Japan Display promises 4K tablet screens that won’t kill your battery
If we draw an almost totally arbitrary line in the sand and call it “500 pixels per inch,” then smartphones now stand proudly on one side of it, while tablets still languish on the other. Japan Display is gently nudging the market forward, however, with the 4K 12-inch tablet panel we saw last year (which offered 365 ppi) and now with a 4K 10-inch prototype that delivers a much higher pixel density of 438 ppi. That’s good news for Chuck Yeagers who reckon they can spot the difference, but Japan Display is promising something even more important: It claims its 4K (3,840 x 2,160) screens have just the same appetite for energy as the regular 2,560 x 1,600 panels found in many tablets today. That means 4K slates could arrive at no cost to battery life, relative to current technology, leaving us with just the pesky financial and computational overheads to deal with instead.
Filed under: Displays, Tablets, Mobile
Via: FarEastGizmos
Source: Japan Display
Xplore’s latest Windows 8 tablet is tough enough for a warzone
When a company sends you a tablet buried under a half foot of sopping-wet turf, you can be reasonably sure that the hardware’s going to be sturdier than your average kit. Xplore Technologies makes computing devices for the harshest of environments, including warzones, so we thought we would spend some time with the company’s latest slab. The XC6 is the most powerful unit the company has ever released, packing Intel’s Haswell internals and a 1,300-nit display. Like Lady Gaga, the XC6 likes it rough, so we grew out our beard, grabbed a sledgehammer and did some extreme computing for our enjoyment.
If the most that you do with your tablet is check Twitter while sitting in a restroom stall, then it shouldn’t be a surprise to learn that the XC6 is a tad overkill. Since it’s been designed to be used by oil-rig workers, soldiers, census takers and civil engineers, among other dangerous professions, it’s designed to take a lot of rough treatment. Weighing in at 5.4 pounds, it’s got a magnesium-alloy chassis, coated with liberal amounts of rubber over the port bays and corners. It’s rated for IP67 and MIL-STD-810G, so it should be able to handle being submerged into a meter of water for half an hour, as well as hot, cold, sand and extreme humidity. What we were able to do is leave this machine in our freezer for a few hours, only to find it still cheerily working, as well as take it into the shower with us for a casual spot of surfing while we rinsed ourselves clean. Reportedly, this unit is able to withstand drops from seven feet onto concrete, something that we tested with glee. There’s a 5-megapixel camera on the back with a fixed focal length that’s great for taking pictures of barcodes, and useless for anything else. There’s a 720p front-facer, which is perfectly acceptable for Skype chats, but not much else.
Despite the austere construction, there are a few surprising additions to the input list, with Gigabit Ethernet and HDMI-out alongside the usual complement of a fingerprint scanner, a pair of USB 3.0 ports and a 3.5mm headphone jack. In order to ensure that the device can withstand gloves and extreme temperatures, Xplore has eschewed a capacitive touchscreen in favor of a heavy-duty resistive one. Thankfully, there’s a pair of styluses available that’ll help you navigate around the device, and while it can work with gloves, it’ll require a hefty press. We did find that gestures in Windows 8 (for the Charms Bar) didn’t work unless we used the stylus, unfortunately. That 1,300-nit display is also strong enough to hold its own in direct sunlight, making it much more visible than the average laptop in similar conditions — although it’s by no means comfortable if you’re without shade for long periods of time. Another thing that we noticed is an odd amount of ghosting, with the previous screens lingering on the display as we flicked between various applications.
We didn’t have time to run any in-depth battery life tests, but were able to run the XC6 through 3DMark 11 to offer us some indication of its ability to handle tasks. You may be surprised to learn that it managed to crank out benchmarks of E1,801, P898 and X299 — figures that put it very close to Lenovo’s IdeaPad Yoga 2 Pro. Given that it’s packing a 1.9GHz Haswell Core i5-4300U with 4GB RAM and a 128GB SSD, we can be sure that while it may look like a piece of farm equipment, it’s certainly no tractor. It’s launching today, with the base model setting you back a whopping $5,299 — and more if you want to add in a Core i7 or other accessories like a card reader, or, who knows, maybe a rocket launcher.
Lenovo Yoga 10 Review
Lenovo‘s Yoga series has made a name for themselves in the industry pushing the boundaries of shape, form factor and all around physical features in mobile computing. The Lenovo Yoga tablet stays true to its name in pioneering something completely new in an Android tablet.
Hardware
Probably the most notable hardware of any Android powered tablet I’ve seen to date, when held in portrait mode one side on the device is slim as a razor, and the other side has a 3/4 inch thick round “handle” of sorts the length of the device. This serves the multiple purposes of giving you something substantial to grasp while using the tablet one-handed, and housing the tablet’s kick-stand.
