The Pakistani Air Force doesn’t believe in wasting time, personal, or capacity.  So in a super secret Air Force complex where jet fighters and weapons systems are produced, how about we add a 7 inch, Android 2.3 tablet to the production line.

The PACPAD is a tablet that brings together Pakistani engineering and Chinese hardware and is produced at an Air Force base in Kamra, which is northern Pakistan.

According to a store owner in a nearby mall, “the original is the iPad, the copy is the PACPAD.”

The PACPAD is a 7 inch tablet running Android 2.3 and cost approximately $200, making it more in line with a Kindle Fire than an iPad.

The Pakistani military is not yet producing the PACPAD in mass, making only a few hundred of the devices so far.  But according to sources familiar with the matter, the secret Air Force facility has the capacity to produce upwards of 1000 tablets per day.

“It’s about using spare capacity. There are 24 hours in a day, do we waste them or use them to make something?” said Sohail Kalim, PAC’s sales director. “The profits go to the welfare of the people here. There are lots of auditors. They don’t let us do any hanky-panky here.”

via thehindu

All of the buzz, all of the rumors, and all of the speculation is being built up around an iPad 3 announcement.

And perhaps rightly so since it’s  been a year since the last iPad was released – the iPad 2 was unveiled on March 2nd and released in the U.S. on March 11th, 2011 - via Wikipedia).

But I’m afraid we are setting ourselves up for a big disappointment come March.  Because instead of an iPad 3 news event, what you might actually get is an iPad 2s news event.

This might sound familiar to you actually because it’s exactly what happened with the iPhone 5 rumors.  Blogs were being created left and right with “iPhone 5″ in their domain names and all the buzz was about the upcoming iPhone 5.  the problem was, and the big disappointment, was when Apple announced an iPhone 4s instead of an iPhone 5.

And when Apple announced the iPhone 4s instead of the iPhone 5, the world was disappointed.  Nowhere was this more prominent than on Wall Street when Apple’s stock price dropped 5% when the iPhone 4s was announced.

So when Apple takes the stage next month to announce the next iteration of the iPad, don’t put all of your money on an iPad 3.

Because as history proves, you might only end up with an iPad 4s.

Now granted, even if Apple comes out with an iPad 2s they will still be dominating the tablet market space.  Just like when the iPhone 4s was announced, even though people were initially disappointed, Apple is still dominating the mobile world.

Apple agreed in 2009 to pay Chinese computer-display maker Proview about $55,000 for the iPad trademark in a number of countries, documents show. But Proview is still claiming ownership of the trademark in China, Ian Sherr reports on digits.

SHANGHAI (AP) — Apple’s dispute over the iPad trademark deepened Monday after the Chinese company that claims ownership of the name said it won a court ruling against sales of the popular tablet computer in China.

Xie Xianghui, a lawyer for Shenzhen Proview Technology, said the Intermediate People’s Court in Huizhou, a city in southern China’s Guangdong province, had ruled on Friday that distributors should stop selling iPads in China.

The ruling, which was also reported widely in China’s state media, may not have a far-reaching effect. In its battle with Apple, Proview is utilizing lawsuits in several places and also requesting commercial authorities in 40 cities to block iPad sales.

Apple Inc. said in a statement Monday that its case is still pending in mainland China. The company has appealed to Guangdong’s High Court against an earlier ruling in Proview’s favor.

Apple insists it holds the trademark rights to the iPad in China.

“We bought Proview’s worldwide rights to the iPad trademark in 10 different countries several years ago. Proview refuses to honor their agreement with Apple in China and a Hong Kong court has sided with Apple in this matter,” said Apple spokeswoman Carolyn Wu.

Calls to the court in Huizhou rang unanswered.

A letter to Proview’s chairman Rowell Yang from the Beijing office of the law firm King & Wood, which is representing Apple, accused Proview of breaching “principles of good faith and fair dealing” and of making “false and misleading” statements.

Proview, a maker of LCD screens which is based in Guangdong, has asked regulators to seize iPads in China in a possible prelude to demanding a payout from Apple. A Shanghai court is due to hear a similar case on Wednesday.

So far, iPads have been pulled from shelves in some Chinese cities but there has been no sign of action at the national level.

Shenzhen Proview Technology is a subsidiary of Hong Kong-based Proview International Holdings. It registered the iPad trademark in China in 2001 and says the name was used for a computer described as an “Internet Personal Access Device” that employed touch panel technology.

The company says it plans to ask China’s customs agency to block imports and exports of iPads.

Apple contends that it acquired the iPad name when it bought rights in various countries from a Proview affiliate in Taiwan in 2009 for 35,000 British pounds ($55,000). Proview won a ruling from a mainland Chinese court in December that it was not bound by that sale.

Proview International’s shares have been suspended from trading on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange since August 2010 and reports say it is deep in debt. It will be delisted in June if it cannot show it has sufficient assets, business operations and working capital.

Proview has filed a trademark-violation lawsuit that goes to court Wednesday in Shanghai. In the meantime, China’s mass media is abuzz with speculation over the case.

“The iPad trademark case: Who cheated who?” quizzed a story in Monday’s edition of the 21st Century Business Herald.

Apple, based in Cupertino, California, points to a Hong Kong court ruling in July that said Proview had acted with the intention of “injuring Apple.”

According to that ruling, Apple set up a company in Britain to buy the iPad trademark from owners in various markets without revealing Apple was the purchaser.

