Tablet PC 2's Editors Choice Slate Tablet PC

Tablet PC 2's Editors Choice Convertible Tablet PC

TabletPc2.com Review  Hands On With The Lenovo IdeaPad Yoga 13

Twitter : http://twitter.com/LindaAEpstein

The Latest Tablet PC
Comparisons, Reviews, Software & Accessories and Announcements

Our Tablet PC Quick Compare include photos and allows you to quickly and easily compare the differences between individual Tablet PC'S - Updated March, 2013

May 22, 2013

Samsung ultra-high resolution tablet and laptop displays demoed
Expert Reviews

Samsung has announced that it is to release ultra-high resolution panels offering higher-than-ever pixel densities for tablets and laptops - blowing Apple's existing retina-class displays out of the water.

Apple has been leading the way in pixel density - the number of individual dots, or picture elements, that can be crammed into a single area of the screen - for some time: iPad 4 includes what the company terms a 'retina-class' display, where the pixel density is high enough to prevent the human eye from perceiving individual pixels when held at a standard viewing distance. The technology has also been expanded to the company's 13.1in Macbook Pro and 15.4in MacBook Pro models.

Given the high specifications and power-saving features on offer, however, we'd be surprised if there isn't a flood of high-resolution tablets and laptops on the market by the end of the year.

The NFL Says Goodbye to the Polaroid, Hello to Microsoft's Surface Tablet
Businessweek

Soon, NFL players will have a better way to see what happened on the last play than tilting their heads back to check out the scoreboard.

The National Football League today announced a partnership with Microsoft, through which coaches and officials will use Microsoft’s Surface tablets on the sidelines, potentially replacing coaches’ laminated playbooks and Polaroid images used by quarterbacks to figure out what went wrong on that last interception. The partnership also includes plans to use the Surface and next-generation Xbox game console for interactive viewing experiences for fans.

Giving coaches and officials access to tablet computers seems like an obvious step for the league, which, after all, exists in the 21st century.

As NFL technological shifts go, the change ranks up there with radio headsets in quarterbacks’ helmets and video instant replay. “We would make sure that it worked, and if that means changing the rules to account for innovation on the sidelines, we would do that,” Brian Rolapp, the chief operating officer for the NFL’s media arm, says of incorporating the Microsoft products. Rolapp would not give a timeline for when the devices will show up on the sidelines but said the league hoped to have things up and running by this coming season.

MobileDemand, Global Provider of Rugged Tablet PCs, Ranks 7th for Fastest Growing Companies
PR Web

MobileDemand, a global provider of rugged Windows tablet PC systems, is honored to announce that the company has received a 7th place ranking on the annual Corridor Business Journal (CBJ) Fastest Growing Companies list. MobileDemand has consistently ranked high amongst growing companies in the eastern Iowa corridor, with this year’s award marking its fourth time on the list since 2008.

MobileDemand xTablet rugged tablet PC systems enable companies to extend enterprise and business applications to mobile workers to gather, access, analyze and transmit critical information in real time at the point of interaction to make better business decisions. MobileDemand’s innovative rugged tablet PCs deliver high performance at a lower cost and enable greater efficiency and productivity in the field.

MobileDemand was founded in 2003 by Matt Miller with his first customer being a local Anheuser-Busch beer distributor. It has since grown to have customers throughout the world including police forces in the Caribbean, fishing vessels outside the Mediterranean island of Malta and oil fields in Canada, among many other applications.

May 21, 2013

Sony Xperia Z Tablet Confirmed for Global Release – A Slender Stunner
USDailyVoice

Sony has announced that the stunning Xperia Z Tablet is being rolled out globally following an incredibly successful introduction to a few of the world’s key markets. The lightest and thinnest tablet PC in its class according to Sony, the Xperia Z will launch in both 4G LTE and Wi-Fi only variants in order to capitalize on as many corporate and consumer groups as possible.

The Sony Xperia Z is priced pretty much identically to Apple’s iPad 4, with its 16GB and 32GB Wi-Fi variants carrying an RRP of $499 and $599 respectively. The 4G LTE variant comes in a little higher at around the $699 mark.

A glance at the tablet is enough to see that what you’re looking at is something of a carbon-copy of the Xperia Z Smartphone – albeit a decidedly larger one. And the similarities aren’t just cosmetic either, as just like its smaller sibling the Xperia Z Tablet is both dust and water-resistant, which proved to be one of the biggest draws of all the Sony’s flagship Smartphone.

The stunning 10.1-inch display packs 1,920 by 1,200 pixels, while power is delivered courtesy of a quad-core Qualcomm Snapdragon clocked at 1.5GHz. There’s also 2GB of RAM, at least 16GB of closet-space and one of the best 8-megapixel cameras you’ll find on a tablet to date.

Microsoft Surface Pro
Digital Spy

May 20, 2013

Microsoft Surface Plus and Xbox Surface – Picking Up Where the Pro Flopped-Off
USDailyVoice

As far as products go, word on the street is that a pair of new Microsoft Surface Tablets will be introduced at the show, of which one will apparently be the Surface Plus and the other an Xbox Surface built with gaming in mind.

And as the latter of the two caters for a smaller niche, all eyes are firmly on the Surface Plus.

In terms of specs and features, it’s all a case of educated guesswork but that of course hasn’t stopped the plucky masses from having a stab. Based loosely around what Microsoft must deliver this time around in conjunction with one or two leaks, the Surface Plus is expected to land with a 7-inch screen packing 1,400 by 1,500 resolution, 4G LTE connectivity, a full-fat version of Windows 8 (or Windows Blue?) and a quite unstoppably tempting price tag of around the $300 mark.

Samsung Design Makes It Easier to Bring More Tablets to More Bars
Gotta Be Mobile

Remember AT&T Mobility’s old “More Bars In More Places” ads? A Samsung slate design innovation may make it easier for consumers to take more tablets to more bars, or essentially make it easier for consumers to take large 10-inch tablets to more places.

