Panasonic Toughbook, Tablet Powered by Android

Panasonic’s line of Toughbook notebooks can handle a whole heap of abuse, and the company is now cleverly expanding into the tablet market with the same basic principles of durability and security. Panasonic on Monday unveiled its Toughpad family of Android-powered devices, with both 7 and 10-inch options. The first model, the Panasonic Toughpad A1, is a 10-inch tablet that features a 1.2GHz dual-core processor, 16GB of storage, FIPS 140-X compliance, optional LTE or WiMAX connectivity, GPS, a drop rating of 4 feet and 10 hours of battery life. Panasonic’s tablets will also be able to withstand a wide range of temperatures and are resistant to dust and water, in addition to sporting anti-reflective and anti-glare displays. The first Toughpad, the 10-inch A1, will go on sale starting in Spring of 2012 for $1,299, and the 7-inch Toughbook B1 will go on sale later in 2012. Panasonic’s full press release can be found after the break.

Tips to Buy the Best Tablet

It's difficult to remember a time before tablets, but it's been a mere 18 months since the first Apple iPad was released, and the current tablet market was born. Since then, we've seen scores of manufacturers trying to snag a slice of the tablet pie, which so far, has been dominated by Apple, who is now on its second iPad iteration. According to a study by Strategy Analytics, of the 7.5 million tablets that shipped during the second quarter, 80 percent were iPads, well ahead of those from rivals like Motorola, Samsung, RIM, Asus, and HTC.

That's not stopping others from trying. And the result so far has been a float of difficult-to-distinguish tablets at various price points, performance capabilities, and feature sets. There hasn't really been another standout. The latest big name to throw its hat in the already-crowded tablet ring: Amazon. The company's Android-based Kindle Fire won't be available until mid-November, but it comes at a very pleasing $199—a price low that no quality tablet has been able to yet manage. It will be interesting to see what Amazon's entry means for both the iPad and the non-Apple tablet market share.

USB 3.0: Three Times Awesome

If you’ve ever connected a media player to your laptop to sync up a few gigabytes of music and movies, only to spend the next eight hours waiting … waiting … waiting for the job to complete, you’re the number one candidate for USB 3.0.

USB 3.0, as the name implies, is the third major version of the USB standard, perhaps the most successful, universally-adopted connector format in the history of computing.

USB is beloved for its simplicity, its ability to charge battery-powered electronics connected through it, and phenomenal availability among thousands of devices – not just computer peripherals but also consumer electronics galore.

That is, until you find yourself in the fourth hour of that eight-hour synchronization slog. Then USB becomes a pain instead of a savior.

And that’s the main issue that USB 3.0 (also known as SuperSpeed USB) was designed to address, pumping up the maximum throughput of USB from the 48Mbps of USB 2.0 to the 480Mbps of USB 3.0.
That alone solves a lot of problems, but USB 3.0 also has another trick up its sleeve: The ability to charge more power-hungry devices than USB 2.0 could. USB 2.0 could provide up to 100 milliamps of power to gadgets connected via the connector. That was fine for the cell phones of 2004, but in 2011, USB gizmos often need so much juice that they can’t charge via USB 2.0. Most tablets won’t charge at all via a USB connection, and those that do will usually only “trickle charge,” an agonizingly slow operation that can take all day.

USB 3.0 bumps power output up to 900 milliamps, providing power aplenty for just about anything you could think to throw at it.

Best of all, in keeping with USB’s history, USB 3.0 is backward compatible with USB 2.0 devices. In other words, if your computer has a USB 3.0 port, you can still plug a USB 2.0 hard drive into it – and vice versa – though in both cases the connection will operate at the slower, USB 2.0 speed.

While USB 3.0 was introduced last year, support for it remains spotty, and even computers that feature USB 3.0 ports tend to have only a couple instead of a full bank of four or more. Still, that support is coming, however slowly. USB 3.0 is on its way to everything – it’s just taking its sweet time getting there. Which, oddly, is so unlike the zippy USB 3!    (http://www.pcworld.com/article/242483/usb_30_three_times_the_awesome.html)

ASUS Transformer Prime benchmark tests

While the ASUS Transformer Prime is far from being sold at retail outlets, it looks like ASUS (or somebody with access to the tablet) has been doing some benchmark testing with the tablet. While doing a review of the original Eee Pad Transformer using the AnTuTu benchmark app, the writers at Tech2 noticed an interesting entry in the results comparison chart. Right at the very top, miles ahead of the Galaxy Nexus was the ASUS Transformer Prime. While the screenshot posted shows a quad-core 1.4GHz version of the tablet, apparently there’s a quad-core 1.6GHz Transformer Prime benchmarked with AnTuTu as well.

