You should consider this tablet...

Okay, so we have the Kindle Fire, Nexus 7 and may other tablets that float around the $200 price mark, but can you get any thing that is actually good quality for less, say $179.90. Might sound like a very big ask from a company, but Ainol have made such thing. This July they are set to bring fourth the Novo 7 Flame to the market for that exact price I mentioned. The specs are fairly good as well and it could be a alternative to the Nexus 7 that was announced.

The tablet has a 7-inch IPS screen with a resolution of 800x1280, it is powered by a dual-core AMLogic processor clocked at 1.5GHz with 1GB of RAM, it doesn't have 12 cores of GPU and instead has 2, however from watching videos of game play, it is still relatively smooth. Other specs include a 2MP front-facing camera, 16GB of internal storage that is expandable and Android 4.0, It is unconfirmed as to whether it will be updated to Android 4.1, we'll just have to wait and see. This tablet can be made to be 3G/4G compatible by a dongle which is nice if your on the move.

Nevertheless, if this tablet does get Android 4.1, it will be one of the best sub-$200 tablets out there. Of course if you pick this over the Nexus 7 your missing out on NFC and faster updates, but if you can do without them then this is the tablet you want to get.

Pros and Cons of Nexus 7's specs...

Okay, we all have our opinions as to weather the Nexus 7 tablet by Google & Asus will either fail or be a great hit on the market. Here is a list of pros and cons of what the Nexus 7 tablet offers. Before writing this, I read reviews, comments and have looked over the specs myself, so this can be taken as a summary of opinions.

Pros:
- Nvidia Tegra 3 processor (with 12 core GPU)
- High resolution screen (216PPI)
- Jelly Bean out of the box and bound to receive update to next major version of Android.
- Very cheap ($199/£159 for 8GB, $249/£199 for 16GB)
- NFC, can be used to share stuff and pay for stuff.

Cons:
- No MicroSD card (will have to rely on cloud storage, but then have to rely on internet being available if on the go)
- No Flash player (Adobe announced that they will not support the next iteration of the Android OS)
- No rear-facing camera (Some people including me like to have this feature.)
- Not 3G/4G compatible (may be able to sort using a 3G dongle


Pros or at least what I think are the pros of the Nexus 7 out-weight cons but some cons will be a deal breaker for some people nevertheless. For me, no Micro-SD card is a deal breaker but I have resolved this situation with cloud storage but I have to rely on places I'm visiting having WiFi available for me to use to access files. 

Lenovo LePhone K860 leaked...

Today, A Japanese blog has leaked a new Lenovo phone named the LePhone K860. Along with it are some interesting specs including an Exynos quad-core chip set, 5-inch screen and Ice Cream Sandwich out of the box which will undoubtedly be upgraded to Jelly Bean in time.

The exact specs include a 5-inch 720p Display and powered by a quad-core Exynos processor clocked at 1.4GHz with 1GB of RAM, snappers include a 8-megapixel rear-facing camera and a 2-megapixel front-facing camera for video calling. The device has 4GB of internal storage but no word has been said as to whether it will be expandable.

The phone is due to hit China at the beginning of August, there is no confirmation as to whether it will or won't be available over seas yet so we can only hope for now.

Nexus 7 unveiled...

Google has unveiled their much anticipated Nexus 7 tablet at yesterdays keynote at the Google I/O developers conference in San Francisco. The tablet which will retail for $199/£159 features a lot of high-end hardware including a Tegra 3 processor and IPS screen.

The full specs of the were leaked and are confirmed to be what was leaked, the device's specs are as follows, the device has a 7-inch IPS screen with a resolution of 800x1280, it is powered by a quad-core Tegra 3 processor with a 12 core GPU. The tablet only a front-facing camera with a resolution of 1.2-megapixels, other features include 8/16GB of memory ($249/£199 for 16GB), NFC for use with Android Beam and last but definitely not least, it runs Android 4.1 "Jelly Bean" out of the box.

Nexus 7 tablet specs leaked...

With this Wednesday being the day that Google's developer I/O conference starts, more speculation has been made about the Nexus 7 tab thats is supposed to be unveiled at the conference than ever before. Interestingly enough Gizmodo Australia has uncovered what is to be a training document for the device with all of it's specs. The specs seem to support most claims so far made about the tab.