Samsung’s design patent, which may or may not show up in a future Galaxy Tab or Galaxy Note tablet, adds a carrying handle to the tablet that will make it easier and more convenient for users to take their tablets out of the home or office.

May 17, 2013

US Air Force expects to save $50M with use of 18K Apple iPads
Apple Insider

Using lightweight iPads instead of heavy paper flight manuals will amount to $750,000 annual savings on fuel alone, a spokesman for the Air Force's Air Mobility Command said in an interview with James Rogers of The Street. And the AMC will no longer have to print those flight manuals either, which will save a whopping $5 million per year.

The Air Force spent $9.36 million a year ago on 18,000 iPad units for use in the military arm's cargo aircraft. The 32-gigabyte Wi-Fi-only version of Apple's touchscreen tablet was purchased with bulk discount from Apple, at a price of around $520 per unit.

About 16,000 third-generation iPad with Retina display units are now in use by AMC crew, according to Rogers. The remaining 2,000 units are said to have been deployed across other Air Force units.

Archos 80 Xenon Hits the Mark, Fails to Impress
USDailyVoice

Archos is taking no prisoners as of late with its growing tablet PC arsenal and it seems no niche will be left untouched. Cast your mind back a short time and you’ll remember the eyebrow-raising launch of the Archos ChefPad, which unsurprisingly is the first and probably the only tablet PC created specifically with chefs and food fans in mind.

Impressive enough specs and a $199 price tag make the 8-inch Archos 80 Xenon a tempting buy to say the least. Under the hood lies a zippy quad-core Snapdragon S4 processor clocked at 1.2GHz, backed by 1GB of RAM and with a debatably inadequate 4GB of onboard storage – a micro-SD slot allowing forgiveness. Said 8-inch screen packs 1024 by 768 pixels which is on par with the current iPad Mini, while the 2-megapixel camera to the rear is pretty lousy but still better than no camera at all…as in with the Google Nexus 7.

May 16, 2013

MobileDemand Debuts the xTablet C1300 Convertible Rugged Tablet PC
prweb

xTablet C1300 rugged convertible tablet combines the latest generation Intel® Core™ i5 processor and Windows OS to give mobile professionals high performance, durability and connectivity in the field.

MobileDemand, the leading provider of rugged tablet PCs to the transportation industry, introduces the rugged, high-performance xTablet C1300 convertible tablet PC specifically designed for the mobile professional who needs superior connectivity and access to business applications anytime, anywhere. The durable, versatile xTablet C1300, an upgrade to the popular xTablet C1200, quickly and easily transforms from a rugged laptop to a Rugged Tablet PC making it ideal for field management, public sector, field service, military, health care, agriculture, delivery and other mobile applications.

“The high performance xTablet C1300 convertible tablet is built to fulfill the customer requirements for a rugged convertible tablet with the computing power to handle their enterprise applications,” says MobileDemand President Matthew Miller. “The xTablet C1300 has impressive upgrades from the C1200 that will allow us to serve our current customers better as well as open up new markets,” Miller continues.

The new MobileDemand xTablet C1300 Tablet PC features a large 12.1” (1280x800) convertible TFT backlit touch screen with a sunlight readable display option for optimum viewing indoors, in-vehicle and in the field. It offers keyboard and finger touch data entry as well as signature capture and more precise handwriting recognition. It has an optional 2 mega-pixel camera and a full suite of optional accessories including an office dock, vehicle dock and car adaptor.

Tablet News Finds One in Four American Teens Has Tablet PC at Home
Mad Mobile News

Tablets enjoy a much higher penetration rate in TV-owning teen homes than in young adult homes, according to a new report from Nielsen. The tablet news is a trend reversal from what’s seen among other devices, particularly smartphones.

In fact, several devices have higher home penetration rates among older demographics as opposed to teens. But tablets were one of three devices reviewed to be most commonly found in a teen home, along with game consoles and DVD players.

In this study, a teen household was defined as a home with a child between ages 12 and 17. The tablet news is yet another confirmation that tablets are finding a strong ownership base in American households — particularly those with televisions. Marketers are advised to be mindful of the high tablet consumption rates not only of teen device owners but also of their parents.

May 15, 2013

Microsoft rolls out UEFI firmware and other Surface updates
ZDNet

As part of its latest Patch Tuesday updates, Microsoft rolled out new fixes and updates for its Surface Pro and Surface RT tablet/PC hybrids.

Microsoft didn't deliver as part of today's Surface updates support for the new Wacom drivers needed to use Surface Pro with pressure-sensitive pens. Microsoft officials said last week that they are beta testing these drivers, but it appeared as though Wacom made them available for download by anyone on May 9.

I asked both Microsoft and Wacom officials if the drivers were beta or final and received no word back. I have seen tweets and blog posts from a number of Surface Pro users who have downloaded them and found them to work just fine, however.

HP unveils SlateBook x2 convertible Android tablet running on Tegra 4
Tech2

HP has unveiled the SlateBook x2, the first detachable Android tablet running on a Tegra 4 chip. The tablet is set to hit stores in August and will be priced at $479, which roughly translates to Rs 26,285. Judging by the pricing, HP seems to be going after Apple’s tablet-ruling crown.

According to HP, the SlateBook x2’s tablet and dock should stay alive for up to 14 hours. It sports a 10.2-inch display. The keyboard dock comes with its own battery. The tablet weighs in at 635 grams while the dock weighs 671 grams. The keyboard dock has a dedicated Google Now button to allow for quick searches and a Recent Apps button for quick access to the previously-opened apps.

Panasonic Upgrades Toughbook H2 Rugged Handheld Tablet PC
Wall Street Journal

Pannasonic has announced upgrades to the Panasonic Toughbook H2 Tablet, the industry's most rugged handheld tablet PC. The MIL-STD-810G(1) and IP65(1) certified device includes a faster processor, expanded storage and other improvements, while retaining critical features to enhance usability and durability -- including the ability to survive a 6-foot drop. With these upgrades, the Toughbook H2 delivers an improved return on investment for businesses with mobile workforces and greater performance for clinicians, field service workers, first responders and other mission-critical mobile professionals.

