Microsoft and Nokia Demand EU Action Against Google For Antitrust Violations

Google is on the hot seat with the EU over alleged antitrust violations related to its Internet search practices on both the desktop and on mobile devices. After a two-year investigation that appears to find Google at fault, several of the complainants have voiced their displeasure at the pace of the European Commission’s action or lack thereof.

Reuters says that over a dozen companies have complained, including heavy hitters Microsoft and Nokia, even as European Union Competition Commissioner Joaquin Almunia said he plans to achieve a settlement with Google before the end of the year.

The length of the investigation may be due in part to the fact that it began with the desktop version of Google’s search engine but expanded to examine mobile search, as well.

"Google is using its Android mobile operating system as a 'Trojan Horse' to deceive partners, monopolize the mobile marketplace, and control consumer data," said FairSearch's lawyer Thomas Vinje in a statement to Reuters. Essentially, the allegation is that Google is driving traffic to itself through Android, by directing users to its search engine (not to mention YouTube, Maps, and other services) and also bumping up its own products in search results.

On the one hand, it seems a little silly to bang Google for shipping its services on devices running its operating system; on the other hand, complainants have a very good point. And it’s not like this is a new issue--just ask Microsoft about whether or not it’s cool to include your own Web browser with your operating system.

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Intel Clover Trail+, Advancing Atom In Mobile

When we covered Intel’s first significant foray into the smartphone arena, early in January 2012, there was little doubt in our minds that the company had set its sights on the mobile market with a plan and roadmap for execution.  Though Medfield and Lexington, now known as the Atom Z2460 SoC, and its lower cost sibling Atom Z2420, looked solid enough on paper, we expected Intel would have an uphill battle versus already well-established players like Qualcomm, Samsung, NVIDIA and the like.  As it turned out, Medfield and Lexington Atom SoCs never really made it to smartphones marketed in the US, but they did gain some traction in about 10 design wins for Intel, primarily in emerging markets, Latin America, APAC and the UK.  Regardless, market penetration on a more global scale just wasn’t what we assume Intel had hoped for.

Today, however, Intel is keeping on track for execution of their roadmap plan in the mobile space, with the release of their follow-on to Medfield, code-named Clover Trail+.  Clover Trail, as you’ll remember, is powering many a Windows 8 tablet these days.  Intel's latest Atom-based SoC is a more natural fit here, with the intrinsic advantages of being able to run full X86 compatible software on a tablet or convertible device, while still offering strong battery life and performance.  That said, Clover Trail+, Intel’s new performance and feature-optimized version of Clover Trail for the smartphone and tablet market, has that same long row to hoe versus incumbents, at least in the highly competitive handset arena.

What’s more than interesting this time around is that Clover Trail+ seems to really have the chops (at least on paper) to keep pace with, and even exceed, certain performance characteristics of current, best-of-class ARM-based architectures that have been so dominant in smartphone designs thus far.  And on the power consumption front, Intel is claiming their long-beloved “HUGI” (Hurry-Up and Get Idle) approach to clock gating will afford them a platform power advantage like no other smartphone architecture on the market currently.  A tall order.  Big claims.  Is Intel just getting warmed up?  Let’s take a look.

Intel Clover Trail+ Specifications & Features

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Intel's Smartphone Reference Design

Clover Trail+ is another 32nm design for Intel, though their next generation Bay Trail architecture will migrate to 22nm.  Bay Trail will be the first quad-core Atom design, offering twice the compute performance as Clover Trail and should arrive in time for the 2013 holiday shopping season, so we are told.  Intel is already claiming good traction with major OEM partners for Bay Trail tablet designs as well.  But I digress, what is immediately obvious with the Clover Trail+ platform reference design specification, versus Intel's previous generation Medfield architecture, is that Intel has beefed up almost every major functional block.  Let's dive in a little deeper...

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Refurbished 27-inch Apple iMacs Selling for Up to $400 Off Retail

If you've been waiting to score a deal on an Apple iMac system, now is your chance, provided you're not opposed to buying a refurbished model. Apple just filled its store with a handful of refurbished iMac models that are marked down anywhere from 15 percent to 20 percent, which translates into savings of up to $400 off the normal selling price.

