GameStop eyes tablet distribution, opens up for business on Facebook

Brick-and-mortar game retailer GameStop has gone all out this week with tablet talk, and a new Facebook storefront.

GameStop refuses to fade into the oblivion. The retailer has kept busy with a series of acquisitions (it just bought out game streaming tech company Spawn Labs, and last year picked up social gaming developer Kongregate) hinting it has plans for online, app-like game distribution. Earlier this week company president Tony Bartel revealed to Gamasutra these tablet-focused plans, saying “If we can work with our partners and the OEMs, and they come up with a great tablet that is enabled with a great gaming experience and coupled with a Bluetooth controller, then there’s no need to go out and develop our own. But if we can’t find one that’s great for gaming, then we will create our own.”

Bold words, we know. But it just shows how serious GameStop is about making the transition to mobile gaming. Tablets and smartphones are quickly becoming the first choice for gamers of varying interest levels and skill. While this might just mean more people who wouldn’t usually give Mortal Kombat a spin are, GameStop wants – and likely needs – a piece of this growing market.

Don’t worry too much, though, the company isn’t forsaking its more traditional gamers. It isn’t bulldozing its physical stores anytime soon, and used game and trade-in service aren’t being eliminated. Instead, Gamestop’s looking to become something of a hybrid, appealing to the latest craze of mobile gaming and also providing for its console and PC gamers.

But GameStop is definitely embracing some change, and announced it has even opened its own Facebook store where you can buy games, peruse game trailers, find ratings or stores, and of course – like and share certain games or gaming accessories with your Facebook friends. As for more practical purposes, the page will also allow for pre-order, which gives you the option of delivery or in-store pickup. Better yet, your Facebook loyality to GameStop is rewarded with the ability to earn points for purchases on the platform. It’s a major step into the e-commerce world, and one that gels well with its future tablet plans.

Rumor: Sony developing a PlayStation tablet dubbed the S1

PlayStation phone who? The S1 marks Sony's first foray into the tablet wars and could be here as early as September.

The Xperia Play hasn’t even officially launched, and we’re already hearing that Sony is ready to take on the tablet market. “Two highly trusted and independent” Engadget sources have come forward with a simple rendering and a wealth of information about a forthcoming PlayStation tablet.

The internally codenamed S1 will measure 9.4-inches and run a Sony-customized version of Honeycomb. Worried about Sony developers messing too much with the OS? According to the sources, “Sony’s work is cutting edge stuff created by a talented engineering team,” comprised of members from its Vaio, Reader, PlayStation, and Sony Ericsson departments. Think those are some lofty claims? How about this: “Sony’s custom-built transitions and UI elements have created a user experience that rivals and at times improves upon the iPad’s renowned experience.”

It was initially unclear how much PlayStation functionality would be integrated into the tablet, but it’s been confirmed that the device will be PlayStation Certified and will be focused on gaming and include PS One games. Of course, it will also come equipped with Qriocity for other content. The S1 will likely opt for Vaio branding, furthering the fact that it’s not an exclusively PlayStation device.

One look at the mockup sketch should also get you wondering what’s with the curved hardware. Apparently it’s supposed to be reminiscent of an open book or folded magazine – which seems strange if it’s a game-centric device. Still, it’s a pretty sleek design so we’re willing to forgive any inconsistency. The angle is supposed to improve user interaction with the tablet when it’s on a flat surface as well as single-handed grip.

So what’s inside? Take a look at the reported specs:

• Tegra 2 processor
• 9.4-inch touch display; 1,280 x 800 resolution
• Rear and front-facing cameras
• USB-A port
• Built-in IR port
• Android 3.0

It will be a relatively button-free tablet, with nothing but volume controls on the sides and possibly a designated Qriocity button. The material is uncertain at the moment, but it will sport a high-gloss black finish on the front panel and a grip-friendly texture on the back.

The Wi-Fi-only S1 may cost $599 and ship in September. And if this isn’t enough to satiate your thirst, Engadget is teasing us with word of another Sony tablet. It apparently knows more about a patent Sony filed last year regarding a dual-screen, tablet-notebook hybrid, which could also finally be making its way from rumor to reality.

HP’s first webOS tablet may start shipping in March, fulfill longstanding promise

Way back in August of last year, when temperatures were above zero and Honeycomb was still a great unknown, HP promised us the first webOS tablet will come “in early 2011.” Just yesterday, however, our noteworthy exposure of the vanguard members of the webOS tablet family led us to believe that at least one of them, the Opal, would take until September to arrive. That may still be the case, but DigiTimes is bringing us back around to HP’s original pledge, with word that Inventec has received instructions from HP to start producing and shipping a webOS slate (most probably the Topaz) in March. As usual, this comes from the (in)famous insider sources that tend to miss as often as they hit, but it does make sense for HP to follow up its February event with a relatively rapid product rollout.

