Apple and technology

Apple again files for U.S. Galaxy Tab injunction after winning appeal

Following a recently won appeal from the federal court, Apple on Friday filed a motion for injunction against Samsung's Galaxy Tab 10.1 which could see the tablet pulled from U.S. shelves as soon as early June.

The motion filed late Friday was based on a U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit ruling that found Apple's iPad-related design patent was likely valid,overturning previous findings from a California court which originally barred the Cupertino-based company from seeking a preliminary injunction against the Samsung tablet, reports FOSS Patents' Florian Mueller.
 
Mueller notes that Apple's second injunction attempt is likely to succeed given that at least one circuit court judge feels such relief is justified and went as far as to issue a dissenting opinion, saying that merely vacating the California ruling was not enough.

"Circuit Judge Kathleen O'Malley argued that the CAFC should have reversed the decision in order to provided Apple with immediate injunctive relief in light of the irreparable harm it is suffering," Mueller writes. "But the majority of the judges saw 'no reason to believe that there will necessarily be delay, or if there is delay that it will be unjustifiable.'" 

Apple is asking Judge Lucy Koh, who denied the first injunction as well as two others regarding smartphone patents, to rule on the matter without a hearing. The request is seen as reasonable as the court already heard arguments over the issue in October.

Judge Koh is unlikely to grant the motion for preliminary injunction during the settlement talks scheduled for May 21 to 22, thus Apple has given Samsung until May 25 to respond. 

Samsung will likely ask for a hearing on the Galaxy Tab inunction if and when the talks fail, and Judge Koh may schedule it on the same June 7 date as a separate injunction case involving the Galaxy Nexus smartphone. 

While an injunction may not be a devastating blow to the Korean electronics giant, it would signify a publicity win for Apple and force Samsung to redesign the tablet as it did in Germany with the Galaxy Tab 10.1N.

Apple to launch iPad mini in second half of 2012?

Apple has reportedly already tagged LCD suppliers for an iPad mini, with an eye toward launching the tabletin the second half of the year.This latest scuttlebut comes courtesy of Taiwan news outlet Liberty Times (English translation).Citing the usual, vague "market rumors" but also a report from Japanese securities firm Macquarie, the Liberty Times said the iPad mini could start shipping by the end of the third quarter with a goal of 6 million units.That 6 million is the same number projected last month by Chinese online portal Netease.LG and Au Optronics have already passed Apple's certification tests to provide the tablet's LCD panel, the report said. Both have been working to ship the panels for actual production of the diminutive iPad, according to the report.Further details translated by Japanese blog site Macotakara say TPK Holding will produce 4 million backlight modules, with Chimei Innolux providing an additional 2 million. Nissha Printing would make the tablet's touch film sensor.This latest rumor follows other claims, some still tentative, that Apple will unveil a 7-inch iPad this year.Barclays analyst Ben Reitzes recently pointed to evidence of an iPad mini in the supply chain, as seen by the firm's global research team. One report said that the small tablet would offer 8GB of storage and sell for US$200, while Netease put the price tag in the range of US$249 to US$299.The iPad finally got a bit of competition in the fourth quarter from Amazon's 7-inch Kindle Fire, which boosted the overall market share for Android tablets.Apple has since regained lost ground and remains the dominant player in the tablet arena. IHS projects a tablet market share of around 61 percent this year.Still, the iPad has watched its lead decline amidst a swarm of Android tablets, large and small, released over the past year. An iPad mini could be the ticket to combat the Kindle Fire and other smaller tablets. But Apple typically sets the trends rather following those already set by others. So if we do see an iPad mini this year, we'd expect Apple to add some kind of twist to distinguish it from its Android rivals.  

Apple Patent Spat Delays U.S. Rollout of HTC One X, EVO 4G LTE

The rollout of two flagship HTC smartphones has been delayed thanks to a patent battle with Apple.

As reported by Reuters, the U.S. availability of the HTC One X and the HTC EVO 4G LTE will be pushed back until U.S. Customs officials can verify that HTC has removed an infringing piece of software from the devices.

HTC's press team is located on the West Coast and did not immediately respond to a request for comment, but in a statement provided to Reuters, a spokesman confirmed that the smartphones' arrival in the U.S. has been delayed "due to a standard U.S. Customs review of shipments that is required."

At issue is a December ruling from the International Trade Commission (ITC), which found that HTC smartphones infringed on a "data tapping" patent held by Apple. One example of this technology is a phone number within an email that you can tap to bring up the phone dialer and place a call automatically.

