Toshiba Thrive Honeycomb Tablet coming this July for $429

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The Toshiba Thrive is the name of the Toshiba tablet we have covered a few times. We even saw it way back in January looking the same as it does now. It was originally known as the Regza and original leaks suggested a $700 price tag. Today we have better news that this tablet will be starting as low as $429


The Toshiba Thrive will be the first tablet by Toshiba in the U.S and will be making its way to the market starting June 13th for pre-orders at Best Buy and other retailers and it will ship early July. It boasts the usual specs for a Honeycomb tablet and will come with Android 3.1, a 10.1″ 1280×800 resolution display as well as some competitive pricing. They will offer 3 models: 8GB for $429, 16GB for $479, and the 32GB for $579. The lowest starting at $429 is a smart move and even the 16GB is slightly cheaper than the Galaxy Tab 10.1 but the 32GB Transformer is already cheaper.

The Thrive features all those other specs most of the tablets of late have. Such as Wifi, Bluetooth, HDMI and USB ports, Micro SD slots and can’t forget about cameras. It has a 5MP rear and 2MP front for video chat. It also has a lock button for portrait or landscape mode as well as having a removable battery so it should fair well, and also be different from the rest. Stay tuned for more information.
[via Engadget]

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Archos announcing new generation of Honeycomb Tablets June 23rd

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Archos who was one of the first to start making and selling Android tablets back in the Android 1.5 days are about to unleash some information on the next generation of Archos Tablets in Paris come June 23rd. They’ve had some success with Android tablets even though they have not shipped with Google’s blessing and set of special Google Apps such as the Android Market, Gmail, Google Maps and more. Archos has done a pretty good job making older android versions run well on tablets like the Archos 101 and 70.


The above image is not in English, but from what we are hearing it seems that Archos is all set to announce the new line and latest generation of their tablets, hopefully running on Honeycomb at a event on June 23rd. Details are thin, same goes for any news as to if they will actually be running Honeycomb or not but the Bee buzzing around in the picture above makes us think Honeycomb is up next for Archos.
A few Archos devices hit the FCC back in February but I have a feeling those are not what we will be seeing come June 23rd. Archos is known to make extremely reasonably priced devices although some may consider the build quality lacking. Hopefully this next generation will bring Archos up to par with the latest offerings like the Motorola Xoom, and the ASUS Transformer. Stay tuned for more information and check back on June 23rd for more details.
[via Archos Lounge]

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Dell Streak 7 has Gingerbread Launcher Buried Under Honeycomb

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While Ice Cream Sandwich may be the hero to unite the tablet and phone branches of Android that exist right now, it turns out there may have already been a less elegant fix in place. Owners of the Dell Streak 7 have confirmed that if they change certain what the screen’s pixel density is listed as in the build.prop file, they are greeted not by Honeycomb’s familiar holo theme, but a giant Gingerbread UI after a reboot.

Now don’t ask me why people were changing the listed LCD density in their build.prop, but the fact stands its a weird “Easter egg.” It’s unconfirmed why Google included this in Honeycomb, but my personal guess is this is a relic of attempts to make Honeycomb portable to phones. Obviously this was never implemented, but maybe it was left in as a backup in case anyone tried porting Honeycomb to a phone against Google’s wishes.

As you can see in the video above, the UI is actually an unholy combination of Honeycomb, Gingerbread, and FroYo. The unlock screen seems to be Gingerbread, and the system app icons are the familiar green ones from phones running stock 2.3, but the launcher itself, as well as the status bar and notification tray are definitely FroYo, featuring the rounded corners and gray theme of 2.2. Even more confusing is that, at least when powering down, a Honeycomb style menu is presented to choose airplane mode or shut down.
A neat trick, but far from the fix that we all await anxiously for Ice Cream Sandwich to bring. Good to know Google has been working on a solution unifying tablets and phones already though.

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Easy hack adds Gingerbread interface to Honeycomb if you have root access

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There are a bunch of Android fans out there that buy Android devices for their hackabiltiy and open nature. It seems that every time we turn around there is a new hack or mod out there to do something new and different on your Android tablet or smartphone. Many of these hacks and mods need root access to operate. If you have that root access on your Honeycomb tablet and long for a slicker looking user interface this hack might be perfect for you.

If you have root access, the hack is very easy to perform and just as easy to reverse using one simple change. The hack is this. Honeycomb tablets apparently have the Gingerbread OS’ slicker interface underneath hiding there waiting to be unveiled by a higher density LCD that would be found on a smartphone for instance. The trick to unearthing that different interface is by changing the LCD density in a single system file.
When the LCD density is changed from the default number to 170ppi or higher will allow the new interface to be shown after a reboot. Pocketables recommends the Honeycomb user get the LCDDensity for Root app to do the deed. If you find the Gingerbread interface isn’t for you, reverting to the default UI is as easy as changing the LCD Density back to normal you can see the hack in action in the video below, let us know if you use this hack.