The Nexus 7 will come with a 7-inch IPS display with a resolution of 800x1280, the tablet is said to be powered by Nvidia's Kai Tegra 3 quad-core processor clocked at 1.3GHz with 1GB of RAM, there isn't a rear-facing camera but there is said to be a 1.2MP front-facing camera for video calling. The tablet is said to have a 9 hour battery life, NFC and the newest Android 4.1 namely, Jelly Bean.

The device is believed to be retailing for $199 for 8GB and $249 for 16GB respectively. In comparison to the recently unveiled Acer Iconia A110, the Nexus 7's advantages lies with it's 800x1280 IPS display which the Acer A110 only has 600x1024.

What to expect at Google's I/O conference...

This Wednesday Google's annual developer conference Google I/O will start in San Francisco. This conference has been the birth place of new android versions, devices and ideas. So, what can we expect to see from this years Google I/O?

Nexus 7 Tab by ASUS
First, we have the most talked about device that may be announced at Google I/O, said to feature Nvidia's Quad-core processor, 720p IPS screen and a price tag of $199 the device will surely make the crowd cheer .

Android 4.1 "Jelly Bean"
Second, is the announcement of a new version of Android, namely Jelly Bean. As yet, there have been no rumours that I've heard of that point to any new features Google may be bringing to us. One thing I'm hoping is, that the update can be supported by my Nexus S.

Google Glasses
We first heard of Project Glass when Google announced it on their Google+ social networking site. We've seen photos, parodies and plenty of speculation about the glasses and we may see them at Google I/O for demonstration purposes, unless Google announce their availability which would be a bonus.

As usual, there will be more than the above things announced at Google I/O. We'll just have to wait and see what they bring to us. The Nexus 7 Tab will be the crowd favourite, unless Google announce something bigger.

HTC's WP8 roadmap leaked...

One X with WP8 start screen

With HTC, Samsung, Nokia and Huawei being the first manufacturers to bring the new version of the OS to us, we were all waiting for a sign of what these devices will feature and look like. Well, we didn't have to hold our breaths for long as TheVerge has been given HTC's road map with all of HTC's upcoming Windows Phone 8 devices and boy are we in for a treat!

The first being the One X of WP8 named the "Zenith" sporting a 4.7-inch Super LCD2 display and being powered by a quad-core Qualcomm Snapdragon processor and a 8-megapixel rear-facing camera.

The second being called the "Accord", this device will feature a 4.3-inch Super LCD2 display and will be powered by a dual-core Qualcomm Snapdragon processor and again features a 8-megapixel rear-facing camera.

And last but not least, the "Rio", features a 4-inch WVGA (480x800) resolution display, powered by a dual-core Qualcomm Snapdragon processor and features a 5-megapixel rear-facing camera.

Motorola Anounces RAZR V bound for China...

Motorola has announced a new addition to their RAZR smartphone range, The RAZR V XT889. The device which features a different design in comparison to the normal RAZR design, taking away the physical buttons in exchange for on-screen ones will be available in China from June 15th.

Specs-wise, the device features the same specs as the original RAZR (4.3in, 8MP, Dual-Core 1.2GHz) except for the fact that this is running Android 4.0 out of the box.

Lenovo unveiles worlds first dual-sim tablet...

Today, Lenovo has unveiled to the world the LePad A2107 tablet which features dual-sim compatibility, other than that it features fairly average specs and is headed for china for a June 18th release.

As for specs, the tablet packs a 7-inch display with a resolution of 600x1024 and is powered by a 1GHz single-core processor and runs Android 4.0 out of the box. Device's cameras include a 3-megapixel rear-facing camera and a front-facing camera for video calling. A 3,550mAh is reported to keep the device running for a good 10 hours.

Acer Iconia 700 up for pre-order...

Acer has announced that it's Iconia A700 tablet will be up for pre-order from today, the tablet went on pre-order for a price of $450 and is available in either black or silver. For that price, the tablet offers a 1080p display, Nvidia's Tegra 3 processor and 32GBs of internal storage.

