LG G Pad 8.3 Google Play Edition is a slightly larger, slightly better Nexus 7

<img alt="G Pad" class="attachment-full wp-post-image" height="353" src="http://www.extremetech.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/12/gp-640x353.jpg" style="border-style: none; color: #333333; font-family: ProximaNovaRgRegular, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 22px;" width="640" /><br /> <div style="color: #333333; font-family: ProximaNovaRgRegular, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 22px; margin-bottom: 24px;"> The <a href="http://www.extremetech.com/tag/lg" style="color: #b1700a; text-decoration: none;">LG</a> G Pad 8.3 from Google Play has (as the name suggests) an 8.3-inch screen that clocks in at 1920×1200. So it’s the same resolution as the Nexus 7 2013, but a little larger. For some people, the Nexus 7 is simply too small to be the ideal tablet. All things considered, an 8-9 inch tablet is a really great size. This way Google can cater to those people with stock Android and not have to develop new hardware for the Nexus program.Google has been rapidly expanding the selection of Android devices it sells in the Play Store this year, and one of the recent additions might seem odd at first glance. The Google Play Edition LG G Pad 8.3 is only a little larger than the 2013 Nexus 7, but it starts at $350. However it fills a niche, and <a href="http://www.extremetech.com/tag/google" style="color: #b1700a; text-decoration: none;">Google</a> is all about niches these days.</div> <div style="color: #333333; font-family: ProximaNovaRgRegular, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 22px; margin-bottom: 24px;"> The rest of the hardware is similarly impressive. The G Pad has a quad-core <a href="http://www.extremetech.com/tag/Qualcomm" style="color: #b1700a; text-decoration: none;">Qualcomm</a>Snapdragon 600 at 1.7GHz per core, 2GB of RAM, and a 4600mAh battery. The battery is quite a bit larger than the Nexus 7′s 3950mAh unit, which is a happy side effect of the larger chassis size. It’s only slightly heavier than the Nexus 7, though. While the G Pad 8.3 only has 16GB of internal storage, it includes a microSD card slot, something that is lacking on the Nexus devices, much to the displeasure of a vocal subset of Android fans.</div> <div style="color: #333333; font-family: ProximaNovaRgRegular, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 22px; margin-bottom: 24px;"> <a href="http://www.extremetech.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/12/GP2.png" style="color: #b1700a; text-decoration: none;"><img alt="G Pad 8.3" class="alignright size-medium wp-image-172570" height="300" src="http://www.extremetech.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/12/GP2-300x300.png" style="border-style: none; float: right; padding-left: 10px;" width="300" /></a>When the G Pad 8.3 came out recently, the<a href="http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,2817,2426455,00.asp" style="color: #b1700a; text-decoration: none;">consensus was clear</a>. It had very good hardware, but the software was a bit of a mess. By keeping LG from poking around too much with the UI and features of the software, the Google Play Edition tablet could rectify the one major problem facing the device. This tablet runs <a href="http://www.extremetech.com/tag/android" style="color: #b1700a; text-decoration: none;">Android</a> 4.4 KitKat, and should stay up to date much better than other devices.</div> <div style="color: #333333; font-family: ProximaNovaRgRegular, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 22px; margin-bottom: 24px;"> In the past, when Google talked about Android, it was talking about a version of the platform that almost no one would ever see. OEMs skin and modify devices along with their carrier partners, which weakens Google’s control over Android. A Google Play phone or tablet provides a stock Android experience that is heavily influenced by Google. While the OEM still builds the update, there is virtually no change to the code beyond optimization for the hardware, and certainly no carrier bloatware. The result is more premium hardware that offers a pure Android experience in a variety of styles and form factors — something for everyone.</div> <div style="color: #333333; font-family: ProximaNovaRgRegular, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 22px; margin-bottom: 24px;"> <i>Via: <a href="http://www.extremetech.com/mobile/172567-lg-g-pad-8-3-google-play-edition-is-a-slightly-larger-slightly-better-nexus-7">ExtremeTech</a></i></div> <div> <br /></div>

LG G Pad 8.3 Google Play Edition is a slightly larger, slightly better Nexus 7

The  LG  G Pad 8.3 from Google Play has (as the name suggests) an 8.3-inch screen that clocks in at 1920×1200. So it’s the same resolution...

