A large majority of tablet and mobile phone owners use their devices for playing games. While offline games such as Angry Birds are very popular, over recent years there have been an increasing number of mobile gamers who prefer to go online for their gaming experience. While some people concentrate on online multiplayer games, online casino games are also gaining in popularity. Today mobile casino gaming is growing at a faster rate than all other forms of online gaming.

So, the question is what kind of device is the best for online gaming? Unfortunately there is not a simple answer; it is something that everybody must decide for themselves.

For online casino games such as roulette and poker, you don’t need a particularly powerful computer. Connectivity is very important, and you need a reasonably high processor and graphics speed, but no more than you will find on any reasonably modern tablet or smartphone. However if you intend to play console type games such as Hero Quest on your phone or tablet, then you will have a much better gaming experience on one of the top end devices such as the Samsung Galaxy 4 which have powerful and fast multi-core graphics processors. In fact the top end smartphones have more computing power than most tablets, making them ideal for casino and action games. Even the world’s most powerful tablet, the 10.1 inch Razor Edge Pro only has a dual core turbo 2.6 GHz processor, will set you back over a thousand pounds.

What you do get with a tablet is a decently sized display, perfect for games such as roulette, blackjack and slots. Gaming on a Razor Edge Pro is always going to be better than gaming on even the latest iPhone. Especially when looking at interactive games such as those at JackpotCity where the important issue is portability. If you are happy to carry around a top end tablet wherever you go, then that’s fine, but for most people it is far preferable to carry around a phone.

Apple’s App Store is leading the group with roughly 900,00 apps, to date (updated from wwdc2013 event), and 50 billion total downloads during a period of 5 years, or so. Android is right after, with about 800,000+ apps at the Google Play store, while the rest of the list is far behind, with Windows Phone Store featuring 145,000 apps, and Samsung Apps with only 13,000 apps at the moment. Check out the table to learn more about the numbers and info.

This infographic is courtesy of  Top Apps and Designed by Graphs.net

Image source: Lifehacker

Apple’s annual event for WWDC 2013 has finally come to an end. In a nutshell: no new Apple iphone or iPad. So what did we end up getting? Some rumors have indicated that we would see Apple laptop hardware updates this week, while other rumors pointed to a whole new software design. At the end of the day, I guess it was probably a good mix of both. From the hardware part, Apple has announced a refresh of its MacBook Air & Macbook Pro devices, and software wise, the guys over at Cupertino launched a new OS X (10.9) and the most anticipated iOS 7, which Tim Cook referred to as the “biggest change to iOS since the iPhone.”

But first, as usual they started with some numbers:

•  Apple says that under 5 years, users have downloaded from the App Store about 50b times.

•  There are now 900,000 apps in the App Store, of which 375,000 are for the iPad.

•  Over 600 million iOS devices sold.

•  800 billion iMessages sent.

•  240 million Game Center users.

Macbook Air & OS X Update

Apple just announced the next generation of MacBook Pro and MacBook Air products, with claims that the power consumption will be reduced for both machines (they call it the ”all day battery life”). The new MacBook Air is distinctively similar to the previous model, but if you’re going to take a closer look you’ll find the new “Haswell” 4th-gen processors from Intel. In addition, the new line is said to offer a faster 802.11 ac Wifi connectivity, alongside Intel HD Graphics 5000, which is supposed to provide graphics performance that is 40 percent faster. Apple claims 9 hours of battery life for the 11-inch model, while the 13-inch MacBook Air now provides up to 12 hours of continuous work. They’re both available starting today, with the 11-inch Air going at $999 for the 128GB base model, and $1,199 for the 256GB version. The larger 13-inch Air will be priced at $1,099 for the 128GB entry model, and $1,299 for double the size (256GB).