The Iconia A700 packs a 10.1-inch display with a resolution of 1200x1920 meaning the tablet has a full HD display. The tablet runs on Nvidia's quad-core Tegra 3 processor running at 1.3GHz with 1GB of RAM. The tablet has two cameras, a 5-megapixel rear-facing camera and a front-facing camera for video calling. The tablet is available with 16, 32 or even 64GB of internal storage which can also be expanded using a MicroSD card.

Nokia 808 PureView launched in India...

Today, Nokia unleashed their 41-megapixel beast on the Indian markets and is now available for Rs.33,899. The symbian smartphone brings with it the same 41-megapixel camera seen at Mobile Word Congress, meaning that you can capture photos in ridiculous detail.

The 808 PureView packs a 4-inch AMOLED screen and is powered by a 1.3GHz ARM 11 processor with 512MB of RAM and runs on Nokia's Symbian Belle OS. The phone's main feature is it's rear-facing camera which is 41-megapixels providing 4x optical zoom, the phone also has a VGA resolution front-facing camera. The phone has 16GB of internal storage which can be expanded using a MicroSD card.

Sony anounce entry-level Tipo and Tipo Dual...

After today's announcement of the Xperia Miro, It hasn't stopped Sony from announcing not one, but two more smartphones aimed at first time buyers. The Tipo and Tipo Dual feature low end specs as expected, the Tipo Dual is the company's first Dual-Sim handset. Both will launch in Q3 of this year.

The phone's chassis packs a 3.2-inch HVGA TFT display and is powered by a 800MHz Single-core Snapdragon processor and will run Android 4.0 out of the box. The device comes with a 3.2 megapixel rear-facing camera and has 3GBs of internal storage which can be expanded using a MicroSD Card. A dual-sim version of the phone will also be available and offers exactly the same specs as the regular handset.

LG Optimus 4X HD available in Europe...

After we first saw the LG Optimus 4X HD at Mobile World Congress, the company has now released their new quad-core powered flagship device in Europe, hitting Germany for 505 Euro's and will be hitting more in the coming month.

The device packs a 4.7-inch HD-IPS display and runs on a quad-core Cortex A9 processor with 1GB of RAM, It runs Android 4.0 out of the box. The device sports a 8 megapixel rear-facing camera with a 1.3 megapixel front facing camera for video calling. The device has 16GB of Storage with the option to expand it using the MicroSD slot.

This phone is one of many top-tier quad-core phones being released this year. After the Optimus 2X's ferocious battle with the Galaxy S2, will the 4X be the winner this time round with Samsung's Galaxy S3?

Sony announce Xperia Miro...

Days after Sony posted a countdown on their Facebook page saying a new Xperia smartphone would be announced when it hit zero, the count down has apparently struck zero meaning that the company has announced it's new smartphone.

Meet the Xperia Miro, looking to be a entry-level device it packs a 3.5-inch display, 5 megapixel rear-facing camera and comes with Android 4.0 out of the box. The Miro is a social orientated device sporting some software mods that Sony have made to make the user more in touch with social networks.

ASUS PadFone and Tablet available now in Australia...

ASUS has released the PadFone in Australia, the phone that becomes a tablet that can become a laptop is available for 899AUD ($890) on Mobicity. This price includes the phone and the 10.1-inch tablet docking station, this product is great for someone wanting to replace 3 items with one (Tablet, Laptop and Phone).

The phone on it's own offers a 4.3-inch SuperAMOLED qHD display, runs Android 4.0 (Ice Cream Sandwich) on Snapdragon's Dual-Core S4 processor clocked at 1.5GHz with 1GB of RAM. The phone sports a 8MP rear-facing camera and a VGA resolution front-facing camera for video calling. 

The phone comes with a 10.1-inch tablet docking station which the phone can be plugged into and used through the 10.1-inch screen, this screen can also be plugged into a keypad dock and used as a laptop. 

Images of Motorola Atrix 3 and RAZR HD leaked...

TheVerge has received photos of what is to be believed as the successor to the Atrix 2 but for now known by it's codename "Dinara". The Dinara is said to feature a 720p HD display (720x1280 most likely) and run on Android 4.0 (Ice Cream Sandwich). Rumours suggest the phone will boast a 13MP rear-facing camera with a 2MP front-facing camera for video calls. The processor that is believed to be used is Snapdragon's S4 dual-core processor clocked at 1.5GHz. This phone will be primarily for the AT&T network as can be seen by it's AT&T branding.