Proview has accused Apple of acting dishonestly when it bought rights to the iPad name from Proview’s Taiwan affiliate. A Hong Kong court document shows that once the dispute arose, Proview demanded $10 million for the iPad name in China. But Hong Kong’s legal system is separate from the mainland’s.

via Yahoo News, Washington Post

Even better, what about free business apps?

So I decided to put together a top 5 free business apps for iPad list to help you get started:

#5)  Adobe Reader for iPad

Adobe Reader is the free global standard for reliably viewing and sharing PDF documents across platfoms and devices. Easily and efficiently access the widest range of PDF file types—including PDF Portfolios, password-protected PDF documents and Adobe LiveCycle rights-managed PDF files. Now available for iPad, iPhone and iPod touch, Adobe Reader offers fast, high-quality interaction with PDF.

#4)  Cisco WebEx Meetings

Attend meetings on the go with Cisco WebEx for iPad!

With great features like high-quality, streaming video that takes mobile web conferencing to a whole new level, the Cisco WebEx for iPad app allows you to enjoy the full meeting experience with simultaneous data and audio.

Join WebEx online meetings in seconds when you’re away from the office. It’s easy, and there’s no account required.

#3)  Dragon Dictation

Dragon Dictation is an easy-to-use voice recognition application powered by Dragon® NaturallySpeaking® that allows you to easily speak and instantly see your text or email messages. In fact, it’s up to five (5) times faster than typing on the keyboard.

With Dragon Dictation you can also dictate status updates directly to your Social Networking applications (Facebook and Twitter) or send notes and reminders to yourself….all using your voice.  So when you’re on-the-go, stop typing and start speaking – from short text messages to longer email messages, and anything in between.

#2)  Monster.com Jobs for iPad

Never Settle. Stay connected to the premier job search website to discover the latest jobs that meet your needs. Get the Monster.com Jobs for iPad, which allows you to search, view and apply to jobs- whenever you want and wherever you want.

Key features:

• Search, view and apply for jobs
• Access your Monster account— resumes, cover letters, job applications and more
• Use the built-in GPS to search for jobs near you
• Save your job searches
• Set email job alerts
• Edit cover letters

#1)  Documents Free (Mobile Office Suite)

This essential application allows you to edit and manage spreadsheet & text files on your iPhone. Works both online and offline. You can also synchronize files to your Google Documents account and open files on your PC or Mac.

Files can be opened using Microsoft Word and Excel, Open Office, Numbers, and all major office suites.

INCLUDES

iSpreadsheet (a premier spreadsheet app)
Text Editor (to edit basic text)
iPhone file browser (to view iPhone files)
Google Sync (to upload/download documents)

Hope this list helps you get started in your quest for some productive iPad apps for business.  And remember, all of these iPad apps for business are absolutely free!

Let me know what you think of the list, and let us know of other great (FREE) iPad apps for business that should be part of this list.

Here it is folks, some leaked iPad 3 images from Chinese website NextMedia.  Rumors have been on the rise for the past several months as the world waits for the next generation iPad – the iPad 3 – to finally be released from Apple.  People have been waiting a long time for this next generation iPad since the last iteration – the iPad 2 – was first released and on the shelves of retailers on March 11th, 2011.  So it’s been nearly one full year since Apple released an iPad – quite a long time in iDevice years.

via NextMedia, Technorati

LG has issued a press release of their hot new wide screen Android tablet, the LG Optimus Vu, well ahead of Mobile World Congress that will kick off on Feb. 27th.  This tablet has a unique wide screen design that delivers a 4×3 aspect ration, 1024×768 res on a 5 inch IPS LDC display.  The LG Optimus Vu is being released with Android 2.3 with an upgrade to Android 4.0 within the next few months.  However, from what I’ve read yesterday, Android 4.0 may be bypassed completely in exchange for Android 5.0 Jelly Bean OS.  Optimus Vu is set for a March release date on the Korean carriers SK Telecom and LG+ – no word yet on U.S. release.

more pics after the press release

Here’s the Optimus Vu press release from LG:

LG UNVEILS UNIQUE 4:3 RATIO, 5-INCH OPTIMUS VU: AT MWC 2012
With Productivity in Mind, LG Demonstrates its LTE and Display
Leadership with Device that Does, Well, Everything

SEOUL, Feb. 19, 2012 – LG today unveiled one of the most anticipated LTE devices, the Optimus Vu:. Equipped with LG’s advanced LTE and IPS display technology, the Optimus Vu: offers a unique combination of tablet-like viewing with smartphone portability. Running on a powerful 1.5GHz dual-core processor, 32GM internal memory and a large 2,080 mAh battery, the Optimus Vu: is a multimedia lover’s dream device.

“The Optimus Vu: was designed to maximize what customers could do with a smart-phone,” said Dr. Jong-seok Park, President and CEO of LG Mobile Communications Company. “By offering an optimal 4:3 ratio viewing experience, 5-inch display combined with superfast LTE technology, Optimus Vu: is just one example of what we can achieve when we combine our best technology with customer needs.”

The large 5-inch display with bright 4:3 aspect ratio makes viewing documents, books, internet and multimedia contents easier and more comfortable. The 4:3 aspect ratio is optimized for viewing to grasp more at a glance and note taking to increase productivity in everyday life. Moreover, IPS display realizes every color in its natural state for the best viewing experience even under bright sunlight.