The 3.5 lb. Toughbook H2 handheld tablet PC runs the Microsoft Windows(R) 7 Professional (32-bit or 64-bit) operating system and includes optional integrated technology such as barcode, fingerprint, insertable or contactless SmartCard/RFID readers. Further, with standard USB 3.0, serial, and Ethernet ports, connectivity is unparalleled in its class. Its 10.1-inch XGA LED transflective touchscreen with Panasonic CircuLumin(TM) technology allows for full circle viewability from the brightest sunlight to pitch darkness, and screen brightness can be adjusted from 6,000 nits to as low as 1 nit for concealed nighttime use for the safety of military and public safety users.

More on the Toughbook H2 Tablet : http://www.panasonic.com/toughbook/H2.

May 14, 2013

Acer's S7 ultrabook is something to Aspire for
Business Mirror

While the tablet PC may have become the darling du jour of the tech media, it still has a ways to go in providing the utility provided out of the box by laptops, whose form factor and usability OEMS continue to transform to battle the continuing encroachment of tablets, calling these newfangled machines “ultrabooks,” their dimensions shruken almost to a sliver to make them even more portable, and packing new technologies to provide instant-on usability—qualities that have made tablets a huge success.

In this ultrabook category sits squarely the Aspire S7 from Acer, the Taiwanese multinational tech company that has been earnestly transforming itself as one that manufactures reliable if rather generic-looking value-priced PCs and notebooks, to one that continues to provide a similar value proposition to consumers while, at the same time, pushing the envelope in terms of design and technology.

The Acer Aspire S7—which comes in two variants: one dressed in Gorilla Glass with 13.3-inch screen and the other, swathed in an aluminum unibody with an 11.6-inch screen—is another triumphant addition to the arsenal in the company’s ongoing transformation.

The S7, however, is more than just a refinement. It is a stunning slab of hardware that brings together design and technology in ways that grab a few bragging rights from the leader in ultraportable laptops

Apple Is Hiring Up For Its Microsoft Office Killer
San Francisco Chronicle

When Apple introduced the iPad in 2009, it rolled out its own suite of Microsoft Office-like applications.

It had "Pages" for word processing, "Numbers" for spreadsheets, and "Keynote" for presentations. Since Microsoft never rolled out a version of Office for the iPad, each of those three apps sold well for Apple.

Apple has been hiring people for iWork, which is the division that houses those apps, since February, says MacRumors. Early on it was hiring senior software engineers. Now its hiring quality assurance engineers, which suggests its getting closer to having a new, finished product for testing.

Since it doesn't look like Microsoft is going to make Office for iPad any time soon, it makes sense for Apple to polish these apps. They're still popular for people buying their first iPad, and there are a lot of people still buying their first iPads.

Why Android Is Winning The Tablet Wars
Forbes

Tablet computing is well beyond the control of Apple’s iTunes content delivery system. In the early days of the iPod and the iPhone (ancestors of the iPad), you could hardly use the product without periodic plug-ins to iTunes to get content and configure the device. After that Apple’s App Store held hegemony on the apps that give tablets value.

The biggest usage mode for tablets is communications: e-mail, web, social media, etc., where Apple has no advantage in content access. Work usage is also important, and the productivity apps for Apple and Android are fairly comparable.

The second biggest use is media and entertainment. Apple had a big advantage at the start here, but the playing field here has been leveled to a large extent. eBooks and music are equally available on Android, a wide selection of video is available from Google, Netflix, and Amazon, and there are numerous Android tablet games, although probably fewer options than iOS.

And, Samsung is a force of nature. At CES in 2011 they had a Galaxy product targeting every Apple mobile product from the iTouch to the iPad. They experiment with many size and design variations: they were early with the now-dominant 7 inch tablet and pioneered the surprisingly successful “phablet” concept (~5″ devices that are big phones or small tablets). Consumer research showed that Samsung’s brand did not match Apple’s, and they responded with a brand marketing blitz that makes them the biggest U.S. spender in mobile electronics, including LeBron James in a Superbowl ad. Samsung is now arguably a stronger brand than Android; the two together are formidable.

May 13, 2013

Bill Gates on Steve Jobs and how Apple, not Microsoft, got tablets right
NDTV

n a rare emotional interview, Bill Gates talked about a wide variety of topics, including a meeting with rival and sometimes friend, Steve Jobs, during the Apple co-founder's last days.

The Microsoft Chairman also found time to applaud Jobs and his sense of design in an interview with Charlie Rose on CBS's 60 Minutes.

"He (Jobs) knew about brand - in a very positive sense. He had an intuitive sense for marketing that was amazing," Gates added.

Changing track, Gates also accepted that Apple got tablets right while Microsoft did not.

My top gadget for 2013 (so far)
ZDNet

Summary: There are a lot of gadgets that come through my home office, which range in usefulness from not very to game changing for me. One of the latter is so good that it has changed my routine for the better.

After long thought on the matter, I have to proclaim the Logitech Keyboard Folio mini as the gadget that has most impacted my routine. Yes, a lowly keyboard case for the iPad mini reigns supreme over the entire list of gadgets I have used so far this year.

This small case for the iPad mini has changed how I approach daily wanderings around the city. When I head out of my home office on day trips, historically, I've taken a laptop or the iPad with keyboard depending on if my goal was to work or to enjoy leisure activities.

Apple Refuses to Build Windows RT iTunes App
Infopackets

Things just keep getting worse for Microsoft's Windows RT operating system (OS), which is designed specifically for mobile devices like tablet computers. Now, it appears Apple has no plans to construct an iTunes app for the OS.

