T-mobile G1 smart phone - with Google’s Android Operating System was launched today

What is Android - Android is a software stack for mobile devices that includes an operating system, middleware and key applications. It is developed and continuously being improved by google and other programmers as its open source.

T-Mobile officially announce the first Android-powered handset on Sept. 23. Dream (or G1)  (that’s what the phone was called before the launch) sport a large touch screen that flips out to reveal a full QWERTY keyboard. The phone is now called the T-Mobile G1.

T-Mobile USA’s parent company Deutsche Telekom will also be selling the device starting in November in the United Kingdom through its T-Mobile service. And the phone will be available throughout the rest of Europe via T-Mobile starting in the first quarter of 2009.

The smartphone has built-in Wi-Fi, GPS, and is capable of using T-Mobile’s expanding 3G network. It’s expected to be on sale in mid-October, and the handset will undoubtedly have an entire industry watching it. For Google, Android is all about getting mobile users on the Internet where the search company can use its expertise to provide a better user experience. The operating system is royalty-free so hardware manufacturers can potentially spend their money on better hardware or on research and development.

Additionally, Google wants to make it easier for mobile users to download and add applications to their mobile devices like they can on a PC. The open source nature will potentially allow others to improve the software, like with the desktop Linux. The Linux-based open source platform and the Google-backed Open Handset Alliance are seeking to merge the openness of the Internet with the mobile space.

Android’s Demo

G1 offers an experience that is hard to match on other smartphones. Google applications, such as Gmail and Google Search have been tightly integrated into the phone’s directory, making it easy and intuitive to quickly send e-mails or forward Web links to contacts. The G1 also has embedded GPS capability that allows users to get Google Maps Street View on their phones. An internal compass even allows users to navigate and see where they’re going by moving the phone in different directions. But when it comes to actually making an impact on the market in terms of sales, T-Mobile and Google will have their work cut out for them. Without corporate e-mail support, it’s unlikely the phone will take a significant market share away from the market leaders in the U.S., RIM and Windows Mobile, at least in the near term.

“Not everyone who is interested in having a smartphone wants to check e-mail all the time. The G1 is about bringing the Web experience onto a phone and letting people do things with their phone they couldn’t do before.”
Leslie Grandy, VP of product development, T-Mobile USA

Strategy Analytics predict the Android smartphone will capture 4% of the U.S. smartphone market in the fourth quarter. This represents about 400,000 units sold, and it is a healthy figure considering the handset’s not expected to go on sale until the middle of the quarter.

HP tx2500z - still not available in canada / HP price comparison US and Canadian retailers

In my last article titled HP tx2000 vs tx2500 Tablet PC I was hoping that tx2500z will be available by september in canada as a back to school offer. But surprisingly as of Aug 26, 2008 there is no news yet from HP on its release date in canada. I am not sure if HP is holding it for the holiday shoppers??

Anyways below are the current retailer prices for some of the HP models in both USA and Canada. And to mention this again, tx2500z is yet not available in canada.

United States

HP - $900 / Model # tx2500z
Office Depot - $900 (after mail & rebate, $50) / Model # tx2510us
Future Shop - $900 CAD (canada only, est. $850 USD) / Model # tx2514ca
OfficeMax - $950 (online only) / Model # tx2510us
Best Buy - $1050 / Model # tx2525nr
Circuit City - $1050 (after mail & rebate, $50) / Model # tx2510us
Target - $1090 / Model # tx2510us
Walmart - $1100 / Model # t2510us

Canada

Future Shop - $900 CAD / Model # tx2514ca
Future Shop - $1100 CAD / Model # tx2524ca
Costco - $1050 CAD / Model # tx2513cl
Staples - $985 CAD / Model # tx2517ca
Best Buy - $1000 CAD / Model # tx2508ca
The Source - $1200 CAD / Model # tx2510ca

And if you are a college student or in school of any sort you are allowed to buy HP at the student discount that can be found here … easy register.The 2500 has a superior graphics card (to the 2000 and 2100) and the Puma processor is much faster. This model is rumored to take care of the serious heat problem in previous versions. Stores have been moving out the 2100 and 1499 models with some serious deals. That leads me to believe these will be available soon in retail stores.

The prices won’t fall for the TX2500. It is brand new and not even available in stores yet. The pricing is already pretty aggressive at $1049 for basic unit.

Always its worth to mention that HP does not provide north american warranty. So if you are buying from ebay and you are canadian, you might need to buy warranty from some 3rd party warranty houses.

HP tx2500z Features -

Decked out in our new “Echo” inlaid design, the ultraportable 4.59 lb. Pavilion tx2500z is packed with features you’ll love. It has a 12.1″ (diagonal) high-definition touch screen, and it optimizes handwriting capture: you simply write on it with a dockable/rechargeable eraser pen (no batteries needed). In addition, the screen twists for easy viewing of documents and movies in cramped spaces.

Genuine Windows Vista
Get things done, stay connected, and enjoy a variety of entertainment in a secure environment with genuine Windows Vista with Service Pack 1. This series comes with genuine Windows Vista Home Premium, which includes Windows Aero, Windows Media Center, and instant search functionality. For enhanced play and productivity features, choose genuine Windows Vista Ultimate.

Cool adjustable display
The high-definition, spacious 12.1″ (diagonal) display on this compact notebook means comfortable viewing that won’t strain your eyes. You can open it in the standard way, twist it backward for presentations or to view comfortably on a plane, or fold it flat like a slate. This notebook includes a touchscreen and digitizer so you can handwrite, sketch, draw, take notes, or graph, plus use the pad of your finger to navigate Web sites, play games, organize and play music, and view photos, TV shows, and movies.