Backed by unparalleled speed and performance from LG’s advanced LTE technology, the Optimus Vu: boasts unmatched productivity. Its unique built-in QuickClip™ hotkey allows users to conveniently capture screenshots and memos with a single push. Jotting notes is also possible with a finger or with the dedicated Rubberdium™ pen. Among many productive apps installed in the Optimus Vu:, the included Polaris Office allows users to open any document, spreadsheet or presentation while on the go.

At only 8.5mm, the Optimus Vu: is the slimmest among all LTE phones currently on the market and is perfectly suited for a hand and fits comfortably in a jacket pocket. Despite the large 2,080mAh battery, the Optimus Vu: adopts LG’s exclusive floating mass technology to appear slimmer than its actual dimensions.

In addition to HDMI (High Definition Multimedia Interface) and DLNA (Digital Living Network Alliance), Optimus Vu: comes with 32GB memory and an 8-megapixel camera. While it will initially launch running Android 2.3 Gingerbread, an update to Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich is already in the works.

The Optimus Vu: will be introduced in Korea in March. Additional information on the unique Optimus Vu: can be found at the LG Stand (Hall at MWC 2012 from February 27 to March 1.

Key Specifications:
- Chipset: 1.5GHz Dual-Core Processor
- Display: 5-inch (1024×768) IPS Display
- Memory: 32GB eMMC and 1GB DDR2
- Camera: 8MP with AF LED Flash (rear) and 1.3MP (front)
- OS: Android 2.3 Gingerbread
- Battery: 2,080mAh
- Dimension (L x W x D): 139.6 x 90.4 x 8.5mm

via engadget, lg news room

No sooner are tablets starting to ramp up with the Android 4.0 (Ice Cream Sandwich) upgrade, do we get news that Google is ready to bring us Android 5.0 (Jelly Bean).  The Android 4.0 OS was suppose to bring unity, efficiency, and destroy fragmentation throughout the tablet and smartphone world.  But what we’ve seen mostly is quite the opposite.  The Nexus S smartphone and the Transformer Prime tablet both have received the Ice Cream Sandwich upgrade, yet both of these tablets have been plagued with uncontrollable crashes or sudden freezing – not to mention users that are ready to throw them out their windows.  There aren’t any specifics about Android 5.0 other than a release that fixes the problems hammering Android 4.0.  The way I see it, with releases coming this fast, and negative publicity following tablets with latest OS, Google still has a long way to go to start impressing the market place with its mobile OS.  What do you think?

Oh the irony is almost too much to handle!

Here’s the original iPad from Proview.  The same Proview that is now suing Apple over using the name iPad in China.

Does this “original” iPad look familiar to you?

It should – because it’s a copycat of Apple’s iMac.

So basically we have a company in China that originally copied Apple’s iMac design, now suing Apple over using the name iPad.

I mean – it doesn’t get any better than this!

What Proview doesn’t realize – or maybe they do and just don’t care – is there is no way they are going to extort massive amounts of money from Apple.  Reason being is that Apple is one of China’s biggest exporter and employer.  I believe the Chinese government will deal directly with Proview before letting things get too out of control for Apple.

So what do you think about the original iPad?

Probably not what you expected…

Acer started pushing out Android 4.0, Ice Cream Sandwich, updates to the Iconia tablet on Friday.  The updates are being delivered over the air starting first in the United States, and the full update worldwide will be completed by next Friday.

And so it begins!

More and more tablets are starting to upgrade their OS with the Android 4.0 release bringing faster web browsing and crisper video presentation.  The Android 4.0 OS is reportedly the first and best OS that’s designed specifically for the tablet.  Google is hoping to hedge against some of the criticism it has received from previous OS versions due to fragmentation and the lack of optimization for tablets.

Acer is also expected to be releasing some custom features along with the Android 4.0 update like the Acer Ring shortcut wheel, which will allow for easier access to apps, websites, and social media.

“Customers will experience greater entertainment and productivity with the new capabilities and features on their tablets,” Paul Tayar, a spokesman at Acer, said in a statement – this according to PC World.

Buy:  Wallee Headrest for iPad & Headrest for iPad 2

Who loves car dvd players?

I do, and my kids as well.  But why in the world would you spend your money on one of those “hard to deal with” car dvd players when you can simply buy the Wallee Headrest for iPad?

The Wallee Headrest mount looks to be the easiest – and as manufacturer Wallee puts it, “the most elegant” – headrest and car mount on the market today.

Not to mention the super low price of only $39.

The Wallee Headrest mount locks in simply on the back of any car’s headrest without any straps to fight with.  And with a turn and click, the Wallee Headrest easily mounts and unmounts from the bracket making is super fast to have a movie player for the kids in the back seat.

The Wallee Headrest also allows you to turn your iPad either horizontal or vertical, depending on your viewing preference.  And the Wallee Headrest mounting brackets can either turn in so that one person right behind a seat can view easily, to turn out so the iPad is positioned in between both seats.

Here’s what maker’s of the Wallee Headrest have to say about their product:

Slimline and low profile, the Wallee Headrest mount stays well out of the way when not in use. Attaching or removing your iPad is a simple turn and click, another turn and the ipad switches between portrait and landscape.

Like all Wallee products, we use only the finest and most durable materials. Crafted from anodized Aluminium, it can withstand any speed-bump or pot hole you can throw its way, and all while effortlessly matching your iPads good looks.  

You won’t find any straps or plastic here – those are for beginners.