The news won't be a big deal for people running Windows 8-based devices, like the Surface Pro tablet. After all, they can simply download iTunes to the desktop.

However, for people who own the Surface RT (or anything else running the Windows RT OS), that's impossible.

"You shouldn't expect an iTunes app ... any time soon," noted Tami Reller, Microsoft Windows division chief financial officer.

Reller admits that iTunes is a highly desirable application. However, it seems like Apple just isn't willing to play ball.

"iTunes is in high demand," Reller said. "The welcome mat has been laid out. It's not for lack of trying." (Source: pcworld.com)

Experts view the absence of iTunes as a significant blow to Windows RT. After all, roughly half a billion people use iTunes to download movies, music, television shows, and podcasts.

May 10, 2013

Microsoft Wants To Buy Nook: Could Surface Pro 2, Windows 8 Get Bookstore?
iTech Post

In what will surely be an attempt to give its fledgling Windows 8 devices a shot in the arm, Microsoft is reportedly offering $1 billion to buy Nook Media and remove Barnes & Noble from the partnership.

What's more, Nook Media is planning to get out of the hardware game altogether. By the end of the fiscal year in 2014, all Android-based readers will be discontinued, as Nook content transitions toward being distributed via apps on third-party devices. That could include Android slates created by other manufacturers, tablets like the iPad, or, if Microsoft does get involved, products like the Surface Pro 2 and Surface Mini.

The news comes courtesy of TechCrunch, which managed to get its hands on internal documents related to the matter. If Microsoft's purchase plans go through, the company would obtain the entire Nook digital service operation.

"A deal to buy the digital assets of Nook Media is the natural next step for Microsoft, which first announced a plan to work with Barnes & Noble on its Nook devices and content in April 2012, ponying up $300 million at the time to help," TechCrunch states. "That plan included an additional $180 million advance to develop content for its Windows 8 devices — which Nook has been doing."

Microsoft: Missing Wacom drivers coming to Surface Pro 'soon'
ZDNet

Pen-toting Microsoft Surface Pro users are going to get the missing Wacom driver support "soon" that will allow  Adobe's Photohop and other creative applications work properly.

Since Microsoft launched the Surface Pro in early February 2013, a number of users have been unpleasantly surprised to find pressure sensitivity for supported Wacom digitizing pens to be lacking.

Finger-pointing ensued. Some said Microsoft's decision to use its own digitizer driver based on its InkAPI as the default was problematic. Some claimed Adobe -- which was backing the alternative WinTab API -- was going to have to modify its applications for pressure sensitivity to work correctly on the Surface Pro. Others noted that Wacom's own drivers provided necessary WinTab support, but these drivers wouldn't install on the Pro.

Business opts for tablets over PCs
CRN Australia

A new report has found a radical decline in the number of businesses planning to replace their desktop and laptop fleet.

According to the Roy Morgan Business Survey, the percentage of businesses planning fleet renewal plunged from 20.3 percent to 17.6 percent.

The bright spot is in the number of organisations planning to buy or replace tablet computers. This number increased 23 percent, from 10.9 percent of surveyed businesses to 13.4 percent.

“It is clear that many businesses are finding that tablets provide an operational and technological boost beyond what can be achieved with PCs and laptops alone,” said Nigel Smith, director of business research, in a statement.

May 9, 2013

CIO Road Test: Microsoft Surface Pro Beats Apple iPad
CRN

This month's post is about my personal experience with a new generation of tablets with a desktop-level compatibility and performance -- specifically the Microsoft Surface Pro.

Apple 's iPad has already demonstrated that the lightweight tablet format has quickly become indispensable for today's workers

If you check out the satchels of many executives today, there are three devices -- a laptop computer for working, an iPad (or Android) tablet for quick reference and browsing (as well as a session or two of Angry Birds), and a mobile phone.

Enter the Microsoft Surface Pro.

One of the first things I noticed about the Surface Pro was its speed. It booted from cold in six seconds, and the response was quick. It was as fast, if not faster than my laptop, even in processor-heavy applications like Adobe Lightroom.

The Surface Pro has changed my mind about the validity of Windows 8. I had been trying to use the operating system on the wrong device.

The unit started fast enough to quickly check email and send responses during the breaks. In the hotel room, it worked well to compose long documents and emails, as well as do some photo editing.

I've actually retired three devices with this unit. I had a work laptop (usually left in the office), a home laptop, and an iPad. The Surface Pro takes the place of all of these, without any compromise in performance.

HTC to launch R7 and R12 Windows Blue tablets
PC Advisor

HTC is reportedly planning to launch its first Windows RT-based tablets, codenamed R7 and R12.

Tthe R7 and R12 tablets later this year, according to PhoneArena. HTC's upcoming devices will be 7in and 12in in screen size, matching the codenames and the R is thought to mean they will run on Windows RT with the Windows Blue update. See also: What is Windows Blue? Everything you need to know.

The HTC R7 could use a Full HD screen resolution and have some other impressive specs. Namely a 2.3GHz quad-core processor, 2GB of RAM and a 13Mp rear facing camera. It's apparently unlikely to include HDMI, DLNA or NFC but a model with 4G LTE, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 4.0 and A-GPS will be available.

Meanwhile the HTC R12 will have the same hardware line-up as the R7 but with a 2048 x 1536 resolution on the 12in screen, matching the iPad 4's Retina display.

May 8, 2013

Acer Iconia A1 hands-on preview
ITProPortal

In a first for Acer, the A1 uses an unconventional 7.9in screen form factor that apes the iPad mini instead of sticking to the more common 7in form factor found in most small-screen Android tablets.

Acer stressed that the Iconia A1 is designed for one-handed use, but its 11mm thickness and weight of 410 grams make it thicker and heavier than the Nexus 7 and iPad mini. It's by no means a clunky tablet, and is perfectly comfortable to hold in one hand, but its form and design leave something to be desired.

