Although the Apple iPad 3 won’t be available for purchase until March 16, 2012, Simon Pierro manages to provide us with an exclusive sneak peak of some of the magical new features we can expect to see from the new device. From real life gorillas, gravity defying tablets to gorilla glass screens that can pour you a glass of beer (Irish fans unite!!), this video is full of fun surprises. Sorry to ruin the best surprise of all but Simon also introduces us to the real life Siri! That’s right folks, as it turns out Siri is more than just some female robot sounding app, who would have thought?

When Siri makes her first ever appearance Simon instantly falls in love and you can feel the romantic vibes resonate through your screen! “Simon and Siri”, hey that does have a nice ring to it, do you think they’ll tie the knot? I wonder when we can expect to see the new “Simon” app? Of course converting to half man and half machine on the first date (or acquaintance) does seem like they are rushing things a wee bit, but hey relationships are all about adapting & making compromises, right?

Magical New Features of iPad 3 Exclusive Preview Video

Not that it comes as any surprise but in only a few short days this YouTube video has already reached nearly 1 million views, quite impressive! Enjoy!

Thanks again for the fun laughs Simon and keep those videos coming, you know we all love them! For those of you who haven’t done so yet be sure to follow Simon on both Twitter and Facebook and of course subscribe to his YouTube Page!

Special Bonus! Below are two more recent videos showing how random people on the street react to the new iPad 3 features!

iPad 3 Helium App

iPad 3 Free Beer

Since it’s launch back in late 2008 the Android operating system sure has come a long way. As of the end of December 2011 the Android Market exceeded a total of 10 billion downloads, yes that is billion with a “B”. With an estimated average of 700,000 new Android tablet and smartphone activations daily it comes as no surprise that Android is quickly emerging as the world’s most popular mobile operating system, not far behind Apple’s iOS.

Why exactly has Android emerged so fast and become a dominant and powerful force in the tablet OS market? Well, there’s numerous reasons for this but likely the most apparent reason is the fact that open source is the driving force behind most of the success. Open source code has resulted in worldwide Android developer communities who are dedicated to helping one another in order to frequently enhance and greatly improve the Android OS.

Back to the topic of free Android apps. So as not to be deceptive, “free” doesn’t always essentially mean absolutely “free” in every sense of the word. A lot of Android apps might be free to download and install but they are also developed on what’s known as the “freemium” model. In layman’s terms what this means is that sure you can download free Android apps but will sometimes be limited to how much you can do with such apps unless of course you purchase upgrades or what are known as in-app purchases. This is most commonly found in Android tablet games where in a lot of cases you are stuck on the first or second level unless you pay for upgrades in order to enjoy the full experience of what certain mobile games have to offer. Not that there’s anything wrong with this, and hey, developers need to put food on the table too, I just don’t want to mislead our readers is all. To be completely fair & unbiased, the same type of business model is commonly used when it comes to iPad apps and games.

Not to rain on the Android parade, and for the record I’m a big fan of the Android OS and use it every day, but there are a few widely common gripes a lot of people have when it comes to the Android Market. One gripe being limited search capabilities. With the almighty Google being the king of search engines, you’d think there would be better ways available to narrow down app searches in the Android Market. For instance, if you’re looking for Android tablet specific apps, well, good luck with that unless of course you use an external source where someone has done all the heavy research for you. As it stands, there’s no real way of telling in the Android Market which apps are specifically for smartphones or which ones are specifically for tablets. Of course many apps work just fine on both types of devices but trust me when I say there is a difference.

Another important point worth mentioning is that having an abundance of apps so quickly is not always necessarily a good thing. What I mean by this statement is that you also have to consider the amount of useless apps out their which are flooding the market. Even though I’m a big fan of the Android OS, I have to give kudos to Apple when it comes to regulating app submissions because let’s be honest they certainly do a much better job and are more strict in that department which of course makes for a better overall user experience. Mind you, this doesn’t entirely mean that no useless iOS apps slip through every now and then, it’s just a more common occurrence (at least at this point) in the Android Market. In short, sometimes less really is more and big numbers don’t always deserve big praise.

On a more positive note and despite all of the pros and cons you have to admit a milestone like this is definitely worth celebrating. Who knows for sure by what date the Android Market will reach the half million mark, but my guess is it will be sooner than later especially with the new and improved Ice Cream Sandwich version of the OS as well as highly anticipated and upcoming Android Jelly Bean operating system which we’ll most likely see revealed during 2012.

Case Logic LNEO-10 Ultraportable Neoprene iPad Sleeve

Looking for protection for your 7-inch to 10.2-inch tablets? Case Logic® carries a wide assortment of soft sided tablet cases to fill just about any of your tablet PC needs. Right now we’re looking at the LNEO-10 ultraportable neoprene notebook/iPad sleeve. Constructed of durable, weather-resistant neoprene, the Case Logic LNEO-10 is designed to cushion and protect an assortment of devices such as 10-inch mini laptops, iPads, netbooks, and DVD players. Padded handles enable easy transport; nevertheless the compact design can easily fit into a briefcase, backpack or messenger bag. The Case Logic LNEO-10 also features a convenient outer zippered pocket to store and carry accessories such as power adapters, DVDs, and cables. The LNEO-10 measures 11.5 inches x 9.5 inches x 2.75 inches.

Price: $12.83 (regular $30.99) on Amazon

Case Logic® VNA210 10.2-Inch iPad Attaché

Designed for mobile minimalists, the Case Logic® VNA210 is perfect for anyone transporting toys, tools and technology from home to office, on business trips or to the local coffee shop. The VNA210 is designed to accommodate most devices with displays ranging from 7 to 10.2-inches.

The VNA210 offers streamlined styling, with well-thought-out pockets for carrying daily essentials. At the heart of the VNA210 is the zippered top-load device compartment. This well-padded compartment is lined with dense foam, offering premium protection against daily bumps and bashes. It’s large enough to accommodate small netbooks and tablets, such as the iPad®, iPad2 or other devices sized up to 10.5 x 7.7 x 1.5-inches.

Two distinct pockets offer further organizational options. The Speed Pocket™ on the front panel enables immediate access to pocket-sized essentials such as a mobile phone, wallet, passport, ID, cash, keys and/or other small items. Access to the Speed Pocket is provided by a vertical hidden zipper, which opens top to bottom to prevent contents from spilling out when accessing your stuff.

A large, zippered compartment, called the Power Pocket™ is designed to organize and store all your portable essentials. The top portion of the Power Pocket™ features elevated accessory pockets for stowing accessories such as a mouse, iPod, and other small items. The Power Pocket™ also features a built-in neoprene sleeve for housing a USB thumb drive and elastic loops for stashing pens. The bottom of the Power Pocket™ is ideal for storing a power brick, accessory cables and other essentials. Even fully loaded, the VNA210 remains sufficiently slim to slip into another bag or backpack.

The Case Logic® VNA210 also accommodates a number of comfortable carrying styles. Padded carry handles reduce hand strain and a removable shoulder strap provides further carrying options. Equipped with swiveling hardware, the shoulder strap enables the attaché to move with you when changing shoulders, or wearing across the chest.

Constructed entirely of high-quality materials, the exceptionally crafted VNA210 is backed by a 25-year warranty against defects in materials and workmanship. Light colored lining stands in contrast to the dark exterior, enabling easy viewing of the contents of the case. The 10.2″ attaché is available in both black and brown. The black version features a durable dobby nylon exterior. The brown version features wonderfully soft polyester twill, which also compliments the unique color. For peace of mind, the textured polyester twill is equally as durable as the nylon version. Both colors offer significant protection for your device.

Price: $14.63 (regular $19.99) on Amazon

STM Bags Scout for iPad and iPad 2

Congrats you’ve bought an iPad2. You’re now “all-that”. Hmmm… perhaps your newfound status calls for the stepping up of your game in other areas as well. I mean, you can’t very well be seen lugging your tablet all unprotected and style-less. Egad! What would the Jones say? You simply need a way to transport your tablet in a way that’s both practical and masculine. Hmmm…

Why not consider STM Bags’ Scout for the iPad, and iPad 2. The New York Times calls the Scout “hipster-perfect”. (That has you written all over it). The NYT also gives the manufacturer high marks for style. High praise indeed, but what kind of protection does the Scout offer?