Apple unveils its latest operating system, the OS X “Mavericks.” First thing you’ll notice, is that the company is replacing its traditional practice of calling Mac operating systems after cats. Instead, it is going after an undersea rock in California that apparently creates big waves. Symbolic, isn’t it? Anyway, the new operating system is said to extend battery life to the most, reduce boot-up time, and enhanced multiple display support (with the ability to tweak elements between screens). Furthermore, the Mavericks features a range of improvements and new features aimed at both users and developers alike. That includes the “finder tabs” addition, which will organize different finder windows into one, documents tagging, new iBooks and Maps app integration, a new version of Safari browser, including a whole new bookmark bar, a redesigned calendar, improved notifications, and a powerful iCloud keychain feature, an encrypted 256-bit AES functionality for password and private info management.

 iTunes Radio

Music streaming services are growing big these days. Google has recently unveiled its Google Play Music and the market is packed with some major streaming players such as Rdio, Spotify and Pandora. Today, Apple is joining that group with recent announcement of its iTunes Radio music platform, which was described by the A-team as “a new way to discover music.” At present, there is no need to pay any fee for this, but the free radio service supported by ads. You can either listen to the channels the service offers from various sources (e.g Twitter trending songs, integrated stations, your personal music collection), or simply create your private iTunes Radio station at your choice. You can also modify existing stations to your own taste by choosing the ‘Play more like this’ or ‘Don’t play music like this’ sections. The service is expected to launch in the U.S first and then expand globally, sometime in the future.

iOS7

And now we’re finally getting to the highlight of the show: Apple has revealed a completely new iOS 7 software, featuring a all-new design with a modern “Flat” approach. It has a much smoother look, and considered by the Cupertino-based company as “the biggest change to iOS since the introduction of the iPhone.”

With so many new options and  features installed, I think that iOS7 was definitely worth the wait. It has a nice clean form, some pretty colorful icons and a very friendly interface on top. What else can we find in there?

Control Center – An Android-like area where you can manage and adjust some of the most important settings on your phone. (Wi-Fi, brightness, volume, etc.). To get in there, you simply need to swipe the screen down from the upper area on your mobile device, and voila!

Airdrop - This is an OS X feature that Apple has finally imported to its mobile devices. What it basically does is to enable mobile users that have smartphones, tablets or laptops to send files or pictures to anyone around them in real time. Unfortunately, it only supports iPhone 5, fourth generation iPad, iPad mini, and fourth-gen iPod touch.

Multitasking – The multitasking app cards were a major feature of Palm’s WebOS platform. This is probably the best way to switch between the apps, monitor them and determine which ones are being used the most. With the card interface, you get a clear view of your content instead of multiple tiers of very tiny icons.

Siri – As you all probably know, Siri is a personal assistant built into the iphone. In iOS 7 Siri gets a whole new look and a new refreshing voice. From now on, you’ll be able to adjust your settings with Siri, conduct search queries from Bing and Wikipedia, and dictate your map navigation and messages, thanks to the in-car iOS support (Apple is said to bring iOS dashboard to Honda, Mercedes, Nissan, Chevy, Kia, Volvo, Acura and others).

Camera and Photos - There’s a new stuff going on in the Camera app and the Photos section. For a start, they both look very good now, with the latest and greatest iOS Seven. Users can now create Shared Photostreams  in a two-way collaborative system, while the new Photo app is now capable of intelligently organize and present your entire digital albums, by automatically clustering them into “Moments” or collections (chronologically). With the new Camera app, you can easily swipe between various modes such as video, still, or “square” (for Instagram shots), and even spice them up with a wide range of integrated filters.

Safari – Apple’s good ‘ol browser is getting a fresh new look in iOS7. The interface is much bigger than what we have known in previous versions, and there’s a new tabbed view (which is kinda similar to Chrome for Android), along with a vertical cover-flow carousel browser. The search field has been upgraded as well, to a unified search menu, and you are also getting access to the iCloud keychain password management control.

New App Store – The App Store segment is also getting a new design in your phone. In that regard, the apps will now start updating themselves automatically in the background, and you’ll be able to search for apps, based on rates, popularity and your personal preferences and location.

Activation Loc - Basically, if your iphone gets stolen and the thief tries to turn the Find My iPhone off, then he or she will not be able to reactivate it again, without including  your personal iCloud password.

Release Date

iOS 7 coming to developers TODAY, and for the rest of the world, sometime in the fall. The platform will support the following devices: iPhone 4 and later, iPad 2 and later, iPad mini, and iPod Touch 4th gen.

Click here to view the embedded video.