The 7.9in size isn't the only thing the A1 has in common with the iPad mini, as both tablets use the same 1,024 x 768-pixel resolution. That 4:3 aspect ratio is a bit different to the 16:9 you'll find on the Nexus 7 and most other Android tablets.

That resolution is also a bit low compared with the 1,280 x 800 resolution of the Nexus 7 and the Amazon Kindle Fire HD. The panel is, at least, an IPS display, meaning it has a nice wide viewing angle, and the screen is sufficiently bright, though colours didn't look all that vibrant.

Rugged Tablet PC Provider MobileDemand to be Recognized as One of the Top 25 Fastest Growing Companies in the Eastern Iowa Corridor

MobileDemand, a global provider of rugged Windows tablet PCs, is pleased to announce that the company will be recognized as one of the top 25 fastest growing companies in the eastern Iowa corridor. Given out by the Corridor Business Journal, the Fastest Growing Companies award rankings are based on three-year growth, with both dollar and percentage increases taken in to consideration.

MobileDemand xTablet rugged tablet PC systems enable companies to extend enterprise and business applications to mobile workers to access critical information and make better business decisions at the point of interaction. MobileDemand innovative rugged tablet PCs deliver high performance at a lower cost than non-rugged tablets and enable greater efficiency and productivity in the field.

May 7, 2013

Acer Iconia A1 vs Apple iPad Mini: same size, matching specs
Northern Voices Online

Acer Iconia A1 vs Apple iPad Mini comparison is natural. Both come with same size and matching specs and will definitely compete in the market for the same slot

Tablet market seems to be expanding fast. In fact the way it has progressed since the launch of first generation iPad, it is unprecedented for a new product to come and then take the market by storm. Now almost every second person possesses an iPad, a Google Nexus tablet, an Amazon Kindle Fire, an Asus tablet or one from numerous other manufacturers that have flourished in a very small time.

After ten inch tablets we saw another explosive growth in small 7 and 8-inch tablets. Acer’s just introduced Acer Iconia A1 is one of the very few 8-inch tablets that have been launched in the market. Due to its size and its specs, the small tablet seem to be a threat to none other than market leader in the segment, iPad Mini of Cupertino based Apple. The tablet is also being compared to another hot selling tablet in the market, Google Nexus 7.

The fact that Acer tablet is one of the cheapest tablets available in the market that comes with decent specifications. It will be an understatement if I say it may not bother Apple as it will affect iPad Mini market in the coming days. Acer Iconia A1 tablet sports a 7.9-inch display as equal to iPad Mini. But like Nexus 7, it draws juice from a quad core CPU, which is missing on a series of Nexus 7 rivals like the Asus Fonepad and Samsung’s brand new Galaxy Tab 3 (7.0). The still unspecified processor of the Acer tablet is to offer a clock speed of 1.2GHz, which is more than enough for a midsize tablet. Digging more into its innards, you can see 1GB RAM and either 8GB or 16GB of internal memory.

Microsoft Surface: Seven things Microsoft must do to make it succeed
ZDNet

With new versions of Surface on the horizon, what does Microsoft need to do to make a success of its tablet family? 

4. End the Windows 8 and Windows RT confusion

Surface comes in two flavours: the broadly consumer-focused Surface with Windows RT and the Windows 8 Pro-powered Surface Pro for business users.

But Windows RT has not been a success as a flavour of Windows. It has confused buyers and put them off with a general sense that it's a hobbled version of Windows — it only works with apps from the Windows Store and cannot run legacy desktop applications (other than the bundled copy of Office). It's also worth noting that nobody buying an iPad expects backward compatibility with existing Mac OS applications, and yet somehow Microsoft allowed itself to become painted into a corner on this issue.

right now Surface with Windows RT is one compromise too far, and looks suspiciously like a tablet designed by committee. For example, it confuses users by including the old-style desktop solely to allow the tablet to run Office — even though it doesn't currently have Outlook, which makes the pitch even more confusing.

May 6, 2013

Apple Lists their Top 25 All-Time Free & Paid Apps
mobile marketing watch

Apple's recently announced a countdown to 50 billion app downloads, the company last week issued an updated list charting the most popular iPhone and iPad apps of all-time. Per usual, the listing is broken up between free and paid apps. As one might expect, the list is extremely game heavy, with Rovio's Angry Birds making a number of appearances on both the paid and free list. It's also worth noting that a number of Apple's own applications make appearances on the list of most popular paid iPad titles.

Among the paid apps on the iPad are Pages, Angry Birds HD, Angry Birds Seasons HD, Where's My Water and Fruit Ninja in the top 5. Other apps includee Angry Birds Space HD, GarageBand, Words With Friends HD, Cut the Rope HD, Keynote, to name a few. Those up for grabs for free on the iPad include, Skype for iPad, The Weather Channel for iPad, Netflix, Angry Birds HD Free and Kindle in the top 5. The list includes others like, Facebook, Pandora Radio, Calculator for iPad Free, Fruit Ninja HD Free, Google Earth, ABC Player, to name a few. 

the full list with links is here

Amazon accidentally reveals Acer's W3 tablet
Daily Mail

Amazon has accidentally revealed a 7-inch tablet made by Acer and poised to take on Apple's iPad mini.

The Acer Iconia W3 - which appeared briefly on amazon.com before being removed  - is the first small tablet seen running Microsoft's Windows 8 software.

Microsoft is also believed to be developing its own tablet, based on the larger Surface, which is to be unveiled next month at the firm's Build developer conference.

Bill Gates: iPad Users 'Frustrated'
InformationWeek

Bill Gates took to CNBC today to pitch Microsoft's line of Surface tablets, and he had some choice words for Apple's iPad and similar tablets. "A lot of those users are frustrated," said Gates. "They can't type, they can't create documents, they don't have Office there."

Gates pegged current tablets' lack of physical keyboards as their biggest detractor. There's no arguing that it's easier, quicker, and more accurate to pound out text with a physical keyboard. Today's mobile professionals grew up using typewriters, word processors, desktops and laptops -- all of which include real keyboards. There's something to be said for the muscle memory that comes from beating on keys for a decade or two.

