Facebook’s mobile app is getting a minor but noticeable upgrade – images in mobile users’ news feeds will appear larger starting this week.

The update will hit the mobile website first and then roll out to the official iOS and Android Facebook apps afterward.

Right now, the upgrade is currently announced for mobile Facebook users only.

However, Facebook releases updates for its site frequently, so it won’t be a surprise if larger images show up on the full-sized desktop version soon.

Improvements for an IPO

Facebook goes public today, and CEO Mark Zuckerberg told investors last week in a pre-IPO talk that the mobile world is Facebook’s top priority.

Facebook wants to raise about $10.6 billion in its first public push, and to help drum up support Zuckerberg has been making public appearances and speaking with investors.

He said last week that the company is “just getting started” with its mobile business, so it seems that larger images aren’t going to be the only update in the coming months.

Mobile apps are getting bigger

The update to the Facebook’s mobile app appears to mimic a recent update made to the iOS app for Google’s own social network, Google+.

The update was released on May 9, and it brought a number of changes to Google’s social app, including larger images as well as a more easy-to-use interface.

A Google spokesperson told TechRadar that the Android version of the update was “just around the corner,” saying, “Our overall goal is to create a consistent, beautiful and simple experience for all mobile Google+ users.”

Facebook and Google’s push for larger images in their mobile apps could be indicative of the direction the social and tech giants feel the mobile industry is headed: toward screens larger than the smartphones that fit in your pocket.

Tablets and hybrid tablet/laptop devices with could indeed be the future, and rumors today even suggest that at least a dozen Windows 8 tablets could hit shelves by November.

Best tablets: Overview

What’s the best tablet? Today’s latest tablets compared and rated – constantly updated

Tablets are taking the world by storm. Just a few years ago they were an unknown for many people, but nowadays you’ve got more choice than you can shake a mildly agitated badger at.

And with choice comes decisions – difficult decisions. Luckily we’ve made it easy for you and pulled together the top 10 tablets of the moment available in the UK. We’ll keep this listing constantly updated as new players enter the market and the older ones fizzle out.

For those of you who are still new to whole tablet game, let us fill you in on what one is:

In general terms, today’s tablet computers sport touchscreens ranging in size from 7- up to 13-inches. These dimensions are by no means static, and boundaries can be blurred as smartphones get larger displays, a la the 5-inch Samsung Galaxy Note.

Physical keyboards are also a rarity, but there are the exceptions such as the Asus Transformer Prime, which comes with a keyboard dock for the tablet.

As with today’s best smartphones, applications play a big role on tablets – you can get your fill of Temple Run, update your friends on Facebook and read the latest news, all on a bigger screen.

So without further ado, here’s our 10 best tablets currently around, enjoy.

If none of the top 10 tablets take your fancy then head on over to our tablet reviews pages, where you’ll find in-depth reviews for many more models.

Let us know your thoughts on the top 10 and whether you think we’ve got the order wrong, in the comment box below.

Number 10: Motorola Xoom

10. Motorola Xoom

The Motorola Xoom was the first Android 3.0 (Honeycomb) tablet to hit the market. That made it the first Android tablet to ship with an OS designed especially for big screens, and that’s why it’s in the top 10.

It may be the most elderly tablet in the top 10, but the Xoom can still pack a punch. It has a 10.1-inch display, 1GHz dual-core Tegra 2 processor, 1GB RAM, 32GB internal storage, microSD card, 5MP rear camera, 2MP front camera, 4G support and a 10 hour battery life.

The Xoom has highly priced went it first arrived, at £499 (Wi-Fi) and £599 (Wi-Fi & 3G), but it can now be picked up for just a shade over £300.

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Quick verdict

The Xoom may not have the zing of tablets higher up the list, but overall it’s a joy to use – fast and nimble, able to handle high-res media files and long-lasting. Just beware of its slightly lack-lustre successor, the Xoom 2.

• Motorola Xoom review

Number 9: Toshiba AT200

9. Toshiba AT200

It’s the world’s thinnest 10-inch tablet, so it’d be rude not to include the Toshiba AT200 in our top 10 best tablets.

The AT200 clocks in at a super slender 7.7mm thin, which means you can slide it into your bag without issue and at 535g, you probably won’t notice it’s in there.

You get a 10.1-inch 1280 x 800 TFT display, 1.2GHz dual-core processor, 1GB of RAM, 5MP rear camera, 2MP front camera and a decent array of ports including micro SD, USB and HDMI.

