As expected, Flipboard for Android has been pulled off of the Samsung Galaxy S III and is now available for all to download. The popular social news magazine app was going to be an exclusive on Samsung’s flagship smartphone for an unspecified amount of time, however an XDA-Developers forum member was able to extract the APK file from the unreleased device. The app runs perfectly on the Galaxy Nexus, and reportedly works on older devices like the original Galaxy S and various Android tablets as well. Flipboard for Android can be downloaded by following the link below.

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The latest rumors out of the Far East indicate that Apple’s next-generation iPhone will launch in the fall, as will a new 10-inch iPad. Apple supplier Pegatron Technology has reportedly landed orders for the Cupertino-based company’s latest handset and according to Taiwan-based supply chain makers, the device is slated for a September launch, Digitimes reported. The publication also claims Pegatron has received orders for a new 10-inch iPad to be released in the fourth quarter of 2012. John Gruber of Daring Fireball has previously called the fourth quarter iPad report “completely made-up nonsense,” however. Pegatron currently manufacturers both the iPhone 4S and the new iPad, but Digitimes claims the long rumored 7-inch iPad, which will supposedly be released in August, will be manufactured by Foxconn.

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Apple’s new iPad will be launching in 23 new countries on Friday, May 11th and seven additional markets on Saturday, May 12th. Despite the massive expansion, the Cupertino-based company’s latest tablet PC will still be unavailable in China, where the company is instead promoting the iPad 2. On May 11th the tablet will launch in Argentina, Aruba, Bolivia, Botswana, Brazil, Cambodia, Chile, Costa Rica, Curaçao, Ecuador, French Guiana, Guadeloupe, Jamaica, Kenya, Madagascar, Malta, Martinique, Mauritius, Morocco, Peru, Taiwan, Tunisia, Vietnam. On May 12th the new iPad will be available in Bahrain, Egypt, Jordan, Kuwait, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates. Following this weekend’s expansion, Apple’s newest iPad will be available in nearly 90 countries around the world.

[Via MacRumors]

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NPD Group on Thursday released the results of its Apple Ecosystem Study, which suggests that almost 25% of U.S. iPad owners are first-time Apple buyers. The firm’s data, as reported by AppleInsider, indicated that 33% of U.S. households own Apple products, with a majority owning an iPod. That number is growing beyond the 37 million American households the Cupertino-based company’s products are already found in, thanks to Apple’s flagship tablet. “iPad sales are growing much faster than any other Apple product has this soon after launch,” said Ben Arnold, director of industry analysis at NPD. “In fact, one-in-five Apple owner households has one — nearly equivalent to the number that own an Apple computer. This demonstrates the appeal of both the new form factor and Apple’s app ecosystem.” The study found that six out of ten homes with a Mac also own a Windows PC, and nearly 30% of so-called “Apple enthusiasts” own a smartphone other than the iPhone. The data comes from a survey NPD conducted in February of more than 3,000 consumers.

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Apple and Proview have initiated talks in an attempt to resolve an ongoing legal dispute over the iPad trademark, IDG News Services reported on Friday. Earlier this week, a Chinese high court recommended the two companies find a way to mediate the ongoing dispute. The mediation talks were voluntary, however both companies agreed to meet. “I think there is some hope the talks will lead to a resolution,” Zhao Zhanling, a legal expert on China’s information technology law, said, adding that if the negotiations were to fail, the higher court will be forced to move ahead and make a ruling. Apple and Proview have been locked in a high-profile legal dispute over whether or not Apple has the right to use the use the iPad name in China and elsewhere. If Apple were to lose the case, the Cupertino-based company could be banned from selling the iPad in China. Apple maintains that it licensed the trademark from Proview in 2009, however the Chinese company claims the transaction in question is invalid.

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The United States Patent and Trademark Office recently published details on a Microsoft patent relating to a two-sided smart device display system for phones and tablets, PatentBolt reported on Friday. The invention features an integrated second low-power, possibly E Ink, display on the back side of a smartphone or tablet that would contain certain types of information. The secondary display could provide vendors with an opportunity to move standard items like a clock off of the main display to free up space, or it could display a variety of other information that might otherwise not be shown. The second display would use its own low-powered processor and may reduce the power load from a device’s primary display. The patent appears to be similar in intent to Samsung’s “smart-device-skins” invention — a technology that may allow users to change the appearance of a handset using chameleon-like technology — and it could be used to display images or animations on the back side of a device.

