When I held the Samsung Galaxy Tab 7.7 at last month’s Consumer Electronics Show, I was hooked. After all, I’ve been using a Galaxy Tab daily for 14 months. The new Tab is slimmer, has a vastly improved display, more RAM and 1.4 GHz dual-core processor. This combination led me to order a 16 GB Wi-Fi model and I’ve been enjoying it ever since it arrived. Here’s a first look at the 7.89 millimeter thin device that easily runs all day on a single charge.

While I’m impressed by most of the hardware, Samsung skimped a little on the cameras. They’re adequate for basic shots or video and video chatting, but won’t replace a modern smartphone. The software is where I find the new Galaxy Tab 7.7 lacking. Oh, it’s obviously usable, or I wouldn’t be using it as my daily device.

But Android 3.2, or Honeycomb, still doesn’t impress me. I prefer Android 4.0 on phones and tablets so I’m looking forward to the update that Samsung has promised. In the meantime, Samsung’s TouchWiz user interface makes up for some of Honeycomb’s issues. And my hope is that third-party developers update their apps to take advantage of the high-resolution, but relatively small, tablet display; often icons and text is small because of this. Even with these challenges, this is the fastest small tablet I’ve used yet for browsing, and it’s great for watching video, playing games and social networking.

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Ting, a new reseller of Sprint’s voice, 3G and WiMax services, launched this week with one of the most unique mobile plans to date. Much like large carrier family plans, Ting subscribers can share their voice minutes and text messages. But there’s a differentiating twist: Ting customers also share their monthly data across all devices on the plan.

The shared data component is exactly what I called for last year. I noted that household data plans are the next step for consumers, mainly because people are adding more connected screens and devices to their lifestyle. And different household members have different data needs; some use a little while others consume gobs of gigabytes. Why not average out the usage across multiple devices?

Tacking on a separate data plan for each device or family member simply isn’t efficient and the ability share a bucket of bytes across multiple devices is becoming more desirable. Both AT&T and Verizon have hinted at family data plans arriving as early as this year, but the devil’s in the details: We’ll have to see if the deck is stacked in favor of the carriers or the consumer. I anticipate the former, but I’ll wait to pass judgment.

Choosing a Ting plan appears simple with each plan sized like a pair of jeans ranging from XS to XXL for each service: voice minutes, text messages and data. Each device added to the plan costs $ 6 per month. As an example: three devices sharing 500 minutes, 2,000 text messages and 3 GB of data would cost $ 95 per month. That’s a total price for service on all three devices; not per device.

If you choose a plan size in a given month but actually use a smaller size, Ting will credit you the difference. Likewise, if you use more minutes, messages or data than your plan size allows, Ting will automatically bump you up to that plan charge. Your monthly bill may fluctuate as a result, but as Ting says, choosing the right plan isn’t too important due to this flexibility. There are clearly stated overages if you go beyond the XXL plan for any component.

Also of note is the inclusion of mobile hotspot functionality at no extra charge. Essentially, you can use your data on whatever device —  or devices — you want in any way you choose. This makes the plans very appealing by giving the consumer total control in data usage across devices.

There are no commitments for Ting and the device choices are fairly limited so far: A few smartphones, mobile hotspot devices and USB data sticks, but no tablets yet. And because there is no contract, Ting doesn’t heavily subsidize the hardware, meaning you’ll pay more for your device. But in the end, that may be a relatively small price to pay, given the freedom to share data across devices and no early termination fees.

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Facebook revealed this week that it now has 845m active users. As it nudges ever closer to the billion-user milestone, a new study reveals interesting findings about the social network and its users. Read more…

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Microsoft’s Windows Phone devices aren’t yet selling in the tens of millions, but the platform is maturing in ways that could boost sales. Alleged details of Windows Phone 8 emerged on Thursday in a leaked video intended for Microsoft’s partners. Information from the video was written up by PocketNow and upon first glance, all the details seem feasible. More importantly, they’re what Microsoft needs to improve sales.

Windows Phone initially didn’t impress me, but after its first software update, called Mango, I began to see promise. Next up for the platform reportedly is Tango and then Apollo; it’s Apollo that will be dubbed Windows Phone 8, with the following additions that can fill current gaps in the platform:

• Support for multi-core processors and four different screen sizes (presumably with different resolutions)
• Addition of removable microSD memory cards
• NFC, or near-field communications, support for wireless payments and other implementations
• Shared software components with Windows 8, Microsoft’s next iteration of its platform for desktops, laptops and tablets
• An updated method for synchronizing data and media between handset and computer
• Skype integration in the core operating system, making it a native app that can interact directly with contacts and other personal data.
• A proxy server feature for the web browser to help compress data usage by up to 30 percent.

