Apple working on two new different iPad tablets?

After different rumors on a possible new 7.85” iPad tablet, we now heard another rumor mentioning at least two new models, coming with larger screens of 9.7” which will have QXGA graphic resolution and a unique light bar design. According to this rumor, which isn’t convincing in our opinion, these iPad models could be announced on 26 January already, at Apple’s annual iWorld event. Some analysts claim Apple’s strategy is based on forking out their tablet products to cover wide range of users. Essentially, Apple wants to announce different tablets which should cover entry, middle and high end market segments.

Amazon prevents jailbreaking of Kindle Fire with their latest firmware upgrade

It is not only Apple that is not really happy because of users daring to jailbreak their devices. While it is completely legal and safe, if you know what you are doing, Apple, Amazon and other tablet and smartphone makers think they ought to control whatever is going on on your own device. Majority of jailbreak developers and users beg to disagree. It is the same case with the latest newcomer in tablet world: Amazon with their Android tablet, Kindle Fire. Amazon has previously announced that they wont encourage, nor prevent rooting of Kindle Fire, but it seems that they have changed their mind. The latest firmware update released by Amazon is apparently going against users who have already jailbroken their new tablets.

Amazon working on new smartphone

According to the latest rumors in smartphone industry, Jeff Bezos and his team of designers and engineers are apparently working on a smartphone device of their own. Apart from releasing an Android tablet, the Kindle Fire, Amazon wants to further tap into the mobile computing market by building their own smartphone. This device is built with assistance from Foxconn, and should become an affordable alternative to Apple’s iPhone.

Android tablet with Amazon store, a winning combination?

Amazon is according to latest rumors working on their new Android 7” tablet which was dubbed as the “Kindle Fire”. It will run on a version of Android OS but this OS version will be completely independent from Google’s current version of Android. The tablet wont be available to the public until the second week of November. Unnamed sources inside Amazon leaked the information that Amazon is working with partners outside the company on the hardware for this new tablet. Interestingly, Amazon has opted to outsource their tablet project to Quanta which was also one of the main developers working on RIM’s PlayBook tablet device instead of using their own Kindle development team. Obviously, Amazon’s CEO Jeff Bezos wants the Kindle team to focus on the next generation of ebook readers. Quanta
has apparently relied on experience gained while working on the PlayBook tablet.

No iPad killer in sight

Samsung, RIM, HP are some of the world class companies which have among others tried to create an iPad “killer”. So far none of them have made any real success, and most of them are simply struggling to capture a very small percentage of the market. According to story published in UK’s Guardian, Samsung has sold only a small number of their Galaxy S tablets, less than 1% of their manufacturing output. We’ve also seen that nobody can really undercut iPad‘s price. On the other hand Taiwanese manufacturer HTC has launched their JetStream Android tablet device which is available for $700 with an AT&T contract. And while the deal is interesting many analysts doubt that it can become a treat for Apple’s overarching dominance.

Amazon prepares a new tablet with a forked version of Android

Amazon has revealed their plans for a new Android tablet device. It seems that this “Kindle” tablet could be the first serious iPad competitor. One of the best moves Amazon will try out is the pricing of this new tablet. According to Tech Crunch, the price should be $250 for a 7” tablet. So far iPad competitors have tried to follow the prices setup by Apple but the demand by customers was very low.

HP’s discontinued TouchPad running on Android OS

We’ve just seen an Youtube video of a HP’s recently abandoned TouchPad tablet with what looks like an successful installation of Android Froyo 2.2. TouchPad like other mobile devices by HP originally runs on WebOS. We are not sure what is the background story on this but it seems plausible as TouchPad’s hardware is compatible with Google mobile OS, and technically speaking it can be done, the same way WEB OS can be installed on your iPad, but who would want to do that and for what reason? Anyway, nobody is sure if this is some kind of testing device or something else. Apparently the tablet has been sold with Froyo already installed. Was it some kind of mistake? We can only guess on this.

Apple scores against Samsung

Apple’s legal actions have gained a big success at least temporarily and now Samsung cant sell their Galaxy Tab 10.1 in almost entire European Union with exception of Netherlands where the court process is still not over. To remind you, the action taken by Apple is based on the external design of the device, not on hardware running it. Apple claims that Samsung has stolen the appearance of Apple’s unique products in order to profit on Apple’s successful image. As a consequence, Samsung must block it’s tablet sales and stop all related advertisings, only 10 days after it’s latest tablet Galaxy Tab 10.1 appeared on the European market. Steve Jobs and his team have earlier filled complaints to ITC (International Trade Commission) and they have also sued Samsung on various patent infringements. All this was followed with a strong PR campaign against Samsung where they have strongly criticized Samsung and called them copyist.

iPad storms PC markets

iPad is steadily cutting a larger piece of what once was purely PC dominated market. And as interesting things are, they will become even more so in the upcoming future. While there are many reasons why iPad really is an game changer we can only see the start of the change Apple is forcing on the world.

Interestingly enough Mac computers are also affected by the growth of iPad sales according to Tim Cook COO of Apple, although this trend is relatively small when compared with how things are going in the PC market.

Amazon to release a new tablet in the third quarter?

We have lately often heard rumors about Jeff Bezoss and his team preparing a launch of a new Android tablet. It could be easily that Amazon is keeping a big secret, extremely well hidden behind the walls of their headquarters. So far no official confirmations have come from Jef Bezzos CEO of Amazon about this, but according to the news from electronics manufacturing strongholds in Taiwan, there is no doubt that Amazon will soon launch a new device to the market, most probably during the third quarter of this year.