As a result, the ITC ordered an import ban on certain HTC devices starting April 19, 2012.

Initially, HTC said it would remove the data-tapping functionality from its phones altogether to avoid a ban. But in February, HTC announced a workaround whereby it would bypass the patent restriction while leaving the core functionality intact.

At this point, U.S. Customs must verify that the workaround has been put in place. If not, the phones will not be allowed in the U.S.

When asked if this meant that Customs will have to open and test every single smartphone imported into the U.S., patent blogger Florian Mueller said that while he is not well-versed in exactly how the procedure works, "they definitely don't have to open each and every box."     

                                         

"One thing HTC might do is slightly modify the names, such as by appending the letter 'B' to all product names, in order to distinguish modified (non-infringing) products from others," Mueller said in an email.

According to Reuters, inspections have been going on for a month.

Why these particular smartphones? Mueller speculated that they are probably "the first HTC devices to be launched in the U.S. after the import ban took effect."

The HTC One X made its debut in the U.S. on AT&T on May 6. It's currently listed as out of stock on the carrier's website. The HTC EVO 4G LTE was scheduled to arrive on Sprint on May 18, but that has now been pushed back, Reuters said. A Sprint spokeswoman referred all questions to HTC.

For more, see PCMag's full reviews of the HTC One X and the slideshow below, as well as our unboxing of the HTC EVO 4G LTE.

Apple Inoculates OS X Leopard Against Flashback

Apple security update for older OS 10.5 Leopard nukes Flashback variants and disables outdated Java and Flash functionality.

By Mathew J. Schwartz   InformationWeek
May 15, 2012 11:47 AM

In the wake of the Flashback malware outbreak that last month infected more than 600,000 Macs, Apple Monday pushed two security fixes for users of OS X 10.5 Leopard.

Flashback was the largest-ever malware outbreak involving OS X users, and at its peak exploited over 600,000 Macs. The malware spread by targeting a Java vulnerability that was first disclosed in a Windows security notice in February 2012. Apple last month released Flashback eradication software for its current Mac operating system, 10.7 Lion, as well as for 10.6 Snow Leopard.

Now, the 10.5 Leopard version of Apple's new Flashback Removal Security Update will likewise search for multiple Flashback variants, including SabPub. "This update removes the most common variants of the Flashback malware," according to the update's release notes. "If the Flashback malware is found, a dialog will notify you that malware was removed. In some cases, the update may need to restart your computer in order to completely remove the Flashback malware."

Apple Monday also released a security update for 10.5 Leopardthat disables Java, as well "versions of Adobe Flash Player that do not include the latest security updates, and provides the option to get the current version from Adobe's website," according to the update notes. That mirrors functionality that Apple already introduced for OS 10.7 and 10.6. But to install this update, Leopard users must be running the most recent version--10.5.8--of the operating system.

[ Macs have been safer than Windows PCs, but every security-savvy IT pro knows "safer" isn't "totally safe." Learn why After Flashback, Apple Walled Gardens Won't Help. ]

While 63% of Flashback infections affected OS 10.6 Snow Leopard, and only 11% affected OS 10.7 Lion users, 25% of the infections were traced to OS 10.5 Leopard users, even though it's only used by 13% of all Mac users.

Apple's release of operating system patches to nuke Flashback, as well as its decision to proactively 

Apple's release of operating system patches to nuke Flashback, as well as its decision to proactively disable unused Java--though it can be reinstalled--and outdated versions of Flash Player have garnered praise from security experts, as well as the developers behind the add-ons.

Notably, Adobe security chief Brad Arkin lauded the update for Safari that automatically disables outdated Flash Player installations. "We welcome today's initiative by Apple to encourage Mac users to stay up-to-date: With the Apple Safari 5.1.7 update released today, Apple is disabling older versions of Flash Player (specifically Flash Player 10.1.102.64 and earlier) and directing users to the Flash Player Download Center, from where they can install the latest, most secure version of Flash Player," he said in a blog post.

Despite the slew of 10.5 fixes, Apple said it is prepping its new OS X 10.8 Mountain Lion operating system for a late summer launch. Mac watchers, however, have seen signs that the operating system might debut during Apple's 2012 Worldwide Developer Conference, which will be held in San Francisco June 11 through June 15.