At the top of the thick edge is a large, circular power button, balancing the 3.5 mm headphone jack on the bottom. The kickstand takes up almost the entire edge starting an inch from the top and bottom. To extend the kickstand you must grasp the edge tightly and begin to twist toward the screen. Beneath the kickstand on the back is the micro SD slot toward the bottom and the factory information sticker at the top.
The front of the device is a black slate aside from the rounded silver handle at the top and bottom of which the Dolby speakers are located. The MicroUSB charging port is at the top to the right of the power/sleep button opposite of the volume rocker which resides beside the headphone jack.
Software
The device’s launcher does not have an app-drawer, which can become an issue if you install upwards of 100 apps as it can start to look rather messy. But that’s what launcher replacements are for. Lenovo has implemented a “smart side bar” which offers quick access to apps like books, gallery and some of the recently used applications, however it is only accessible from the home-screen, so if you utilize the device’s stock launcher, all of those things would be immediately available anyway.
The performance is sub-par, but if you’re interested in purchasing one to use as an ebook reader, I would encourage that. The screen has good brightness and visibility even in direct light, and the software offers several options to accommodate using the device in “tilt, stand, and hold” modes. However any usage much more taxing on the processor than that would be out of the question. Even playing Words With Friends at times proved to be too much for this little guy.
Probably the best feature of this tablet is the bragged 18 hour battery life. With somewhat light use, I pushed the battery over 2 weeks without charging it. If battery life is more important to you than hardcore performance or high-end specs, at an MSRP of $299, this tablet is definitely worth considering.
The post Lenovo Yoga 10 Review appeared first on AndroidGuys.
Laptop and tablet deals of the week: 4.11.14
Laptops allow you to get work done on the go and tablets are certainly nice to have around, but the price of admission for both can be a significant investment. That’s where we come in. We’ve compiled a list of tempting options for both of those categories, all with price cuts that’ll tempt wallets. Jump down past the break and take a look for yourself and start the weekend with a new gadget purchase.
If there are other laptops that you’re after that we haven’t included here — join us and add them to your “Want” list. Every time there’s a price cut in the future, you’ll get an email alert!
Acer Aspire S7-392
Price: $1,250
Regular Price: $1,350
Engadget Score: 87
Buy: Amazon
Acer’s refreshed S7 Ultrabook took care of most of our concerns from the original model, but those looking to opt in were still faced with paying more for specs that lower-priced options offered. Now, the laptop is seeing a $100 discount, so the financial burden has been eased a bit. Of course, you’ll have to be a fan of white gadgets, too.
MacBook Pro with Retina display
Price: $1,885
Regular Price: $1,999
Buy: Amazon
With the next wave of Apple laptops likely on the way in the coming months, 2013′s models are sure to see price cuts. If you can’t wait though, you can grab a little over $100 off on the late-2013 editions of the MacBook Pro with Retina display. It may not seem like much of a break on a $2,000 laptop, but discounts on Cupertino’s goods are hard to come by before new versions are announced.
Dell Venue 11 Pro
Price: $484
Regular Price: $500
Engadget Global Score: 81
Buy: Provantage
Dell’s Bay Trail-powered Venue 11 Pro hit shelves just a few months ago, and it’s already seeing price cuts. That said, a few dollars off of a relatively new device is certainly worth a look. If you can hold off for a bit, our price history tool indicates that even deeper savings were seen just a few weeks ago.
Nexus 10
Price: $355
Regular Price: $500
Engadget Score: 72
Buy: Amazon
The Nexus 10 is out of stock directly from Google, but not to worry because we’re seeing discounts at other retailers. Just over $350 nets you stock Android on a 32GB 10-inch slate that packs a massive 2,560 x 1,600 resolution. So if you don’t mind a 2012 model, you might consider giving this option a long hard look.
Lenovo Announces New A-Series Android Tablets with May Launch
With the budget-conscious in mind, Lenovo has announced a new trifecta of android tablets focused on work and play. These A-Series tablets, as Lenovo VP Shao Tao puts it, “is designed to meet the demands of today’s young, active users who are always on the go, and have lifestyle requirements that are as diverse as their own personalities.”
Pricing starts out low, but there is a good reason for that. Starting at $129, these tablets don’ t come off as top spec’ed powerhouses. The specs are modest at best with MediaTek quad-core processors and 1GB of RAM under the hood. The tablets’ will also sport 4.2 JellyBean at launch. Rounding out the specifications is 16GB of onboard storage, front and rear cameras and 1280X800 displays.