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Nexus 7 Now Available In 32GB Model In The US, UK And Japan For $269

<div style="text-align: center;"> <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody> <tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><img alt="nexus7_white" class="alignnone wp-image-94" height="220" src="http://itrumors.files.wordpress.com/2013/12/nexus7_white_hero.jpg?w=350&h=220" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="350" /></span></td></tr> <tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Add captionNexus 7 Now Available</span></td></tr> </tbody></table> </div> <span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Th<a href="https://play.google.com/store/devices/details/Nexus_7_32GB_White?id=nexus_7_32gb_2013_white" target="_blank">e version of the Nexus 7 tablet</a>, in white and packing 32GB of storage, available now for $269 on the Google Play Devices store, so long as you’re in the U.S., U.K. or Japan. There’s no LTE version and no 16GB model, unlike with the black Nexus  7, but if you’re looking for a color match tablet for your white Nexus 5 you’re now in luck.<span id="more-93"></span></span><br /> <span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"></span><span style="font-size: small;">The bezel retains the same black paint scheme, and there’s no change beyond the back panel color job in terms of performance or specs. The Nexus 7 is a fairly capable Android tablet, however, and most likely the best deal available at that particular price point depending on your needs. If you’re looking to grab one, it’s probably a good idea to pull the trigger on that order, quickly, since these are probably going to be in fairly limited supply at launch.</span></span>

Nexus 7 Now Available In 32GB Model In The US, UK And Japan For $269

Add captionNexus 7 Now Available Th e version of the Nexus 7 tablet , in white and packing 32GB of storage, available now for $269 on ...

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Holiday Google giving Nexus 7 customers for $25 at Play Store credit

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJm6aToO_iC5KtY8it9Lk3yjhRa66cMqTGwOZmkYWEDp6VD33i68bzr-7xFg7o0Ku3bQAe_4pKZoA5gtwiebbvvh79Su9tSeQj0d8B20w_yxDfYYB-r75ermpSMtUtRY2QDJoTDP-lYQg3/s1600/New-Nexus-7-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="358" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJm6aToO_iC5KtY8it9Lk3yjhRa66cMqTGwOZmkYWEDp6VD33i68bzr-7xFg7o0Ku3bQAe_4pKZoA5gtwiebbvvh79Su9tSeQj0d8B20w_yxDfYYB-r75ermpSMtUtRY2QDJoTDP-lYQg3/s640/New-Nexus-7-1.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></div><div class="entry-content" style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.952941); border: 0px; line-height: 24px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><div style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 1.5em; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The holidays are quickly approaching, and it’s really time to order your presents now. You don’t want to wait too long and miss your chance! And if you’re planning to get that special someone a new Nexus 7, now is definitely a good time to order one from the Play Store!</span></div><div style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 1.5em; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Google may not be having any holiday sales, but this holiday offer is almost as good. If you order a Nexus 7 on the Play Store, you’ll get free shipping for the holidays. Google is also giving away a $25 Play Store gift card with your purchase, so you can load up on apps and games on Christmas day.</span></div><div style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 1.5em; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">It may not be the best sale around, and you can probably find the Nexus 7 cheaper in other places, but the gift card will make the present that much better. If you want to take advantage of this holiday special, hit the source link and go buy a Nexus 7.</span></div></div><div class="clear" style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.952941); border: 0px; clear: both; height: 0px; line-height: 24px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; overflow: hidden; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; visibility: hidden; width: 0px;"></div><div style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.952941); border: 0px; line-height: 24px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i>Via: <a class="via" href="http://www.droid-life.com/2013/11/26/google-throwing-in-25-play-gift-card-for-purchasing-a-nexus-7-this-holiday-season/" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgb(255, 94, 153); background-color: transparent; font-weight: bold; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Droid-Life</a></i></span></div><div style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.952941); border: 0px; line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 1.5em; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i>Source: <a class="via" href="https://play.google.com/store/devices/details/Nexus_7_16GB?id=nexus_7_16gb_2013" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgb(255, 94, 153); background-color: transparent; font-weight: bold; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Play Store</a></i></span></div>

Holiday Google giving Nexus 7 customers for $25 at Play Store credit

The holidays are quickly approaching, and it’s really time to order your presents now. You don’t want to wait too long and miss your chance!...

