Skip to main content

Google shows early Android 3.0 (Honeycomb) tablet

android-3-0-honeycomb-tablet
Image used with permission by copyright holder

In the last 24 hours, we’ve had a flurry of Android smartphone news. Android 2.3 (Gingerbread) details have been released; Google announced the Nexus S phone; the Google eBookstore has launched; and we learned that a new version of Google Maps with 3D buildings is coming out. Well, here’s one more. Video of Android chief Andy Rubin’s Google Maps demonstration at the All Things D Conference has hit the web, and brought some extra details. Rubin showed off the new Maps features on an unannounced upcoming tablet from Motorola running an early version of Android 3.0 (Honeycomb), a 2011 version of Android that will officially support tablets.

The hosts you’ll see in the video below are Walt Mossberg and Kara Swisher of D: All Things Digital. CNET does a good job summarizing the majority of the rest of Rubin’s interview where he is grilled on the failure of the Nexus One and the fragmentation between Android experiences on different handset manufacturers, and how much control carriers have over Android.

During the interview, Rubin shows off the new Google Maps and some other new features of Android 3.0. The biggest change is that the tablet doesn’t have a single button on the front of it–even the iPad has one button. Rubin explains this by showing how the device can be picked up and used from any orientation, meaning that it has no real bottom or top. (However, he doesn’t mention that the front-facing camera is only in one place.) He also shows off a tablet version of Gmail and some new desktop widgets. The device’s homescreen looks almost Windows-like in some ways.

TechCrunch estimates that the Motorola tablet shown is about 9 inches, larger than the Samsung Galaxy Tab, but slightly smaller than an iPad. It has no price point or release date, but Rubin does comment on the price of the pre-production unit he’s holding: about $10,000.

Jeffrey Van Camp
Former Digital Trends Contributor
As DT's Deputy Editor, Jeff helps oversee editorial operations at Digital Trends. Previously, he ran the site's…
Power up your tech game this summer with Dell’s top deals: Upgrade for a bargain
Dell Techfest and best tech on sale featured.

One of the best times to upgrade your tech stack, be it your desktop, a new laptop, or some high-resolution monitors, is when great deals are to be had. Well, I'm here to share that thanks to Dell's top deals, you can power up your tech game and have most of the summer to make it happen. Maybe you're happy with your current system or setup. That's excellent, but you're likely considering upgrading somewhere, and that's precisely what these deals are all about. Dell has a smorgasbord of deals on laptops, desktops, gaming desktops, monitors, accessories, and so much more. We'll call out a few of our favorite deals below, but for now, know that you should be shopping this sale if you're interested in anything tech-related.

 
What summer tech should you buy in Dell's top deals?

Read more
I love the MacBook Pro, but this Windows laptop came surprisingly close
Apple MacBook Pro 16 downward view showing keyboard and speaker.

There are some great machines in the 15-inch laptop category, which has recently been stretched to include the more common 16-inch laptop. The best among them is the Apple MacBook Pro 16, which offers fast performance for tasks like video editing and the longest battery life.

The Lenovo Yoga Pro 9i 16 is aimed not only at other 16-inch Windows laptops but also at the MacBook Pro 16. It offers many of the same benefits but at a lower price. Can it take a place at the top?
Specs and configurations

Read more
How to set an ‘Out of Office’ message in Microsoft Teams
Person using Windows 11 laptop on their lap by the window.

Many people use Microsoft Teams regularly to communicate with colleagues both inside of the office and remotely. It is considered one of the most efficient ways to ensure you can stay in contact with the people on your team, but what if you need to let people know you’re not readily available? Microsoft Teams has a method for you to set up an "Out of Office" status for your profile to let staff members know when you’ll be gone for the afternoon, for several days on vacation, or for an extended period.
Where do I go to set up my ‘Out of Office’ status for Teams?
It is important to note that your Microsoft Teams and Outlook calendars are synced. This includes your out-of-office status and automatic replies. So, whatever you set up in Microsoft Teams will reflect in Outlook. Similarly, you can set up your out-of-office status in Outlook, and it will be reflected in Teams; however, the former has a more straightforward instruction.

First, you can click on your profile icon in Teams and go directly to Schedule an out of office, as a shortcut. This will take you to the settings area where you can proceed. You can also click the three-dot icon next to your profile icon, then go to Settings > General, then scroll down to the bottom of the page. There, you'll find out-of-office settings and click Schedule.

Read more