Product Reviews Net |
- Festo SmartBird Robot: Light, Elegant and Featherless – Video
- Guitar Hero III: Legends of Rock, Higher-grossing Than Black Ops
- Apple iPhone 5 Cycle: Rumors, hype, release, then repeat
- Nintendo 3DS Firmware Update Before US Release
- Samsung Galaxy Tab Confusion: UK not getting Thin 10.1
- Samung Galaxy Tab 10.1 and 8.9 (WiFi) Prices Confirmed
- Stretching Exercises for the Back: iOS Apps Provide Quick Solution
- Blackberry OS 6.1 Update: Release Date ETA and Your Expectations
- Mortal Kombat: TV Commercial, Scorpion DLC Trailer Brings The Pain
- BlackBerry Playbook: List of Carriers and Retailers for US and Canada
- Sony Other OS Removal on PS3: Lawsuit Begins – Your Predictions?
- Crysis 2 PC Problems: Patch Download Coming, Multiplayer Key Fix
- US Delays Affect UK iPad 2 Sales and Shipping – Consumer Outrage?
- Ken doll turns 50: Do you still buy Barbie?
- Apple iPad 2 UK Order Problems, Store Says ‘an error occurred’
- Forza Motorsport 4: Recent Survey Reveals More Game Details
- Staying Up For UK iPad 2 Release Time
- Update on iPad 2 US Availability
- Free Car Records Check or Complete Listing?
- Acer Iconia A500 / W500 Tablets: UK Release Date and Price
| Festo SmartBird Robot: Light, Elegant and Featherless – Video Posted: 25 Mar 2011 04:10 AM PDT
If you've ever owned a remote control plane or helicopter then you are sure to find this new interesting. A company responsible for a variety of robotic animals, Festo's latest creation is set to grace the skies. The Bionic Learning Network designers at Festo have developed an autonomous robotic bird nicknamed the SmartBird. It is based on the look of the Herring Gull and has a wing span of two meters. What's most interesting about this design however, is the fact that it can land and take off by itself. It also has a remote radio control, which allows monitoring and controlling from a distance using ZigBee radio technology. This enables control over the slender bending torso, which makes the overall bird's weight a light 1lbs adding to the lifelike and realistic directional control. The lightweight also means that once airborne, minimal flapping is needed as it can just glide effortlessly through the skies. More details can be read at ieee Spectrum where you will find a few videos of the robot in action, in the meantime why not check out the video we have provided below of the SmartBird doing what is does best. What do you think of the robotic bird? Let us know in the comments below. For more coverage:
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| Guitar Hero III: Legends of Rock, Higher-grossing Than Black Ops Posted: 25 Mar 2011 03:54 AM PDT
If a recent EuroGamer article has got its facts right Guitar Hero III: Legends of Rock is now the highest-grossing video game the US has ever seen, according to their article it has generated $830.9 million in revenue in North America alone. The second highest-grossing video game in the North America is Call of Duty: Black Ops ($787.4 million), followed by Wii Fit – with Balance Board ($736.6 million). In fourth place was Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 ($713.6 million). Some of our knowledgeable readers will have noticed that three of the top for grossing video games in the US have been published by Activision, in fact if you look further down the list there are more of their titles including Guitar Hero World Tour (7th place) and Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare (10th). You can see the entire top 10 list on EuroGamer, they point out that most of the games in this list come with peripherals, also it is interesting that Activision has pulled the plug on future Guitar Hero games given how well previous titles have done. Are you surprised to see Guitar Hero III: Legends of Rock topping this list? For more coverage:
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| Apple iPhone 5 Cycle: Rumors, hype, release, then repeat Posted: 25 Mar 2011 03:53 AM PDT
Apple may not be god but when it comes to the latest tech and product launches, they know how to pull together a crowd. You only need to look at the sale of T-Mobile USA to AT&T, which some say was due to the iPhone not lunching on T-Mobile, amazing thought that an Apple product can cause such problems for a carrier. The marketing that Apple applies is pretty impressive; they have a really good system in place. Their product cycle follows a simple pattern, which starts with rumors of the next generation device, this create hype, and then they release the product. This cycle is then repeated again for the next launch, although some users hate how quick Apple creates the next generation device. No brand is perfect, Apple has their problems too and this was shown last night during the UK iPad 2 release. Online orders could be taken from 1am, but sadly Apple failed miserably thanks to multiple errors while trying to place an order.