Well… the Scout’s laptop section is lined with high-density foam padding to protect your tablet from external abuse. Further protection is furnished by a cushioned felt laptop lining, to prevent marring of your precious hardware.

Your iPad is kept secure in two ways. First, an interior flap covers laptop section. This interior flap is secured by a robust double Velcro closure. Secondly, the adjoined exterior flap can be locked into position thanks to a sizable buckle closure on the main bag. This added protection ensures your iPad won’t come tumbling out unexpectedly. The Scout bag also boasts two utility pockets, which are also covered when the main flap is closed.

The first pocket is ideal for a small daily planer or novel. On the exterior of this fist pocket is a zippered pouch for storing small devices such as an iPod or Smartphone. The second pocket can store small accessories such as a charging cable or a wallet. The second pocket also features elastic loops for stashing pens. However, if you’re looking for a lot more storage than perhaps this bag is not for you.

The olive drab Scout messenger bag has a relaxed, urban style. It offers superior protection and the ability to become ultra organized. It’s the perfect solution for carrying your iPad in rugged, masculine style.

Price: $49.99 (regular $54.95) on Amazon

Targus Radius 13″ Vertical Messenger Bag

Holy organization, Batman! The Targus Radius 13″ Vertical Messenger brings a whole new meaning to the word “organized”. This bad boy has more pockets than a pool hall. When closed, you’ll find two exposed pockets on the exterior. The back of the bag features a large pocket capable of holding an 8-1/2” x 11” notepad. The exterior of the front flap also offers a pocket; only this one is significantly smaller. This front facing pocket is ideal for storing a small pack of facial tissues, ID, and less advisably a wallet.

Open up the main flap and you’ll discover a zippered mesh pouch. With a glance you can scan the contents of this smaller pouch. It’s ideal for snacks, iPods or other small essentials. Unzip the outer fold to reveal, what else… more pockets, a LOT of them. On the interior of the fold is another zippered mesh pocket. This transparent pouch is ideal for small cables, instruction manuals, anything that folds flat. On the interior of the fold there’s ample room to store power packs, a mess of cables, and just about anything you can imagine. There are three pockets ideally suited to hold items the size of a mouse, digital camera or MP3 player. There’s another slightly smaller pocket for cables, or whatnot. There’s a pocket for a thumb drive, a clip to hang keys, and two elastic loops for pens. The Targus Radius 13” also provides a small opening to the outside of the pack, to accommodate the wires of an ear bud headphone.

Finally, we come to the compartment to store your tablet PC or laptop computer. This ample compartment can easily hold a large tablet PC or a laptop computer to a maximum of 13-inches. Even with your electronics in place there’s still plenty of room for paperwork and a large notepad.

For ergonomic ease the Targus Radius 13″ vertical padded messenger bag features a swiveling, length-adjustable shoulder strap. Like all Targus bags, the 13” Vertical Messenger bag features a slideable shoulder pad to help ease your burden.

Overall the Targus Radius 13″ Vertical Messenger Bag is stylish, well built and thin. It easily accommodates tablets and laptops including large amounts of sundries. Constructed of robust nylon, the Targus Radius 13” has the goods to facing your daily commute.

Price: $52.43 (regular $63.99) on Amazon

Kenneth Cole Reaction Luggage Bag Home Again

“Vanity of vanities, saith the preacher; all is vanity”
- King James Bible (Cambridge Edition)

Well, this next bag isn’t so much about protection as it is about style. And as Billy Crystal once sang, “It’s not how you feel, it’s how you look!” and with this bad boy you’ll look marvelous. Made of 100% cotton canvas the Kenneth Cole Reaction Luggage Bag features single gusset flap-over construction. A full-length open top pocket adorns the exterior rear wall of the bag, and seals with a Velcro closure.

Overall, the Home Again bag is designed to accommodate a variety of business essentials. On the front (below the flap) you’ll find an exterior zippered pocket for storing small sundries such as a wallet, MP3 player, or digital camera. On the interior rear wall of the bag you’ll find another small zippered pocket for still other accessories. For stylish good looks, the interior main compartment and inner flap are adorned with rakish graphics. The 4-inch single gusset vertical flapover messenger bag also features an adjustable shoulder strap. For even greater versatility, the bag can be hoisted by a webbing reinforced carrying handle.

The canvas construction is occasionally juxtaposed by black leatherette. The leatherette graces the bottom exterior of the bag, as well as the outer sides of the shoulder strap, the strap attaching points and buckles. Get noticed with the Kenneth Cole Reaction “Home Again” Luggage Bag. Hand wash only.

Price: $69.95 on Amazon

On the other hand, price cuts are not always great news for tablet computer manufacturers. The fact that companies such as Sony (among others) are already initiating price cuts on the first day of the year and most importantly before even releasing newly improved models is not exactly a sign of thriving times. Now that 2012 has arrived the question is; which tablets will win the race, enter the race for the first time, or stay in the race for that matter, and which ones will fester in the giant pit of lonely and unsuccessful tablets which have flooded the market as of late?

There’s no doubt that competition will remain high in 2012 in the tablet PC industry and of course we’re likely to see several new devices hit the scene such as for example the iPad 3 and Nexus tablet very soon, but could this also be the year where the gap widens even more between true industry leaders/innovators and companies who just hopped on the tablet PC bandwagon with no real vision, strategy or mission other than hopes of gaining a piece of the pie?

Although the tablet PC market was flooded with countless new devices in 2011, we also saw trends beginning where devices such as the HP TouchPad and BlackBerry PlayBook practically fell off the map and surprisingly fast as well. Who would have thought this time last year that such dominant companies would fail so miserably especially with so much hype and cash spent on marketing campaigns. It stands to prove that not even the biggest price cuts can resurrect certain devices from the dead and it all comes down to the real state of the industry and what exactly it is that consumers want. Of course anything can happen and companies do bounce back but when it comes to tablet PCs I believe that only true innovators will stand a chance if they want to gain market share in a highly populated industry which has been flooded with cheap mobile devices that are rushed to market with no real game plan or long term vision. There’s a lot more to the bigger picture than just a device itself and what makes or breaks a tablet PC extends far beyond hardware and branches into many other areas which determine their fate whether it be good or bad. Some of these areas include but are not limited to:

• Tablet PC technical/customer Support
• Ecosystem (Namely applications, cloud based services, etc…)
• Frequency of mobile operating system upgrades
• Price and Warranties
• Solutions Provided for business, personal and educational use
• Ease of use out of the box

Of course I’m just getting started but you get the point that it’s a lot more involved than simply rushing a touchscreen tablet to market if companies want to remain on the cutting edge of a booming industry. Whatever the case, it’s sure to be another interesting and eventful year and who knows at this point exactly what 2012 will have in store. One thing is for certain, as always, we’ll be following the industry closely and keeping you informed.

Update:

As Ben Lloyd stated in a recent comment regarding this article:

Potentially a shake out for all the substandard devices out there.

…I have to say I believe he is spot on with that comment. What are some of your thoughts regarding the topic? As always we’d love to hear what’s on your mind.

Enchanted Realm Key Features & Objectives

Alright, so the game is popular, but what’s it all about? The main objective is to build your city up, but of course it’s more than just a game as you will embark on a fantasy filled fairy tale adventure and enjoy the great storyline along the way.

Other game objectives include:

• Grow & harvest plants
• Defend your kingdom against an evil sorceress
• Increase population by expanding territories
• Stock up on energy levels and gold
• Have fun!

Enchanted Realm is also a very colorful and artistic style game, you have to admire the artwork. This game was designed and developed from the ground up with touchscreen Android tablets in mind, taking full advantage of their capabilities in order to enhance game play.

