Google Nexus tablet to feature 7-inch IPS display, Jelly Bean and Tegra 3

According to the document, and CNET sources, theGoogle Nexus tablet, also known as the Nexus 7 tablet, will be manufactured by Asus (aspreviously rumoured), and will run on Android 4.1 Jelly Bean. Previously, Google’s new smartphone-tablet operating system was attributed an Android 5.0 version number – we’ll have to wait and see if that actually turns out to be the case.A leaked document procured by Gizmodo Australia is thought to detail the Google Nexus tablet, ahead of the Google’s I/O event, which starts tomorrow.

The leaked specifications of the Google Nexus tablet describe a 7-inch IPS display, with a HD resolution of 1,280x800 pixels and a viewing angle of 178 degrees. Other specifications include a 1.3GHz Tegra 3 processor, 1GB of RAM, a 1.2MP front-facing camera, NFC connectivity, Android Beam, and a battery life of roughly 9 hours.

There will reportedly be no rear camera on the Google Nexus tablet, presumably so that Google can keep the final price low – it is expected to retail for $199 for the 8GB model, and $249 for 16GB model. As for availability, the device is expected to hit certain territories as early as July.

The screen is an IPS display with a 178-degree viewing angle, running a resolution of 1280×800. The device will also sport a 1.2-megapixel front-facing camera. The battery will also give you nine hours worth of operation.

If you are wondering just what Android X.X Jelly Bean will bring to the table, you’ll have to wait for the I/O event. However, for now, you can take a sneak peek at what appears to the a screenshot of the operating system, posted alongside the official Google I/O companion app on the Google Play store. A transparent search bar is visible on the screenshot, quite unlike the solid offering of ICS.

Flipboard for Android

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MRP: NA

 

PROS

• Simple and intuitive layout
• Easy aggregation of information from a variety of accounts
• Convenient reading, watching videos and sharing of content
• Social networking integration

CONS

• No Android tablet version of the app
• No offline reading capabilities without third party apps

Summary

Flipboard was a fantastic app when it launched on iOS. It translates all the same awesome features to Android with the addition of Google Plus integration. If you are one who needs to consume all your content when it is aggregated under one roof, this is one app you should definitely consider.

• REVIEW

Available for iOS for over a year now, Flipboard is your personalized magazine app for not only consuming news content but also keeping track of your YouTube subscriptions and social networking feeds.

The app has been in its Beta form for the Android platform and the company has recently launched the full version of the app for free on the Google Play store. But, does it deserve a place in your app library?

Setup, Look & Feel
After you download the app from the Play Store, the first thing that you will notice is the look, feel and interface is very similar to the iOS version of the app.

Power up the app and you will be asked to wither “Sign In” with your Flipboard account or “Get Started” by creating a Flipboard account.

There are some preset categories that users can choose from such as New, Technology, Photography, Business, Sports, Style and Flipboard Picks. Selecting a category is as simple as clicking on it and hitting done.

You can also add your social networking accounts to the app by simply logging in. The library of accounts with which you can login is very large and includes Facebook, twitter, Google+, Google Reader, LinkedIn, Instagram, Flicker, Tumbler, 500px, Sina Weibo, Renren, and Youtube.

Overall, the look and feel of the app is the same that users will find on the iPhone/iPod Touch version of the app. If you have used the app before on your iOS device, you will feel right at home. If you are a new comer to the app, then the interface is fairly simple to get used to.

Performance
Navigating through the app is as simple as “flipping” through the stories one at a time. Users can flip up/down to see the next/previous story on the list. You can go through the stories either through your predefined feeds such as Google Reader or the preselected categories.While reading the story, you have the option to tweet it, add the story to your favourite list and share the link. You also have the option to view the story on the original website on the webpage.

When compared to the other versions of Flipboard, the one that takes the cake is the iPad version of the app. The only reason why this is our favourite version is that is uses the large screens real estate to show multiple stories per page rather than the single story interface found on Android smartphones and the iPhone and iPod touch.

The only disadvantage of the app is that it doesn't have an inbuilt offline reader and if you want to read an article later, you will have to link it to an offline reading app.

The Android app will work on Android 2.2 Froyo or higher. The app will stay on the internal memory of your smartphone and cannot be moved to the memory card. We installed the app on the HTC Desire running Android 2.2 Froyo and the app ran quite well. We did get a popup after installation that said the app is not completely compatible with the device but we didn't see any noticeable problems.

