nexus

Tablet shipments now expected to hit 117 million this year

New products and growing consumer demand could trigger a surge in global tablet shipments to 117 million for 2012, according to IDC.

The new forecast is an increase over IDC's previous prediction, which was looking for tablet shipments of 107 million for the year. Peering over the horizon, the research firm now expects shipments to reach 166 million next year, up from its prior estimate of 142 million. And by 2016, shipments could soar as high as 261 million.

"Despite ongoing economic concerns in most regions of the world, consumers continue to buy tablets in record numbers, and … Read more

Episode 13: the Nexus 7 tablet is a delicate flower

In the Season 2 premiere of Always On, the Google Nexus 7 takes a beating. Well, it wouldn't be fair to say it takes a beating. It receives a beating, and frankly, doesn't handle it very well. It's one of our more dramatic Torture Tests, and I think it points out that sometimes, you do get what you pay for when it comes to quality and durability. The Nexus 7 is a great tablet in many respects but, well. It's not the toughest little thing. You'll see what I mean.

We'll find out in … Read more

Sprint's Nexus S 4G, Galaxy Nexus to taste Jelly Bean first

Sprint today confirmed that Android 4.1 Jelly Bean rollouts have begun for the Samsung Galaxy Nexus and Samsung Nexus S 4G.

The updates will be made available to consumers over the air and will not require Samsung Kies. According to Sprint, Android 4.1 will download in the background and notify users when it's ready to install.

As we first learned in June, Jelly Bean brings a number of new features to Android devices, including enhanced notifications, Google Now, and smarter widget management.

Sprint also reiterates the added accessibility features that come with Android 4.1. Once these … Read more

iPad Mini mock-up pics emerge

Alleged mock-ups of Apple's iPad Mini emerged today, courtesy of French Web site Nowhereelse.fr.

The photos show a mock-up of the iPad Mini, with a white front, held in various angles. Another photo shows the cases of the larger and smaller iPad stacked with an iPhone 4S and what appears to be the case for the longer iPhone 5.

The photos, which Nowhereelse.fr spotted from Chinese site Dgtle.com, are apparently intended to showcase iPad Mini accessories. It's unclear whether these mock-ups represent the actual iPad Mini, and Apple has declined to comment to CNET.

The … Read more

Always On returns with Nexus 7 Torture Test and more

It's a little unusual for a Web show to have "seasons," I know, but we are trying to create something here that's equal in length and quality to our broadcast cousins, and you can't just do that week after week. So, I know an eight-week season seems a bit on the short side, but hopefully so does a four-week production break.

And when I say "break," believe me, I don't mean we took a break. I had one of the best summers in recent memory: I jumped out of a helicopter to … Read more

Rejoice! Kindle FreeTime brings multi-user support to tablets

The biggest game changer from Amazon's Kindle Fire announcement yesterday wasn't the pricing, dual WiFi antennas or Dolby Digital Plus sound. Rather, it was that Amazon became the first major tablet maker to allow different people to have their own accounts on the same device.

Think how commonplace this is for traditional personal computers. Mac or Windows, both platforms allow multiple people to use the same machine, logging in with different accounts that are linked to their own settings, data, applications and perhaps even special restrictions. But for tablets, it's been the dark ages.

I've found … Read more

Android 4.1.1 rolls out to Galaxy Nexus, Nexus S 4G via Sprint

Galaxy Nexus and Nexus S 4G owners on Sprint's network are now getting a bite of Jelly Bean.

As of yesterday, Android 4.1.1, aka Jelly Bean, has been available for Nexus users through an over-the-air update. Owners of the Samsung phone can follow the steps on Sprint's Galaxy Nexus update page to download and install the latest version if they don't already have it.

The Nexus S 4G is also getting the Jelly Bean treatment over Sprint's network. Like the update for the Galaxy Nexus, this one is available over the air. Users will … Read more

Kindle Fire HD vs. Nexus 7: Which one is right for you?

When Amazon launched the original Kindle Fire in 2011, the $199 tablet was a surprise hit that reigned as one of the top budget tablet options. But that reign came to a dramatic end with the introduction of the Nexus 7, Google's flagship Android 4.1 tablet.

To keep things interesting, Amazon just upped the ante with a Kindle Fire HD, offering several key hardware improvements, overhauled software, and that same $199 price tag. And while it's not likely to send Google back to the drawing board, the Kindle Fire HD does offer an interesting alternative to the pure Android experience of the Nexus 7.

Which of these $199 tablets is right for you? It's a tough call, so let's weigh the pros and cons and check the specs.… Read more

Kindle Fire HD: Amazon's anti-Apple profit engine

Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos may model his presentation skills after the late Steve Jobs, but his company's business model looks more like the Bizarro version of Apple.

Take today's announcement of several new Kindle Fire tablets, as well as a discounted price on the original. Amazon is hardly making a large profit on these competitively priced products, something Bezos is quick to own up to.

"We want to make money when people use our devices, not when they buy our devices," he said during an event in Santa Monica, Calif., today.

The three versions of the … Read more