17 Juta Komputer Tablet Dipasarkan di 2010

VIVAnews - International Data Corporation (IDC) melaporkan bahwa komputer tablet secara global tumbuh 45,1 persen sepanjang kuartal ketiga tahun 2010. Pertumbuhan ini didorong permintaan Apple iPad yang kian tinggi.

Menurut data terbaru IDC, sepanjang kuartal ketiga, para vendor telah mengapalkan 4,8 juta unit komputer tablet secara global, dibandingkan 3,3 juta unit pada kuartal kedua. Dan, Apple iPad menguasai hampir 90 persen di antaranya.

Tingginya popularitas komputer tablet di kalangan konsumer secara global tak hanya didorong oleh adopsi media tablet, tetapi juga pembaca buku elektronik (e-reader).

"Evolusi pasar media tablet yang cepat berlanjut di kuartal akhir tahun lalu, di tambah dengan sejumlah produk baru, munculnya layanan tambahan, ekspansi jaringan pemasaran, dan kompetisi harga yang ketat," kata Susan Kevorkian, direktur riset Mobile Connected Devices di IDC, dikutip VIVAnews dari Cellular News, Rabu 19 Januari 2011.

Sekadar diketahui, IDC mendefinisikan komputer tablet sebagai perangkat media tablet dengan layar lebih besar dari lima inci dan lebih kecil dari 14 inci serta mempunyai sistem operasi ringan, seperti Apple iOS dan Google Android. Ia juga beroperasi dengan prosesor ARM atau x86.

IDC memperkirakan pasar media tablet mengakhiri tahun 2010 dengan penjualan nyaris 17 juta, dan diramalkan akan melonjak hingga 44,6 juta unit pada akhir tahun 2011. Sementara di 2012, lembaga riset itu memproyeksi penjualan media tablet akan mencapai 70,8 juta unit.

Pertumbuhan pesat yang dimulai tahun depan dan seterusnya didorong oleh banyaknya vendor perangkat yang merilis media tablet berbasis Android atau sistem operasi lain. Dampaknya langsung berimbas pada harga yang kompetitif. (hs)

Dell unveils the Streak 7, new 7-inch tablet

Today at 2011 International CES, Dell and T-Mobile unveiled Dell's new 7-inch Android tablet, the Streak 7.

This is the first 4G capable tablet for both companies and has been designed for the super-fast mobile broadband speeds of T-Mobile’s 4G network.

The Streak 7 features Google’s Android 2.2 operating system, a dual core 1GHz NVIDIA Tegra 2 processor and full support for Adobe Flash Player. It also comes equipped with a the rear-facing 5 megapixel camera for high-definition stills and video recording. The front-facing 1.3 megapixel camera with the preloaded Qik Video Chat application provide video-calling over T-Mobile’s network as well as Wi-Fi. The device is also Bluetooth 2.1 capable and comes with 16 GB of internal memory and SD Card slot with support for expandable memory up to 32 GB.

“Dell is continuing to create the very best in entertainment, mobile and gaming experiences,” said Steve Felice, president of Dell’s Consumer, Small and Medium Business unit. “With Streak 7 on the blazingly fast T-Mobile network, families, students and mobile professionals will gather, share, and find new ways to interact and keep in touch.”

The new Streak 7 will feature Dell’s Stage user interface. Later this year, Dell will add syncing to Stage so people can keep their photos, contacts, calendars and other personal content synchronized across their Dell Stage-equipped devices.

The Dell Streak 7 also comes preloaded with unique content and applications to entertain the whole family, including: T-Mobile TV, BrainPOP, Zinio, Qik Video Chat, Blockbuster, Kindle for Android, Let’s Golf demo, Slacker Radio and Zoodles.

The new Dell Streak 7 Tablet is expected to be available in the U.S. in the coming weeks at T-Mobile retail stores and directly from Dell. No word on pricing yet for the Dell Streak 7, but we’d expect to hear that shortly.

Acer announces Iconia Tab A500 10-inch Android tablet with LTE

Woah, Acer just dropped news on a new Iconia device, except this one is all tablet. The Iconia Tab A500 has Android (no version specified) with the “Acer UI 4.5″ on top, and Verizon 4G LTE inside. There’s a 10.1-inch “10 point multitouch” screen, Tegra 2, and a gyroscope, which Acer claims should position the tablet perfectly for games. You can also output 1080p video over the built-in HDMI port, but there’s no word on the screen’s actual resolution. We also don’t have any word on a price or a release date, and Acer hasn’t even supplied any photos of the device yet , but we played with a 10.1-inch Android tablet from Acer back in November (pictured), and we have to assume this is the same one.

