Intel plans for an entire legion of MacBook Air-like laptops by 2013.

This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now

Samsung has confirmed today that it will stick with the Android mobile OS for its upcoming tablets.

Notes Samsung mobile boss JK Shin: "We'll continue to work with Android on future tablets."

The company has already announced the new Galaxy Tab 8.9 and 10.1, both of which will run Android Honeycomb 3.1. They expect tablet sales to rise to 7.5 million this year.

Samsung, despite being a major player in the mobile phone business, has trailed Apple in the tablet and smartphone market and both companies are now in a flurry of lawsuits against each other over alleged patent violations.

Adds Shin:

We didn't copy Apple's design. We have used many similar designs over the past years and it (Apple's allegation) will not be legally problematic.

Permalink | Comments

---

Sony has noted today that the PlayStation Network and the PlayStation Store will be full restored in all territories except for Japan, Hong Kong and South Korea by the end of the week.

The EU and NA territories have had online gaming and other features restored for a number of weeks, but no access to the PlayStation Store.

Adds Sony:

The company implemented considerable security enhancements to the network infrastructure, as well as conducted testing of the payment process and commerce functions.

We have been conducting additional testing and further security verification of our commerce functions in order to bring the PlayStation Network completely back online so that our fans can again enjoy the first class entertainment experience they have come to love. We appreciate the patience and support shown during this time.

When the PS Store is restored, users will be able to download their free games from a list of 5 that includes such classics like Little Big Planet and Infamous.

For more info on the games, check here: Sony lists free game compensation available to U.S. PSN gamers

Permalink | Comments

---

ZiiLABS has showed off their new line of Jaguar Honeycomb tablets for OEMs this week, introducing the powerful "energy efficient" Android devices at Computex 2011.

The company, owned by Creative, uses their own processors, specifically the ZiiLABS ZMS-20 and ZMS-40 StemCell Processors.

Says the company:

As consumer demand for a wide-range of smarter, more connected tablets increases, so do the OEMs' needs to innovate while also shrinking their time-to-market. The JAGUAR platform combines our deep understanding and experience working on consumer devices and tablets with our ZMS processors, reference platforms, software and certification know-how to deliver a state-of-the-art platform that minimizes the complexities of introducing next-generation tablets.

Timing is everything and a frenzied land-grab is taking place in the tablet computing market. Android 3.X and ZMS-20 are designed and engineered specifically for this new and exciting tablet market where growth is expected to approach 100 million next year. The JAGUAR platforms based on ZiiLABS' ZMS-20 and ZMS-40 processors push performances to a new level that the world has never seen before and OEMs and ODMs can leverage this with JAGUAR to quickly stake a sizeable claim in this explosive market.

The ZiiLABS ZMS-20 features 48 StemCell media processing cores and dual 1.5GHz ARM Cortex-A9 MPCores. The ZMS-40 uses quad ARM-Cortex-A9.

Jaguars feature:

* Powered by ZiiLABS ZMS-20 and ZMS-40
o Dual and Quad Core 1.5GHz ARM Cortex A9 cores with Neon
o 48 and 96 core floating point StemCell media processors
* Robust Android BSP and Middleware
* Designed for Android 3.0+ Compliance
* Modular Motherboard Design to enable OEM/ODM Customization
* Wide-angle 7"(1024x600) and 10" (1280x800) LCD options
* Capacitive and Resistive LCD touch options
* Up to 2GB high-speed 64-bit memory
o High performance and low-power LPDDR2-800 for super high memory bandwidth of 6.4GBytes per second
o DDR2/DDR3 for low cost
* 5MP rear and HD front facing camera as standard
* Wi-Fi b/g/n, 3G/4G/WiMax and Bluetooth 2.1+EDR
* GPS, accelerometer, digital compass and gyroscope
* Stereo speakers and dual Microphone array
* Up to 64GB internal storage
* USB 2.0 port
* SDHC Card slot
* Extended battery life with robust dynamic power management
* Instantaneous On feature

Permalink | Comments

---

Nvidia showed off their quad-core Kal-El (Tegra 3) processors at the Mobile World Congress, going as far as to say that the first tablets with the powerful processors should be available by August.

Smartphones using the processor could be available before Christmas, added the company.

Today, we have our first Tegra 3 rumor, with sources claiming Motorola will be first with a quad-core tablet, with that device coming as soon as late August, in time for "back-to-school" specials.

Nvidia CEO Jen-Hsun Huang says they have 10 OEMs working on Tegra 3 devices, but would not name the companies or give a time table.

The Tegra 3 features performance up to 500 percent better than the dual-core Tegra 2 processors and gaming performance that far outperforms any current device.

Permalink | Comments

---

PBS has confirmed that hackers planted a fake story on their website late Saturday night after taking over the company's computer systems.

The group, identifying themselves as "The Lulz Boat," posted a fake story that famous rapper Tuapc Shakur, murdered in 1996, was really alive and living in New Zealand.

Additionally, the group started posting email and passwords for PBS users.

The group still had control as of this morning, posting defaced pages at an alarming rate.

Via the group's Twitter page, the Lulz Boat say they were angry about a recently aired "Frontline" episode about WikiLeaks.

Permalink | Comments

---

ViewSonic has showed off a 10-inch tablet today, one that dual-boots Android and Windows 7 and runs on Intel's brand new Oak Trail processor.

The ViewPad 10Pro will run Windows 7 Professional and Android 2.2, with users able to switch the operating system by pressing one button on the display. The tablet can do so by virtually running Android using BlueStacks technology.

Intel unveiled the 1.5GHz processor Oak Trail chips in April, the first designs that Intel has put out that can compete with ARM chips seen in mostly all current smartphones and tablets.

Additionally, the tablet has 32GB Internal storage, a 3500 mAh battery and dual cameras.

The tablet will be significantly heavier than the market leading Apple iPad 2, weighing 28.21 ounces compared to 21.16 ounces. The device is expected to be priced at $800 when it goes on sale in Taiwan next month.

Intel says the ViewPad 10Pro will be one of 35 tablets launched this year running the Oak Trail processor.

Permalink | Comments

---

Asus has launched the ultraportable Eee PC X101 netbook today, a device that can run Windows 7 or MeeGo.

The netbook is just 0.7 inches thick and weighs in at 2.1 pounds.

If you opt for the MeeGo model, the netbook will run you just $200, a new leg down in netbook pricing.

MeeGo, originally a mobile OS created by Intel and Nokia, includes an app store, runs perfectly on Intel Atom processors and has good third-party support (relatively).

The Eee PC X101 will run on a new Intel Atom N435 processor and a special X101H model will have a hard drive/SSD hybrid drive.

Here is a hands-on video via Engadget:

Permalink | Comments

---

Asus has shown off their much-hyped tablet/phone hybrid device, the Padfone.

The smartphone can be placed into a dock built-in to the back of the tablet, allowing users to have all the features of a phone (calls, GPS, texting, etc) on the larger screen of the tablet.

There were little other details revealed on a hardware basis, but the tablet will be 10.1-inches while the phone will have a large 4.3-inch screen.

Asus did not reveal pricing or a set release date.

Permalink | Comments

---