Meanwhile, DroidLife has acquired photos of the RAZR HD, as expected the RAZR HD will bare the same Kevlar aesthetic seen on the original which consequently means that there'll be no removable battery but rumours suggest that the RAZR HD will pack the same battery that the RAZR MAXX had. (3300mAh). Other than that the display is rumoured to be a  720p HD 4.5-inch affair. Other specs point to the device running Android 4.0 out of the box, the phone will use the same cameras and processor with 1GB of RAM (TI-OMAP 4430).

Samsung announces dual-screen droid for China...

Samsung W999

Samsung has announced a new dual-screen flip phone running Android carrying the GT-B9120 moniker, the phone is said to be exclusively for China's second largest carrier China Unicorn but if your wanting to get your hands on it, search for the Samsung W999.

The phone's chassis packs in two 3.5-inch SuperAMOLED displays with both of them having a resolution of 480x800. The phone runs on a 1.2GHz Dual-core Qualcomm processor with 1GB of RAM. Cameras include a 5MP rear-facing and a 1.3MP front-facing camera furthermore, the phone has 16GB of internal storage which presumably can be expanded. 

Acer unveil Iconia A110...

Original location

Acer has unveiled the Iconia A110, an 7-inch android tablet that offers Tegra 3 and Android 4.0 with a sub-$200 price mark. Sound similar? Google has a competitor on it's hands but I suppose they expected it. Plus, theirs the thought that when Google announces their's it might feature Jelly Bean (Android 4.1).

The tablet packs a 7-inch display with a resolution of 600x1024, it is powered by Nvidia's Tegra 3 built on their newly announced Kai architecture with 1GB of RAM. The tablet includes a front-facing presumably VGA resolution camera for video calling, it also comes with 8/16GB of internal storage with the added choice to expand that by means of MicroSD card.

Overall, this is just a device for people that can't wait until the Google I/O conference. Trust me, I'd wait to see what Google/Asus's device offers and then decide which to buy, I mean both devices are planning on marketing for less than $200 so you won't loose loads of money if you do eventually go for the Nexus 7 tablet.

Asus unveil Transformer AiO

Asus has announced a new AiO (All in One) device called the Transformer AiO at Computex 2012, This device is amazing being a desktop screen but once detached from the dock can be a normal tablet. Not only that but it can dual-boot into Windows 8 or Android 4.0. Asus are calling it the "World's first Windows RT consumer device".

The device comes with a massive 18.4-inch display or in other words, nearly 2 times the size of the iPad's display. It runs on Android 4.0 and Windows 8, Win8 is said to be the default OS of the tablet but Android can easily be accessed through a button on the device.

I believe this is a must have for someone looking for a normal Windows powered desktop computer but also wants a Android tablet, because this can replace both devices with one. One thing to consider is the size of that screen, people are gonna have to get used to these displays as I see many more coming in future.

Orange to exclusively offer Intel-powered San Diego

Known as the Santa Clara, the device was Intel's first try at getting into the smartphone market. Now the name has changed and official statements declare that the Orange San Diego is official. The phone is offering with it some impressive specs.

The phone packs a 4-inch display with a resolution of 600x1024, giving it a pixel density of 297PPI. The phone is powered by Intel's Atom processor clocked at 1.6GHz, can't wait to see this in play. Cameras include a 8MP rear-facing camera with 1080p recording compatibility and a front-facing camera for video calling. The device runs on Android 2.3 which will undoubtedly get updated to Android 4.0 at a later date, the device also comes with 16GB of internal memory with most likely the option to expand it via. MicroSD card which may be included.

Vodafone UK introduces Smart II...

Vodafone UK has announced a new budget Android smartphone, the Smart II. The device is a successor to the original Smart I offered by Vodafone. The device comes with the specs you'd expect for the money you give which the device only costs £70 on PAYG.

The device sports a 3.2-inch HVGA Display and is powered by a 800MHz single-core processor with presumably 256MB of RAM and sports a 3.15MP rear-facing camera. The device runs Android 2.3 "Gingerbread" with no UI overlay.