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Android 3.0 codenamed Honeycomb is a tablet-only operating system (OS) and a recent report by DigiTimes suggests that according to “sources from upstream touch panel players” its unstable performance may benefit Apple’s iPad 2 and other tablet PC vendors.

Due to Android 3.0 currently still having several issues that are unable to be resolved immediately and which are causing unstable performance in terms of operation, HP, which is ready to launch its TouchPad tablet PC with its own OS, webOS, in the second quarter, and RIM, which will soon launch its PlayBook with BlackBerry OS in the middle of April, as well as Apple, are expected to gain benefit from the mischief of Android 3.0, the sources pointed out.

Apple products are known for tight integration between hardware and software. iOS for iPhone and iPad provides a consistent and stable user experience which has proved to be one of Apple’s biggest strengths in marketing new products.

When Apple comes out with a new product customers already know how to use them. Millions of iPhone users already knew how to use iPod touch even before it was launched and the same concept worked when iPad was introduced. This is because Apple has worked very diligently to unify the OS for their tablet and smartphones.

Google has however taken another route where they have to now focus on developing and supporting two operating systems which might end up taking more time to bring together. Android chief Andy Rubin recently in a blog post said, “the Android team is still hard at work to bring all the new Honeycomb features to phones.”

Apple’s second gen tablet has seen a successful launch and is expected to sell 30 Million iPads by the end of 2011. While on the other hand DigiTimes reports that iPad competitors like Motorola “shipped around 700,000 Xoom tablet PCs before the end of March”. Further the report speculates that Motorola might be preparing to launch its next-generation tablet and therefore not planning orders past June.

AppleInsider

Today Adobe announced that Adobe Flash 10.2 will be available via the Android Market on March 18th. More importantly a system update to the Motorola XOOM started last night (version 3.0.1) that will finally bring the XOOM Adobe Flash capable. On March 18 Motorola Xoom users will be able to download Adobe 10.2 as long as they have updated their device to 3.0.1.

This release is considered a Production GA (general availability) for all Android 2.2 and 2.3 devices. It will be considered a beta release for Google Gingerbread 3.0.1.

Adobe and Google worked closely together to get both of their respective releases out at the same time. It is expected that after subsequent updates it will be up to Production GA for Google Honeycomb.

According to Adobe the new capabilities for 10.2 for Andoird include:

Hardware accelerated video presentation for H.264 (Android 3.0.1+ only)

Flash Player 10.2 leverages the Stage Video rendering pipeline to enable users of Android 3.0 tablets, like the MOTOROLA XOOM™, to enjoy smooth playback of high-definition Flash video content on the web.   Users will experience reduced CPU usage and higher frame rates for existing H.264 video content.

Deeper integration with the Android browser rendering engine (Android 3.0.1+ only)

Deeper integration of Flash Player and the enhanced Android 3.0 browser delivers faster and better rendering of rich, interactive web content resulting in a browsing experience similar to the desktop.

Flash Player can now render content as part of the web page along with other components such as HTML, images and gif animation. As a result, users will experience:

• Improved scrolling of web pages;

• Uncompromised viewing of rich, immersive content in the way intended by the page designer, including support for instances where HTML and other web content is composited over Flash Player rendered content.  Flash Player rendered content will continue to be placed in a separate window on top of HTML in the Android 2.2 and 2.3 browsers, as these browsers do not support the new Android 3.0 browser rendering model.

Enhanced performance for the latest smartphones and tablets

Experience performance improvements designed to take advantage of the current generation of multi-core, GPU-enabled processors to deliver Flash videos, games and other interactive Web content on the latest smartphones and tablets.  For a list of upcoming Flash-enabled devices which show off the latest performance improvements, including the MOTOROLA ATRIX™ 4G, MOTOROLA XOOM™ and LG Optimus 2X, please click here.

Automatic soft keyboard support

Users of touch screen devices will enjoy a more optimized experience interacting with rich content that requires keyboard input.  This feature simplifies the development of multiscreen applications that require keyboard input, making it easier for developers to optimize desktop applications for mobile devices. A new ActionScript API enables developers to automatically launch and display the soft keyboard.

At the leading edge of this new wave of dual-core superphones is the Motorola Atrix. One of the major innovations of this device, besides the next-level processing power and fingerprint scanner, is Webtop – the desktop-style interface available when the Atrix is docked. By plugging into the HD multimedia or laptop dock (sold separately of course), you can interact with the phone on a larger display while using an internet browser, file explorer and Facebook in a pseudo-desktop environment.

While the feature is pretty nifty, the price tag isn’t. The cost of the docks may have come down since the release of the Atrix, but $400 for the laptop version is still prohibitively expensive for some. Thanks to XDA user Fenny, you can now satisfy your desire for the newest features and keep your inner cheapskate happy.
Yesterday, Fenny posted modified versions of APKs used for initiating Webtop when the phone is docked. By pushing these files to a rooted and deodexed Atrix, users can run Webtop through a standard HDMI connection. This allows owners to check out the new software without having to drop a wad of cash for the new hardware, which is always a good thing.