Toshiba has also dropped the price of the AT200 just a few months after launch to keep it competitive in the market, but it’s exclusively at Carphone Warehouse in the UK for the time being.

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Quick verdict

The Toshiba AT200 is a good, solid and portable device, delivering everything you’d expect from an unfussy Android slate. If you’re looking for a standard tablet experience, the AT200 is certainly worth a look.

• Toshiba AT200 review

Number 8: Sony Tablet S

8. Sony Tablet S

Sony was a late arrival to the tablet party, taking almost two years to field its first attempt in the form of the Tablet S.

The Tablet S takes a unique design angle, styled to resemble a folded over paperback book, which makes it stand out in the sea of rectangular slates we see today.

Sony has also tweaked the Android 3.1 operating system, making it very easy to use, plus there’s a host of exclusive content including various PlayStation titles which you won’t get on other Android tabs.

With the 16GB version available at £299 it’s a tempting option for anyone who wants a quality tablet, although the lack of 3G support is slightly disappointing, as it limits your internet activity to Wi-Fi hotspots.

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Quick verdict

We loved the Sony Tablet S and its wedge-shaped design, which really makes this stand out from the crowd. The responsive touch screen and unique shape combine to make this tablet extremely usable, and a joy to type on.

• Sony Tablet S review

Number 7: Apple iPad 2

7. Apple iPad 2

For a whole year the iPad 2 reigned supreme, usurping the original iPad and setting the standard for all other tablets to aspire to.

However, as the Apple product cycle goes, one year later and the new kid on the block, cleverly named the new iPad, has stolen its thunder.

It’s not all bad news though. The iPad 2 still offers a top tablet experience with access to the huge app store and iTunes libraries, and while the screen is not the Retina Display of its successor, it’s gosh darn good.

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Quick verdict

No longer number one, the iPad 2 is still an excellent tablet and at its reduced price is perfect for anyone longing for a bit of iPad action, but unable to stretch their budget to the new iPad. Shame it’s only officially available in 16GB now.

• iPad 2 review

Number 6: Asus Eee Pad Transformer TF101

6. Asus Eee Pad Transformer TF101

The Eee Pad Transformer TF101 came in and turned the tablet market upside down as Asus gave us this tablet-come-netbook concoction.

The tablet itself is a perfectly capable device, sporting Nvidia’s dual-core Tegra 2 processor, a 10.1-inch display, 5MP rear camera, 1.3MP front camera, microSD slot and a choice of memory (16GB or 32GB) and colours.

Add to that the keyboard dock which transforms (see what they’ve done with the name?) the tablet into a netbook and suddenly the boundaries between tablets and computers becomes even more blurred.

There is now the more powerful Transformer Prime (look out for that a bit later), but with the extra power comes a higher price, so the TF101 is a great economical option.

Quick verdict

The Asus Eee Pad Transformer TF101 is an excellent tablet. It’s an all-round performance expert with very few weaknesses – but slightly starting to creak with age now, so make sure you get it for a good price.

• Asus Eee Pad Transformer TF101 review

Number 5

5. Asus Eee Pad Slider

Carrying on from where the Transformer TF101 left off, the Eee Pad Slider takes a design note from the ill-fated Nokia N97 with a slide out keyboard.

It’s another interesting twist on the tablet market by the ever innovative Taiwanese firm and the Eee Pad Slider packs a great screen and excellent performance into its admittedly slightly heavy and chunky frame.

The screen is displayed at the perfect viewing angle when you slide the keyboard out, which itself is well spaced, and Asus has included some useful apps too.

The Eee Pad Slide hasn’t dropped in price yet, but with Asus currently releasing more tablets, expect the cost to, *ahem*, slide in the near future.

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Quick verdict

The Eee Pad Slider isn’t going after the same market as the iPad 2 or Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1, but as an alternative to a small laptop it’s compact, light and fast and puts many Windows 7 devices to shame.

• Asus Eee Pad Slider review

Number 4

4. Samsung Galaxy Tab 8.9

If you find these 10-inch tablets just too big, then the Galaxy Tab 8.9 could be right up your street.

Based on its bigger brother the Galaxy Tab 10.1, the Tab 8.9 provides another excellent Android tablet experience, with a lighter body, but of course a sacrifice in screen size.