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Not only will Samsung’s Galaxy S III event see the company launch its latest flagship smartphone and its S-Cloud service, but the latest rumors suggest we may even see a new Galaxy Tab. CNET Asia cites an unnamed source in reporting that the South Korea-based manufacturer will unveil a new 10.1-inch Galaxy Tab to complement its latest handset. The tablet will reportedly include a dual-core processor, and will not be the Galaxy Tab 2 (10.1), which was recently rumored to be getting a quad-core upgrade. Additional details are scarce, but but perhaps we’ll finally see Samsung unveil the high-definition slate we were hoping to see at Mobile World Congress.

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While we may finally have pricing and release dates for a majority of Samsung’s updated Galaxy line of music players and tablets, launch details for the Galaxy Note 10.1 that debuted at Mobile World Congress in February has remained a mystery. A company spokesperson told The Verge on Wednesday that Samsung has no release date to announce for the device yet, but the slate that was revealed in February may not match the final product that will will ship to end users. The “original” Galaxy Note 10.1 featured a 10.1-inch 1280 x 800-pixel display and was equipped with a dual-core Exynos processor clocked at 1.4GHz, 1GB of RAM and a 3-megapixel rear camera. Earlier rumors have suggested that Samsung may upgrade the slate to a quad-core Exynos 4412 processor clocked at 1.5GHz.

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Toshiba on Tuesday announced an expansion of its Excite family of Android tablets. The new Excite slates are equipped with thinner and lighter designs, high definition displays and a wide range of ports and features. Toshiba will release a 7.7-inch model, a 10.1-inch model and a 13.3-inch model, and all three slates feature scratch-resistant Corning Gorilla Glass, quad-core NVIDIA Tegra 3 processors, 5-megapixel rear and 2-megapixel front-facing cameras, expandable storage slots, 1GB of RAM and the latest version of Android — Ice Cream Sandwich. The Excite 10 tablet will be available on May 6th starting at $449.99 for the 16GB model, while the Excite 7 and Excite 13 will be available June 10th starting at $499.99 and $649.99 respectively. Read on for Toshiba’s press release.

TOSHIBA SET TO EXCITE THE TABLET MARKET WITH NEW 10-, 13- AND 7.7-INCH TABLETS

Toshiba Introduces Three New Android-powered Tablets, Giving Consumers More Choice

IRVINE, Calif. – Apr. 10, 2012 – Toshiba’s Digital Products Division (DPD), a division of Toshiba America Information Systems, Inc., today announced the expansion of its Excite™ family of Android™-powered tablets with three new display sizes – 13.3-inch, 10.1-inch and 7.7-inch. The new Excite tablets boast thin-and-light designs, brilliant displays, quad-core performance as well as a full range of essential ports and smart features.

“One size does not fit all, so we are carefully considering how and where people are using tablets and designing form factors to best suit various needs,” said Carl Pinto, vice president of product development, Toshiba America Information Systems, Inc., Digital Products Division. “With amazingly thin and light designs, our new Excite family of tablets continues to incorporate what consumers have come to love about Toshiba tablets: essential ports for a more complete tablet computing experience plus durability that ensures they can go the distance.”

Powered to Perform, Built to Last and Designed to Excite

The three new tablets – Excite 10, Excite 13 and Excite 7.7 – feature elegant and sturdy aluminum shells and scratch-resistant Corning® Gorilla® Glass displays, making them not only stylish, but also durable. Powered by Android 4.0, Ice Cream Sandwich, which builds on the things people love most about Android – the tablets offer a simplified UI, easy multitasking, customizable home screens, resizable widgets and a full suite of familiar Google™ mobile services applications – as well as powerful new ways of communicating and sharing.
From scrolling and swiping the web, to the fast action of the latest games, the Excite tablets’ all-new NVIDIA® Tegra™ 3 processors deliver amazing multitasking, web, gaming and video. This innovative mobile processor features the world’s only 4-PLUS-1™ mobile quad-core CPU, providing users outstanding performance for even the most demanding applications. Apps run faster, games are played at console-quality, HD video is smoother, plus it features a unique 5th battery-saver core to handle everyday apps – extending battery life.

Each tablet is equipped with a 5-megapixel camera on the back, along with a 2-megapixel front-facing shooter for convenient photography, video capture and chat. The tablets also include stereo speakers with exclusive sound enhancements by Toshiba and SRS® Labs, as well as Wi-Fi® and Bluetooth® connectivity.