All three discounted models are 27-inch iMac systems. The biggest savings is for an Intel Core i5 3.1GHz quad-core system that's listed at $1,599, or $400 off its normal selling price. That system comes with 4GB of RAM, 1TB hard drive, 8X DVD burner, and AMD Radeon HD 6970M graphics. It also has a FaceTime HD webcam, two Thunderbolt ports, a FireWire 800 port, four USB 2.0 ports, SDXC card slot, 802.11n Wi-Fi, stereo speakers, and a few other odds and ends.

The other two reduced systems sell for $1,529 (2.9GHz, 8GB memory, GeForce GTX 660M, 1TB HDD) and $1,699 (3.2GHz, 8GB memory, GeForce GTX 675MX, 1TB HDD). Refurbished systems come with a wireless keyboard, mouse, power cord, and documentation.

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A fresh new look for Google Play

Whether you’re in the mood to listen to Justin Timberlake’s new album, read Harlan Coben’s latest bestseller or discover a new game to play, you want the experience of finding and making your purchase to be quick and easy. Today we’ve started rolling out a redesigned Google Play store on Android phones and tablets that is simple, clean and — most importantly — helps you find great entertainment, fast.

The new design focuses on bigger images that jump off the page. Similarly themed content is grouped together so you can hone in on a magazine to read or an app to try. As you move down the page, new recommendations continue to appear so there is always more to see and explore. We’ve also simplified purchasing so you can breeze through checkout and get to enjoying your movie rental or other content.

The redesigned Google Play store app starts rolling out today for Android phones and tablets running Android 2.2 (Froyo) and above. People around the world should see it over the next few weeks. Get ready for a simpler Google Play.

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Windows Phone 8 will support 1080p displays by the end of the year

Microsoft is planning to update Windows Phone 8 to support 1080p resolutions. Sources familiar with Microsoft's Windows Phone plans have revealed to The Verge that the company will issue an update later this year that brings support for the 1080p resolution and new 5-inch and higher devices. Windows Phone 8 currently supports WVGA, WXGA, and 720p resolutions. 

The update, known as a General Distribution Release (GDR3) for Windows Phone, will set the stage for new devices set to debut for the holidays. HTC had originally planned to release a "Zenith" flagship device with a 4.7-inch display and quad-core processor, but the company reportedly cancelled its plans as the device would have a lower resolution than its competing Android models. We understand that the GDR3 update will also provide support for new Qualcomm processors, allowing manufacturers to opt for quad-core devices with Windows Phone.

Microsoft's update will arrive as part of the new devices, but we understand that it's not directly related to the company's Blue plans for Windows Phone — a codename for a future upgrade. Windows Phone Blue is tentatively scheduled for early 2014 and will help bridge the gaps between Microsoft's Windows 8 operating system and Windows Phone 8. The software maker is planning to enable additional points of synchronization, including the browser, to further integrate both operating systems.

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Samsung Galaxy Mega 5.8 and 6.3 Specifications Confirmed

Earlier this week, we have reported that Samsung is working on two new smartphones. The Galaxy Mega 5.8 and Galaxy Mega 6.3 are designed to cover the empty range between smartphones and tablets.

According to leaked information, the specifications of the devices are finally confirmed. The Galaxy Mega 5.8, codenamed GT-I9152, comes with a 5.8-inch qHD TFT display. The display does not come with high screen resolution, supporting only 960 x 540 pixels resolution. The device comes with two cameras, an 8-megapixel rear-facing and a 2-megapixel front-facing camera.

The processor is a dual-core clocked at 1.4 GHz, and there will be 1.5 GB of RAM. The Galaxy Mega 5.8 sports Bluetooth 4.0, WiFi 802.11 a/b/g/n and a GPS. The dimensions would be 164 × 83.8 × 9.7 mm, and it will have a 2,600 mAh battery.

