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This week, Samsung gets into tablets, Sony has a Vivaz, the NFL hates mobile use of Twitter, Chrome heads to your phone, and Google Voice calls your Gmail.  It's a bit of a slower week for all things mobile, but there's still plenty of hot topics.

 

This week, mobile news has taken a bit of a backseat as several new leads landed regarding tablets.  Several companies have announced that they don't just plan on sitting back and letting Apple's iPad run the tablet market and have issued a few glimpses into what this holiday season will have to offer.  Namely, the Samsung Galaxy tablet has been leaked and could very well be considered an 'iPad killer'.  It was also confirmed that Best Buy has begun making big changes to their retail plans for the holiday season, in preparation for the upcoming 'tablet war'. 

 

Mobile camera and phone users were happy that Sony issued a release date for their upcoming Sony Ericsson Vivaz for the United States.  The phone comes with a 720p autofocus HD mode, and a 8.1 megapixel camera.  The phone is ideal for those who love carrying both a solid camera and phone in one pocket.  Read on for more specs on the Vivaz, as well as other hot news.

 

 

 

 

Samsung Galaxy Tablet

 

 

The Samsung Galaxy Tablet made waves this week when pictures confirming the device (and possible launch by Christmas) were plastered all over the internet.  The device looks pretty slick, as do its specs (based on the leaked pictures).  The device appears to be running Froyo (Android 2.2), has a 1200 x 600 AMOLED screen, along with texting UI Swype.  Other confirmed specs include a PowerVR SGX 540 graphics processor, GPS, a 3.2megapixel back webcam, and a VA front-facing camera.  The device is also capable of WiFi, with built in b/g/n.  There is still no release date, or pricing information available, but speculation has the device hitting retail shelves just in time for the holidays with a price point to directly compete with Apple's iPad.  Speculation has the device, and its specs, being confirmed on September 2nd by Samsung. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

  Sony Ericsson Vivaz

Sony dropped quite the surprise on all those eagerly awaiting the company's new 720p HD device with the announcement of a September 5th release date.  The device sports a 720p HD autofocus recording feature, along with having an 8.1 megapixel camera.  The device has a 3.2 inch touchscreen, which will require a stylus to use.  Sony is launching the device with an open platform, which will host different apps and enable the user to customize the phone to their liking, much like Android's operating system.  The device will be available in the colors Galaxy Blue, or Venus Ruby (online only).    

 

 

 

 

 

 

NFL Player Fined $25,000 for Tweeting 

 

Chad Ochocinco received quite a slap on the wrist by the NFL this week for using Twitter during the Cincinnati Bengals' pre-season game against the Philadelphia Eagles (Bengals won).  Before kickoff, Ochocinco wrote on his Twitter account from the sidelines, "Just talk with Kelly Washington, Desean Jackson, Geoff Pope, Hank Baskett, and I caught a ball from Mike Vick, I love prw-game warm up".  More than two hours later, and in the midst of the game, Ochocinco let his followers know, "Man Im sick of getting hit like that, its the damn preseason sh!t!  1day I'm gone jump up and start throwing hay makers".  The NFL responded to the tweets with a $25,000 fine, citing a rule that social networks not be used 90 minutes before kickoff and until after postgame "obligations".   Ochocinco responded to the NFL on his Twitter account, claiming "Dear NFL I apologize for tweeting during the game but that was 2 monthsof my Bugatti payments you just took from me, I won't do it again."  Lesson learned?

 

 

 

 

Chrome to Phone

Chrome to Phone has many Chrome users happy with the ability to link their mobile device to just about anything.  The Google Chrome Extension allows users to send a direct link to their mobile device, whether it be an internet article or map directions, and then access the information while on the go.  While the extension is great, iPhone users were without up until yesterday.  To get the extension to work on an iOS device, the user will simply trick the device by saving a URL to their home page as an icon.  By using the Chrome to Phone extension and hitting the URL, it redirects to whatever link the user had up in Chrome.  The trick certainly isn't perfect, but for users dying to use the extension on their iOS device, it will do the job.  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Gmail Gets Voice Calling

 

Popping up in some Gmail accounts yesterday was the ability to make outgoing calls, somewhat akin to the Contacts and Google Talk features already established within the popular email service.  Information is scarce at the moment, but CNET is reporting that the feature will allow Gmail users to make and take calls within the email client.  Google Voice has been quite a success for the internet giant, and it would be great if the two concepts would get blended together, specifically seeing as how many complaints about Google's failed Wave was due to no integration between the two services (Gmail and Wave).