How to send & receive texts (SMS) from your Android tablet

As more individuals own both a smartphone and a tablet, you would want the devices to work together.  If you are like most people, you use your tablet (especially if its WiFi only) at home.  Instead of carrying around your phone and tablet, you can use your tablet primarily at home.  Or you have a situation where you are charging your phone but you do not want to miss your texts.  In the video below, I will show you how to setup your phone and tablet so that you can send and received text from your Android tablet using an excellent app called MightyText (available in the Google Play Store). 


However, MightyText does much more:

• Allows you to also send and receive texts from your computer.  What is great is that all your devices are sync'd.
• Sends you call notifications.
• Send photos, videos & maps to your phone.
• Schedule messages (Pro version)
• Themes (Pro version)
• Send bulk SMS (Pro version)
• Templates (Pro version)
• Much more

Google shows off the Nexus 7

     As we noted in our post  on May 28th, Google did show off its Nexus 7 tablet at its I/O Developer Conference this week.  The lucky attendees were provided with one along with the Nexus Q and Galaxy Nexus phone (Google traditionally gives away certain hardware to all attendees each year).  There were no major surprises as much about the tablet was leaked before.  Here is a recap of the specs:

• 7” 1280x800 HD display (216 ppi)
• 1 GB RAM
• 8 or 16GB of storage
• Quad core Tegra 3 Processor 1.3GHz (single core) or 1.2 GHz (2 or more cores)
• 12 core GPU
• 1.2MP Front Camera
• 4325 mAh battery
• NFC
• GPS
• Gyroscope
• Bluetooth
• WiFi
• Micro USB
• Android 4.1

HP TouchPad on Android (CM7 Xron Beta vB2.9)

    I was one of the lucky ones who was able to purchase the TouchPad during HP's first fire sale.  I bought the 32GB version for $150.  Although I like webOS and the amount of apps available are decent, I felt it was not enough.  However, I was not interested in porting Android especially since the software was still in an Alpha stage (almost experimental stage with many bugs).  I did use my TouchPad a lot in the beginning but lately was becoming more like a paper weight.  I found the development of CM7, a popular ROM that is available for many devices, to be slow.  However, I discovered a variant of the CM7 Android port called XRON.  With decent reviews, I decided to give it a try.

     I have been installing ROMs on my Droid X for a long time so I was very comfortable installing Xron on my TouchPad.  Since you will still able to boot into webOS, it is nice to have this dual boot feature.  (You can obtain the links and instructions on installing CM7 Xron from XDA-Developers, a popular forum where developers posts hacks, customized ROMs and exchange information.).  So what do I think of CM7 XRON vB2.9, continue reading...

Tablified - Where to find tablet-specific apps

We all know that Android is a little behind when it comes to apps for Android tablets.  Unfortunately, the number of iPad-specific apps outnumber the Honeycomb (Android 3.0)-specific apps.  Even with the number of tablet-specific apps, "Google does not have a dedicated tablet section on the Android Market."  There is no easy way to search for apps that were specifically designed for tablets.  Here to help you find Android apps that are created specifically for tablets is Tablified.  Here you can search by different categories including different types of games. 

In addition, there are reviews on some apps.  Basically, this is what Android Market should contain to make it easier for individuals to find these apps.  Do note that these are based on Honeycomb (Android 3.0).  This is how one knows that the app was design specifically for a tablet rather than having a phone app that is "optimized" to run on a tablet.  There is a difference.  We recommend you check out the website as it is useful in your search for tablet-specific apps.

Archos 70 Tablet Review

Back in September 2010,  TabletConnect reported that Archos will be introducing five Android tablets in the fall.  Of course like almost every other vendor, there were delays and the tablets did not start selling until December.  These five tablets ranged from 2.8” (not a tablet) to 10.1 inches.  Archos is a consumer electronics company based in France.  They have been in the portable media player market since 2000 and have been selling Internet Media Tablets since 2008.  Unfortunately, the quality of these IMTs have been very poor.   Its 5, 7 & 8 series were not user friendly and there were complaints about the quality.  We were hoping that its new series would not follow the same fate.  Fortunately, they do not. 

Creative Labs Also Enters the Tablet Market with ZiiO

We sound like a broken record but another manufacturer is launching its own tablet.  Creative Labs is introducing a 7" & 10" Android tablet. They will run Android 2.1 and feature either 8GB or 16GB of memory.  These tablets will start shipping in December.  Price ranges from $249 to $319.  Interestingly, the 7" tablet will be white while the 10" will be black.  The processor is a homegrown ZMS-08 (based on a 1GHZ ARM design).

Android 3.0 Sample To Be Ready in December

DigiTimes has reported that Google has notified its partners that Android 3.0 will be soon completed and engineer samples available in December.  However, consumers will not likely see Android 3.0 tablets until after the new year.  Google is planning on launching Android 4.0 in the second half of 2011. 

MSI WindPad Update

Blogeee has reported that MSI has showned off renderings of the WindPad.  Unfortunately, no specs were included with the pictures.  The last that was reported is that the WindPad will have a 10.1" display with 1.66GHz Atom Z530, 2GB of RAM and 32GB solid-state drive.  It will run Windows 7, unfortunately.  However, an Android version will be available and may use a NVIDIA Tegra 2. 

Dell to Introduce 7" tablet

Dell Greater China President Amit Midha has reported that Dell will be introducing a 7" tablet in the "next few weeks" and a 10" tablet within 6 - 12 months.  Dell Chief Executive Michael Dell briefly flashed a seven-inch device at an Oracle Corp. conference in the U.S. a week ago but didn't provide a release date. Dell is also planning on introducing smaller versions of 3" and 4".  (Why?  We have no idea.)  The 7" tablet will run Google's Android but the 10" could run Windows and maybe even Google's Chrome OS.

Microsoft hard at work to bring Windows 7 tablets

Image by Getty Images via @daylife

CNET has reported that Steve Ballmer, CEO of Microsoft, has stated at an analyst meeting that "They'll [tablets] be shipping as soon as they are ready.  It is job one urgency. No one is sleeping at the switch."  Ballmer has admitted that Apple's iPad has sold more than what he would have liked.  However, Microsoft is apparently working hard with its partners on delivering a Windows 7 tablet in the future.

Dell Streak Postponed?? Leaked Prices

What is going on with Dell?  We reported the pre-sale registration where one can register between 7/20 and 7/27 and be one of the first to pre-order.  An email is suppose to go out this week (although its still early) with a unique link to pre-order the Streak.  However, Dell's blog has confirm that the pre-sale registration will continue this week so it appears that they will not release the Streak by "end of July" as originally noted.  Dell seems to be stating that they had strong pre-sale registrations but "there are many pieces that need to fall into place to release a product like this, and the reality that we need more time to work out some things before we can share the details that many of you are waiting for" according to Lionel Menchaca of Direct2Dell.

Dell Streak available in Late July?

Dell.com is having a pre-sale opportunity for individuals who are interested in purchasing the Dell Streak. Customers who pre-register will get alerts advising when they can purchase the item. In addition, individuals will receive a free second-day shipping upgrade as well as a coupon for a Plantronics Bluetooth earpiece for just 99 cents. Based on what Dell has confirmed, those individuals who registered will receive an email next week with a unique purchase link. Unfortunately, Dell has not released pricing, whether this is a locked or unlocked model, or which cellular providers one can use.