Samsung Galaxy Tab to get Android Gingerbread, Next Tablet Getting Honeycomb

Samsung has not only just confirmed that their Galaxy Tab will get an upgrade to version 3.0 of Android, codenamed “Gingerbread,” but that they plan to produce more tablets in the future, which will be running version 3.5, otherwise known as “Honeycomb.” The Galaxy Tab will not be getting the 3.5 upgrade.

WP Hong, Head of Product Planning for Samsung, said:

”The next platform we’ll be using will be Gingerbread. Depending on our international partners, we’ll be working to upgrade from Froyo to Gingerbread.”

“Moving forward, with Honeycomb, that will be used in the next generation tablet, as it is specifically optimised for a different type of tablet, and will be used on another product only.”

Samsung has promised to have the Honeycomb tablet available in 2011, and there will be a whole ‘portfolio of tablet products.’

Source: Techradar

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Old Apple TV’s Won’t Get the New Features

Image Credit: Flickr

Ars Technica have gotten word that the old versions of the Apple TV will not be getting a software update to add the new features and new UI that the new Apple TV (that was announced yesterday) will be receiving.

The devices themselves will continue to work as they always have, being able to download content forever and purchase content from the iTunes store, even though the new device is rental only.

Source: Ars Technica

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Exclusive: Windows Live Essentials 2011 RC to touch down September 9

We have received a tip from anonymous Russian sources close to Microsoft informing us that the Windows Live Essentials 2011 RC will be a public milestone release, and the bits will touch down for all of us to enjoy come September 9th.

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iTunes 10 now available for download

iTunes

Apple’s newest version of iTunes – iTunes 10 – is now available for download! iTunes 10 features everything that iTunes 9 did, plus a slight aesthetics refresh, along with the new Ping feature. Apple TV support is also included.

You can grab it for your PC and/or Mac right here: http://www.apple.com/itunes/download/

Update: Here’s direct links to the downloads for iTunes 10: OS X, Windows x86, and Windows x64.

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Windows Phone 7 released to manufacturing

Today, Microsoft have announced that Windows Phone 7 has officially been released to manufacturing.

This means that the build has been completed, and the final bits are being sent out to manufacturers (OEMs). From this point on, the work Microsoft has ahead of them is working with its partners to deliver the devices that will take the market by storm.

“The work that’s still to be done with our partners means we’re close, but we’re not quite there,” Greg Sullivan, a senior product manager in Microsoft’s Mobile Communication Group, told seattlepi.com. “This means that we are on track to launch Windows Phone 7 for the holidays, and we’re pretty stoked.”

According to the Windows Phone Blog, WP7 was very thoroughly tested; in fact, it was the most tested mobile platform Microsoft has ever released. The Windows Phone Blog reports that 10,000 devices were running automated tests daily, over half a million hours are recorded of active self-hosting use, over three and a half million hours of stress test passes were recorded, and eight and a half million hours of fully automated test passes were recorded as well. That’s not even mentioning feedback from early adopters, software vendors, and of course, reviewers.

As many have stated throughout Windows Phone 7′s development, the general sentiment is that WP7 is essentially “make-or-break” for Microsoft in the mobile sector.

Windows Phone 7 is slated for release in Europe come this October, and release in the United States come November.

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Windows 7 Family Pack is back, just in time for Windows 7 1 year anniversary

Back in 2009 when Windows 7 first hit the streets, Microsoft shipped out a Family Pack deal for Windows 7 Home Premium Upgrade edition, which essentially was 3 licenses for the astonishingly low cost of $149.99. However, this pack was released on a “while supplies last” provision, and once they sold out, Microsoft axed the packs to much criticism.

However, on Wednesday, Microsoft have announced that the Windows 7 Family Pack will once again hit the shelves, though again on a provisional, temporary “while supplies last” basis. To install the Family Pack, you must have a machine running a genuine copy of Windows Vista or Windows XP. To find out if your machine is compatible, simply download the Windows 7 Upgrade Advisor.

The Family Pack will be available come October 3rd in the United States and October 22nd for those in Canada, the UK, Germany, France, Australia, and “many other markets”, according to Microsoft. Upon being available, we expect the Family Packs to sell like hotcakes. So whether purchasing it for yourself, or as a gift for someone once the holidays roll around, you may want to be quick to purchase it. Again, I’d like to emphasize that they will not be permanently available; this is a limited time offer.

Windows 7 reached the RTM milestone on July 22nd, 2009 and was released to store shelves on October 22nd, 2009. Since, over 150 million licenses of the well-acclaimed OS have sold.

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Microsoft Arc Touch Mouse Announced

On Wednesday, Microsoft have officially announced the Arc Touch Mouse that they’ve frequently teased to us often about. First discovered by Long Zheng, and more recently unveiled through images leaked to the web by German enthusiast site WinFuture, it turns out that this mouse the tech blogosphere has been blogging about has finally been announced officially by Microsoft. As Neowin have pointed out in the past, however, the mouse does not support multi-touch.

The touch element with this mouse is with its scrolling. You may move your finger slowly, or you may ‘flick’ for fast scrolling, only to stop at a certain point by tapping. The strip has three programmable areas which may serve as buttons: Page up, page down, and a middle click area which is programmable. To provide users with a more organic experience, Microsoft has implemented haptics technology on its scroll strip, which is basically a vibration that will simulate the effect of a ‘real’ scroll wheel.

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Apple’s TV, Not Your Average Television

We knew it was coming, and now it’s official–welcome to Apple TV. Unlike other streaming devices out on the market, the Apple TV has no local storage. Which makes this built off of a true cloud computing model.

It buffs HD movie streaming from Apples services, but also those of Netflix, MobileMe, Flickr, and YouTube. Not only can you stream from the Internet, but this handy little device also lets you streaming content from your Mac or PC with iTunes.

Read more after the break.

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Apple’s new lineup

New iPod Touch

At Apple’s keynote address today, they have confirmed 3 new devices: a refreshed iPod Shuffle, Nano, and the rumored Touch. The new shuffle is a mash of the 2nd and 3rd generations. The Nano now features a touch screen, rumored earlier this month. The iPod Touch is the most exciting: retina display, front-facing camera for FaceTime, rear camera with HD recording, and iMovie is now available on the Touch.

Read more after the break.

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Motorola officially announces Milestone 2

Milestone 2Yesterday, we got a glimpse of Motorola’s ad campaign for the Milestone 2. Today, it was officially announced for Europe’s GSM network. It has all the features of the Droid 2 in the states, but includes a GSM radio, and have the full MOTOBLUR experience pre-installed. Motorola says the device will be launched in early Q4 in European markets. Full press release below.

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