When comparing the specs and features of today’s Windows Phone devices, many are put off by the support for single-core processors and fixed resolution. But Apollo should eliminate that problem, which I find to be an overstated issue. The dual-core A5 chip in Apple’s iPhone 4S runs at 800 MHz and keeps the phone moving because the platform is optimized for that clock speed. In my experience the same can be said of Windows Phone: Mine is just as fast as my iPhone for many tasks.

Still, the improved hardware potential will be welcome and should make a fast operating system even faster. Add in support for Skype, which Microsoft bought last year, NFC radios and a code link to Windows 8 and Microsoft should see more people thinking twice before leaving a store with the iPhone or an Android device once Apollo hits.

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There’s a new mobile app store available for millions of devices, but it’s not for iOS, Android, or Windows Phone handsets. As of Tuesday, the newest app store is for robots, and the first four apps are compatible with the estimated 6 million iRobot Roomba vacuums. Yes, we now have an app store for robots!

MyRobots.com just launched the new store which has some similarities to other mobile app stores. For example, the company will take 25 percent of any paid transactions for robot apps. One huge difference, however, is that these apps will run directly on a robot, or in the cloud for connected robots. Don’t expect, then, to see smartphone apps that interface with robots in this store.

The first initial applications add some interactivity to the Roomba, including a free app that allows you to have a text chat with your mobile vacuum. The three others are all priced at $ 25 and range in functionality: remote control over the web; mobile surveillance if you have a web-cam on your Roomba; and a telepresence app for when you’re away from home.

A developer program for the Robot App Store is now in beta, so developers can sign up to help shape the storefront with apps. Will this store ever rival the size and scope of the iTunes App Store? That’s not likely, but I do see many reasons to believe home robotics is the next big thing. I shared those ideas back in 2010 in a GigaOm Pro report (subscription required), saying the brains and sensors in a smartphone are enough to get the home robot movement rolling.

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I don’t have sales figures, but based on buzz and reader commentary, the Asus Transformer was a pretty popular Android tablet in 2011. It’s a new year though and Asus has kicked things up a notch at CES with the Transformer Prime and Nvidia’s Tegra 3 processor. The Tegra 3 is a quad-core chip with a fifth core for light tasks, which helps battery life. And there are a dozen GPU cores as well, which makes for the best gaming on a tablet I’ve seen yet.

Here’s a quick look at the Transformer Prime, which now runs on Google’s latest version of Android: 4.0.3, or Ice Cream Sandwich. The tablet can run for up to 12 hours on its own, but the keyboard dock option adds another 8 or more hours, making for an all-day tablet. The keyboard is quite usable; similar to the keyboards on Asus netbooks, and docking the tablet adds a mouse pointer on screen. My initial thoughts on the trackpad are mixed: It works but isn’t quite as smooth as I’d like.

A full review will follow, but for now, enjoy a tour of the thin and light hardware, as well as some browsing, high-definition video viewing, gaming with an Xbox controller and a highlight of some Asus customizations. I’m curious if this tablet and keyboard combo can replace a laptop for people with minimal traditional computing needs.

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It’s 2012 now and that means a new bunch of games are soon to hit the stores. We take a look at what games might interest you this quarter, and remind you of what’s out there between January and March Read more…

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Apple had a huge 2011 according to the numbers, thanks in large part to the success of the iPad 2 and iPhone 4S. But it also wasn’t really a year in which we saw a lot of big changes on the hardware front, even though iOS 5 and iCloud made big splashes in software. That’s part of why I think we can expect a lot of changes in terms of devices in 2012.

iPhone

Apple’s next iPhone is one many probably feel we’ve already seen in previews, since the rumor mill prior to the release of the iPhone 4S was focused more on the so-called iPhone 5. A lot of what was said about that device should probably come to pass when we do get a new iPhone next year, which Apple could well call the iPhone 5.

A release in fall is probably in the cards, since Apple would gain little by releasing a new iPhone in the early summer so soon after unveiling the iPhone 4S, so it’s hard to pin down anything definite about the device at this point; a lot can change in mobile in nearly a year, after all. But there are a few safe bets regarding Apple’s next smartphone.