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Acer’s New ICONIA Tab A500 to Support Gamers and Mobile Consumers on the Verizon Wireless 4G LTE Network

LAS VEGAS and BASKING RIDGE, N.J., Jan. 5, 2011 /PRNewswire/ — Acer announced today that the new Acer ICONIA Tab A500 will be showcased with Verizon Wireless at the 2011 International Consumer Electronics Show (CES), taking advantage of the Verizon Wireless 4G LTE Mobile Broadband network.
Providing the backbone for the United States’ fastest, most advanced mobile network, Verizon Wireless 4G LTE ensures an improved end-user experience, including fast navigation and high-definition media streaming. The 4G LTE technology will be showcased on the ICONIA Tab A500 at the Verizon Wireless booth (#35216 in the South Hall of the Las Vegas Convention Center) at CES with a live demo.

“Innovation is in our DNA,” said Campbell Kan, vice president of Acer’s Smart Handheld BU. “We are proud to once again offer users the most advanced technologies. With the ICONIA Tab A500 supporting 4G LTE, users will be able to wirelessly navigate, download or stream as seamlessly as they do with a wired connection. This is indeed another step toward a truly mobile Internet experience.”
Sleek, smart and full of innovative features, the ICONIA Tab A500 will be equipped with the latest highly intuitive Android OS and Acer UI 4.5 to reach a whole new level of interactivity. What’s more, the Clear.fi media sharing system will be preloaded on the device to easily access, play and share multimedia across the home network and to instantly publish updates to social media networks.
Designed for HD entertainment, this tablet comes with a high-resolution, high color contrast display, allowing users to play or share HD video with friends on the go. Complete with a built-in HDMI port and 1080p output, it may also be used to enjoy HD content in full HD on a big-screen TV or monitor.

The 10.1″ full capacitive touch screen ensures an optimal on-screen experience from every angle. Aluminum casing provides a cool look and feel, while its high-gloss finish decorated with an engraved pattern demonstrates subtle sophistication. Despite being just 13.3mm thick, it’s powerful enough to provide fun and productivity in any location.

One of the tablet’s most impressive features is its ability to run and play premium HD arcade games and complex online 3D games, thanks to the 10-point multi-touch and gyro meter control, which guarantees an entertainment experience on par with the best game consoles.

The ICONIA Tab A500 will be equipped with NVIDIA Tegra 2 dual core 1.0Ghz processor with Flash 10.1 support for optimized HD Web experience, 3D gaming and multimedia playback anywhere. For seamless communication, it also features the SkyCross antenna and ZTE LTE wireless module.

The Verizon Wireless 4G LTE Mobile Broadband network, launched in December 2010, is the fastest, most advanced 4G network in the United States, providing speeds up to 10 times faster than Verizon Wireless’ 3G network. Verizon Wireless’ 4G LTE Mobile Broadband network currently reaches one-third of all Americans, with plans to expand the network to the company’s entire 3G coverage area over the next three years.

For more information about Verizon Wireless’ 4G LTE network, visit www.verizonwireless.com/lte.

About Verizon Wireless
Verizon Wireless operates the nation’s fastest and most advanced 4G network and largest and most reliable 3G network, and serves more than 93 million customers. Headquartered in Basking Ridge, N.J., with 80,000 employees nationwide, Verizon Wireless is a joint venture of Verizon Communications (NYSE, Nasdaq: VZ) and Vodafone (LSE, Nasdaq: VOD). For more information, visit www.verizonwireless.com. To preview and request broadcast-quality video footage and high-resolution stills of Verizon Wireless operations, log on to the Verizon Wireless Multimedia Library at www.verizonwireless.com/multimedia.

About Acer
Since its founding in 1976, Acer has achieved the goal of breaking the barriers between people and technology. Globally, Acer ranks No. 2 for total PCs and notebooks. A profitable and sustainable Channel Business Model is instrumental to the company’s continuing growth, while its multi-brand approach effectively integrates Acer, Gateway, Packard Bell, and eMachines brands in worldwide markets. Acer strives to design environmentally friendly products and establish a green supply chain through collaboration with suppliers. Acer is proud to be a Worldwide Partner of the Olympic Movement, including the Vancouver 2010 Olympic Winter and London 2012 Olympic Games. The Acer Group employs 7,000 people worldwide. 2009 revenues reached US$17.9 billion. See www.acer-group.com for more information.

© 2009 Acer Inc. All rights reserved. Acer and the Acer logo are registered trademarks of Acer Inc. Other trademarks, registered trademarks, and/or service marks, indicated or otherwise, are the property of their respective owners.