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Toshiba Excite 10 LE to be released in the US March 6 Posted: 29 Feb 2012 11:07 AM PST Previously known as the Toshiba Excite X10, this super-thin tablet was unveiled last January at CES. Besides the thinness and awesome magnesium alloy casing, the tablet failed to impress us all that much. But if you’re looking for a tablet with good looks and average specs, this one can be yours in just a week (March 6). There are two versions of the Excite 10 LE: one with 16 GB of internal storage and another with 32 GB. As we have already mentioned, the tablets will cost $529.99 and $599.99 respectively. This happens to be more expensive than tablets like the ASUS Transformer Prime, which offers a Tegra 3 quad-core processor and improved performance. Not to mention the fact that the $250 Tegra 3 MeMo is also on its way. Toshiba Excite 10 LE Specifications Android 3.2 Honeycomb “upgradeable to Android 4.0″ 10.1-inch 1280x800p IPS display, with Gorilla Glass 1.2 GHz OMAP 4430 dual-core processor 1 GB of RAM 16/32 GB of internal storage (with microSD slot) 5 MP rear-facing camera / 2 MP front-facing WiFi (802.11b/g/n) and Bluetooth 2.1 + EDR Micro USB, Micro HDMI ports At this point, we should expect tablets such as these to be more affordable. After our hands-on time at CES, we loved the build and feel of the tablet, though. If you want the thinnest and lightest, this might be a great option for you. Check out our hands-on video below and give us your opinion. Are any of you considering this device? It sure is good-looking! Gallery Show Press Release Toshiba Brings World’s Thinnest 10-Inch Tablet to U.S. Market World’s Thinnest and Lightest 10-inch Tablet, Excite 10 LE, Available for Purchase on March 6, Starting at $529.99 IRVINE, Calif.–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Toshiba’s Digital Products Division (DPD), a division of Toshiba America Information Systems, Inc., today announced that the Excite™ 10 LE tablet will be available for purchase from select U.S. retailers on March 6. Previously introduced as the Excite X10, the Excite 10 LE is the world’s thinnest and lightest 10-inch tablet measuring just 0.3 inches (7.7mm) thin and weighing just 1.18 pounds (535g). “We have engineered this tablet with premium materials and components, given it elegant yet durable styling and more connectivity options than any other tablet in its class, while fitting everything into an astonishingly thin and light design.” The Excite 10 LE tablet, powered by Android™, carries a starting price of $529.99 MSRP2 for the 16GB model and $599.99 MSRP for the 32GB model. “Excite 10 LE embodies what a luxury tablet should be,” said Carl Pinto, vice president of product development, Toshiba America Information Systems, Inc., Digital Products Division. “We have engineered this tablet with premium materials and components, given it elegant yet durable styling and more connectivity options than any other tablet in its class, while fitting everything into an astonishingly thin and light design.” A More Premium Design with All the Essentials The thin and light Excite 10 LE features a vivid high-resolution 10.1-inch diagonal AutoBrite™ display3, delivering optimum browsing, reading and entertainment. Designed for durability and style, the device also features a high-quality magnesium alloy surface and scratch-resistant Corning® Gorilla® Glass display with an anti-smudge coating for greater resiliency. The tablet also comes with an array of connectivity interfaces and ports on board, including micro-USB and HDMI® ports, a micro-SD slot to share content and files with other devices, plus Wi-Fi® and Bluetooth® connectivity. Stereo speakers with exclusive sound enhancements by Toshiba and SRS® Labs deliver superior audio capabilities. Front and back HD cameras provide convenient photo capture, plus 1080p video recording and video chatting. Smart Multicore Performance with Long Battery Life Powered by the 1.2GHz Texas Instruments OMAP™ 4430 multicore mobile processor4 and dual-channel memory, the Excite 10 LE offers smooth web browsing and multitasking plus the performance for high definition video and entertainment. Extremely power efficient, the Excite 10 LE delivers up to 8 hours of battery life. Powered by Android The Excite 10 LE tablet features Android 3.2, Honeycomb, and will be upgraded to Android 4.0, Ice Cream Sandwich later this Spring. Also included is a full suite of familiar Google™ Mobile Service applications, including the Android Market™, YouTube™, Gmail™, Google Maps™, Music, Videos. Additionally, the tablet comes pre-loaded with a mix of Toshiba software and third-party applications including TOSHIBA App Place, TOSHIBA Book Place, TOSHIBA Media Player, TOSHIBA File Manager as well Netflix™ and Zinio™. Docking and Accessories Toshiba will also offer a suite of tablet accessories for the Excite 10 LE, including a docking station, multiple cases and more. Specifications • Android 3.2, Honeycomb (upgradeable to Android 4.0, Ice Cream Sandwich) • 10.1-inch diagonal LED Backlit widescreen Corning Gorilla Glass display with IPS technology and 10-finger multi-touch support • 1280 x 800 resolution, 16:10 aspect ratio • Texas Instruments OMAP 4430 multicore processor; 1.2GHz with 1GB LPDDR2 RAM • 16GB and 32GB configurations6 • 2 megapixel front-facing camera • 5 megapixel rear-facing camera with LED flash • Micro USB, Micro HDMI ports • Micro SD card slot • Wi-Fi (802.11b/g/n) and Bluetooth 2.1 + EDR • Gyroscope, Accelerometer, GPS, eCompass and Ambient Light Sensor • Stereo speakers with sound enhancements by Toshiba and SRS Labs • Built-in 25 watt-hour rechargeable lithium ion battery • 10.1″ (W) x 6.9″ (D) x 0.3″ (H) • 1.18 pounds (535g) Image Gallery: http://bit.ly/Excite10LE