Here’s a video demo of the Wallee Headrest brackets:

Buy the Wallee Headrest for $39

Here’s a series of images highlighting the Wallee Headerst for iPad:

Buy the Wallee Headrest for $39

The 7 inch tablet market space if filling up fast with hot new tablets.  And one of those that are garnishing some attention is the Idolian TurboTab Z.

The folks at Idolian just announced that the TurboTab Z has received an upgrade to the Android 4.0 (ICS) OS.  Best of all, for those of you looking for a tablet pc on a budget, the Idolian TurboTab Z sells for only $169, a point that the manufacturer quickly points out is “considerably less than the Kindle Fire.”

Perhaps even better, along with the great price of only $169 you’ll also get free shipping on any order from their website that’s over $100 – pretty good deal.

This isn’t the first Idolian tablet that’s graced the pages of Tablet Crunch – oh no… we’ve written previously about the Idolian TORBOTAB C8 Android tablet, that was originally selling exclusively via Amazon.  But it looks like now Idolian is selling the TORBOTAB C8 from their own site as well.

“We are really excited about TurboTab Z Android 4.0 upgrade. TurboTab Z is already getting tremendous feedback from customers for it’s unique design and strong performances even before Android 4.0. Its price of $169 and Android 4.0 will definitely get a lot more attractions. I personally love the design and color combination of TurboTab Z,” says, Debbie Kim, President.

Here’s a video of the TurboTab Z demo’ing Android 4.0 (catch the full press release after the demo):

Here’s the full press release announcing Android 4.0 on the Idolian TurboTab Z:

Newport Beach, CA (PRWEB) February 18, 2012

Idolian.com is pleased to announce TurboTab Z upgrades to Android 4.0. Idolian is a tablet PC manufacturer and distributor with its offices in Newport Beach, CA, Arkansas and South Korea. Idolian’s vision is to produce reliable Tablet PC, priced between $100-$299 that any individual or small business can afford.

TurboTab Z has a sleek new style with distinctive red color rim around its face. It runs on Cortex A9 Chipset, 1 GHz CPU, 512MB, 7” Capacitive 5 Point Touch Screen, Front Facing Camera, 360 G-Sensor, HDMI output. TurboTab Z offers long range WI-FI connectivity and a long lasting battery life (4-5 hours), Android Google Market, Flash Player.

TurboTab Z is the best tablet PC that customers can buy to get true Tablet PC experiences at a lot less that Kindle Fire or Nook Color. Many consumers are impressed with its superior quality and its low price.

“We are really excited about TurboTab Z Android 4.0 upgrade. TurboTab Z is already getting tremendous feedback from customers for it’s unique design and strong performances even before Android 4.0. Its price of $169 and Android 4.0 will definitely get a lot more attractions. I personally love the design and color combination of TurboTab Z,” says, Debbie Kim, President.

Idolian TurboTab Z is currently available to purchase from idolian.com and all the major online retailers such as Amazon and Sears.com. Thanks to its established retail distributions, Idolian tablet PCs will be widely available at cellular locations throughout the USA and South Korea in the near future.

All of Idolian’s Tablet PCs comes with a 1 year limited warranty that is serviced in the USA and offers extended warranties and protection plans for sale only on idolian.com.

About Idolian.com: Idolian.com is division of Idolian Mobile, Inc, Tablet PC manufacturer and FCC 214 licensed international telecommunication company that terminates calls throughout the world. Idolian Mobile Inc. is headquartered in Newport Beach, California and has two branch offices in Arkansas and Seoul Korea.

Like its slogan “Tablets for Everyone,” Idolian.com’s mission is to become a major brand for Android Tablet market that everyone can afford.

via PRWeb

Freedom just got a whole lot closer today!

For those of you who are waiting for a Linux tablet to land comfortably into your hands, your wait just got a whole lot closer.  MakePlayLive.com just published a pre registration form to order the super cool Spark tablet – price tag only €200 ($262).  When you register for the pre order you’ll get a priority code that guarantees you first rights to a Spark tablet right off the assembly line, and you’ll receive 500 free points to go toward the Make Play Live add-on store.

In case you forgot about what this modestly priced 7 inch Linux based tablet will deliver, here’s what a quick recap:

• 7 Inch multi-touch capacitive screen
• 1 GHz ARM Cortex A9 processor with Mali 400 GPU
• 512 MB DDR2 RAM
• 4 GB Nand Flash Disk
• Wireless Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g (3G via USB Extenal)
• 1.3 MP built-in front facing camera
• HDMI 1080P Output
• 2 USB ports
• MicroSD slot
• 3.5 mm audio jack
• Hardware volume and power buttons
• 4 dimensional Gsensor
• Battery: 3000mAH @ 7.4v
• Weight: 355 grams

Not a bad lineup of specs if you ask me.

But most importantly is the freedom that comes along with Spark.  The whole selling angle with Spark is freedom, playfulness, and fun – all combined to advanced who you truly are and the role you play in your world.  With the Plasma Active UX, an open-source OS based on Linux kernel, the developers want to give you free in developing apps and customizing your Plasma to your own liking – not operating in walled gardens where you are limited, constrained, and closed.

Be free, be fun, be creative – this is where the Spark tablet wants to take you!

Register now for your Spark Linux tablet.

via engadget

Sit back folks, and enjoy the news from Newsy directly on your iPad or Kindle Fire.  The company that brought fast moving, high curated news content to your smartphone has now updated their platforms so they are enjoyable – even more enjoyable – on your iPad or Kindle Fire tablet.