The 6.3-inch phablet uses the same dual-core with somewhat higher clocks (1.7 GHz vs. 1.5 GHz) as well as the same amount of RAM. Among Bluetooth 4.0, WiFi 802.11 a/b/g/n and a GPS, Samsung will release the Galaxy Mega 6.3 in two versions, one with and one without LTE. Due to bigger dimensions, which are 88 × 167.6 × 7.9 mm, Samsung will use the battery with 3,200 mAh capacity as well as the same 8-megapixel rear-facing, a 2-megapixel front-facing camera.

The two devices are running Android 4.1.2 / 4.2.2 Jelly Bean with Nature UX interface on it. Samsung expects to sell them sometime in June.

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Apple may see single-digit shipment growth for MacBooks in 2013

Apple MacBook shipments may only see single-digit growth in 2013, as related upstream component suppliers still have not yet seen any major increases in orders, according to sources from the upstream supply chain.

The orders may increase slightly after Apple releases its new MacBook products at the end of the second quarter.

Apple was confident about its 13-inch MacBook Pro performance for 2013, but the device's actual sales turn out to be weaker than expected, leaving the company still digesting its inventories in the first quarter.

The sources pointed out that Apple's MacBook Pros have strong attraction to consumers, but the devices' high prices are instead pushing consumers away. In addition, shipment delays last year due to weak panel yield rates also impacted shipment performance. However, Apple claimed its Mac series' weak sales are due to the iPad.

Apple shipped 13.03 million MacBooks in 2012, up 7.98% on year.

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Acer Plans to Slash Price of its 7.9-inch Tablet

Acer is looking to take a bite out of the tablet market share with its 7.9-inch tablet. Thanks to French online retailer Rue du Commerce, the tablet is ready for pre-order at €199. However, according to sources from the supply chain, Acer is considering lowering the price of its Iconia A1-810 tablet.

To compete with Apple mini, Nexus 7 and Amazon's Kindle Fire HD, the company would take the tablet from $249.99 to $149.99. However, Acer declined to comment about the rumors. The device should be available by the end of this month.

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Yet Another WLAN-fixing Update for Surface

Microsoft rolled out its third software update for Surface, Surface Pro, and Surface RT, focused on fixing WiFi connectivity issues. The three tablets are hit by numerous WiFi glitches that include connection drops, untimely DHCP lease expiry without renewal (the so called "Limited Connectivity" bug), and software crashes that result from these connectivity drops.

Dated April 9, the newest software update for the three Surface tablets, in the words of Microsoft, addresses the following for Surface RT:

• Certain "Limited Connectivity" issues resolved
• Improves WiFi to handle a wide range of access points.
• Resolves system crashes caused by certain WiFi issues.

The update for Surface Pro has its own share of issues addressed:

• Resolves an issue with on screen touch navigation in the UEFI boot menu.
• Resolves some Surface Type and Touch cover connectivity issues.
• Support for 106/109 keyboards on North American Surface devices.
• Resolves an issue where toggling airplane mode would disable the WiFi driver.

Users can either wait for the next automatic updates look-up, or navigate to Settings > Change PC Settings > Windows Update, and manually check for updates.

This is the third batch of "cumulative updates" for Surface this year, addressing WiFi connectivity issues, the previous being February and March.

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ZTE Rolls Out Geek Atom Smartphone

At the IDF 2013 event in Beijing, smartphone maker ZTE unveiled the not so cleverly named ZTE Geek. An IDF launch naturally hints at the device being Intel x86-driven, which it is. An Intel Atom Z2580 "Clover Trail+" SoC clocked at 2.00 GHz, the same chip that drives Lenovo K900. The chip is backed by 1 GB of RAM, and 8 GB internal storage that's expandable with micro-SDHC.

The 5-inch smartphone features an unspectacular yet acceptable 1280 x 720-pixel display resolution, with its display being accented by a curvy Gorilla Glass panel. In the imaging department, you get an 8-megapixel primary camera with LED flash, and a respectable 1-megapixel front-facing one.