The 1.4GHz quad-core CPU that powers the Asus Transformer Prime sure sounds promising, but the real question is how much of a performance boost it brings. And, as it turns out, the answer is a lot. About two times, to be specific. 

Assuming that the results weren’t faked and the device wasn’t spoofed – these very positive results show us that the hype behind the quad-core NVIDIA Tegra 3/Kal-el processor used in the Transformer Prime is very real. More details about the Transformer Prime will be revealed on November 9^th when ASUS officially unveils the device.

As it turns out, the Tegra 3 chipset isn’t all talk and no action – that thing is blazing fast. The Transformer Prime score appeared in the results browser of the AnTuTu benchmark and it’s more than twice higher than that of the Tegra 2-powered Motorola Xoom.


Even the Ice Cream Sandwich-running Galaxy Nexus barely achieves 60% of the Transformer Prime score. And you shouldn’t forget that the Samsung smartphone needs to handle lower resolution than the Asus tablet (even if the difference is tiny).
 
Who’s excited?

Android Coming To TV With Gesture Recognitions

TVs are about to grow some brains. Hisense Group, a leading Chinese consumer electronics manufacturer signed a licensing agreement with eyeSight Mobile Technologies, a developer of touch free interfaces for digital devices. Together the two will integrate eyeSight’s innovative Hand Gesture Recognition Technology into new models of Android based Smart TV sets. Yep, Android is coming to the TV.

The first model of Hisense Smart TV with this unique feature is Series XT710, which has been introduced to consumer markets in China to mark the October 1st National holidays. Users will enjoy a natural, new intuitive way of interacting with their TV sets. They will be able to control basic TV functions, without having to move out of their comfortable viewing position to reach the remote control. Users will also be able to play games using intuitive gestures and touchless use other applications on the device.

But how does all this work, your all too human neurons might be asking you. Well, these smart TVs will use motion monitoring cameras to read a persons hand and body gestures and in turn control various functions. Hisense will be making use of eyeSights SDK on their new XT710 smart TV, which makes use of 2D cameras to monitor hand gestures and movements. It’s back to the future, folks!
[UberGizmo via PR]

Wi-Fi tethering : Use a smartphone as a mobile hotspot

Computerworld - Buried inside many of the latest smartphones is a capability that few people take advantage of. A feature called tethering lets a phone go beyond talk, email and Web surfing to act as a mobile hotspot that can supply Web access to nearby computers, tablets and other devices. 

"It lets [smartphone users] always have the Web with them without taking any extra equipment along," says Allen Nogee, research director for wireless technology at market intelligence firm In-Stat.

Like dedicated mobile hotspot devices, these phones connect to a mobile data network and then act as a Wi-Fi router, distributing the bandwidth to nearby clients. There is a price to pay for the convenience that hotspot phones provide: Three of the four national networks charge an additional fee to use tethering. On the other hand, you don't have to worry about finding a public Wi-Fi hotspot or having another device to buy, lug around, keep charged and accidentally leave behind.

Want to know more? After speaking to analysts, network engineers and other mobile experts, I've rounded up and answered the 12 most common questions about smartphone tethering, including options and carrier policies. Additionally, I used a couple of smartphones as hotspots in various parts of the U.S. and Europe to discover what the experience is like in real life.

Finally, I've gathered a listing of all the hotspot-capable smartphones currently available from the Big Four U.S. carriers, including how much they cost, which network(s) they work on and how much tethering services cost.

FAQ: Tethering with a hotspot phone
What is tethering?
Tethering is the ability to share a smartphone's Internet connection with computers or other devices. It can be accomplished by connecting the devices with a USB cable, a Bluetooth wireless link or a Wi-Fi connection. This story concentrates on Wi-Fi hotspot tethering because it's convenient and can service more than one client at a time -- and because just about all laptops and tablets have Wi-Fi built in these days.

Amazon Push Kindle Production

Amazon is boosting production of its Kindle Fire tablet, thanks to immense pre-order demand. Amazon founder and CEO Jeff Bezos said the company is "increasing capacity and building millions more than we'd already planned."