Newsy provides short videos of news (thus the name, Newsy) that is organized by categories.  The videos of produced in high, professional quality and you can even read the transcript of the news clip if you lose your patience waiting for the anchor to “get on the story.”

Some of the great features that you’ll get with the Newsy app for iPad and Kindle Fire are:

• share content via Facebook
• share content via Twitter
• put news video in a queue and watch them offline in bulk
• watch video news on your big screen tv with “enhanced Airplay“

According to Newsy president Jim Spencer, “we are committed to delivering users the best in videos news regardless of the device they are on.”  And you can now add the iPad and Kindle Fire to that list.

Get the Newsy app on iTunes here.

There’s no doubt that Amazon’s Kindle Fire tablet is force to be reckoned with in the tablet wars.  Coming out of nowhere in Q4, 2011, Amazon sold an estimated 4 million tablets by Christmas.  I don’t care who you are (excluding Apple of course), that’s an impressive entrance into the tablet market space.

According to research figures from IHS iSuppli, the 4 – 6 million units of the Kindle Fire that Amazon sold was enough to plow its way to the top of the Android tablet heap and garnish14% of the tablet market space.  The next closest Android tablet manufacturer is Samsung who has only 8% of the tablet market space.

One of the huge factors fueling demand for the Kindle Fire is it’s price tag of only $199, followed closely by the near unlimited content made available with Amazon Prime – the $79 “all you can eat” content buffet at Amazon.

And Amazon has only just begun in it’s quest to dominate the world with it’s tablet prowess.  By the end of 2012, it’s quite possible we’ll see even larger Kindle Fire models show up on the front page of Amazon.com.  Rumors have been floating around since late last year that Amazon is already making plans for a 7 inch and 9 inch Kindle Fire tablet.

iPad Is Still King of the Tablet Hill

Make no mistake about however, the iPad is still king of the tablet hill.  Coming in at whopping 64% market share for 2011, Apple sold nearly 40.5 million iPad’s and iPad 2′s throughout the year.

And no sooner before you stop drooling over these figures will Apple will have the iPad 3 hitting the shelves of Apple Stores and pages on the Apple website.  Of course, demand is going to far outstrip supply, so we’ll see Apple trickling out iPad 3′s throughout their logistic system and maybe, just maybe after a few months will the iPad 3 actually hit the international scene.  All the while, those in the Android tablet camp are going to be hard at work fighting for their small piece of the tablet pie.

One number that didn’t (I repeat, DID NOT) surprise me is the negative 24% growth in Asus tablet’s market share.

Oh wait though, I do believe I predicted back in November that the Asus Transformer Prime will fail.  And even though I’ve been hammered for that article literally from the minute it was published, the numbers coming from Asus are proving that – at the very least – I wasn’t too far from the mark.  Certainly, those who were predicting that the Transformer Prime would topple the iPad were obviously smoking some of that good stuff…

Just wait until Jeff Bezos and crew from Amazon optimize their business model with the Kindle Fire.  I honestly believe that if anyone is going to give the iPad somewhat of a run for it’s money, it’s going to come from the e-commerce wizards from Seattle.

What do you think?

The HP TouchPad is making a resurgence here lately.  As a result from both the new leadership of Meg Whitman at HP and from the CyanogenMod team who is working hard to make Android easier to work with in the TouchPad.

Here’s a recent example of the hard work that’s going into the HP TouchPad.

Below you’ll find a video of the TouchPad running the latest Android OS – Android 4.0:

video via MobileBurn

The Future of the TouchPad

So what do you think?  Are we going to see, as Meg Whitman predicts, the TouchPad emerge as one of the best tablet pc’s on the market?

Have you ever been frustrated over your battery dying on your iPad or Android tablet?

Sure, the battery life can be impressive to most users. But rest assured, there are some fire ways you help conserve the juice on your precious tablets.

Different tablet pc’s have different battery life:  If your tablet is an Acer Iconia A100 or something similar, its battery will last only for a few hours, while the battery of the iPad 2, for example, can last for almost a day.

But anyway, no matter how long it is, there’s always some space for improvement.

Here are 8 easy tips to improve the battery life of any tablet and make it last much longer.

1. Reduce the brightness

Just like in case of mobile phones, reducing the brightness of the screen of a tablet is one of the best ways to save a huge amount of battery life. You can also choose a dark wallpaper or background image instead of a bright or white one, and it will also help prolong the battery life of your device for about half an hour.

2. Kill unnecessary apps

There are usually many unnecessary apps and processes running somewhere in the background of any tablet (and smartphone, too), and killing them will help save a lot of battery life.

If you’re using an Android tablet, just go to Settings -> Applications -> Manage Applications. In the menu stop all the apps that are not needed at the moment.

If you have an iPad, double tap on the home menu button, find the app you want to kill and hold down on its icon.

If you’re an owner of a BlackBerry PlayBook, the best way to save battery life is to pause the apps you don’t need at the moment when you’re using other ones.

3. No Wi-Fi, Bluetooth and 3G

The connections mentioned above consume much battery life, so keeping them off when they’re not needed is a good idea. Turning the Flight Mode on will do the trick, disabling all of those connections at once.

4. Say no to push reports and notifications

Push reports and notifications consume a huge amount of battery life by looking for new emails or messages all the time, even if you’re not connected to the Internet, that’s why it’s a good idea to turn them off. After all, you can check your emails manually. To disable them, go to the settings menu in both Android tablets and iPad.