Some commentators have wondered whether Apple, with the introduction of OS 10.8, would continue its practice of no longer releasing new security patches for all but the current and previous operating system, which in this case would be 10.7 Lion. But Apple's Monday introduction of 10.5 fixes shows that, at least in the case of a mass malware outbreak of Flashback proportions, Apple appears ready to roll out relevant patches, especially since older versions of its operating system would have the potential to keep infecting newer ones.

"It's encouraging to see Apple has not left users of this older version of the Mac OS X operating system completely out in the cold when it comes to protecting against the latest threats," said Graham Cluley, senior technology consultant at free Mac antivirus maker Sophos, in a blog post. "Clearly they realize that it's not good for the Apple Mac's image if older computers connected to the Internet are harboring malware that could cause problems for others in the Mac community."

Security information and event monitoring technology has been available for years, but the information can be hard to mine. In our SIEM Success report, we provide a step-by-step guide to make the most of your SIEM system. (Free registration required.)

HTC One

After a few years of losing dominance in the Android phone arena, HTC is on a new mission to add sex appeal and unique features to top-notch phones in hopes of stealing some love from Samsung and Motorola. Enter the HTC One X, the company’s newly-announced Android superphone that emphasizes its camera prowess and Beats audio.

While the device was announced at Mobile World Congress in Barcelona last night, we were able to get our hands on the slick handset at a private event in New York City Monday morning. My initial impressions are that the device is yet another powerful Android phone, but its key features, camera and Beats audio, are what the company is really pushing.

The HTC One X for AT&T, with its dual-core Snapdragon S4 processor and 4G LTE, runs fast. Flicking through HTC’s Sense Android skin user interface was a breeze, as was opening programs, playing music, and generally all types of multitasking.

An HTC representative told me the three things: premium design that makes it feel great in the hand, top-of-the-line 8-megapixel camera with 2.0 f-stop and ImageSense technology, and Beats audio quality. On the design front, the phone does feel “premium.” Its 4.7-inch HD screen with Gorilla Glass is beautiful and is capable of up to 720p video playback. For a phone with such a large screen, it’s still fairly light in the hand, weighing in at 4.6 ounces.

While I wasn’t able to the seriously test the camera sensor for a comparison with the iPhone 4S’ incredible camera/software, the pictures on the phone that I looked at were full of detail and strong on color. The phone does have a super-fast shutter speed as well as the ability to shoot multiple shots per second to make sure you get the perfect shot.

On the camera front, HTC may have been blindsided a little by Nokia’s announcement of its own high-quality camera phone this morning . The Nokia 808 PureView has a massive 41 megapixel camera inside, but in many ways the technology sounds more prototypical rather than fully realized, based on reports. HTC’s response:

“We’re not focused on a single feature, we’re focused on the full camera experience,” HTC Director of Public Relations Tom Harlin told VentureBeat. “We know the issues that people have taking good quality pictures on the phone and we’re helping them with faster camera speed and quality pictures in adverse conditions like no light or low light. We’re also excited about consumers being able to take high-def stills while taking video.”

If anything was disappointing about the HTC One X, it had to be the Beats audio. When enabled and using Beats headphones, songs by Jay-Z and Rihanna sounded a little muddled and not nearly as crisp as they should be. That could have been the sound quality on the audio files more than the Beats tech, but it was still a lackluster element. An HTC rep said that these phones are not finalized with software and said the Beats software may end up different from what I tested today.

The HTC One X will be exclusively available to U.S. consumers on AT&T. The device will start shipping in April globally. HTC would not let slip on U.S. pricing and availability –  except that it would land some time in the second quarter.

You can view a full gallery of the HTC One X below:

The HTC One X is a android 4.0 smartphone which comes with 1GB Ram, 8 MegaPixel Rear Camera With 1080p Recording and 1.5 GHz Nvidia Tegra 3 Quad-Core Processor.

HTC One X Features:

• 1.5 GHz Nvidia Tegra 3 Quad-Core Processor
• 1GB RAM
• Android 4.0 With HTC Sense 4
• 4.7 Inch Super LCD 720p Touchscreen Display
• 8MP Rear Camera With 1080p Recording
• 1.3MP Front Facing 720p Camera
• Beats Audio
• 32GB On-Board Storage
• NFC

HTC One X Specifications:

Network
Technology / Frequency Bands
GSM : 850/900/1800/1900 MHz HSDPA : 900/2100 MHz

Battery
Type Li – Ion
Capacity 1800 mAh

Built
Dimensions 134.36×69.9×8.9 mm
Weight 130 g
Form Factor bar
Colors White and Black

Display
Size 1280×720 pixels
Type color : LCD
Colors 16000000 colors
Secondary Display no