The new Lenovo tablets will debut in May and come in the 7, 8, and 10 inch varieties with the 7 inch tablet focused on reading and web surfing, the 8 inch dedicated to media consumption, and the 10 inch designed for work and relaxation.
The post Lenovo Announces New A-Series Android Tablets with May Launch appeared first on AndroidGuys.
Best Buy Offering up to $300 Gift Card for Phone or Tablet Trade-In.
Do you have an old phone or tablet lying around collecting dust, or are you just ready to upgrade to the latest and greatest in tech? If this is the case, Best Buy has a promotion that just may interest you.
They’re calling it “The Great Tech Refresh”, and they are offering up to a $300 Best Buy gift card for your used smartphone or tablet. All you need to do is go to Best Buy’s website and click the “learn more” option next to the gift card promotion. There, you can click the link and follow the instructions to get the estimated value of your device.
For instance, I priced my Sony Xperia Tablet Z and was pleasantly surprised that Best Buy offered me a $240 gift card for it. As the saying goes, your mileage may vary. This offer is in-store only.
The promotion started this week, and is in this week’s paper advertisement with no set end date. I’m certain this is a limited time offer, so get this deal if/while you can.
The post Best Buy Offering up to $300 Gift Card for Phone or Tablet Trade-In. appeared first on AndroidGuys.
Microsoft’s Surface Pro 2 ‘Geek’ bundle includes free Xbox controller and games
If you’ve considered the Surface Pro 2 to be more than just a portable workstation, then Microsoft’s latest tablet bundle might pique your interest. In collaboration with online culture show Geek & Sundry, the company has quietly pushed live a new gaming deal on its virtual store in the US and Canada that throws in $105 worth of free games and accessories. For $899, the price of the base 64GB Surface Pro 2 model that’s already included, you’ll also get a wireless Xbox 360 controller and two games: Farming Simulator 2013 and a premium pack for free-to-play WWII flying simulator War Thunder Mustang. To be clear, neither title will ever vie for any gaming awards, but you can’t argue with free, right? Microsoft intends to run the offer until May 1st or until stocks run out, whichever comes sooner, so if you’ve been waiting for the right opportunity to grab yourself a Surface Pro 2, now might be the time to click in.
Filed under: Gaming, Tablets, Software, Microsoft
Via: Ubergizmo
Source: Microsoft Store
Blizzard takes a stab at mobile gaming, brings its free card game to the iPad
Blizzard hasn’t really had a presence in mobile gaming… not unless you think the Battle.net Authenticator is rip-roaring entertainment, anyway. However, the developer is giving the category an honest try today by releasing Hearthstone for the iPad. Much like on the desktop, the free-to-play card game lets you fight both real and virtual opponents as you build up a collection of Warcraft-themed minions and spells. Decks sync between devices, so you won’t have to start from scratch. The title is currently available on the App Store in Australia, Canada and New Zealand; more countries are coming soon, and those using Android, iPhones and Windows tablets can also expect to play in the near future. The iPad app isn’t likely to replicate the off-the-charts success of Blizzard’s PC titles, but the company has to start somewhere. And besides, we’ve seen the problems that some major game producers have faced after downplaying the importance of phones and tablets — Blizzard may be wise to cover its bases.
Via: AppAdvice
Windows will be free on phones, small tablets and the Internet of Things
It turns out that those rumors of Microsoft cutting Windows prices to spur adoption were true — and then some. The company has announced that Windows will be free for hardware makers to use on phones, tablets with screens under nine inches and Internet of Things devices. Suffice it to say that this is a huge move for a tech giant whose operating system licensing is arguably its bread and butter. Microsoft is obviously willing to take a financial hit to compete against Android, Chrome OS and other freely available platforms.
Filed under: Cellphones, Peripherals, Tablets, Software, Microsoft
KitKat’s share of Android devices more than doubles to 5.3 percent
After months of treading water, Android 4.4 KitKat is finally taking off. Google reports that 5.3 percent of Android users are running the newer OS version as of early April; that’s more than twice the 2.5 percent that it claimed one month earlier. There’s no official explanation for the jump, but it’s most likely thanks to a wave of KitKat upgrades from HTC, LG and Samsung. Most older versions lost share as a result. It could be a long, long time before KitKat overtakes Jelly Bean (which dipped to 61.4 percent), but the transition is under way — and it’s only likely to accelerate now that flagships like the Galaxy S5 and new One are reaching store shelves.
Filed under: Cellphones, Tablets, Mobile, Google
Source: Android Developers
AIVAnet 