Gates then pointed out that the Surface RT and Surface Pro, Microsoft's two tablets, have keyboard options that make them more productive. Further, the Surface Pro runs a full version of Windows, which includes Microsoft Office, Outlook, and tons of productivity apps. The Surface, said Gates, offers the "portability of the tablet, but the richness of a PC."

Should Apple Fear Samsung's Galaxy Tablets?
Motley Fool

Much as Samsung was fixated on an internal corporate goal last year to simply "BEAT APPLE" in the smartphone market, the company now wants to do the same in tablets. To that end, it's expectedly pursuing the same strategy of launching a slew of products encompassing every conceivable price point and form factor to see what works.

Importantly, Samsung is beginning to close the gap with Apple in unit terms.

Samsung's tablet strategy will use both Google Android and Microsoft Windows, but mostly Android. The company current has 20 different tablet variants listed on its site, ranging from 7-inch displays up to 10-inch displays. Most run Android beneath Samsung's TouchWiz, but it also sells its ATIV tablet that runs Windows 8.

Unlike Apple, Samsung is more than happy to pursue low-end markets. It just announced the Galaxy Tab 3, a 7-inch tablet with low-end specs that will be the successor to the $199 Galaxy Tab 2.

May 3, 2013

Microsoft Surface 2 could launch in June as 7-inch slate
TrustedReviews

The Microsoft Surface 2 could be unveiled in June as a 7-inch version of its Microsoft Surface Pro tablet at the company’s Build Developer Conference.

According to DigiTimes, Microsoft will use the Build Developer Conference to launch the second-generation Microsoft Surface tablets. However, what’s interesting is that the tablets will reportedly “only feature 7- to 9-inch displays” attempting to cash in on the smaller tablet market successfully broached by Apple with the iPad mini.

If the information is correct though, Microsoft could launch several varieties of the Microsoft Surface 2 tablet at the conference, which runs from June 26 – 28.

May 2, 2013

Toshiba takes on Surface Pro with WT310 tablet
PC Advisor

Toshiba has announced its WT310, a Windows 8 tablet to rival Microsoft's Surface Pro.

With Windows 8 Pro, an 11in Full HD screen and an Intel Ivy Bridge Core processor, Toshiba is taking aim the Surface Pro and other business tablets like the Lenovo ThinkPad Tablet 2. The WT310 will launch in the UK by the end of June but no price has been announced.

Toshiba said: "Optimised for business use, the WT310 includes a comprehensive range of features designed to aid mobile workers, no matter what job is at hand."

As well as an 11.6in Full HD touchscreen the WT310 comes with a DigitizerPen stylus for accuracy and also hand writing notes which can be converted into an editable document. The Intel chip is accompanied by a solid state drive (SSD) for additional performance.

Acer Iconia Tab A1 Previewed Ahead of Release, Looks Like A Very Strong iPad Challanger
The Droid Guy

Acer’s first 2013 stab at challenging the likes of Google’s Nexus 7 and Apple’s iPad Mini might have been a little underwhelming, but the Taiwan-based company is anything but a one-trick pony. The Iconia Tab A1 has looked much better on paper than the B1 ever since it first starred in a “leak”, and now, courtesy of Bulgarian website Tablet.bg, we have the chance to see it in the flesh as well.

And although it’s still at least one month away from its commercial release, I have to say I’m already pretty impressed by the thing and excited to see it on store shelves. Sure, it has its flaws, but if rumors about a $170 starting price point turn out to be true, it’s going to be very hard to say no to the A1.

May 1, 2013

BlackBerry CEO predicts tablet market will diminish within five years ...
Apple Insider

Summary: Anything is possible, but in this cast I think BlackBerry's CEo is doing anything he can to draw attention to the dying brand.

BlackBerry chief Thorsten Heins said in an interview on Monday that the tablet market may not exist as it does now in five years, Bloomberg reported. Heins' comments cast doubt on the possibility of BlackBerry launching a follow-up to its ill-fated PlayBook tablet, even though such a move has been expected by many observers.

"In five years I don't think there'll be a reason to have a tablet anymore," Heins said. ""Maybe a big screen in your workspace, but not a tablet as such. Tablets themselves are not a good business model."

Heins' reference to "a big screen in your workspace" could indicate the direction in which the company plans to move with its devices. Prior to the release of BlackBerry's Z10 and Q10, the company was rumored to be working on a mode for the handsets that would allow them to connect to a display and essentially work as a computer with external inputs. Such functionality did not emerge at the launch of BlackBerry 10, but the firm may still be developing it.

Apple's iPad is Still a More Desirable Mother's Day Gift Than Flowers
NASDAQ

Apple sold 19.5 million iPad units last quarter, and more than half of them were iPad Minis. Were consumers shopping early for Mother's Day? A new poll suggests that might be the case.

According to TechBargains , 73 percent of moms would rather receive an iPad than a bouquet of flowers.

These results should not surprise anyone -- Apple's tablet is worth so much more. While a large bouquet of flowers can be purchased from 1-800-Flowers.com for less than $100, the cheapest iPad starts at $329.

After a few days of sitting in a vase, the flowers will begin to die off. An iPad, on the other hand, will still be a fully-functional device that allows moms to do almost anything .

Report: Demand For Windows-based Tablets Increasing
Tom's Hardware

Strategy Analytics revealed that demand for Windows 8/RT-based tablets is slowly climbing, capturing 7.5-percent of the market in 1Q13 with 3.4 million units sold worldwide.

Naturally that's good news for Microsoft, as a mere 400,000 units were reportedly sold globally in 3Q12, a number that had remained relatively unchanged since the end of 2011. Thus, Microsoft seemingly has Windows 8 to thank for its boom in tablet business despite what critics are saying about the platform in the PC sector.