Camera / Imaging / Video
Camera Yes 8.1 MP
Resolution 3264×2448 pixels
Zoom yes
Flash yes
Secondary Camera yes

Connectivity
Bluetooth Yes
Irda No
Wlan/Wi-fi Yes
USB yes
GPS yes

Data
GPRS Yes
EDGE Yes
3G Yes
Internet Browsing Yes , Android Webkit browser

Media
Audio Playback Yes
Video Playback Yes
Ringtones 64 polyphonic MP3/MIDI/WAV/AMR
FM Radio No
3.5mm Headphone Jack yes

Memory
Inbuilt 32 GB
Memory Slot Yes microSD/TransFlash

Messaging
SMS Yes
MMS Yes
Email Yes

Software
Android 4.0

HTC One X Price in India:
Mobile Phone: HTC One X
Price (Indian Rupees): Expected Price:Rs.31000

Samsung Smart TV

Samsung has announced that its 2012 lineup of Smart TVs and Smart Blu-ray players will be getting Verizon’s FiOS TV app. This means that if you’re a FiOS TV subscriber, you will be able to access the service directly from your new Samsung connected device. There’s no need for the additional set-top box.

With your FiOS TV subscription and your 2012 Samsung Smart TV or Smart Blu-ray player, you’ll get instant access to 26 live TV channels, including HD channels. You’ll also be able to access more than 10,000 video-on-demand titles through Verizon’s Flex View service, which delivers on-demand content to TVs, PCs, tablets, and smartphones.For the full lineup of Samsung Smart TVs as well as those from competing manufacturers that turned up at this week’s CES show in Las Vegas, make sure to check out our Smart TV Roundup. In particular, Samsung has a 60-inch model packed with Kinect-style motion and voice control. Samsung has also announced integrating DIRECTV, once again eliminating the need for additional set-top boxes.As we reported during CES, a key new TV feature called Smart Interaction lets you interact with the TV in a variety of ways, including gestures and voice control. For example, you can control onscreen navigation or scroll through Web pages with a wave of your hand, and items can be selected by making a grabbing gesture with your hand. Samsung’s gesture control is built into the TV itself rather than the remote, but both the TV and the remote control will have built-in microphones for voice control.Some sets will also have a built-in camera and face-recognition technology, so the TV will be able to recognize up to five different users and provide each with their own customized screen along with their respective services and apps. (The camera can also be used to make Skype phone calls.)Samsung has developed a software developers kit (SDK) that to enable developers to create specialized apps and games that take advantage of the gesture, voice, and face-recognition technologies. Step-up TVs will come with a new touchpad remote control, though the company isn't offering the dual-sided remote with a QWERTY keyboard on one side it had last year. Instead, a wireless Bluetooth keyboard with a track pad will be sold as a $99 option. The TVs will come with an IR blaster in the box to allow control of other home-theater gear using the TV remote.Also new this year are some proprietary programs, offered under the umbrella heading of Signature Services. The apps will include Family Story, a closed, cloud-based service for sharing photos and family memories; Fitness, programs that let you monitor training and sync to a wireless scale; and Kids, a suite of kid-friendly edutainment. Step-up models also get AllShare Play, which lets you access content from any compatible device—and thanks to cloud-based storage, you can do this even when you're not in your home.Samsung provided some additional information about an upgrade feature called Smart Evolution that will become available in 2013. Starting this year, TVs will have a proprietary slot for Smart Evolution modules that can add features or boost performance, so owners will be able to update their sets to the latest technology. Samsung didn't discuss pricing, but it did say that 2012 models can be updated through 2016.

Samsung's flagship ES8000 series LCD sets have an ultra-slim bezel, and sit atop a unique-looking U-shape stand. This set also gets Micro Dimming Ultimate contrast-enhancement technology, while the ES7500 line gets Micro Dimming Pro. Models in the ES6600 and ES7100 series get Micro Dimming.
Samsung says that half of its 2012 sets will include 3D, and all 3D sets will come with at least two sets of 3D glasses; the flagship ES8000 LCD TVs and E8000 plasmas will come with four sets. Additional 3D glasses will now be available for only $20 per set.
The company also has a new EH series of LCD TVs that use "direct-lit" LED backlights, which cost less than traditional edge LED backlights while providing getter energy efficiency than CCFL backlights. The EH-series sets are available in screen sizes ranging from 26 to 65 inches.