Some of the game features include:

• Great soundtrack & unique game characters
• Choose from over 50 residential service buildings
• Expand your territory with in-game money
• Share game achievements via Twitter & Facebook
• High definition graphics & animation
• Great storyline

Of course the game itself is free to download and play, similar to other Game Insight games, but there’s always the option to purchase upgrades and in-game cash flow in order to build your kingdom even quicker if you desire to do so. Click the button below to download & install your free copy today!

LG Tone (HBS-700) Wireless Bluetooth Stereo Headset

Here’s an unusual design for wireless headsets. The LG Tone (HBS-700) Bluetooth stereo headset rests around the neck, not the head. No longer need you experience the sensation of your headset going all “nutcracker” on your noggin. Instead you’ll enjoy the comfort of being yoked like an ox. The HBS-700s features a unique around-the-neck design that’s both lightweight and comfortable. Suitable for all-day use, the wireless stereo headset delivers high quality stereo, as well as full calling features. With the HSB-700, you’ll “experience” the music without the worry of missing a call, or text message. Preloaded with a BT Reader app (Android OS), the LG headset automatically reads incoming text messages in real time.

When not in use, the magnetic ear buds snap/store into ends of the “yoke-style” neck strap. The neck strap also features integrated music controls. The sleek, comfortable design is water resistant, so it’s perfect for those with active lifestyles. The LG Bluetooth headset allows for up to 10-hours of talk time, and 15-days on standby.

Price: $44.99 on Amazon

Sony DR-BT50 Stereo Bluetooth Headset

Here’s a sweet set of Bluetooth headphones. The Sony DR-BT50 Bluetooth wireless headset combines eye-catching style with superior audio fidelity. The 40mm drivers boast premium neodymium magnets, which deliver crisp treble and dramatic bass. The well padded, circumaural earpieces entirely encompass your ears, blocking external sound, and ensuring complete audio enjoyment. The DR-BT50 also includes a built-in mic, enabling hands-free conversations with any Bluetooth enabled mobile phone. Answer calls with the simple tap of a button.

Sony DRBT50 headphones are also AVRCP compatible, so there’s no need to access your mobile device. The high-fidelity headphones can remotely operate any Bluetooth-enabled music player with an Audio/Video Remote Control Profile (AVRCP). By operating the toggles on the earpiece you can remotely control functions, such as volume, play, fast-forward, stop and rewind.

Go Ahead and Roam

The Sony DR-BT50 Bluetooth wireless headset has an effective transmission range of up to 30 feet (10m) for total wireless convenience. Furthermore, the built-in rechargeable battery provides up to 17-hours of performance on a single charge. The DR-BT50 boasts a standby time of approximately 200 hours.

The convenient, foldable design also makes the Sony wireless headphones highly transportable. Generous padding provides excellent fit, and all-day comfort. Even the adjustable headband is cushioned. Whether you’re listening to music or engaged in a phone call, the Sony DR-BT50 Bluetooth wireless headphones are sure to provide superior stereo audio.

Price: $114.23 on Amazon

Creative Labs WP-300 Pure Wireless Bluetooth Headphones

The WP-300s are excellent mid-range wireless Bluetooth headphones. Compatible with Bluetooth mobile devices such as tablets computers, laptops, mobile phones and portable media players, the WP-300 features apt-X technology, which ensures audio content is instant and crystal clear. Precisely tuned Neodymium drivers deliver superb audio and soft leatherette ear cushions ensure total immersion in your music and movie entertainment. Well cushioned, circumaural earpieces provide comfort through extended hours of wear.

With an effective range of 10-meters, the WP-300 provides pure listening enjoyment, in the home, as well as outdoors. A control cluster on the earpiece provides instant access to playback controls. Volume buttons also make adjustments a breeze. Fold flat ear-cups allow the stylish headphones to store compactly. They easily fit into small spaces such as purses and backpacks. The Creative Labs wireless WP-300 headphones also come with a convenient travel pouch.

Price: $56.53 on Amazon

ARCTIC Sound ORACO-ERM28-GBA01 Headphones P311

The ARCTIC Sound P311 headphones offer effortless Bluetooth connectivity. The behind-the-ear design is both comfortable and hip. An integrated 95dB amplifier kicks up the sound, and 28mm drivers deliver high fidelity with outstanding bass.

The ARCTIC Sound wireless headphones also feature a built-in microphone for hand free calling. The P311 make an ideal companion for tablet computers, laptops, Smartphones and other mobile devices. The cable-free headphones are also ideal for use at home, in the car, or while jogging. The ARCTIC Sound P311 offer up to 20 hours of continuous operation, and the foldable design makes them easy to carry. A hard carrying case is included.

Price: $28.99 on Amazon

GOgroove AirBand Wireless Bluetooth Stereo Headset

The GOgroove AirBand stereo headset combines contemporary style with rich, hi-fidelity sound. The AirBand headset easily syncs with other devices, including Bluetooth-enabled cell phones, computers and AVRCP compatible MP3 devices. “Pairing” up takes only seconds.

The AirBand headset also features SonusMAX technology, which “cleans” the music while simultaneously adding depth, treble and bass. The earpiece’s plush padding provides complete comfort for extended hours of listening. The headband is also completely adjustable, and one of the earpieces features an intuitive control cluster. With the tap of a finger you can adjust the volume, hit play, pause, next and back. *For the iPod, iPad and iPhone, please ensure you have the latest iOS 4 update*.

Thanks to Bluetooth v2.1, the GOgroove headset provides true wireless freedom with an effective range of up to 30 feet. The integrated microphone empowers easy hands-free calling. Moreover, a single charge of the battery provides up to 8-hours of wireless audio entertainment. For peace of mind, the GOgroove AirBand is backed by a 3-year manufacturer’s warranty.

The GOgroove AirBand headset is compatible with the following brands:

• Motorola
• Samsung
• LG
• Apple
• HTC
• Other A2DP enabled tablets & smartphones

Price: $39.99 on Amazon

What’s interesting to note about all of this is the close ties between the two companies. According to The Economist, 26 percent of Apple iPhones are comprised of Samsung parts. Yet, despite the prodigious lawsuits, the multinationals recently agreed to continue their symbiotic “supply-side” relationship through at least 2012, and possibly beyond.

In August 2011, a German court ruled in Apple’s favor, effectively banning Samsung from selling its Galaxy Tab 10.1 throughout the E.U. Subsequent court cases softened the ruling, limiting the injunction only to the German market. Not to be outdone, Samsung immediately took to redesigning the Galaxy Tab, specifically for sale in Germany. The redesigned slate skirted the contentious patent infringement issues. By November, the Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1N was available for order via Cyberport, a German electronics retailer. The 16GB model was selling on the company’s website for €549.

Meanwhile, back in Australia

In October 2011, an Australian federal court granted Apple’s request for an injunction against Samsung. This ruling also denied Samsung from selling the Galaxy Tab 10.1 in Australia. Last week, the federal court overturned the decision, opening the door to Samsung to sell the device “down under”. In regards to the ruling, Samsung stated:

The Full Court of Australia decision on November 30 clearly affirmed our view that Apple’s claims lack merit and that an injunction should not have been imposed on the Galaxy Tab 10.1.

Not surprisingly, Apple appealed the decision.

Today, Australia’s High Court refused Apple’s application to appeal the decision via a special expedited application. According to Robert French, the High Court’s chief justice:

We see insufficient prospects of success on the part of Apple to demonstrate on appeal to this court error by the full court.

Soon afterwards, Samsung said in a statement that the Galaxy Tab 10.1:

…will be available in stores in time for the Christmas shopping period.

The display, also called the Gubbio Christmas Tree is in fact a lighting display in the shape of a Christmas tree. Located in the province of Perugia (Umbria), the Mount Ingino Christmas Tree spans 350 m at its base. It is 650 m high and covers an area of 130,000 square meters (1.4 million square feet). That’s the equivalent to an area of just under 30 soccer fields. Towering above the city, the “tree” can be seen as far away as 50 kilometers. Installed annually, the display is comprised of 730 multi-colored lights, and uses over 8.5 kilometers of electrical cable. In 1991, the Guinness Book of Records named it the “The World’s Largest Christmas Tree”.