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Logitech launches Keyboard and Mouse for Honeycomb Tabl

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Logitech has recently outed a few new accessories coming to their long list of well made keyboards and mice. They now have a pre-order page live for all those that need the convenience and ease of use of having a bluetooth keyboard and or mouse for their Android Tablet. We all know Logitech makes some of the best stuff so I have no doubts on build quality. With media and volume controls and all, I sure want the keyboard for my Xoom.

I’ll start with the Logitech Android Keyboard it connects via bluetooth and even comes with the fancy case you see in the photo. The case doubles as the stand, and it seems they designed in pretty well. It isn’t cheap, but available for pre-order now starting at $69 and should be a great addition for any tablet owner. I’m wondering if it would work with the Galaxy Tab or other tablets with bluetooth that are not running 3.0 but I doubt it.

Next up is the Logitech Android Mouse it connects via the same way as the keyboard and that is over bluetooth. It comes with a micro fiber carry pouch for those that like to keep things in their case. Logitech said the keyboard and mouse should both work up to around 30 feet away from the device, but may vary by use environment. It will run you a pretty penny also starting at $39

Stay tuned for more as they plan to also release a speaker dock and a few other things, we will update once these start shipping, and hey they might even work with your Google TV once it gets updated to Android 3.1 but we wont know til they launch.

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Dell Streak Pro detailed: 10-inch Honeycomb tablet for June

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New details on Dell’s rumored 10-inch tablet have emerged, suggesting that contrary to original reports, the Dell Streak Pro will, indeed, run Honeycomb. According to Tweakers‘ sources, the Streak Pro packs a 1GHz Tegra 2 dual-core chip and 1GB of RAM into its 261 x 176.4 x 12.9 mm, 720g frame, along with dual microphones and twin cameras.

That’s 5-megapixels on the back and 2-megapixels up-front, matched with either 16GB, 32GB or 64GB of flash storage (and an SDHC memory card reader). The 10-inch display runs at 1280 x 800, and there’s WiFi b/g/n, Bluetooth 2.1+EDR and the possibility of AT&T 4G LTE support.
Dell will apparently offer different black, pink, blue or red skins for the slate, which has a brushed aluminum back panel. Accessories will include a media dock, in-care charging adapter, a “productivity” dock and a folding cover with integrated keyboard. Dell’s Stage 2.0 software will be preloaded. The Dell Streak Pro is expected to go on sale in June.

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Viewsonic 7x puts Honeycomb on a Tegra 2 7-incher

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Viewsonic’s Android tablets attempts haven’t quite hit the mark yet, but the company is readying a new Android Honeycomb model that could well change all that. The Viewsonic 7x is, Pocket-lint has heard, headed to Computex 2011 at the tail-end of this month, with a 7-inch touchscreen as the name suggests.

Like other Honeycomb tablets we’ve seen, it’ll pack NVIDIA’s 1GHz dual-core Tegra 2 processor, twin cameras – front and back, though no word on how many megapixels yet – and integrated HSPA+ WWAN. There’s also the somewhat mysterious “greater support on the connectivity front” which we’re assuming means WiFi, Bluetooth and USB along with the HDMI port, at the very least.
DLNA and a distinctive patterned back panel round out the key specs of this 380g slate, which is expected to hit retail in June 2011. No word on pricing at this stage.

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Advent Vega gets Honeycomb port complete with Hardware Acceleration

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Generally, when it comes to porting Honeycomb over to a tablet that hasn’t had the official release of the OS you lose some important features and capability. One of those important features that it lost with every port out there is the hardware acceleration. Without hardware acceleration, the tablets will run Honeycomb, but things slow to a snail’s pace when animation and transitions happen making the user experience less than ideal.

Word has surfaced today that a new port for the Advent Vega Android tablet has turned up and this port has that all important hardware acceleration built-in. The port has been in the works from a team of developers including XDA members Zebwen and HomerSp and it is not complete just yet. The port apparently uses bits of the code from the SDK, Motorola Xoom, and Asus Transformer tablet.
The interesting thing about this is that many devs and Android users considered hardware acceleration on tablets with official Honeycomb to be impossible. Hardware acceleration in other ports has been tried and has always failed until now. The other good thing about this port landing hardware acceleration finally is that the tech and programming used here may mean hardware acceleration for other tablets too.

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Notion Ink Adam Tablet gets a Honeycomb port

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Man, when we reported earlier this week that Notion Ink was back with more Adam news, we didn’t know they’d be back with a vengeance. But that seems to be the case as we’ve got two more bits of news about the home grown Android Tablet. The first bit of news is that a stalwart Android fan named MrGuy, has managed to port Android 3.0 (Honeycomb) onto his Adam. He’s managed to boot up the system, install all his apps, and troubleshoot OpenGL issues which prompted Force Close. Pretty cool.