Uh oh, look who’s back in town.. Toshiba! The Japanese-based company, which is most well known for its wide range of high-quality television sets, has just officially introduced a couple of new Android Jelly Bean slabs, the Excite Pure, Excite Pro and the Excite Write. Mind you, these are not your average tablets. While they are banking on the 10-inch high-def form factor to be enough to drive sales, there’s a lot more to like here. For a start, have a look at the $300 Excite Pure model. It features a Tegra 3 SoC, alongside a 1,280 x 800 screen with Gorilla Glass 1 on the top. In addition, it packs a wide range of ports, and either 16GB or 32GB of internal storage to choose from. The immediate next higher model is the Excite Pro. A big upgrade that includes the brand spanking new Tegra 4 chip, paired with 32 gigs of storage, Harman Kardon speakers, 8MP rear-facing camera, and a whopping 2,560 x 1,600 (300 ppi) Gorilla Glass 2 screen on top. Just for the record, the iPad 4‘s Retina resolution screen is at 2048×1536, so you can get a good sense of what this tablet is about. Anyway, if you’d like to order yourself one, it will be available from early July, for $500.

Moving on to the third (and last) model in that group, the Excite Write. Overall, this is a top notch machine with almost similar specs as the Toshiba Excite Pro: A 10.1-inch, 2,560 x 1,600 display, Tegra 4 SoC, 32GB of internal storage, and an 8-megapixel shooter on the back of this Tosh. But what really sets this model apart from the rest is the active digitizer feature that improves your writing precision and supports up to 1,024 levels of pressure sensitivity, which is one big deal, to say the least. This one will go for $600, sometime next month.

Click here to view the embedded video.

Video courtesy of Cnet

Hey, it’s party time over at Computex 2013, and thought you might like to join the blog-hop fun! Asus is here and with it, a plethora of tablets and crazy-cool gadgets. Well, it shouldn’t come as a surprise to you, but the company has now launched a whole new line of products. The first, is a budget tablet at the 7-inch range, called The MeMO Pad HD 7. It’s a nice looking slate with a 1,280 x 800 IPS display on top, and an ARM Cortex A7 quad-core processor under the hood. It runs an Android Jelly Bean for the operating system, and offers either 8 or 16GB of internal storage, at your choice. Both are expandable via a microSD slot. Of course, there’s also a fine 1.2-megapixel front-facing camera for video chat, plus a 5-megapixel shooter at the back, but the most interesting part is the new pricing structure, which makes this package a very affordable option. Only $129 for 8GB model, and $149 for the 16GB flavor. WOW! In addition to that, you can choose from four bright colors (Black, White, Pink and Green) to personalize your tablet.

 Moving on to the bigger alternative, the MeMo Pad FHD 10. This time we’re looking at a 1,920 x 1,200 backlit 10-inch screen, powered by a 1.6GHz Intel Atom Z2560 processor, Android Jelly Bean for the OS, and a solid luxury ”micro-weave finish” on the back. The 9.5mm thick device also comes with a 1.2-megapixel front-facing camera plus 5-megapixel rear-facing shooter, either 16 or 32GB of internal storage, 2GB of RAM, and a GPS receiver for accurate positioning and navigating control. Pricing and availability are yet to be announced.

Samsung has already announced a 7-inch Galaxy Tab 3 version, and is now planning to add at least two more. The first in that range is the 8-inch Galaxy Tab 3 flavor, which would run an Android 4.2 for the OS, and will feature a WXGA TFT 1280 x 800 (189 PPI) display, alongside a 1.5 GHz Exynos dual-core chip, 1.5GB of RAM, and 16GB or 32GB of internal storage at your choice, expandable up to 64GB through a microSD slot. In addition to that, we’re looking at a 4,450mAh battery pack in that slate, accompanied by a 5-megapixel rear-facing camera, and a 1.3-megapixel shooter on the front. Prices are yet to be set, so you will have to wait a little while, before you can choose from the three different variants, including the WiFi only version, WiFi + 3G HSPA-Plus and WiFi and LTE form.

