With the success of debvices like Apple’s iPad and Samsung’s Galaxy Tab, it’s no secret that tablets are shaping up to be quite the niche going into the new year. However, while devices like the previously mentioned are quite popular, just about every hardware manufacturer in the game is coming out with their own competitors. One such company is ViewSonic who we have known for some time to be working on tablets powered by Google’s Android mobile operating system.
Today, in fact, it was made known that the ViewPad 7 powered by Android 2.2 is now available for purchase at $479. This 7-inch tablet features a 800 x 480 resolution and packs a 600MHz processor, 512MB of RAM, 512MB of internal storage with microSD for additional storage, a 3 megapixel camera, VGA front facing camera, GPS, 3G (with built-in SIM card slot), WiFi and Bluetooth.
Like I mentioned above, you can grab the ViewPad 7 now for just $479. That is, if you can’t stand to wait for Motorola’s highly anticipated 10-inch Android 3.0 powered tablet.
One of the biggest gripes consumers have with the Android platform is the fact that it’s so difficult to stay up to date. Of course, this isn’t the fault of the consumers but instead the actual hardware manufacturers who have continuously delayed the latest builds of Android. One infamous case of this is the Galaxy S which, here in the United States, has yet to receive the latest update, Android ‘Froyo’ 2.2.
This is quickly becoming a problem especially since Android ‘Gingerbread‘ 2.3 is already making its market. Luckily, those of you with a Galaxy S from either Virgin Mobile or SaskTel will be happy to hear that they are now pushing out the update. News comes to us from Samsung’s Canadian Twitter account that says both Virgin Mobile and SaskTel will join Bell as official providers of the Froyo update.
This is great news for our neighbors to the north but what about us here in the United States? It’s pretty ridiculous that a device as popular as the Galaxy S has yet to receive the update. What gives?
Android updates are some of the most talked news items in the community with owners clamoring over the latest release. However, while it has taken quite some time for devices to get the Froyo update, Gingerbread is already on the streets meaning smartphone owners will once again be stuck waiting for an update. Luckily, if you’re a Motorola Droid X owner you’ll be happy to know that your device has recieved an update in the form of 2.2.1.
While it’s not the highly sought after 2.3 update, it does bring with it some hefty changes, which we told you about here (including the Madden 11 demo). You may remember that we told you the update was getting a widespread roll-out but if you haven’t yet received the update, it should now be avaialble as an over the air download.
Have you received the Android 2.2.1 update? If not, let us know.
Android is one of the most popular mobile platforms which makes it no surprise that its latest version, 2.3 aka Gingerbread, is getting so much hype. However, while Gingerbread is just beginning to make its way onto devices, many have wondered when it will be coming to them. In the past, it has taken hardware manufacturers quite some time to push out the latest versions of Android with some devices still not having gotten the Froyo 2.2 update.
Well, when asked if the Desire HD will be getting Android 2.3, HTC responded that Gingerbread would be coming to “a number of devices” at an unannounced date. Of course, this could mean virtually anything considering it’s pretty much common knowledge that popular devices like the HTC EVO 4G and T-Mobile G2 will be getting the update.
Seeing how Android is quickly becoming one of the most used mobile platforms in the world it would be ridiculous to think that Google will be ceasing development anytime soon. While Android 2.3 has only just been released, we’ve known for quite some time that Android 3.0, sometimes known as Honeycomb, is just around the corner.
Seeing how Android 2.3 is already out in the wild we’ve seen it get detailed extensively but Google has kept Android 3.0 under tight wraps. However, Google’s own Andy Rubin recently took center stage at the Dive Into Mobile to show of a prototype Motorola tablet running none other than Android 3.0.
While we only get a brief look at the new version of Google’s mobile operating system, we are definitely liking what we see. Android 3.0 is rumored to be heavily optimized for use with tablets and from the looks of it that seems to be true as a task bar (that utilizes a tablet’s extra real estate) seems to have made the cut, among other things.
Oh, and if you’re interested he also gives us a walkthrough of the new Google Maps, but who cares about that, right?
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