Intel's XMM 6260 soft-modem is in-charge of connectivity, which includes UMTS 900/2100, 802.11 b/g/n, Bluetooth 4.0, and AGPS. Android "Jelly Bean" (not sure if 4.1 or 4.2), is at the helm. Looks-wise, the Geek looks similar to the ZTE Grand S, which the company unveiled at this year's International CES.

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Galaxy Note 2 vs iPhone 5 vs Galaxy S4: Which is the better smartphone on the market in 2013?

You may be choosing between the Apple iPhone 5, Samsung Galaxy Note 2 or Galaxy S4 as all three will be arguably the best handsets on the market this year around the globe. So which is the best? 

While the iPhone 5 has enlarged its screen to a 4 inch display screen, the Galaxy Note 2 has a massive 5.5 inch screen.  This could be a great feature for watching videos or reading, however, a complaint with the size is that you have to use two hands to do almost anything on the Galaxy Note 2.  The Galaxy Note 2's processor is twice as fast as the iPhone 5 with more RAM, and has double the battery size at 3100mAh. The iPhone 5 still has a great battery life of 8 hours(talk time) which lasts you a whole day, but I guess if you want to take your phone camping for a whole weekend with no charger, then the Note 2 is the way to go with a remarkable 35 hours of talk time battery life. 

Jelly Bean while the Apple iPhone 5 has its own proprietary OS, iOS 6.  The iOS system is deemed the better functioning of the two by the public. Apple's App Store has apps that tend to be more polished and with a more pleasing appearance. 

The sleeker look and display would go to the Apple iPhone 5 with the Samsung handset looking somewhat cheap with to its plastic materials.  Both phones have 8 megapixel cameras on the back. The Note 2 has with a 1.9MP shooter on the front while the Apple iPhone 5 a 1.2MP.  The Galaxy Note 2 does have a cool feature with split screen, and even triple screen that is very cool.

So in summary the Samsung Galaxy Note 2 has bigger display and battery, storage and processor.  The Apple iPhone 5 has better price tag, looks, design and the camera with better photos in low light and faster image capture.  The Galaxy S4 has a bigger screen, better battery and potentially revolutionary features.  In the end it comes down to which operating system you prefer, Android or iOS. 

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Lenovo K900 Performs On Par With Galaxy S 4

Back at the Consumer Electronics Show 2013, Lenovo announced its flagship smartphone, the K900. Looking at its impressive hardware specifications, the 5.5-incher features the next-generation Intel Atom Z2580 "Clover Trail+" dual-core processor with Hyper Threading technology clocked at 2.0 GHz, 2 GB of RAM and 16 GB memory.

Among other impressive things, the phone has a 1080p (1920 x 1080 pixels) screen resolution, a 13-megapixel primary camera based on Sony's Exmor BSI sensor, and the Android 4.2 Jelly Bean operating system.

When it comes to performance, the first benchmark score reveal the real power of the latest flagship smartphone from Lenovo. Surprisingly, the device edges out the Samsung Galaxy S IV AnTuTu benchmark test by a small margin.

Looking at other smartphones, like the HTC DROID DNA and the Samsung Galaxy Note II which both use a quad core processors, the K900 achieved about 10,000 higher score.

According to latest rumours, the K900's release date is April 17th and could cost just $480.

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iPhone 5S Prototype Pictured

There has been a lot of talking about Apple's next-generation smartphone. Last month, there were rumours that iPhone 5S is already in mass production and that it will run on the same assembly line as iPhone due to similar design.

However, thanks to GSM Arena we have first pictures of the alleged iPhone 5S. Looking at the pictures, the new iPhone is everything but similar to the old one. The pictures match Apple's patent almost perfectly, which shows the use of curved glass and flexible displays.

As there is no official confirmation, and the images could be easily photoshopped or digitally rendered altogether, take this with several pinches of salt. Stay tuned for further information.

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Google Not After WhatsApp

Late last week, rumors surfaced of Google being in talks to acquire WhatsApp, with about $1 billion riding on the deal. Either the deal fell through, or Google really never approached WhatApp, with the latter now claiming that's the case.