Secondly, Notion Ink is reporting that the Dolphin Browser HD will be bundled with the next update later this month. It’ll also come pre-installed on future orders. Notion also announced that starting in June, the Adam project will be working towards 3D gesture detection, Parallel Processing, and support for NEON and PVRTC. Their blog will chronicle all these developments as they have since it’s inception back in 2009.
Notion Ink launched back then in an effort to chronicle the development of an Android tablet from scratch. The result has been a window into the world of Android gadget development, informing readers of the lessons learned step by step. For awhile, though, Notion had been a bit silent, dealing with customer service and ordering issues which left users a bit frustrated. But this past week, stories broke that shows that Notion is on the development trail again thanks to OS updates, Kindle eBook Reader support, and now custom Honeycomb ROM and Dolphin Browser support. So, is Adam once again in the house, or will it continue its quick slide into the pits of no official support and mediocrity once the new wave of tablets is out? We shall see.

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Android Honeycomb Samsung Galaxy Tab 8.9 Previewed on Video

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Thinking of getting an Android tablet, perhaps one from Samsung? How about the new Samsung Galaxy Tab 8.9 that is expected to become available on June the 8th? How about having a quick look at the Android 3.0 Honeycomb tablet in action?
That’s what we have for your viewing appraisal below, a preview video of the Samsung Galaxy Tab 8.9 WiFi model I action courtesy of Phone Arena by way of Engadget and NewGadgets.de, which delivers just over two minutes of previewing the device.
The Samsung Galaxy Tab 8.9 in the footage is a working model of the device, but alas doesn’t come up with anything informative concerning the tablet’s capabilities, but it at least does give us a look at what we can expect from the new Android device..
As stated earlier the expected release of the Samsung Galaxy Tab 8.9 is the 8th of June and price wise the 16GB version commands $469 while the 32GB model commands a price tag of $569. So anyone hoping to snap up the Samsung Galaxy Tab 8.9 come June the 8th?

 

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Plex plays nice with your Honeycomb slate after app update

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We've praised Plex in the past for delivering us box-free XMBC and for it's prodigious media streaming proficiency. Problem is, its app wasn't optimized for the Honeycomb OS and the upsized screen real estate of Android slates -- until now. With the updated code comes tablet-friendly layouts and fast-scrolling in all grid and list views so you can zip through your large local media library. It also includes direct play and internet streaming sans-transcoding (just like the recently revised iOS app) for sating those right now vid cravings. The improvements serve smaller Android devices as well, which makes the newly egalitarian app more enticing than ever before. Best of all, it's still only five bucks. 

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Toshiba's ET100/WT100 Honeycomb tablet clears the FCC

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Toshiba's forthcoming Honeycomb tablet is already headed to Japanese stores as the Regza AT300, but it's been a bit slower in arriving stateside. Now it seems the company could be close to shipping a real, working product here in the US. The still unnamed slate -- dubbed the ET100/WT100 for now -- has won FCC approval for its 802.11n and Bluetooth radios. To recap, the slate will have a 10.1-inch (1280 x 800) display, run on NVIDIA's Tegra 2 platform, and sport dual cameras, HDMI and USB ports, an SD card reader, and, possibly, a removable battery. We say, bring it on.

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Adobe Releases Major Update To Flash 10.2 For Honeycomb

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Adobe’s taken its sweet time with the Honeycomb-flavored version of Flash 10.2 – heck, it wasn’t available at all when the XOOM debuted – but it looks the software is fully cooked and ready to go at last.
The latest update to Flash for Android 3.0 (version number 10.2.157.51) introduces several enhancements, most notably hardware acceleration for 720p video. Browser integration has also been improved, and "important bug fixes and security enhancements" (including a fix to the "critical" vulnerability discovered a few weeks ago) have been made.
The update is now in the Market.
Source: Adobe
 

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[Rumor] Is Lenovo Working On A 7-Inch Honeycomb Tablet?

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We heard about Lenovo’s Honeycomb-sporting ThinkPad (aka Think Slate) tablet yesterday, but I guess that just wasn’t enough rumor coverage for Lenovo. In the same PowerPoint where they found the info on the ThinkPad, tech blog This Is My Next has also stumbled across a 7-inch Honeycomb tablet that could possibly come out sometime in Q4. While there is little known at this point, here are the (rather vague) details from the leak:

• 7 Inch, 1280×800 display
• Dual Core ARM processor
• "Le OS / Honeycomb" Android with Lenovo UI
• Available Q4 2011

It looks like it should have the same custom interface as the ThinkPad, which we don’t really have a lot of information on. One thing that I find intriguing, however, is the 7-inch 1280×800 screen. Personally, I love the 7-inch form factor, but the (generally) low-res screens have always kept me away. The addition of a HD resolution on a 7-inch tablet may be just what the doctor ordered.
What do you think? Would you be interested in a 7-incher with a high res like this?
 

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