First, expect an A6 processor, possibly quad-core, powering the device. Also, a larger screen and a new physical case design are almost guaranteed. I don’t think Apple would go the route of the Android-makers with anything gigantic, but a respectable 4-inch display seems likely. And while LTE still isn’t a guarantee, it’s a good bet for 2012. Near-field communication (NFC) is less certain to make the cut, since that tech still has a long way to go before (if) it goes mainstream.

iPod

Making predictions about Apple’s iPod line is definitely tough. The media player got virtually no changes in 2011 compared to 2010, and its impact on Apple’s overall revenue picture continues to dwindle. The iPod touch is still an important part of the lineup, but even its future might become a question sometime in the next couple of years.

In 2012, I see Apple finally putting its iPod classic to rest, and maybe the shuffle, too. The iPod touch will likely get the spec bump it missed this year, bringing it closer to the current iPhone 4S in terms of wireless radios and processing power, and possibly a physical redesign, too. The real question mark, and maybe Apple’s greatest opportunity to shake up the media player market, is the iPod nano.

Users have been looking for an update that brings Bluetooth on-board with the diminutive nano, making it compatible with wireless headphones (better when worn on the wrist) and possibly enabling a live data connection between it and the iPhone. I suspect that Apple skipped a proper update for the nano this year because it’s actually working on making the nano the perfect connected companion for the iPhone, thanks to Bluetooth 4.0 tech, but we’ll see in 2012 whether or not that’s the case.

iPad

Rumors about the iPad 3 are already swirling, since it seems on track for an early 2012 release. I think we’ll see it arrive around the same time as last year’s iPad 2, so between February and March, complete with the Retina Display users have been looking for since the iPhone 4′s release.

What else will the iPad 3 offer? That’s a good question, and one that hasn’t really been addressed all that much in early reports. Its features will be dictated largely by what the market demands, which shouldn’t be much judging by the current tablet market picture. In 2011, Apple ruled the tablet market without a real competitor in sight. In 2012, it will have low-cost alternatives nipping at its heels, but it still isn’t looking at any competitors who are truly shaking up the space.

As a result, I’d expect to see an iPad 3 that resembles its predecessor in most regards, with the aforementioned improved screen, as well as a slimmer design and maybe a longer lasting battery. Apple has the right recipe for success in other regards, and the iPad 3 isn’t really crying out for camera improvements or additional wireless tech. Adoption of Bluetooth 4.0 is probably also on tap, as well as an upgraded A6 processor, but I wouldn’t expect much else.

Instead of making dramatic changes or additions to the iPad, expect Apple to offer a low-cost option in the form of the iPad 2, likely limited to either 8 or 16 GB of onboard storage. And as much as I and Kevin admire the smaller, 7-inch form factor, I think Apple might keep that one in reserve for at least another year.

Macs

In 2012, iDevices won’t be the only devices getting big upgrades. Apple’s Mac division is still a big revenue driver for the company, and in the new year I expect them to focus on the products that will have the biggest role in the future of computing. The MacBook Air is the crucial device here, but iMacs, too, should be in for big changes.

The MacBook Air is Apple’s most forward-looking Mac, and it has plenty of room to grow. In 2011, the 11- and 13-inch form factors got even better thanks to much-needed processor upgrades and the addition of Thunderbolt tech. In 2012, I expect Apple to expand the line as it moves to push aside the MacBook Pro in terms of its importance to Apple’s notebook offerings. So a 15-inch Air is likely, as well as more substantial improvements to the 11- and 13-inch devices, aimed at shoring up their remaining weaknesses: battery life and storage. Higher resolution displays are another definite possibility.

As Apple’s strongest desktop product, expect iMacs to get significant updates in 2012, both externally and on the inside, too. The current iMac case design is getting a little long in the tooth, and is overdue for an update. Intel has new processors that will likely make their way into Macs in the works, and we should see them in the second quarter of 2012, so expect new iMacs around then, too. Other changes might include high-res displays like those that could make their way to the notebook line, and solid state storage as the default option on some models.

As to the rest of the Mac line, I’d expect to see upgrades for the Mac mini, but not necessarily any big improvements for the Mac Pro. Apple is clearly focusing on consumer products, and it could let its more powerful desktops languish again as a result.

Apple TV

It’s the last big question mark for Apple’s 2012 plans, the mythical iTV. I think we’ll see Apple make its move here, and introduce a television set late in the year, complete with a full App Store, Siri controls and iCloud support. Whether or not we’ll see its set-top Apple TV gets a similar upgrade strikes me as less certain, but since it could act as a gateway device the way the iPod touch does for the iPhone and iPad, I think we’ll see that, too.