The smaller and lighter Galaxy Tab 8.9 is great for reading books, checking emails and browsing the web, and as it trumps the 7-inch BlackBerry PlayBook and Acer Iconia Tab A100, it’s able to deliver reasonable movie playback too.

The relatively high price compared to other small screened Android tablets may put some people off, but if the smaller screen appeals keep an eye out for the Amazon Kindle Fire 2, which will sport a budget price tag.

Quick verdict

The Samsung Galaxy Tab 8.9 is great for those who want an e-reader with extra media functions, or for those who are more weight than screen size conscious.

• Samsung Galaxy Tab 8.9 review

Number 3

3. Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1

The Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1 strode into the tablet arena in the summer of last year and has become a tough act to follow for other Android tabs.

Samsung made it clear who it was competing with the Galaxy Tab 10.1, price-matching the tablet with the iPad 2, which was launched a few months prior to it.

You do get bang for your buck, with the Galaxy Tab 10.1 offering up a quality 10.1-inch (1280 x 800) display, 1GHz dual-core Tegra 2 processor, 1GB RAM, 3.15MP rear camera with 720p video recording, 2MP front camera and the choice of 16GB, 32GB or 64GB of internal storage.

It’s smaller, thinner and lighter than the new iPad, and with a screen which matches the iPad 2 the Galaxy Tab 10.1 provides a real alternative in an Apple-dominated tablet market.

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Quick verdict

The Galaxy Tab 10.1 is one of the best Android tablets around, but Samsung’s highly competitive pricing is yet to drop. Competitors have reduced their asking prices, but if it’s quality you want you’ll have to pay for it.

• Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1 review

Number 2

2. Asus Transformer Prime

Asus wowed us when it launched its Eee Pad Transformer TF101 and with the Transformer Prime it has managed to go one better.

The Transformer Prime packs a mighty 1.3GHz quad-core processor into a super-slim 8.6mm chassis and although it shipped with Android 3.2, the Prime was the first Android tab to receive the upgrade to Ice Cream Sandwich.

That huge processor means using the Transformer Prime is a breeze, with it able to process full HD movies and multiple apps with ease.

You also get a super-crisp 10.1-inch IPS display (1280 x800), a surprisingly good 8MP camera capable of recording 1080p video and 32GB of internal storage, with a microSD card slot available if you need more space.

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Quick verdict

It’s a close run battle for the top Android tablet accolade, but the Transformer Prime just pips the Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1 with its super fast Tegra 3 quad-core processor, slender style and additional keyboard dock.

• Asus Transformer Prime review

Number 1

1. New iPad

We’re not a fan of the name, but we reckon the new iPad (or iPad 3 as most people refer to it as) is the best tablet out there.

The stunning Retina Display is certainly the highlight of Apple’s latest tab and you won’t see a better tablet screen on the market today.

It may be slightly bigger and heavier than the iPad 2, but with a bigger battery, beefed up processor and THAT screen you can hardly blame Apple for this – plus it still keeps the famous iPad styling which has become something of a cult classic.

The price tag is eye-watering however, and the lack of widgets and customisation will put some people off – but there are plenty of Android tablets which can satisfy your need for tweaking.

The Android experience cannot compete when it comes to dedicated apps, with the App Store rising head and shoulders above the competition, offering reams of quality applications made especially for the iPad.

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Quick verdict

Dodgy name aside, the new iPad is the cr

It’s nearly time for WWDC 2012, Apple’s sold-out World Wide Developers Conference, and that means the Apple rumour factory is in full flow.

There’s a difference between a wish list and rock-solid predictions, however, and the internet has more of the former than the latter. So what can we really expect from this year’s WWDC?

OS X Mountain Lion at WWDC

We know about this already: Gatekeeper security, iCloud integration, the new notification and game centres, AirPlay mirroring… OS X Mountain Lion is looking pretty tasty, and it’ll be in near-final form at WWDC.

A launch date announcement is almost certain and a public beta a distinct possibility, but our favourite rumour is that Mountain Lion will be a free upgrade. That’s not as far fetched as it sounds: Apple is giving free copies of Snow Leopard to MobileMe users who haven’t switched to iCloud, and of course iOS upgrades are already free.

WWDC unveiling of iOS 6

This one’s a given: Apple’s on a yearly release schedule for iOS, and the whole thing will be signed off and ready for the expected iPhone 5 launch in October. There are all kinds of tantalising possibilities: more Siri, both in terms of device support and software integration; NFC; some kind of dual-app multitasking for iPads so you can look at two things at once; Apple’s long-rumoured mapping API; and perhaps an improved notifications area with support for more widgets and the ability to access commonly-used features such as Airplane Mode. Can we make our annual request for multiple user accounts on the iPad, please? Thanks.