The Kindle Fire is Amazon's first Android tablet device; the device launches Nov. 15 and costs $199. It's not the most tricked-out tablet -- it ships with just 8GB of memory (and no expandable memory), no camera, and no 3G, but its sub-$200 price tag and the fact that it runs Android (albeit Android 2.3) appears to be more than enough to get people riled up.

Amazon has high hopes for the upcoming holiday season. According to Bezos, "Sept. 28 was the biggest order day ever for Kindle, even bigger than previous holiday peak days."

"In the three weeks since launch, orders for electronic ink Kindles are double the previous launch," Bezos said in a statement. In addition to the Kindle Fire, Amazon also introduced the Kindle Touch 3G, which sells for $149; the Kindle Touch, priced at $99; and the Kindle, which retails for $79.

Tablets are expected to be a hot item this holiday season. According to a recent report by the Consumer Electronics Association, everybody wants a tablet for Christmas. In fact, tablets are second only to clothes on adults' holiday wish lists, and first on adults' holiday consumer electronics wish lists.

After tablets on the consumer electronics wish list, people want laptops, TVs, e-readers, and video game consoles. After tablets on the overall list of gifts, people are looking for laptops, peace/happiness, and money.

The association said consumers plan to spend, on average, $246 on electronics gifts this season -- and with the Amazon Kindle Fire tablet, that's actually a doable price.

Amazon also released its third-quarter earnings report Tuesday afternoon. According to the report, Amazon's sales are up 44 percent to $10.88 billion. However, net income is down 73 percent to $63 million, compared to $268 million in the third quarter of 2010.

Android Problems Solved

Whether you’ve got a Desire, Galaxy S, Droid or Nexus One our troulbleshooting guide will help you solve these common Android problems.

How do I re-install purchased apps?
You need to make sure that you have setup your Google account on your Android device, the same account you used to purchase the app, and then go to ‘My Downloads’ to retrieve the app. Free apps are not held in the My Downloads section, but can be retrieved direct from Android Market.

How can I soft reset my Android phone?
Try pressing the End, Send and Menu keys at the same time. This should restart the phone in working order, but if it does not try a battery pull.

Can I tether my Android phone to my laptop?
Yes. Many Android phones are supported by EasyTether which will allow most of the popular models to stream their mobile data via a laptop or desktop. Remember that a 3G connection is required at the very least to make the experience worthwhile.

Why are some apps not available in the Android Market?
Some apps will only work on specific phones with set screen resolutions. Check the developer’s product page for more information regarding which phones are compatible.

Should I worry about OS updates?
The Android OS does get updated often, but the only real advice is to buy the best model you can afford which should ensure that it will cope with at least the next 2 or 3 updates.

Is it safe to run Android on a Windows Mobile phone?
This is a difficult one because it is in many ways, but the overall experience will not live up to Android on a phone that has been designed for the OS. Some people have ported the OS, but a full backup should be a minimum precaution before you attempt to do this.

My phone can’t connect to my home Wi-Fi!
This is a common problem on some Android phones such as the Hero, but some quick steps could solve it. Wireless N routers are problematic with some Android phones so make sure you switch on B/G compatibility and that you have the latest router firmware installed. With luck your problems will be solved.

Can I send group SMS messages?
This has been a problematic issue for a while now, but there is a solution. Look for ‘Text Easy’ in the Android Market which has the features which allow you to create groups and select multiple contacts. It is free as well.

Where did my new contact go?
Sometimes when you add a new contact on an Android phone it will not show up in the contacts list. It is without doubt a problem that needs fixing, but the quick solution is to go to Google Contacts in GMail and you will see the new contact. Now, click the Groups button and then the ‘Add to My Contacts’ button. It will now appear on your phone.

Viewing photos is too slow!
Trying to view lots of photos in the native Android gallery app can be painfully slow especially if you have recently cleared the cache. The best solution is to search for alternative solutions in the Android market, of which there are a few, and see which works best for you.

Wrong email headers?
Some Android users suffer from an anomaly where email subjects do not match the emails themselves. The way to fix it is by resetting up your email account and clearing the original data. Go to Settings / Applications / Manage Applications and then choose the email application and ‘Clear Data’.

Can I back up my Android phone online?
Lookout Mobile Security will do the trick and allows you to backup your personal data and to also access it directly online. It is a free download and should offer some peace of mind.  Image: lookout.tiff  Lookout will look out for your data.

