Tablet

New Firefox beta enhances security and tablet viewing

The latest Firefox beta jumps to version 6 and lands with improvements made to security, tablet appearance, memory management, and Android fixes. Download for Windows, Mac, Linux, and Android, Firefox 6 beta comes with a laundry list of changes made to both desktop and mobile platforms.

Some of the changes were included in the developer's Aurora release of Firefox 6, such as the built-in verification tool for plug-ins like Adobe Flash, better memory management for the Panorama grouping feature, a Chrome-style Scratchpad for testing out JavaScript snippets, and a new window for fine-tuning Web site permissions.

Other changes are … Read more

Amazon tablet follows iPad in Q3 projected shipments

Amazon's tablet is showing signs of arriving in relatively large numbers in the third quarter, according to a speculative report Thursday in Digitimes, which said shipment figures put it behind Apple's iPad.

Shipments may hit between 1 million and 1.2 million units for the Amazon tablet, the Taipei-based technology news site said, citing "conservative" estimates. Orders for Amazon-bound touch panels is higher at up to 2 million units. An earlier report said Amazon monthly order numbers would be between 700,000 and 800,000 units, with the tablet arriving in August.

Any number pales next … Read more

How to erase and restore a Honeycomb tablet

Tablets running Google's Android 3.0 Honeycomb software do an amazing job connecting you to all of your personal online accounts. But how do you remove all of that personal information once you're done with it? How do you literally wipe the slate clean?

In this How To, you'll learn about erasing an Android Honeycomb tablet and restoring it to its factory settings.

Sony teases new tablets again in artsy video

In the last several decades, Sony has been known for its esoteric commercials featuring inanimate objects doing extraordinary things that often reflect design elements that inspired the featured product. In other instances, Sony advertisements are a visual odyssey meant to inspire the consumer, and are only loosely related to the product in question. The Japanese company has released another bizarre video in a five-part series on YouTube, dubbed "Two Will," which teases the upcoming S1 and S2 tablets.

In contrast to the darker, shadow play-themed video in part one, this one presents a more complicated Rube Goldberg-like contraption. Bouncing colorful balls cause the S1 tablet to roll sideways on a track, which is set up with rubber "fingers" that compose an e-mail message in the Android (Honeycomb) operating system. The message "Comfort with the smooth touch" is labeled below. The mind should be boggled at this point, but perhaps it's a svelte way to say communication is fast and easy. We'll see about that.… Read more

Vizio's new 8-inch tablet now up for preorder

First demoed at CES in January, Vizio's new 8-inch VIA tablet finally has a price and a ship date.

Slated to ship on July 18, the new Android tablet is now available for preorder. Vizio is selling the tablet directly for the full retail price of $399. However, consumers can grab a better deal by ordering it at Costco for $329 or Wal-Mart for $348.

A report from mid-June had already pegged Wal-Mart selling the tablet for $349.

Equipped with Android 2.3 Gingerbread but customized with Vizio's own user interface, the tablet offers an 8-inch, 1,024x768 … Read more

Apple may launch iPad 2 Plus in 2011, says analyst

Apple could hit the market with a new version of the iPad 2 this year, FBR Capital Markets analyst Craig Berger said today in the International Business Times .

Detailing his forecast in a recent investor's note, Berger said he believes that a device dubbed the iPad 2 Plus could launch in late 2011. Citing "indications from the supply chain," the analyst said that Apple has sent out requests for quotes to different suppliers for the new tablet, though no specific schedule for production has been confirmed.

Berger added that the display for the iPad 2 Plus could … Read more

Verizon confirms tiered data plans and hot-spot charge for July 7

Update on Tuesday, July 5 at 1:15 p.m. PT: The $10-per-month data plan will not be available for smartphone users.

Verizon Wireless officially confirmed today that it will replace its unlimited data plans with tiered options starting Thursday.

Spokeswoman Brenda Raney told FierceWireless that consumers will have their choice of four data allotments: $10 for 75MB per month, $30 for 2GB per month, $50 for 5GB per month, and $80 for 10GB per month. The cheapest tier is avaialble only for feature phones. Subscribers with an iPhone or a WebOS, Android, BlackBerry, or Windows Phone 7 device will … Read more

Ten-inch Galaxy Tab to get TouchWiz, other updates

Owners of Samsung's Galaxy Tab 10.1-inch tablet are in line to receive a host of updates, including the company's TouchWiz interface.

Promising that the updates are "coming soon," Samsung touted a list of the new features and enhancements on its Web site late last week.

One of the most significant updates will be the TouchWiz UX user interface for tablets. Initially designed for the company's mobile phones, TouchWiz offers a Live Panel, which gives people quick and customizable access to virtually any feature, including news, weather, and e-mail. A mini apps tray also provides … Read more

CNET's top 10-inch tablets

When we first created CNET's Best 5 Tablets feature, it was a stretch just to find 5 worthwhile products. Today, there are dozens of solid tablet choices out there in all shapes and sizes, with more arriving every month.

Still, the iPad and its 10-inch screen remains the tablet drawing the most attention. It's in good company, though, with an increasing number of tablets coming on the market with the same 10-inch screen size.

Though early competitors were quick to differentiate themselves from Apple with 5- or 7-inch tablets, most are coming around to the larger screen size. … Read more