We experienced this ourselves when trying to place an order, which took 1 hour and 15 minutes to go through after many page refreshes (You can read more on this here). Sadly this is the price Apple pays for creating such a demand for their products, everyone has their limits, and this includes Apple. In summery, while Apple make mistakes, we think they are still one of the best brands for innovation. What do you think about Apple's product cycle, especially with the iPhone and upcoming 5th generation device? Do you think Apple push out new products too quick, and what do you make of their secret way of doing business? Let us know in the comments. For more coverage:
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| Nintendo 3DS Firmware Update Before US Release Posted: 25 Mar 2011 03:32 AM PDT
The Nintendo 3DS has just became available in the UK and is not yet available in the US, however Nintendo has already rolled out a new firmware update for their latest handheld. A full list of changes has not been revealed, however according to CVG the 3DS should be more stable after the update, also there will be improved wireless network connection functionality and SpotPass improvements. We are also hearing that a 3D video also comes as part of the firmware download, this plays OK Go’ “White Knuckes”, you can watch the video playing on the 3DS on YouTube. We are unsure as to whether the OK Go video will be bundled with the update in all regions, let us know whether the video appeared on your 3DS in the comments section below It is great to hear that the Nintendo 3DS should be more stable and connect to more wireless access points, also the 3D video is a nice touch, what other changes would you like to see? For more coverage:
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| Samsung Galaxy Tab Confusion: UK not getting Thin 10.1 Posted: 25 Mar 2011 03:31 AM PDT
The recent CTIA event saw Samsung showcasing their rather impressive iPad 2 competitors, their thin Galaxy Tab 10.1 and 8.9. The company stole the show, however left some onlookers rather confused. This is because while they had their thin models at the event they also had their thicker versions Galaxy Tab 10.1 with its TouchWiz 4.0 and Galaxy Tab 8.9 on display also for showcasing. Now with these new thin tablets many are wondering what is going to happen to the heftier models. As the article by Stuart Miles at Pocket-Lint explains the 10.1 version will still be shipping with Vodafone and has been renamed the Galaxy Tab 10.1V. This is apparently because the UK will not be getting the new thin 10.1. What's more is the thicker 8.9 will apparently not go any further than the demo booth, which Samsung was making clear at the event. It wasn't made clear however why the tablet failed to make the market. It is thought that it was due to be released but then scrapped once the iPad 2 launched. Perhaps we shall never know, but in the meantime you can check out more details about the event in the full article by clicking the link above. Why do you think the Galaxy Tab 8.9 did not make it to the market? Will the UK ever see the new thinner versions? Let us know in the comments below. For more coverage:
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| Samung Galaxy Tab 10.1 and 8.9 (WiFi) Prices Confirmed Posted: 25 Mar 2011 03:14 AM PDT
Now that Samsung has officially announced the Samsung Galaxy Tab 8.9 and the Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1 we thought that people would be interested to see how much they cost, well today we have the prices for the WiFi-only variants of these new tablets. The 16GB Galaxy Tab 8.9 (WiFi-only) will cost you $469, however if you want you can double the storage for an extra $100, therefore the 32GB Galaxy Tab 8.9 (WiFi-only) costs $569. If you want to buy the Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1 WiFi-only you can get the 16GB model for $499 and the 32GB model for $599, again you pay an extra $100 for double the storage, however don’t forget that there is a micoSD memory card slot for additional storage. Currently we cannot confirm how much you will have to pay for these new tablets with 3G / 4G data connectivity, however we are sure that carriers will subsidize the price when you agree a contract. When we hear more regarding 3G / 4G pricing we will keep you posted, what do you think of the WiFi only prices? For more coverage:
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| Stretching Exercises for the Back: iOS Apps Provide Quick Solution Posted: 25 Mar 2011 01:31 AM PDT