Excite 10: Smart, Speedy, Durable

An all-around tablet designed for home and away, the Excite 10 tablet delivers an exceptional visual experience, featuring a bright, high definition 10.1-inch diagonal AutoBrite™ LED Backlit display with 1280×800 resolution and 10-finger multi-touch support, making it an ideal choice for web browsing, reading, games and apps. Measuring just 0.35 inches thin and weighing just 1.32 pounds, the Excite 10 tablet is extremely portable and delivers up to 10 hours of battery life and seven days of stand-by.

Delivering more performance than previous generation tablets, the Excite 10 tablet is powered by a quad-core NVIDIA® Tegra™ 3 processor with GeForce graphics and 1GB of RAM, opening up new possibilities for everyday multi-purpose use and next generation mobile games. Built to do more than the average tablet, users can enjoy easy syncing and sharing between all of their favorite devices, with a selection of built-in ports, including Micro USB, Micro HDMI® and a full-size SD card slot.

Excite 13: More Screen for More of Everything

Delivering more screen real estate than any other tablet on the market, the Excite 13 tablet offers a big, bright, higher resolution display, while delivering more room for everything else – from sharing photos and web browsing to playing games and watching movies with a group. Ideally suited for the home, from growing families to empty nesters, the Excite 13 tablet is only 0.4 inches thin and weighs 2.2 poundsviii, so it is still easy to carry.

With a 13.3-inch diagonal AutoBrite™ LED Backlit display with 10-finger touch support, the tablet boasts a cinematic 16:9 aspect ratio and 1600×900 native resolution, perfect for watching HD movies and videos. A four-speaker sound system with exclusive sound enhancements by Toshiba and SRS Labs delivers amazing audio and an included tablet stand makes it easy to prop up on a table, kitchen countertop or coffee table to share videos with friends and family.

Not only great for movies, the Excite 13 tablet can power through the latest games and multitask with ease. Powered by the quad-core NVIDIA Tegra™ 3 mobile processor with GeForce graphics and 1GB of memory, the large display tablet offers smooth, console-quality gaming plus the performance for high definition entertainment. Extremely power efficient, the Excite 13 tablet is targeted to deliver up to 13 hours of battery lifex and seven days of stand-by. The Excite 13 tablet includes Micro USB, Micro HDMI® ports and a full-size SD card slot for syncing and sharing content.

Excite 7.7: A Brilliant AMOLED Display

Toshiba’s first tablet to feature an AMOLED display, the Excite 7.7 tablet is ideal for consumers on the go and is perfect for the mobile gamer and movie lover alike. The tablet’s brilliant 7.7-inch diagonal display brings games, movies, books and photos to life like never before with rich colors, deep contrast and amazing sharpness. Extremely thin at just 0.3 inches and light at only 13.4 ounces, Excite 7.7 fits easily into a bag or jacket.

Exceptionally powerful and able to tackle the latest games and HD content, the Excite 7.7 tablet is powered by a quad-core NVIDIA® Tegra™ 3 processor with GeForce graphics and 1GB of memory. The tablet includes a Micro USB port and a Micro SD card slot for syncing and sharing content.

The Convenience of Android and Exclusive Toshiba Apps
The new Excite tablets include a full suite of familiar Google™ Mobile Service applications, including Google Play™, YouTube™, Gmail™ and Google Maps™. Additionally, the tablets come pre-loaded with a useful mix of Toshiba software and third-party applications, including TOSHIBA Book Place, which offers more than 3 million e-books, the TOSHIBA Media Player that supports content sharing, TOSHIBA File Manager, as well as Netflix™ and Zinio™, the ultimate app for magazine lovers and more.

Pricing and Availability
The Excite 10 tablet will be available for purchase on May 6, 2012 for $449.99 MSRP for the 16GB model, $529.99 MSRP for the 32GB model and $649.99 MSRP for the 64GB model.

The Excite 7.7 tablet will be available for purchase on June 10, 2012 for $499.99 MSRP for the 16GB model and $579.99 MSRP for the 32GB model.

The Excite 13 tablet will be available for purchase on June 10, 2012 for $649.99 MSRP for the 32GB model and $749.99 MSRP for the 64GB model.

These tablets will be available at major retailers, e-tailers and direct from Toshiba at ToshibaDirect.com.

The City of New York is reportedly planning to revive 250 old phone booths with the introduction of 32-inch Internet-ready “smart screens” throughout the five boroughs, The New York Post reported on Monday. The touch-screens will display local neighborhood information in multiple languages, including lists of nearby restaurants, stores in the area, traffic updates, landmark information and safety alerts. If the pilot program is successful, the futuristic screens could replace all of the city’s 12,800 outdoor pay phones. “The goal is to pilot it and see what the response is,” said Nicholas Sbordone, a spokesman for the city’s department of Information Technology & Telecommunications. “It will help inform the city’s ongoing reassessment, with public input, of what we want or what we think the future of public pay phones will entail.” Read on for more.