5. Turn off location services

There is a big number of apps that try to track your location, and this also drains your tablet’s battery. Turn them off from Settings -> General -> Location services.

6. Turn off auto updates

Many apps use your tablet’s Wi-Fi to get automatic updates, and this also uses the battery life. You can always update all those apps manually, so turn the auto updates off.

7. Charge the tablet wisely

Don’t overcharge your tablet, since overcharging damages the battery; don’t leave it to charge overnight (as many smartphone users mistakenly do).

8. Keep your firmware up-to-date

When new versions of your firmware are released, always download and install them, since they may include some battery life improvements and fixes, too, so they can be very useful.

If you follow these simple rules, you’ll be able to use your tablet for a few hours longer. Sometimes those few hours are just what you need to finish your current tasks before getting the opportunity to recharge the tablet.

——————-
Author bio

Amelia Hunter is a journalist and a blogger who likes to spend her free time reading and writing about mobile phones, tablets and other devices. She’s a big fan of Android phones and really loves the latest devices manufactured by Samsung.

Take one look at the chart below!

And after you pick your jaw up off the floor, realize that what you’re looking at is the outlook for tablet pc growth through 2015.

That’s right folks, it’s now 2012 (as if I really had to say that…) – so what we are looking at here is the tablet pc growth over the next three years.  That’s not a long time whatsoever.  Yet in the three short years from now, we could see tablet pc’s sales reach close to 500 million units sold.

We already know that the tablet pc is crimping the growth of the traditional pc.  And by the looks of this chart, the tablet pc will be crimping the sales of pretty much anything we call a “computer”.

What are your thoughts?

Check it out:

via BI

via padgadget, wall street journal

According to iMore, who claims they have sources that “have been reliable in the past” (they accurately predicted the iPhone 4S press conference), Apple will be having their iPad 3 press conference on Wednesday, March 7th, 2012.  The iPad 3 event will announced an upgraded iPad that will have a 2048×1536 Retina display, a quad-core Apple A6 system-on-a-chip, and possibly 4G LTE networking.

Of course, these are all speculations at this point since we have yet to hear anything from Apple, and considering that no media outlets have yet to receive an invitation to any event.

For now, the only hard news surrounding the iPad is the drama in China where Chinese authorities are actually pulling the iPad from retailer’s shelves.

More about the iPad 3 news conference as the story (and rumors) develop.

image via iMore

The bad news for Apple’s iPad in China continues.   We told you last week about the copyright violation case being brought against Apple by Proview who claims rights to the name iPad in China (read more about that here).

Basically, Proview owned the name iPad, and Apple purchased the rights from Proview to use the name “iPad” in Taiwan.  But Proview now claims that Apple never purchased the rights to use the name “iPad” in the China.

Fast forward to today…

The court overseeing the copyright case has ruled in favor of Proview.  And as we speak, China’s Administration of Industry and Commerce is confiscating, criminal like, any iPads it finds for sale – basically pulling them right off the shelves.

New reports are saying that stores are now beating the authorities to the punch by removing the iPads from their own shelves, and selling to only to customers who come into the stores and ask specifically for an iPad.

It is not looking good for Apple’s iPad in China – more on the story as it develops.

via BI, Wiki

Ah yes, another iPad 3 leak coming at ya’… this time it’s coming to you fresh from the suppliers who are claiming that Apple is currently testing an 8 inch model of the iPad and that it will have screen resolution close to the 1024 x 768 display on the iPad models.  This might point to Apple wanting to release an iPad that is more affordable, and that will compete directly with the likes of the Kindle Fire – the hot selling 7 inch tablet from Amazon.  The reports on the 8 inch iPad 3 claim that the panels are being produced by AU Optronics and LG Display, and that the slate may run on LTE.  According to Engadget, it’s safe to take this all with a grain of salt because Apple has a reputation for producing prototype that “never see the light of day”.  We’ll just have to wait and see as this rumor develops.

via WSJ, Engadget

I can’t imagine what the tension must be like at the Cupertino campus as executives run around like chickens with their heads cut off trying to find just the right apps to show off the iPad 3′s amazing retina display during the iPad 3 conference that’s reportedly scheduled for the first week in March.

It can’t be fun.

According to insider info at TNW, Apple is in ‘crunch mode’ trying to line up apps to demonstrate on-stage and to show off in new advertisements for the iPad 3.  I’m just wondering how much pressure the guy (or girl) is under who has to search the app store frantically as executives shout out different apps to demo.

via BGR

Estimates for Amazon’s Kindle Fire tablet have just been bumped up from 12.7 million to 14.9 million by Pacific Crest analyst Chad Bartley.  The reason for the jump in forecast is none other than the expected arrival of a new 7 inch Kindle Fire tablet along with a larger 9 inch model, both of which are expected to be released by mid-2012.  “We are raising our 2012 sales forecasts to 14.9 million from 12.7 million,” Bartley wrote. “But we believe there is an upward bias, particularly from the new 7- and 9-inch models, which we expect to launch in mid-2012.”  I’m actually of the opinion that the 9 inch Kindle Fire might be even more popular than the 7 inch Kindle Fire because with a larger screen, all of the new videos and tv content will be a little bit more enjoyable to watch.  Regardless, with the Q4 sales of the current Kindle Fire at around 6 million units sold, there is no question when it comes to the Android tablet marketplace, the Fire is burning up the competition.