AllThingsDigital got in touch with WhatsApp, its business development head Neeraj Arora completely denied rumors of the company ever being in talks with Google over its acquisition to the Internet giant, and refused to comment any further.

WhatsApp is an extremely popular cross-platform instant-messaging service for mobiles, its apps for iOS and Android earn the company $0.99 per user, per annum. It allows people across IM platforms to send each other mostly text, but also photos, videos, and locations.

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Xbox "Durango" To Be Unveiled This May

Someone, presumably at one of Foxconn's Apple-contracted foundries, took a picture of what they claim to be the front fascia of the 5th generation iPad. If true, it only supports the rumor of the next-generation iPad design being simply an upscaled iPad Mini.

Unlike today's 9.7-inch iPads, which have uniform bezel thickness framing the screen, the next iPad could feature thicker bezels along its breadths, and thinner ones along its lengths. Joining the dots, one could also speculate next-gen iPad's back to look more similar to that of the very first iPad, with sharper edges, and an overall flatter back.

There are different theories surrounding Apple's next iPad unveiling. Some put it just before Summer, along the sidelines of WWDC '13, other in October.

Here's hoping that's not a child's hand with an iPad mini panel.

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Nokia Lumia 521 officially confirmed by T-Mobile, price MIA

Since the turn of the year Nokia has been busy expanding its range of Windows phone 8 hardware that now includes handsets at a variety of price levels, and now the Nokia Lumia 521 has been officially confirmed but the price is still MIA.

We first heard about the Nokia Lumia 521 was heading to T-Mobile back in February and now the carrier has confirmed the device will be available next month, although the company has yet to reveal the pricing for the device.

The handset is the carrier’s version of the Nokia Lumia 520 and could sell unlocked for around $180, and for your money the handset offers entry level access to the WP8 platform that provides users a 4-inch WVGA IPS LCD touchscreen display.

This is powered by a dual core Qualcomm Snapdragon processor running at 1GHz that is coupled with 512MB of RAM, and there is 8GB of built in storage that can be expanded further up to 64GB via microSD card.

There is also a 5-megapixel rear facing camera, Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n, Bluetooth 3.0, A-GPS, and a 1,430 mAh battery unit. The Nokia Lumia 521 will be available via T-Mobile retail channels, Wal-Mart, and Microsoft Retail Stores.

Will you be getting the Nokia Lumia 521?

Follow us on Facebook, Twitter and via our apps: Android and iPad.

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Apple to begin production of new iPad in July-August: Report

There have been news reports in the past which suggested that Apple will be outing its next generation iPad in April 2013. However, in a new report DigiTimes claims that Apple will be commencing production of its fifth generation iPad in July or August. The website claims to have got this bit of information from its sources in the Taiwan-based supply chain.

The fifth generation iPad is expected to come with a 9.7-inch screen and is expected to be thinner and lighter than its predecessor. LG Display and Sharp are reportedly engaged in producing the display of the fifth generation iPad while touch panels are being made by TPK.

As per the rumours, the next generation iPad will have thin bezels, much like the iPad mini. There have been plenty of speculations being made in regards to the launch of the next generation of iPad. Some reports point to an October release, while some recent reports suggested an April release.

Apple had introduced the fourth generation iPad along with iPad mini at a special event in San Jose, California on October 23 2012. Apple surprised many by launching the 128GB version of the fourth generation iPad in February 2013.

The grapevine also suggests that Apple is gearing up to launch an iPad mini with Retina display. Alleged pictures of this iPad mini with Retina display were also shared online in February 2012. As per past reports Apple is cutting shipments of iPad mini in the second quarter of 2013. According to this report, the cutback may be as high as 20 percent in April and the shipments may continue to decrease gradually throughout the quarter to bring total shipments to as low as 10 million units during the quarter.

The reason for these cut backs was cited as Apple’s efforts in adjusting its reserves for the next-generation iPad mini, which is likely to be released in the third quarter.