WWDC hardware announcements

WWDC is primarily a software event, but that doesn’t mean we won’t see new kit: Apple has unveiled important products there in the past such as the iPhone 4 and the 2009 MacBook Pro. There are four key hardware rumours this year: the new iPhone, Retina MacBook Pros, Apple TV and the iPad Mini.

The new iPhone, aka the iPhone 5, at WWDC

It’s coming, we know, but the D in WWDC stands for Developers, not “Dude, it’s the new iPhone!” Unless the incoming iPhone 5 is significantly different from a developer’s perspective — that is, if it has a completely different aspect ratio or other significant hardware change, or if it runs Android — then we don’t think the new iPhone’s going to make an appearance. Others, however, beg to differ.

WWDC unveiling of Retina MacBook Pros

They’re coming, we know, but the big question is when: while OS X already contains a HiDPI mode for retina-style displays, they’re still very challenging bits of hardware to make. The MacBook Pro is certainly due a refresh, but a retina refresh might be pushing it for 2012.

A new Apple TV at WWDC

We’re not feeling this one. Apple TV is still officially a hobby, and while it runs a variant of iOS Apple hasn’t opened it up to developers yet. That may well change at WWDC, but we a significant Apple TV announcement is a long shot.

The iPad Mini at WWDC

It exists, and it’s rumoured for a 2012 release, so why not unveil it at WWDC? Assuming that a 7.85-inch iPad Mini has been given the green light, a June unveiling would generate enormous excitement, annoying Amazon, Android manufacturers and Windows 8 OEMs simultaneously without overshadowing the Autumn launch of the iPhone 5. If Apple’s going to embrace the entire tablet market as it did the digital music market with its various iPods, then the iPad Mini is inevitable.

It’s nearly time for WWDC 2012, Apple’s sold-out World Wide Developers Conference, and that means the Apple rumour factory is in full flow.

There’s a difference between a wish list and rock-solid predictions, however, and the internet has more of the former than the latter. So what can we really expect from this year’s WWDC?

OS X Mountain Lion at WWDC

We know about this already: Gatekeeper security, iCloud integration, the new notification and game centres, AirPlay mirroring… OS X Mountain Lion is looking pretty tasty, and it’ll be in near-final form at WWDC.

A launch date announcement is almost certain and a public beta a distinct possibility, but our favourite rumour is that Mountain Lion will be a free upgrade. That’s not as far fetched as it sounds: Apple is giving free copies of Snow Leopard to MobileMe users who haven’t switched to iCloud, and of course iOS upgrades are already free.

WWDC unveiling of iOS 6

This one’s a given: Apple’s on a yearly release schedule for iOS, and the whole thing will be signed off and ready for the expected iPhone 5 launch in October. There are all kinds of tantalising possibilities: more Siri, both in terms of device support and software integration; NFC; some kind of dual-app multitasking for iPads so you can look at two things at once; Apple’s long-rumoured mapping API; and perhaps an improved notifications area with support for more widgets and the ability to access commonly-used features such as Airplane Mode. Can we make our annual request for multiple user accounts on the iPad, please? Thanks.

WWDC hardware announcements

WWDC is primarily a software event, but that doesn’t mean we won’t see new kit: Apple has unveiled important products there in the past such as the iPhone 4 and the 2009 MacBook Pro. There are four key hardware rumours this year: the new iPhone, Retina MacBook Pros, Apple TV and the iPad Mini.

The new iPhone, aka the iPhone 5, at WWDC

It’s coming, we know, but the D in WWDC stands for Developers, not “Dude, it’s the new iPhone!” Unless the incoming iPhone 5 is significantly different from a developer’s perspective — that is, if it has a completely different aspect ratio or other significant hardware change, or if it runs Android — then we don’t think the new iPhone’s going to make an appearance. Others, however, beg to differ.

WWDC unveiling of Retina MacBook Pros

They’re coming, we know, but the big question is when: while OS X already contains a HiDPI mode for retina-style displays, they’re still very challenging bits of hardware to make. The MacBook Pro is certainly due a refresh, but a retina refresh might be pushing it for 2012.