Coolest Android Ice Cream Sandwich Features

Wednesday morning, Google and Samsung unveiled the Galaxy Nexus, the first phone designed specifically with Android 4.0 (aka Ice Cream Sandwich) in mind. Ice Cream Sandwich will, naturally, make its way to other handsets when it's released to the public sometime in November. As such, we're taking a look at the latest Google Android mobile operating system.

Ice Cream Sandwich contains many new features, but we've highlighted 10 of the tastiest, ranging from wireless sharing to new widget management. Check out the features and images below for a rundown on the new operating system. Which is your favorite?

Face Unlock
Is swiping the home screen to unlock your phone growing a bit tiresome? Ice Cream Sandwich's new Face Unlock feature taps a phone's camera so that users can log in by simply looking at the handset. Don't worry, if you don't want to use your grill, you can still use a code number (or a drawing interface) to unlock the handset.

Android Beam
Ice Cream Sandwich leverages NFC (near-field communication) technology that lets users share apps, websites, YouTube videos, maps, directions, and more by simply tapping two Android 4.0 phones together, much like iOS's Bump It app.

New Browser Functionality
Android 4.0's Web browser has evolved to closely match the desktop Chrome browser. Ice Cream Sandwich includes Chrome sync (which keeps bookmarks synced between your handset and desktop browsers), a “full site" button (which let users switch between desktop and mobile views), tabs, and a new Incognito tab.

New Contacts and Social Networking Features
Ice Cream Sandwich's "People" streamlines the way that contacts are displayed. Contact information is culled from your social networking connections, plus any other custom info that you'd like to manually add. This data is displayed on cards (similar to Windows Phone 7.5's tiles) that are updated when the contact updates his or her social networking information.

Data Management
Bundled with Android 4.0 is a stock app that lets you control network activity and view a specific app’s data usage. What's the benefit of this? You can now set up warnings (for when you begin to approach certain data thresholds), and hard caps to avoid an overage-fee pummeling

New User Interface

New User Interface

Taking a cue from the Honeycomb tablet operating system, Ice Cream Sandwich sports a sleek futuristic design that more closely aligns the phone and slate OSes. Android 4.0 also has a multitasking icon that calls up your recently used apps, and eliminates the need for physical keys, as it features adaptable software buttons.

New Camera Capabilities
Have you ever wanted to take a photo with your phone, but lost the moment due to the relatively lengthy snap time? Ice Cream Sandwich aims to eliminate that with swift, multiple shot shooting that plays catch up with the recently released Apple iOS 5. Android 4.0 also packs a new filter-filled photo editor, and a particularly cool sounding feature: an image rotator that spins the photo based on where your eyes are looking.

Speech
Does Apple iOS 5's Siri have voice control competition in Ice Cream Sandwich? That remains to be seen, but Android 4.0’s live voice-to-speech feature lets smartphone users create e-mail, texts, and perform other functions simply by speaking. This should (hopefully) make dictation and messaging a swifter, more streamlined affair.

Simple Screenshots
Android finally lets you take screenshots without requiring users to install apps, pull hair, or gnash teeth. How is it done? Users (especially hardworking Android app reviewers) will appreciate the operating system’s ability to grab a screenshot by simultaneously holding power and volume-down buttons.

Widget Management
Ice Cream Sandwich gives you widget flexibility by letting you select the size of displayed information on the home screens. Android 4.0 makes it easier to place widgets on the desktop; you simply press and hold the screen which opens a menu that reveals all of the widgets.

Guide to Using Your Android Phone

Ready to get started with your Android phone? This walk-through will have you up and running in no time.

Android can do a lot for you-but you have to know where to begin. Compared to the iPhone's cut-and-dried interface, the Android operating system gives you ample room for customization and control. Here's a step-by-step guide to making the most of your Android phone's many features.

The Desktop
The first thing you'll notice about Android is that its desktop differs somewhat from those on other smartphone platforms. You have a lot of freedom to customize the Android desktop-and you aren't limited to four simple rows of perfectly aligned square icons. As a result, you can customize the Android desktop to reflect your interests, and you can make it as full and dynamic as you like.

The Android desktop is composed of multiple homescreen panels. Depending on the version of Android that your phone uses and on whether your device has a specialized overlay such as MotoBlur, you may have five to seven home-screen panels.