This tradition started in 1981, when the people of the town decided to celebrate Christmas in a different way. The idea of the “tree” was hatched, and since then, it has made its appearance annually. The display is lit on December 7th of each year thanks to the combined efforts of volunteers through the months leading to the event.

The lighting of the tree is not Pope’s first encounter with technology. In fact, he seems to be embracing new technology. Earlier in the year, he tweeted for the first time, and even launched the Vatican’s online news information portal by tapping on an iPad.

Griffin A-Frame Multi-position Tabletop Stand

This slick, aluminum A-frame stand is both beautiful and well designed. In the upright stance, the stable tabletop device cradles your tablet PC in either landscape or portrait modes. When collapsed, the versatile stand rests horizontally, positioning your tablet at a lower, wrist-friendly angle for typing, surfing, reading and more.

The a-frame design also allows easy access to the dock connector for syncing and charging during use. Strategically positioned non-slip, silicone rubber pads protect and secure your tablet from abrasion and dings. Finally, the lightweight Griffin A-Frame Stand stores away nicely, so it’s ideal for travel.

Price: $20.00 on Amazon

elago P2 Stand for iPad and Tablet PCs

Ah, aluminum. I like aluminum, and the elago P2 stand for the iPad and other Tablet PCs is made of, um, well… aluminum. The elago P2 stand has an eye pleasing, Apple-esque design. The solid, one-piece construction makes breakage unlikely, and there are no parts to loose. The trapezoid base is undergirded with two foam pads providing both cushion and grip, while also protecting desktops and furniture. On the back face, you’ll find two strategically placed holes for cable connections. The small round hole provides access for audio connections, while the longer, oval hole provides access for the iPad’s 30-pin sync/charge cable.

Available in “Black” and “Silver”, the elago P2 stand is compatible with the iPad, iPad 2 and most other tablet PCs. Moreover, users needn’t remove their iPad cases in order to use the P2 stand. The interiors of the two curved “grips” are lined with padding to protect the finish of your tablets. Furthermore, the “J” shaped grips are separated by approximately an inch and a half, allowing iPad devices to be docked while seated in the P2 stand. While the viewing angle of the elago P2 is excellent, it is not adjustable. For those requiring maximum adjustability, you may want to consider purchasing the (silver) Thought Out Stabile PRO Pivoting iPad 2 stand listed below.

Price: $29.99 on Amazon

Thought Out Stabile PRO Pivoting iPad 2 Stand

As the saying goes: “Anything worth doing is worth overdoing”. The Stabile PRO pivoting iPad 2 stand by the “Thought Out” company certainly falls into this category.

The Stabile PRO pivoting iPad 2 stand is made in the good old U.S. of A. The unique stand incorporates wonderful design elements including stability, visual appeal, and adjustability. Compatible with the iPad and iPad 2, the Stabile Pro pivoting stand is made of solid steel. The steel construction is advantageous in that it is both strong and heavy. Weighing in at nearly 4-pounds, the pivoting stand positions your iPad at its center of gravity, making it highly resistant to tipping. At the heart of the stand is a 3/4-inch steel-ball pivoting holder. This unique arrangement allows the user to view the iPad at most any angle. The head of the unit allows 80-degree motion side to side, forward and back. The “retaining” hooks provide ample space for docking your iPad or iPad 2. The neck of the Stabile PRO Pivoting stand features a spilt back cable management system. The base is undergirded with four (black) 3M polyurethane non-skid feet. Lastly, four vinyl end caps guard the iPad’s finish.

This versatile stand cradles your iPad with or without a case or skin, and the silver finish matches Apple’s wireless keyboard. The Thought Out Stabile PRO pivoting iPad 2 stand sells for $99.99. Still not convinced? Check out this informative video.

Price: $99.99 on Amazon

iGobee Foldable Stand / Kickstand (Black)

Looking for a lighter and more portable tablet PC stand? Then the iGobee Foldable Stand / Kickstand may be right for you. The simple design is strong, durable and highly portable. When extended, the two front legs splay out to approximately 80˚ degrees. Furthermore, the aluminum alloy reinforced legs can be extended from 152mm to 231mm. At the base of each front leg is a small arm which extends upwards 90˚ degrees. It is this small arm upon which the tablet rests. The rear leg is adjustable; provide multiple viewing angles, and adjustable height with the push of button. The open design provides better airflow, allowing your laptop or tablet to cool naturally. The iGobee Foldable Stand / Kickstand supports a maximum weight of 13 LBS. It’s compatible with the following devices:

• The iPad
• The iPad 2
• Most tablet PCs
• The Kindle
• The Kindle DX
• The NOOK Color
• PS3
• PSP
• eReaders
• Assorted laptops

The iGobee Foldable Stand / Kickstand sells for $19.95 and comes with durable black carrying cloth.

Price: $19.49 on Amazon

Adjustable Skadoosh Aluminum iPad Stand

If it was legal to marry this next item, I think I’d do it. The Adjustable Skadoosh stand for the iPad and iPad 2 is the cat’s whiskers. Made of aluminum, Ahhh… A-lu-min-um *shakes head and snaps out of it*. Made of solid aluminum, the Skadoosh stand easily locks into place and adjusts to nearly a dozen different angles. Perfect for FaceTime, the fully adjustable stand uses rubber pads to firmly secure the iPad, reducing the risk of falls, scratches and dings. The stable aluminum stand equally protects iPads without cases and those in thin cases, with a collective thickness of 1/8th of an inch, or less. The Skadoosh also has a low pivoting point, making it ideal for use when typing on an iPad. An additional fold-down support arm provides even greater strength and stability. With a beautiful finish that matches the iPad, the Skadoosh stand gets the job done with style and ease. Get yours now for the iPad or iPad 2.

Price: $69.99 on Amazon

Since the release of the iOS version of this new HD game near the end of October it has received plenty of great reviews. To further prove the success and popularity of this game, as of yesterday an Android version of this app also became available, go ahead & visit the Android Market to purchase and download this addictive new mobile game today on your tablet PC.

Putter King Game Key Features

This HD mobile game is really well developed. Not only are the graphics very impressive, Putter King Adventure Golf is loaded with fun and challenging features. It’s a perfect example of the type of game that you just never get bored of. Check out the list below to see some of the games top features.

• 4 unique avatars (characters)
• Stunning HD and 3D graphics
• Realistic and accurate game physics
• 3 fun and unique courses: Adventures in Japan, Trip around the World and Putty’s Playground
• 24 different holes and 3 bonus holes designed by users
• Unlock holes, game characters and achievements
• 4 different game modes: Championship, Timed Trial, Multiplayer and Practice
• OpenFeint enabled
• Instantly publish your high scores on Twitter or Facebook

Putter King Adventure Golf Game Trailer

Still not convinced this game is worth trying and lives up to all the hype? Watch the demo video below to see this new 3D iPad game in action and perhaps it will change your mind.

Have Your iPad App Featured

How would you like to have your app featured as our iPad app of the week? If so, all you have to do is contact us with your request, a link to your app from the iTunes App Store and/or your official developer website along with any additional details you’d like to have included.

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Castle Keep is a digital remake of the original 1 to 4 player board game which was released back in 2005. The mobile version also allows you to play against real friends and opponents, however to do so you must share the same device as there is no online player mode available at this time. Still, it’s the type of game that will challenge you and keep you entertained whether playing single or multi-player mode.

Castle Keep Android Game Key Features And Objectives

As mentioned above, you can play against the computer or other friends and opponents. Your main objective of this medieval style game is to be the first player to completely build your castle.

Not only must you successfully build your castle, you will also need to defend it against enemy attacks. When it’s your turn to make the next move you can either raise and increase the strength of your castle by matching shapes and colors to build walls and towers, or you can use your tiles to attack against opponents. The choice is yours, but choose wisely as every move and tile counts!