The 10.1-inch model is particularly interesting since it would be the first Samsung Android-powered device that uses an Intel processor on board. And if we are really going to get down the nitty gritty stuff, the ten incher Tab will have an Intel 1.6 GHz dual-core processor under the lid, paired with a 1280 x 800 (149 PPI) WXGA TFT screen, 1GB of RAM, a 3-megapixel rear-facing camera and another one at the 1.3-megapixel range, up front. The battery life is much better in this slate thanks to a 6,800 mAh battery pack, and the storage selection is pretty much similar, with either 16 or 32GB, supporting up to 64GB via microSD slot. This device will be running on Android 4.2 operating system as well, and will hopefully go on sale with the three same variants.

Both slates set to be launched in early June 2013.

Computex 2013 is definitely a place for global exhibitors to make new product announcements. And that includes MSI which today introduced their latest entry to the mid-range tablet space, in the form of a 7.85-inch slab, dubbed the Primo 81. At this point, I’m sure you all think that it looks exactly like the iPad Mini, and there’s certainly a lot of similarities in appearance between the two, but the primary difference is that the Mini runs an iOS software, while the Primo will receive an Android Jelly Bean soul. That being said, both tablets feature the same 1,024 x 768 capacitive IPS display, made by LG, with similar version of the 1GB RAM stick, and almost identical finish and size in dimensions. But the CPU is slightly different from each other. While the Mini comes with a Dual-core 1 GHz Cortex-A9 chip inside (Apple A5), the Primo provides a fairly cheap and powerful upgrade — It has the quad-core Allwinner A315 processor. We also know there will be a 16GB capacity version for the MSI model, but can’t be sure about any other storage forms. Unfortunately, there’s still no word about pricing or availability but we’ll keep you posted as we find out more.

Buying a tablet doesn’t require a big fortune these days. All you have to do is go down to the local supermarket, and get yourself a brand new mid-range slate. At Wal-Mart, for instance, you’ll find an inexpensive pair of Android Jelly Bean devices, currently sold under the popular Chinese brand of Hisense (for either $99 or $149 US dollars a piece). The two, the Sero 7 LT, and the Sero 7 Pro, are in fact very similar in design and cut, but somewhat different in technical specs. While the cheaper version boasts a fairly reasonable 1.6GHz dual-core processor under the lid, alongside 1GB of RAM, 4GB of storage, a 0.3-megapixel front-facing camera, 4 hours battery life, and 7-inches screen, supporting 1024 by 600 pixels resolution, the Pro version runs inside a powerful 1.3GHz quad-core Tegra 3 chip, accompanied by 1GB of RAM, 8GB of  internal storage, dual-camera configurations, with a 5MP rear camera, and a 2MP front shooter, WiFi, Bluetooth and a crisp 1280 by 800 HD resolution display. Now, that’s not bad at all considering the fact that the hardware is far superior than other tablets in that range.

Update: We’ve added a brief video hands-on to help you get a sense of what this tablet is all about.

Click here to view the embedded video.

Amazon announces Kindle Fire HD 7 and 8.9-inch availability in over 170 countries and territories around the globe. The giant online retailer will officially start taking in pre-orders for both slates, starting today, with shipping to begin in a weeks time (edit: June 13). As for pricing, the 1280 by 800 Kindle Fire HD 7 will run up a $214 bill for the 16GB model, or you’ll be able to pick up a Kindle Fire HD 8.9 unit at a mere $284, with a set of premium slab specifications, including  1GB of RAM, a dual-core 1.5 GHz TI OMAP 4470 processor, 32/64GB of internal memory, and 1920 by 1200 of high-res screen resolution. In a new PR release that the company issued, Dave Limp, VP of Amazon Kindle was quoted as saying:

Kindle Fire HD is the #1 best-selling item in the world for Amazon since its launch, and we’re thrilled to make it available to even more customers around the globe today.

And also:

Not only does Kindle Fire feature advanced hardware, it’s also a service. When combined with our content ecosystem, great email and browsing and top-rated customer service, we hope people around the world will agree that Kindle Fire HD is the best tablet for an incredible price.

Whether it is true or not is up to you to make the decision.

