If Apple is planning an iPad Mini for 2012, then Motorola has beaten it to the punch with its Xoom 2 Media Edition, a pint-sized little brother to the 10.1in Xoom 2 (read our Xoom 2 hands on review). But how will the 8.2in Xoom 2 Media Edition, ahem, measure up when it’s staring down the likes of Samsung’s is-it-a-phone-is-it-a-tablet Galaxy Note?
Landing squarely in the gap between the just-about-pocketable Galaxy Note and a rash of 9in-plus tablets, the Xoom 2 Media Edition wants to be your minus-size tablet friend. And with similar specs to its big brother, it’s got a good chance of finding its niche. Read more...
New video! iPhone 4S – Siri's best lines
Siri is without a doubt, one of the iPhone 4S' best features. But it certainly isn't as polished as Apple had us believe when announced. But it has reiterated it's still very much in beta territory and will be continuously improved over time. Because of this, Siri says the funniest, baffling and most weirdest things. We've even come to learn Siri has an attitude of its/his/her own. With that in mind, we thought we'd fire our own series of questions at the iPhone 4S' virtual assistant to see what it throws back. The results are pretty interesting, so sit back and enjoy the Siri-shaped show. Click here to watch the video...
iOS 5.0.1 equips iPad with multitasking gestures and fixes software bugs
The first update for Apple's impressive new iOS mobile platform – iOS 5.0.1 – has just been released in beta to developers, before being rolled out to the masses. It brings with it a number of key features and fixes, including, most notably, the multitasking gestures that arrived with the iPad 2 for the original iPad. So, once it lands, all iPad owners will be equipped with the ability to use four or five finger swipes to pull up the multitasking bar, pinch to return to the Home screen, or swipe left or right to switch between applications. Read more...
Toshiba Portege Z830 ultrabook gets UK release date
The Toshiba Portege Z830 ultrabook is the world’s thinnest laptop at 15.9mm at its thickest point, and can be yours when it’s released this November. You’d be forgiven for thinking that sacrificing size means losing power, but in the case of the 13.1in Z830 you’ll be getting an impressive Intel Sandy Bridge i5 core, a jaw-dropping 6GB of RAM and a 128GB SSD, all at 1.12kg. This could be a contender for next year’s Computer of the Year at the 2012 Stuff Awards – for now check out the Stuff Awards 2011 winners.
Sony Ericsson Xperia Studio launches
We love a bold claim as much as the next guy, so we can't wait to see how Sony Ericsson is going to "remake reality" with its new pet project. A user-generated content portal called Xperia Studio might not be the first tactic you choose for transforming the world as we know it, but that's what Sony Ericsson has plumped for.
The aim of the site is basically to encourage its users to do cool things – from extreme sports to making music out of micro-beats – with an Xperia Arc S, Active or Play and then share a video documenting their hi-jinks. Suggestions on a postcard for Stuff's first upload.iPad 3 to launch March 2012
The iPad 3 is the most eagerly anticipated future gadget according to you. Apple's new iPad 3 won the Most Anticipated Future Gadget award at Stuff Gadget Awards, and hot on the heels of that announcement we’re being told to expect a March 2012 release – with the device in production already. Just in time to compete with the Kindle Fire if it comes across the pond in 2012, as expected.
Digitimes points out that Apple views this as less of an iPad 3 and more of an upgraded iPad 2, an iPad 2S if you like. This will undoubtedly be enough to compete with the lower end Kindle Fire while Apple works on its fabled tablet Retina Display for the iPad 3, expected September 2012.