This is the rough roadmap I see in place for Apple’s 2012 product plans. Predicting Apple’s plans is likely a fool’s game, but that doesn’t mean it isn’t fun. Let us know what you think is coming out of Cupertino in the comments.

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As 2011 comes to a close, I’m thinking ahead to what mobile technology trends I expect to see in 2012. While I formulate those thoughts for a post later this week, now is a good time to see how I did with my 2011 predictions. I nailed some, came close on a few, and as expected when trying to foretell the future, completely missed the target on some.

I like to review these predictions because they help keep me honest with the readers, but also because the exercise reminds me to be humble in my writing for the upcoming year: Mobile technology is moving so quickly, that I’ll never bat a thousand. Here’s a look back at what I wrote nearly one year ago to the day, along with evaluation of the effort.

iOS and Android

• “I do believe (and have since earlier this year) that a Verizon iPhone will at the very least, be announced in January. And it’s an even money bet that the iPad will gain the rumored cameras required for FaceTime, too.” — These weren’t too difficult to see coming but I called them correctly.
• “ iOS will likely see improved notifications in iOS version 5.” — Another winner here and one of the reasons I actually bought an iPhone in 2011 after abandoning my old iPhone 3GS for Android devices. I’ve always preferred the Android notification method and Apple improved upon it. Android 4.0 brings back parity in this area.
• “Thanks to more robust mobile broadband options, I expect Apple to offer iTunes music streaming in 2011.” — I was close, but not quite right. Apple did move iTunes libraries to the cloud, but mainly to store music files; not to stream your library in the traditional sense.
• “Android phones will come closer to rivaling the user experience of Apple iOS devices, but they’ll still fall short. It won’t matter in terms of platform market share, and more developers will code for both iOS and Android, with a greater emphasis on Google’s platform if pressed to choose just one.” — I’ll call this one partly right as Android 4.0 does rival iOS, depending on who you ask and their personal preferences. Developers are mainly focusing on iOS and Google, but more are attracted to the better monetization offered by iOS, even though Google is ahead in market share.
• “Google will design one stock Android handset for Verizon’s LTE network.” — Perhaps my most spot-on prediction: The Samsung Galaxy Nexus for Verizon is a flagship LTE phone that’s exclusive to the carrier in the U.S. But I’m still happier that I went with an unlocked GSM Galaxy Nexus from overseas: It removes the carrier control from my handset and gives it to me instead.
• “Motorola Mobility will have a solid first year due to Android phones and tablets, but won’t see huge growth until it can gain additional large carrier partners and the backing they provide.” — Motorola didn’t gain a large carrier partner, but it did win serious backing when Google announced intent to purchase the company. Still, I was wrong on this one and didn’t see the Google purchase as a possibility.
• “The iPad will continue to sell in record numbers next year, but the combined sales of Android tablets will be close behind at the end of 2011. Consumers will still pass up Microsoft Windows 7 tablets.” — The iPad still dominates tablet sales and by most measures, Android isn’t close behind yet. That could change with Android 4.0 tablets, but I thought we’d see them by now. Microsoft Windows 7 tablets are selling as well as prior Windows tablets: As in not very.