BlackBerry PlayBook Tablet

The new Blackberry Playbook running on the latest blackberry OS offers features that were missing in the previous playbook. Now you can run the android apps and it’s cheaper than the other tabs.

Steve Jobs tried to dismiss iPad’s tablet rivals as “copycats” at Wednesday’s iPad 2 launch. But whether Steve likes it or not, the tablet wars are officially on. And this battle will be decided not only by consumers and gadget lovers seeking the latest and greatest slates, but also by businesses and corporate workers looking for the next game-changing productivity tool.

You can expect to see many Android-based tablets from the likes of Motorola and Samsung, just to name a couple of manufacturers. Two of the most anticipated tablets of 2011 are Apple’s iPad 2 and BlackBerry-maker Research In Motion’s (RIM) BlackBerry PlayBook tablet.

While Apple is traditionally known as consumer-oriented company, RIM has in the past mostly catered to businesses with a secondary consumer focus. And like these two technology giants, their respective tablets are worlds apart when it comes to enterprise features and functionality.

Which tablet is best for your business? Here are seven key considerations that enterprise IT staffs and business users should take into account when comparing Apple’s shiny iPad 2 to RIM’s workhorse BlackBerry PlayBook.

Security

Perhaps the most important factor that any organisation thinking about a tablet deployment must take into account is security.

The Blackberry PlayBook cost now cheapest tablet was designed with security in mind, according to RIM, and though the company hasn’t revealed exactly how future versions of the PlayBook will secure corporate data, the initial Wi-Fi only version won’t store any corporate data on the device at all. Instead, the PlayBook will access corporate resources by tethering to a BlackBerry Enterprise Server (BES)-connected BlackBerry smartphone.

In other words, the Wi-Fi only BlackBerry PlayBook will need to connect to a corporate BlackBerry smartphone for secure access to enterprise mail, calendar, tasks, etc. And while corporate data will be accessible via a smartphone-connected PlayBook, no enterprise data is ever stored on the tablet, making it an ideal option at least from a security perspective, as no data leaks if that device is lost, stolen or hacked.

However, the need for a BlackBerry smartphone is a clear disadvantage for organisations that don’t already use RIM handhelds, and this fact will no doubt lead some companies to opt for the iPad 2 or another tablet over RIM’s offering.

Organisations that already have BES should feel relatively secure in deploying PlayBooks, since no additional security measures are necessary and no sensitive information is ever stored on the PlayBook.

The iPad 2, on the other hand, connects to Microsoft’s Exchange infrastructure for most of its corporate security features, as a BlackBerry smartphone would to BES. And a variety of third party mobile device management (MDM) offerings from companies like BoxTone and Zenprise are available to add additional iPad/iOS-related security features.

So, to sum that all up, the BlackBerry PlayBook cost cheapest should be a no-brainer for companies that are already on BlackBerry, and deploying the PlayBook shouldn’t require any additional IT support beyond basic instruction, since all PlayBook-related IT policies are pushed through BlackBerry smartphones.

Organisations on Exchange but not on BES, or companies that have already invested in tools to help bolster iOS security, may be better off with iPad 2, since deploying BES and BlackBerry smartphones is currently required to access secure corporate data via PlayBook.

Also, RIM has kept tight-lipped on the subject of how future PlayBook versions, the RIM tablets with cellular radios, will connect to BES, which means organisations may have to address additional security and deployment challenges with those devices. Many industry-watchers believe the process will be significantly different and won’t require BlackBerry smartphones, though RIM hasn’t offered any solid details.

This could be frustrating for organisations that are anxious to deploy tablets, and it could push those organisations toward Apple and away from RIM and its PlayBook.

Size

One obvious difference between RIM’s PlayBook and the iPad 2 is size. RIM’s PlayBook is significantly smaller, at 7.6 inches in height and 5.1 inches in width, compared to the iPad 2, which is 9.5 inches high and 7.3 inches wide.

As such, the BlackBerry PlayBook suits organisations that value portability over a larger display, and the iPad 2 appeals to companies looking for the most screen real estate available, regardless of portability constraints.

Connectivity and availability

RIM has stated that the Wi-Fi only version of its PlayBook tablet will become available in the first quarter of 2011, meaning before the end of March. However, recent rumours suggest the device will launch on April 10, and that sounds about right to me.

The BlackBerry-maker also announced HSPA+ and 4G, WiMax and LTE versions of the PlayBook, though it didn’t offer any launch-date specifics, saying only that the WiMax version should become available to Sprint customers sometime this summer.

