Will Shanklin
Back when the iPad mini was just a rumor, many of us expected it to be in the same price range as the Nexus 7 and Kindle Fire (US$200). That didn’t happen. In fact, Apple’s budget tablet rings up for more than Amazon’s high-end tablet. But a reputable Apple analyst now thinks the company might do something about that later this year – by releasing a cheaper version of the iPad mini. Read More
Samsung’s original Galaxy Tab was Android’s first iPad rival. “Rival” probably isn’t the best word, though: the iPad sold in bunches while the overpriced (US$600) Galaxy Tab collected dust. Almost three years later, a much more popular Samsung has announced the 7-inch slate’s second proper sequel: the Galaxy Tab 3. Read More
When Google first announced Google Now, lots of people called it a “Siri rival.” The two services do have some overlap, but Google Now is much more than a sassy personal assistant. Like Google itself, Now is all about using data to provide the answers you’re looking for – whether you’ve asked or not. Today iPhone users can finally get in on the Google Now fun. Read More
You get the sense that Samsung wants to be everything to everyone. The Korean company makes smartphones and tablets in all shapes and sizes. It does high-end, it does low-end, and it even does mid-range. You name it, Sammy has either done it or is planning on doing it. So the next items on the agenda should be no surprise: a rugged, outdoorsy version of the Galaxy S 4, and an 8-inch Galaxy Tab. Read More
Shopping for a new smartphone can be overwhelming. Even after you’ve chosen a wireless carrier, there are so many phones – many of which look almost the same – that you might not know where to begin. The choice is made even more difficult by the constantly shifting sands of the smartphone marketplace and this year has already seen a number of major new players enter the fray. So how do you sort through it all? Look no further, as Gizmag breaks down the top smartphones of (early) 2013. Read More
Amazon doesn’t make many hardware products. But the devices it has focused on – ahem, Kindle – have done extremely well. According to a new report, we’ll soon be able to add another Amazon gizmo to that list, as the company is reportedly working on a TV set top box to rival Roku and Apple TV. Read More
If you own an Android phone and you haven’t tried Swype, you’re missing out. The original trace keyboard has been around for years, but it was only available two ways: pre-installed on select devices, or as a “beta” web download. But today Swype has finally shed that beta tag, and landed in the Google Play Store. Read More
The iPad still rules the tablet roost, with both versions handily outselling all of its rivals. But Apple’s two biggest competitors, Amazon and Samsung, aren’t going anywhere. Their latest tablets – the Galaxy Note 8.0 and Kindle Fire HD 8.9” – are both compelling alternatives to the iPad and iPad mini. Let’s compare the specs (and other features) of the Note 8 and Fire 8.9. Read More
Control Google Earth like a Jedi with Leap Motion
It seems like the last few years were all about watching smartphones and tablets get better and faster. But how much of that was really new? 2013, though, could give us some truly breakthrough products. Google Glass, Apple’s rumored iWatch, and Leap Motion could all be big-time game-changers. One of those just teamed up with another big partner, as the new version of Google Earth plays nicely with Leap Motion. Read More
“This is the iPad with Retina Display,” begins the ad. “And this is the new Kindle Fire HD with an 8.9-inch display.” We then see two “stunning HD” screens, with the narrator telling us that we may not be able to tell the difference. Then he drops the bomb: “ ... but your wallet can.” See, the iPad starts at US$500, and this Kindle Fire starts at $270. But is it really the great deal that Amazon says it is? Let’s find out, as we review Amazon’s Kindle Fire HD 8.9” tablet. Read More
