GADGET UPDATE: powered by Stuff: Amazon, Samsung, LG and more

Amazon lifts the lid on the Kindle Fire

The speculation is over, the Kindle Fire has been confirmed and we're suitably impressed. As speculated, the Fire is a 7-incher, powered by a dual-core processor, complete with a clumsy-proof IPS gorilla glass display, with 16 million colours.

It's running Android 2.1 – rubbish, we know – but before you get all cynical on us, this isn't Android as we know it. Amazon has put its stamp all over this thing to the point where you won't even recognise Android's familiar face under all that Amazon make-up. For example, the Android Market has been eschewed in favour of an Amazon-centric experience built around Amazon Cloud Player and Cloud Drive. It sports a Cover Flow-style interface, complete with a virtual shelf view for your most read and watched content. You'll also be able to browse full colour magazines.  Read more...

Samsung launches Omnia W

We've been hearing more and more about our old friend Windows lately – from our preview of Windows 8 to rumours of modular Windows Phone handsets in the pipeline from Microsoft. And now we've got some hardware to run the latest mobile OS, Windows Phone Mango. Samsung announced that the leaner, meaner Omnia W will replace the WP7 Omnia 7 when it launches in Italy next month – and hopefully over here soon after.  Read more...

LG Optimus EX steps into the smartphone arena

LG has just announced its latest Android 2.3 Gingerbread smartphone, carrying a whole host of high-end features. Inside, NVIDIA's revamped 1.2GHz Tegra 2 dual-core processor will ensure everything chugs along nicely, and coupled with 1GB of RAM, 8GB of on-board storage we're faced with a pretty powerful smartphone.

The star of the show is its ultra-bright 4in 800 x 480 pixel display, with 700 nits of brightness. So, like the Optimus Black, not only is its screen so sharp it might just poke your eyes out, it can be used in direct sunlight without irritating glare and is a 40 percent improvement over Samsung’s Super AMOLED effort.  Read more...

Toshiba Thrive 7in tablet surfaces

Toshiba has proved it won’t be left behind in the tablet race as it unveiled the AT200 at IFA, claiming the crown for world’s thinnest tablet at just 7.7mm deep. But until that arrives – and to keep us from getting bored of the original 10in Thrive, or AT100 as it’s called in the UK – Toshiba has unveiled the 7in Thrive.  Read more...

Huawei outs Gingerbread flavoured Honor

The big hitters keep packing smartphones with new features – which we love until our phone croaks after seven or eight hours of watching YouTube vids over Wi-Fi or playing with the latest flying-based 69p game. We salute Huawei then, for launching a mid-range Android handset, powered by a 1.4Ghz processor, packing 512MB of RAM and running Gingerbread 2.3.5 but also capable of lasting three whole days on a single charge.Three whole days – we kid you not. 
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Firefox 7 promises faster performance

Just six weeks after Firefox 6's official outing, Firefox 7 has stolen its limelight, confirming Mozilla's rapid release schedule to upgrade its popular browser every six weeks. Once downloaded, you can look forward to much faster performance, a lower likelihood of crashing and thanks to a project called MemShrink – which reduces the browser's impact on your machine – better memory management. According to Mozilla, this reduces memory use by 20 to 50 percent.  Read more...

Motorola Xoom 2 leaked

We’ve already heard Motorola is bringing out a sequel to the Xoom, and now ThisIsMyNext has got hold of more details of the Xoom 2, while Engadget has pics of it and its smaller sized brethren in the wild. What we know is the 10.1in Xoom 2 LTE will sport a 1.2 GHz dual-processor, be capable of shooting 1080p video, feature 1GB “faster” RAM and will do it all in the confines of a 9mm thick body (compared to the iPad 2’s 8.8mm that’s not too shabby).  Read more...

Wacom refreshes Bamboo Pen & Touch Tablets and adds wireless

Wacom has updated its entry level Bamboo tablet offerings. Now with classier styling and optional wireless capability, the pen and touch tablets come in three slightly different flavours. All three offer Wacom's batteryless pen with 1,024 levels of pressure sensitivity, and the included Bamboo dock software allows users to add a variety of pen-specific apps and games.

Top of the bunch is the Bamboo Fun Pen & Touch £90 (small) or £170 (medium) which sports four Express (shortcut) Keys and multitouch control, and is bundled with Adobe Photoshop Elements 9 and Corel Painter Essentials 4. Then there's the almost identical Bamboo Pen & Touch (not so fun, presumably) which comes in small with Photoshop Elements 8 for £75. Wireless is extra – the £35 accessory pack comes with a battery to slot into the tablet and a USB dongle for Mac or Windows.
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