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Tablet buying guide 2013: How to pick the right tablet

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://images.techhive.com/images/article/2013/07/nexus7-100047866-large.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" height="387" src="http://images.techhive.com/images/article/2013/07/nexus7-100047866-large.jpg" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; height: auto; max-width: 100%; vertical-align: middle; width: auto;" width="580" /></a></div><div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #222222; font-size: 15px; line-height: 1.7em; margin-bottom: 0.7em;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">You might be looking to snag a tablet for yourself or for your loved one. But before you venture out to a brick and mortar store or get lost scouring for websites and looking for deals, take a step back. Like everything else in life, tablet shopping is easier if you have a plan.</span></div><div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #222222; font-size: 15px; line-height: 1.7em; margin-bottom: 0.7em;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">There are so many tablet options available, it’s easy to be overwhelmed by all the possible criteria. You’ll have to consider size and weight, how long the battery lasts, and which platform offers the apps and services you use the most. Let us help you with our guide on what to look for when you’re in the market for a tablet, and what to avoid so that you don’t needlessly spend money on something that turns out to be a dud.</span></div><div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #222222; font-size: 15px; line-height: 1.7em; margin-bottom: 0.7em;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Be sure to check up our updated list of the best tablets out on the market right now for specific recommendations.</span></div><h2 style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #222222; margin-bottom: 0.25em; margin-top: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Choose a platform</span></h2><div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #222222; font-size: 15px; line-height: 1.7em; margin-bottom: 0.7em;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Most tablets will let you do common tasks like read books, browse the Web, play music and games, or watch movies and videos. But not all of the platform ecosystems are built the same.</span></div><div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #222222; font-size: 15px; line-height: 1.7em; margin-bottom: 0.7em;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #222222; font-size: 15px; line-height: 1.7em; margin-bottom: 0.7em;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #222222; font-size: 15px; line-height: 1.7em; margin-bottom: 0.7em;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">One of the easiest ways to consider which platform best suits you is by looking at the devices you already have. For instance, do you have an iPhone that hooks up to a MacBook or a massive iTunes media library? Then you might want consider the iPad to help seal the circle and keep things easily synced across devices. Or, maybe you’re platform agnostic and wouldn’t mind a tablet with a bit more malleability? Google’s Android-powered <a href="http://www.techhive.com/article/2045357/review-the-new-nexus-7-is-the-best-7-inch-tablet-that-money-can-buy.html" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #25a7d7; text-decoration: none;">Nexus 7</a>is a worthy choice. Alternatively, if you’re a member of Amazon Prime and find yourself pooling money into the site on a constant basis, then consider hooking yourself into its vast array of movies and e-books by bringing home a 7- or <a href="http://www.techhive.com/article/2061148/kindle-fire-hdx-8-9-review-unapologetically-content-driven.html" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #25a7d7; text-decoration: none;">8-inch Kindle Fire HDX</a>.</span></div><div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #222222; font-size: 15px; line-height: 1.7em; margin-bottom: 0.7em;"></div><figure class=" large" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #222222; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px; margin: 0px 0px 10px; max-width: 100%; overflow: hidden;"><figcaption style="box-sizing: border-box; clear: both; color: #999999; font-size: 12px; margin-top: 5px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Despite its narrow body, the second-generation Nexus 7 fits in the palm of your hand.</span></figcaption></figure><div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #222222; font-size: 15px; line-height: 1.7em; margin-bottom: 0.7em;"></div><div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #222222; font-size: 15px; line-height: 1.7em; margin-bottom: 0.7em;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Bear in mind that not all Android tablets are created equal: many of them either run older versions of Android or the manufacturer will offer up their own version with a customized interface that requires its own learning curve. Companies like Samsung and LG are notorious for this, and they package up the devices with their own bundle of applications—many of which you can’t remove.</span></div><h2 style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #222222; margin-bottom: 0.25em; margin-top: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">What will you use it for?