via allthingsd

Interesting leaked photo from the USA Today shows that USA Today app for the Kindle Fire has been downloaded twice as much as all other USA Today Android tablet apps combined.  It’s important to note this doesn’t mean all apps have the same figures associated with their download volume, but because the USA Today app has a substantial number of downloads across multiple devices, it’s a pretty good sampling.  These figures give us probably the best representation to date about the huge growth in popularity of Amazon’s Kindle Fire tablet.  Especially compared to all other Android tablets.  Now you’ll also notice that the Kindle Fire’s 230k downloads of the USA Today app pales in comparison to the 2.9 million downloads of the USA Today app for iPad, but also remember that the Kindle Fire has only been available since November 15th (not even 3 months ago).  Although Amazon hasn’t released any solid figures regarding the actual sales number of the Kindle Fire, most estimates put Q4 volume somewhere between 4 – 6 million tablets sold.  And to put that number in perspective, more than 15 million iPad’s were sold during the same period.

via geekwire

There’s been some buzz for awhile now about Apple launching a 7 inch iPad tablet. – or sometimes referred to as the iPad mini.  Mostly though the talk has been negative because Steve Jobs, former CEO of Apple, believed and I quote “7-inch tablets are just too small.”  But with the rising popularity of the Kindle Fire, Apple might be taking a second look at the 7-inch tablet market.  According to Cult of Mac, Ezra Gottheil told Computerworld in an interview this week he expects Apple’s iPad to be accompanied by a smaller sibling when it gets its unveiling, contradicting Steve Jobs’s belief that 7-inch tablets are just too small.  “I believe that’s always been in the plan,” Gottheil said. ”Actually that’s a good form factor for some users, and although they will also charge a premium above other similar-sized tablets, they want to protect that price flank.”  Now if Apple does in fact release a 7 inch iPad tablet at next month’s rumored iPad 3 news conference, then Apple would achieve the “wow” effect they need to revive that passionate fan base that was lacking with the iPhone 4s release.

Perhaps the next big market for Apple is actually the United States government.  In fact, the USAF is ready to place an order for approximately 18,000 iPad 2′s – not a bad day for Apple.  The United States Air Force is ready to replace their huge, inefficient bags of manuals that pilots have to carry around with Apple’s iPad 2.  Each of these manual bags can, in some cases, weigh up to 40 lbs.  ”Moving from a paper-based to an electronically-based flight publication system will not only enhance operational effectiveness, it can also save the Department of Defense time and money,” Maj. Gen. Rick Martin, AMC Director of Operations, told an Air Force publication last December.  This could Apple’s doorway into becoming a U.S. Government supplier with their devices.  And if the USAF needs 18,000 iPad 2′s, then why not just buy iPhone’s for the entire government workforce?  Oh wait… that might not go over so well with the taxpayers.

via seekingalpha

There is definitely no shortage of excitement building up around iPad 3 rumors.  In fact, as the Boston Herald is reporting this morning that the iPad 3 rumors are actually driving up Apple’s stock price - shares currently up 16.49 points or 3.46% @ 493.17 [NASDAQ:AAPL].

The rumors are starting to ramp up just like they do for any new Apple device that is about to be released.  Just yesterday, we reported news that the iPad 3 news conference could happen as early as the first week in week, a story originally broke through All Things D and soon thereafter confirmed with the likes of BGR and The Next Web.  And with an iPad 3 news conference happening in the first week of March, that could put the iPad 3 on the shelves of retailers by the second or third week of March – a day that can’t come early enough for the Apple fan boys.

But what about the reality of the “soon to be released” iPad 3?  Is it really going to be a record breaking device for Apple just like the current iPad’s have been?  Will consumers spend three days lined up outside the Manhattan store, freezing, starving, just to get their hands on the iPad 3?  I think, despite all the buzz and craze surrounding Apple’s newest iPad, we need to step back for a moment and think about what we might truly see from Apple.

I’m of the opinion that despite the typical rumors we are hearing about the iPad 3 – like a potential A6 quad core processor, a stunning display resolution, longer battery life – we need to look no further than what happened recently with the iPhone 4s release.  The frenzy level was at an all time high for the iPhone 5.  Blogs, tv, news sites, etc… were all talking about the iPhone 5 release date, and the latest iPhone 5 rumors like a bunch of starving madmen – the iPhone 5 buzz was truly at an all time high.  Only come to find out, at the end of what was suppose to be an iPhone 5 news conference, the reality is that it was really only an iPhone 4s news conference – basically the iPhone 4 with a few upgrades here and there.

Don’t you think we might just see more of the same from Apple when it comes to the iPad 3?  I mean, just off the top, does anyone really even know if the next iPad is truly going to be called the “iPad 3″?

And look at what all the buzz is about when it comes to the pending iPad 3.  CNET has been covering the iPad 3 rumor mill pretty closely and here’s some of the things they’ve come up with:

• A6 quad core processor
• not any thicker than iPad 2
• extended battery life
• retooled space for new camera
• higher res display

These are all great, but the reality is they are simply spec upgrades from the iPad 2.  Something that is exciting for sure – and as a tech blogger, I’m as excited as the next guy for the Apple’s next gen tablet to be released.  But for the masses of consumers worldwide who are in the market to buy a new tablet, I’m afraid that as many other tablets over the past year have realized – tablets just don’t sell well on specs alone.

What I don’t hear from Apple, or from the iPad 3 rumor mills, are any talks about the expansion of content that’s going to be available on the iPad 3.  Sorry, I take that back – I did read recently about Apple look to bring ad supported TV to iTunes.  But there isn’t anything ground breaking on the expansion of content for the current iPads.