Apple didn’t beat around the bush with its iPad 2 launch. The company announced a March 11 release date the same day it unveiled the next generation iPad. And the tablet will be available with a variety of wireless connectivity options on March 11, including a Wi-Fi only version, an iPad 2 with both CDMA 3G support and Wi-Fi and an iPad 2 with GSM 3G and Wi-Fi.

That means Apple’s iPad 2 has an advantage over the BlackBerry PlayBook in that it should be available a full month before RIM’s tablet. However, the iPad 2 only supports 3G CDMA and GSM wireless frequencies, i.e., no 4G for the iPad 2. The lack of 4G support in the iPad 2 seems to suggest Apple will announce either an upgraded version of the iPad 2, or possibly an iPad 3, in the not so distant future.

So the iPad 2 could be a better option for organizations that don’t want to wait until next month for a tablet deployment, even though the device only currently supports “last generation” 3G cellular wireless. Companies for which cellular data transfer speeds are a priority, or that don’t want their tablets to feel outdated six months down the road, may want to skip the iPad 2 and opt for one of the 4G PlayBooks when they’re released this summer.

Pricing

While no official pricing has been announced for any of the known versions of RIM’s BlackBerry PlayBook, rumor suggests the entry level, 16GB, Wi-Fi only PlayBook will sell for the same price as he 16GB, Wi-Fi only iPad 2: $499.99. The 32GB Wi-Fi only iPad 2 goes for $599 and the 64GB Wi-Fi iPad sells for $699.

Apple also announced pricing for its 3G + Wi-Fi iPads: 16GB, $629; 32GB, $729; 64GB, $8.29.

The PlayBook will also be available in 16GB, 32GB and 64GB versions, and RIM could potentially undercut Apple in pricing for its HSPA+ and 4G PlayBook. If it does, pricing could become a competitive advantage for the BlackBerry maker.

RAM

In typical Apple fashion, the company left out a number of noteworthy facts from its online iPad 2 technical specifications lists, one of the most glaring of which is the lack of any information on the iPad 2′s RAM. While I cannot say for sure exactly how much RAM will be found inside the iPad 2, one UK Apple representative recently said that the device would ship with a meagre 256MB of RAM, less than the 512MB found in the current iPhone 4 smartphone.

If that is the case, the iPad 2 and its owners are going to experience some performance “hiccups,” to say the least, regardless of just how powerful its dual-core processor proves to be. It’s more likely that the iPad 2 has at least 512MB, but Apple’s silence on the subject is slightly worrisome.

The BlackBerry PlayBook cost cheapest on the other hand packs a full GB of RAM. The iPad 2 could have as much as 1 GB of RAM, but I don’t see the device shipping with more than that. So on the subject of RAM, the first generation PlayBook packs the same amount or more than the iPad.

From an enterprise perspective, the amount of RAM packed into a tablet could be significant, especially if organisations plan to run resource-intensive apps or services alongside each other.

Cameras and video conferencing

Both of RIM and Apple’s tablets have front facing and rear cameras. However, Apple hasn’t offered many details about the digital shooters it will ship with the iPad 2, saying only that the back camera is capable of capturing 720p, HD video up to 30 frames per second with audio. The iPad 2′s lower resolution front camera takes VGA video up to 30 frames per second with audio. But Apple didn’t offer any solid details on still-camera megapixel counts, specifying only that the rear camera has 5X digital zoom and the front camera takes VGA quality images.

RIM’s BlackBerry tablet review packs a 3MP front-facing camera and a 5MP rear shooter, which can grab 1080P HD video. So for still image and video capture, which could be valuable to remote staffers in warehouses and businesspeople in boardrooms, the PlayBook appears to have the iPad 2 beat, at least in resolution.

Apple has a slight advantage over RIM when it comes to video conferencing, since it already has its own proprietary video-conferencing application and service, called FaceTime. But RIM must have some sort of video-conferencing offering up its sleeve, so we’ll very likely see a related BlackBerry-announcement in the days or weeks following the PlayBook’s release.

Durability

The following speculation should be taken with a grain of salt, since it is just that: speculation. But the BlackBerry PlayBook cost cheapest tablet will very likely prove to be more durable than the iPad 2, due mainly to the smaller size of its display and rubberlike outer casing. And durability will surely be an important consideration for enterprises, especially those with remote workers in less than forgiving industries and environments.

In general, the most vulnerable part of a tablet PC is its glass display. And the larger that glass display, the larger the likelihood that the display will be damaged.

Aakash’s latest cheapest tablet Ubislate7C

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