However there are a number of factors that continue to hold back shipments. Peter King, Director of Tablets at Strategy Analytics, said these factors include a very limited distribution, a shortage of top tier apps, and continued customer confusion. To Microsoft's defense, the company is working on all three issues, making the tablets – especially Surface RT and Pro – more easily accessible on the market. The Windows Store continues to build its library of apps and Windows "Blue" is slated to help with the customer confusion aspect later this year.

April 30, 2013

Microsoft to shift focus to tablet computers
Livemint

Microsoft Corp. plans to focus more on making devices such as tablet computers with its OEM partners, as the world’s largest software maker tries to offset the weakness in the global personal computer market that has hit sales of its Windows 8 operating system.

“We certainly believe that tablets are a huge bet moving forward,” chief operating officer Kevin Turner said at a company event in Bangalore. “Microsoft is really transforming themselves from a software company into a devices and services company and we’re in the middle of that transition.”

The company will spend $10.1 billion in research and development this year as it focuses on new areas such as mobility and cloud computing, he said.
Microsoft launched its Surface tablets last year as part of the effort to offset the decline in personal computer sales, with more users migrating to smartphones and tablets.

Apple iPad Mini Vs Samsung Galaxy Tab 3- Does Samsung Have Enough Nerve To Oust Apple?
Tech Thirsty

The battle of the smaller warriors is set to begin but we wonder if the Galaxy Tab 3 has enough in it to beat iPad Mini black and blue.

First things first—the Galaxy Tab 3 is powered by 1.2GHz dual-core processor against the dual-core A5 processor pumping life into the iPad Mini. If bigger means better, then the iPad Mini beats Galaxy Tab 3 with its 7.9-inch multi touch display. To spice up its appearance further, Apple has added LED-backlight with IPS technology on the iPad Mini. Against the Tab 3’s TFT display, this does emerge as a winning card at the outset. On digging deeper, we found that the 169 ppi pixel density of the Tab 3 punches out the Apple prodigy after all.

Tablets replacing PCs at Australian schools
Computerworld Australia

he Australian education sector is increasing its spending on tablets and cloud infrastructure as demand for PCs fall, according to analysts at IDC.

“As iPads and tablet PCs are increasingly becoming ‘digital school bags,’ they are acting as ‘thin client’ for the education of students when connected over the Internet,” said IDC analyst David So. “This trend will become the main driver for the growth in hardware in the education sector.”

In addition, the National Broadband Network (NBN) and other ICT investments by the Australian government will drive digital delivery of education over cloud infrastructure, IDC said.

"To mitigate the risk of being disrupted by technology and innovation, the Australian education sector is beginning to leverage off the cloud infrastructure in the form of Internet applications that are driving the spending for mobility, social, and Big Data,” said So.

April 29, 2013

Samsung announces 7-inch Galaxy Tab 3

Samsung has announced that they will be adding new device to its Galaxy Tab line — The 7-inchGalaxy Tab 3 tablet will be in stores stores in late spring or early summer.

The Galaxy Tab 3, with its smaller form, will be another competitor in the mini-tablet market, which includes the iPad mini, Nexus 7, Kindle Fire, Samsung’s own Galaxy Tab 2 7.0 and, to a lesser extent, its higher-end Galaxy Tab 2 7.7.

Specs on the new tablet include a 7-inch 1,024-by-600 pixel display, Android 4.1 Jelly Bean OS, 1.2GHz dual core processor, 16GB or 32GB of internal storage space and support for microSD cards up to 64GB. 3-megapixel rear camera & 1.3-megapixel front camera.

Samsung will launch the Wi-Fi version in May and a 3G version that can make phone calls will come out in June.

Samsung did not announce a price for the Galaxy Tab 3.

iPad Scores Top Spot in JD Power Study Again
The Mac Observer

The 2013 J.D. Power U.S. Tablet Satisfaction survey results are out, and Apple took the top spot with it's popular iPad. Apple's tablet also scored a five out of five circle rating, and this marks the second year in a row the iPad was ranked as the best tablet.

The iPad scored 836 out of 1,000 in the study, which included rankings based on performance, ease of operation, styling and design, cost, and features.

Following Apple in a close second place was Amazon's Kindle Fire with a score of 829. Samsung was third with 822 points, Asus was fourth with 818, and acer brought up last place with 784.

The study included 1,857 people who have had their tablet for less than a year, and found that sharing a tablet tended to result in overall higher scores. Tablets that were shared among four or more people earned a satisfaction score of 853, while single-user tablets earned 28 fewer points at 824.

"It is somewhat unexpected to find that although 64 percent of tablet owners were the sole decision-maker involved in their device purchase, many of them share their tablet with someone else," commented J.D. Power senior director of telecommunications services Kirk Parsons.

April 26, 2013

Apple iPad Mini 2 Versus Samsung Galaxy Note 3 – Which Will Win?
iOS Doc

These past weeks we have seen many smart phones and tablets being announced and / or launched, by companies such as Samsung, Nokia, Sony or HTC. It is now time for Apple’s devices (the iPad Mini 2, the iPad 5 and the iPhone 5S) to get the spotlight. However, Apple is silent when it comes to reveling its iDevices’ specs. A direct consequence of Apple’s silence is a plethora of rumors as people try to guesstimate the specs of Apple’s upcoming iDevices.

Samsung is at the other side of the spectrum as they don’t shy away from offering details about their upcoming products, even though they are not really official yet. Thanks to rumors and the numeorus reports about the two competing products (the Apple iPad Mini 2 and the Samsung Galaxy Note 3) we have enough to make a direct comparison between the two tablets.

Windows 8 tablets grab 7% of shipments, Apple's iPad still controls nearly half
Apple Insider

Apple's iPad offerings continue to dominate the tablet segment, but tablets running Windows 8 have had a small impact, accounting for one in fourteen tablets shipped in the first quarter of 2013.