A new Apple TV at WWDC

We’re not feeling this one. Apple TV is still officially a hobby, and while it runs a variant of iOS Apple hasn’t opened it up to developers yet. That may well change at WWDC, but we a significant Apple TV announcement is a long shot.

The iPad Mini at WWDC

It exists, and it’s rumoured for a 2012 release, so why not unveil it at WWDC? Assuming that a 7.85-inch iPad Mini has been given the green light, a June unveiling would generate enormous excitement, annoying Amazon, Android manufacturers and Windows 8 OEMs simultaneously without overshadowing the Autumn launch of the iPhone 5. If Apple’s going to embrace the entire tablet market as it did the digital music market with its various iPods, then the iPad Mini is inevitable.

Firefox-maker Mozilla has slammed Apple, telling TechRadar that the walled-garden approach is both stopping people from being creative and bringing a ‘scary’ culture of censorship.

In extensive interview, former president of Mozilla Europe and current principal evangelist Tristan Nitot and Chris Heilmann the principal evangelist at Mozilla for HTML5 and open web did not pull their punches when it came to the hugely successful Apple.

On top of criticising the company for imposing its own moral judgement on apps and content, the duo also questioned whether Apple devices were stopping people from contributing to their digital worlds.

Shiny and easier

“It’s unfair that people are saying that native apps and native experiences are wonderful,” Heilmann told TechRadar. “When I started with the web I realised the web was a medium where everyone can participate.

“No matter how ugly your website is, you can make something you became a web maker. Now with devices like iPad we all get turned into consumers.

“We came up with the web so we don’t have to install and uninstall applications for every single task and now we are going back to it because it’s shiny and [perceived as] easier.”

Nitot, as you may expect for a company that encourages open standards, is not a fan of locked down ecosystems

“We want people to learn from what they are using and seeing,” he said. “So if you want to participate you can look at the source code and improve on it, learn from mistakes and then publish something on the web for free.

“Now if you want to do the same on the iPad it’s much more complicated.”

Moral compass

While acknowledging that people ultimately can choose to go to a different operating system Nitot believes that it is scary that an unelected body can impose its moral judgements on applications and the content they contain.

“If you want to distribute [an app] you have to agree with Apple and do it the way they want it to be done,” he added

“That goes not only for applications but for content. That gives publishers tough choices, tough decisions.

“On the one side you want the revenue that goes with it because it’s very important – it’s not easy to survive at the moment – but on the other hand you don’t want to be developing for Android, plus iOS, plus any other operating system.

“Then there is the censorship that goes with some stores of course.

“I am a web citizen and when I see that somebody in California can decide what I am allowed to install on a device that I paid for with my own money, that he will impose his own values that are not from my culture and are different from my context it seems very scary to me.”

Mal-Content

Nitot believes Apple’s approach has worrying undertones, highlighting a few examples including the well-known German publication Bild’s plight.

“Bild has this habit of having half-dressed ladies on the cover – you can discuss if it’s good or bad or whatever but they had to start negotiating with Apple because it was not acceptable with the folks in California.

“I’m not saying that it’s good to have half naked ladies on the cover, but where do you draw the line?

“But I mean this is about politics and democracy. If you cannot have a debate or freedom of speech through these devices that put an interface between us and the rest of the world then what kind of society are we building?

“This is why we are so passionate about the web – you can do stuff without having to ask permission from anyone.

“Maybe it is going to be more difficult, but it’s life and it goes from content to applications.”

TechRadar put it to Nitot that Apple’s approach had been successful because of the failings of browsers to simplify simple processes, something that apps addressed by adding order to the chaos of the internet.

“I don’t think it is a natural progression,” he replied. “Maybe the internet or the web is a bit of an accident.

“It is a door that opened and I don’t want to see it closed. We have this tool and we should make sure that we save it because it’s so important.

“Many innovations are done in closed proprietary systems and the nature of life or at least the industry is to have a closed prototype and then an open way of doing the same.

“Remember we had AOL and its closed offering in the early days of the web…”

Vested interest

Clearly Mozilla has a vested interest in pushing its own products and open ideals, despite being a not for profit organisation, but such a public condemnation of Apple shows the level of concern from the company.

With its Boot to Gecko aiming to bring a browser based smartphone-like user interface, the company believes that it can return devices back down a more open road.

Of course, Apple’s more restricted approach has proven popular for a reason – bringing order to the chaos of the internet, but however well received its products are, the dissonance from fans of open ecosystems are unlikely to ever go away.