The Samsung Galaxy Tab is considered as iPad’s first real challenger. The Galaxy runs on Google’s Android 2.2 operating system, which means that it also comes with an existing library of a whooping 100,000 apps. It’s sleek and sturdy with its 7.5 by 4.7 by 0.5 dimension. It’s much lighter than the iPad (13 ounces vs. 1.5 pounds). The glass front is a 7-inch multitouch. Its touch response is immediate and reliable. And the whole thing is said to be superfast and a delight to use.

On top of those, the Galaxy also sports a front- and rear- facing cameras with a flash, video, exposure controls, and special effects. This tablet can also play Flash videos online. (Take that, iPad!)

But Galaxy’s biggest drawback would probably its price. It sells for $600. With that money, you can already buy two netbooks, or four Kindles. Or perhaps, a 16gb iPad, with a larger screen, aluminum body, and better battery life. You can also get it for $400 if you’re willing to sign a two-year contract for a cellular service.

The Samsung Galaxy Tab presents itself as a potent alternative with its incredible speed and highly refined hardware. It just sucks that the Galaxy costs more than what it’s supposed to replace.

Source: NY Times

Samsung Galaxy Tab. The Samsung Galaxy Tab is considered as iPad’s emerging top rival. It’s only at 7 inches (versus the 9.7 inch iPad) and it’s also lighter. It comes with Android 2.2, Flash 10.1, 16 gb or 32 gb of memory, GPS, a gyroscope, an accelerometer, and a 3.2-megapixel camera, with autofocus and flash. The Galaxy Tab can only be bought through a carrier. And yes, that also means that there’s a phone in the Galaxy Tab.

Toshiba Folio. Like the iPad, the Toshiba Folio doesn’t have to be bought through a carrier. You have the option for Wi-Fi only or Wi-Fi and 3G. It has a 10.1 screen, an Nvidia Tegra processor, stereo speakers, a 3.1-megapixel webcam, two USB ports, an SD card slot, an HDMI connector, Bluetooth, and 16 gb of memory. It also comes with Android 2.2 and Flash 10.1.

The Streak. Dell’s 5-inch Streak is more of a phone than a tablet. Compared to most of the new tablet, the Streak only comes with Android 1.6. If anything, it shows that Dell is being aggressive in getting out this kind of product early in this category.

The Blackpad. The Blackpad from Research in Motion is reportedly being made as a companion to the BlackBerry. But, at this point, nothing much is known about this product; everything about it is still a rumor.

HP Slate. The company Hewlett-Packard has been making PC tablets for years. HP Slate runs on Windows 7. But the reaction of the market to iPad’s release demonstrated the demand for a light-weight, non-Windows tablet.

Source: CNN

There’s a psychic element to it. Google Instant shows the user’s typed text in black, while the “prediction” text appears in gray. The search box also now instantly moves to the top of the search page as the results appear below. And as more keywords are typed, the results below the search box constantly change as well.

Google notes that people type slowly, typically about 300 milliseconds between keystroke, but read quickly, about 30 milliseconds. With Google Instant, users can save about 2-5 seconds on a typical search.

The update will be available on Google’s Chrome 5 and 6, Firefox 3, Safari 5 for Mac, and Internet Explorer 8.

Like the rest of Google’s new features, users have the choice to keep or turn off Google Instant. A button next to the search box offers that option.

More than a decade after this search engine was launched, Google is determined to stay at the forefront of innovation. The company has already made 500 changes to its search engine so far in 2010.

Source: CNN Money

Hurd resigned from HP last August 6 after being accused of filling inaccurate expense reports to Jodie Fisher – a marketing contractor who worked for Hurd’s office from 2007 to 2009. Fisher also accused Hurd of sexual harassment, though HP found no harassment had occurred.

Hurd’s separation agreement from HP didn’t include a non-compete provision, but involves a two-year confidentiality pact. HP argues that Hurd cannot perform his daily duties at Oracle without spilling HP’s trade secrets and confidential information.

At Oracle, Hurd will oversee sales, marketing, and support. And given his expertise in IT hardware and integrating large acquisitions, Wall Street analysts agree that Oracle will be at a clear advantage against rival HP.

Oracle shares soared 5.87% at $24.27 last Tuesday, as investors celebrated Hurd’s new post; while, HP shares closed 1.04% lower at $39.92 on the New York Stock Exchange.

Interestingly, Oracle is HP’s major partner and rival. Oracle competes with HP in the server market, after Oracle’s $5.6 billion purchase of Sun Microsystems, which closed earlier this year.

Oracle execs assert that this “vindictive” lawsuit is an act of utter disregard for their partnership, their joint customers, and HP’s own shareholders and employees.

Source: Reuters

So how will this new tool know which e-mails should be in the priority list?

Gmail automatically determines whether an e-mail is important based on the user’s behavior. If you have opened or replied to similar emails in the past, then most probably, that e-mail will marked important. Users can also use the new “+” and “-“ buttons to set priorities.

Google has been slow in bringing in new corporate customers for their business application suite. The ‘Priority Inbox,’ together with its new contacts feature and phone call application, is meant to address the things that Gmail’s competitors lack.

What should worry Google is the strong series of updates for Microsoft’s Office suite, including the company’s email client Outlook 2010. The new Outlook is now equipped with features that once helped Gmail take lead – that includes linked conversations, quick search, instant messaging, and option to ignore entire conversations with a click of a button.

And, interestingly, while most companies want users to spend more time with their products, the new feature lessens the amount of time users spend in Gmail by 13% – also risking the money Google makes from the ads found in the Gmail screen.

Source: CNN Money