When you power up your phone for the first time, you'll see the main homescreen panel. This panel is typically centered, and you can access additional panels on either side of the main one by swiping your finger left or right. What goes on the homescreens is up to you. You can fill the space with any combination of shortcuts, widgets, and folders.

How to Read QR Codes With a Smartphone

Ever wonder what those weird black-and-white square codes are? Here's how to read them with an iPhone, a BlackBerry, or an Android smartphone.

Nowadays, you can find QR (quick-response) codes on everything. These odd-looking, black-and-white, pixelated designs were originally used by the automotive industry, but today they are most often found in magazines, newspapers, and ads.

QR codes offer an efficient way to create links to websites, but they can also store text, phone numbers, email addresses, or calendar events, or send SMS messages. Here are some tips on how to use a QR app to access the data you want.

First, you need a QR-code app and a smartphone or tablet equipped with a camera. iOS users should check out RedLaser. Android fans can try either RedLaser or QR Droid, and BlackBerry users will like QR Code Scanner Pro. All of these apps are free to download, and each one should handle any standard QR code just fine.

When you launch your app of choice, you'll see that your phone's camera is activated, with an on-screen framing guide. Line up the camera on your device with the QR code you want to scan, and hold the device steady until the app can read the code in front of it.

RedLaser (for Android and iOS) can read QR codes as well as bar codes.RedLaser (for Android and iOS) can read QR codes as well as bar codes.

For the best results, aim your device squarely at the code, and not at an angle. Try to minimize any glare from stray light sources, and scan the code in an evenly lit environment. If the code is in direct sunlight, you may need to cover it with your hand for the app to read it properly.

When the app has recognized the QR code, it will beep and display the info the code contains, or launch your Web browser to take you to a designated URL.

You can use most QR-code apps for reading bar codes, too, which can be convenient for in-store price checks. Scanning a product’s bar code with RedLaser will bring up an item description, as well as a list of prices from online merchants that also sell that item.

In addition, the QR Droid app lets you create your own codes. This feature makes it easy for you to create a QR code from your own contact information, for instance; other people can then scan your code and instantly transfer your information to their phones, which would save you a few bucks on business cards.

Have your own QR code tips and tricks? Share them in the comments!

Samsung Galaxy Tab 8.9 (Wi-Fi)

Bigger isn't always better. The Samsung Galaxy Tab 8.9 is pretty much just the Galaxy Tab 10.1 ($499, 3.5 stars), minus 1.2 inches. It's a shrunk-down version of Samsung's flagship tablet, at a slightly shrunk-down price: $469 instead of $499. We judge it a slightly better deal all around and one of the best Android tablets, although the Apple iPad 2 ($499, 4.5 stars) is still our top tablet choice.

Physical Design and Networking
Samsung is currently making the best-looking Android tablets in the business, although its tablets look too much like the iPad for some Apple lawyers' comfort. The Galaxy Tab 8.9 is no exception; it's a black and silver slab with no physical buttons on the front, just a bright and somewhat-reflective 1280-by-800-pixel display; the same resolution as the larger panel on the Galaxy Tab 10.1. Since the 8.9 is a smaller screen, the pixels are denser, which is more pleasing to the eye.


The Tab 8.9 is very slim, and relatively light at 15.7 ounces and 9.1 by 6.2 by .33 inches. There are power and volume buttons on the top, along with a 3.2-megapixel camera on the back and a 2-megapixel camera on the front. The back is a smooth gray plastic; you can't open up the tablet to replace the battery. On the bottom, along with the stereo speakers, is the single port, a proprietary docking port.

A Wi-Fi-only tablet, there's no 3G/4G option for the Tab 8.9. You do get Bluetooth, which supports both mono and stereo audio, and built-in GPS. In my tests, the 6100 mAh battery powered the tablet for a very good 8 hours, 15 minutes hours of video playback.

Performance, OS, and Apps
Just like Samsung's Galaxy Tab 10.1—and a number of other current Android tablets—the 8.9 runs Honeycomb 3.1 on an Nvidia Tegra 2 processor. Benchmark performance is identical to the 10.1 and to many other Tegra 2-based tablets. I didn't encounter any bugs, problems, or major slowdowns in my testing. But there's no schedule for an Android 3.2 update, according to Samsung, so you should treat this as an Android 3.1 device. The company has dressed up the interface with TouchWiz, a set of widgets and interface extensions that seem to slow the tablet down a bit, but make some activities more convenient.

