Google appears to be building its very own Android tablet, one designed to compete at the high end of slate spectrum.

Samsung appears to be using all the media attention generated by Apple's attempt to ban sales of its tablet in order to push the Galaxy Tab. A Samsung ad in the Sydney Morning Herald this week boasts that the Galaxy Tab is "the tablet Apple tried to stop."

Breaking a tradition of sales figure secrecy, Amazon announced that it has sold more than 1 million Kindles per week over the last three weeks.

Adults are spending more time with their mobile devices than they're spending with print media, according to a report released Monday by eMarketer.

With ultrabooks, tablets, and smartphones topping many holiday wish lists, it seems safe to say that mobile computing and devices will continue to be a driving trend next year. With that in mind, let's take a look at some factors to keep an eye on when it comes to mobile and wireless technology in the coming year.

If you can't wait for

Microsoft in August said Windows 8 would be the most significant reimagining of its trademark operating system since Windows 95. But all those changes may not be for the better, at least based on what we know so far. There are some interesting innovations headed your way such as a new touch-centric interface, a version for ARM-based processors, and deep SkyDrive integration.

The Toshiba Thrive 7" Tablet is the latest in a recent deluge of 7-inch contenders. Its biggest distinguishing factors are its crisp, high-resolution 1280-by-800-pixel display and its strong complement of ports. But disappointments lurk as well--the tablet's disappointing audio performance foremost among them.

What will tablets look like in the coming year? Tablets are out of their infancy and moving into adolescence--which means that we can expect big changes ahead as tablets' design and components improve.

For a long time, you didn’t have much choice if you were in the market for a tablet--Apple’s iPad was the only good option. But that’s starting to change: Though the iPad 2 remains the top slate overall, the best choice for you may well be one that runs Google’s Android operating system.

The consensus of most reviewers of the Kindle Fire is that it's useful as a media consumption device, but not as an erstwhile laptop replacement like the iPad. While that may be the case, the Kindle Fire is cheaper than its Apple counterpart, and it still supports a wide range of productivity apps--especially when you take into account that you can sideload any Android application that you want.

Apps are the heart and soul of the Android tablet experience - but for new tablet owners, it isn't always easy to figure out where to begin. While Google's Android Market offers a small section of "featured" tablet apps, it doesn't provide a comprehensive list of programs that are optimized for the larger screen.

A few years ago businesspeople carried a laptop on the road, used a desktop PC in the office, and worked on another PC at home. Maybe they had a BlackBerry, too--but only if they were real big shots.

The buzzword is "reimagine" here at Microsoft BUILD conference where Windows 8 is being shown for the first time in detail to developers and the media. Reimagine refers to the operating system's radical new look, new support for tablets, revamped Start Screen, and integration of a new class of "metro-style" applications. --

Sony has finally revealed all on its Android-based Tablet S, announcing the slate - with a 9.4-inch display - will ship in late September with a starting price of $US500 for a 16GB model and $US600 for the 32GB unit. . You'd be wrong to think Sony's Tablet S is a run-of-the-mill iPad lookalike tablet to ignore. Sony's Tablet S shows the consumer electronics giant has not lost its design mojo over the years, and with this first tablet offering Sony infuses originality and flare into a tablet market that desperately needs it. Pre-sale of the Tablet S begins today.

Whether you're an executive, a traveling sales rep, a student, or a soccer parent, a slate full of smart apps can help you manage the ever-changing demands of your daily life. It doesn't really matter whether you use an iPad or one of the new Android tablets; both platforms offer a wealth of options for staying on top of things. And in any case, it's not about having the most apps--it's about having the right apps for you.