Intel, HP, Nokia and Microsoft

• “Intel will finally deliver on its Atom effort and get the chip in a few phones, but none will be blockbuster successes. While Android can be ported to Intel’s x86 chip architecture, few will tackle the effort because of investments in ARM technology.” — Another year of missed opportunity for Intel as I was wrong on timing this one. In 2012, Intel expects to enter the smartphone game with new silicon.
• “Intel’s best showing will be in Nokia MeeGo devices (more on that below). Even with a few available products, the gap between Intel- and ARM-powered handsets and tablets will continue to widen.” — When you don’t have much showing, there really can’t be a “best” showing for Intel. And ARM continues to rule the roost when it comes to mobile chip architecture in successful products.
• “HP will debut a half-dozen new webOS products: mostly phones, but at least one tablet too. Even though I expect a compelling interface and feature set, webOS still won’t see a market share higher than 6 percent in 2011 as developer mindshare is focused on Android and iOS.” — The biggest fail on my list as webOS is effectively dead and gone, having been handed down to the open source community. A damn shame.
• “Microsoft’s Kinect product will keep the Xbox a leading platform and the device will continue to be used for various interface hacks” — The Xbox 360 continued to be the top-selling console, month after month this year. And there’s been no lack of Kinect-powered interface hacks demonstrated, including robots that use the Kinect for vision.
• “Microsoft will officially support the device in an update to Windows 7 and my son will still not be able to beat me in a Kinect game.” — Microsoft added Windows 7 support for Kinect in June and my son has yet to beat me in a Kinect game. I’m getting older by the minute though, so I may not be able to replicate this feat in 2012.
• “Nokia’s smartphone market share will stabilize, but not grow beyond 40 percent as cheaper Android phones will flood the market by the second half of the year. The company will continue to tout MeeGo, which will become available in the form of six devices in 2011.” — Even with my own lowered expectations for Nokia, the company — and its smartphone market share — crumbled in 2011, in hopes of rebuilding its future. MeeGo has been abandoned as a strategy, so I blew this one big time.
• “There will be talk of Microsoft buying Nokia, but it won’t happen. Windows Phone 7 on a Nokia device might, however, as a short-term trial strategy for both parties.” — Microsoft hasn’t officially bought Nokia, but it did pay the company more a billion dollars to use Windows Phone going forward.
• “Microsoft will demonstrate a lighter, touch-optimized platform for tablets by mid-2011 and follow up with products near the end of the year. Research In Motion’s PlayBook will gain enterprise customers in 2011, but businesses will adopt the iPad, and possibly even Android tablets, far more heavily.” — Microsoft has demonstrated a Metro interface that will be used tablets, but products aren’t yet available. Businesss are favoring iOS and Android tablets over the PlayBook.

Samsung

• “Samsung will continue to leverage the Galaxy brand and approach with fewer new smartphone models in 2011. Instead, the company will take the lesson learned from 2010: design one base handset and tweak slightly for carrier customization. The company will sell 17 million or more such handsets as a result.: — The Galaxy S II is that phone and as of September, sold 10 million units. That was prior to the handset arriving on three of the big four U.S. carriers, so I think I did well on the prediction.
• “I expect 5 million Samsung tablets to sell next year, both in 7-inch and 10-inch sizes. And while Apple will continue its digital audio player dominance, Samsung will grab a 5 percent chunk of the market currently held by Apple’s iPod: even more if Google Music is available in dozens of countries.” — Again, it’s difficult to find tablet sales data by manufacturer, but IDC suggests that Samsung sold 1 million tablets in the third quarter, so I suspect my figure of 5 million for the year is high, pending holiday sales. Samsung was late to market with its Android-based iPod touch competitors, so I’m considering my 5 percent prediction to be wrong.

Chips, carriers and other tech topics

• “Although phones with dual-core processors will debut in early 2011, more than 25 percent of smartphones sold by the end of the year will use dual-core chips.” — I haven’t seen data specific to smartphone sales by the number of processing cores, but I suspect, I got this right. Perhaps I even underestimated the number of dual-core smartphone sales when you look at the models that use them: Apple’s iPhone 4S, Samsung’s Galaxy S II, Motorola’s Razr and many other popular handsets.
• “Smart homes with web-connected automation will slip into mainstream conversation, but near-field communications will still be confusing due to a lack of mobile payment standards.” — Smart home products are gaining momentum but are not part of everyday conversation just yet. NFC for mobile payments is still a moving target for the reason I predicted. That’s why I took matters into my own hands with Google Wallet.
• “Although U.S. carriers will continue to rely on network offload solutions such as femtocells and more public Wi-Fi zones, at least one carrier will supplement current data plans with a truly metered trial option.” — Mostly correct until the last phrase as no U.S. carrier has offered a pay-for-what-you-use data plan.

Overall, I think I fared well, but I’m raising the bar for 2012 because I’d like to have even more accuracy in what to expect. Some of my 2011 predictions may carry over to 2012 because I was off on timing, but I’ll be spending the next day or two focused on my Magic 8-ball to see what 2012 will bring!

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Today we introduce an updated look and layout for the IEBlog. Here’s an overview of the design and layout changes we made:

• New font family – We’re using the Segoe UI font to align with Windows 8 Metro style.
• New color scheme – We have a new color scheme inspired by the Windows 8 Metro style Start screen.
• Improved performance – The blog’s home page defaults to excerpt view. This substantially reduces load time since excerpts do not contain images or videos.
• Fewer borders – We’ve removed the borders around the right rail items resulting in a cleaner look.
• Updated right rail content – We’ve removed the tag cloud and limited the monthly archive list to 24 months. The links section has been updated somewhat and we’ve added the Microsoft Translator machine-translation widget for visitors who may wish to read our blog in languages other than English.

We hope you like the new style as much as we do.

—Ted Johnson for IEBlog

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