Samsung throws a bunch of default widgets onto the seven home screens, which I like because it makes the tablet appear to be more than just a blank slate. Most of the built-in apps have had subtle aesthetic redesigns. The Mini Apps Tray is especially welcome: It's a set of six frequently used apps/widgets which can pop up from the bottom of the screen. For more on TouchWiz, check out our review of the Galaxy Tab 10.1.

Thus far, Google's Android Market for Honeycomb isn't a winner on tablet apps, showing too many apps that run poorly on tablets. So along with the standard Google stuff, Samsung has packed this slate with tablet-centric stores: its own 7digital-powered music store, both Samsung's and Google's video stores, and even Samsung's own app store. As an Nvidia Tegra 2 tablet, the Galaxy Tab also works with Nvidia's Tegra Zone game store.

Unfortunately, none of these stores solve Honeycomb tablets' most critical problem: not enough apps. Samsung's app store, for instance, only has from one to five apps in each of its categories. Samsung insists thousands of phone apps run well on its tablet, but thousands of others don't, and there's no guide to distinguish them. That makes all Honeycomb tablets far inferior to the iPad with its 90,000+ well-tailored, tablet-specific apps.

Seven-inch tablets running Honeycomb 3.2, such as the Acer Iconia Tab A100 ($329, 4 stars), get around this problem somewhat by presenting phone apps better than those with larger screens. But bigger tablets without Honeycomb 3.2's zoom mode give you ugly interfaces when you try to run many apps designed for Android phones.

The Galaxy Tab syncs contacts and calendars with Samsung's Kies software on PCs, and lets you drag and drop files in Windows Explorer onto the tablet. But Mac users should beware: There is no Mac USB compatibility here.

Multimedia
There are lots of media options to fill the Tab 8.9's 13.1GB of free storage. (You get no memory card slot.) Samsung provides the aforementioned 7digital-powered music store where songs average a dollar each, and a more promising video store where TV shows cost $1.99, but you can get a bunch of children's and reality programming for a penny. I downloaded an episode of "Avatar" (the kids' show, not the movie) and it looked sharp.

All of our sample files played on the Tab, both music and video, and sounded unusually good through the device's stereo speakers. The Tab also includes a pair of earbuds, but it has both a standard 3.5-mm headphone jack and Bluetooth, so you can use whatever headphones you have lying around.

There's one false note here, though: There's no video out, so you can't play your movies on a big screen. Samsung advertises a dock with HDMI out but it's not included with the tablet; the only port here is the unique dock port, and the only cable you get in the box ends in a male USB plug.

Streaming video options are mixed. The TV.com app is available, but Hulu and Netflix, notably, aren't.
The Tab's two cameras are both of very good quality. The 3.2-megapixel camera on the back takes razor-sharp, if not terribly quick photos at 1.1 seconds of shutter delay. The 2-megapixel camera on the front is similarly sharp. Both cameras record 720P HD video.

Conclusions
The Samsung Galaxy Tab 8.9 is really just a tweak of the existing 10.1-inch Tab, but that tweak makes it a bit more appealing. It's a little more portable and a little less expensive, without losing a pixel of screen resolution, a hertz of processor speed, or a byte of storage.

That said, we have the same problem with this tablet that we do with most high-end Android tablets this size: It's going up directly against the iPad, which has far more apps and a stronger ecosystem. Seven-inch Android 3.2 tablets at least have the benefits of being more portable and having phone apps look decent in zoomed mode. But it's hard to argue why the masses, when presented with this device and an iPad, should pick the Tab 8.9. If you're not an Apple fan, though, and you want the thinnest Android tablet you can get, the Tab 8.9 is a solid choice.

Sync Picasa on Your Android device

Picasa Web is one of the world’s most widely used Cloud application provided by Google to store, retrieve and share your pictures anywhere on any device. But when it comes for Android device which is also powered by Google should have some benefits.



Yes, now you can Sync your Picasa Web Album to your Android devices so that you can upload, share and view picture and videos from your Android device itself. Here we will explain in a step-by-step procedure of doing it.

Note:
1. We are using Samsung Galaxy Tab here to demonstrate but our procedure is the same for all Android Devices.
2. We are using UPPER CASE letters below for making User-Readability efficient.

Step 1: Hit the “MENU” button and then Open “SETTINGS”.
Step 2: Scroll till you come across “ACCOUNT and SYNC” option and select it.