Somewhere along the way people started complaining about the lack of available storage on their handsets. To help in that regard, here’s a tip for iOS users who are interested in solving this particular problem:

You all probably noticed the fact that many apps taking up big GB space from your personal iPhone / iPad storage (you can find out how much space they actually take by opening the Settings and clicking General > Usage and finding the app in the Storage section). The main reason for this, is because they are using some sort of a cache mechanism to optimize and improve their day to day performance. Unfortunately, you can’t control it that much, but the phone automatically resets the storage space of an app every week or so, anyway. However, if the app storage total capacity has grown beyond a reasonable range (or activity), you can either delete and re-install it back, OR you can clear the cache by simply using free third-party apps such as iFunbox. Choosing this path, you’ll have to hook up your iDevice either to your laptop or desktop machines, then pick up the app you want to clear the cache for, go to “Library” and delete the “Cache” folder section or the files that it used to house and store. That’s it, the cache is clean and the size of the app is back to normal again.

Update: You do not need to have a jailbroken iPhone, iPod Touch or iPad, for that matter.

Acer seems to be very active within the mid-range tablet market lately, with most of the attention given to its Android-powered lineup. That, apparently, is about to change in the upcoming months, though, as the Taiwanese corp has quietly launched an 8-inch WXGA slate with Windows 8 as the main OS platform. You got that right, ladies and gents, a mid-range device running Microsoft’s latest Windows 8 Pro onboard. Sheesh, that sounds awesome. But more importantly, it looks so great. And by “it,” we refer of course to the new Iconia W3 slate, which has just been introduced online on the company’s Finnish website. In terms of its technological specs the W3 is nothing out of the ordinary with an Intel Atom Z2760 chip running under the hood, as well as 2GB of RAM, a 1,280 x 768 display, 802.11 b/g/n WiFi and Bluetooth 4.0 for wireless connectivity. Other than that, it sports a 2-megapixel front-facing cam, a microHDMI output, USB 2.0 hub, and up to 64GB of internal storage. The battery pack, if you wondered, is rated to provide up to 8 hours of battery life, and the picture in the info source link also indicates a bunch of accessories like a portable keyboard dock and a cover case that doubles as a stand.

Update: At Computex 2013, Acer has just made the 8.1-inch Iconia W3 official, and boy does it look great. Anyway, as promised the little mid-range slate runs a full Windows 8 version under the hood, tucked with a 1,280 x 800 display, and a dual-core 1.8GHz Atom Z2760 processor. Acer claims the battery life for the W3 to be around 8 hours, and you can choose between either 32 or 64GB storage options, plus an extra 32GB maximum via microSD. As for ports, we’re looking at a micro-USB, and an integrated micro-HDMI slot. But you can also find a pair of speaker grills at the bottom of this slab, a volume rocker to the left, and two front/rear-facing cameras, at 2MP each. In addition, the 540 grams device supports WiFi 802.11b/g/n, and boasts a Bluetooth 4.0 connectivity so you can wirelessly connect to compatible external devices. The new tablet is apparently due out sometime before the end of June (at 329 euros / 379 euros, respectively, and $379 in the US), while pre-orders for the slate will start from tomorrow, it will be made available through all of Microsoft’s retail stores, as well as Amazon, Office Depot, OfficeMax, Staples and Walmart.

Click here to view the embedded video.

Video courtesy of tabtechde

If you are in the market for a new mid-range tablet, but don’t feel like spending too much money on it, the new 8-inch slate from Archos, dubbed Xenon 80, is probably a very good option for you. Why you might ask? Because for $200 not only do you get the usual specs like a 1,024 x 768 IPS display, 4GB of internal storage (expandable up to 64GB via microSD slot), 2 megapixel rear camera shooter, and Android 4.1 (Jelly Bean) operating system along with a layer of Archos own suite of multimedia software, but you also get a strong 1.2GHz Qualcomm quad-core CPU under the lid, plus 3G capabilities to surf the internet while travelling. That sounds like a lot of performance for less money than other hot slabs in the market, right? I guess we’ll have to check it out ourselves, when this one comes out next month (June). 