</span></h2><div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #222222; font-size: 15px; line-height: 1.7em; margin-bottom: 0.7em;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Those of you aching to be productive with a tablet that’s easier on your back than a laptop might want to pay mind to <a href="http://www.techhive.com/article/2058526/surface-2-review-cautious-upgrades-dont-help-a-tablet-in-desperate-need-of-relevance.html" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #25a7d7; text-decoration: none;">Microsoft’s Surface 2</a>, which uses a touch-friendly version of Windows 8.1. However, you’ll have less of an “entertainment tablet” experience with the absence of the some apps and games that are popular on other platforms. The <a href="http://www.techhive.com/article/2060783/ipad-air-review-the-best-tablet-gets-better.html" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #25a7d7; text-decoration: none;">iPad Air</a> is also good for this reason as Apple offers its iWork productivity suite for tablet users, in addition to iCloud, which works with both your Mac and iPhone as well as your browser.</span></div><div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #222222; font-size: 15px; line-height: 1.7em; margin-bottom: 0.7em;"></div><figure class=" large" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #222222; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px; margin: 0px 0px 10px; max-width: 100%; overflow: hidden;"><img alt="" height="387" src="http://images.techhive.com/images/article/2013/10/surface2-100066520-large.jpg" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; float: left; height: auto; max-width: 100%; vertical-align: middle; width: auto;" width="580" /><figcaption style="box-sizing: border-box; clear: both; color: #999999; font-size: 12px; margin-top: 5px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Looking to be productive? Microsoft’s Surface 2 is built for that, along with its prime selection of work-centric apps.</span></figcaption></figure><div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #222222; font-size: 15px; line-height: 1.7em; margin-bottom: 0.7em;"></div><div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #222222; font-size: 15px; line-height: 1.7em; margin-bottom: 0.7em;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">If you’re e-book and movie crazy, any modern device will do, especially since Hulu, Netflix, and the official Amazon Kindle app are available on almost every device.</span></div><h2 style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #222222; margin-bottom: 0.25em; margin-top: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Go big? Stay small?</span></h2><div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #222222; font-size: 15px; line-height: 1.7em; margin-bottom: 0.7em;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">After you’ve determined which ecosystem to stick with, you’ll have to pick a size. Tablets come in several sizes, beginning with 7-inch screens and getting as big as 10.1 inches. It’s useful to think of it as two size categories: “big” tablets over 9 inches, and “small” tablets in the 7 to 8-inch range.</span></div><div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #222222; font-size: 15px; line-height: 1.7em; margin-bottom: 0.7em;"></div><figure class=" large" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #222222; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px; margin: 0px 0px 10px; max-width: 100%; overflow: hidden;"><img alt="iPad Air" height="387" src="http://images.techhive.com/images/article/2013/11/ipadair-bench-faceup-100067202-large.jpg" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; float: left; height: auto; max-width: 100%; vertical-align: middle; width: auto;" width="580" /><small class="credit" style="background-image: url(http://zapt5.staticworld.net/images/furniture/techhive/backgroundwhite70.png); background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; display: block; float: left; font-size: 9px; margin-top: -16px; padding: 1px 3px 2px; text-align: center; text-transform: uppercase;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">PHOTO: MICHAEL HOMNICK</span></small><figcaption style="box-sizing: border-box; clear: both; color: #999999; font-size: 12px; margin-top: 5px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">.</span></figcaption></figure><div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #222222; font-size: 15px; line-height: 1.7em; margin-bottom: 0.7em;"></div><div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #222222; font-size: 15px; line-height: 1.7em; margin-bottom: 0.7em;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Smaller tablets travel better because they’re lighter and more compact, but you’ll also have to consider how the device fits in with the rest of your stuff. For example, the full-size iPad Air will take up almost as much space in your bag as an 11-inch MacBook Air.</span></div><div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #222222; font-size: 15px; line-height: 1.7em; margin-bottom: 0.7em;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The tablet size will also affect how it feels to hold the device. Devices like the second-generation Nexus 7 are comfortable to hold with one hand, but if you like to read, you’ll have a better grip on a rocky transit ride with the shorter 7-inch Kindle Fire HDX. Of course, tablet size also determines the display size, which brings us to our next criteria…</span></div><h2 style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #222222; margin-bottom: 0.25em; margin-top: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Resolution matters</span></h2><div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #222222; font-size: 15px; line-height: 1.7em; margin-bottom: 0.7em;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Remember that the bigger the tablet, the bigger the screen size, and the heavier the weight. If multitasking is your main concern and you want a tablet for both productivity and entertainment, a larger screen-size will make everything look better and give you more space to work with, but you’ll be carrying more weight around.