Step 3: You have already set your Google Account during the time of your Android device initialization, so you should now see your Google Account listed there, and do press it.
Step 4: On the following entries search for “SYNC PICASA WEB ALBUMS” and make a check on the checkbox, if it is not already checked. It will take up few minutes to complete the process of Synchronization to your device.

Step 5: That’s it you have done with Synchronization of Picasa Web Album with your Android device and you can find all your images being imported in “GALLERY” Folder available in the Gallery Application on your device.

Now you have got a special power of Uploading, Sharing, Managing from the PC’s Browser or even from the Browser of your Android device and with the help of Google +(Plus) Account.
Exploit your power to the Web World. Let your friends know your powers powered by Google.

Keyboard for Android Tablet

Tablets give us new possibilities when it comes to mobile computing. Unfortunately, they also give us new things to pack when it comes to carry-on luggage.

The problem is simple: While a tablet is a great addition to any gadget-lover's arsenal, it isn't typically a replacement for an existing device. Most of us still need physical keyboards for long-form typing -- and with business travel in particular, that means you're lugging around both a tablet and a laptop.

By adding a wireless keyboard to your tablet, though, you can transform it from a content-consuming slate into a far more versatile productivity machine. With the aid of a Bluetooth keyboard, I've been able to use my Motorola Xoom for all of my computing needs -- both work and personal -- while away from the office. The keyboard allows me to type desktop-style as needed; the rest of the time, I can use the tablet as a lightweight touch device.

When it comes to keyboards, Android tablets do have a disadvantage: Because the tablets come in a variety of sizes and formats, keyboard manufacturers tend not to create the convenient combination keyboards/cases that are available for the iPad. However, there are still some really excellent options out there.

Here are three full-sized, universally compatible keyboards worth considering.

Logitech Tablet Keyboard for Android 
Logitech's Tablet Keyboard for Android 3.0+ packs in plenty of bang for your buck. In addition to a superb keyboard, the product comes with a protective case that doubles as a stand for your tablet, allowing you to position the device vertically while you type. This all-in-one functionality adds a lot of value to the Logitech unit.

Of course, the most important thing is the keyboard itself -- and Logitech's creation is no slouch in that regard. The keys are nicely spaced out and very responsive; I found it comfortable to perform even the fastest of typing. The unit lies more or less flat when placed on a table, with an ever-so-slight upward slant.

The Logitech Tablet Keyboard has five rows; the number keys at the top double as Android function keys when used in conjunction with a function (Fn) button. Those Android keys allow you to open your tablet's browser, music player, calendar, or Gmail app, as well as remotely control music playback and volume on the tablet. These are handy, but I would have liked it better if they had been dedicated rather than combination keys. The keyboard does have dedicated Search, Back, Home and Menu keys.


Though all of the keyboards I tested offer Delete keys, the Logitech keyboard is the only one on which the key actually functions as you would expect: It deletes the letter that comes immediately after the cursor. For some reason, every other keyboard's Delete key either did nothing or served as a second Backspace key, deleting letters before the cursor instead of after it.

In terms of accuracy, the Logitech keyboard's performance was outstanding, and I encountered few errors in prolonged use. When typing extremely fast, I did experience some sporadic issues in which certain letters would appear multiple times, or certain letters would be omitted even though I'd pressed them. This occurred rarely, however, and seems to be a common occurrence among Bluetooth keyboards.

Motorola Wireless Keyboard
Motorola's Wireless Keyboard is a great option for any Android tablet owner. The keyboard stands out from the pack with its sleek design -- the lettering used on the keys has a futuristic, Android-like look -- as well as with its large, well-spaced keys.

As a result of the size and spread of its keys, Motorola's unit is slightly larger than the other keyboards I tested -- just under half an inch longer and half an inch taller than the Logitech product. The difference certainly isn't enormous, but it might be relevant if you're concerned about portability.

The Motorola Wireless Keyboard has six rows, the top of which features a series of useful Android-specific functions. These dedicated Android keys allow you to control music playback and volume as well as jump directly to a series of core apps such as Gmail, the browser, the music player and the contacts list. There are also dedicated keys for returning to the home screen, going back, activating the Android menu function and searching.

Overall, the keys are responsive and easy to type on. Along the upper side of the keyboard's back surface, there is a raised ridge that causes the unit to sit at a noticeable slant when placed on a table. I found this made for a natural and more PC-like typing experience.