From gadgets.ndtv.com

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A Review of Samsung Galaxy Mini – a budget smartphone

A Review of Samsung Galaxy Mini – a budget smartphone

It has been a while since I have written a review about an entry-level smartphone.Budget smartphones are particularly one of the subjects that caught my interest because they are affordable and still deliver some of the features shared with its big brothers, the expensive, high-end smartphones. My subject on interest in this post is theSamsung Galaxy Mini GT-S5570. (Also known as T-Mobile Move and Samsung Galaxy Pop for India market) This model is released in February 2011.

Design:

It is a full touch bar design, compact with flashy colour stripe along the side. It is a “mini” so it has to be small, although with its compact size still appeals to both sexes. It also great for an entry-level smartphone especially for teenagers or adults that don’t really want a bulky phone. It is also perfect for a second phone. The dimension is 110.6 X 60.6 X 12.1mm and weigh only about 106.6g.

Performance and Display:

The display is slightly larger than its cousin –the Galaxy Young. It has a 3.14-inch TFT capacitive touch screen with 256K colours and 240X320 pixels  (~127 ppi pixel density) PPI  stands for “pixel per inch”. The Mini is powered by a Qualcomm MSM7227 CPU clocked at 600 MHz which is a little slower than the Galaxy Young’s 832MHz.

It runs on Android OS Froyo V2.2  and upgradable to V2.3 . It is also equipped witj Samsung’s own TouchWiz v3.0 UI.

Applications:

I think the highlight for this phone is its Predictive text input or SWYPE functionality. With this function, a user can write a message quickly by connecting the dots instead of pushing the virtual buttons. Apart from that, the phone also features the following:

• Sensors: Accelerometer, proximity, compass
• Messaging: SMS(threaded view), MMS, Email, Push Email, IM
• Browser: HTML
• Radio: Stereo FM radio with RDS
• GPS: Yes, with A-GPS support
• Java: Yes, via Java MIDP emulator
• Colors: Black
  • SNS integration
  • MP4/H.264/H.263 player
  • MP3/WAV/eAAC+ player
  • Organizer
  • Document viewer/editor
  • Image/video editor
  • Google Search, Maps, Gmail,
  • YouTube, Calendar, Google Talk, Picasa integration
  • Voice memo/dial

Connectivity:

You can connect to the internet either through Wi-Fi or 3G networks. Full data specifications are as follow:

• GPRS: Class 12 (4+1/3+2/2+3/1+4 slots), 32 – 48 kbps
• EDGE: Yes
• Speed: HSDPA, 7.2 Mbps
• WLAN: Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n, Wi-Fi hotspot
• Bluetooth: Yes, v2.1 with A2DP
• USB: Yes, microUSB v2.0

Battery:

The battery is a standard battery, Li-Ion 1200 mAh with a stand-by time up to 570 hours and talk time up to 9 hours 30 minutes. The battery life is quite efficient for normal operation but running multitasking and graphics intensive programmes would decrease the talk time estimates.

Audio:

The audio is fine as long as you don’t expect too much from it. It has sound alert types of – vibration, MP3 and WAV ringtones. It is also equipped with a decent loudspeaker and as well as a DNSe sound enhancement, that may improve music quality compared to ordinary phones. It also has a 3.5MM jack that you can use to plug in your favourite earphones, headphones or even portable speakers.

Camera:

The camera is 3.15 MP (2048 X 1536 pixels) which is better than the Galaxy Young’s 2.0 MP. It is able to record videos at QVGA@15fps and fitted with Geo-tagging functionality. Picture quality is decent enough if taken in daylight conditions. Do not try to compare it with its big brother – the Galaxy S II’s 8MP camera! However, pictures are good enough for posting on Social network sites such as Facebook and Twitter.

Ergonomics:

The compact design will suit both sexes, easy to carry around and can slip comfortably in your pocket.  Those with larger fingers might find it a bit difficult to touch on the virtual keyboard but with enough practice, you might get used to it and eventually love it.

