LG to launch Android-based tablet

The launch of Apple tablet iPad seems to have triggered a wave of tablet launches. With PC and hardware manufacturers of all hues making a beeline to launch a tablet device. Latest to jump on the tablet bandwagon is electronic giant LG.

The company is all set to launch an Android-based PC tablet. In a press release, the South Korea-based company said that it would use Google's opensource operating system Android but provided no other pricing or technical details.

According to the company, its first tablet would run on Google Android operating system. So it remains to be seen if the Android-based new tablet will replace or compete with UX10, the Windows 7-based tablet LG previewed at Computex 2010.

The tablet is part of an upcoming line of about 10 smart devices and smartphones LG plans to release by the end of the year.

The company's Windows 7-based tablet UX10's specs include Intel Atom Z530 processor, 10.1" capacitive LED touchscreen display, 1GB RAM, 1.3 megapixel camera, Wi-Fi connectivity, HDMI support and an SD memory card slot.

Recently, world's second-largest PC maker Dell also unveiled its tablet PC called Streak. HP too unveiled its tablet device called Slate.

In June, Cisco Systems too announced plans to launch an Android-based tablet called Cisco Cius, targeting business users.

Sony to launch new PlayStation3

Electronics giant Sony said it will introduce an upgraded PlayStation 3 videogame console in Japan at the end of July, with a bigger memory and a new white version on offer.

The company will sell a 160GB model for 29,980 yen ($341), the same price at which the Tokyo-based company had previously offered its 120GB console, it said in a statement.

It will also introduce a 320GB model for 34,980 yen. Both models will be available from July 29 in Japan. Sony did not indicate worldwide release plans in the statement.

The move comes amid heightened competition between Sony and gaming rival Microsoft, with both giants looking to release motion-sensing controllers later this year in response to the runaway success of Nintendo's Wii.

PlayStation Move wands will hit the market in time for the year-end holiday shopping season in the United States.

The devices let PS3 play be controlled with swings, jabs and other natural movements instead of toggle-and-button commands that have been trademarks of play on PS3 and rival Xbox 360 consoles by Microsoft.

Microsoft's Kinet technology will use a 3D camera and gesture recognition software to let people play videogames using natural body movements instead of hand-held controllers.

Sony shares closed 1.33 per cent higher at 2,361 yen in Tokyo on Tuesday.

Review: Sony NWZ w252

Music plays a major role in our lives. Sometimes it serves as a relief from the loud traffic, or it gives you company in an elevator all the way up to the top floor.

Most people keep their music on their phones as it’s easier to carry it around. However, some of us still like to keep our tunes on MP3 players. Ever since the birth of the iPod, it is customary to compare every other player to it.

Sony has brought out its latest addition to its Walkman line of players -- the NWZ W252. The first thing that you will notice is its weird design. The wires form a heart. It’s also available in vibrant colours and looks quite attractive. The headphones make the player itself and are joined together by a magnetic lock.

Once you put them on, it looks as though you are wearing Bluetooth headsets. The fit is a bit uncomfortable and your ears start to ache in half an hour. Personally, I am not a big fan of in-ear headphones. But that doesn’t mean that the audio quality is not great with them. It’s just that the fit just makes it annoying at times.

They tend to fall off no matter what you do. That apart, the design is pleasant and is definitely going to get some eyeballs. The main music controls are on the bottom of the right headphone. The earlier version -- the NWZ 202 -- had a jog dial, but it’s replaced by simpler controls in the NWZ W252.

While the right headphone has the forward, play, rewind, volume and charging port on it, the left one has a single button for shuffle mode. The controls are located in the right position, which makes this player your ideal gym companion. Since the buttons are located so close to each other, you may mistake the volume button for ‘play’. Chances are that you may leave it on shuffle almost all the time, so the controls shouldn’t be a problem at all!

Another interesting feature is the Zappin mode which gives you a preview of every song in your folder till you find the right one. Once you do, just press play! Zappin works like a charm for those who have a billion songs on their player. To get into Zappin mode, hold down the jog lever for about 3 seconds or so. And the most innovative feature is that it has no power button. Just pull the headphones apart and press play.

Nokia N-series phones to have Linux OS

Nokia Oyj will use Linux MeeGo software in its N-series lineup, hoping the new platform will give it a better chance to battle against rivals such as Apple Inc and Google Inc.

The N-series has been Nokia's crown jewel for years and it dominated the smartphone market before Apple's iPhone was introduced in 2007.

Nokia's next flagship smartphone, the N8, will be the last N-series phone running Symbian software. Symbian remains the market leader for smartphones, but has lost market share in recent years with the rise of the iPhone.

Linux is the most popular type of open-source computer operating system available to the public. Its direct rival on PCs is Microsoft, which charges for its Windows software and opposes freely sharing its code.

Acer Gateway

Acer, the world’s second largest PC maker, plans to focus on its Gateway brand in the Indian market to compete in the premium segment dominated by Hewlett-Packard and Sony Vaio.

While Acer India till lately was selling the Gateway range through Tata Group’s electronics retail chain Croma, it now plans to sell the product through its own pan-India distribution network and multi-brand retail chains.

The company expects the Gateway brand will contribute around 15% to its over-all PC sales in a year.

The company also plans to soon launch 8-10 models in the Gateway range, which will be positioned in the all-day computing segment. Acer believes this strategy will help it to reach the second spot in the Indian PC market by this year, which is currently enjoyed by Dell.