The keyboard's performance was good most of the time. Like the Logitech model, Motorola's Wireless Keyboard did suffer from "sticky key" syndrome on occasion during my tests; the keyboard also fell behind once and dropped a few letters as a result. This was certainly more the exception than the rule, though; for the most part, the Motorola keyboard was accurate and precise.

Targus Bluetooth Wireless Keyboard for Tablets
Targus's Bluetooth Wireless Keyboard for Tablets is the smallest and lightest of the full-sized keyboards I tested. Though it's considered a "tablet keyboard," the Targus unit is not made specifically for Android and consequently does not offer Android-specific function keys.

The keyboard has six rows, though the top row is filled primarily with Windows-centric function keys (F1, F2 and so on) and serves no purpose when connected to an Android device. If you want to use a keyboard for multiple purposes -- say, to connect to a home PC and a tablet -- this configuration could ultimately make the keyboard more versatile and useful. For Android-specific scenarios, however, its generic nature is a bit of a drawback compared to the Android-tailored alternatives.

The keyboard's layout has one other problem: The Backspace key is in the wrong spot. My brain is trained to press the key at the far right of the numbers row to perform the backspace function, since that's where practically every keyboard puts that command. On the Targus keyboard, for some reason, the Delete key resides in that location -- and when connected to an Android tablet, the Delete key doesn't actually do anything. I found myself having to regularly interrupt my thought process to look down and find the Backspace key, which is awkwardly placed at the right of the top row, alongside the function keys.

Layout aside, the Targus keyboard sits on a slight slant, and its keys are large and easy to use. The keyboard is responsive, though somewhat noisier than the Logitech or Motorola models. Accuracy was excellent in my tests, with no "sticky key" experiences and only a smattering of missed letters during very fast typing.

Bottom Line
Targus's Bluetooth Wireless Keyboard for Tablets wins points for its light and compact design. It's also the least expensive model of the three here. But unless you're looking for a multipurpose keyboard, the Targus keyboard's lack of Android-specific functions puts it a notch below the other contenders.

The Motorola Wireless Keyboard has the nicest form of any of the wireless tablet keyboards I tested. Its larger form and lack of bundled accessories put it just a hair behind Logitech's offering -- but with its excellent design and array of dedicated Android keys, Motorola's keyboard is a class act that's well worth its price.

However, the Logitech Tablet Keyboard for Android 3.0+ is my pick for the best overall, universal Android tablet keyboard. Its outstanding performance, combined with the included carrying case and tablet stand, puts it a step ahead of the competition.

Important Things About Android Phones

1. Use a service to secure data. Android's open market and few security features open the door to hackers, leaving critical corporate data at risk. The best security comes from providers like Good Technology, which secures phones using its own network operations center, software on the phones, and a server behind a firewall. Technology like Good's encrypts data as it travels to and from the device, and stored data is also encrypted. IT administrators are not required to open a hole in the corporate firewall.

2. Ask phone makers for help. Some manufacturers, including Motorola and Samsung, have developed little-marketed products and services for enterprises. Samsung, for instance, is developing a version of its TouchWiz software that will support advanced encryption standard security and VPN connections. Motorola recently acquired 3LM, a company developing software that resides on the phone and in a corporate server, to encrypt data travelling to and from the device and set up a VPN to corporate data. 3LM's software is expected to be available on other Android phones, not just those made by Motorola.

3. Restrict users to models with better security. Motorola, for instance, has a line aimed at enterprise users-business-ready phones that include enhanced security features. The Droid Pro, for example, allows for remote wipe of SD cards, and comes with a VPN client and the ability to force users to create new passwords after a set time.

4. Wait for mobile virtual machine technology to mature. VMware is working on a mobile virtual machine that lets users toggle between two phone personas: one for corporate use and one for personal use. The company plans to also offer a management tool so IT departments can set policies for the corporate persona on the phone. So far, LG and Samsung say they hope to make phones capable of using the VMware tool. Other companies, like Open Kernel Labs, are offering tools that let developers build applications that can run inside a virtual machine, isolating them from threats.

5. Use a management tool that enforces basic security. Sybase, BoxTone, Zenprise, Mobile Iron and Fiberlink are among the many companies offering mobile device management-and in some cases, additional mobile security-products and services. Even a basic mobile device management product will at the very least help IT administrators enforce policies like a password requirement and remotely erase important corporate data if a device is lost or stolen.