Price:

Advertised price (AP) is around RM520 (US$167) to RM535 (US$174) but if you shop around you might be able to get it at a much lower prices. A quick check on local stores gave me a range of price from RM450 (US$147) to RM530 (US$173).

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Samsung to produce Samsung Galaxy Mega

Samsung to produce Samsung Galaxy Mega

The giant Korean phone maker Samsung is rumoured to be producing yet another “massive” 6.3-inch Android smartphone. The new device will be larger than the current Galaxy Note.

According to a Korean website ETNews, Samsung is perhaps experimenting with the 6.3-inch device if it is acceptable by users. ETNews termed it as a “smartpad” or a phone cum tablet combination (phablet).

The news apparently was leaked by an unknown Samsung official as stating, “As of now, smartphones and smart pads are separate gadgets, but the two will converge into one product under Project Möbius.” The massive device is rumoured to be launched as the Samsung Galaxy Mega.

The rumour also indicated that the Samsung Galaxy Mega will debut in June and will feature Google’s latest operating system – Android 5.0 Key Lime Pie.

Other specs rumoured is a dual-core Exynos processor, an 8MP main camera, a 2MP front-facing camera and available in both black and white colour models only. The humongous phone is likely to be aimed at a mid-range market.

There is no news as regard to pricing or availability yet, and Samsung said it does not comment on rumour and speculation.

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Galaxy Note 8.0 Tablet Arrives in USA This Week

Samsung Electronics America said on Tuesday that the Samsung Galaxy Note 8.0 will hit the North American market this Thursday, April 11. It will be offered through participating offline and online retailers such as Amazon, Best Buy/Best Buy Mobile, h.h. gregg, Newegg, P.C. Richard & Son, Staples and TigerDirect.com. The price? A meaty $399.99.

Sporting an 8-inch WXGA (1280 x 800) screen, Samsung's new Android 4.1 "Jelly Bean" tablet packs an Exynos 4412 quad-core SoC clocked at 1.6 GHz, 2 GB of RAM and 16 GB of internal storage. Also thrown into the hardware mix is a 1.3MP camera on the front, a 5MP camera on the back, and a microSD card slot allowing up to 64 GB of extra storage. Dual-band Wireless N connectivity allows the tablet to access 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz network channels, if available.

"A mid-sized addition to the Galaxy Note family of products, the Galaxy Note 8.0 has the power and advanced technology to enable multi-tasking at home, at work or on the go," the company said. "The Galaxy Note 8.0 is the perfect size for entertainment and productivity, with unrivaled multimedia performance in a compact format. The S Pen has evolved to improve everyday usability with Air View, and Multi Window now supports more apps to perform tasks simultaneously allowing users to do more."

The Galaxy Note 8.0 is the first tablet to feature Samsung WatchON, a new search and recommendation service for finding TV shows and on-demand video content. The tablet also comes with a built-in IR blaster so that it can be used as a universal remote, and a Multi-Windows functionality so that apps like Facebook, Chrome and Polaris Office (20 supported apps total) can be open on the same screen, side-by-side.

The new 8-inch Samsung tablet also features a Reading Mode which adjusts color and brightness to an optimal level for reading. It also allows users to customize fonts and themes so that ebooks, magazines, documents and Web pages are easy to read. All of this is backed by a 4,600 mAh battery promising up to 9 days of usage time and up to 30 days of standby time.

The Galaxy Note 8.0 will be available this Thursday in white for $399.99. Optional accessories sold separately in mid-April will include Book Covers in white, grey, pink or green, as well as USB and HDMI adapters, and a travel charger that connect via the device’s microUSB port.

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Sony Brings DualShock 3 Controller Support To Xperia Phones

Sony is trying hard this year and with already impressive Xperia Z smartphone things just got even better. With increasing gaming accessories for smartphones and tablets, Sony announced today that it has added support for the Play Station 3 DualShock 3 controllers to Xperia smartphones.

This means that users can use the popular game pad to navigate, automatically improving gaming experience. With HDMI support in some Xperia handsets, it is time to connect the device to a television and try some Android games on a big screen.

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