Dual-core processing power
The tx2500z is equipped with powerful AMD Turion 64 X2 dual-core processors with HyperTransport technology, which improves system performance when running multiple applications. These processors also supply enhanced virus protection as well as PowerNow! for longer battery life.
 
Fingerprint security (select models)
Swipe your finger across the optional integrated reader on the side of the panel to log on to your tx2500z and password-protected Web sites and documents.

Lots of space
The tx2500z supports a hard drive of up to 250GB—plenty of room to store photos, music, and video. A CD/DVD burner is standard, with optional HP LightScribe for laser-etching your own disc labels.

Sleek-looking case
The tx2500z features the same finish as our other new Pavilion notebooks: a high-gloss black case with inlaid “Echo” pattern.

Wireless options
You get 802.11b/g wireless LAN standard with these models, or you can upgrade to 802.11a/b/g. You’ll stay connected virtually anytime, anywhere, without having to hunt for hotspots, with the optional Verizon Wireless V740 1XEVDO PC ExpressCard.

Video chat
Stay in touch with friends and family via webcam (optional) and two omni-directional microphones, which also support VOIP applications.

Entertainment extras
HP QuickPlay will fast-start movies and music, and comes with a mobile TV module that supports Internet TV streaming. You get Karaoke. We’ve enhanced the music, video, and photo features: create a single playlist for all three. A mini remote stores in the ExpressCard slot. You get two headphone jacks; one supports S/PDIF.

Numerous ports
The tx2500z has three USB 2.0 ports, an ExpressCard/34 slot, an S-Video, a VGA, and a Consumer IR, plus a 5-in-1 digital media card reader.

DELL Studio Hybrid mini desktop PC

Dell have officially announced the Studio Hybrid mini desktop PC, powered by Intel’s Core 2 Duo T8100 Penryn processor and starting from $499. Gigabit ethernet, HDMI and DVI video outputs and 1GB of RAM are standard for the Vista machine, with slot-loading Blu-ray a $250 option and draft-N WiFi a $70 option. PC Magazine has already reviewed the Hybrid, describing it as “stylish, compact and unburdened by crapware”; however they also criticised the lack of expansion potential (particularly the inability to spec a separate graphics card) and the fact that a large chunk of the cost is for the attractive design.

It’s time for DELL Hybrid mini desktop PC to get unboxed, set up, and revealed for all. We already know that that the Studio Hybrid isn’t a massive performer, but given its $499 price that includes a keyboard and mouse, we’re not about to complain. The reviewed unit was packed with an Intel Core Duo T2390 CPU, 3GB DDR2 RAM, 250 GB 5400 RPM HDD, 8x slot-loading DVD burner, and Intel X3100 GPU. Have a look at the unboxing viodeo.

Graphics are of the integrated variety, courtesy of Intel’s X3100, and storage is available in up to 320GB from a SATA 5,400rpm HDD. The Hybrid will support up to 4GB of DDR2 RAM and has five USB 2.0 ports, a 4-pin FireWire port, S/P DIF output and analog in/out sockets. A USB TV tuner will be available direct from Dell, and the price does not include a display.

The Dell Studio Hybrid is available to order today in seven different colors/finishes, each an interchangeable plastic ’sleeve’: Bamboo (at a $130 premium), Emerald, Quartz, Ruby, Sapphire, Slate, and Topaz. It measures 196.5 x 71.5 x 211.5mm and weighs in at 2.18kg (including the stand).

HP tx2000 vs tx2500 Tablet PC

Recently I was planning to buy a portable computer. I was choosing between buying a tablet PC and a laptop computer. As I write/read a lot of web articles and do a lot of web surfing,  I was inclined towards buying a tablet PC. A tabled PC would have been perfect for me to take notes and writing articles and also something which I can use while sitting on my couch or lying on my bed. For someone who is curious, better reasons for using a table PC can be found here. I was looking for a cheaper option as my budget was something around $1000 - $1400.

I did some research on internet and finally chose HP tx2500 due to its Puma processor, 3GB DDR2 RAM, 250GB Hard Drive and some other nice features, list of which can be found here - HPtx2500 review at tabletpcreview.com. And the best thing was the price range which fits comfortable within my budget. Now that is when I found out that tx2500 was not even available in Canada yet. I did call HP sales and they were not sure when it will be released in Canada. That is when I started looking for another option and started taking a more detailed look at tx2000. I am listing 2 major differences that I noticed between tx2500 and tx2000 based on my online research.

tx2500		tx2000
Mobility Radeon HD 3200 IGP		Nvidia GeForce Go 6150 graphics
(Puma)AMD Turion X2 Ultra ZM-80 (2.1GHz, 2MB L2 cache)		AMD Turion 64 X2 Dual Core processor TL-66 2.3GHz

The PUMA processor might not differ in terms of performance there are still some improvements on other parts of the processor itself. It now includes HT3 which is faster and is now able to turn off completely if no data is being transferred.

AMD also has impelmented independent power planes for the cores and the memory controller which allows the display to refresh without having to wake up the whole cpu.

The cores can now clock independently of each other which is useful for apps which are single threaded. So, its not just the same processor there have been some improvements to basically make it more mobile than before.

More details on PUMA technology can be found here.

Well with all that said, I ended up buying tx2000 for now. The retailer promised me that as soon as tx2500 ships out I can do a trade-in and will be able to upgrade to tx2500 at minimal cost. But I must say I am really enjoying my first encounter with a tablet PC. Its well worth buying one especially when difference between a tablet PC and laptop is really narrowing down.