Vodafone Australia to launch Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1v
Vodafone Australia is planning to launch Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1v limited edition which runs on Android 3.0.
The Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1v will be available exclusively to Vodafone customers, for a limited time, from mid-April. Vodafone has priced the tablet at US$735.85 which comes with 6 GB of data valid for three months.
Customers can also choose a 12-month plan for US$15.14 per month and US$24.22 per month for the tablet. The open payment for this option is US$261.43 and the minimum monthly spend is US$39.34. The plan includes 1.5 GB of data.
Apple new iPad shipments may be delayed to June
Apple Inc.’s shipments of a new version of its iPad tablet computer may be delayed to June from April because of production bottlenecks at manufacturer Hon Hai Precision Industry Co.
According to analysts, the delay arose after Cupertino, California-based Apple made design changes before the Lunar New Year.
As per the report, analysts’ checks suggest new issues are being encountered with the new production and it is taking time to resolve them. As a number of Android 3.0 tablets are being launched in April and May, the delay in iPad 2 shipments may give the Android camp a brief window of opportunity.
According to the report, a two-month delay in introducing the iPad could lower the tablet computer’s shipments to 23 million units this year, as compared with the brokerage’s current forecast of 30.6 million.
As per Vice President, Eddy Cue’s previous statement, the iPad, introduced in April, accounted for 17% of sales last quarter. The company has sold more than 15 million iPads so far.
Nokia to offer Windows-based smartphones
Nokia and Microsoft are expected to announce the former’s commitment to Windows Phone smartphones next week.
Nokia and Microsoft have been working closely on new productivity solutions for a couple of years. Last year, Microsoft’s head of Business division, Stephen Elop, quit his job and took on the role as Nokia’s new CEO. It was a sure sign of the Nokia / Microsoft partnership being of the strong kind.
According to reports, Nokia and Microsoft will announce another partnership that is designed to give Nokia a stronger position in the U.S. smartphone market. Nokia has embraced Microsoft’s Silverlight technology in the past, but Nokia and Microsoft are also close buddies when it comes to HTML5.
Windows Phone 7.5 is expected to become Microsoft’s first push of HTML5 on mobile devices, to be released in the second half of 2011. Windows Phone 8 is expected to be released in late 2012, and we guess it could possibly launch as Windows 8 for Smartphones, Windows 8 for Slates, Windows 8 for You Name It etc.
Among new directions the company has added to its strategy recently, Nokia decided to release fewer smartphones and commit to software upgrades. The company will also need to replace E series smartphones with something entirely different than what that lineup represents today, and it sounds to us like they’ve ultimately chosen a path that’ll eventually lead to a strong and versatile portfolio of HTML5-embracing Windows 8 devices. It would naturally compliment a similar HTML5-embracing MeeGo portfolio, with both portfolios executing the Nokia Experience to the full.
Whatever Stephen Elop plans to announce related to Microsoft on February 11, we can’t see how it’ll not eventually lead to what we just described above. For Nokia, Windows 8 is of importance anyway, and seeing how current Microsoft partners have embraced Android 3.0 (HP has even acquired WebOS) to compete with iOS tells us that Microsoft and Nokia’s partnership is indeed mutually beneficial.
Google Develops Web Based Version of its Android Apps
Google has restored its Android Market and has also announced the launch of the service via conventional web browsers.
They have also enabled an ability to send apps directly to an Android device with just a few clicks – no wires needed. Users can also now share apps with their friends through Twitter, and can read and post app reviews directly to Android Market.
Users with a Google account can also now keep track of all their purchases via the website version.
According to Google, the Android Market website was officially unveiled today during an event at Google headquarters where they showcased Honeycomb (Android 3.0), the latest Android release built from the ground up for tablets.
Honeycomb has a completely redesigned user interface, with more interactive notifications and widgets, improved multi-tasking, and the latest and greatest Google Mobile services optimized for tablets.