This game is rather basic and could use a few more features, but to be fair it is only version 1.0 and will most likely improve over time. In order to be more engaging, a couple of additional features I would like to see for this game would be the ability to keep track of games won/lost (perhaps even a global leaderboard) as well as an online multi-player mode. Nonetheless, it’s still fun to play whether on your Android tablet or smartphone. Check out the demo video below for more details.

Castle Keep Android App Demo Video

Have Your Android App Featured

How would you like to have your app featured as our Android app of the week? If so, simply contact us with your request, a link to your app from the Android market and/or your official developer website along with any additional details you’d like to have included.

Have your app broadcasted to a targeted audience and gain well deserved exposure!

Check out the latest ASUS Transformer Prime teaser video which was just recently released. This powerful, durable, fully featured and affordable tablet really does have it all.

ASUS highly impressed tablet PC fans and mobile tech junkies around the globe with their first generation Transformer tablet and they are truly raising the bar once again with their second generation model which is easily the most advanced and visually appealing tablet currently on the market. I’m the proud owner of the original Transformer but can’t wait to get my hands on one of these and of course I’m certain that I’m not the only one feeling this way!

We don’t like to be biased here but you simply have to give credit where it’s due, and there’s no denying that in a highly competitive market ASUS has earned the rank of being one of the most innovative companies out there when it comes to tablets that have both incredible performance as well as the wow factor. Christmas simply can’t come soon enough this year!

To be fair, there are quite a few nice tablets to choose from this year, far more than 2010 no doubt. The ASUS Transformer Prime is just one example of how much touchscreen tablets have evolved in such a short period of time and we’re sure that 2012 is going to be yet another very exciting year.

What tablet PC is on your wishlist this year? Another question I have for our readers is what new features and devices are you hoping for and expecting to see surface in 2012? Off the top of my head, one operating system I’m really looking forward to is Microsoft Windows 8 which I believe might very well be Microsoft’s best OS to date and there’s a lot of buzz surrounding this. Please share your thoughts and comments below, we always love to hear what’s on your mind.

The Build

The LED backlit, color LCD screen has a resolution of 1024 X 600. Although the multi-touch screen is reputed to have a “matte” finish, experience shows that it’s extremely prone to fingerprints and smudges. BTW, if fingerprints are the kind of thing that will send you over the edge, we highly recommend snagging your own custom-cut Zagg InvisibleSHIELD screen protector for the ViewSonic ViewPad 10s. The display screen has fairly limited viewing angles and is brightest when viewed slightly above perpendicular. While the display’s brightness is adjustable, even at it’s maximum setting, the screen fails to “pop”.

Overall, the construction of the ViewPad 10s is decent, although it doesn’t inspire confidence for rough treatment. The rear of the ViewPad 10s is made of a black polymer plastic. Unfortunately, the high-sheen finish of the material is also decidedly prone to smudges.

The ViewPad 10s has a solid selection of physical buttons as well as ports. Buttons include the following:

• On/Off
• Screen Rotation Lock
• Back/Menu Key
• Two volume buttons: One for Increasing Volume & one for Decreasing Volume

On the right hand side of the ViewPad 10s, there’s a somewhat fidgety access door, which provides access to the following handy features:

• A single USB 2.0 port
• A Micro SD memory card reader
• An HDMI port

By design, the attached access door cannot be lost, thanks to two integrated tethers. Above the access door you’ll find a standard 3.5 mm headphone jack. Below the access door is a power connector port for charging the 10s. Finally, on the bottom of the ViewPad 10s, you’ll find a docking port which makes viewing the docked tablet much easier when sitting at a desk or table.

Innards

The ViewSonic ViewPad 10s is propelled by a NVIDIA Tegra 250 SMP dual Cortex – A9 processor running at 1GHz. It comes with 512MB of built-in memory, but can be bumped up to 32GB thanks to the built-in Micro SD Card Reader. The ViewPad 10s also comes with 512MB of DDR2 SDRAM. The operating system is based on Android 2.2 Froyo. Performance is more than acceptable thanks to the dual core processor. The ViewPad’s main functions include the following:

• Email Access
• Wi-Fi® enabled Internet Access
• Front Mounted Still and Video Camera
• A Dedicated Music Library Page
• An App Center

The ViewPad 10s also enables you to record sound via the built-in microphone. Audio is accessible via two built-in stereo speakers or the 3.5 mm headphone jack.

Software

The ViewPad 10s comes bundled with a User Guide, making it easy to get started. Other features of note are the calculator, calendar, clock, iFileManager, photo gallery, search function and Task Manager.

Battery life

Battery life is average. The 3-cell, 3300mAH, lithium polymer battery lasts approximately 8-hours on a single charge. When not in use, the ViewPad 10s has an approximate 98-hour standby battery life. Once more, you can monitor the battery’s charge thanks to the battery life indicator.

Summary

Anyone who’s owned a higher end tablet is sure to be disappointed by this tablet. That being said, the ViewSonic® ViewPad 10s is a very good entry-level tablet. Starting with this unit will help the “unschooled” determine which features they like, and which features they lack, or would like to have. For the money, the ViewSonic ViewPad 10s comes with many more features than most comparably priced tablets. All in all, you get a lot of bang for the buck, but will likely be sacrificing durability and other features with this unit.

Let’s Talk Tablets ViewSonic ViewPad 10s Rating: 6-Stars

Yes, it’s all part of our 2011 Tablet PC Holiday Gift Guide, where you can find gifts for geekiest of dweebs. That’s right, they’ll grok Spock, and kick it up “nerd-style” with these gooberific gifts. So, let us boldly go where no Holiday Gift Guide has gone before.

Transcend 32 GB microSDHC Flash Memory Card

Compatible with today’s most popular portable devices, the Transcend 32 GB microSDHC flash memory card is designed for long-life data retention. Perfect for data transfer, it offers exceptional durability, withstanding up to 10,000 insertions. Built-in Error Correcting Code (ECC) automatically detects and corrects transfer errors. Moreover, the portable memory card complies with Secure Digital Music Initiative (SDMI) portable device requirements. The versatile Transcend 32 GB microSDHC flash memory card also comes with a full size SD adapter, extending its use across devices. Lastly, it’s backed up by a limited lifetime warranty. Go ahead. Stuff your socks!

Price: $34.99 on Amazon

3M Stylus Pen

Were any of your loved ones born with giant ham hocks for hands? Do you suffer from a condition known as hotdog fingers? Then the 3M Stylus pen is for you.

The 3M Smart Pen is a highly sensitive stylus that’s compatible with all capacitive touchscreen devices. Rather than using your fingers, you can employ the 3M Smart Pen to tap away at ultra small virtual keyboards, simultaneously reducing fingerprints. It rests comfortably in the palm of your hand, and gives you precise control over your device. The 3M Smart Pen is compact, and easily fits into a pocket. It comes with a tethered cord for attaching to your portable device.

It’s compatible with the following devices:

• Apple iPhone 1/2/3G/S/4/4s
• Apple iPod, Apple iPad
• Google Nexus One
• HTC Desire
• HTC HD2
• Samsung Galaxy S
• Samsung Galaxy Tab
• Sony Ericsson Xperia X10 / X10 mini

Price: $18.99 on Amazon

Jawbone JAMBOX

Here’s a dandy little accessory for your resident audiophile, the Jawbone JAMBOX wireless portable speaker (in black). Embedded into the JAMBOX are two highly powerful acoustic drivers and an ultra-small dome. Combined, these elements produce audio that is both loud and wide-spectrum. The JAMBOX seamlessly connects with most Bluetooth devices, including computers, tablets, mobile phones and even iPods. With the Jawbone portable speaker you can stream music, movies, games and also phone calls. Once more, the JAMBOX can be updated with new software, apps and other features via Jawbone’s MyTalk portal. The internal rechargeable battery provides up to 10-hours of power. The Jawbone JAMBOX is 5.98-inches long, 1.57-inches deep, and 2.83-inches high. It weighs just 12-ounces.

