prime

Asus announces Transformer Prime ICS date, addresses GPS and bootloader issues

When Asus unveiled its Honeycomb-powered Transformer Prime tablet last November, it stated that Ice Cream Sandwich would be on the tablet by year's end. As owners of the tablet can tell you, that didn't pan out. However, according to its Facebook page, the company will begin pushing the update to Prime owners worldwide, starting January 12.

That's the boring part though, since Asus made no secret of the fact that ICS was coming. More intriguing however, are the other parts of Asus's Facebook post.

Since the release of the Transformer Prime, two potential issues have come … Read more

Asus could unveil 7-inch tablet at CES next week

Asus may pull the curtain back to reveal a new 7-inch Android tablet next week at CES, but just which one remains a mystery.

Leaking a few details and a possible image of the prospective tablet, Italian tech news site Notebook Italia (English translation) said that Asus plans to unveil a $299 7-inch tablet.

Dubbed the Asus Eee Pad Transformer Prime Mini 7, the new tablet would follow the company's recently launched 10-inch Transformer Prime. The 10-inch version can move beyond its tablet roots with the addition of a physical keyboard dock. Its 7-inch cousin should offer a similar … Read more

Buzz Out Loud 1571: Bon Voyage Microsoft! (Podcast)

It's Microsoft's last CES, we say goodbye, and will it have any major impact on the worlds largest electronics show. Short answer. No. The vote on SOPA gets delayed until 2012, just in time to try to make people forget. Plus, some of the Top 10 lists from the internet meme world! We love you Nyan Cat!

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Hasbro accuses Asus of stealing Transformer Prime name

Hasbro is accusing Asus of hijacking one of its trademarks with the release of the Transformer Prime tablet.

The toymaker claimed in a lawsuit filed in Los Angeles federal court last week that the electronics maker is creating confusion by blending the "Transformers" and Optimus Prime names. Hasbro said in a statement that Asus is counting on consumers associating the new tablet with children's toys to sell the Transformer Prime.

"Hasbro continues to aggressively protect its brands and products and the specific actions we are taking today against Asus underscores yet again Hasbro's willingness to … Read more

Rumor Has It, Ep. 11: Is Google the Internet's next pimp? (podcast)

Wow, today Rumor Has It goes crazy. Things get weird. (But weird in the best possible way.)

It's the first show of the month, which means it is Humiliation Day, and Karyne lost yet again! Emily celebrates by trying out a new accent, and it's not Russian! But then Karyne sort of wins by somehow roping Stephen and Emily into her embarrassing punishment. Everyone is mortified.

After the shenanigans, we discuss Windows 8, laugh at the reported name of RIM's new phone, scoff at the rumored price of the Apple television, and oh man, what doesn't … Read more

Asus Transformer Prime review: The best Android tablet yet?

Since the launch of the iPad 2, I've been waiting for the Asus Transformer Prime. While I didn't know it existed until a few months ago, just the thought of a powerful, robust, and sexy Android tablet has invaded my dreams for months now.

Well, maybe not my dreams, but at least my thoughts. The moment tablets start invading my dreams is the moment I'll know I'm spending too much time with tablets.

So, is Transformer Prime the tablet of my dreams thoughts? Its quad-core Nvidia Tegra 3 CPU definitely gets me excited, but it takes more than just raw speed to truly impress. Thoughtful design as well as well-implemented and useful features don't hurt either.

Throw in that intangible, "it just feels right" quality and you could be truly on the road to something special. Something that could be considered the best in its category.

Check out the Transformer Prime's full review to see how we considered it.

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Samsung Galaxy Nexus impresses in Verizon speed test

It may seem that the Samsung Galaxy Nexus has been slow to arrive on American shores, but there's reason to believe it will hit the ground running.

The Android faithful are placing their 4G hopes and dreams in a video circulating today that shows the new Google Ice Cream Sandwich phone on Verizon's LTE Network clocking in at download speeds between 8-10Mbps. The silent videographer notes on the screen that the test is being conducted over a less-than-ideal connection--indoors and with only two bars.… Read more

GameStop first to show off Asus Eee Pad Transformer Prime tablet

Want to try out the Asus Eee Pad Transformer Prime before it launches later this month? GameStop has your back.

The boutique game retailer said today that it will be allowing customers at select stores nationwide to go hands-on with the Android-based device starting this weekend. The company didn't say where the Transformer Prime will be on display, but did point out that it's the first retailer to bring the device to the public.

The Eee Pad Transformer Prime is the first tablet to launch with the new quad-core Nvidia Tegra 3 processor, which promises an improved mobile-gaming … Read more

Buzz Out Loud 1568: That's just the Google Maps guy, ignore him (Podcast)

The Carrier IQ spy software scandal continues to grow: Al Franken wants an explanation and researchers say it might even be showing up in iOS. AT&T's T-Mobile bid is on death watch, and we perform a live demo of Siri's abortion "glitch" -- biggest problem? It's not search and it should be search. Meanwhile, Google announces that it's planning to map indoor spaces, and we envision a world of Google mapping guys on Segways in the mall and maybe even snooping around our cubicles and kitchens.

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New Google shipping service to go after Amazon Prime?

Google may soon be delivering much more than just information and the occasional gadget direct to consumers.

The Wall Street Journal is reporting that Mountain View is looking to partner with retailers on a service that could compete with Amazon's Prime by offering uber-quick delivery for a small fee. So far, OfficeMax, Gap, and Macy's are reportedly onboard.

The WSJ posits that the concept is a result of Google being grumpy that many consumers have taken to searching for products directly via Amazon's site rather than running the query by the search giant first. The new service would integrate with Google Shopping, which aggregates outlets, including Amazon, that carry a particular product. Here's how the Journal explains it:… Read more