According to City 24×7, the company that will install and maintain the smart screens, the new devices will actually be more sanitary than the average ATM machine. “They’re built to be cleaned with a jet hose,” said CEO Tom Touchet. “They’re waterproof and dust-proof.” The smart screens will even be able to make Skype calls, check email and serve as Wi-Fi hotspots, he said. To prevent anonymous trolling, the tablet’s search capabilities will be both protected and controlled.

The technology won’t cost the city anything and will eventually deliver revenue through advertisements. Once the program exits the pilot stage, the city will receive a 36% cut of all ad revenue.

In addition to the 32-inch displays, the city is planning to roll out out 22-inch touch-screens to pay phones located underground in subway stations. The underground units will be equipped with cameras for video applications, as well as power outlets so users can charge their phones while buying access to the Web, checking email and using apps.

The pilot program and initial 250 smart screens are scheduled to be unveiled next month, The Post said.

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The Google-branded Nexus tablet the search giant is rumored to be co-developing with ASUS may be pushed back until July. Earlier reports had the device slated for launch some time in June, with an unveiling possibly set for Google’s annual I/O conference on June 27th. Unnamed sources informed The Verge on Friday that Google pushed back its planned release so it could tweak the device, however. The 7-inch tablet is supposedly equipped with a quad-core NVIDIA Tegra 3 processor, Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich and Wi-Fi connectivity. The device would reportedly cost $249 in its current state, but Google and ASUS are both looking to reduce the price. Earlier rumors indicted that the Mountain View-based company was attempting to offer the tablet for as little as $149. It has also been speculated that Google could be delaying the planned release in order to pre-load its tablet with the next version of Android — Jelly Bean. The Verge claims this scenario is unlikely though, as the current product is designed for Android 4.0.

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When ASUS announced the PadFone at this year’s Mobile World Congress, the company promised the hybrid device would begin shipping in April. Staying true to its world, ASUS on Thursday revealed that pre-orders will begin on Friday and the device will launch on April 20th in Taiwan, Engadget reported. The 4.3-inch Android-powered smartphone will be priced at NT$17,990 ($610) on its own and the dockable tablet and keyboard will cost roughly $240 and $130, respectively, bringing the PadFone’s total cost with accessories to $980 in Taiwan. ASUS will also be offering an extra battery as a bonus to those who pre-order the device. The handset features a dual-core Qualcomm Snapdragon S4 processor, an Adreno 225 graphics processor and an 8-megapixel rear camera. The device also has the unique ability to dock inside a tablet shell that will deliver a 10.1-inch display, a tablet UI and a new range of functionality. The company has not announced further details regarding the PadFone’s global availability.

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The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission on Tuesday claimed that Apple is using misleading promotions for its new iPad tablet, Reuters reported. The ACCC will ask an Australian high court on Wednesday to order the Cupertino-based company to make customers aware of the true technical capabilities of the device, correct its current advertising and refund any affected buyers. Apple’s newest iPad can utilize 4G LTE networks, however it can only do so in North America. The company has still advertised the device as a “4G” tablet in countries where it is not compatible. Australian carrier Telstra offers the country’s only 4G LTE network, but it uses different spectrum than carriers in the United States and Canada.

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After reportedly failing to meet Apple’s quality requirements, Sharp and LG Display have now apparently begun shipping a small volume of displays for the new iPad, DigiTimes reported on Friday. “The supply of panels for the new iPad has improved recently, with LG Display and Sharp to ramp up their shipments in the second quarter, which will also result in a significant increase in shipments of the new iPads in the quarter and onwards,” Digitimes’s unnamed industry source said. An earlier report suggested that Samsung was the sole supplier of displays for Apple’s new iPad tablet, but that report was quickly countered.

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Sony Japan on Thursday confirmed that an Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich update is soon headed to the Tablet S and Tablet P. Sony Tablet owners will receive an Android 4.0.3 update next month, however it is unclear if this is only for the Japanese market. Along with Google’s latest operating system, the update will also expand the tablet’s photo capabilities, allowing the photo app to be launched from the lock screen and enabling users to take panoramic pictures. A new “Recopla” app will also be included in the update for viewing TV programs that have been recorded on Sony Blu-ray players, along with a “Small Apps” feature that lets users multitask more efficiently. Lastly, Sony also announced a Wi-Fi-only version of its Tablet P that will launch on April 21st.

[Via Engadget]

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