as they are currently configuring the Hamsterdance effect. In that case, we have to wait and hope for a faster development.

Meanwhile, there is a plan for webOS to receive split global business units.

Apparently, the two units specifically webOS software will be moved to the Office of Strategy and Technology, whereas the hardware division will go to the Personal Systems Group. The splitting of webOS units is viewed to optimize their technology.

But there is another hint that webOS will remain as the major platform for the HP Company.

Whether what move HP is going to make, we are petty sure that they are going to make the best move for their company.

But as a consumer, we can’t close our eyes to the other options offered by other developers. In this crucial moment, only one virtue will stand, it’s either loyalty or practicality.

CyanogenMod 7 for Android: Better Running in Touch-screens is a post from: Tech Pinger

iPhone 5 is really close a release now.

US Carriers of iOS 5 have begun the final testing of the software and the staffs from Apple Stores have started training for it via internal application.

9 to 5 Mac has said that the training processes done by other carriers in the world are well underway too.

Such trainings however are similar to the trainings that happened prior the release of iOS 4 and iPhone 4. Aside from these trainings, the major carrier support divisions of iOS 5 are also being taught with iCloud too.

The reason for teaching iCloud together with iOS 5 is that Apple’s considering iCloud and iOS 5 to be integrated products.

This is because many of their features relatively interact with each other. Included in the training aids developed through Apple’s help consist of video based instructions and PDF files. With these things on the way, Apple will probably speak about it sooner.

A testing priority for the final builds of the iOS 5 is the workings of FaceTime via 3G.

This is technically a new feature in the iOS 5 system. Latest inside news have already claimed that the FaceTime via 3G feature is now actively working.

Some say however that Apple is not sure whether this will really be part of the features available in the final build that would be released to users.

Aside from FaceTime via 3G, other final build tests include Nuance Dictation speech to text feature. Such is similar to the version present in Android OS but such is more quick and accurate to use though.

The news on iOS 5 software up and coming release implies one thing, that iPhone 5, which will be using the software, will technically be already in its final production and shipment too. If this is true, then it is possible that Apple TV sales will soar high.

The new operating system will open up different never been seen before possibilities to Apple users.

iPhone 5 Is Just Right Around The Corner! is a post from: Tech Pinger

This watch features the equivalent notation for every numbers in the clock. For example ’3!’ pertains to 6 because it is a factorial. Now if you can answer more than half of this clock’s notations then you’re really a geek.

Well, aside from being a certified geek, this watch is really stylish in silver. You can wear it every day in work, travel and in formal events. This watch is also accurate and assures you with a high quality. It has the standard watch battery, but it’s not waterproof. This is sold for $65.00.

So, if you’re really a geek and not just a chic why not grab one and try to answer the notations. And oh, before I forget, there’s a cheat sheet included in each clock. The following cheat sheet is shown below:

Cheat Sheet of Geek Wrist Watch

1 – Legendre’s constant is a mathematical constant occurring in a formula conjectured by Adrien-Marie Legendre to capture the asymptotic behavior of the prime-counting function. Its value is now known to be exactly 1.

2 – A joke in the math world: An infinite number of mathematicians walk into a bar. The first one orders a beer. The second orders half a beer. The third, a quarter of a beer. The bartender says, “You’re all idiots,” and pours two beers.

3 – A unicode character XML “numeric character reference.”

4 – Modular arithmetic, also known as clock arithmetic, is a system of arithmetic for integers, where numbers “wrap around” after they reach a certain value. The modular multiplicative inverse of 2 (mod 7) is the integer /a/ such that 2*/a/ is congruent to 1 modulo 7.

5 – The Golden Mean…reworked a little.

6 – Three factorial (3*2*1=6)

7 – A repeating decimal that is proven to be exactly equal to 7 with Cauchy’s Convergence Test.

8 – Graphical representation of binary code.

9 – An example of a base-4 number, which uses the digits 0, 1, 2 and 3 to represent any real number.

10 – A Binomial Coefficient, also known as the choose function. 5 choose 2 is equal to 5! divided by (2!*(5-2)!)

11 – A hexadecimal, or base-16, number.

12 – a radical

Geek Wrist Watch: Measuring The Mathematical Prowess Of A True Geek is a post from: Tech Pinger

The mobile world is now circulated with rumors about Sony Ericsson’s plan to work on an almost 5 inches 3D smartphone.

The said smartphone is going to have the glasses -free 4.7-inch screen with a resolution of 1280×720 pixels and a dual core Snapdragon processor.

These features although leaked are extremely going beyond the normal 3D smartphones we have today.

If the said resolution could be true, then we can say that the distinction between a tablet and a smartphone is no longer applicable.

Why? It’s because 1280×720 pixels is the standard resolution for a normal 13 inches laptop screen, but if we will transfer this huge resolution onto a 4.7 screen then we will be expecting an ultimately sharp and clear images.

No wonder, Sony Ericsson remains in the top global mobile phone industry.

They have really served the worldwide communication market with a very high-end technology such as this.

Although, the sources of these rumors are not yet confirmed, I think that this has already reached the ears of Sony Ericsson’s competitors.

Particularly by the HTC, as they claimed to be the first in America who had released the glasses free 3D 4G devices, only that the measure of the device’s screen is lesser than 4.7 inches.

Setting aside the features of this rumored 3D smartphone, one thing that I see in this rumor is that the reason for the fast growth of mobile industry is not only based on the number of consumers, but also on how innovative you are with the use of technology. And that I think the edge of Sony Ericsson.

{Photo: johnk }

Sony Ericsson’s Plan To Work On A 4.7inch 3D Smartphone: Leaked is a post from: Tech Pinger