Tablets

Dell's reveal of a 10-inch Netbook/tablet hybrid, called the Inspiron Duo, at IDF 2010 is a bit interesting: it has a funky flip-hinge built into its framelike upper lid, folds flat, and has a touch screen. But, we've seen this device before. In fact, it was shown behind supersecret closed doors, in a nonworking prototype format, back at CES 2010, along with other future-oriented NDA-covered items that seemed more concept than reality. Packing a dual-core Atom N550 processor, it's basically a Netbook/tablet with Windows 7 touch support, not unlike the Lenovo IdeaPad S10-3t.

Back then, … Read more

SAN FRANCISCO--Dell showed off a 10-inch Windows-based hybrid tablet Tuesday at the Intel Developer Forum, boasting a slick design that allows it to be converted into a laptop-like configuration.

The Inspiron duo-branded tablet packs a dual-core Atom processor and comes with Windows 7. Its most unique feature is the ability to open up the case, flip the screen, and then convert it into a clamshell Netbook design (see video below at 2:40 mark.)

And Dell couldn't resist taking a swipe at the Apple iPad. "There are times that you have to do work. Tablets are great for entertainment, but they aren't exactly conducive to productivity," said Dave Zavelson, a marketing executive at Dell, at the conference. That's when he revealed the hidden keyboard.

The tablet will be available later this year, he said. … Read more

In this week's action-packed episode, we engage in a little live Halo: Reach multiplayer  action, finding out in the process that none of us is particularly good at this sort of thing.

Then, Joey attempts to pilot a remote control helicopter around the confines of our broom-closet-size studio. Hilarity ensues, as does some small amount of danger.

After showing off some new minilaptops from Toshiba and Sony, Scott tells us about the FanVision handheld device being hawked by NFL teams (including his beloved Jets). Finally, we hold our heads in collective disbelief over the upcoming "Galileo was Wrong" pseudoscience conference, being held later this fall. Yes, that's a real thing, not some sort of Onion-like prank.

… Read more

According to a report by AppleInsider, sources with direct knowledge of Apple's product plans claim that production of a FaceTime-capable iPad could be available in time for the holiday shopping season.

Although Apple has maintained a fairly predictable 12-month release cycle for its mobile devices, the source claims "that as of last month, there was an ambitious push inside Apple to verify the refresh for a possible launch ahead of this year's holiday shopping season.

Typically Apple will release updates to its iPod lineup in September (as we saw last week) and then update its Mac lineup … Read more

Is Samsung planning an event in New York City to introduce its touch-screen tablet next week?

That's what The Wall Street Journal is reporting. On Friday, the Journal cited two anonymous sources who claim that the Galaxy Tab will debut in the U.S. market at an event in NYC's Time Warner Center on September 16.

The Galaxy Tab made its worldwide debut at gadget fest IFA Berlin last week, but is not yet for sale. It's a 7-inch touch-screen tablet featuring Android 2.2, or Froyo, Flash 10.1, 16GB or 32GB of memory, GPS, a … Read more

Though Android tablets have already begun popping up, Google says its mobile operating system is not quite ready for that purpose.

TechRadar quoted Hugo Barra, Google's director of mobile products, on Friday saying "Froyo is not optimized for use on tablets." Froyo is the name for Android's current version of the operating system, version 2.2.

And that's despite the latest round of tablets featuring Android shown at IFA Berlin last week. Android Market, the place for Android users to buy apps, won't work properly on tablets, he said.

"If you want Android market on that platform, the apps just wouldn't run, [Froyo] is just not designed for that form factor." But it's been hinted that future versions will be.

That might explain why the Android tablets already for sale are curiously smartphone-like. … Read more

Android continues to surge, Bing replaces Google search on some Verizon phones, and using your phone to jailbreak your PS3. Plus we cover the CNET News app and dig into the world of Widgets and shortcuts. This week's special guest: Senior Associate Editor, Nicole Lee!

Even though the Kindle doesn't officially allow you to borrow or lend e-books, CNET editor Sharon Vaknin shows you how you can share with your trusted friends.

While PC makers are running full-speed to chase the iPad's success, it's notable that just as quickly they've stopped talking about Netbooks. Some people call them mini-notebooks. Even more people now call them that thing that's bigger than a smartphone but smaller than a laptop that looks more than a little bit clunky next to a tablet device.

Between October and December last year, PC makers shipped 10.5 million mini-notebooks, according to Gartner. That may have been a market peak. Fast-forward to the first quarter of this year: 9.7 million units shipped. Tick forward again to the second quarter of this year, and 8.4 million Netbooks left PC factories. The numbers are expected to drop even further in the coming months.

So what happened? It's not a stretch to connect the dots between the rise of the iPad and the sudden drop in last year's most-hyped product category. Even before the iPad was officially introduced in January, the talk of the PC world just a few weeks prior at CES 2010 was about tablets. Hewlett-Packard, Dell, and Archos showed touch-screen tablets somewhat tentatively--few details were named, and some shipping dates were vague--but it was clear the attention had shifted away from targeting consumers looking for a new mobile device with Netbooks. … Read more