Will my XOOM be able to be upgraded to 4G LTE if it’s rooted? That’s the question being asked by owners of the brand new Motorola Android 3.0 Honeycomb tablet after a story flew around the net saying that the answer was no, no way! Remember all those ridiculous stories from last week about Motorola XOOMs not being 4G LTE upgradeable if unlocked?  You know, the stories that started a firestorm of unwarranted bad press after some random forum member in the Moto support forums that has zero affiliation with Motorola said that rooted devices would not be upgraded?

Motorola forum manager got back to everyone and announced that all Xoom tablets whether rooted/unlocked or not will be able to receive upgrades . The only catch is you need to roll back to the stock software again.

Read what Forums manager Matt says on Motorola Support forums .

Impressed by the Motorola Xoom specs sheet and its beautiful design ? Time to grab your tablet as Best Buy stores are now accepting pre-orders for the Motorola XOOM tablet. The Tablet comes with Honeycomb and the orders are expected to begin shipment from this Thursday, February 24. Priced at $799.99 complete with Verizon 3G connectivity, the XOOM has a 10.1-inch screen and runs Android 3.0, the tablet-centric version of the Google mobile platform.

There’s also a range of accessories on offer, including two docks – a desktop dock, for $49.99, and a speaker dock, for $129.99 – a portfolio case, for $39.99, and a Bluetooth keyboard for $69.99. You’ll need a Verizon data contract in order to use the integrated 3G connection – a WiFi-only XOOM is expected in Q2 2011 – and the carrier has promised a 4G update later in the year.
So, anybody tempted? Or are you one of those awaiting the 8.9-inch, 3D-capable LG G-Slate from T-Mobile instead?

The Lenovo LePad is lecoming to this year running LeAndroid 2.2 and a highly customized LeOS (that last one isn’t even a joke, it’s actually called LeOS.) Though the tablet was shown off at CES, Lenovo used their financial report to announce the release windows for the Lenovo LePad tablet. It is scheduled for a late March release in China, and international release some time in May or June. Pricing is an odd issue, it seems that the tablet itself will be somewhere under $500, with an optional laptop dock that, when bundled together, could cost $1000 or more.

The LePad will be packing a 10.1-inch multitouch capacitive touchscreen, 1.3 GHz Snapdragon processor, 3G/WiFi, and of course Android 2.2. It is likely to get the Honeycomb upgrade, but again that is unconfirmed. The tablet optional laptop dock runs Windows 7 on an Intel Core I5, and combined it looks like it will be packaged under the name “IdeaPad U1 Hybrid”. Lenovo will also preload their proprietary app store on the tablet.

If you have been desperately waiting for the Android Market to make a move to the web just like iTunes is available for web , yes Google today announced a new Web-based Android Market online store that will make it easier for people to get to new applications for their smartphones and tablets.

The announcement was made at an event where Google is showing off the new Android 3.0 software known as Honeycomb, which is designed specifically for tablets. Google also used the event to take the wraps off the new Web-based Android Market. Up to this point, Android users could only discover and download apps from the Android Market installed on their devices. Now, users will be able to get to the apps from any Web browser.

Google demonstrated the new Web-based Android market, and the page itself shows a lot more detail than the Android Market client. It offers better pictures for promoting applications as well as ways to promote other applications alongside the one the user selected. Screenshots and user reviews are prominent.

The Web site is live here.

Google also announced that it will offer in-app purchasing for their app developers.

Motorola has just outed its delicious Honeycomb tablet alongside another device, the LTE-equipped Bionic, on its official site. The company’s CES press conference is ongoing right now, where the Xoom will presumably get its proper announcement. All we know so far is that this slate is headed to Verizon, the press release is still somewhere in the hidden parts of the internet. More soon!

The PR and full spec sheet are now embedded after the break. A 1GHz dual-core Tegra 2 will power this 10.1-incher, while 4G connectivity will be made available as an update in Q2 following a Q1 launch. Other specs include a 1280 x 800 resolution, 5 megapixel camera, 720p video recording and 1080p video playback, 802.11n WiFi, Bluetooth 2.1 + EDR, and finally, a healthy 32GB of onboard storage. The battery is rated to be capable of supporting 10 hours of video. Be still, our beating hearts!

While we have already seen Motorola’s Tablet demostrated by Andy Rubin from Google its time for some more teasers from Motorola .The impressive piece of innovation is landing shortly in the computing space and will be announced at the CES 2011 running with the delicious honey blend of Android (3.0/2.4) .

Treat yourself with a beautiful video teaser which Motorola has posted over at their YouTube’s channel

Hope Motorola’s grand release wont disappoint its desperately awaiting users and android app developers .