LG jumps on tablet bandwagon

LG plans to release its own tablet PC on the Android mobile operating system (OS), says ITWorld.

LG recently showed off its UX10 tablet prototype, featuring a 10.1-inch touchscreen, Atom Z530 processor and 1GB of RAM. Unlike the iPad, the prototype features an SD memory card slot, HDMI output, and runs Windows 7 Home Premium.

Its latest tablet machine is slated to run Android 2.2, with the projection to be available by the end of 2010.

The UK government has spent tens of thousands of pounds on the development of iPhone applications, reports The BBC.

A Freedom of Information request has revealed that development costs ranged between £10 000 to £40 000.

Mark Wallace, campaign director for the Tax Payers' Alliance, says he found the situation ironic: "It seems many government bodies have given in to the temptation to spend money on fashionable gimmicks at a time when they are meant to be cutting back on self-indulgent wastes of money.”

Samsung has signed an agreement with Skyhook Wireless to access its location-based services technology on the Samsung Wave smartphone, writes eWeek.

The technology synthesises data from Skyhook's WiFi positioning system, GPS satellites and cell towers with hybrid positioning algorithms.

Samsung is the second mobile handset manufacturer to partner Skyhook, with Motorola deploying the platform across its Google Android-based devices.

Transport for London (TFL) has temporarily suspended its London Underground Departure Board data feed due to the overwhelming demand by application developers, states Computing.co.uk.

According to TFL, the feed has received 10 million hits since it went live a fortnight ago. “We are really encouraged that the feed to our Tube departure information is so popular and TFL is doing everything to restore it as soon as possible, but this may take some time,” says Steve Townsend, director of information management for London Underground.

The feed was made available in June, providing information about London's tube, bus and river services available for public use.