Are you currently struggling with a painful back and are searching for a few stretching exercises for the back which can help to ease the pain? If so, you’re in luck as we have a list of a few apps which you can download straight to your iPhone for an quick and effective solution. The first app we have picked out is called Treat Your Back Pain Without Drugs. It is perhaps a little bit pricey at $9.99, but if it helps you to ease the pain, then it is very much worth the money. This app firstly lists the common causes for back pains, and they then offer some yoga exercises which you may want to try out. Failing that, the app also provides a detailed section on physiotherapy for the back, and then some tips to keep your back and neck strong. We understand some of you may want an app which provides this kind of information for free, but then this app allows you to seek the information whilst you are away from the computer, so thats another advantage if you look at it that way. Alternatively, we have found another related app for you, which is called Exercising and Stretching Guide and it’s a lot cheaper at just $0.99. However this one isn’t specifcally related to back problems like the first app we picked out for you, but you still may find the exercises that are detailed, useful. Do you have any expert advice for dealing with back ache effectively and quickly? If so, list your ideas below so our other readers can view. Both apps are available to download from the App Store or iTunes now. For more coverage:
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| Blackberry OS 6.1 Update: Release Date ETA and Your Expectations Posted: 25 Mar 2011 12:48 AM PDT
We have some great news for those of you who are already looking forward to version 6.1 of RIM’s BlackBerry smartphone OS. The company has just given us a release date update on when to expect the software, and it’s good news. The information has been revealed courtesy of RIM’s latest year-end / Q4 fiscal 2011 earnings call, which you can read full details on here if you’re interested, courtesy of Engadget. As for OS 6.1 though, RIM has stated that it will be out sometime this Spring, with a planned reveal due to take place at the BlackBerry World event in May. In further good news, we’re hearing that this update won’t be tagged as minor either, as RIM has apparently promised that this is a ‘major upgrade’, with a planned ‘UI overhaul’ possibly on the cards. If you’re currently bored with the present look of the BlackBerry smartphone UI, then OS 6.1 looks like it is going to be a pretty big deal for you. If you are looking for previous leaks on BlackBerry OS 6.1, you may be interested in these hints on NFC support, and also these leaked screenshots that became available. What are your current expectations of OS 6.1, what would you like to see? For more coverage:
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| Mortal Kombat: TV Commercial, Scorpion DLC Trailer Brings The Pain Posted: 25 Mar 2011 12:13 AM PDT
We recently brought you the very first Kratos PS3 character trailer and then hints about a possible exclusive character for the Xbox 360 version of Mortal Kombat, but now we have the first TV commercial that has just been released, and a second commercial which previews the upcoming Scorpion DLC. The trailer is pretty awesome and it features the talents of Sonny Moore, which some of may known as Skrillax – a professional electro and breakbeat musician. He has come up with Reptile’s theme music, and we have to say that it fits pretty nicely with the carnage that is going on during the trailer. It’s also worth noting that the trailer gives another glimpse of Shang Tsung, for those of you who didn’t see him in the Kombat Kontinues trailer that featured at the end of the Mortal Kombat demo that’s available now on the PS3. That’s not all, as we also have the trailer for the upcoming Scorpion DLC, which you’ll get if you pre-order the game from GameStop. It features his classic outfit from the old mortal kombat games, as well as his famous fatality in which he rips his mask off and torches the opponent in a burning mess. Watch both trailers below and let us know what you think of them. We seriously can’t wait for Mortal Kombat! For more coverage:
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| BlackBerry Playbook: List of Carriers and Retailers for US and Canada Posted: 24 Mar 2011 11:31 PM PDT
If you have been keeping an eye on the BlackBerry Playbook, you’ll probably be aware that the official release date has been set to April 19th, and that the entry level price will be $499 for the 16GB WiFi version. What you might not know though, is where can you get one so we’ve got a full list for you to browse through. The good news, is that there is going to be very little chance of this thing selling out, as it’s going to be available pretty much everywhere. For starters, the Playbook will be available to buy from US carriers such as Verizon, AT&T and Sprint, with only T-Mobie missing out since they have the LG G-Slate to promote. You’ll also be able to pick up the Playbook from a host of Canadian carriers too, some of these include Telus, Rogers and Bell. The Playbook will be available from a vast list of retailers as well, all the likely candidates are there – Best Buy, Walmart, Staples, Mobilicity, Sears, Radio Shack, Office Depot and Costco. So you are pretty much spoilt for choice as to where to get yours from. It’s also worth pointing out that all these retailers are likely to offer pre-order incentives as well, just like Costco did with the Motorola Xoom as well, as they were offering a free case for pre-orders. The question is though, are you picking up the BlackBerry Playbook on April 19th? If so, where do you intend to get yours from? View the complete list of retailers and carriers for both US and Canada below, as taken from RIM’s official press release. United States * AT&T * Bell For more coverage:
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| Sony Other OS Removal on PS3: Lawsuit Begins – Your Predictions? Posted: 24 Mar 2011 10:51 PM PDT
If contending with a certain PS3 developer called Geohot wasn’t enough for Sony, the electronics giant is once again back in the headlines for all the wrong reasons. This time we’re hearing that an official class action lawsuit has targeted Sony, demanding for the answers as to why they moved the ‘Other OS’ option from the Sony PS3. You can view the complaint in full here, as reported from VG247 and it’s quite a read we have to say. Basically the issue here is that Sony removed the Other OS option in their PS3 Firmware Update 3.21, an option which allowed users to run things like Linux and other legal custom made programs. However, Sony’s reason for removing this feature was ‘security’ based, while the class action lawsuit states that Sony did this to save money. Obviously if Sony are found guilty as a result of this case, it means that it’s essentially a case of false advertising and it could lead to big trouble for the company, as they were advertising features which were ultimately removed for no good reason. What are your thoughts on this? What are your predictions for the outcome? Do you think Sony has an argument this time on the Other OS debate, or is it time for them to admit that removing that feature was a mistake last year. For more coverage:
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| Crysis 2 PC Problems: Patch Download Coming, Multiplayer Key Fix Posted: 24 Mar 2011 10:19 PM PDT
Crysis 2 has only just launched on the Xbox 360, PS3 and PC, but we’re already hearing of a pretty big issue related to the PC version of the game. It seems as if some of you are getting error messages when inputting keys for the multiplayer aspect of the game. The problem occurs when you enter the key code, as some of you are getting messages saying that the key is already in use, as reported from VG247.That’s obviously pretty frustrating as it’s a brand new key packaged with the game, but the good news is that EA is aware of the issue. They have stated that a patch update is on the way to fix this problem, but failed to give a solid date for when the update will be occuring. Instead they have offered a temporary workaround which may help fix the issue. If you continue to see this error message, they advise gamers to head into single player, then go back into multiplayer and retype your key . How many of you have already tried this method with success? Again it’s nothing gamebreaking, but it perhaps takes some gloss off the launch as far as PC gamers are concerned. Let us know if this problem is affecting you, or if you have discovered a completely different issue in the game. For more coverage:
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| US Delays Affect UK iPad 2 Sales and Shipping – Consumer Outrage? Posted: 24 Mar 2011 08:28 PM PDT
We have a feeling that there is going to be some criticism aimed in Apple’s direction, hours after the iPad 2 officially went on sale in the UK and other countries outside the US. Delays in the US seemed to have crippled stock levels in the UK, as all new purchases have been met with a one month waiting list. We’re not lying either, we ordered the iPad 2 as soon as it became available on the UK Apple store, and after having purchased it on March 25th, a confirmed purchase email stated that the estimated shipping time was now April 25th – a whole month later. This is obviously a bit frustrating for buyers who were thinking that they would get their new iPad 2 at the start of next week, or two weeks at the very latest – but a whole month is a bit hard to take. It also means that Apple hasn’t really put much effort into allocating stock for consumers who want to buy outside of the US, which does seem to suggest that a bit of favoritism is going on. While it’s obviously happy days for US consumers who have already managed to get one, this is a frustrating time for UK owners. If you have just purchased an iPad 2 online from Apple, let us know your thoughts on the delayed shipping times. Were you expecting to get it sooner or did you expect delays for one of the hottest gadgets on the market. For more coverage:
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| Ken doll turns 50: Do you still buy Barbie? Posted: 24 Mar 2011 07:24 PM PDT
If you are a fan of barbie doll products, this week is a pretty significant milestone for you, as the Ken doll turns 50 this week – you know, Barbie’s trusty friend, or even boyfriend depending on which way you have perceived their relationship over the last five decades. To celebrate the event, Barbie makers Mattel are running a reality show on the internet called "Genuine Ken: The Search for the Great American Boyfriend.” It will be split up into various episodes, and the whole idea of it is to find a geniune guy in real life who displays all the characteristics that we’ve seen from the Ken doll over the years. News about this is quickly spreading on social networking sites like Facebook and Twitter, as you can find out more detailed information on the show over at the Facebook page here, as reported from the NYTimes. So the Ken doll turns 50 this week – does this mean anything to you or not? How many of you still buy Barbie doll products today for collecting purposes? It’s safe to assume that they are going to become very valuable in the years to come, so don’t be afraid of telling us that you still buy them! For more coverage:
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| Apple iPad 2 UK Order Problems, Store Says ‘an error occurred’ Posted: 24 Mar 2011 06:49 PM PDT
It looks like the build up to the new iPad 2 release has been met with more problems than last year, which not only includes delays in shipping but also Apple not being able to process orders without giving error pages to buyers. The UK iPad 2 orders started at 1am GMT, and following a few "Oops" error pages, buyers are reporting that they have spent over 30 minutes trying to order the second generation iPad from the UK Apple Store. We personally tried to get an order through Apple's UK Store since 1am, at the time of writing it's 1:45am and after 45 minutes of trying, Apple are still giving us problems, which is now stuck on an error page stating "an error has occurred during your session. Please return to the Store Menu to continue shopping". Even if you do this and start again, you are met with the same problems trying to order the iPad 2.
Not a good start for Apple in the UK, although we are not sure if other countries have shared the same iPad 2 order problems. Feel free to let us know. It's also worth noting that at the time of trying to push an order through, which was right at the start (1am), the shipping times were 2 to 3 weeks, which was not the same as the United States store at first order. So we can confirm the U.S. delays have spread to the rest of the world, again not good service by Apple. For more coverage:
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| Forza Motorsport 4: Recent Survey Reveals More Game Details Posted: 24 Mar 2011 04:50 PM PDT
We have some rather interesting news now for those of you waiting to get your hands on a copy of the Forza Motorsport 4 game, as a recent marketing survey appears to have provided a few possible hints as to what features we can look forward to in the upcoming title. According to a recent article by Owen Good at uk.kotaku.com, the survey, which was sent to the guys at Kotaku by an unidentified tipster, asked for people's reactions to specific statements regarding possible features. This included support for the Xbox 360 Kinect, which we already knew about. Other features hinted at include head tracking, which enables players to use their head in order to move the game's camera, the ability to control the interface and menu by the player's voice and controller free steering, which is done by the player holding their hands at the 10 and 2 positions. The survey also claimed that the Forza 4 game's graphic fidelity would be ten times better than the previous versions. Other hints given were that the racing simulator game would feature over 500 cars from 80 different manufacturers, as well as a new career mode that involves 'an automotive world tour.' You can read what else Owen Good had to say about the upcoming title via kotaku.com. What do you think about the possible new features? For more coverage:
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| Staying Up For UK iPad 2 Release Time Posted: 24 Mar 2011 04:31 PM PDT
