iTunes shows automatic app syncing in iOS 5

Apple gave a possible clue to an iOS 5 feature with a mention of automatic app syncing in iTunes. A check of the app updates page by Marcelo Alves showed that a device can be enabled for Automatic Download to get both purchased apps and updates directly, without having to link up to iTunes. No feature of the kind exists in iOS 4.3, leading MacRumors to suggest the notice (since pulled) was a clue as to what was in store at WWDC.

"Or if your device has Automatic Download enabled for apps, your updates will download to your device without having to sync," the blurb said.

The feature doesn't equate to over-the-air updates to the firmware itself, which would let users keep iOS devices independent of a computer. It does support Apple moving towards OTA upgrading and would still catch up to some platforms. At least some HTC Android devices can automatically get apps on a new device, for example.

Emerging details point to Apple making cross-device sync a staple feature of not just iOS 5 but devices interacting with it. Multiple rumors persist of Time Capsules with iOS update caching that would keep an update accessible without needing a computer. Storage at the router would have little point if the devices couldn't be updated directly.

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Alcatel OneTouch T60 Android tablet shows at FCC

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Alcatel will soon join the tablet market with an Android-powered device of its own, if a Thursday FCC test is to be trusted. What appears to be a seven-inch device, known as the OneTouch T60, will ship with Android 2.2. It will also connect to North American 850MHz and 1,900MHz networks.

Otherwise, the simple tablet will have Wi-Fi, GPS, a rear three-megapixel camera and a VGA front-facing camera. It gets access to Google Maps as well. A microSD memory card slot and 3.5mm headset jack round out the package.

Despite the listing, ship dates or prices for the device aren't known. The latter will likely place the device at the lower end of the Android tablet offerings, and perhaps at the very bottom.

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Lenovo IdeaPad K1 tablet shows on stores before unveiling

Lenovo's upcoming IdeaPad K1 tablet with Android 3.0 onboard is showing up on retailer sites, including Buy.com. The device hasn't yet officially been dated, and the sites lack a price and a shipping schedule. They also differ on basic specs from earlier reports.

A 1.3GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon is seemingly replaced by NVIDIA's 1GHz Tegra 2 dual core. Other new details that have no other ones to compare to include a 10.1-inch display with 1280x800 resolution, 1GB of RAM and 32GB of storage space. Android 3.0 should be onboard as are a two- and five-megapixel camera, front and rear, respectively. A microSD and a SIM card slot, along with a microHDMI port are accounted for, and a battery life rating of 10 hours.

The only model shown here is black, but China's LePad version is available in white as well. Earlier, pricing was expected to come in at about $520, but this could have been for a 16GB model. An optional keyboard dock is also likely coming at a later date.

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Samsung Galaxy Tab 8.9 shows in Russia with keyboard dock

Samsung's Galaxy Tab 8.9 has been given one last preview ahead of its wider June arrival. A Russian look, including a video (below), has shown the tablet with the full TouchWiz interface we saw at CTIA in March, including the more advanced quick settings pop-up and the live home screen tiles. MForum.ru also saw a new keyboard dock that was optimized just for the 8.9-inch tablet's size.

The early glance was potentially worrying as the tablet, despite its dual-core Tegra 2, appeared to be slowing down with basic video playback. At this late stage, it's unlikely to be beta firmware and could have been a one-off glitch or a symptom of deeper problems.

Samsung is due to ship the Galaxy Tab 8.9 in early June at prices of $469 for a 16GB Wi-Fi model and $569 for a 32GB edition.