</span></div><div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #222222; font-size: 15px; line-height: 1.7em; margin-bottom: 0.7em;"></div><figure class=" large" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #222222; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px; margin: 0px 0px 10px; max-width: 100%; overflow: hidden;"><img alt="" height="387" src="http://images.techhive.com/images/article/2013/10/kindlehdxvsnexus7_8-100057807-large.jpg" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; float: left; height: auto; max-width: 100%; vertical-align: middle; width: auto;" width="580" /><small class="credit" style="background-image: url(http://zapt5.staticworld.net/images/furniture/techhive/backgroundwhite70.png); background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; display: block; float: left; font-size: 9px; margin-top: -16px; padding: 1px 3px 2px; text-align: center; text-transform: uppercase;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">PHOTO: MICHAEL HOMNICK</span></small><figcaption style="box-sizing: border-box; clear: both; color: #999999; font-size: 12px; margin-top: 5px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></figcaption></figure><div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #222222; font-size: 15px; line-height: 1.7em; margin-bottom: 0.7em;"></div><div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #222222; font-size: 15px; line-height: 1.7em; margin-bottom: 0.7em;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">A really high-res display like the Retina display in the latest iPad mini from Apple, makes text look crisp and reduces fatigue when reading for long periods. For watching videos and movies or for a tablet that will entertain the kids, it’s more important that the screen be large than especially hi-res.</span></div><h2 style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #222222; margin-bottom: 0.25em; margin-top: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Processor performance</span></h2><div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #222222; font-size: 15px; line-height: 1.7em; margin-bottom: 0.7em;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">You may not be concerned with having the latest processor—you may not even be familiar with which tablet processors are new and fast and which are old and slow. But going with an older tablet because of its low price point may end up costing you in the long run. As apps and games are updated, they’ll require more hardware resources, thus making them incompatible with the hardware you have inside your tablet.</span></div><div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #222222; font-size: 15px; line-height: 1.7em; margin-bottom: 0.7em;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The current processor landscape looks like this: quad-core processors from companies like Qualcomm are all the rage these days and help make for some very speedy devices. They’re usually coupled with about 2GB of RAM and can be found in most Android devices, including Samsung’s Galaxy Note 10.1 2014 Edition. Nvidia hasn’t been too successful in the system-on-a-chip (SoC) wars in the last year, but the initial reviews of the Tegra Note 7 and Microsoft Surface 2 seem to suggest that a revival is on the horizon. Apple makes its own chips, and its latest, the iPad Air, features a very fast 64-bit A7 processor.</span></div><h2 style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #222222; margin-bottom: 0.25em; margin-top: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Ports</span></h2><div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #222222; font-size: 15px; line-height: 1.7em; margin-bottom: 0.7em;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">If you’re looking for external connectivity, the Surface Pro 2 has the most to offer with both a USB 3.0 port and microHDMI to hook up to your TV. The iPad has one sole proprietary port with a selection of attachable dongles for things like SD cards and USB cameras—all sold separately—while some Android tablets come with either an HDMI or USB port, in addition to a MicroUSB port that sometimes supports Miracast, which tethers the tablet to your TV.</span></div><h2 style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #222222; margin-bottom: 0.25em; margin-top: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Penning with a stylus</span></h2><div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #222222; font-size: 15px; line-height: 1.7em; margin-bottom: 0.7em;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">If you like drawing, sketching, or just scratching out ideas, the Android-powered <a href="http://www.techhive.com/article/2050350/galaxy-note-10-1-review-it-takes-more-than-high-end-specs-to-make-a-great-tablet.html" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #25a7d7; text-decoration: none;">Samsung Galaxy Note 10.1 2014 Edition</a> comes with its own dockable stylus called the S-Pen. It features a button you can press with your index finger to bring up additional apps to help you get all of it out on virtual paper. Many Windows 8-based tablets also come with styluses to enable you to take advantage of the built-in digitizer, like the Surface Pro 2, which features Wacom tablet technology.