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One of the quirks that makes Google great is its fun-loving culture. Not only does it name its Android versions after desserts, but it also creates a unique statue for each. Lately, the designs have been getting on the staler side, but we thought Android's 10-year anniversary warranted a look back at our favorites.
The year was 2010, and Apple made good on the rumor mill's predictions when it unveiled the iPad. This device was, essentially, a bigger iPhone without the phone part. It turns out that consumers were into that sort of thing, and the first modern tablet sold in huge numbers. Not to be outdone, Android OEMs began launching Android-powered slates. For a time, it seemed like Android tablets would be a thing, but sales slumped, and most current Android tablets are ultra-low-cost junk. With the benefit of hindsight, it's easy to see how we got here.
Pop quiz: How long does it take for a new version of Android to be widely adopted? A new version of Android comes out, AOSP updates, OEMs adapt it to a myriad of devices, and carriers test the updates. That process. How long does it take?
We got a look at the Excite 10 LE's at CES when it was called the Excite X10. Now, Toshiba is bringing the thinnest and lightest tablet* to the US market. The Excite 10 LE is identical to the Excite X10 aside from a couple of letters being rearranged. The slate still packs a "multicore" OMAP processor under a 10.1" LED screen. Unfortunately, the device will be launching with Honeycomb (3.2), but is "upgradeable to Android 4.0."
[Update: It's Official] ZTE Optik: 3G Honeycomb 7" Budget Tablet Coming To Sprint For $99 In February Online, March In Stores
A new tablet is coming to the Sprint network next month
A new tablet is coming to the Sprint network next month, though it's definitely on the budget-minded side of things. The ZTE Optik will be available to Sprint customers starting February 5th through Sprint's online store, with a brick and mortar appearance to follow on March 11th. Here's a quick breakdown on the need-to-know specs for the Optik:
Well, it's official - the "project" Xoom owners have been waiting for is an update to Ice Cream Sandwich, meant as a soak test, expected to last through the weekend. Moto has begun pushing the new software as of 9pm PST. An anonymous tipster has provided us with shots of a private section of Motorola's official XOOM support forum, which confirm that the update is going live to those lucky enough to join the test group.
Android 3.2.1 Honeycomb Update Now Rolling Out To HTC's EVO View 4G
The HTC Evo View 4G will see Android's Honeycomb update in its latest rollout.
Sprint's variant of the HTC Flyer - the HTC EVO View 4G - is finally getting a taste of Honeycomb, bringing it up to par with competing Android tablets.
Google has released the latest of its monthly Android version distribution charts, and for the first time Android 2.3 Gingerbread is present on over half of all Android devices. A milestone, to be sure.
Looking to replace one more of your belongings with your Android device, Time Warner Cable has released an official app, aptly named TWC TV, which allows your Android tablet to become a remote control, and manage your DVR.
Earlier today, I received my review unit Galaxy Tab 7.0 Plus, Samsung's latest addition to the Tab family of products. Now, you probably thought, upon hearing about this little device, "gee, this is just another scaled-down version of the Galaxy Tab 10.1 - boring." But you thought wrong - very wrong.
Rounding out their holiday offerings, T-Mobile announced today that Samsung's Galaxy Tab 7.0 Plus will become available (complete with 4G capability) beginning November 16th, bringing an even more portable version of the Galaxy Tab we've come to know and love to the hands of T-Mo subscribers.
It looks like the HP Touchpad isn't the only tablet to have a bounty placed on its head - Kindle Fire Forum is now offering a substantial reward to the first person who's able to provide a reliable, reversible root method, or either a Honeycomb or Ice Cream Sandwich port for Amazon's Android tablet.
Nothing excites me more than a new app for my poor, neglected tablet. Today, Astro is joining the party with version 3.0 of their venerable file manager. The new Astro sports a completely redesigned UI and icons, and drag and drop support. Look how pretty:
An update started rolling out to the Motorola XOOM Wi-Fi earlier today, bumping the build number up to HTK75D. While we're not entirely sure of everything that this update brings, there is one obvious difference: the Market.
When we first reported on Motorola's alleged Xoom 2, very few - if any - details were certain. An anonymous tipster has been piling on the information since then, however, providing photos, (some) specs, and perhaps the most interesting detail of all - a second, smaller version of the Xoom 2, expected to be billed as an "e-reader replacement."
If you've been holding out on that Acer Iconia A100 purchase for the price to lower a little more, now might be your chance to pick up a pretty sweet deal from Walmart. Effective from Sunday, August 14th through to Saturday, August 20th, you can grab the tablet for just $328 and get a $50 gift card for free while you're at it. For the mathematically lazy, that effectively makes the price just $278.
If you've spent any significant amount of time with Honeycomb, then you know that it has its fair share of shortcomings. Not saying that I don't love Honeycomb -- I'm simply saying that it could use a few improvements. In fact, some of the bugs or missing features that I've come across in Honeycomb make me scratch my head, as I don't understand such simple oversights or how basic functionality can be missing.
Motorola XOOM 3G owners, today is your lucky day. Okay, well, maybe not lucky, but still good - the OTA update to Android 3.2 has officially started rolling out. This update brings some subtle, yet nice new features to the Motorola tablet:
The Android 3.2 update for the Verizon 3G (soon-to-be 4G) XOOM can be flashed right now, before it hits your device over-the-air.