Verizon to unleash shared data plans in mid-2012 Posted: 29 Feb 2012 10:21 AM PST We’ve seen hints around the internet that Verizon would finally bring family data plans to its network in 2012, and yesterday we learned of solid proof that this is indeed the case. In a statement made to a group of investors, Verizon Chief Financial Officer Fran Shammo indicated that shared data plans would begin to be offered in the middle of this year. While not a firm timeframe, the mid-2012 timeframe does indicate that we’ll see group data plans hit Big Red before the back-to-school season kicks off in the fall. No word on pricing or migration strategies were given, though we expect Verizon will make this package available to new customers first and give existing customers the option to switch shortly after the feature is introduced. We do know that not everyone will be migrated on day 1, as the new billing system will be a bit complex to administer and will take some time to get fully up to speed. Mr. Shammo indicated that a move to shared data plans is an important move in Verizon’s ongoing transition to a fully-realized 4G LTE network. We’re excited to see what Verizon has up its sleeves when it comes to a shared data service. Hopefully it’ll mean family plans that are more affordable for customers, as Verizon is currently known for having the largest, most reliable and most expensive 4G network.

Sony Tablet P hits the US come March 4 via AT&T – too little too late? Posted: 29 Feb 2012 10:20 AM PST After a long wait, last year’s Sony Tablet P is finally making its way to the US next month. The folding tablet will be released by AT&T on March 4, and it will cost $399.99 on a 2-year contract. But is this tablet still worth your attention? The form-factor may be intriguing for the general consumer, though it could be possible that this device simply took too long to be released. With its folding capabilities as the only differentiation, this device features a spec sheet that would have been on par with the competition if it were released a year ago. It simply does not seem that enticing anymore, unless your thing is portability and data connectivity. This device will have 4G HSPA+ capabilities (not LTE), which is something that may still be convenient for some users. Sony Tablet P Specifications Android 3.2 Honeycomb Dual 5.5-inch displays (1024×480) 1 GHz Tegra 2 dual-core processor 1 GB of RAM 5 MP rear-facing camera / 0.3 MP front-facing camera 4 GB of internal storage / microSD slot (expandable up to 32 GB) The market is filling with Tegra 3 tablets (options like the ASUS Transformer Prime are already available), and there are many more to come. The Transformer Prime may not have data connectivity, but performance will be leaps and bounds above that of Tegra 2. Not to mention that most people don’t feel very comfortable about contracts. If you happen to fall into that category, you can also get this tablet off-contract for $549.99, which is fairly high for tablets. Such customers have the option to sign up for the prepaid plans, which are different from contracted customer prices. Users who have signed up for two years only have two options: 3 GB for $35 or 5 GB for $50. Prepaid customers can also pick from a $14.99 250 MB plan, as well as a cheaper $30 plan for 3 GB or 5 GB for $50. We will have to wait and see how this one performs. While there are definitely some much better options out there, the portability and data connectivity may be something that you find yourself considering in this tablet. You won’t find many other devices with the functionality of a tablet and portability that matches that of a smartphone. Do any of you think you will be picking up the Sony Tablet P?

Video: Catch Eric Schmidt’s MWC keynote Posted: 29 Feb 2012 09:44 AM PST Google has made the full video of Chairman and former CEO Eric Schmidt’s Mobile World Congress keynote available for your viewing pleasure on its YouTube channel. I haven’t had a chance to watch the keynote for myself just yet, but Mr. Schmidt spends over an hour talking about the future of technology and how Google will play a prominent role in how that future will be shaped. From 1Gbps and beyond fiber networks, Chrome and Android, to driverless cars to holographs and support for small businesses, it can all be found in Schmidt’s talk, which is embedded below. We’d love to hear your reactions to what Mr. Schmidt had to say in Barcelona. Be sure to drop us a note in the comments.