Tablets

Apple has filed a complaint with the European Union over the design of the Motorola Xoom, FOSS Patents is reporting.

According to the blog, Apple's complaint against Samsung, which was filed in German court, includes mention of a complaint that Apple filed against Motorola. Exactly when Apple filed the complaint with the EU is unknown, but FOSS's Florian Mueller said that it could have happened either before or at the same time Apple took aim at Samsung.

The Android-based Motorola Xoom comes with a 10.1-inch display, and users can choosef Wi-Fi-only or Wi-Fi-and-3G connectivity. The device retails … Read more

Benchmarking apps are useful for measuring the performance of your device and comparing the scores with similar devices. They test the performance of processors, graphics systems, Web browsing, and more. Here are five benchmarking apps for Android devices that you can use to see how your device measures up:

Quadrant Standard Edition Quadrant Standard Edition tests CPU, I/O, and 3D graphics. After running through the tests, you're required to submit the score to the company's servers in order to see the results. The bar chart shows your overall score and compares it with other devices.

Linpack Linpack … Read more

Maybe you just need to see how a download is progressing, or maybe you need to kill a process that's eating your network alive. If you're on-site, it's easy, but if you're working remotely, you need a solution. PC Monitor lets you check in with and exert control over your Windows or Linux machine from almost any smartphone. Here's how to get started with it: 

Subscribers to major newspapers such as the Chicago Tribune and Orlando Sentinel may soon find themselves reading their daily rag on an Android tablet. New reports have surfaced that indicate news publisher Tribune Co. is working in conjunction with Samsung to release a tablet with apps and services that feature the regional newspapers.

Speaking on the condition of anonymity, several current and former Tribune employees provided details of the plans. According to the sources, readers can receive a free or highly subsidized tablet in exchange for longer term commitments and a data plan with a wireless provider.

The tablets are … Read more

No matter how tricked-out your Android layout is, you'll always find something new you want to do that takes one click too many to reach. Just as all projects go over budget, all your favorite apps and bookmarks are sure to spill over beyond your home screen. There's no one perfect solution for everyone, but there are a few habits and tools that can help keep your digital life close at hand.

Be ruthless. Clear your device of any applications you don't use, and clear your home screen of everything you don't either use every day (… Read more

Android tablets will win over more customers but continue to play second fiddle to Apple's iPad, according to some recent reports and forecasts.

Apple's tablet will dominate the industry for the next 10 years, predicts Needham analyst Charlie Wolf. In a research note released Friday, Wolf is eyeing an 85 percent share for the iPad this year from nearly 100 percent in 2010.

Although that number will gradually shrink each year over the next decade, Apple will retain its lead. And by 2020, the company will still account for a 60 percent slice of the tablet market, predicts … Read more

Vizio has launched its 8-inch tablet at a price that could make it a key player in the Android tablet space.

Customers looking to get their hands on the device can head over to Sam's Club, Wal-Mart, Costco, and Amazon, among other retailers, and pick up the tablet for $299.

Vizio's decision to drop the price of its tablet to $299 comes as a surprise. In June, reports surfaced, claiming Wal-Mart would be selling the tablet for $349. Last month, Vizio started offering the device on pre-order for $399.99. However, at the time, customers could go to … Read more

Wanna take a sneak peek at what Google Chrome OS for tablet devices could look like?

According to Lilputing, a Web developer named Francois Beaufort recently compiled the latest version of Chromium OS and discovered a hidden touch-screen interface for the open-source OS. He activated the touch-screen mode by adjusting export GYP_DEFINES="touchui=1", then running the standard "gclient sync" to revise the tarball. Voila!

Beaufort made a one-minute video of the interface, which, to be honest, looks refreshingly easy to use. A large black keyboard somewhat reminiscent of Android is found at the bottom, menus are enlarged, and navigation and option buttons are more easily accessible. While it's no Honeycomb, it wouldn't be hard to imagine this OS running on a less expensive tablet. … Read more

You've got access to the world wide Web in your pocket. Now you want to start looking up info and reading sites. Unfortunately, you must keep your data use within your data plan's limit, or having a smartphone could be prohibitively expensive. No problem. Check out these three tips to keep your data usage in check while Web browsing.

Tip 1: Make sure you're on mobile Most Web sites have full and mobile versions. The differences between the two are their layouts and amount of content. Generally, the mobile version has far fewer page elements to load … Read more