The mid-range segment has already become the mainstream of the tablet market. All of a sudden, it seems that everyone wants to get involved and be part of it, and so does Japanese telecom giant NTT DoCoMo that has recently revealed a 7-inch chap, known as the Sharp Aquos Pad SH-08E. And if you think this machine isn’t powerful that’s just not true. Well, for starters this isn’t your average Android 4.2 device, but a super-fast Pad, you’re looking at, with a 1.7GHz quad-core Snapdragon 600 processor under the lid, a 4,200mAh battery, and native 1,920 x 1,200 of high-res IGZO display. Not enough? you’re also getting an 8.1-megapixel rear facing camera, tucked with a 2.1-megapixel shooter on the front. There’s also WiFi, NFC, an integrated TV tuner, and LTE band support. The body itself is made out of waterproof material, so you don’t have to worry about dropping it in water. What you may have to worry about, though, is the price, but it hasn’t been disclosed yet. What we do know, however, is that it will be available in Japan, sometime before the end of July.

Earlier this weekend in New York City, Acer unveiled the Iconia A1, a 7.9-inch Android Jelly Bean tablet with a 1.2GHz quad-core processor under the hood, a very sharp IPS panel, and 1024 x 768 pixels screen resolution for high definition display. This isn’t Acer’s first foray into the popular mid-range tablet market. The company announced another 7-inch device, with Android’s latest 4.1 version, only four months ago. And while the first iteration (also known as the Iconia B1-A71) packs a dual-core processor, the new product boasts a quad-core technology onboard. In other words, a lot more power and a lot more speed that you get in here. Other than that, this 11.1mm thick slate, which is going on sale in the US of A later this month, also comes with WiFi b/g/n, Bluetooth 4.0, a 5MP rear-facing camera, and your choice of either 8GB or 16GB of data storage, with an expandable microSD slot. The forthcoming tablet will retail for a very competitive price tag of $169 and $199, respectively.

Click here to view the embedded video.

Video, courtesy of phoneArena

I have heard this question quite a lot lately — “If you can tag people on Facebook, why can’t you do that on Instagram?” It actually makes plenty of sense, doesn’t it? Well, it all depends on who you ask. But thankfully, they finally just added this cool new feature into their latest and greatest mobile phone version (v 3.5). It took more than a year though (after Facebook acquired the popular photo-sharing platform). Still, we are always continually looking for any new and interesting updates, and this one, which you can now download both for iOS and Android apps, is definitely a top priority. Why, you are asking? Because it adds an option that will let you tag friends, brands or any other people for this matter, into your day-to-day digital photos. In addition, there’s a new Photos of You tab, added to a user profile page, where you can see all photos on Instagram that you’re tagged in. Clearly you can preview tags before they get to be published and shared, but there’s a way to make it happen automatically, as well. Finally, the company has posted a new video that explains some simple facts about this latest neat update.

Another day, another Samsung Galaxy tablet. That’s right folks, the S.Korean corp has just announced the official release of yet another mid-range Android Jelly Bean device, also known as the Galaxy Tab 3 model. After the previous 8 incher this 7 inches (1024×600) slate looks pretty much the same, only with about 1-inch less of your fancy touch-screen real estate. Other than that, we’re basically looking at a tad thinner and lighter Sammy version (compared to the Galaxy Tab 2 iteration), with a dual-core 1.2GHz processor under the lid, either 8GB or 16GB of internal storage (expandable up to 64GB via microSD card slot), a 3 MP rear camera and 1.3-megapixel front camera for video calling, 802.11 b/g/n Wi-Fi connectivity, Bluetooth 3.0, and GPS + GLONASS navigation system. There’s also a 4,000 mAh battery pack inside this slab, and an optional 3G HSPA+ capable baseband. While pricing information is still largely unknown, Samsung has announced that it will begin selling the Tab 3 WiFi -Only brand sometime in May, and the 3G edition about one month later.

Microsoft Surface tablets have in fact been around for more than six months already, but they’re now expanding into several new markets. According to a recent announcement by the Redmond giant, the company will have both its Windows 8 Surface Pro and Surface RT available worldwide, in 29 different markets (all in all). Launch is scheduled for April 25th, when the first batch of Surface RT devices is expected to hit the beautiful country of Malaysia and then, about a month later, to Mexico, and by the end of June, the RTs will officially go live in Thailand and Korea. The Surface Pro, on the other hand, is planned to have a second round of debut by the end of May in 19 additional markets across Europe, Asia and the Pacific. Finally, the company says it is trying to keep up with the growing demand for its 128GB Surface Pro device. So if you’re looking for one, rest assured that the product is consistently in stock.

[Microsoft]