Price: $148.00 on Amazon

Belkin Mini Surge Protector/Dual USB Charger

The Belkin mini surge protector/dual USB charger offers a host of features, all in one elegant, compact, and versatile design. First and foremost, it provides complete surge protection for your valued electronic equipment. In addition to this, the Belkin surge protector/charger allows for alternate charging of your electronic devices via two built-in mini-USB ports. Simply connect the appropriate cable from the charger to your device, and voila, instant USB charging. The Belkin surge protector also features a 360-degree rotating plug with 4 locking positions for maximum accessibility. Its small size and lightweight design makes it ideal for travelers or people who are on the go. The Belkin mini surge protector/dual USB charger comes with a lifetime warranty, and promises up to $75,000 in replacement costs for connected equipment.

Price: $12.00 on Amazon

Klipsch ProMedia Premium Noise-Isolating Gaming Headphones

Last, but not least, we come to the Klipsch ProMedia gaming headphones. The noise-isolating design of the Klipsch headphones is sure to enhance both your music and computer gaming. The patented oval ear tips are comfortable and unobtrusive, allowing the user to wear them for hours. The hands-free mic enables hassle free communication with family, friends, associates and online gamers. Black with red accents, the Klipsch ProMedia gaming headphones are both practical and handsome. They’re covered by a 2-year warranty and come with the following accessories:

• VOIP/Gaming adaptor (compatible with PC & MAC)
• Zipper carrying case
• 3 sets oval ear-tips (med, large, small/med dual flange)

Price: $34.99 on Amazon

Take advantage of this free app and easily access the latest deals with the power of TheFind which is one of the largest online shopping price comparison engines. This popular app was recently upgraded to version 2.0 just in time for Black Friday!

Why bother sifting and sorting through physical magazines and paper ads (which is so 1990′s) when you can find the best deals a whole lot quicker on your iPad? Not to mention, with Catalogue 2.0 you don’t have to wait for flyers or other ads to show up in your mailbox, rather you can download and access all of the latest sales instantly.

No matter what you’re shopping for, whether it be items for your kids, home furniture, clothing, you name it, you can find the best prices with this app instead of having to waste your time scanning through multiple different magazines and other print material which can be slow and tedious. There’s tons of stores and top retailers in their directory, search TheFind’s massive store directory to see for yourself!

This app is free to download and install, has plenty of great features and is very easy to use! You can even save your favorite products or personal catalogs for quick and easy viewing later which makes this app even more convenient and useful.

Here’s a couple of fun facts:

1. Mobile product price comparison searches have increased an estimated 300% just in the past 12 months alone!
2. Roughly 5.6 million tons of catalogs (and other paper ads) end up in landfills each year and that’s just in the USA alone!

So what are you waiting for? Not only will you do your part to help the environment, you’ll also be able to locate the best deals quicker than ever straight from your tablet PC. Click the button below to download this free iPad app today! Click here to download and install the Android version of this app.

Constructed of stain-resistant neoprene material, the Built NY® Envelope is more than able to absorb day-to-day knocks and bumps. The neoprene fabric is spongy, and offers increased resistance when compressed. Nevertheless, the design of the case actually depends upon the material’s ability to stretch. When a 10-inch tablet is inserted, the neoprene is forced to expand, making for a snug fit. Regrettably, some people may not like this aspect of the tablet sleeve. On the bright side, this same snug fit ensures that your tablet/netbook will not accidentally slip out of the protective envelope. The neoprene’s soft inner lining also protects your device from scratches, and dings. All exposed edges of the neoprene are neatly finished with a polyester lining. This helps eliminate erosion of the neoprene over time. Stitching is well executed, and solid.

On the inside front face of the case is a single pocket. This pocket is ideal for holding pens, pencils, USB cables, documents, and even a cell phone. Overall, the Built NY® Envelope is perfect for protecting your iPad, 10-inch Android tablet, or netbooks up to 10.2-inches. It’s handsome, minimalist, and ideal for the traveler, or people on the go. Our thanks to Luke Jordan at GEARZAP.com for sending this case our way.

If this 10-inch protective case isn’t what you’re looking for, then be sure to check out the GEARZAP site for a slew of other mobile device accessories, including those for tablets, laptops, and smartphones. At GEARZAP, their selection doesn’t end there. Why not check out their vast selection of eReader and tablet accessories, whether you’re looking for a new Kindle cover for the brand new Kindle 4 or a stylish and affordable Sony Tablet S case, they’ve got you covered.

Our Let’s Talk Tablets accessory review rating is 7 out of 10

Built NY Envelope 10 inch Tablet PC Sleeve Photos

Have Your Tablet PC Accessory Reviewed

How would you like to have your tablet PC accessory reviewed on Let’s Talk Tablets? If so, all you have to do is contact us with your request, provide a link to the accessory section on your website along with any additional details you’d like to have included.

We’ll provide you with our mailing list for you to send your product. You’ll get a fair and honest review on our site and have your accessory broadcasted to a wide targeted audience. Contact us today and gain well deserved exposure for your product!

Admittedly, never having laid our hands on one, we’re tempted to believe that the folds may eventually abrade the rear of the Transformer Prime. Nevertheless the ASUS smart cover will provide substantial protection for the face of the Transformer, as it’s bandied about throughout the day.

Originally Spotted on Amazon’s German site, the ASUS Smart Cover already appears to be sold out. Nevertheless, it sells for 39.00 € (Roughly 54.16 CAD), which is substantially cheaper than $149.00 for the optional docking keyboard. The German Amazon site also states that the ASUS Smart cover is available “in various trendy colors”, although green, gray, pink, and black are hardly what we’d consider trendy (more like standard).

In case you’ve been out of the loop, ASUS is expecting to launch the Eee Pad Transformer Prime in December of this year. Many technophiles, and tablet aficionados are anxiously awaiting the arrival of this high-end, high performance slate. The ASUS Transformer Prime is setting the bar for both tablet looks and performance. It will be the world’s first tablet to integrate the quad-core Tegra 3 processor. The groundbreaking processor is unprecedented in both speed, and performance. Furthermore, its integrated 12-core, GeForce GPU is certain to deliver impressive graphics performance.

The ASUS Prime will also be running the very latest Android operating system (4.0), or Ice Cream Sandwich. It will offer 1GB of RAM, and a choice of either 32GB, or 64GB of storage. Other features of note are the 10.1-inch, 1280×800 IPS panel, twin cameras (8MP and 1.2MP), a built-in gyroscope, GPS, 12 hours of battery life, and six more with the optional dock. Other goodies include MicroSD, and micro HDMI ports. The optional dock provides even more options, including a USB 2.0 port, and SD card slot.

Barnes & Noble Nook Color

As time goes by, the line between eReaders and tablet computers grows increasingly fuzzy. Recently, we covered this phenomena in a series of articles entitled “Tablet Computer / eReader Comparison”. If you’re looking for an eReader with extended capabilities, then the Barnes & Noble Nook Color may be for you. Barnes & Noble dubs the Nook Color as the “World’s Best Reading Experience + Tablet Essentials”. At its heart is the Texas Instruments ARM Cortex-A8 processor, running at 800 MHz. RAM sits at 512 MB. The Barnes & Noble Nook Color has 8GB of built-in memory (up to 5,000 books), which is expandable to 32GB with a microSD memory card.

Barnes & Noble also refers to the Nook Color as having the world’s most advanced VividView™ 7″ touchscreen. VividView™ is a lamination process, in which anti-reflective film is applied to the surface of the LCD in order to reduce glare, and optimize brightness. The 7-inch, 1024 X 600, high-resolution, touchscreen accurately renders over 16 million colors, and features an in-plane switching (IPS) display. The integrated Adobe® Flash® Player enhances Web browsing, and soon you’ll be able to download TV Shows, and movies from Netflix and Hulu Plus™. Thanks to the Android 2.2 operating system, you’ll have access to a vast array of apps available on the Android Market place. Furthermore, you’ll also have access to over 2.5 million books, magazines, and interactive kids’ books. Connectivity is established via Wi-Fi® (802.11b/g/n), or a Micro USB port (2.0).