</span></div><div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #222222; font-size: 15px; line-height: 1.7em; margin-bottom: 0.7em;"></div><figure class=" large" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #222222; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px; margin: 0px 0px 10px; max-width: 100%; overflow: hidden;"><img alt="" height="387" src="http://images.techhive.com/images/article/2013/09/galaxytab_8-100056122-large.jpg" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; float: left; height: auto; max-width: 100%; vertical-align: middle; width: auto;" width="580" /><figcaption style="box-sizing: border-box; clear: both; color: #999999; font-size: 12px; margin-top: 5px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></figcaption></figure><div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #222222; font-size: 15px; line-height: 1.7em; margin-bottom: 0.7em;"></div><div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #222222; font-size: 15px; line-height: 1.7em; margin-bottom: 0.7em;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">If you’re really keen on the iPad though, you could always look at the vast array of third-party styluses, but the iPad’s capacitive screen is not really optimized for stylus input.</span></div><h2 style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #222222; margin-bottom: 0.25em; margin-top: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Buying a tablet for everyone</span></h2><div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #222222; font-size: 15px; line-height: 1.7em; margin-bottom: 0.7em;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">It’s likely that the tablet you’re considering isn’t just going to be used by you, but by other members of your family, too. Apple’s iPad only offers password-protected restrictions, while both the Kindle Fire HDX and <a href="http://www.techhive.com/article/2018541/review-barnes-and-noble-nook-hd-is-the-best-value-in-a-large-tablet-if-you-can-live-within-its-limi.html" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #25a7d7; text-decoration: none;">Nook HD+</a> offer special kid-friendly modes. Amazon calls its feature FreeTime, which lets you control your child’s access to content on the device; the Nook offers up to six password-protected profiles with parental controls. Windows 8.1 allows you to set up multiple accounts and set restrictions on them, too.</span></div><div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #222222; font-size: 15px; line-height: 1.7em; margin-bottom: 0.7em;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Android features a better implementation for multi-user accounts by offering restricted profiles in tablets running Android 4.2.2 and later. You can allow each member of your family to have their own profile complete with their own customized Home screen and apps. The restricted profile just ensures that only the main user of the device will have complete access to things like apps and system settings. You can also set it up to keep your kids from going trigger happy in the Google Play store or downloading apps with mature content.</span></div><h2 style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #222222; margin-bottom: 0.25em; margin-top: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">You’re ready to buy</span></h2><div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #222222; font-size: 15px; line-height: 1.7em; margin-bottom: 0.7em;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Now that you’ve got your list of things to look for and money burning a hole in your pocket, it’s time to finally pick up that tablet.</span></div><div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #222222; font-size: 15px; line-height: 1.7em; margin-bottom: 0.7em;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">First and foremost, look for any deals on tablets from your favorite stores. Some previous-generation models may be offered for less, but consider whether their aging processors will outlast the constant barrage of software and app updates. You might find clearance deals on older models of once-popular tablets, and while they’ll work fine for sending emails, reading books, and surfing the Web, the buck stops there. If that’s really your only interest, grab a device like the last-generation Nexus 7, which is currently going for $99. It won’t receive any other Android updates after the current version of KitKat, however. Also, Apple is usually better about keeping older versions of its hardware updated for as long as feasibly possible, and its refurbished iPads and iPad minis aren’t a bad idea either.</span></div><div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #222222; font-size: 15px; line-height: 1.7em; margin-bottom: 0.7em;"></div><figure class=" large" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #222222; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px; margin: 0px 0px 10px; max-width: 100%; overflow: hidden;"><img alt="" height="388" src="http://images.techhive.com/images/article/2013/05/minitablets-rs-100036369-large.jpg" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; float: left; height: auto; max-width: 100%; vertical-align: middle; width: auto;" width="580" /><figcaption style="box-sizing: border-box; clear: both; color: #999999; font-size: 12px; margin-top: 5px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></figcaption></figure><div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #222222; font-size: 15px; line-height: 1.7em; margin-bottom: 0.7em;"></div><div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #222222; font-size: 15px; line-height: 1.7em; margin-bottom: 0.7em;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Don’t immediately run to your carrier looking for a deal on a 4G-connected tablet. Many mobile carriers will offer a tablet at a subsidized price, but tablet technology advances so fast that you’ll likely either still be paying off that tablet when the new one comes out, or get stuck on contract with something that’s in danger of becoming outdated.</span></div><div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #222222; font-size: 15px; line-height: 1.7em; margin-bottom: 0.7em;"><i><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Via: <a href="http://www.pcworld.com/article/2017437/the-best-tablet-for-you.html">PCWorld</a></span></i></div>

