Bloomberg is reporting today that the BlackPad from RIM (Research in Motion) will be using an operating system built and developed by QNX Software Systems.

Companies that already use QNX software include GE, Cisco Systems and Caterpillar. The move is certainly a departure from what we thought RIM would do. We figured an upscaled version of BlackBerry OS 6 would be used in a similar way to how iOS from the iPhone is slightly modified and made to fit the larger Apple iPad screen. [Read more…]

Today, a rumour is circulating about the Google Chrome OS tablet release date. The rumours indicate that a Google Tablet running Chrome OS could be launching over at Verizon [VZ] on November 26.

November 26th this year is Black Friday which would be a very busy but good day for Google [GOOG] to launch such a product.

Some likely specs that could be seen on a Google Tablet include Chrome OS, Tegra 2 graphics, a 1280 x 720 multitouch screen, 2GB RAM, 32GB SSD and for connectivity it is expected to have Wireless (probably 802.11n), Bluetooth and 3G. Webcams are also mentioned. [Read more…]

iFixit has torn apart another device. This time it’s the tablet/smartphone called the Dell Streak.

The Dell Streak Teardown reveals that it’s quite easy to open up the device. iFixit mention that they were able to reverse engineer the assembly process within minutes.

Before we go on to what was found inside, iFixit also mentioned in an email to us that they were beginning a new rating system as explained below.

With this teardown, we’re starting something new: rating hardware from 1-10 based on how easy it is to service. Our repairability ranking will factor in the good, the bad, and the ugly aspects of servicing the device. A ten means the manufacturer did everything possible to enable repair, while we might award a one to a car with the hood welded shut. We are quite pleased with the Streak, awarding it an 8 out of 10.

[Read more…]

The iPad has been very successful for Apple [AAPL] with 3,000,000 selling in the first 80 days of launch. This high number of sales has effected netbook sales.

Thanks to Apple, ASUS is having to lower it’s 3rd quarter 2010 shipments to 1.4 from 1.5 million the previous quarter. The 2nd quarter was also down from the 1st quarter which was 1.6 million. Normally, shipments would be starting to rise in time for Christmas, so it will be interesting to see what happens there. [Read more…]

We just mentioned that the Samsung Galaxy Tablet firmware had been spotted. In that firmware some details were found about the specs of the new Galaxy Tablet due to be announced at IFA 2010.

We have now come across this screen capture showing the Samsung Galaxy Tablet coming to the Vodafone network in the UK which indicates it will have 3G connectivity built in and perhaps be sold subsidised.

Although the Samsung Galaxy Tablet has been confirmed by Samsung in the past, and confirmed it will run Android, we still lack all the official details including pricing and release dates. Although Vodafone does have it listed on it’s system, it is unclear when it will launch and how much for. [Read more…]

Over here in the UK, a leaked Android 2.1 firmware was made available to download for the Dell Streak on the O2 network. It isn’t clear at the moment if this is an official ROM that O2 will eventually release, or if it was a test ROM.

Over in the US, it appears that the Dell Streak will skip Android 2.1 and jump straight to Android 2.2. This information comes from a member of staff at Dell who posted an answer on Twitter…

@dzerveviktory Honest answer is that it’s complicated. From the info I have, current plan in the US is to go right to Froyo. #dellstreak

[Read more…]

The 35 dollar tablet was recently revealed. It appears to be another type of cheap computing device that probably wont launch at $35 like previous attempts at the $100 laptop. But, we’ll remain hopeful that it does happen.

The video below shows the Android 1.6 based tablet running at some speed although the video looked to be running a little faster. If it runs as quick as it does in the video it will be quite amazing. What will be more amazing is seeing it launch at $35 which we hope it can as that will help out a lot of children learning in the future. [Read more…]

Genius is launching a couple of new Tablets next month. The two new models come from the MousePen series and are called the M508 and M508W.

Each of the tablets have a 5×8 inch area to work on. Each can be switched from a widescreen to a 4:3 aspect ratio when needed. The W on the M508W means wireless, not wide meaning each tablet can work in either widescreen or 4:3 ratio.

Each tablet has 13 keys that can be programmed for custom usage. Dedicated buttons can be found for changing brush attributes, zooming as well as scrolling. [Read more…]

Two new Sony Reader eBook devices could be launched soon if this rumour is to be believed. The two new models include the Sony PRS-350 and the PRS-650 which fall in line with the time of year that Sony updates it’s line of eBook readers.

Sony has a lot more competition at the moment with the launch of the new Amazon Kindle 3 with a very low price tag, and of course the Apple iPad with iBooks installed. Others who are gaining a strong presence include the Nook from Barnes & Noble as well as the Ectaco to name a few.

What we can expect to see from the Sony Reader eBooks is thinner devices, perhaps under 10mm in thickness as well as faster page turns and an improved contrast for better reading. [Read more…]

Dell has finally announced that the Dell Streak will be launching this Friday August 13.

Price wise, it will cost $299.99 when launched which also requires you sign up for a two year contract with AT&T. If you want it off contract then the price is $549.99.

Orders are being taken on August 12 over at the Dell site.

For those who sign up for the pre-sale program, you will get a free second-day shipping upgrade. Also those who pre-order can take advantage of a coupon that allows you to get a Plantronics Bluetooth earpiece for just 99 cents (while stock is available). [Read more…]

The Notion Ink Adam tablet looked very promising when we first stumbled across it a few months back. The first time we saw it was back in February. Shortly after that we heard it was being delayed, and delayed again. We now hear that it has been delayed till the year end due to problems with investors.

From what we understand, the company has lost investors and has lost money also which is the main reason for the delays.

The sad part about all this is that this particular tablet looks like it could be in with a chance of doing well. It’s innovative, looks good and appears to perform well… but with the delays it’s looking less likely that we will ever see it. [Read more…]

We have heard quite a bit from various places about HP’s plans for tablet based devices. It first started off early this year when the HP Slate was mentioned. The device was announced by Microsoft [MSFT] and was set to run a version of Windows 7.

HP then purchased Palm and along with that was webOS. We then heard that the HP Slate was being scrapped in favour of a webOS tablet (possibly called the Hurricane). Android from Google [GOOG] was also mentioned along with plans for another Windows 7 Compact Edition tablet.

The latest we now hear is related to a webOS based tablet from HP. According to Engadget, the webOS based tablet is being launched in the first quarter of 2011, or at least this is what all the staff at HP have been told. [Read more…]