Global tablet shipments in the first quarter of 2013 hit 40.6 million units, according to new figures from Strategy Analytics. Of those, Apple's iPad and iPad mini accounted for 19.5 million units, or 48.2 percent of the market. That figure is down from the same quarter a year ago, when the iPad had 63.1 percent of quarterly shipped units.

The difference this year: increasing competition. From Google's Nexus 7 to Samsung's Galaxy Note 8.0, the Android tablet segment has grown from 34.2 percent of shipments last year to 43.4 percent of shipments for this quarter. The three months from January through March saw 17.6 million Android tablets shipped, narrowing the shipment gap between Android and iOS quickly.

Microsoft's Windows 8 platform is also a relatively new entrant into the tablet sector. Windows 8 tablets accounted for 7.4 percent of tablet shipments last quarter, or three million units. Less than one-sixth the number of iPads shipped, the platform's sales figures are a disappointment for Microsoft, which has found itself scrambling to regroup and retool its approach to the tablet market.

The Tablet Market is Growing Too Fast for Apple
Motley Fool

Investors have been fretting lately over Apple's declining tablet market share. The days of the iPad gobbling up 75% of the market are gone. That's not to say that the iPad is faring poorly overall as a business; it's just that the overall tablet market is just growing too fast for Apple to maintain such hegemony as rivals jump in.

Android, in particular, has risen dramatically, in large part due to low-cost models targeting lower market segments. This is the first full quarter that Apple has been shipping the iPad Mini, but that device is still priced at a premium relative to the competition in the small-sized segment. Two of the most prominent Android tablets, Amazon.com's Kindle Fire and Google's Nexus 7, are also sold at cost, so there's little profit opportunity within the Android army.

Windows is now showing up on the scene with 3 million tablets shipped during the quarter.

April 25, 2013

Intel Plans to Promote Android-Powered Hybrids
Market Leader

Intel, the famous US tech giant, has announced about its plans to promote hybrid PCs (something between tablets and laptops) powered by Android OS. Such devices will cost some $500.


Experts say that the major reason for such a decision is connected with poor sales of tablets and laptops powered by Windows 8. At the same time, Android-powered devices are fairly popular worldwide.

According to unofficial sources, Lenovo, a Chinese tech giant, is also planning to introduce a 11-inch tablet PC powered by Google’s operating system. The release is said to be scheduled for May 2013.

April 23, 2013

Apple iPad 5 And iPad Mini 2 Could Lead over The Galaxy Note 8.0 and Kindle Fire by 82%
Tech Thirsty

Even stiff competition from the likes of Samsung’s Galaxy Note 8.0 and Amazon’s Kindle Fire don’t stand a chance against Apple’s upcoming tablets. So yes, it may take a little while longer for Google’s Android OS to take over the world of tablets.

According to Chitika, a research firm, in March 2013, 81.9 percent of all web usage from tablets in Canada came from Apple tablets. This figure is 1.4 percent times more than the numbers for February. During the same period, the web traffic coming from Kindle Fire reduced from 8 percent to 7.1 percent, while the Samsung’s Galaxy tablets accounted for just 4.3 percent of the share.

But just because there’s more web traffic coming from Apple tablets, does this mean it’s selling better than other devices? That’s not necessarily true, as the Samsung Galaxy Note 8.0 is expected to be a bestseller upon its launch. There’s also going to be tough competition in the form of the Sony Xperia Z tablet. It just means that Apple tablet users are more engaged on their devices.

Revolutionary Windows 8 Hybrid Laptop Tablet Teased, Coming Really Soon
Laptop Computer Planet Blog

Both Dell and Lenovo will soon have competition in the hybrid Windows 8 laptop space from former budget computer maker Acer. Earlier today Acer posted a teaser video for an upcoming hybrid Windows 8 powered laptop that the company plans to fully unveil on May 3rd.



The teaser video doubles as a teaser for the upcoming Star Trek movie (Star Trek Into Darkness, coming to theaters May 17, 2013), where I assume Acer will have their new laptop featured in select scenes.

April 22, 2013

Microsoft Surface Outsells The Nexus 10 And Points To Redmond's Post-PC Future
Forbes

Benedict Evans’ look at the Nexus 10 sales number makes for interesting reading but his kicker at the end, that the Microsoft Surface devices were outselling the Nexus 10′s, caught my eye. When you look at the numbers, it tells an interesting story on Microsoft’s future in the tablet/laptop space.

Microsoft’s adjusted Windows revenue for the quarter was $4.62 billion, which means the Surface Pro contributed around 4% to the Q1 2013 numbers (I’ve not included Surface RT numbers in here, but I’d expect them to be making a positive contribution as well).

Now have Surface Pro on sale for a full quarter, and assume there will be some economies of scale and more efficiencies in the retail process over the year. If you wanted an early sign on how Microsoft was going to operate in the ‘post-PC’ era, you’ve got one here.

Yes the volumes are low, and the Surface range is not as attractive as the iOS choices available. But if Microsoft can build up the sales of the Surface Pro in 2013 and reach four to five million unit sales a year, they will have a healthy income stream from their Surface range. Much like sales estimates, there is conjecture and assumption in making a jump from 400,000 sales in one month and extrapolating a similar sales level throughout the whole year, but it’s not an impossible jump to make. It’s certainly within Redmond’s reach.

For Google, the Nexus 10 is almost a technology demonstrator. But Microsoft’s Surface is a key part of the companies future, and sales of the hardware are a key part of their strategy. The advantage to out-selling the Nexus 10 is that Microsoft are reaching more than the developers, hackers, and geekerati that the Nexus 10 reaches… but they need to keep reaching out and selling to create a place in the new mobile computing era.

Enter your search terms Submit search form

Web tabletpc2.com

Tablet PC 2 News Archive

Copyright © 2013 Blue Thunder
All rights reserved. No work here may be
reproduced or reprinted without the express
written permission of the author.

Tablet PC 2 Home