Tablet buying guide 2013: How to pick the right tablet

You might be looking to snag a tablet for yourself or for your loved one. But before you venture out to a brick and mortar store or get lost...

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Now available at Android 4.4 images for the Nexus 7s, Nexus 4, and Nexus 10

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiz_VAhLq-PXlnr9bE5bzK3Gk2emKkk3mOzzv8bP_nkBfaYTchGBJyCcQb1TZIS-1Jimvy4_-x5_hmkIcVni-utRNHovgf-rRu353yXHDsTnoFdxUOhVLa4CAzDKi5Z0bRMYgGB23-_-iFj/s1600/header-640x3471.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiz_VAhLq-PXlnr9bE5bzK3Gk2emKkk3mOzzv8bP_nkBfaYTchGBJyCcQb1TZIS-1Jimvy4_-x5_hmkIcVni-utRNHovgf-rRu353yXHDsTnoFdxUOhVLa4CAzDKi5Z0bRMYgGB23-_-iFj/s1600/header-640x3471.jpg" /></span></a></div><div style="background-color: white; line-height: 20px; margin-bottom: 15px;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Google has just posted factory images for most of the Nexus devices that will be updated to the newest OS. If you don't want to wait for an over-the-air update, which can take weeks to arrive, you can download KitKat directly from Google. The only downside is that everything on your device will be erased. You've been warned.</span></div><div style="background-color: white; line-height: 20px; margin-bottom: 15px;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">There are currently downloads for:</span></div><ul style="background-color: white; line-height: 20px; list-style-image: initial; list-style-position: initial; margin: 0px 0px 25px; padding: 0px 0px 0px 20px;"><li><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><a href="https://developers.google.com/android/nexus/images#razor" style="text-decoration: none;">Nexus 7 [2013] (Wi-Fi)</a> (codename "razor")</span></li><li><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><a href="https://developers.google.com/android/nexus/images#razorg" style="text-decoration: none;">Nexus 7 [2013] (Mobile)</a> (codename "razorg")</span></li><li><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><a href="https://developers.google.com/android/nexus/images#occam" style="text-decoration: none;">Nexus 4</a> (codename "occam")</span></li><li><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><a href="https://developers.google.com/android/nexus/images#nakasi" style="text-decoration: none;">Nexus 7 [2012] (Wi-Fi)</a> (codename "nakasi")</span></li><li><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><a href="https://developers.google.com/android/nexus/images#nakasig" style="text-decoration: none;">Nexus 7 [2012] (Mobile)</a> (codename "nakasig")</span></li><li><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><a href="https://developers.google.com/android/nexus/images#mantaray" style="text-decoration: none;">Nexus 10</a> (codename "mantaray")</span></li></ul><div style="background-color: white; line-height: 20px; margin-bottom: 15px;"><br /></div><div style="background-color: white; line-height: 20px; margin-bottom: 15px;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The one device that <em>won't</em> be joining the KitKat party is the Galaxy Nexus. The official excuse is that the Galaxy Nexus is over 18 months old, but the real reason is that Texas Instruments, the company that made the SoC in the Galaxy Nexus, <a href="http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/09/25/texasinstruments-wireless-idUSL1E8KP5FN20120925?irpc=932" style="text-decoration: none;">quit the smartphone business</a> about a year ago. Official support for the chip has dried up, so there won't be a KitKat port for anything with a TI OMAP processor. A lack of official support has never stopped the modding community before, though, so if you have a Galaxy Nexus and really want KitKat, some Googling should be able to turn something up.</span></div><div style="background-color: white; line-height: 20px; margin-bottom: 15px;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">If you're not quite sure what to do with these images, Google has a set of instructions <a href="https://developers.google.com/android/nexus/images#instructions" style="text-decoration: none;">right here</a>. Remember: all your apps, pictures, and data will be deleted.</span></div><div style="background-color: white; line-height: 20px; margin-bottom: 15px;"><i><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Source : <a href="http://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2013/11/android-4-4-images-for-the-nexus-7s-and-nexus-4-now-available/">Ars Technica</a></span></i></div>

Now available at Android 4.4 images for the Nexus 7s, Nexus 4, and Nexus 10

Google has just posted factory images for most of the Nexus devices that will be updated to the newest OS. If you don't want to wait for...

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