Here are a few other fun things you can do with the Nook Color:

• Check, and send email
• Load photos, and create personal wallpaper
• Listen to audio content via the built-in mono speaker, or the universal 3.5 mm stereo headphone jack

When using the Nook Color as an eReader, you can select from 8 text sizes, 6 font styles, change background colors, and even adjust line and margin spacing. Don’t recognize a word? Look it up via the built-in Merriam-Webster’s Collegiate® Dictionary, Eleventh Edition. The rechargeable battery lasts for up to 8 hours, with wireless off. The Nook Color can be charged from a wall outlet using the in-box Power Adapter, and USB Cable. Charging time is approximately 3 hours from a wall outlet.

Price: $219.99 on Amazon

Amazon Kindle Keyboard

The Amazon Kindle Keyboard is all you could want in a true eBook reader. It comes with 4GB of built in memory, approximately 3GB of which are dedicated to user content. While the Kindle Keyboard does not accept digital storage media, it does support free cloud storage for all Amazon content. Connectivity is established through both Wi-Fi®, and/or the USB 2.0 micro-B connector, included with your purchase. The purpose of the connector is two-fold. First, it can be used as a bridge between the Kindle Keyboard and the U.S. power adapter. Secondly, the cable can be used to sync the Kindle Keyboard to your PC, or Macintosh computer.

The Kindle Keyboard also features Amazon’s 6-inch diagonal, electronic paper display. The E-Ink® Pearl display has a resolution of 600 x 800, at 167 PPI (pixels per inch). Text is adjustable. You can choose between eight font sizes, and three font styles. With the Kindle Keyboard, you can also listen to audio content thanks to the rear-mounted stereo speakers, and the integrated 3.5 mm stereo audio jack. This Kindle product supports the following audio formats: MP3, AA, and AAX. To support reading, the Kindle Keyboard also includes Whispersync technology. Whispersync notes where you’ve left off, and syncs your spot across devices, so you can pick up where you last stopped. The Kindle Keyboard has a built in dictionary, and enables you to search your Kindle library, the Kindle Store, Wikipedia, and/or the Web using Google search. With wireless turned off, you can expect up to two months of battery life, based upon a half-hour of daily reading time.

Price: $139.00 on Amazon

Kobo Touch eReader

Here’s a dandy little eReader. The Kobo Touch is an eReader in the truest sense of the word. With it, you’ll not find a lot of splashy features, just a bare bones eReader that does its job well. At its heart is a Freescale 508 processor. Internal memory sits at 2GB, however it can be bumped to 32GB thanks to the integrated MicroSD card slot. The Kobo Touch eReader establishes connectivity through (802.11b/g/n) Wi-Fi®, or via the included USB 2.0 cable, to either your PC or Macintosh computer.

The 6-inch E-Ink® Pearl screen has a resolution of 600 x 800, and is contrast adjustable, offering a total of 16-grayscale levels. Furthermore, the display accommodates reading in either portrait, or landscape modes. Text is also adjustable. The Kobo Touch offers an unparalleled 17 text sizes, and 7 font styles. Once more, you can highlight text or look up words via the built-in dictionary. Search text, take notes, and browse the Internet. The Kobo Touch does everything an eReader should do, plus more.

The Touch eReader also enables you to read across devices, and pick up where you left off, thanks to Kobo’s synched bookmark technology. It also supports a slew of file formats, including: EPUB, PNG, CBZ, PDF, JPEG, HTML, GIF, and CBR. The lithium-polymer battery provides power for up to one month and is rechargeable in approximately 4-hours via the AC/DC charger. The Kobo Touch is also USB chargeable in approximately 6-hours. The Touch is available in Lilac, Blue, Silver and Black. It weighs 6.5 ounces, and comes with a 1-year limited manufacturer’s warranty.

Price: Starting at $133.00 on Amazon

Sony Reader Touch Edition PRS-600B eBook reader

Finally, we come to the Sony Reader Touch Edition (PRS-600B). The Sony Touch Edition is another solid, bare bones eReader. It comes with 512MB of memory, 380MB of which are available for user content. 380MB is enough memory to hold roughly 350 of your favorite books. If necessary, memory can be expanded to 16GB via two separate memory expansion card slots, one for SD cards and one for Memory Stick PRO Duo™ cards. Because the Sony Reader Touch Edition is not Wi-Fi® enabled, connectivity is made available only via the included USB 2.0 cable. The PRS-600B is both PC and Mac® compatible.

The 6-inch E-Ink® Vizplex™ touchscreen display has 800 x 600 resolution, and offers 8-grayscale levels. In layman’s terms, Vizplex™ is an older form of e-Ink® display. The PRS-600B can be read in either portrait, or landscape mode. Reading is further enhanced through these supportive features, note taking, bookmarking, and text search. The Sony Reader Touch Edition also supports text highlighting, and allows for the adjustment of text, with 5 available sizes. The Sony Touch Edition also comes with a built-in dictionary, and supports a host of file formats, including ePub, BBeB Book, PDF, TXT, RTF, JPEG, PNG, GIF, and BMP. Audio content is made available through the headphone jack, as well as MP3, and AAC audio formats. The rechargeable lithium-ion battery provides power for up to two full weeks, and is USB chargeable.

Price: $177.85 on Amazon

Amazon Kindle Fire

If you’re looking for value, the Amazon Kindle Fire is arguably the best choice on the market today. Costing only $199.00, few comparably priced tablets can match the Fire’s versatility, and features. At its heart is a dual-core, TI OMAP4 processor. 8GB of on-device storage, rounds out the Fire’s internal memory. 6GB of this memory are available for user content. F.Y.I. 6GB is enough storage for 80 apps, plus 10 movies, or 800 songs, or 6,000 ebooks. Storage is effectively extended via free cloud storage for all Amazon content.

The Kindle Fire also features a 7″ multi-touch display with IPS (in-plane switching) technology. Treated with an anti-reflective treatment, the 1024 x 600 pixel display can render up to 16 million colors, at 169 PPI. Connectivity is established via (802.11b,g,n) Wi-Fi®, or a USB 2.0 (micro-B connector). Audio is accessed via top-mounted stereo speakers, or the 3.5 mm stereo audio jack. Battery life is average. You can expect up to 8 hours of continuous reading, or 7.5 hours of video playback, with wireless off. The Kindle Fire charges fully in approximately 4 hours, and weighs 14.6 ounces (413 grams).

Price: $199.99 on Amazon

Acer Iconia Tab A100

With solid features and performance, the Acer Iconia Tab A100 is an excellent choice in the lower-end tablet PC category. Powered by the NVIDIA® Tegra™ 2 Dual Core Mobile Processor, the Iconia Tab can handle just about anything you can throw at it. Orchestrated by the Android Honeycomb operating system, it comes with 1GB of DDR2 Memory, and 8GB of internal storage. The MicroSD memory card slot allows for the effective expansion of memory by an additional 32GB. Connectivity is available via (802.11b/g/n) Wi-Fi®, or a USB 2.0 Port. Accessories can be connected via Bluetooth® 2.1+EDR.

The Acer Iconia Tab has a 7” HD multi-touch display, with 1024 x 600 resolution, and a 16:10 aspect ratio. Graphics are bolstered by a NVIDIA® GeForce® GPU (graphics processing units), and sound is provided via a dual speaker, which is further enhanced by Dolby® Mobile Technology. Sound can be input through a dual analog microphone. On the rear of the Iconia tab is a 5MP auto-focus camera with a single LED flash. On the front is a 2MP camera. Powered by a rechargeable lithium-ion polymer battery, the Iconia Tab can run approximately 4.5 hours when watching onboard video. Once more, you can use the Acer Iconia Tab A100 to play video on an HDTV via the Micro HDMI™ out. The Iconia Tab supports both 1080p, and dual displays. Lastly, it comes with a Micro USB 2.0 Port, and the following sensors:

• G-Sensor
• E-Compass
• L-Sensor
• Gyro-meter

Price: $328.00 on Amazon

ViewSonic ViewPad 7e Tablet

The ViewSonic ViewPad 7e tablet is based upon the Android 2.3 Gingerbread operating system. At its nucleus is the fast, and powerful ARM Cortex™ A8 processor running at 1GHz. RAM (DDR2 SDRAM) weighs in at 512MB. The 7e has a built-in storage capacity of 4GB. Memory can be extended by another 32GB, thanks to the integrated Micro SD card reader. Connectivity is achieved via (802.11 b/g/n) Wi Fi, and Bluetooth 2.1 with EDR. The ViewPad 7e also features a high-resolution (800 x 600) multi-touch screen, and an ambient light sensor. The built in G-Sensor automatically adjusts screen rotation. The ViewPad 7e also supports Flash 10.3. Hook up the ViewPad to an HDTV, and you’ll experience 1080p video via the mini HDMI out connection.