The moment that many Apple customers have been waiting for is almost upon us now, and by that we of course mean the release time for the much-anticipated iPad 2. There have been a few concerns recently as to whether Apple's next generation tablet would actually see its scheduled launch or not. However, customers in countries such as Canada were then reassured that the release was still going ahead as planned. Apple then announced that the iPad 2 would be available in 25 additional countries this coming Friday 25th (tomorrow), including Australia (see our previous pricing and availability article here). The much-anticipated iPad 2 – which is 33% thinner and up to 15% lighter than the original iPad – will be available to purchase online from the Apple Store (www.apple.com/uk) starting from 1am GMT, as well as from Apple Stores and a number of Apple authorized resellers. Will you be staying up for the UK iPad 2 online release time? For more coverage:
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| Update on iPad 2 US Availability Posted: 24 Mar 2011 03:59 PM PDT
With the recent news that Apple could run out of components for their 2nd-generation iPad, we thought we would offer an update on the iPad 2 US availability. It now seems as though things have started to improve a little, and now new orders say that shipping will be three to four weeks – although these are still estimated. Previous shipping dates were four to five weeks, so this is only a minor improvement, but it is still better that nothing. However, this could still anger some US customers, as some other countries only have to wait two to three weeks for shipping, that's according to AppleInsider. It was no secret that Apple were going to have an issue with the iPad 2, as demand was very high, so at least we can see that Apple may now be getting their house in order. The new iOS tablet device has shown that it still has what it takes when compared to rival Android devices, as we cannot say that they sold out in the first weekend of becoming available.
There have been concerns that the likes of Apple and other consumer electronic makers would have an issue with supplies due to the disaster in Japan, but thankfully Apple has shown that they are able to work through such issues. We still have to wonder how long it will be before shipping will be down to 24 hours, which could take weeks or even months. However, by that time we could then face the same issues with the iPhone 5. Is four to five weeks still too long to wait for the iPad 2? For more coverage:
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| Free Car Records Check or Complete Listing? Posted: 24 Mar 2011 03:27 PM PDT
Whenever you buy a used car there is always the risk that there is still credit on it, or it has been involved in an accident. However, there are ways to reduce your risk of purchasing one of these cars, and that is by getting a free car records check. However, for those of you looking for greater peace of mind, then maybe you should consider paying a small fee for a complete listing. We have known a number of people who have not bothered with the check, only to learn that there is finance on the vehicle that they now own. This not only causes an issue with the company who financed the vehicle for the previous owner, but for you as well, as you will no longer be able to sell it. If we were asked is it worth getting a car records check done, then we would have to say yes. However, we also believe that it is worth going that little further and purchase a short subscription for a more detailed report. Having said that, even the FREE VIN check at AutoCheck is better than not doing anything. Remember in order to be able to do this check you will need the VIN of the vehicle, so if someone who is selling you the vehicle refuses to offer you this, then there could be a chance that they are hiding something. Have you ever been ripped off when it comes to buying a vehicle? For more coverage:
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| Acer Iconia A500 / W500 Tablets: UK Release Date and Price Posted: 24 Mar 2011 03:27 PM PDT
A couple of days ago we announced that the Acer Iconia Tab A501 Android tablet was making its way to the AT&T network in the US, sometime this summer. Now we have news regarding UK release dates and pricing for both the Acer Iconia Tab A500 / W500 Android and Windows 7 tablets According to a recent v3.co.uk article by Khidr Suleman, the Acer Iconia Tab W500 Windows 7 device is powered by a dual-core C-50 processor running at 1GHz, and features a 10.1-inch LED backlit touch screen display with a resolution of 1280 x 800, 2GB of DDR3 RAM and a 32GB Solid State Drive. The W500 also includes USB, Ethernet and HDMI ports and a two-in-one card reader, as well as Bluetooth, Wi-Fi and DLNA connectivity. The Wi-Fi version of the Acer Iconia Tab W500 Windows 7 tablet is scheduled to be released on April 8th, with a price tag of £449. Several retailers will be selling the device, including Comet, HMV, Amazon, Currys, Dixons and PC World. The Acer Iconia Tab A500 tablet is also due to be released on April 8th. The A500 – which is also priced up at £449 – will run on the Android 3.0 Honeycomb operating system. Do you like the sound of the Acer Iconia Tab A500 and W500 tablets? For more coverage:
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