Another disadvantage is that there is no Android tablet version of the app available on the Play store. You will have to make do with the smartphone version of the app until a tablet version is made available.

Bottom LineFlipboard was a fantastic app when it launched on iOS. It translates all the same awesome features to Android with the addition of Google+ integration. If you are one who needs to consume all your content when aggregated under one roof, this is one app you should definitely consider. If you are however interested in looking at competing apps, you can also take a look atZite and Pulse  that are a direct competition to Flipboard.

iBall launches two new dual-SIM Android phones, starting Rs. 6,990

iBall has launched two new dual-SIM Android phones, in its Andi range of devices, called the Andi 3e and Andi 4d, priced at Rs. 6,990 and Rs. 9,490 respectively.

The iBall Andi 3e runs on Android 2.3.5 Gingerbread, with a 650MHz processor powering it. It features a multi-hued notification light below the display, apart from a dual-SIM standby option.

Other features include a 3.2-inch display, a 3.2MP camera, a front-facing camera, G-sensor, proximity sensor, ambient light sensor, storage expandability up to 16GB (via microSD card), as well as 3G, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, and GPS connectivity.

The iBall Andi 4d also runs on Gingerbread, powered by a 1GHz processor. It has a 4-inch display, along with a 5MP camera, front-facing camera, storage expandability up to 16GB (via microSD card), and the same set of connectivity and sensor features.

There’ve been a lot dual-SIM Android phones (across price ranges) hitting the Indian market recently, with HTC the latest major manufacturer to join the bandwagon – the Desire V is available online since last week for Rs. 21,999.

 

iBerry launches the Auxus AX03G ICS tablet in India, at Rs. 9,990

The iBerry Auxus AX02 was one of the first budget tablets to run Google’s latest OS, Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich. The Auxus AX03G will also run the same OS.  iBerry has announced the Auxus AX03G in India, the successor to its recently launched tablet, the Auxus AX02.

The Auxus AX03G is priced at Rs. 9,990. This is the same price at which the Auxus 02 was launched. The Auxus 02 has seen a price drop with the launch of the new model and will now be priced at Rs. 7,990.

The Auxus 02 was a very good performer as a budget tablet. It has all the points in its favour – a good touchscreen, smooth running of apps and multimedia and a good build. Also, check out our detailed review of the iBerry Auxus AX 02.

The biggest bump on the iBerry Auxus AX03G is in the hardware under the hood when compared to its predecessor. It has 1GB RAM as compared to 512MB on the Auxus 02, a dual Mali-400 GPU and 24GB storage (built-in 8GB NAND Flash + external 16GB microSD card) along with expandable memory via microSD slot up to 32GB.

Until now, we have seen a bunch of budget ICS tablets launch such as the Micromax Funbook,HCL MeTab U1 and the Zync Z990 to name a few.

iBerry has made the first move in upping the specification on a budget tablet that runs ICS. What remains to be seen is how the competition reacts to this and when can we see the next generation of budget tablets hit the streets from the likes of Micromax HCL and more. We are still waiting to see the first generation ICS tablets from manufacturers such as iBall, Intex and Mercury who are also contenders in the war of the budget tablets.

The Auxus AX03G has the following specifications:

SYSTEM PROCESSOR
• CPU: 1.0 GHz ARM Cortex A8
• GPU: Dual Mali-400 OpenGL 2.0
• VPU: Dedicated Full HD Video processing

OPERATING SYSTEM
• Android 4.0 Ice-Cream Sandwich
• Official Google Play Store supported

MEMORY
• 1GB RAM DDR3
• 24GB Storage Memory (Internal 8GB NAND Flash + External 16GB MicroSD memory)
• Expandable MicroSD slot upto 32GB

DISPLAY
• 7.0" Capacitive Multitouchscreen
• 800x480 WVGA-Widescreen

NETWORK
• Inbuilt SIM slot, GSM (2G/3G) 900/1800/2100MHz with Phone Function
• WiFi 802.11 b/g and Bluetooth

VIDEO OUTPUT
• Mini HDMI, v1.3, Type C
(Full HD 1080p Supported)

CAMERA
• Back 2 MP, Front 0.3 MP

GAMES
• Dual Mali 400 GPU with OpenGL 2.0 support
• Accelerometer, Gravity & Motion Sensor

INPUT/OUTPUT
• 3.5 mm earphone jack, built-in Microphone
• Stereo Speakers, Mini USB Port
• Mini HDMI, MicroSD slot

BATTERY

• Rechargeable Li-poly 4000MAh