What I do hear a lot of however is the massive expansion of content that Amazon is bringing to the Kindle Fire.  The “thousands of additional TV shows”, hundreds of new movies being available, free borrowing of best selling books, Kindle Direct Publishers being offered revenue sharing royalties, and on and on and on…  Amazon’s focus is all about the expansion of content – and all I hear about the iPad 3 is a faster processor, a brighter screen, and longer battery life.

I’m sorry folks, but I’m just not that impressed!

And hey, you don’t like my predictions?  How about we take a look at one of my most recent examples of “gauging excitement over a tablet release”.  I wrote a piece back on November 29th called Why The Asus Transformer Prime Will Ultimately Fail.  All of the buzz around the Asus Transformer Prime was about how amazing this tablet would sell, how big of hit it would be with consumers, and how much this new “Android 4.0″ tablet was going to change the tablet landscape forever.  I wasn’t buying any of it.  In fact, one of my biggest problems with the whole Transformer Prime buzz was that people assumed the tablet would sell based on specs.

Folks, I’ve said it over and over again – tablets are not going to sell on specs, but on content and price (see the latest Amazon commercial taking shots at the iPad).

And people started ripping me apart because they thought I was bashing the Transformer Prime, or that I was an Apple fan boy – or whatever.  I wasn’t bashing the Transformer Prime, I was simply making a statement about how a tablet’s success can not be pinned on specs – that’s not ultimately what consumers care about.  It’s all about the content.  And with the Asus Transformer Prime, what content are you getting that’s different than the hundreds of over Android tablets on the market?

Unfortunately, I switched my commenting system from Facebook comments to Disqus and lost all the comments – but trust me, they weren’t nice.

And look at what’s happened with the Transformer Prime.  Everyone has stopped talking about it.  No one is hammering me anymore about my prediction.  In fact, there was news recently that the Transformer Prime has been pulled off the shelves of Clove, a retailer in the UK, because it simply wasn’t working properly:

“Because of complaints of faults with the model we took the decision to thoroughly test stock before fulfilling any orders. We are at this time not satisfied that all units we could provide you with are working correctly, and performing to the standard we expect of the unit. We have therefore taken the decision until further notice stop selling the ASUS Transformer Prime.”

The point here isn’t to rehash the whole Transformer Prime mess.  The point here is that the iPad 3 (which again, we don’t even know for sure that’s what it’s going to be called) is all about specs and not about content.  I suppose you can say that with a faster quad core processor and high quality screen that the iPad 3 will deliver a better experience consuming videos and games.  But are customers really upset right now with what the iPad 2, or even the 1st gen iPad is delivering?

I don’t know – I could be way off the mark here, but I’m afraid that I’m seeing a trend in the whole “latest and greatest tablet” game. Manufacturers, including Apple, have not been able to bring the “wow” effect with their tablets – that is, everyone but Amazon.  The Kindle Fire was definitely a “wow” for consumers and continues to impress.  And I’m afraid that we aren’t going to get the big “wow” that you are hoping for with the iPad 3.

It wouldn’t surprise me whatsoever if what is released at the news conference next month is actually an iPad 2S.  Ultimately, we are talking about a few spec upgrades – not a completely different tablet from the iPad 2.  This is all very similar to what we saw with the iPhone 4 and the iPhone 4s.  Everyone wanted an iPhone 5 – in fact, all of the buzz was about the iPhone 5.  But what did we get…?

So what do you think?  Are you really sold on the idea that the iPad 3 is going to be this huge hit from Apple like the 1st gen iPad or the iPad 2?

This is the type of story that you are always excited to see pop up.  In Cameroon, Africa, a 24 year old engineer named Arthur Zang invented the CardioTab, a touchscreen tablet that allows patients in remote areas of Africa to undergo heart examinations such as the ECG.  Once the exam is performed, the results are than transmitted wirelessly to specialists who can read and interpret the exam.  The CardioTab allows patients living in remote areas who are unable to travel to urban centers, the ability to receive medical exams.  According to Mr. Zang, the CardioPad is “the first fully touch screen medical tablet made in Cameroon and in Africa.”  Based on recent tests of the CardioTab, experts have determined that the tablet delivers results that are 97.5% accurate – an impressive feat indeed.

According to Radio Netherlands, which broke the story of the CardioPad earlier this week,

“the tablet is used as a classical electrocardiograph device: electrodes are placed on the patient and connected to a module that, in turn, connects to the tablet. When a medical examination is performed on a patient in a remote village, for example, the results are transmitted from the nurse’s tablet to that of the doctor who then interprets them.”

Zang is currently in the process of seeking venture funding for the tablet and believes that it will be able to save thousands of lives throughout Africa.

via Forbes

Here’s a great deal for you tablet lovers.  How about a hot new Windows 7 based tablet for only $499.  This puppy is 10.1 inches, has 802.11n WiFi, bluetooth 2.1, a 1.3MP front-facing camera, stereo speakers, 2 USB ports, a microSD card slot, and a SIM card slot. Oh, and hit has a 3 cell battery and weighs 1.8 pounds.

This is the sort of tablet that’s going to wind up on a deal site like QVC for around $199, or something like that, in about 6 months.

The Navigator NAV10T ships with Windows 7 Home, but you can upgrade to WindowProfessional for an additional $50 and Ultimate adds $100 to the price.

via liliputing