The Android Gingerbread operating system provides access to a multitude of popular apps, including Kindle for Android, Twitter, TuneIn radio, and the Amazon App Store. On the rear of the ViewPad, you’ll find a 3MP camera. The front facing camera has a resolution of 0.3 megapixels. The ViewPad 7e weighs 1.06 pounds.

Price: Starting at $199.99 on Amazon

VIZIO 8-Inch Tablet with Wi-Fi

As always, let’s start with the “guts” of the unit. The VIZIO 8-Inch tablet features a 1-GHz processor, with 512MB of RAM. It’s orchestrated by the Android 2.3 Gingerbread operating system. The VIZIO 8-inch tablet comes equipped with 4GB of built-in memory, 2Gb of which are user accessible. On board memory can be extended by 32GB, via the built-in Micro SD card reader.

The VIZIO 8-Inch tablet features an 8-inch, LCD, LED-backlit, multi-touch screen. As with all lower-end tablets, Internet connectivity is mete out through (802.11b/g/n) Wi-Fi®. Of course, the VIZIO tablet is ideal for Internet browsing, and supports both HTML and Flash. The 8-inch Android tablet also comes equipped with a YouTube player. Stereo speakers broadcast audio content. Video calling is enabled by a front facing, 0.3 megapixels VGA camera (30 fps). The VIZIO 8-Inch tablet measures 8.1 inches long, 6.6 wide, and 0.48 inches thick. It weighs 1.2 pounds.

Price: $239.47 on Amazon

If you’re looking for even more options and gift ideas for 2011 you might also be interested in checking out our tablet PC price and specs comparison chart to help with your decision of what tablet PC to buy this Christmas. With our in-depth chart you can easily and quickly compare several different devices all in one easy location.

At Let’s Talk Tablets, we know that not everyone is made of money. I personally am made up of the following:

Money in its various forms constitutes 34% of my make up, thus, making me an ideal candidate for a mid-range tablet. So, why not join us here at Let’s Talk Tablets as we go shopping for the ideal mid-range tablet.

Archos 80 G9 8 GB 8-Inch Tablet

The ARCHOS 80 is a slick 8-inch tablet equipped with a solid selection of features. At its heart is the Texas Instruments OMAP 4 smart multi-core processor. Running at 1.0GHz, the dual-core processor is lightning fast. The Flash compatible tablet runs on Android 3.2 (Honeycomb). It features 512 MB of (DDR2 SDRAM) RAM, and an 8 GB (flash memory) hard drive. The 8-inch multi-touch, capacitive screen renders images beautifully, with a resolution of 1024 x 768. With (802.11 b/g/n) Wi-Fi®, you’ll experience the Internet the way you would on a PC. Connectivity is rounded out with Bluetooth 2.1+ EDR.

Thanks to the Android operating system, you’ll have access to the Android Market, which currently offers a selection of over 250 thousand apps. The versatility of the ARCHOS tablet also allows you to playback videos, listen to music/audio, and proudly display your photos among many other things. The lithium polymer battery provides a minimum of 7-hours of service, with a potential 36-hour run time, depending on how the tablet is used. The 720p forward facing video camera allows you to record the significant moments of your life, and share them instantly. Once more, you can play your favorite videos on an HDTV, thanks to the HDMI (out) connection. Check out these other handy features:

• Built-in GPS
• Built-in speakers
• G-sensor
• Compass
• Built-in kickstand
• Built-in Microphone

Why not get yours now?

Price: $269.99 on Amazon

Samsung Galaxy Tab 7.0

Now we’re talkin’. The Samsung Galaxy Tab 7.0 offers a lot of bang for the buck. In our opinion, it delivers all the features you could want, without breaking the bank. At its nucleus is a dual-core 1.2 GHz processor, providing both power and speed. The Android 3.2 Honeycomb operating system offers access to over 250,000 apps, and the Adobe Flash Player provides unrestricted web browsing.

The Galaxy Tab also boasts a 7-inch widescreen display with 1,024 X 600 resolution. In terms of connectivity, the Galaxy Tab is maxed out. It offers Wi-Fi® (802.11 a/b/g/n), Bluetooth 3.0, and USB 2.0. Moreover, it features two on-board cameras, a rear-facing 3.0 megapixel (MP) camera, and a 2.0 MP front camera. The Galaxy Tab 7.0 is also highly portable. It measures 7.62 inches long, 4.82 inches wide, and it’s a mere 0.39 inches thick. It weighs in at 12.16 ounces. Lastly, it features TouchWiz, a user-friendly touch interface developed by Samsung Electronics.

The Galaxy Tab 7.0 comes with a one-year warranty.

Price: $399.99 on Amazon

Acer Iconia Tab A500

The Acer® Iconia Tab A500-10S16u provides the ultimate tablet experience. The heart of the beast is a NVIDIA® Tegra 2, dual-core mobile processor. The Iconia Tab boasts 1000 MB of (DDR2 SDRAM) RAM, and 1GB DDR2 Memory. Moreover, it features a 16 GB hard drive, and a gleaming 10.1″ HD multi-touch display with astounding 1280 x 800 resolution. Operated by Android 3.0 Honeycomb, the Iconia Tab offers (802.11b/g/n) Wi-Fi®, and two USB Ports. The Iconia also features two on-board cameras. On the rear face, you’ll find a 5-megapixel (MP) autofocus camera. On the front you’ll find a 2MP camera.

The A500 allows you to easily check Facebook and Twitter updates with a single glance. Battery life is middle of the road. One can expect up to 8-hours of life from a single charge. In terms of dimensions, the Iconia Tab measures 10.2 inches long, 7 inches wide, and 0.5 inches thick. Weighing in at 1.69 pounds, the Acer A500 is a bit heavier than most. Although, considering its many features, this shouldn’t come as much of a surprise.

Price: Starting at $269.99 on Amazon

Toshiba Thrive 10.1-Inch Android Tablet

The Toshiba Thrive is a great Android tablet, offering solid versatility, and value for the money. At its core you’ll find NVIDIA Tegra 2 dual-core mobile processor, orchestrated by the Android Honeycomb operating system. With an 8 GB hard drive, and 8GB of RAM, the Thrive is more than equipped to meet your needs. It connects via Wi-Fi® and supports Adobe Flash empowering unrestricted Internet access.

The 10.1-inch, multi-touch, widescreen display features Adaptive Display Technology, and supports 720p. Although the Toshiba Thrive is a bit thicker than most, it compensates by offering a wide range of ports. The ports include USB, mini-USB, and an HDMI port. Moreover, the Thrive also comes with a full-sized SD card reader and Bluetooth connectivity. On the rear you’ll find a 5.0 MP autofocus camera, and on the front, a 2.0 MP webcam. Sound is delivered via stereo speakers with Toshiba sound enhancements. The prismatic lithium battery is user-replaceable, and provides 7 to 8 hours of life on continuous play. For variety and protection you can purchase an interchangeable, easy grip, non-slip, rubberized back plate. The back covers are available in five vibrant colors:

• Silver Sky
• Blue Moon
• Green Apple
• Raspberry Fusion
• Lavender Bliss

The Toshiba Thrive 10.1 packs a bit of weight, weighing in at 1.6 pounds. That being said, it also packs a slew of high-quality features. If you don’t mind a bit of weight and thickness, the Toshiba Thrive is an excellent choice.

Price: $368.20 on Amazon